5D3 backup: 80D or 7D II?

James Thomas 75

James Thomas 75

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Hello everyone.

I've recently traded a few of my most unused lenses in for a credit note. And after coming to the conclusion I don't need/want any other lenses for my current shooting requirements; I've decided to get a crop body to go alongside my 5D3.

Main things I'll be using it for; will be WRC events,and the occasional air show.

I realise the AF capabilities on the 7D,will be absolutely fine with shooting in these conditions. But I also like the look of the improved sensor of the 80D....

So,the question I'm asking; is does anyone have any first hand experience,with the AF tracking capabilities of the 80D under these circumstances?
Obviously it's not going to be anywhere near as good as the 7D's. But being of a 'capable enough' standard is fine with me; as I've always got my other body to fall back on,if need be.

Would the 80 be a sufficient enough backup; or would the 7D II be the overall better choice?

Many thanks in advance.
James.
 
I don't know about the 80D.

But one thing that might be relevant is that the control layouts on the 5D III and 7D II are almost identical. I recently took those two bodies away with me on a big trip and I found switching between them involved no thought whatsoever. The 80D is somewhat different.
 
StewartR said:
the control layouts on the 5D III and 7D II are almost identical. I recently took those two bodies away with me on a big trip and I found switching between them involved no thought whatsoever. The 80D is somewhat different.
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:plus1::agree:

I regularly have two 5Diii's and a 7Dii all together with me on different lenses. I sometimes have to look at the front of the camera to check which one I'm actually using!! Same batteries etc is a huge help too. For me, the 7Dii isn't just a back-up, it's a tool for extending the focal length and it spends much of it's time in front of a 500L + 2x giving an effective 1600mm! The ISO performance will never match a FF camera, but the AF is quite stunning.
 
StewartR said:
I don't know about the 80D.

But one thing that might be relevant is that the control layouts on the 5D III and 7D II are almost identical. I recently took those two bodies away with me on a big trip and I found switching between them involved no thought whatsoever. The 80D is somewhat different.
Click to expand...

FourRingCircus said:
:plus1::agree:

I regularly have two 5Diii's and a 7Dii all together with me on different lenses. I sometimes have to look at the front of the camera to check which one I'm actually using!! Same batteries etc is a huge help too. For me, the 7Dii isn't just a back-up, it's a tool for extending the focal length and it spends much of it's time in front of a 500L + 2x giving an effective 1600mm! The ISO performance will never match a FF camera, but the AF is quite stunning.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies,both of you.

I hadn't really considered the control layout difference,to be honest. Obviously that's another plus for the 7D.

On the subject of ISO performance. How does the Mark II compare to its previous version?
As that's what I had (paired up with a 5D2) before selling on for my current body.
And I was never very impressed with the noise levels on any given sensitivity,to be honest...:rolleyes:
 
James Thomas 75 said:
On the subject of ISO performance. How does the Mark II compare to its previous version?
Click to expand...
It's better, but it couldn't have been much worse! I didn't like going over 800 ISO with the mk1. Now, I don't like going over 1600 with the mk2. At the end of the day, if light is an issue, I just pick up a 5Diii instead.
 
I went with the 7Dii as backup because of the control layouts.

Switching between them is super easy. I actually swapped from a 6D which I had as backup partially because I would always fail on some of the buttons while using dual body.
 
I have a 5D3 and 7D2. I have inadvertently taken the wrong one sometimes as they do appear very similar.

My only difficulties swapping between the two is that I sometimes get caught out by the fact that the exposure meter is on the right hand side of the viewfinder on the 7D2. I sometimes see the exposure compensation running along the bottom and think my exposure is correct when it's not. It doesn't happen too often, but I really should have learnt by now! :rolleyes: I'm not sure of the viewfinder layout on the 80D
 
Does that mean that it is on the bottom on a 5Diii? I read somewhere that all pro cameras have it on the right?

I have a 7D ii and generally do not even see the exposure meter.
 
Many thanks for all the replies,guys.
Think I need to find somewhere to have a play with both. Just to see how different the 80D is control wise before I make any hasty decision :)
 
If you want action shots then go 7d2 if you want a backup then get another 5d3
 
the only thing different is the lack of a joystick ,imho and based on the use of the other two 7d2 in the household is the 80d edges it on high iso performance,and has a larger raw buffer ..in all other respects there virtually equal
 
the black fox said:
the only thing different is the lack of a joystick ,imho and based on the use of the other two 7d2 in the household is the 80d edges it on high iso performance,and has a larger raw buffer ..in all other respects there virtually equal
Click to expand...

I thought the 7d2 had the higher RAW buffer? Only the Canon 1DX and 1DX mk 2 have a larger RAW buffer than the 7D mk2 I thought?
 
the black fox said:
the only thing different is the lack of a joystick ,imho and based on the use of the other two 7d2 in the household is the 80d edges it on high iso performance,and has a larger raw buffer ..in all other respects there virtually equal
Click to expand...

And the rear button layout being totally different.
 
I can only base my comments on usage of both cameras ,for me the 80D just edges it ,it's really a bit of give and take between them .the more I use it the more I like it
 
the black fox said:
I can only base my comments on usage of both cameras ,for me the 80D just edges it ,it's really a bit of give and take between them .the more I use it the more I like it
Click to expand...

The 7d2 has a larger buffer and a faster shot rate, which means although the buffer is larger, it'll fill faster.

Canon 80D : Continuous Shooting Max. Approx. 7fps. (speed maintained for up to 110 images (JPEG)(with UHS-I card), 25 images (RAW)(with UHS-I card))
Canon 7D2 : Continuous Shooting Max. Approx. 10fps. (speed maintained for up to an infinite number of JPEGs or 31 RAW images with UDMA7 card.

So the 7D2 fills the buffer in around 3 seconds, while the 80D fills the buffer in around 3.5 seconds (if you shoot at full FPS)
 
the black fox said:
I can only base my comments on usage of both cameras ,for me the 80D just edges it ,it's really a bit of give and take between them .the more I use it the more I like it
Click to expand...

Have you used both for anything significantly fast moving? As that's the main thing I'm stuck between.
If I can be assured the 80D has a decent enough servo tracking system,for the likes of motorsport etc. then I'll be more than happy to get that one.
 
James Thomas 75 said:
Have you used both for anything significantly fast moving? As that's the main thing I'm stuck between.
If I can be assured the 80D has a decent enough servo tracking system,for the likes of motorsport etc. then I'll be more than happy to get that one.
Click to expand...
Yes I do wildlife and it's more than fast enough for fast moving b.i.f ,there are two 7DMk 2 in the household as well so yes I have tried both out my preference lies with the 80D .each to there own ,all the tech details in the world look good on paper ,it's the results in use that count .a lot also depends on the lens your using if coupled with good glass it won't let you down ,also the ability to shoot clean high iso raw files is a distinct advantage
 
the black fox said:
Yes I do wildlife and it's more than fast enough for fast moving b.i.f ,there are two 7DMk 2 in the household as well so yes I have tried both out my preference lies with the 80D .each to there own ,all the tech details in the world look good on paper ,it's the results in use that count .a lot also depends on the lens your using if coupled with good glass it won't let you down ,also the ability to shoot clean high iso raw files is a distinct advantage
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot.
All of the rally stuff I shoot,I will be using a 70-200 II. So it'll be paired up with decent enough glass to aid it's focusing.
Reason I've taken to asking people's 'real world' opinions on the AF; is due to a few reviews (think it was DP review?) saying it has a tendency to struggle tracking with fast moving objects. But I've been looking at a few of the action shots on the 80D thread over on POTN; and there's some cracking shots.
 
The trouble with these reviews is they are done without the reviewer having had time to tweak the settings .or even attempting to .no trouble with mine it does like to be locked on target but it's down to getting to know the quirks of the camera and lens combo
 
the black fox said:
The trouble with these reviews is they are done without the reviewer having had time to tweak the settings .or even attempting to .no trouble with mine it does like to be locked on target but it's down to getting to know the quirks of the camera and lens combo
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the help. Much appreciated.
I don't have any problems (to some extent) with getting a lower keep rate,due to me learning the system.
As long as I know it's down to me,and not the camera's limitations :)
 
here ya go click on pic it will take you into my flickrstream ,more than enough proof of the pudding shots in there,no hidden exif either you can see both camera lens and settings
claws 'n' jaws by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
 
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the black fox said:
here ya go click on pic it will take you into my flickrstream ,more than enough proof of the pudding shots in there,no hidden exif either you can see both camera lens and settings
claws 'n' jaws by jeff and jan cohen, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll be sure to have a look when I have access to something bigger than my mobile's screen.

One other thing. Does the 80D have the wireless flash control built into it?
 
Not sure virtually never use flash ,must be in the specs
 
Thanks again everyone,for the help and advice.
I've decided to give the 80D the benefit of the doubt; and should be with me tomorrow.
 
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