should I buy a 7D now for Cad $690

[littlewildcat]

A friend offered to sell me her 7D (3yrs old) with around 6K clicks on it. The camera looks like new with all the original accessories. The owner allows my to test it thoroughly before I make up my mind.
7D was once one of my dream cameras but now a lot of newer models seem to have better features.
I have saved up enough money to buy it to replace my very old but still very capable 40D but not sure if I should go for it.
Is the price reasonable ? Is it a good replacement to my 40D ? ( I may be able to sell my 40D for $180 to $200 so the actual replacement cost will be $500)

Any input will be appreciate.

 

[JPAZ]

IMHO, f the camera meets your needs and if the 40D no longer meets your needs, I'd go for it. Waiting for the newest and greatest will leave you on the fence forever. If, on the other hand, the high ISO capabilities will disappoint you, then get something newer. When buying used equipment, it is always nicer to know exactly from whom you are getting the camera (as opposed to a pristine looking used body that may have been dropped, submerged or otherwise harmed but patched back together). Look online to see what kind of prices others are asking for the 7D. New 7D's are selling right now for $970 (unauthorized) to $1200 USD (Canon North America dealer). In any event, you'd get better FPS and a better focus system than the 40D, which is also a great body.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

If you need 8 frames per second, 7D is a good option. If you need better noise performance, 70D is better. Actually 7D has a problem with pictures of flat objects (blue sky) at ISO 100, where a pattern of pretty ugly noise appears. Canon 70D does not have this problem.

 

[Random Orbits]

I'd suggest taking a look at the 70D in a store and then deciding on the price and feature set that best fits you.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

For the price, its a deal. You can't go wrong with a low usage camera for that price (assuming its in good operating shape). The 7D will be worth what you paid for it for a few more years. Its definitely a improvement over a 40D, I have a 40D (My 5th). I've also had two 7D's which I sold to upgrade to 1 series bodies.

If you decide that its not a huge improvement, you can always resell it for a tidy profit and get a 70D, or better yet, a 6D.

 

[MTL18]

I wouldn't. The 40D is still a very capable camera and that extra cash could be used towards lenses/flashes/tripods etc.

However, if you have a very mature collection of lenses, you could always upgrade the body. For myself, until the body breaks, I'm keeping it.

 

[Emil]

If you need the 8fps speed and good autofocus go for it. But remember that anything above 800iso is pretty noisy.

 

[selk]

I just upgraded my 40D to a used 7D, and it's worked well for me. My primary shooting is active kids and adult sports, and I was hoping that the 7D would increase the number of keepers I get (better AF and more FPS) and add a bit of flexibility to my shooting (slightly better high ISO). So far so good:

1) Playing around with both the 40D and 7D using a 70-200 F2.8 non-IS, shooting a kid zooming around on a bicycle, I got around 33% tack sharp with the 40D and 50% tack sharp with the 7D. Given the higher frame rate of the 7D, that's about 2x the number of sharp photos.

2) I recently shot a game at a poorly lit field, and was at 1/500th at ISO 6400. With the 40D I'd have been underexposing by a stop at H (3200) to get the same shutter speed. Noise was definitely pretty bad, but the 40D would have been worse. My results were sufficient for the web coverage I needed to get.

For me it's not night and day: the 40D is capable, and I got results with it that I was happy with, so while my results are better with the 7D I don't consider it to be that huge of a leap. Also, if my photography leaned more towards formal portraits or landscapes or travel I'd have chosen something different.

I was also considering a used 1DIII (a beat up 1DIII seems to go for around the same price as a nice 7D), but decided on the 7D because I own a 17-55 and my 70-200 is already a bit reach-limited for sports. Still not sure I made the right choice, but I do like my 7D, and don't regret the upgrade. Next camera will plausibly be a 1DIV (by the time I can afford one they'll probably be much less expensive!), but first a 300 F2.8...

 

[greger]

If you don't have the money for the 7D ll when it comes out buy your friends used 7D and you won't regret it. My 40D
started giving me Error 99 after every shot. I went online and tried everything that was posted. I even replaced the
backup battery. I cleaned all the contacts on my lenses and body to no avail. My wife got tired of watching me re and re
the camera battery and ok'd me purchasing the 7D body only for about double what you will pay for used. My 17-85 lens that came with the 40D gained a new life on the 7D. I am getting better pics with the 7D than I could with the 40D. As long as you work around the weaknesses of the 7D you will be happy. I use Auto ISO and Auto White Balance without too many problems. Someone I ran into that had a 7D said I could use everything I have for the 40D with the 7D. He was right. I bought two faster CF cards with more GB and keep my others as spares. I won't be upgrading when the new 7D ll and 100-400 ll comes out but if I ever wear out my stuff then I will upgrade then.

 

[Dylan777]

40D is a solid camera. It was my 1st DSLR. You won't see much dif. in IQ. Huge improvement will be AF system. If you not shoot anything fast, I say stay with 40d and save up money for full frame(6D, 5D III etc...). 40D Vs 6D or 5D III, IQ will be day and night dif.

 

[littlewildcat]

Thank you all for your advice and opinion. I have played with the 7D for 2 days and have decided to keep my 40D and save up more money for a FF (6D) by the end of the year.

Except for the slightly better ISO, a more sophisticated AF system and some bells and whistles on the 7D, I don't see much benefit of switching. People are selling 40D on the CL dirt cheap , I don't think I will be able to sell my 40D for $200. If I have to sell it for $150 - $180, I prefer to keep my 40D as a spare when I have a FF.

Happy clicking.

 

[jdramirez]

She is selling it to you at a very fair price. If you don't like it, sell it and don't lose much. The 7d is a very nice body and is a definite upgrade over the 40d. I don't think you will see a 70d used at 700 for another year or two.. So waiting that long might not be worth it.

 

[AshtonNekolah]

People always get caught up with the latest, man if you love the 7D get it, there is no such thing as the latest camera there will always be new models, the best camera is the one your familiar with and can use with your eye closed not fiddling around with what is what. Cheers. Before all these new models the 7D was a hot shot and still is with skills.