Gear upgrade. Is 7D still worth buying?

[smirkypants]

If you know what you're doing you can shoot the worlds greatest photographs with 50 year old equipment. Oh yeah, not many here shoot film, ok, 8 year old digi. 3 years old is too old? You drank the kool aid.

I think you're missing the point. I'm actually saying that the photographer can take fine pictures with the camera in hand, right? The glass will make a bigger difference. The 7D2 will almost certainly have lower noise and better ISO performance, so why not hold off? Why pay full price for last year's model when what you're driving now is fine?

 

[jwong]

I think you're missing the point. I'm actually saying that the photographer can take fine pictures with the camera in hand, right? The glass will make a bigger difference. The 7D2 will almost certainly have lower noise and better ISO performance, so why not hold off? Why pay full price for last year's model when what you're driving now is fine?

+1. Lenses do make more of a difference than bodies most of the time. I have a 6+ year old 20D, and I tried out a friend's 7D. The 7D had 18MP versus my 8MP, but noisewise, it was a little less than one stop better when processed in LR at ISO 1600. I was shocked. That is one reason why I'm thinking about moving FF -- larger sensor size, larger pixels and hopefully better noise/high ISO performance than APS-C.

 

[nitsujwalker]

Hate to be the naysayer here, but the 7D is three year old tech and the camera in hand is fine. I would upgrade the glass for now, and in a year or so upgrade to the 7D2. In the near term the better glass will make a bigger difference, and in a year the wait will have been worth it... unless Canon charges 80% more for the 7D2.

I have to disagree. If better autofocus is needed then the 7D is the way to go as new glass won't help significantly in this area.

EDIT:
And I don't mean for this to sound harsh. Only that there may be reasons other than IQ to upgrade.

 

[Marsu42]

I have a 6+ year old 20D, and I tried out a friend's 7D. The 7D had 18MP versus my 8MP, but noisewise, it was a little less than one stop better when processed in LR at ISO 1600. I was shocked.

Canon states that higher mp is for cropping - so your observation is in line with this. 8mp would be not enough for me because I often crop, rotate, convert horizontal to vertical or 2:3 to 16:9. And up to iso 800, the current 18mp sensor is ok.

The strange thing about Canon is that they differentiate between their bodies by build quality and af, so the 7D has the same sensor as the 550d. Thus, if you are set on the best iq it is advisable to get a better lens and a body that is still usable for an advanced user (did I mention the 60d lately ). You only need to predict how often you shoot complex moving object scenes or in the rain (with weather sealed lenses, of course!). If yes get the 7d.

 

[crasher7]

If you know what you're doing you can shoot the worlds greatest photographs with 50 year old equipment. Oh yeah, not many here shoot film, ok, 8 year old digi. 3 years old is too old? You drank the kool aid.

I think you're missing the point. I'm actually saying that the photographer can take fine pictures with the camera in hand, right? The glass will make a bigger difference. The 7D2 will almost certainly have lower noise and better ISO performance, so why not hold off? Why pay full price for last year's model when what you're driving now is fine?

When you put it that way sure! But your initial post did not convey that message well.

 

[jwong]

Canon states that higher mp is for cropping - so your observation is in line with this. 8mp would be not enough for me because I often crop, rotate, convert horizontal to vertical or 2:3 to 16:9. And up to iso 800, the current 18mp sensor is ok.

I did not know that higher mp was primarily for cropping, thanks. I'd always assumed that high iso performance improved as the max iso increased, but that was not the case. I'm hoping that this new generation of cameras (1D X, 5D3, 7D2, 70D) will improve high ISO performance significantly because it's hard to shoot in dim auditoriums even with f/2.8 lenses. I do like the wide angle lens selection available to FF cameras, although I'll have to figure out what to do because I really like the 35L on the crop body, but Canon's options at 50mm don't seem that great.

 

[Marsu42]

I'm hoping that this new generation of cameras (1D X, 5D3, 7D2, 70D) will improve high ISO performance significantly because it's hard to shoot in dim auditoriums even with f/2.8 lenses. I do like the wide angle lens selection available to FF cameras, although I'll have to figure out what to do because I really like the 35L on the crop body, but Canon's options at 50mm don't seem that great.

Good thing you figured out that f2.8 doesn't enable a lens to shoot in the dark - but don't mention it too often, the people with f2.8 lenses will come after you ... oops, my macro is f2.8, too, but I'm always stating the dof is too thin to be usable. Of course an upcoming ff sensor might help to get lower iso noise, but even 1-2 EV improvement still doesn't eliminate the need for artificial light, esp. since the dynamic range is still the same. We'll have to wait another 10 years for that.

As for the 50mm: the Sigma 1.4 is highly regarded, and this aperture actually does make a difference in low light. I wouldn't get the legacy Canon 50mm lenses, I have the 50/1.8 and it's crappy and the 50/1.4 isn't better either unless stopped down.

 

[Gary W.]

Hey all,

From the title of this thread, I would assume (I know, I know) that you thought the 7D was, at one time, worth buying. I believe it still is. It is, without a doubt, the best crop sensor camera in Canon's lineup. I have been happy with mine for over 2 years, and I realize that most of what disappoints me about shooting with it is lens related or operator error. It is not a perfect camera, but for the price you can get it for, it is very hard to beat!

Gary W.

 

[KeithR]

I started out with macro, went further to landscapes, then city life, portraits, people, motion... I try to get to know a bit of everything.

Huge fan though I am of my 7D (for bird photography and sports in the main) I have to say that for the stuff you shoot, I think a 60D would be great - the added value the 7D brings to the table really does play to action and wildlife.

 

[KeithR]

If you know what you're doing you can shoot the worlds greatest photographs with 50 year old equipment.

Spoken like someone who has never shot challenging, unpredictable, fast-moving stuff in his life - have you seen how irredeemably crap 50 year old sport and wildlife photographs are by todays standards?

 

[crasher7]

You schooled me! I hope you smited me as well.

Missed my point you did Keith. But I am glad I gave you an opportunity to prove yourself and tell that idiot crasher 7 just how far off the mark he was.

See here's the deal, I shoot challenging images with a 7D successfully. I also shoot and develop my own film work with gear that is not unlike cameras and lenses from days of old.and this gives me an understanding of the timeless art of photography which lends towards to notion that it's not about the gear but who is behind the camera. Ever heard that adage before? Anyone?

 

[smirkypants]

Re: You schooled me! I hope you smited me as well.

it's not about the gear but who is behind the camera. Ever heard that adage before? Anyone?

I'm pretty sure this adage is naive, and deep down we all know it. We all know that better gear opens up different kinds of possibilities and increases the number of keepers. I can't believe some of the crap I used to shoot.

Quality of the shot = quality of the shooter + quality of the gear.

 

[bycostello]

nothing wrong with the 7d, although the mk2 is probably not far away...

 

[Marsu42]

Re: You schooled me! I hope you smited me as well.

Quality of the shot = quality of the shooter + quality of the gear.

True, but "quality" is very unspecific. Do your shots get better with weather sealing if not shooting in the rain? Do they improve with an stellar servo af if shooting macro or portrait? How many custom features and dials are needed, or can you get used even to a simpler body? So the baseline quality is the iq of the gear - I hope nobody with a 7d reads this

 

[nitsujwalker]

Re: You schooled me! I hope you smited me as well.

Quality of the shot = quality of the shooter + quality of the gear.

True, but "quality" is very unspecific. Do your shots get better with weather sealing if not shooting in the rain? Do they improve with an stellar servo af if shooting macro or portrait? How many custom features and dials are needed, or can you get used even to a simpler body? So the baseline quality is the iq of the gear - I hope nobody with a 7d reads this

You are spot on. I shoot a 7D and IQ isn't much better than my 50D though I can crop more. But I am so pleased with the autofocus and weather sealing. In my case the autofocus allows for better photos as I enjoy shooting, wildlife, sports and often take it climbing in not-so-great weather. If I weren't doing that then the upgrade wouldn't have made much of a difference at all!

 

[crasher7]

If you spend enough money you'll naysay all adages in order to justify your credit card bill

 

[adamkozlowski]

Honestly I have yet to see a 7D perform well with any glass faster than 2.8. The AF is all over the place. Get a 60D - at least it has a twist/swivel screen. And if someone tells me that 7D is weather-proof i will laugh in their faces. Mine died from a drizzle. It woke up when it dried out but it was a sore disappointment. I'm glad i sold mine after a year of constant failure. I bought it mostly for video but also as backup to my 5D2 for wedding work. I only worked with L primes. None of them worked OK on the 7D, no matter how long i spent doing AF microadjustments. Oh and the video quality wasn't even close to that of 5D2. A friend of mine, a long time pro & Canon shooter from LA, told me - don't buy the 7D, it's a dressed-up Rebel. I know i should have listened to him.

 

[smirkypants]

If you spend enough money you'll naysay all adages in order to justify your credit card bill

If you can't afford the good stuff, you'll justify your inability to get it by saying it doesn't matter.

 

[ruuneos]

Few good reasons to get 7D:
- One of the best APS-C sized sensor camera ( Or the best )
- It's a great second-hand body ( when you upgrade it )
- Sweet 8 FPS burst
- Well's amazing and surprises you every time
Great HD video DSLR.

Well those are my reasons why I ever bought it, I shoot lots of sports and videos so I came up with 7D.
I'm pretty much All-Round photographer, but this winter have been bit boring just only 2000 pics taken and 7D have surprised me every time still after these 10.000 shots.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

The 7D2 will almost certainly have lower noise and better ISO performance, so why not hold off? Why pay full price for last year's model when what you're driving now is fine?

I agree that the list price of a new one is too high, $1600 seems a bit pricy, they were about $1800 when first released over 2 years ago. Mine came in the first batch.

A MK II might cost $2100 though, the way Canon has been boosting prices. If a person does not have a need for one now, there will always be the possibility of a newer model. As I noted earlier, $1155 more less for a refurb thru Canon CLP is a good alternative. You have to call to get the current pricing.