Is a 7D for me or do I just go for 1D3?

[dinners]

Or should I just change my 1D2 for 1D3 ?

When I did more landscape photography I didn't bother getting a 5D Mark 2 as I felt I'd miss out on my wildlife and birds and I didn't bother getting a 7D because I kept pondering over a 5D Mark 2

Anyway - at the moment I'm using both a 40D and 1D Mark 2 and whilst I'm happy with using them for most things - I do find myself a bit frustrated when it comes to photographing birds which I'm doing more and more of.

40D:
I like the 1.6 crop for wildlife
Autofocus can be found wanting for birds in flight.
I don't have to crop images as much as 1D Mark 2
With f5.6 my max @ 400mm I find ISO limiting my shutter speeds.

1D Mark 2:
The 1.3 crop means cropping images more often but it doesn't have the resolution to get away with much.
Love the Autofocus
I can use in all weather with the right lenses etc
Like the 1.3 crop for landscapes.
Love the feel of 1D bodies although the wee screen isn't great.
As with the 40D I find the ISO limiting my shutter speed.

Whilst part of me wants a move to a newer 1D model - I'm wondering whether picking up a used 7D might be a sensible option to get that bit of both worlds ?
Ideally I'm thinking about - autofocus, resolution for cropping and more forgiving ISO for retaining shutter speeds.
Thoughts and opinions appreciated I know a 7D would be step up from a 40D but I'd esp like to hear views from people with experience of 1D Mark 2 / 1D Mark 3 / 7D

.

 

[Lbm]

Yes. Yes it is

I love it and it seems the reasons you mention yourself make it a compelling choice.

 

[POAH]

no, there is no reason to get a 7D with the gear you have.

7D has better AF and faster fps but thats it. in terms of IQ 40D is better.

 

[Chas]

I use a 1d ii and a 7d and used to own a 1d iii.
I much prefer the 1 series bodies but the 7d with a grip isn't too bad.
The found 1d iii was better at higher iso and think the images produced were better, I actually prefer the images from the 1d ii to be honest, probably due to the DOF.
Auto focus on the 7d is excellent, the zone mode I found perfect for BIF.

 

[dinners]

Mixed opinions then by the sounds of it.

Chas - when you say you found the 1D3 to be better at high ISO - did you mean compared to the 7D (which I'd expect)

Also when you say AF on the 7D is excellent - do you mean in general or compared to 1D2 & 1D3

 

[footman]

I found a huge difference in image quality in my bird shots when I moved from the 1D MarkIIn to the 7D. Simply more pixels in the cropped image.

It's true that the 1D had a slightly better feel, slightly faster AF, slightly better tracking and slightly higher fps.

All the slightly's added together still don't beat the advantage of the higher pixel density and 1.6x crop for birds.

 

[menthel]

no, there is no reason to get a 7D with the gear you have.

7D has better AF and faster fps but thats it. in terms of IQ 40D is better.

Wrong, as usual on this. The 7D is better. Plenty here have upgraded and will testify to this, including myself. We know you haven't.

 

[buckas]

Get the best of both worlds like I did - 5d2 for landscapes, portraits & weddings, 7d for sports & wildlife

drew

 

[dinners]

I found a huge difference in image quality in my bird shots when I moved from the 1D MarkIIn to the 7D. Simply more pixels in the cropped image.

It's true that the 1D had a slightly better feel, slightly faster AF, slightly better tracking and slightly higher fps.

All the slightly's added together still don't beat the advantage of the higher pixel density and 1.6x crop for birds.

Thanks for that Laurence - that's very relevant.

You say the 1D is better than the 7D for tracking - is it by much ?

 

[dinners]

no, there is no reason to get a 7D with the gear you have.

7D has better AF and faster fps but thats it. in terms of IQ 40D is better.

Wrong, as usual on this. The 7D is better. Plenty here have upgraded and will testify to this, including myself. We know you haven't.

I take it you guys are talking 40D v 7D here ?

If so - I'm not worried about loosing my 40D to a 7D - more about whether a 7D will also give me what my 1D mark 2 has.

 

[dinners]

Get the best of both worlds like I did - 5d2 for landscapes, portraits & weddings, 7d for sports & wildlife

drew

Ha ha - if was willing to spend enough to buy both I'd have another plan.

 

[footman]

I think I did notice the slightly slower tracking when I got the 7D. However, the entire photographic internet had told me this before I made the change and I must be highly suggestible!

Now I've been using it for a few months I simply don't notice it.

 

[dinners]

I think I did notice the slightly slower tracking when I got the 7D. However, the entire photographic internet had told me this before I made the change and I must be highly suggestible!

Now I've been using it for a few months I simply don't notice it.

Thanks for that

 

[Chas]

Mixed opinions then by the sounds of it.

Chas - when you say you found the 1D3 to be better at high ISO - did you mean compared to the 7D (which I'd expect)

Also when you say AF on the 7D is excellent - do you mean in general or compared to 1D2 & 1D3

Yes compared to the 7d, as you say expected really.
With regards to focus speed and accuracy I would say easily as good as the 1d models I have used.

 

[odd jim]

no, there is no reason to get a 7D with the gear you have.

7D has better AF and faster fps but thats it. in terms of IQ 40D is better.

Again, POAH post something that is unequivocally 100% incorrect.

7d is miles ahead of 40d iq wise at high iso where you will be shooting a lot of the time for birding.

 

[dinners]

Again, POAH post something that is unequivocally 100% incorrect.

7d is miles ahead of 40d iq wise at high iso where you will be shooting a lot of the time for birding.

Many thanks Jim - as per my reply above - I'm happy with the 7D v 40D issue. More a case of whether it's worth the cost of upgrading when I'm already using a 1D2.

I'm starting to think that it would be a decent option to get a bit of both into the one camera.

 

[dinners]

Had a quick tot up - Cripes - seems that selling my 40D AND 1d2 = a 7D

On the one hand I see the value but on the other hand I just see it as a downgrade with modern benefits.

 

[Werecow]

I'm afraid the only way i can think of to describe that is complete codswallop.

no, there is no reason to get a 7D with the gear you have.

7D has better AF and faster fps but thats it. in terms of IQ 40D is better.

 

[footman]

Had a quick tot up - Cripes - seems that selling my 40D AND 1d2 = a 7D

On the one hand I see the value but on the other hand I just see it as a downgrade with modern benefits.

That's exactly what I did, sold my 40D and 1D 2n and bought the 7D. I haven't seen it as a downgrade at all.

edit: I'll reword that, I can understand what you mean when you consider some of the slight advantages of the 1D but the total is still not equal to the more modern 7D.
The processor alone is a whole generation further on let alone the features.

I had considered getting the 1D Mark 3 instead of the 7D but having read many comparisons this report swung it for me:
http://iwishicouldfly.com/iwishicouldfly/journal/pdfs/Canon 7D vs 1D Mark III.pdf

If I could afford massive long L lenses then maybe the Mark 3 would have sufficed, but in the conclusion of this report, if you can't get as close as you would like and have to crop then pixel count is important.

 

[dinners]

That's exactly what I did, sold my 40D and 1D 2n and bought the 7D. I haven't seen it as a downgrade at all.

edit: I'll reword that, I can understand what you mean when you consider some of the slight advantages of the 1D but the total is still not equal to the more modern 7D.
The processor alone is a whole generation further on let alone the features.

I had considered getting the 1D Mark 3 instead of the 7D but having read many comparisons this report swung it for me:
http://iwishicouldfly.com/iwishicouldfly/journal/pdfs/Canon 7D vs 1D Mark III.pdf

If I could afford massive long L lenses then maybe the Mark 3 would have sufficed, but in the conclusion of this report, if you can't get as close as you would like and have to crop then pixel count is important.

Very handy article - thanks for that - you obviously had the exact same dilema.

 

[jonneymendoza]

no, there is no reason to get a 7D with the gear you have.

7D has better AF and faster fps but thats it. in terms of IQ 40D is better.

40d has better IQ then 7d? LOL

 

[dinners]

40d has better IQ then 7d? LOL

Joking aside - it's not rare to read that but I suspect people refer to pixel density and the potential for noise.

I'm happy with the IQ of the 40D - it's more the 7D's AF ability and resolution for cropping that appeals.

 

[odd jim]

Joking aside - it's not rare to read that but I suspect people refer to pixel density and noise.

It's an Internet old wives tale.

At low iso's there's nothing in it, and there wouldn't be as the 40d is superb up to iso 800. Above that the 7d pulls ahead of the 40d very quickly and by 1600 its night and day difference.

It's almost a cliche now to say the 7d is noisy, the truth is it really isnt. At iso 1600 and above, I can't think of a crop sensor body that's better?

 

[Orville]

I went from 40D to 5D MkII to 7D. I found the high ISO performance of the 7D to be around 1-stop better than 40D. Per pixel noise was pretty similar, but the extra 8MP make the 7D appear cleaner. With the 40D I would limit max ISO to 800, but the 7D allows 1600 before noise becomes too obvious for me.

The AF on the 7D is light years ahead of both the 40D and 5D II. AI Servo works pretty well when shooting my kids sports and motor racing, so it should make tracking those birdies a little easier too.

 

[dinners]

Thanks Jim - that's one of things I marked against the 40D.

In good light it's not an issue but as soon as I need to up the ISO (800 and over) to maintain the desired shutter speed the noise is an issue.

 

[dinners]

I've slept on it.

Decided that whilst I'm happy with certain aspects of both the 40D and 1D2 - I'd like to bring a bit of both into the one.

I'm not wanting to just go out out and buy one as I'm trying to make my photography 'self sufficient' so thinking about re-sale - if I could shift both the 40D and 1D2 - I wouldn't be far off the funds needed for a used 7D or 1D3.

Now it's just a case of deciding which one.