Should I sell my 7D?

Maybe we could convert you to a Nikon user.. sell everything! I'm half serious.

Since you are questioning the usefulness of the 7D for your needs, I'm not convinced you have a good idea of what the camera is capable of. Maybe so, maybe not. Most modern cameras are quite capable of everything you describe what you would use a camera for. Is the operation of the camera overwhelming to use, or is the camera under-performing?

Although a nice fullframe DSLR camera body might be the right choice like a 6D, why not consider other possibilities both inside and outside of Canon including some of the newer mirrorless cameras.

You could either use your existing gear and gain more experience or you could sell it and try something else. That's a decision only you can make.

Jake Neal said:

Hi All,

As the title suggests, I am considering selling my 7D and buying a different body, but would like some advice before I commit to doing so. To explain my situation..

A few years back I bought a Canon EOS 350D as I wanted to take on photography as a hobby. The 350D was just a starter body to determine whether I liked photography or not. It turns out I did. After changing the kit 18-55 lens for a 17-85mm lens, I started focusing on landscape photography and timelapse as this is what interested me. A year or so later, I decided to upgrade my body and ended up getting the Canon EOS 7D.

I really like the 7D, but thinking about it, is the 7D really right for what type of photography I'm into? I mainly shoot timelapse and landscape, with the occasional portrait. I also like taking it for general shooting when I go to parks and zoo's. And from what I understand, it's tailored more towards sport/wildlife photographers. Just seems like a waste to have a camera with all that functionality

After a long think, below are what I consider to be my options, but am not sure which path I should take;

Options

• Keep my 7D and buy a new lens - I was looking at the 24-105 L and then possibly the 17-40 L
• Sell my 7D and buy 5DI and a few lenses
• Sell my 7D and buy 5DII and a lens
• Sell my 7D and buy 5DI and another body and a lens

My current gear is as follows;

• Canon EOS 7D
• Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

As you can see I only have 2 lenses, so am wanting to also buy a new lens. I am also open to sell any of the lenses in place of a new one or two.

Please let me know your advice on how I should progress.

Many thanks in advance,

Click to expand...

I'd recommend you add the 6D to list of FF bodies you're considering. Very well suited to the kind of shooting you do.

I'd suggest staying away from the older 5D cameras. If you can afford it, go with the 5Dmk3. If not, then the 6D is where it's at. Keep in mind that your only lens that works on FF is the 50mm, which is worth about $75-80 used on eBay.

Don't let a lens like that keep you with Canon...I'm not saying to switch, but I'm saying if you sell the 7D and the zoom lens, there's very little keeping you with Canon aside from liking top notch cameras with awesome image quality as well as build quality.

I like Canon, and would suggest you stay with them, but your baggage with Canon is rather light...so you're not really tied down.

Have you considered the 70D? Once the 7DmkII is announced, you'll have a harder time selling your 7D as eBay will be flooded and prices will drop. In fact, this trend has already started...it will worsen with the announcement.

I have 6D and old 5D.

Photos I took at Florida beach with 5D+Sigma 50mm are fantastic.

I sold 5D for buying 60D but bought back two weeks ago.

I recommend 5D + 24-105L, if 6D is not in your budget.

From the options you laid out it sounds like you have $1000-$1500 to spend on upgrades and are looking for the best options given your situation and interests.

Given your current equipment I think the 7D is your strongest asset and the lenses are the weakest. In fact, I think they're holding back what you could achieve (technically) with your camera.

I would consider the following options:

1. Upgrade lenses:

Given your interest in landscape photography, I'd look at the Sigma 18-35/f1.8 (~$800 if you can find one), which seems (I don't have personal experience) to be the strongest lens for the wide-angle and low light by a margin.

Given your interest in Zoo photography I would invest in the Canon EF-S 55-250 IS STM (~$350 new, ~$240 refurb), which is a fun lens and will offer you many new options.

I'd shy away from the 24-105L - while I really like it on my 5D full frame body, it is too resolution limited to be recommended on a 7D.

I similarly don't want to recommend the 17-40L. Maybe the new 16-35/f4L, but the cost is somewhat higher.

2. Switch systems:

The idea would be to sell all of your current gear and start new. I'd think you can recover between $700 and $1000 for your 7D + lenses (that would allow you to stretch up to $2500 if my assumptions are correct).

Considerations (other than budget) should be:

1. Modern camera (sensor) and lens technology for optimal IQ, while sensor size plays a role it's potentially a minor one if you can go for the optimal camera/lens combinations.
2. Size/weight (although you didn't comment on this).

I don't want to give recommendations, but some pointers to engage the thought process.

Michael Reichmann from the Luminous Landscape http://luminous-landscape.com/ says that for him m4/3 systems provide everything he needs in terms of IQ in a manageable package. Look for his reviews on Fuji XT-1 and Olympus OM-D EM1.

If looking for APS-C sized systems any current offer from Nikon, Sony and other will offer competitive packages (IMHO, if you're looking at this it's probably easier to stick to option one above: upgrade lenses).

If looking for Full frame sensor options, I think you're going to quickly run out of budget. But consider starting with the Canon 6D/24-105L combo (~$2000) and upgrade lenses as desired. Or look into current Sony and Nikon offerings with high MP sensors.

Many options, no single right answer.

Good luck!

This one is quite difficult to answer so easily. The 7D is at the end of its production cycle, and, at least in the USA, is being sold with a $400 US instant rebate, for a price of just under $1000 US. The release of the 7D's successor is very strongly rumored, which depresses the prices of pre-owned samples, regardless of region. A DSLR is most certainly not an investment, of course, but you are likely to experience quite a loss by selling now. You can realize a better return by using the camera for a longer period of time.

As for the 7D being suitable for your photography, well, I am not familiar with zoos in the UK, but it seems to me that the 7D would be really nice for a day at the zoo. Plus, it seems that interest in photographing zoo animals could grow into an interest in photographing non-captive birds and animals, for which the 7D is still an excellent choice. Have you seen ToxiQ's excellent images posted here?

The 7D has an excellent dual-axis virtual horizon, which I use frequently when composing urban landscape and architecture shots, especially when shooting with wide-angle lenses. Indeed, this was one of the deciding factors when I bought my first 7D in 2010, as the Nikon D300s had only a single-axis virtual horizon. If I recall correctly, to get a dual-axis virtual horizon in a Nikon means buying a D800-series, at minimum.

Your 17-85mm EF-S lens is no longer known as one of Canon's best efforts. According to all the reading I did at the time, in late 2010 and early 2011, the 15-85mm EF-S is a notably better lens. I decided to buy the excellent Canon 10-22mm EF-S, due to a need for an ultra-wide zoom, and otherwise have avoided buying EF-S lenses, not wanting my lenses to be limiting my choice of future camera body purchases. (Ultra-wide is an acquired taste, so I am not necessarily recommending the 10-22mm; just using it as an example of a higher-end EF-S lens.)

--
I wear a badge and pistol, and make evidentiary images at night, which incorporates elements of portrait, macro, still life, landscape, architecture, and PJ. I enjoy using both Canons and Nikons.

I would keep everything to continue to photograph at the zoo.

I would get a 5D or 6D refurbish and add a used zoom to give you some range until you can afford more. Remember the 5D has a free mirror recall. Make sure you get that done before Canon decides to drop the recall on an antique camera.

Did I mention I love my 5D with an 85mm/F1.8!

You may get the FF and decide you really need the crop camera at times and the 7D is still a good camera.

All future lens purchases will be EF and not EFS. That way you can use with either body. You might trade an EFS for a good zoom EF.

I have a mamiya 135/2.8 thread mount and AF confirm adapter total less than 100 dollars which I enjoy on the 5D. Maybe you can find a good wide angle or two and do the same thing. Surely manual focus is not a problem for landscape photography.

Hope you enjoy your cameras regardless

whvick

The 6D would be a better camera for low light landscape, but the 7D is a really well made and relatively weatherproof camera, which is important for some time-lapse outdoor photography.

Jake Neal said:

Hi All,

As the title suggests, I am considering selling my 7D and buying a different body, but would like some advice before I commit to doing so. To explain my situation..

A few years back I bought a Canon EOS 350D as I wanted to take on photography as a hobby. The 350D was just a starter body to determine whether I liked photography or not. It turns out I did. After changing the kit 18-55 lens for a 17-85mm lens, I started focusing on landscape photography and timelapse as this is what interested me. A year or so later, I decided to upgrade my body and ended up getting the Canon EOS 7D.

I really like the 7D, but thinking about it, is the 7D really right for what type of photography I'm into? I mainly shoot timelapse and landscape, with the occasional portrait. I also like taking it for general shooting when I go to parks and zoo's. And from what I understand, it's tailored more towards sport/wildlife photographers. Just seems like a waste to have a camera with all that functionality

After a long think, below are what I consider to be my options, but am not sure which path I should take;

Options

• Keep my 7D and buy a new lens - I was looking at the 24-105 L and then possibly the 17-40 L
• Sell my 7D and buy 5DI and a few lenses
• Sell my 7D and buy 5DII and a lens
• Sell my 7D and buy 5DI and another body and a lens

My current gear is as follows;

• Canon EOS 7D
• Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

As you can see I only have 2 lenses, so am wanting to also buy a new lens. I am also open to sell any of the lenses in place of a new one or two.

Please let me know your advice on how I should progress.

Many thanks in advance,

Jake

Click to expand...

You state you really like the 7D. So I would just stick to it. Yes it might have some functions you hardly use, but selling it now will not cover the cost for the 5DII or 6D, and I consider the 7D to be superior to the 5D1 in most ways (except the shallow DoF control that FF is capable of).

Keeping your 7D means you can keep the 17-85mm as well, as it does not fit a fullframe camera. So that would mean you can invest some money in new lenses. If you choose to stick to an APS-C camera I would consider getting a wideangle lens like the newly released Canon 10-18mm. Really nice focal length for landscapes and timelapse photography. I think it is about $300.

Jake Neal said:

Just seems like a waste to have a camera with all that functionality

Click to expand...

Yes, it is a bit of a waste for your uses. It is suited above all to high-speed work to squeeze the most out of telephotos.

Since your lenses are not worth very much, you could sell it all and start with a clean slate. Just don't set much store in keeping those lenses. The 17-85 is neither expensive nor high quality, and the 50 f1.8 can be found all the time for <$100.

If you prioritise looking at your photos rather than the speed and convenience of taking them, you could be more pleased by a 5D and any prime or short-range zoom

Thanks for all the replies.

OK I think I'm going to keep the 7D for now and invest in some new glass.

I will probably invest in a 5D MKIII after the MKIV has come out.

I am going to sell my 17-85mm and start from scratch with my lenses.
Can anyone suggest the best EF wide-angle lens that will still be a good combo with the 5D later down the line?

I also need a good walkabout lens that is the same criteria as above (works well with 5D). I want a new portrait lens as well.

I was looking at the f/1.4 version of the 50mm Canon lens?