Gear upgrade. Is 7D still worth buying?

[nitsujwalker]

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.

I'm just curious.. You said you tried microadjust for the lenses, were they just not focusing properly on your 7D (simply out of focus)? Seems odd. I haven't shot a ton of fast glass on mine except 50mm 1.2, 1.4, and 1.8 and haven't had any problems. I wonder if your body was a dud. Anyways, I'm sorry for your bad experience with the camera. It sucks to have something that doesn't work as it should!

 

[KeithR]

Honestly I have yet to see a 7D perform well with any glass faster than 2.8. The AF is all over the place.

Mine's great - and the AF is just fine - with my little Canon 50mm f/1.8...

 

[KeithR]

7D have surprised me every time still after these 10.000 shots.

I was going to write the same thing: I've had the 7D since December 2009, and I still routinely come back from a day in the field with images that make me shake my head and think "f*** me, that's good..."

 

[KeithR]

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.

Then your friend is an idiot.

 

[dbduchene]

The 7D is NOT a dressed up Rebel

As to the focusing my 7D has had NO PROBLEMS at all with my EF 85 F1.2 and a Sigma 50 F1.4

 

[dmj]

I bought a 7D as a backup for my 5D mk II. I did love the focus and burst, but wow did I hate the IQ. When looking through my shots with the 5D I am always amazed how well it performs (couple it with a 35L and it's the closest thing to sex a camera can become) when used well. The 7D, to be honest, I never got a great shot. I got great compositions and exposures, but no images really popped. Dull photos, to put it nice, even worse on paper than on the screen.

I sold it prior to the 1DX release, knowing that I'd probably only be able to go with one of those and make my mk II my backup house. I suppose, once you've had a FF you'll never settle for a 7D.

 

[ruuneos]

I suppose, once you've had a FF you'll never settle for a 7D.

FF is always FF no turning back once you got it.
I bought 7D and going to shoot photos with this until I see to put new gear in and move to FF DSLR body.

 

[pgphillips05]

Not sure what the point of mentioning full frame cameras when TehPenguin is asking if he should buy a 7D now or wait for it's replacement.

I am in the same position and want to buy a camera like the 7D. My budget can extend a little over the 7D but is not enough to extend to a 5D.

I would absolutely wait. You can see the big improvements in technology of the Canon 1DX and 5DmIII over their previous models. Likewise with Nikon and the D4 and D800. You can bet Canon's replacement to the 7D will offer huge improvements.

You already have a DSLR, so it is not like you cannot take any photos. Why buy an almost 3 year old a camera now, only to have it blown away by it's replacement? While not for sure, I believe the 7D replacement will be available in 2012. If I bought a 7D now, I know in 6 months time when the replacement is announced, my still relatively new and expensive purchase will be feeling old and dated.

As I said, you already have a DSLR to take photos in the mean time

 

[scottsdaleriots]

I've got a 7d (it was gonna be my 2nd body til i found out the asking price for the 5dmkiii), i've had it since 2009. it's pretty good, though i've never used a FF thoroughly before so I cant compare IQ but hey, it's a crop VS a FF. Anyways it's pretty rugged and the AF is better than the 5dmkii's so no complaints there. I've gone to and done at least 14 shoots with it shooting for over 16+ hrs in one day (the longest was about 18hrs, give or take a few mins) for a major sports event - hence why i bought the camera for sports photography.

IMO what you need to ask yourself is do you really need it? There's a differences between 'need' and 'want'. 7d's pretty cheap now compared to when i bought it 3yrs ago. Will there be a 7dmkii? WHo knows? Just look at how long we waited for the 5dmkiii and how disappointing it is in price (for me at least and i wanted a MP monster to compete with nikon's cameras).

I dunno how helpful my advice is, but if you need/really want it and have the money to spend: then buy it. If you arent 100% committed to buying a 7d now (e.g. you're waiting for the mkii or some other new camera canon might annouce [which is what i'm hoping for but i know wont happen] soon) then dont buy it. If your camera stills works and does what you want it to do and you can wait a bit longer (maybe 12-24months longer) then dont buy it. Its kinda like me waiting for the new 2012 macbook pros (i've been waiting for a few years, darn apple! Im tempted to buy a late 2011 17" MBP with maybe a 27" imac but then i dont want buyers regret when apple do finally announce and release the new 2012 MBPs and updated imac's 6 or so months later).

 

[wickidwombat]

I've got a 7d (it was gonna be my 2nd body til i found out the asking price for the 5dmkiii), i've had it since 2009. it's pretty good, though i've never used a FF thoroughly before so I cant compare IQ but hey, it's a crop VS a FF. Anyways it's pretty rugged and the AF is better than the 5dmkii's so no complaints there. I've gone to and done at least 14 shoots with it shooting for over 16+ hrs in one day (the longest was about 18hrs, give or take a few mins) for a major sports event - hence why i bought the camera for sports photography.

IMO what you need to ask yourself is do you really need it? There's a differences between 'need' and 'want'. 7d's pretty cheap now compared to when i bought it 3yrs ago. Will there be a 7dmkii? WHo knows? Just look at how long we waited for the 5dmkiii and how disappointing it is in price (for me at least and i wanted a MP monster to compete with nikon's cameras).

I dunno how helpful my advice is, but if you need/really want it and have the money to spend: then buy it. If you arent 100% committed to buying a 7d now (e.g. you're waiting for the mkii or some other new camera canon might annouce [which is what i'm hoping for but i know wont happen] soon) then dont buy it. If your camera stills works and does what you want it to do and you can wait a bit longer (maybe 12-24months longer) then dont buy it. Its kinda like me waiting for the new 2012 macbook pros (i've been waiting for a few years, darn apple! Im tempted to buy a late 2011 17" MBP with maybe a 27" imac but then i dont want buyers regret when apple do finally announce and release the new 2012 MBPs and updated imac's 6 or so months later).

I think once the 650D gets announced the 7D will get cheaper since it will be a good indication of what the mk 2 will have in it. in the next few months there are going to be some nice 7D bargains to be had thats for sure

 

[ruuneos]

Well 7D Mk II is probably announced later this year or very early 2013

 

[awinphoto]

If you need a camera now to suit your needs, the 7D will deliver... If you can hold off 9-12 months or so, perhaps you may see a new 7d2 or 70D. Of course it's all hypothetical and such so take it all for what it's worth.

 

[TehPenguin]

Whoah!
Thank you for this awesome discussion! So many interesting opinions. Info's. Thanks to you I know what I have to reconsider before buying anything.

I have two few more questions:
What's the refurbished thing all about? They give you an old, cleaned up canon?
What I also forgot to mention is that I am very interested in filming.
Can you advise me in what I should get at the beginning?
A good body/lens combo?
Is any of my current lens any good for filming?
Do lenses behave different, whether you film or shoot?

 

[stinson222]

Hi,, I had the same question over that last few months in anticipation of the 5D MIII. Two questions really, was it time for me to make the FF jump, and was the 5D MIII the camera to do that with.

Well,, as much as I would have loved the 5D,,, the price was out of reach. I bought the 7D a few weeks ago, and I LOVE it. I was shooting a Rebel XSi which served me well, but the 7D us a big jump in expanded capability.

I have included two shots,, I did not take these, a friend of mine did with a 7D and a 70-300L.
I think they "Pop" just fine.!!

The third shot of the airplane is mine.

I am still on a learning curve with the camera, but so far I am impressed. The FF jump will have to wait a bit, and I'm sure I will have that feeling of expanded capability again when it comes.. Dont be afraid of the 7D. It will serve you well until the FF market is within reach.

 

[photophreek]

Boy, mention 7d in the thread and all the 7d haters come flocking like birds to a feeder telling everybody how they can't get a sharp shot because the focus system is crap. Well, better bone up on the 7d focus system and master it because the 5d III's focusing system is very similar but a whole lot more complicated. My 7d produces tack sharp pictures everytime and with all the fast glass - 50L, 35L, 85L II and so on. I don't understand the comment about the 7d and fast glass not producing sharp images.

To answer the OP, get the 7d now. Learn and master the focusing system and when the 7d II arrives in a year, you'll be an expert using the 7d II. Better yet, download the 7d instruction manual and go to the pages describing the focus system and read through it. Once you've read it, if you are confused and don't understand it, get the 60d. If you are excited and can see the possibilities for better photographs, buy the 7d.

Happy shooting

 

[jbwise01]

Considering your investment in EF lenses... The 7D is a very capable cmaera... i would think for sports (motion) it would be a considerable upgrade. In all other areas you would gain flexibilaity and IQ.

On a related topic:
I have a 5D II & a 60D. I have seriously considered purchasing the new Fuji X-pro 1 as my thrid digital body. Although it does not really do the same things as an SLR, and i would have to get all new lenses, im extremely impressed by its capability to meet or exceed the 5DII / maybe even 5DIII in low light, DR, and sharpness. Its kinda like a lieca m9 rangefinder and digital SLR had a baby. Its more of a walk around cam than a "work horse" camera, but considering the image quality, affordable quality lens', and lack of a low pass / aliasing filter.. its a worthwhile consideration for landscape, portrait, and walk around photography.

 

[briansquibb]

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.

Then your friend is an idiot.

I know a pro that rates Sigma lens and shooting at F22.

He is still stuck in the days of film

 

[ruuneos]

For video some prime lens would be great like Sigma 85mm f1.4, but it's bit high priced lens.
Well all depends what kind of photography / filming you do and look lenses to match it.

2013 on Jun-Mar 7D Mk II will be announced. IF Canon goes crazy it will be announced sooner.
6-12 Months

 

[kenraw]

Boy, mention 7d in the thread and all the 7d haters come flocking like birds to a feeder telling everybody how they can't get a sharp shot because the focus system is crap. Well, better bone up on the 7d focus system and master it because the 5d III's focusing system is very similar but a whole lot more complicated. My 7d produces tack sharp pictures everytime and with all the fast glass - 50L, 35L, 85L II and so on. I don't understand the comment about the 7d and fast glass not producing sharp images.

To answer the OP, get the 7d now. Learn and master the focusing system and when the 7d II arrives in a year, you'll be an expert using the 7d II. Better yet, download the 7d instruction manual and go to the pages describing the focus system and read through it. Once you've read it, if you are confused and don't understand it, get the 60d. If you are excited and can see the possibilities for better photographs, buy the 7d.

Happy shooting

+1
I have two 7D's and can advise that the AF is great, the main reason people complain about soft or misfocussed images is that they arn't using fast enough shutter speeds to freeze those 18mp cramed on an aps sensor. You need to use a bit higher than normal shutter speed to capture tack handheld images. But you certainly can get tack sharp images no problem. I agree with buying a 7D and get used to it because lets face it the 5dMK3 is nearly identical layout so when you eventually upgrade you will used to it.

 

[photophreek]

kenraw -

Couldn't agree more. In addition, let the IS settle on all those mp along with higher shutter speeds. I'm surprised that people who speculate on the features of the 7d II want more mp. That's the last thing I want as noise will be worse. Just improve the DR, better high and sub ISO 160 performance along with DIGIC 5 and I'll be happy. A multi-controller on the grip wouldn't hurt.

For anyone contemplating upgrading to the 7d, it's also a good idea to shoot exclusively in RAW and process your files in LR or similar software.