Anyone upgraded from a 7D to 5D MK III?

ajax_andy

ajax_andy

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Andy
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Just wondering if anyone has made that jump on here, and if so what specific benefits did you see in your pics that were a direct result from the upgrade?

Yes I know user skill makes the pics not the camera etc, but I am just really interested in finding out what improvements people have seen specifically from the upgrade.
 
I wouldn't say I upgraded from the 7D to the 5Diii, but I have both bodies and therefore can perhaps give a reasonable comparison.:cool:

My main photography interest is wildlife/birds, so I have to say that I still prefer to enjoy the crop factor of the 7D. However, the pictures from the 5Diii are better - especially in lower light. The 5Diii provides far less noisy pictures than the 7D across the entire ISO range and I'll happily shoot at 6400ISO on the 5Diii, where I won't be happy at half this figure on the 7D. The resolution and quality of the pictures is simply better.

I find (swapping between the two) the most noticeable difference between the bodies is in the magnification function. The + & - buttons at the top right of the 7D are not there on the 5Diii. Instead, it has a single (left side) button with a magnifying glass icon which is customisable to give you up to 10x magnification at a single press. You then use the top wheel to go in and out of magnification. I constantly try to use the top right (7D configuration) buttons when checking shots on the 5Diii and that's my only annoyance.

There is no question that the 5Diii is a far better camera than the 7D, but then it is twice the price. The AF feels different, but it's still on a par with the 7D. The IQ is better (being FF it will be I suppose). The batteries etc are the same for both bodies.

Speaking only for wildlife, the best way I can quantify it is to say that if the subject is close enough, I'd rather use the 5Diii than the 7D every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Unfortunately however, the subject is rarely close enough and hence my 7D is typically found on my longest lens with a TC in there for good measure too. If all wildlife were tame, I'd throw away the 7D,.... but it's not.

I've no idea if your 'thing' is wildlife, but if it's not, and you don't need the crop factor, then it's a huge upgrade from a 7D without feeling like it's a completely different machine. I believe the 5Diii is one of the top three best bodies Canon currently produce. Hope this helps.:thumbs:
 
I did and very happy with the results, takes some getting used to, but iso is miles better in low light.
 
FourRingCircus said:
I wouldn't say I upgraded from the 7D to the 5Diii, but I have both bodies and therefore can perhaps give a reasonable comparison.:cool:

My main photography interest is wildlife/birds, so I have to say that I still prefer to enjoy the crop factor of the 7D. However, the pictures from the 5Diii are better - especially in lower light. The 5Diii provides far less noisy pictures than the 7D across the entire ISO range and I'll happily shoot at 6400ISO on the 5Diii, where I won't be happy at half this figure on the 7D. The resolution and quality of the pictures is simply better.

I find (swapping between the two) the most noticeable difference between the bodies is in the magnification function. The + & - buttons at the top right of the 7D are not there on the 5Diii. Instead, it has a single (left side) button with a magnifying glass icon which is customisable to give you up to 10x magnification at a single press. You then use the top wheel to go in and out of magnification. I constantly try to use the top right (7D configuration) buttons when checking shots on the 5Diii and that's my only annoyance.

There is no question that the 5Diii is a far better camera than the 7D, but then it is twice the price. The AF feels different, but it's still on a par with the 7D. The IQ is better (being FF it will be I suppose). The batteries etc are the same for both bodies.

Speaking only for wildlife, the best way I can quantify it is to say that if the subject is close enough, I'd rather use the 5Diii than the 7D every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Unfortunately however, the subject is rarely close enough and hence my 7D is typically found on my longest lens with a TC in there for good measure too. If all wildlife were tame, I'd throw away the 7D,.... but it's not.

I've no idea if your 'thing' is wildlife, but if it's not, and you don't need the crop factor, then it's a huge upgrade from a 7D without feeling like it's a completely different machine. I believe the 5Diii is one of the top three best bodies Canon currently produce. Hope this helps.:thumbs:
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This is a great response... thanks for taking the time to write it.

I shoot mainly weddings and portraits... maybe a bit of commercial thrown in for good measure, but I found your response very helpful anyway. Tbh I am keen to hear from anyone who's made the switch regardless of what they shoot as certain things still cross over to the different genres of shooting.

Like you I plan on keeping the 7D as I need 2 cameras for weddings, with the 5D MK III being used for most of the work and the 7D being used for candids with the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens I have. I think with both i'd have a great set to do my work with.

I knew the low noise was a very good reason to get the MK III, but other factors are also important.

How do you find the way the MK III produces colour or rather records colour in images... does it have noticably more depth, and if you compared the same image from a 7d would you be able to tell the difference?
 
ajax_andy said:
This is a great response... thanks for taking the time to write it.
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You're welcome Andy - that's what the forum is for - plus it's a good excuse to keep my mind off work for a while!;)

ajax_andy said:
I knew the low noise was a very good reason to get the MK III, but other factors are also important.

How do you find the way the MK III produces colour or rather records colour in images... does it have noticably more depth, and if you compared the same image from a 7d would you be able to tell the difference?
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I imagine the 5Diii will be perfect for weddings - especially if you don't want to use a flash. I'm not a pro-tog and I've never done a wedding (nor would I want to), but I'm sure a proper wedding tog will be along shortly to tell you the benefits of the 5Diii. For what it's worth, I wouldn't have considered using a 7D for weddings but that's probably because my shortest lens is 24-70 F2.8L.

As far as colour depth is concerned, that's a tough question.:shrug: Firstly, it's obviously subjective, and secondly, I've never tried to compare! It's hard enough trying to grab a bird shot handheld on 700mm, without thinking about swapping bodies and trying to get the same shot again for a comparison!:lol: The only thing I could say (given that virtually all shots have some element of PP before going to Flickr etc, is that I find it easier to make a 5Diii shot 'pop' than I do with the 7D. It's not enough of a difference to make a song and dance about it - I'm still perfectly happy with the 7D results - it's just the the 5Diii captures feel better which isn't really a surprise given the light capture available to a full frame.:thumbs:

Many of my Flickr shots show the filename beginning with '5D3' or '7D' and you can see for yourself if you think there's a difference. Bear in mind that none of them are straight out of the camera though. Strangely enough, the shots I consider to be my best (birds) were done with a 550D, but that was just down to some luck and a fantastic lens.

One think is for sure, if you are not convinced about buying a 5Diii then you really shouldn't worry. It's that good - but as you know, it's not all about the camera.;)
 
FourRingCircus said:
You're welcome Andy - that's what the forum is for - plus it's a good excuse to keep my mind off work for a while!;)



I imagine the 5Diii will be perfect for weddings - especially if you don't want to use a flash. I'm not a pro-tog and I've never done a wedding (nor would I want to), but I'm sure a proper wedding tog will be along shortly to tell you the benefits of the 5Diii. For what it's worth, I wouldn't have considered using a 7D for weddings but that's probably because my shortest lens is 24-70 F2.8L.

As far as colour depth is concerned, that's a tough question.:shrug: Firstly, it's obviously subjective, and secondly, I've never tried to compare! It's hard enough trying to grab a bird shot handheld on 700mm, without thinking about swapping bodies and trying to get the same shot again for a comparison!:lol: The only thing I could say (given that virtually all shots have some element of PP before going to Flickr etc, is that I find it easier to make a 5Diii shot 'pop' than I do with the 7D. It's not enough of a difference to make a song and dance about it - I'm still perfectly happy with the 7D results - it's just the the 5Diii captures feel better which isn't really a surprise given the light capture available to a full frame.:thumbs:

Many of my Flickr shots show the filename beginning with '5D3' or '7D' and you can see for yourself if you think there's a difference. Bear in mind that none of them are straight out of the camera though. Strangely enough, the shots I consider to be my best (birds) were done with a 550D, but that was just down to some luck and a fantastic lens.

One think is for sure, if you are not convinced about buying a 5Diii then you really shouldn't worry. It's that good - but as you know, it's not all about the camera.;)
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Thanks mate another great post :)

I use a 17-55mm f/2.8 canon lens for weddings and it works pretty well on the 7D, but will be looking at the 24-70mm when / if I get the 5D MK III.

I'm definitely considering getting one in the next 12 months... I do love the 7D despite a few short comings, and could easily pick up a 2nd for a fraction of the cost of the 5D but I do feel that I'd just end up replacing the 2nd 7D with a 5D at some point so feel I might as well just get it as it saves me an upgrade later on.

I know it'll be better than the 7D but I'm kind of interested in just how much better... sounds like you find it a much better camera, and I know with L glass on it I'll have the best kit to do what I do best... problem is I'll only have myself to blame when the pics still aren't as good as I want :D
 
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I went from a 7D to a 5D2.

IQ is much improved as is its low light capability. I never really got on with the 7D and wished I'd made the jump earlier. Plus my lenses really shine in FF, just as they were intended. I now mainly use MF so felt the 5D3 wasn't worth the additional cost.

If the 5D2 is a big jump the 5D3 be even better.
 
Thanks guys... ok it's decided I'm definitely getting one. I have the 70-200mm f/2.8 L and 50mm f/1.4 that will both work with it so I can buy one and then save up for the 24-70mm and get that in the future. Just need a couple more bookings and then my order is going in :)

Just bought an iPad 4 today so wife might hit the roof if I spend anything else before getting the required bookings in first :D
 
I have both the 5D3 and a 7D and can honestly say the only plusses of the 7D is the higher FPS and the extra reach. The IQ of the 5D3 is better and the ISO handling is amazing compared to the 7D. The AF system of the 7D is very good but the AF of the 5D3 is excellent. I did some BIF shots the other day on both and the tracking of the 5D3 makes it much easier than the 7D too.
 
ajax_andy said:
Thanks guys... ok it's decided I'm definitely getting one. I have the 70-200mm f/2.8 L and 50mm f/1.4 that will both work with it so I can buy one and then save up for the 24-70mm and get that in the future. Just need a couple more bookings and then my order is going in :)

Just bought an iPad 4 today so wife might hit the roof if I spend anything else before getting the required bookings in first :D
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I have the same lenses as you, and got the 24-70 after a week I sold it to get a 24-105 for a bit more reach, with the lowlight iso you can use the 24-105 so dont need the 2.8

Just use your 700-200 when you need the 2.8
 
modchild said:
I have both the 5D3 and a 7D and can honestly say the only plusses of the 7D is the higher FPS and the extra reach. The IQ of the 5D3 is better and the ISO handling is amazing compared to the 7D. The AF system of the 7D is very good but the AF of the 5D3 is excellent. I did some BIF shots the other day on both and the tracking of the 5D3 makes it much easier than the 7D too.
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Thanks mate good info :)

I need to stop reading this thread now as feeling that impulse buying urge sweeping over me :lol:
 
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