5DMk2 or 7D for Wildlife and landscape?

John Mc

John Mc

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So yeah, Anyone used either for both Wildlife and landscape?
I'm in the market for a new dslr as I feel my 500D is getting on a bit in regards to its sensor. I'm looking at both 5D mk2 and 7D as possible upgrades. Reason I'm also looking to upgrade is down to me wanting to try my hand at wildlife/bird photography. I have around £1200 marked up for new camera and lens. The two outfits I'm looking at are:
7D used and new 150-500 sigma. Cost around £1250.
Or 5D2 used and either a 24-105L or 17-40L used. Cost varying as cost of gear would fluctuate. With the 17-40L option I would be adding a 50mm f1.4 into the mix as a portrait/standard lens at a later date. And saving for a 150-500 sigma for the new year.

I wouldn't say no to full frame, I'd much likely prefer it as I still use film. Meaning I can save on carrying 2 sets of gear. And I plan to eventually get there for landscapes at the very least. As for the 7D, it means I wouldn't need to get a new standard lens, and I can afford both my desired lens and a new Dslr. Also means I'd still be carrying around film slr and gear (different brand).

I'm swaying to one set up one minute and the other the next. I'd like some input from folks with either camera if they care to share their experiences.
 
Hey hey, I was in an identical position and asked people here:
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=458791
With a poll and everything...

I ended up getting the 7D on the basis I couldn't afford the glass to make the most of FF, and my existing 10-20 Sigma got me around wider-angle (broader field of view) that it would have brought me, whilst I kept the longer reach of a crop body.
 
Well, Once I bought the 5D and the lens, be it 17-40 or 24-105, I'd be happy for a fair while. I already have a 70-200 f4, Which I use for landscapes and portraits. So I'd not need another lens, as would have the desired lenses for what I want.

The pro's for the 7D, I already have a really sharp standard lens(Tamron 17-50 2.8). I'm really happy with this lens, Has given me great photos. Also means I could get my telephoto lens.
 
Having owned a 5D mk ii, I feel the AF on it will really let you down on wildlife that moves. Its great for static objects, but its really hit and miss on anything that moves, especially very fast moving wildlife. Get the 7D due to that mate.
 
I say 100% the 7D which is exactly what I bought as an upgrade from my 500D. I tried full frame 1Dsii for a month and it did not work for me with wildlife.

The 7D has a higher frames per sec which is very handy, the AF is awsome oh and it is cheaper. 2nd hand £500-£600

Can I also add get a 70-300L as well.
 
the way to look at it, is the 7d is a perfectly good landscape camera, because it should be sat on a tripod at 100 iso etc , but the 5Dii is not such a good wildlife or anything that needs fast focus camera, i ended up with the 7d due to the above
 
7D sensor will be pretty much identical to 500D, but AF is a lot better
5DII AF will be close to 500D, but sensor is a lot better
There are a few other options out there than combine better IQ and AF. 5D3 or 1DsII / III fit the bill pretty well
 
I did think AF would be an issue, was hoping it would have been better than my 500D. Which is okay, not brilliant when it comes to moving targets. The 7D is similar in aspects to my 500D regarding sensor. And I didn't really think about the fact that it would be sat on a tripod at Iso 100, so yeah, It would be perfectly capable of Landscapes.

Daugirdas, I did look at a 5D3. Whilst my budget could probably stretch that far for a used one, I don't think I could stretch further for a lens. That being said, I could keep saving for the future and maybe go higher and get a 1DX :P

I think I still have some research and thinking to do before I sink a fair bit of money in the market. I have been swayed more to the 7D after some comments and a talk with a friend who owns one(may ask to borrow it for a day).
 
Decisions, decisions, it's not easy is it :D

I'm kind of in the same situation, upgrade from 550d to either a 7d, a 5d mk3 or save up for some time and go for a 1dx early next year, orrrrr get lucky and find a decent secondhand 1d mk4.

I'm really tempted to go 7d as it's allot less £££s than the other options, but,,,,, and there is a BIG but and that's its low light shooting capability. I shoot wildlife pretty much exclusively and find that certain wildlife's good at dawn and dusk and in the winter, dawn/dusk/winter, usually low light, higher iso required for shutter speed, more noise, stop the lens down a bit for sharpness and a reduction in shutter speed follows which is usually very anti wildlife. Poor low light performance is the killer for me and the 7d.

Allot of wildlife folk I come across with the 7d all say the same thing, on a bright day brilliant for birds in flight due to good AF and good fps rate but not very good in little light/cloudy conditions and the Uk is not the brightest place and when it is, most wildlife is hidden away in the shadows >>>>>> poor light, it's a viscious circle. I'm no pro wildlife photographer, I'm relatively new really, but after spending lots of time with my 550d and wildlife in dim to bright conditions a camera that can handle low light is the winner, step in full frame with good AF perhaps or 1d mk4 maybe.

Here ends my beer fingers :nuts:
 
I bought a 7D as I wanted to do Motorsport and landscape. I find the 7D works quite well with landscape but having used the 5D as well I'm now saving for a 5D for my landscape work as image quality is far superior especially at higher iso settings.

I guess the simple answer is that the 5D may struggle on some wildlife when moving so your option really is only a 7D.
 
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I have decided... that whilst a 5D2 would be more useful to me doing landscapes and portraits, it won't be useful when I shoot birds/wildlife. For that reason, I'm going to get a 7D And 150-500 sigma. I figure, if I don't use them as often or as much, I can sell them and buy a 5D and lens.
I now need to figure out if I buy used or new Or From the grey market.
Cheers for all advice and help.
John
 
For Landscapes AND Wildlife I think you've made the right choice between the two cameras you've mentioned.

Just to throw a spanner in the works - have you considered a used 1D Mark 3 ?
 
I had considered a 1D, but I'd still be in the same position as with the 5D2. Would need to buy a lens for standard and landscape shots and wouldn't have the cash for a telephoto.
 
owned both the last few years

5d2 for landscapes/portraits/weddings
7d for wildlife/birds/sports

one can do both jobs, but for best coverage just get two. two bodies second hand will be about £1700
 
I was using a 7D and Sigma 150-500 OS the other day, shooting birds and squirrels in a local park, and had some major problems with keeping the shutter speed high enough when I was in shadows. I had to go to ISO800 to get up to 1/320sec and I was struggling to get some crisp shots of skittish critters. Going up to ISO1600 and the noise was too invasive to the IQ. Bear in mind I was under trees and it was fairly dull.

I changed the Sigma onto my 5D3 and got some great quality shots in the same area but the ISO of that was up to around 8000 max and the quality was less noisy than the 7D at ISO1600. The 7D and Sigma 150-500 OS is a fantastic combination in bright light though and if it was 80% used in good light then you'd get on fine.

I was so disappointed with the 7D in the poor light the other day that I came home and ordered a 1D MkIII instead. I'll give that a good try and see how that gets on in poor light. If I'm not happy with that I'll sell the 7D and the 1D MkIII and find something else to make a good combination with my 5D3 or maybe even another 5D3 so I know it works.
 
After using the 5D mkiii I'm not surprised you found the 7D poor at iso 800.
My 7D is truly awful. The A.F. is fantastic though.
I find it better than my 1D mkiv.
But the iso on my 1D mkiv is fantastic.
So I think what I want is my 1Dkiv with my 7D's A.F.

That would put a smile on my face.
 
I agree that the ISO performance of the 7d is disappointing. I very rarely use it at 100ASA and it may be OK there, but 400ASA is about as far as I would consider going.

So if your main subject is likely to be landscape I would stick with a 5d2; despite the upgrade to the 5d3 the performance of the 5d2 is still excellent.

Unfortunately both cameras seem to be aimed at different "sectors" and neither does both WELL.
 
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