Canon 7D vs 5D Discussion - DPChallenge Forums

11/28/2011 10:48:33 PM · #1

I did a quick forum search to see if this has been discussed already, which I am sure it has somewhere. So, it comes down to the choice of getting a used Canon 7D or 5D. Here's how I have broken it down.

Canon 7D
-Not Full Frame
-Dual Digic IV Image Processors
-Speed
-Focus System
-18MP
-Live View
-1080p Video
-10k Screen

Canon 5D:
-Full Frame
-Slower
-12MP
-Better Noise Control?
-Smaller Screen

I am leaning more toward the used 5D at this point because I am really wanting to go full frame for landscapes and all my lenses are EF lenses. It just hard to ignore the 7D. The video isn't a must as my iPhone 4S does 1080p for my home movies anyways. I wanted to hear my friends at DPC thoughts. Unfortunately the 5d Mk II is off the table, just too expensive for me at this point, someday though. Thanks all!

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/28/2011 11:20:24 PM · #2

Also, keep in mind I'm coming from a 30D.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

11/28/2011 11:33:02 PM · #3

Yeah been thru that decision point.... See to the left what option I ended up on :-0)

For me it came down to :-
#1 - Focus system
#2 - Focus system :-)
#3 - Customisation
#4 - The price of old 5D's didn't drop much when the 5D2 came out, so the price difference between a 5Dc and the 7D was not that much.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/28/2011 11:34:48 PM · #4

Can't beat that buttery-smooth 5D tonality, though. For landscapes, it's the obvious choice. For action, not as much.

R.

11/28/2011 11:34:53 PM · #5

And why are you not purchasing from the Canon Loyalty program?????

I LOVE my 7D but never owned full frame ;)

Message edited by author 2011-11-28 23:36:21.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/28/2011 11:51:08 PM · #6

Originally posted by robs:

At this point, the used 5D is slightly less than a used 7D. Argh, this is a toughie.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

11/28/2011 11:58:05 PM · #7

Originally posted by Derf:

I LOVE my 7D but never owned full frame ;)

I used 35mm FF for years and years before a "crop" came into my world (and still do at times), so I know what I am missing..... I just cannot get the damn film advance to work when I stuff a digital card in the film pickup... it keeps getting jammed :-)

scalvert

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/29/2011 12:41:53 AM · #8

7D, no question. A 5D Mark II would be a different story, but the original 5D doesn't have much advantage over the 7 aside from a wider angle of view on your lenses. Noise control is only slightly better on the 5D, and the higher resolution of the 7D offsets that by making the grain appear finer at the same print size. Everything else- focus, customization, speed, LCD, video, digital level, ergonomics, exposure control, etc. (not to mention the resale value of a newer model)- favors the 7D.

11/29/2011 01:16:47 AM · #9

Originally posted by scalvert:

Dang and blast your reasonable thinking. I did play with one today and it was a fantastic camera that had a great feel.

KristinaG

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

11/29/2011 01:19:15 AM · #10

Originally posted by Derf:

And why are you not purchasing from the Canon Loyalty program?????

I LOVE my 7D but never owned full frame ;)

THIS!!!
Don't sell your 30d and instead ship it in to get your new camera for 20% off of the refurbished price.
I believe you would be saving more than you would get selling your camera (could be wrong, didn't bother to actually do the math)
If you haven't heard of it, google "Canon Loyalty program" and it will give you all of the information you need.
With that you can get a 7d for about 1000

Message edited by author 2011-11-29 01:20:15.

11/29/2011 01:23:42 AM · #11

Originally posted by Fiora:

Originally posted by Derf:
And why are you not purchasing from the Canon Loyalty program?????

I LOVE my 7D but never owned full frame ;)

THIS!!!
Don't sell your 30d and instead ship it in to get your new camera for 20% off of the refurbished price.
I believe you would be saving more than you would get selling your camera (could be wrong, didn't bother to actually do the math)
If you haven't heard of it, google "Canon Loyalty program" and it will give you all of the information you need.
With that you can get a 7d for about 1000

Wait, what?! This is a new revelation to me. I'm going to look it up now! Thanks for the info! I love DPC.

"Runs off screaming like a little girl reaching for my wallet..."

JonoTucker

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/29/2011 05:13:59 AM · #12

I have owned both body's and IMO pick the 5D..hands down, why? because the 7d does ok at almost everything but is not great at one style of photography unlike the 5D it is Fantastic at the style it was built for and will never let you down.
so what you need to ask your self is what style is your main focus.. if you want the best IQ for landscape's and want to shoot portraiture/modeling.
but if you want all the bells and whistles then 7d is the way to go.

smardaz

11/29/2011 05:57:48 AM · #13

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Can't beat that buttery-smooth 5D tonality, though. For landscapes, it's the obvious choice. For action, not as much.

R.

i just love that every time a 5D discussion comes along I can count on Bear using the words "buttery-smooth" :)

Tiny

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

11/29/2011 06:18:20 AM · #14

Originally posted by scalvert:

Agree with the above 100% ,get the 7D or save for the 5D MkII.

Giles

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

11/29/2011 06:29:42 AM · #15

i love my 5D was a great leap from my treasured 20d to the 5D, its such a nice camera and yeah its not got a mega fast frames per second but its more than made up for by the full frame, cracking images and no mental arithmetic or backwards steps trying to get subjects in your frame. stick something like my 16-35 2.8 on and its so wide its crazy :)

not used the 7d but i'll never go back to crop sensor, as for the trade in i keep my old bodies as backups/2nd camera for event shooting saves lots of lens changes/ or things like static camera mouting for timelapse/or remote triggering say behind a drum kit at a gig etc.

if you've got a good local camera shop, take a card go and they should let you try both, assuming they have a 5d in their second hand bit, and do some test shots with same lens. i know for sure if i went into my local shop they have no problem, they even let me take it for a walk around outside to do test shots.

5dmii for me next, just need to stop buying lens :) mates got me into making video with him so need the video side of things rather than using his 550d

what ever you choose you'll get a cracking camera :)

Message edited by author 2011-11-29 10:01:26.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

11/29/2011 09:58:30 AM · #16

I haven't used 7D either, though I've seen a lot of images from it. Even given it has 1.5 times the pixel count of the 5D, you won't see more than a very moderate increase in actual detail rendered; the resolution in line pairs per picture height is not significantly different than the 5D. This is because the 5D has somewhat higher "acuity," in other words, per-pixel sharpness.
The images from the classic 5D are something special, no doubt about it. The body does show it's 6+ year age, no doubt. The screen is not up to modern standards, the AF system is very serviceable but has been surpassed by more modern bodies, and the 3.5 frames per second is usable but isn't going to win any races. Still, I have seen no reason to lust for anything else, and I am a brutal judge of image quality. I'll eventually upgrade to the 5D Mk III in all probability, but I'm in no rush. I love the images from the 5D.
The sub-$1k prices on good used 5D bodies represent a hell of a good deal, if your uses don't demand the rapid-fire performance of the 7D.

11/29/2011 10:11:17 AM · #17

Do not send in your 30D...it is NOW YOUR BACKUP!

Buy a broken camera from ebay for $30 or so and use that as the trade in....you can buy a crappy broken salt water soaked camera for next to nothing.... Do NOT send in you 30D!!!!

Giles

11/29/2011 10:21:55 AM · #18

//www.digital-photography-school.com/full-frame-sensor-vs-crop-sensor-which-is-right-for-you

also the 18mp thing is pretty much out the window as you have 18mp on a 1.6x smaller sensor ergo each pixel is smaller and closer together meaning overall image quality will not be that much superior if at all better than the full frame, also full frame deals better with noise at high iso due to the larger sensor.

there are an awful lot of argument out there if you want to read the ff vs cropped arguments

i am the kinda guy that do's bit of research decided i wanted fullframe and the 5d got one and never looked back

11/29/2011 12:10:08 PM · #19

Originally posted by Derf:

I didn't realize that old point and shoots work as well for the loyalty program. Between my parents, my wife's parents and myself we have a smattering of old Canon P&S that'd work. Looking at my situation, I may be able to sell my 30D and trade in a PS for a 5D MKII. I need to look at my books.

11/29/2011 12:30:22 PM · #20

they will not accept most point and shoot camera, some of the higher end point and shoots with the ASM on top will be allowed. Ask them first!

You can buy cameras that are SLR on ebay for cheap as they are damaged badly

11/29/2011 12:36:52 PM · #21

//www.ebay.com/itm/AS-IS-Canon-EOS-Rebel-XT-Digital-SLR-8-0-MP-Camera-/190607643226?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item2c6119d25a

$36 for a parts only Rebel XT DSLR.....look up canon eos damaged on ebay for a ton of cameras really cheap for trade

11/29/2011 12:57:05 PM · #22

Originally posted by Derf:

Awesome. I will call on my PS cameras first to see if eligible. I have heard tgat some will work as long as out of warranty.

Giles

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

11/29/2011 01:04:43 PM · #23

is this US only or worldwide?

i fancy a 5d mkii hehe

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/29/2011 01:07:46 PM · #24

Originally posted by Giles_uk:

is this US only or worldwide?

i fancy a 5d mkii hehe

It's still expensive, just a nice discount. About 1800 bucks, I believe, and it's a refurbished Canon with a 6-month warranty you get.

R.