Trying to decide between 5D Mk2 and 7D

[x5x3]

this may have made my mind up

http://www.macworld.com/article/150598/2010/04/hou...

if it is good enough for them then....

[MonkeyHanger]

I'd suggest buying according to what you shoot and what your current lens line-up is, rather than some poxy American TV show

[x5x3]

MonkeyHanger said:

I'd suggest buying according to what you shoot and what your current lens line-up is, rather than some poxy American TV show

lol - I agree with you, but a lot of the comparison reviews said people preferred the 7D for HD recording.

In terms of what I shoot then it is pretty mixed bag really.

[14-7]

Love my 7D since I bought it.

Would have loved to buy a 5D MKII but the fact I already owned EF-S lenses ruled it out. I considered the fact that I could sell them and buy EF or L series lenses but the camera body alone costs a considerable amount more than a 7D.

Since buying my 7D and using it I don't see why you would want to pay so much more for a 5D. But, and it is a big but, if you are a pro then the full frame 5D would probably serve better.

[x5x3]

14-7 said:

But, and it is a big but, if you are a pro

I wish, nowhere near good enough but lets just say my day job allows me to buy the gadgets I want and one day hope to get enough in the bank to pack it in and have a go!

Mind you, on a recent trip, the shots my 12 year old son took with my camera were as good as mine - just shows how good a modern DSLR is!

[MonkeyHanger]

x5x3 said:

I wish, nowhere near good enough but lets just say my day job allows me to buy the gadgets I want and one day hope to get enough in the bank to pack it in and have a go!

In that case, buy both

[14-7]

x5x3 said:

14-7 said:

But, and it is a big but, if you are a pro

I wish, nowhere near good enough but lets just say my day job allows me to buy the gadgets I want and one day hope to get enough in the bank to pack it in and have a go!

Mind you, on a recent trip, the shots my 12 year old son took with my camera were as good as mine - just shows how good a modern DSLR is!

Ahh, I see where you are coming from now.

I think it's all down to what you need. The 5D did not justify the near £600 increase in price for body only. I bought the 7D as it allowed me to purhcase further items with my money. I certainly don't want for any gadets I like the looks of (and I am a gadet freak) but given that if you buy a camera such as a 5D you will want good lenses, then a flash (or flashes), then filters, then software, then a new computer, then two screens rather than one, the remote shutters, blah blah blah we can go on.

By the time I'd taken it all in to account it suited me better to buy the 7D as in my position (and many others) the 5D just didn't stack up. All that it offered was a full frame sensor and nothing more which for me wasn't enough to sway it.

Since buying the 7D I've ended up with an MT24EX flash and an MPE65 (RRP of nearly £1700). Both due to me getting more in to photography and loving life in the close-up!

When you buy the camera you want more (unfortunately!).

[Byker28i]

x5x3 said:

this may have made my mind up

http://www.macworld.com/article/150598/2010/04/hou...

if it is good enough for them then....

Well, the 5d is ok, but a lot of them use the HDMI output for viewing, because it's manual focus so you use it for critical focussing. The 5D only outputs at approx 480 res, whereas the 7d and 1d mk4 does full 720p, so is better for focusing. Then you have the 7D and 1D mk4 does 60 fps for slo mo shooting and suddenly the 5d mk2 does look as good, but then I wouldn't buy a dslr for video alone.

Interestingly, Lucas films are using canon dslr for a couple of their new films, as they are significantly smaller on a rig, so fit into cockpits, cars etc easier.

[Lambochick]

14-7 said:

.......if you buy a camera such as a 5D you will want good lenses, then a flash (or flashes), then filters, then software, then a new computer, then two screens rather than one, the remote shutters, blah blah blah we can go on.

Why? If you are after good images, surely you will want good lenses no matter what body you are using, and the filters to with them (if you feel filters are a must). Software is supplied free with the camera, and I'm still using a 3+ year old Dell with a single screen to process the files from my 5D. And I still haven't bought a flash to use with it.

I rather feel you are trying to offer excuses to justify why you shouldn't buy a 5D rather than rationalise that actually you can use such a camera without spending lots of additional money on bits and pieces that in reality you don't actually need.

Edited by Lambochick on Thursday 15th April 21:50

[JustinP1]

On topic, if you have seen the 'making of' type documentary of The Pacific which was on Sky recently there was a two second shot of what looked suspiciously like a very small camera set up - suspiciously like a DSLR with a very distinctive Canon 'L' lens on it.

To me, that is kind of recognition that video recording on DSLRs is no longer a jokey second feature.

[x5x3]

thanks for the replies all, I'm still not sure what to do - I'm going to try to find somewhere with a 5d in stock and have a play

[14-7]

Lambochick said:

14-7 said:

.......if you buy a camera such as a 5D you will want good lenses, then a flash (or flashes), then filters, then software, then a new computer, then two screens rather than one, the remote shutters, blah blah blah we can go on.

Why? If you are after good images, surely you will want good lenses no matter what body you are using, and the filters to with them (if you feel filters are a must). Software is supplied free with the camera, and I'm still using a 3+ year old Dell with a single screen to process the files from my 5D. And I still haven't bought a flash to use with it.

I rather feel you are trying to offer excuses to justify why you shouldn't buy a 5D rather than rationalise that actually you can use such a camera without spending lots of additional money on bits and pieces that in reality you don't actually need.

I feel you have missed the point. If you buy something like a 5D you don't then go and buy bottom spec lenses as the same results will be gained by buying a lower camera like a 450d.

However, using some L series lenses on a 5D will produce much better results than the same on a 450d.

That outlay should be taken in to consideration when buying a camera.

[x5x3]

14-7 said:

Lambochick said:

14-7 said:

.......if you buy a camera such as a 5D you will want good lenses, then a flash (or flashes), then filters, then software, then a new computer, then two screens rather than one, the remote shutters, blah blah blah we can go on.

Why? If you are after good images, surely you will want good lenses no matter what body you are using, and the filters to with them (if you feel filters are a must). Software is supplied free with the camera, and I'm still using a 3+ year old Dell with a single screen to process the files from my 5D. And I still haven't bought a flash to use with it.

I rather feel you are trying to offer excuses to justify why you shouldn't buy a 5D rather than rationalise that actually you can use such a camera without spending lots of additional money on bits and pieces that in reality you don't actually need.

I feel you have missed the point. If you buy something like a 5D you don't then go and buy bottom spec lenses as the same results will be gained by buying a lower camera like a 450d.

However, using some L series lenses on a 5D will produce much better results than the same on a 450d.

That outlay should be taken in to consideration when buying a camera.

I have to agree, I started with a 400d, then a 40d, then L lenses and now the 5dMk2 feels like the right move, I keep everything in good condition and sell what I do not need anymore.

[GreigM]

I've just bought a 7D and cant rate it highly enough - I looked at the 5D Mk2 and it felt like I was paying a lot for the full frame - the 7D has better video, better frame rate, better metering, better autofocus - unless you have a good reason for the full frame sensor (i.e. you need the very high ISO clarity or shoot ultra wide angle often) then I couldn't justify the cost. Most of my photos will be wildlife/motorsport and/or daylight and well lit, so the crop sensor is an advantage by effectively giving me a built in 1.6x multiplier on my zoom - and zoom lenses are more expensive than wide angle anyway, so I can buy an ultra wide for less than a very long zoom. So unless you are a serious pro I'd think the 7D would be a great choice. Be wary about the video - its very difficult to use effectively - slow to focus (or manual) - you can't use it like a handycam, its like taking a professional video - you need to plan the shot, the focus etc and take time to set up the camera - it certainly isn't point & shoot.

[havoc]

From what I've read the two are complementary:-

5DMk2 for landscapes, portraits etc., where the F-F sensor can really make a difference.
7D for sports/action photography where the quicker focusing, (much) faster fps and general processing ability of the camera would be beneficial.


...so it all depends what sort of photography you do most of. I agree with the above that your current lenses could have a bearing too...

[LongQ]

Coincidentally I happend to read earlier that one entire episode of House has been shot entirely with Canon 5D.

Which is interesting. I would have thought they would go to RED but maybe there was some sort of commercial angle to it.

[GetCarter]

x5x3 said:

this may have made my mind up

http://www.macworld.com/article/150598/2010/04/hou...

if it is good enough for them then....

Thank goodness the Yanks don't believe in product placement!

Heaven forbid you'd see one in the ep!

Actually, I'm not a 'still snob'... if DSLR's can take vid, that's fine by me. If they can tell me where I am on a hill via GPS, that's also fine. If I can record my voice whilst I take the photo... great - all fine and dandy.

I'd trade all those features for a body that didn't let in dust mind.

[d1d215]

Carter ! just a quick question. If you live in such a wonderful area why don't you get yourself a 4"x5" ? If you get a good one I think you wouldn't need to worry about the dust.

[GetCarter]

d1d215 said:

Carter ! just a quick question. If you live in such a wonderful area why don't you get yourself a 4"x5" ? If you get a good one I think you wouldn't need to worry about the dust.

I'll put up with the dust for the speed & agility of a DSLR (I did 6 x 9 medium format film for a decade) knowing that the results will never be as good - but that I'll get 10 times the amount of useable shots.

It's horses for courses... I know myself well enough to know that I just ain't going to climb a hill with a flask of Bovril and a 5" x 4" plate.

Respect to those that do of course!

[Lambochick]

14-7 said:

Lambochick said:

14-7 said:

.......if you buy a camera such as a 5D you will want good lenses, then a flash (or flashes), then filters, then software, then a new computer, then two screens rather than one, the remote shutters, blah blah blah we can go on.

Why? If you are after good images, surely you will want good lenses no matter what body you are using, and the filters to with them (if you feel filters are a must). Software is supplied free with the camera, and I'm still using a 3+ year old Dell with a single screen to process the files from my 5D. And I still haven't bought a flash to use with it.

I rather feel you are trying to offer excuses to justify why you shouldn't buy a 5D rather than rationalise that actually you can use such a camera without spending lots of additional money on bits and pieces that in reality you don't actually need.

I feel you have missed the point. If you buy something like a 5D you don't then go and buy bottom spec lenses as the same results will be gained by buying a lower camera like a 450d.

However, using some L series lenses on a 5D will produce much better results than the same on a 450d.

That outlay should be taken in to consideration when buying a camera.

I don't think I missed the point, I just feel I have a different approach to my photography. If I buy a camera, I will strive to put the best lens on that camera, irrespective of what model or format the body is. Whether I bought a FF or beginner's crop, I would still aim to be putting top quality glass on it for two reasons; good glass will allow me to get the best out of the body and if I upgrade the body, I wouldn't need to upgrade the glass.