Yet another Canon body decision thread

[dlanter]

I really hate to do it to you, but I've searched & read all the previous posts as well as several review & comparison sites and still can't decide between 7D & 50D. Price is a big factor but I don't want to go cheap and regret it or go through this upgrade decision again in a few months. I've been using a 30D for about 3 years and it is still working great, but at least 90% of my shooting is nature & wildlife now and it just can't handle some situations.

High ISO as well as AF speed & accuracy are the areas of improvement that I am most interested in. On the review websites it looks like the 50D & 7D are pretty close up to about 3200 ISO with the internal noise reduction turned on. With NR turned off the 7D wins though. I really can't imagine that I would go above 3200 very often especially since I have been forced to stay below 800 ISO with my 30D. When shooting moving wildlife I mainly use only the center focus point in AI Servo mode and use the back button setting. With my 400 f5.6L (with & without 1.4x TC) I would like faster & more accurate focus tracking.

I really have no need for the video with a 7D and I don't think the increased resolution would help my shooting style and I rarely print larger than 16x24. So given my shooting habits & subject type would the extra about $600 for the 7D be needed?

Thanks for your help.

[jkderby]

Have both. Each one I use for different reasons.

[ldelacruz]

Dan,
For wildlife I would highly recommend the 7D. As you know with the 7D you get the improved AF and more megapixels. Both AF and megapixels are important for wildlife.Since you can't always get close the extra megapixels will help you crop in tight for better composition.

[Footin' Shool]

Dan,

I have both. I bought a 50D May 2009, then a 7D Feb 2010. 19-point Autofocus speed and flexibility is one place the 7D is FAR superior to the 9-point 50D.

The 7D is my "go to" camera, and the now lesser used 50D is my backup.

I expect with the recent announcement of the same price 60D, Canon will be withdrawing the 50D from marketing very soon.

My recommendation would be to go with the 7D, over either the 50D OR the 60D.

Dick

[Tom]

The 7D is a huge improvement over the 50D. Definitely get the 7D.

[dlanter]

Thanks guys for your opinions. Like I said, price is a big factor when upgrading, but I don't upgrade very often so it has to last me for a while and do what I want it to. For several weeks / months I've been watching the 7D prices hoping they would drop but they haven't changed much, if any, for new bodies. Used prices aren't much difference from a refurbished body so I think I may go with a refurbished 7D.

I have several wildlife trips semi-planned for this year so I want to do the upgrade fairly soon so I have time to learn and get used to the new features. The first big trip will be to Grand Tetons / Yellowstone in late May and I'm really looking forward to it.

[Jim Victory]

Look at the Canon Loyalty Program. Trade in a broken Canon P&S and you can get the 7D for about $1087 + tax. Check the current price at the number below to be sure. The price I quoted was the last I heard.

866-443-8002 option 2.

BTW I have owned several copies of the 50D and 7D and the latter is well worth the difference in price. I don't use in camera NR but rather a third party NR software and the 7D responds better. I have also heard the latest version of Light Room does a very good job controlling noise with 7D files.

Here is a shot @ ISO6400 using a third party NR software. 7D and the 100-400.



I might add that getting exposure right in camera is crucial otherwise the 7D at high ISO levels can be problematic. I also wouldn't recommend using much higher than ISO3200 with proper exposure in general. Ths example above printed up nice at 13x19 but I had to do some intricate processing to balance NR with loss of detail.

[dlanter]

Thanks for the info Jim. That loyalty program price is the last I heard also, but will call to verify it. Besides my 30D I don't have a camera to trade in but there are always P&S on craigslist pretty cheap. Do you have to have the serial number of your trade in when you call for a quote?

Lightroom 3.3 has improved their noise reduction a lot but I prefer to use Noise Ninja so I can mask areas and not soften the subject too much.

[Footin' Shool]

I could be wrong, but I thought a requirement of the Loyalty Program was that the camera being traded in had to have been registered with Canon when it was originally purchased.

[cajunautoxer]

You have to mail in the camera your going to trade in. The last I read the CLP is out of 7Ds. But I'm sure they may have more soon.

I was in the same boat as you last month. I went with the 7D. It's a big difference from the XT. Granted I'm not pro like you guys.

Like they say buy once cry once

[markfh]

Another reason you might want the 7D is the weather sealing. It's comforting to know you won't ruin your camera in a light drizzle (with L lenses that is) and I've been it one or two without worries.

[MT Stringer]

Originally Posted by Footin' Shool

I could be wrong, but I thought a requirement of the Loyalty Program was that the camera being traded in had to have been registered with Canon when it was originally purchased.

There have been a lot of folks on the Canon Digital Forum that have sent in cameras, even working cameras and got the deal quoted. They did as suggested, bought em off Craigslist or ebay.

You could do a search on the forum and read some of the threads.
Canon Digital Photography Forums - Powered by vBulletin

[toverman]

Originally Posted by MT Stringer

There have been a lot of folks on the Canon Digital Forum that have sent in cameras, even working cameras and got the deal quoted. They did as suggested, bought em off Craigslist or ebay.

You could do a search on the forum and read some of the threads.
Canon Digital Photography Forums - Powered by vBulletin

That is good news for when the time comes for me; I bought both my current personal camera bodies used from TPF members.

[dlanter]

Well my 7D is on the way. I called the Canon Loyalty Program this last Tuesday and was told the 7D was out of stock. I called again Friday and they had "limited supplies". I had previously found an old Powershot S500 for $20 and took a chance that they would accept that as a trade because I really didn't want to use my 30D to trade in. The Canon rep asked for the model & serial numbers, put me on hold a few seconds and came back saying that yes they could take the powershot. They didn't even ask if it was working or not. So for $1196.68 (including tax & cost of the powershot) my 7D will be here about the middle of next week.

One thing that did make wonder during this process (for a few seconds anyway) is with all the great reviews I've seen about the 7D where all the used ones coming from that they are refurbishing?

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by dlanter

Well my 7D is on the way. I called the Canon Loyalty Program this last Tuesday and was told the 7D was out of stock. I called again Friday and they had "limited supplies". I had previously found an old Powershot S500 for $20 and took a chance that they would accept that as a trade because I really didn't want to use my 30D to trade in. The Canon rep asked for the model & serial numbers, put me on hold a few seconds and came back saying that yes they could take the powershot. They didn't even ask if it was working or not. So for $1196.68 (including tax & cost of the powershot) my 7D will be here about the middle of next week.

One thing that did make wonder during this process (for a few seconds anyway) is with all the great reviews I've seen about the 7D where all the used ones coming from that they are refurbishing?

Do you know all those people with websites and blogs who start threads that say something must be wrong with their camera because their pictures aren't sharp.
Probably from them!