Canon 60D or 7D?

Joshwain

Joshwain

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Hi all,

I've not posted on here for a while but back when I did, it was usually complaining that I couldn't afford the gear I wanted - which is why my current camera is the Canon 20D. However, recently I've been better off financially (despite having just started university) and I'm thinking of upgrading!

The two cameras that I've mainly been looking at are the Canon 60D and the 7D.

Now from what I've read so far, people were saying go for the 7D back when they were both similarly priced but since the launch of the 70D, the 60D is now considerably cheaper despite being basically the same on paper.

What I want to ask is why would I pay £200 more (in some cases, used) for the 7D when the 60D is more or less the same?

When I claim they are "more or less the same", it's just based on the following link. Maybe you'll have hundreds of reasons why the 7D is better! If you do, tell me them! (http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_60D-vs-Canon_EOS_7D)

Cheers,
Josh.
 
Will be keeping an eye on this as in the same boat, was just going to go for the 7d but seem to be seeing people with lots of focus and IQ problems with them
 
If you can live without the AF system, micro adjustment and fps of the 7D in your subject matter than seriously go for the 60D. I swapped my few months old 60D for a 7D and ended up regretting it really. If you want good clean photos and you don't want to be doing more noise reduction PP for shots above ISO1600 then the 60D will suit you perfectly.

I've had 2 7D's altogether and both of them have given me SOME fantastic shots (mostly at under ISO400 and none above ISO1600) but they've also had problems. The first one would over or under expose in the middle of a few shots on High and Low speed fps and also wasn't as sharp as I'd expected. The second was more reliable on exposure and was sharper but the noise in both the cameras was bad at ISO1600 and above. I could quite happily shoot all day at ISO3200 with the 60D and get good clean shots with very good IQ shots all the time.

There's no doubt that the 7D is a great camera, and used correctly in the right conditions it will give you great shots. But, the 60D is more forgiving and will give you the same great shots in the same conditions. I decided to paet ex my second 7D for a 70D recently as I couldn't get the quality of shots I wanted in the subjecs I was shooting, however with the 70D I can get the shots I want all the time.
 
For me the AF system and the build, but for others the 60d's screen is a big plus. They're not that similar in the real world, just the same sensor.

Personally I'm happy to have a camera that doesn't have the idiot modes, I'd pay extra for camera manufacturers to miss stuff off.
 
I am probably going to sell my 7D and get a full frame body if you are tempted :)
 
E.M.P. said:
I am probably going to sell my 7D and get a full frame body if you are tempted :)
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Before you do, have a look at some of the stuff I posted about the drawbacks.

Also if you have and ef-s lenses you will miss them.
 
I was forward thinking so all lenses are EF :)

Apart from the loss of extra reach what are the other drawbacks? I will still have a crop body to fall back on if I need it, it just suits me better to sell the 7D to help fund full frame and keep the other crop body.
 
So it's a mixed bag so far, and I'm still torn! :lol:

Doesn't the 7D have better weather proofing, or have I thought that up myself?

At the moment, I can't see any huge advantages of the 7D to justify spending more. That £200 or so could be a couple of filters or something! Hmm...

E.M.P. said:
I am probably going to sell my 7D and get a full frame body if you are tempted :)
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I'm so so tempted, but still so undecided :lol:
 
E.M.P. said:
I was forward thinking so all lenses are EF :)

Apart from the loss of extra reach what are the other drawbacks? I will still have a crop body to fall back on if I need it, it just suits me better to sell the 7D to help fund full frame and keep the other crop body.
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Going off topic, but now not a lot. I originally winged a lot but have learnt to love the full frame. You will miss the reach, but you will be able to get amazing results from iso that the 7d cannot even get, I've taken photo's i'd print at iso 64000. The 7d seems simply compared to most full frame cameras though - the autfocus is completely adjustable to different situations (or idiot modes as phil would say) so you can change how the af works for sport and other settings.

Biggest drawback for me was losing the 10-22 just when I want to get into landscapes, and losing the reach just as I change from 100-400 to 70-200. Really all my own fault.
 
I had 60d and it was really good.Many keepers and less noise compared to 7d in my experience.
 
renu said:
I had 60d and it was really good.Many keepers and less noise compared to 7d in my experience.
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I'd be willing to bet you could have gotten the same photo's from the 7d. It is noisy at very high iso, but it's perfectly usable still. Only photographers and people on forums care about the tiny amount of noise.
 
E.M.P. said:
What type of shooting do you do? Is it people/landscapes/sport/action?
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I'm mainly interested in landscapes at the minute but I've just started a Media & Communication degree at Birmingham City University and for the photography module, we mainly have to shoot people. Our first assignment is to put together a portfolio of 4 environmental portraits. I'd also love to get in to sports photography, given the chance - which is potentially on the cards with me having to find a 70 hour work placement somewhere.

E.M.P. said:
Overall i`m happy with the 7D. I did have a few issues when I first got it but once you get used to it and how to get the best from it then it will get some nice shots. I`m nowhere near professional but i`m happy with the results it can produce......

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=5813978#post5813978
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There's some great shots there, well done! :thumbs:
 
Joshwain said:
I'm mainly interested in landscapes at the minute but I've just started a Media & Communication degree at Birmingham City University and for the photography module, we mainly have to shoot people. Our first assignment is to put together a portfolio of 4 environmental portraits. I'd also love to get in to sports photography, given the chance - which is potentially on the cards with me having to find a 70 hour work placement somewhere.



There's some great shots there, well done! :thumbs:
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For sports the 7d would smash the 60d. fps is much much better. Also better weather sealing. Imagine shooting in sport and having to stop because it started to rain a bit. Have a look at the digitrev review of how tough the 7d is to see just what it can deal with.
 
If it is mainly landscape and people then the 60D, if its motorsport then the 7D would be the way to go because of the 8fps, focus system, weather sealing etc. Saying that if its just casual motorsport the 60D will be perfectly suitable.
 
supersammy said:
I'd be willing to bet you could have gotten the same photo's from the 7d. It is noisy at very high iso, but it's perfectly usable still. Only photographers and people on forums care about the tiny amount of noise.
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Hi

You are right, that may be the case.I am just stating my opinion and not trying to make a statement.

thanks
 
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I've owned both and feel I have learnt more from the 7D due to the extremely advanced AF system. In terms of image quality, they're pretty indistinguishable from one another.

Ignore what people tell you about FPS and weather sealing... What a load of rubbish! The FPS is a personal preference and has nothing to do with "which camera is better". If you shoot sports or wildlife then yeah, sure, a higher FPS would probably come in handy. The 60D 5.4 FPS (or whatever it is) is more than capable otherwise. As for the weather sealing ... who cares?! Look around on the internet, the 7D is just as easily broken as any other camera (please, no one post the DRev video, we've all seen it!).

At the end of the day a camera is a tool. Break down its features and decide what would be most beneficial to your style of photography. Then make your decision.
 
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Eddzz!! said:
I've owned both and feel I have learnt more from the 7D due to the extremely advanced AF system. In terms of image quality, they're pretty indistinguishable from one another.

Ignore what people tell you about FPS and weather sealing... What a load of rubbish! The FPS is a personal preference and has nothing to do with "which camera is better". If you shoot sports or wildlife then yeah, sure, a higher FPS would probably come in handy. The 60D 5.4 FPS (or whatever it is) is more than capable otherwise. As for the weather sealing ... who cares?! Look around on the internet, the 7D is just as easily broken as any other camera (please, no one post the DRev video, we've all seen it!).

At the end of the day a camera is a tool. Break down its features and decide what would be most beneficial to your style of photography. Then make your decision.
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Thanks for that! I've started to mainly look at the 7D, for what I'd use it for I reckon it would marginally be better but the other thing I've been thinking about is the price. Although it's quite a lot more than the 60D, it's been around for longer which either means it's going to stay around the same price for a while longer or suddenly drop.

Obviously, it's not all about the value of your camera but in a couple of years (or whenever it is) when the 80D comes out, the 60D is going to drop in price even more!

Of course, the 7D will also do that at some point but I'm not only seeing it as a better photographic investment but something where my financial investment isn't going to decline so rapidly.

Hopefully that makes sense, rushing posts on here at dinner time isn't a good idea - woops! :lol:
 
all depends on budget and what is needed, theres nothing that the 70D does that the 60D can't do if you are into still photos.

Videos then yes the 70D is a winner hands down but on still images and even motorsport, i'd take the 60D and get a quaility lens every time.

The 6D on the other hand is a superb camera for low light iso capabillities and captures great detail from what I have seen.
 
Phil V said:
.
Personally I'm happy to have a camera that doesn't have the idiot modes, I'd pay extra for camera manufacturers to miss stuff off.
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Same here Phil, Does anyone make a basic dslr without all those scene modes and video etc cluttering things up.

I bet they would sell tons if they did, just a nice bare bones. I thought i had found it with the 5D 1, but it didn't have live view which I love so it had to go, I've just bought a 50d off here and hope that is as good as the 5d.
 
E.M.P. said:
Open to offers on my 7D with grip and extra batteries :)
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Can you put it up in the for sale section then so we can have a look...the mods castrate and pickle your onions for trying to sell in the non classified sections :)
 
E.M.P. said:
Open to offers on my 7D with grip and extra batteries :)
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Martyn D said:
Can you put it up in the for sale section then so we can have a look...the mods castrate and pickle your onions for trying to sell in the non classified sections :)
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Yeah, put it in the classifieds and I'd have a think about it. From what I've been looking at so far though, I'm looking to spend around £600 - condition and shutter count depending.

daugirdas said:
Did you mean 6D or 70D? That's the min. I'd be looking at if I was buying NEW
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I'm a student so I can't afford that sort of money on just a body. I'll be looking for either the 60D or 7D used - which I should probably have said in my original post :)
 
dalegt4 said:
all depends on budget and what is needed, theres nothing that the 70D does that the 60D can't do if you are into still photos.

Videos then yes the 70D is a winner hands down but on still images and even motorsport, i'd take the 60D and get a quaility lens every time.

The 6D on the other hand is a superb camera for low light iso capabillities and captures great detail from what I have seen.
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I think there's a little confusion here, I mean the 60D or 7D... not the 70D :p

Thanks for your point though! I'm not too interested in videography, purely photography!
 
Joshwain said:
I think there's a little confusion here, I mean the 60D or 7D... not the 70D :p

Thanks for your point though! I'm not too interested in videography, purely photography!
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Haha, sorry I was replying to the message saying that " the minimum would be the 6D or 70D" comment.

I know you were looking at the 60D and 7D so was basically sticking up saying that both the 7d and 60d do everything the 70d does at less of a price bar the video. :)
 
dalegt4 said:
Haha, sorry I was replying to the message saying that " the minimum would be the 6D or 70D" comment.

I know you were looking at the 60D and 7D so was basically sticking up saying that both the 7d and 60d do everything the 70d does at less of a price bar the video. :)
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Oh right :p

Yeah, that's always the case when a new model comes out! There's technically barely any difference between the two yet the new one is always almost twice as expensive. I'll never understand people who buy camera gear new.

I guess someone has to though! :lol:
 
dalegt4 said:
Haha, sorry I was replying to the message saying that " the minimum would be the 6D or 70D" comment.

I know you were looking at the 60D and 7D so was basically sticking up saying that both the 7d and 60d do everything the 70d does at less of a price bar the video. :)
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That's not true
I have had 2 7d's never got on with either of them and sold them and got a 70d which is so much better IMO
I would never recommend anyone get a 7d
This thread is well worth a read http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=502333
 
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c22w1 said:
I too would stay clear if the 7D, picky focus and pictures are far too noisy for the cost if the camera, a BIG disappointment as far as I am concerned.
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couldn't agree more
I found this out to my great cost
 
Rebel t3i said:
That's not true
I have had 2 7d's never got on with either of them and sold them and got a 70d which is so much better IMO
I would never recommend anyone get a 7d
This thread is well worth a read http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=502333
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But the technicallity is that the whole statement might not be true for everyone but from the images i have seen from the 70D they are no better than correctly shot images from a 60D.... and in all honesty there are a fair few people that have stunning images from a 7D, there is a fella who posted a lizard just the other day and the detail was fantastic.

There will always be some who can get on with a camera and those who can't, but either way the 70D (for photography images) is a waste of money over the top of a 60D if you are discounting the 7D (which the op has said they are looking at)

The reasoning, 2 times the price for a camera with essentially as far as 99.9% of images i've seen are no better to the human eye so the the extra money would be far better spent on a quality lens to match the body.

As for 7D I admit I don't have a 7D and have seen a fair few bad reports but then seen just as many stunning images to argue that maybe they either had bad qc or some poeple just couldn't use them as well as others... eitherway I opted for a pair of 60D's and love them, superb for everything job wise I do, from shooting motorsport for the 750MC to shooting Weddings.
 
dalegt4 said:
But the technicallity is that the whole statement might not be true for everyone but from the images i have seen from the 70D they are no better than correctly shot images from a 60D.... and in all honesty there are a fair few people that have stunning images from a 7D, there is a fella who posted a lizard just the other day and the detail was fantastic.

There will always be some who can get on with a camera and those who can't, but either way the 70D (for photography images) is a waste of money over the top of a 60D if you are discounting the 7D (which the op has said they are looking at)

The reasoning, 2 times the price for a camera with essentially as far as 99.9% of images i've seen are no better to the human eye so the the extra money would be far better spent on a quality lens to match the body.

As for 7D I admit I don't have a 7D and have seen a fair few bad reports but then seen just as many stunning images to argue that maybe they either had bad qc or some poeple just couldn't use them as well as others... eitherway I opted for a pair of 60D's and love them, superb for everything job wise I do, from shooting motorsport for the 750MC to shooting Weddings.
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That was me ;) Thanks for the compliment, though the lizard was posing for me! :p

In all honesty, the 7D is a great camera. Problem is, you've got to have a somewhat decent photographer behind it to unlock its full potential. I am really, really not trying to toot my own horn here! I have learnt alot from using the 7D and I genuinely think it's helped in improving my technique. If you want good pictures with very little effort, I'd recommend picking up a mirrorless interchangle lens system - they churn out photos so good they make me wonder why I put so much effort in with the DSLR :bonk:

If you'd like to see a few samples of 7D image quality, just click on my Flickr account in my signature. I don't often edit my images and if I do I adjust exposure and contrast and that's about it!
 
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I have the 60d and the polycarbonate body (I think that's what it is) is tough. Also I feel that the swivel screen is what every DSLR has been crying out for.
 
Joshwain said:
...

Of course, the 7D will also do that at some point but I'm not only seeing it as a better photographic investment but something where my financial investment isn't going to decline so rapidly.

Hopefully that makes sense, rushing posts on here at dinner time isn't a good idea - woops! :lol:
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If you're really concerned about your money, buy a 2nd hand 7d, and some good 2nd hand glass, it's as good as money under the mattress.

Just like cars - it's the people who need the shiniest new toys who lose most money.
 
Eddzz!! said:
In all honesty, the 7D is a great camera. Problem is, you've got to have a somewhat decent photographer behind it to unlock its full potential. I am really, really not trying to toot my own horn here! I have learnt alot from using the 7D and I genuinely think it's helped in improving my technique. If you want good pictures with very little effort, I'd recommend picking up a mirrorless interchangle lens system - they churn out photos so good they make me wonder why I put so much effort in with the DSLR :bonk:
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That's what photography's all about though, learning! Or it is for me at the moment! I guess for some people on here it's just about making a living but as long as they enjoy their work and aren't trapped in the vicious circle of doing something they hate just to pay their bills, the all is good!

You only have to watch the Chase Jarvis video where he uses the lego camera to see it's all about the photographer, The effort is the fun part! :bonk:

Phil V said:
If you're really concerned about your money, buy a 2nd hand 7d, and some good 2nd hand glass, it's as good as money under the mattress.

Just like cars - it's the people who need the shiniest new toys who lose most money.
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Some people just have more money than sense, I'm glad they do though, otherwise I'd never be able to afford any gear - not even my 20D :lol:

So far, the only camera gear I've bought has been used and I plan to keep it like that. As long as the people buying the shiny new toys keep them shiny for me, I can wait!

dalegt4 said:
The reasoning, 2 times the price for a camera with essentially as far as 99.9% of images i've seen are no better to the human eye so the the extra money would be far better spent on a quality lens to match the body.

As for 7D I admit I don't have a 7D and have seen a fair few bad reports but then seen just as many stunning images to argue that maybe they either had bad qc or some poeple just couldn't use them as well as others... eitherway I opted for a pair of 60D's and love them, superb for everything job wise I do, from shooting motorsport for the 750MC to shooting Weddings.
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I really am in a pickle now! :lol:

Some people are swearing by the 7D, some are swearing by the 60D. I'm not too sure where the 70D came from because I never even thought about that, I've not rich!

So far I've though the 7D would suit me best, but even the £100 or so difference between it and the 60D could help with new glass. So many things to think about! :help:

I'm not going to rush in to anything anyway, although it's 100% going to be the 60D or 7D... that's 7D, not 70D :p
 
It was the other fella a while back that said you should get the 6D or a 70D that made me comment on that mate. :)

I would swear by both of them, there are just as many fantastic images fro both cameras on the internet... afterall they share the same sensor so image quality is going to be similar. :)
 
Joshwain said:
T



I really am in a pickle now! :lol:

Some people are swearing by the 7D, some are swearing by the 60D. I'm not too sure where the 70D came from because I never even thought about that, I've not rich!

So far I've though the 7D would suit me best, but even the £100 or so difference between it and the 60D could help with new glass. So many things to think about! :help:

I'm not going to rush in to anything anyway, although it's 100% going to be the 60D or 7D... that's 7D, not 70D :p
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Go for the one with the features you want / need.
As has been said it's the same sensor in both of them so it really comes down to what suits your needs best. :)
 
supersammy said:
I'd be willing to bet you could have gotten the same photo's from the 7d. It is noisy at very high iso, but it's perfectly usable still. Only photographers and people on forums care about the tiny amount of noise.
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That'll be everyone here then? Lol. Just joshing.
 
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