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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Thoughts on Canon 5d vs 7d
Shelly Castellano, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Huntington Beach | CA | USA | Posted: 5:44 PM on 06.10.11 |
| ->> Looking for practical experience or advice on the use of Canon 5d vs 7d in Still and Video mode. They look very similar on paper comparison. Please advise. Thanks! |
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Chris Hunt, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 6:10 PM on 06.10.11 |
->> I'd use the 7D for sports/wildlife and the 5D for everything else.
7D is $800 less than the 5D Mark II
7D has twice the frame rate (8fps vs 3.9fps)
7D has a crop sensor (1.6x) and 5D has a full-frame sensor
7D is 18MP and 5D is 21MP
7D is limited to 12800ISO and 5D goes up to 25600ISO |
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Al Goldis, Photographer
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East Lansing | MI | USA | Posted: 9:18 PM on 06.10.11 |
->> To add to Chris' list, for stills, in my opinion the 5DII and 7D are on opposite ends of the image quality spectrum for current Canon cameras. The 5DII still has the best image quality and the 7D has the worst.
AF and frame rate are much better on the 7D. It also has some small but nice ergonomic improvements, particularly for video. The 7D is a really nice little camera, it's just too bad the image quality stinks.
Again, image quality is my opinion; I'm sure others will defend it or even rave about it. But we seem to be pretty evenly split down the middle on the 7D here for love it or hate it. |
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Matthew Hinton, Photographer, Assistant
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New Orleans | LA | USA | Posted: 9:49 PM on 06.10.11 |
->> The happiest day of owning my 7D was the day I sold it. It's a very noisy camera. The images never looked sharp they resembled sharp. I'd rather shoot with my company's Mark IV (1.3x)and crop that file than shoot with the same lens with a 7D. In a couple of situations I did that as a comparison and the Mark IV was still sharper cropped. I have also used two 5D Mark II cameras on occasion and they are way better than the 7D. You will be disappointed with the 7D.
However I'd rather shoot with my Nikon D3s in most situations. It has an amazing exposure latitude especially with raw. The D700 is on par with the 5d also but has no video.
If Canon would just make a 1Ds Mark IV full frame or something like the D700 with video, Canon would be all set and I'd probably sell my personal Nikon gear. But right now it's hurry up and wait. |
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Armando Solares, Photographer
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Englewood | FL | USA | Posted: 9:52 PM on 06.10.11 |
| ->> I own both. Each has its merits. If you don't shoot action or sports or anything where you may want to use 8fps. Get a 5DMKII, there is nothing like a full frame sensor. The lenses actually give you depth of field. I like to shoot wide open, even in bright sunlight (f2.8 or better) and I love the clean backgrounds, specially on the long glass, 85mm +. Video I would say is about the same on each camera. I shoot RAW and I have not noticed that much of a difference in image quality (grain etc.) In my opinion anything above 3200 for anything other than a newspaper is pretty crappy no matter what camera you are using. Although I am surprised at how good the quality is at the highest ISOs on both cameras. The 5D is more expensive, but like I said, if you are not shooting sports, go with the full sensor camera. Your lenses were made for it. They both so the job to my expectations. |
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Jesse Jones, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Gainesville | Fl | USA | Posted: 11:39 AM on 06.11.11 |
->> I use both at work, the 5D is overall the better for image quality but the 7D does have the advantage in auto-focus and frame rate. The difference in image quality however is huge. If you need the frame rate and faster AF buy a used 1DmkIIN otherwise go with a 5DmkII. On a similar note the photographer that works for me refuses to use the 7D- she will take our original 5D over the 7D anytime she has the opportunity.
YMMV. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 12:46 PM on 06.12.11 |
->> I have had limited experience with the 7D, and although it was a solidly built camera, I was disappointed with the image quality at 3200 ISO. I've owned both the original 5D and the 5D MKII and IF you can get accurate AF with the 5D MKII the quality is astounding; but therein lies the rub. The 5D MKII is notorious for having to be calibrated. I calibrated my 70-200 2.8 and it was WAY off. I had to do a micro adjustment of about +4 before it was spot on. The AF is a bit slow, and, as with all Canon product, does not work well in low light, at least not as well as Nikon.
With all due respect, your question is a bit like "I want to buy a car; what color should it be?" What do you shoot?
Sports: Not the 5D. Too slow. AF way deficient. 7D for outdoor sports only when you can use a lower ISO.
Portraits: The 5D all day long, again, assuming you get the AF calibrated.
Weddings: 5D for the formals, the 7D for the grab shots.
Editorial: 7D over the 5D.
I have no experience with the video on either camera, but word is it's astounding regardless which model you use. My brother uses a 60D for video (he's won three Emmy's for documentary work) and he's thrilled with it. |
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Matthew Jonas, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Evergreen | CO | USA | Posted: 1:26 PM on 06.12.11 |
->> To quote Matthew above, "The happiest day of owning my 7D was the day I sold it." I have to agree. I never got a sharp image out of my 7D. It went to Canon a couple of times and was always "within spec" every time. Just couldn't get used to the files that came out of it.
I have only used a 5D Mark II a couple of times but was completely blown away by the quality of the files above ISO 1600. Autofocus was a little slow by 1 series standards but I used it for both editorial work and weddings with little to no problem once I got used to it.
Video is also top notch. Add a set of good sticks and a wireless mic setup and go for it. |
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Al Goldis, Photographer
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East Lansing | MI | USA | Posted: 3:29 PM on 06.12.11 |
| ->> Phil, I have never had a problem with the 5DII's AF accuracy for non-sports. Yes, it's too slow for sports but for stationary or slow moving subjects it has always been very accurate for me. |
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Shelly Castellano, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Huntington Beach | CA | USA | Posted: 4:05 PM on 06.12.11 |
| ->> Thanks guys, this additional camera body would be an upgrade to my original 5d. So the obvious choice would be to stick with the 5d lineup. But the 5d Mark II series is becoming dated too.. anybody know of a new model on the horizon for Canon? I appreciate your feedback! |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 4:14 PM on 06.12.11 |
->> Shelly,
I am a NIkon user and have been asking about these 2 cameras too-I want to buy my husband a new camera (he is a Canon shooter) and after researching over and over, I was just about to get the 5D Mark2 but I have been hearing a new camera is soon to be announced. Since he doesn't really need it yet, I am going to wait a few months and see what Canon announces |
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Joseph D. Sullivan, Photographer
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Long Island | NY | USA | Posted: 6:05 PM on 06.12.11 |
->> I've owned both cameras and still use my 5D MkII. I have it set up exclusively as a video camera with a Rode mic on top and a Zacuto finder out back. The HD videos are great.
I had a 7D last summer but when I used it as a second body at the US Open, the images didn't compare with those from my Mark IV, taken at the same match under the same conditions. So, I sold it and got another Mark IV. |
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Peter Caty, Student/Intern
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Syracuse | NY | United States | Posted: 8:16 PM on 06.12.11 |
| ->> Everything is better on the 5D Mark II except for the autofocus, and once you go full-frame, you'll never go back. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 9:20 PM on 06.12.11 |
->> "Phil, I have never had a problem with the 5DII's AF accuracy for non-sports. Yes, it's too slow for sports but for stationary or slow moving subjects it has always been very accurate for me."
Hi Al, you're one of the lucky one's who doesn't have this problem. But about half the folks who attend my landscape workshops complain about blurry images on the 5D MKII. I show them micro-adjustments, and after they send them back to Canon WITH the offending lens, I am getting reports of much-improved image quality. I needed to adjust my 70-200, and I just bought a 400mm 5.6, and it needs it BAD, although I haven't done it yet.
One suggestion for improved AF performance on the 5D MKII is when using spot AF use the center spot only if you can get away with it. The center spot is always more accurate and faster, and Canon users need all the help they can get.
As for the updated bodies, yes the 5D MKII (2008) and the 7D (2009) are both long in the tooth, but blame the Tsunami on the delay. Both Nikon and Canon were due out major updates on their pro line this summer, but everything is still in the air as to when they will actually come to market. I don't even think they know yet. |
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Lyle Aspinall, Photographer
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Calgary | AB | Canada | Posted: 9:15 AM on 06.13.11 |
->> I use the 5D at home, and the 7D is what my employer gives me for work. I agree the image quality from the 5D is significantly better, for both video and stills.
For my money, the biggest thing separating them (apart from the sensor crop) is the 5D having manual audio control in video mode. The 7D doesn't (as of this writing). If you're going to shoot much video with it, go for the audio control. |
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Jeff Brehm, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Salisbury | NC | USA | Posted: 10:04 AM on 06.13.11 |
| ->> I was very disgusted with the image quality of my 7D until I sent it to CPS. They said the sensor was misaligned and since then I have gotten excellent results. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 12:33 PM on 06.13.11 |
->> A couple of people have asked me how to calibrate a 5D MKII w/o sending it off to Canon, so here's the instructions:
The quick and easy freehand way is you simply place your camera on a GOOD tripod and zoom your lens in all the way tight as it will go at a distance you typically use the lens on something with lots of fine detail. Simply adjust the microadjustment plus or minus until it looks right. Micro-adjustment is found in the 5D MKII in the Custom Functions; "C.Fn III>8>2.Adjust by lens".
If you want it more exact, follow these steps at http://tinyurl.com/oml25u. (This is really how you should do it or with a LensCal)
If you want super-exact results get a LensCal from Spyder: How it works is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-JrUQO_Z5U
Lenscal is $60 from http://spyder.datacolor.com/product-cb-spyderlenscal.php |
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Matthew Jonas, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Evergreen | CO | USA | Posted: 12:03 AM on 06.15.11 |
| ->> Phil, is it possible that a zoom lens can be front or back focusing at one end of the zoom and then spot on at the other? I used the method you mentioned above and for example, my 24-70 appears to be sharp at 70mm but a tad back focused at 24mm. Suggestions? |
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Michael McNamara, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Phoenix | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:58 AM on 06.15.11 |
->> Phil...thanks so much for the info. I've had such a hard time with the focusing on my 5Dmk2 that I just ordered the Lenscal.
I checked Amazon for the Lenscal, and it's $48, and eligible for free shipping, which saves about $25 from the final price from datacolor. |
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Svein Ove Ekornesvaag, Photographer
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Aalesund | Møre og Romsdal | Norway | Posted: 9:20 AM on 06.15.11 |
| ->> 5dII has the picture and video quality, 7d has autofocus and more fps. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 1:08 PM on 06.15.11 |
->> Mathew... The only thing I can suggest in your case is to go to about 50mm and calibrate it there. But at that focal length it's harder to see the focus result on the LensCal unless you shoot it REAL close.... so try that. But with my 24-70 I set it at 70mm and the entire focal length was spot on. You may have problems with your lens that has nothing to do with the calibration.
Michael... great info on the LensCal at Amazon. It's sad one has to jump these hoops to get an in-focus camera... |
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