I would like to upgrade my equipment and am trying to decide which direction to go in; advice would be appreciated. I currently have a 7D and use it with an EF 300mm f/4 plus 1.4 III ext. for HH bird photography, including BIF. I would like better image quality, more reach and better AF. The 1DX is not currently a possibility, so I'm considering a 1D MkIV and a used 500mm f/4 version 1 with tripod. I'm reluctant to go with the 7DmkII as I don't see it as having substantially better IQ than the 7D and because of the AF problems many have with this body. ...It's also true that I'm not so heavily invested in Canon that I would not consider jumping ship to Nikon. I like what I've seen from the D810. Thanks for any feedback.
04-11-2015, 07:42 AM
Ashley Cohen
Hi Carolyn, I've been this myself wanting to upgrade but not entirely sure on direction and limited a little by budget not being able to go for the 1DX for example! I've learned the hard way and keep falling into the trap that sometimes what seems like an upgrade may end up leading into a world of difficulties. My main advice is try out the gear first in the situations your photography will involve. Perhaps if someone you know has the same gear ask to borrow it or go out with them for the day swapping gear. Or Perhaps rent the gear your looking to buy if thats a possibility. There's also a number of factors to consider and the right setup is often different for everyone.
Key ares are :
weight.. you may need to move to using a tripod if you get a bigger lens, just because someone you know can hand hold a certain lens it may not be the same for you. If you get your best images on long walks, a 500mm may not be the best lens, consider something lighter. It's just an example but think about how and when you take bird images.
Reach.. How much do you need/want? 500mm will give you plenty especially with a 1.4x TC though you may find hand holding very tricky. a 300mm F2.8 L IS MK II is a similar price to the 500mm F4 MK I and gives you 600mm with a 2x TC with much less weight. The AF speed and quality will drop a bit but consider factors like being able to focus closer with the 300mm and shooting at faster shutter speeds when at 300mm if needed.
Faults/repairs .. Bear in mind that big lenses cost a lot to fix and older used gear probably won't come with a warranty unless purchased for a store. Special photography insurance ( least in the UK where I'm from) can be a little expensive for lots of pricy gear so bear that in mind too.
Im currently using a Nikon D810 and 500mm F4 VR (recently switched back from canon) and I've had quite a bit of trouble getting things right with this combo. The camera is fantastic on other shorter lenses but with the 500mm I've been struggling to get AF right on where I want it. I think I finally sorted it to a degree with Micro Adjust but with the 1.4x TC I can't quite find the right spot and often images are out. It's possibly down to having 36Mpx showing up any errors in technique at this focal range. Though when images aren't tack sharp they still sharpen up nicely for the web. The Dynamic range of this camera and detail it resolves when you do get it right are fantastic though.
If you stayed Canon .. which I do prefer for lenses and do have fast camera's with great AF I think the 7D Mk II is well worth a look over the now ageing 1D Mk4. I did switch away from it to Nikon but I should have gave it more of a chance! Your right in that the IQ difference isn't huge but it's still a great fast camera, with the crop factor to aid you in getting more pixels on the subject.
04-11-2015, 08:01 AM
Don Lacy
I think the IQ between the two bodies are pretty even the 1DIV will be slightly better at high ISO while the 7DII has no banding which will allow you to pull more detail out of the shadows. I also think AF is a wash if you get a good copy of the 7DII form what I have seen I have yet to shoot with one but I will be getting a loaner from CPS in a few weeks to make my own decision on my upgrade path. To me the biggest differance between them are the bodies themself I prefer the weight and feel of a pro bodie along with the larger battery and weather sealing you might not. As far as Nikon while the bodies are really nice they fall short when it comes to lenes especially with the super telephotos and extenders compared to Canon.
04-12-2015, 10:20 AM
Doug Brown
As an owner of a 7D and a 7D Mark II, I can say without hesitation that the 7D2 has significantly better IQ than the original (along with more pixels, much improved AF, a faster frame rate, and better camera controls). It also AFs at f/8. However I also had AF problems with two 7D2 bodies. I now own a copy that works well and the AF is quite good for BIF; not 1Dx good, but good enough. Canon super telephoto lenses are significantly better than the Nikon super teles IMO; significantly lighter and optically superior. Canon also just announced significant price reductions on their super telephoto lenses. Most serious BIF photographers that I know shoot Canon. Nikon gear has its strengths, but BIF is not one of them IMO.
04-12-2015, 11:08 PM
Carolyn Arnesen
Many thanks, Ashley, Don and Doug, for your input. You've all made good points, and your experience and opinions are very helpful to me. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
04-13-2015, 09:44 AM
D. Robert Franz
I've been using the 1d4 since it came out and have had the 7d in the past and have been using a 7d2 for a while now. The 7d2 is much improved over the 7d and I feel it's about on par with the 1d4 in both AF and IQ. The older 500mm F4 is a great lens, you sure wouldn't regret acquiring that lens.
04-19-2015, 01:40 PM
John Flynn
I traded in a 1D IV for a 7D II mostly for the increased pixel density. The 7D will definitely resolve better at long distance than the 1D IV so if I find myself focal length limited which I usually do living in the Northeast the 7D is a better option. The 1D has slightly better low light performance but not by much. For BIF I find the 7D to have better AF capabilities. It has a more stable feel to it and it seems to get more keepers but the 1D can move the elements faster so it will focus quicker. The 1D feels more responsive.
04-23-2015, 11:54 AM
David Stephens
Carolyn, you're talking willy-nilly about various crop factors, such as the 1D4, 1DX, 7D2 and Nikon D810. Pixel density DOES MATTER and it'll greatly influence your happiness with the 500mm lens mention. I think that the 7D2 is the ideal body for that lens, particularly when paired with the EF 1.4x TC-III. The pixel-density that exceeds all the others mention by a wide margin, allows great resolution of focal-length limited subjects, such as many BIF.
I've owned the 7D and the 5D MkIII and now have the 7D MkII. I used a loaner 1D-X for ten days and I've shot next to D800 and D810 users. The only body with better AF is the 1D-X and that is mainly apparent when you add the 2x TC, which hardly slows down the 1D-X, but makes both the 7D2 and 5D3 impractical for most BIF usage. The FF Nikons are going to require more focal length for equivalent pixels on the subject vs. the 7D2.
I suspect that your keeper rate going from the 7D to the 7D2 will double and your files will be much, much more satisfying.
04-26-2015, 09:38 AM
Mergen Deniz
Hello , ı also need some advice between canon 300 2.8v1 vs canon100-400 4.5-5.6 v2 ( ı cannot started a new discussion , so asking here , sorry for that )
New in this flield , espcially canon 300 w 2TC confused me as 600 mm reach at 5.6 ? Whats your advice ?
Thanks
04-26-2015, 01:22 PM
Diane Miller
I have both those lenses and find uses for both, but the 100-400 is more flexible with the zoom, and it is tack sharp -- a great bargain. The main advantage of the 300 is the wider aperture, but that's a somewhat specialized need. For the price difference, and the close focus, the 100-400 is well worth considering. And it can be had held for birds in flight, if you're close enough to them.
I just found that you did start a post -- I'll also respond there.