Is the 7D Mark II a good fit for the 400mm 2.8L IS Mark II?

I am considering to buy the 7D Mark II once I have saved the money for it, which will take some months to accomplish. I would then pair it with my 400mm 2.8L IS Mark II. Does this combo work well? I currently use two old cameras from 2005, the Rebel XT and my 5D Classic.

You're joking right??

expro wrote:

You're joking right??

No. In what regard?

And I got a PM from someone who said that he gets more hits with his 70D than 7D Mark II and his 500 4.0L IS Mark II.

In regard that as long as the weight is ok then the 400isii is top top top lens... It will make the best of any body and especially for sports shooters.

should be dream combination with 7d2 - I would disregard the 70d shooter as probably did not know what he was doing! Maybe....

expro wrote: I would disregard the 70d shooter as probably did not know what he was doing! Maybe....

He wrote that the AI Servo of the 7D Mark II is a common complaint, so now I am unsure. Don't want to buy a 70D when there is a better APS-C-Camera.

Pascal Parvex wrote:

expro wrote: I would disregard the 70d shooter as probably did not know what he was doing! Maybe....

He wrote that the AI Servo of the 7D Mark II is a common complaint, so now I am unsure. Don't want to buy a 70D when there is a better APS-C-Camera.

I had 70D but upgraded to 7D Mark II and love it.  I use it for birds and AF is awesome.  I feel that I am the limiting factor.

Pascal Parvex wrote:

expro wrote: I would disregard the 70d shooter as probably did not know what he was doing! Maybe....

He wrote that the AI Servo of the 7D Mark II is a common complaint, so now I am unsure. Don't want to buy a 70D when there is a better APS-C-Camera.

I don't have your lens, which is why I didn't respond at first....but I do have a 70D (a great, general purpose camera which I am keeping) and a 7Dm2. The 7Dm2 blows the 70D out of the water for shooting things that move fast and move a lot. It can track amazingly small birds in flight. I get shots now that I would never have gotten with the 70D. And the advantages go beyond just the AF system...all kinds of customizable features really help you get the most out of the camera. However, it is a much more complex camera to learn and set up. As for the problems the other user reported, I would not discount them. Use that info so that when you get one, you test it hard with your gear so that if things aren't working as they should, you can return it. You don't want to be stuck with an $1800 paperweight.  Of course, I assume you know how to shoot with that heavy lens. If got that that lens, it would take me a while just to learn how to shoot with it (in terms of getting good results), so having two things to learn at the same time would be risky. But if you feel you know it, then I'd try a 7Dm2.  Top lenses should be matched with top bodies, IMO.

Pascal Parvex wrote:

I am considering to buy the 7D Mark II once I have saved the money for it, which will take some months to accomplish. I would then pair it with my 400mm 2.8L IS Mark II. Does this combo work well? I currently use two old cameras from 2005, the Rebel XT and my 5D Classic.

well if you can afford a 400/2.8 MKII then save for a 7D MKII and use the 400 with two old cameras????

What do you use the 400 for?? It's like driving a Ferrari and put cheap tires on the car

You have a strange combination of equipment - a stunning, world-class and very, very expensive lens combined with two cheap bodies which totally fail to take advantage of it. How did that happen? Or I suppose what I mean is, what do you want to photograph which took you down that route? That is probably far more relevant to any decision about the 7D II.

Well, I am more of a gear collector than an avid photographer. For day to day picture taking, I always have a Canon SX700 compact camera with me. I use my DSLR gear only on special occasions. This is also because I don't have a car anymore, so lugging that 400 around is something I have to carefully consider.

And hey, at least my 5D wasn't cheap! I paid over 3K for it...in 2006.

The 400mm in my possession is a special case, as the decision was to have the lens or nothing, also no money. It is a long story.

The reasoning behind wanting to buy a 7DII is that I would get 1D X like autofocus and the focal view multplier of 1.6 for sports shooting. If I ever get to shoot a sports situation.

Pascal Parvex wrote:

I am considering to buy the 7D Mark II once I have saved the money for it, which will take some months to accomplish. I would then pair it with my 400mm 2.8L IS Mark II. Does this combo work well? I currently use two old cameras from 2005, the Rebel XT and my 5D Classic.

Well, the 400mm f/2.8 lens is awesome, so that's good. And the 7D II is a decent camera. But a 7D II + 400 f/2.8 gives you an effective focal length of 640mm--which is a whole lotta glass! The uses for this combo will be pretty limited. It would be great for birding or football from the opposite side of the field, but I have a hard time thinking of many other mainstream uses.

Most often I see the 400 f/2.8 used on a full frame body, sometimes with an extender if someone needs an extreme telephoto.

http://www.canonrumors.com/2015/05/canon-eos-7d-mark-ii-af-issues/

When I first got my 1dx I read all about the different focussing choices, methods, recommendations even though I had my 5d3 for several years already.

so out I went on safari and listening to all this advice guess what  I had less keepers than with my 5d3....

then suddenly I thought f this, I'm gonna go back to one point servo and just let the camera do all the rest,no clever settings etc at all

now I get the best AF I have ever used. Most days 100%.

it's a learning curve.....

expro wrote:

When I first got my 1dx I read all about the different focussing choices, methods, recommendations even though I had my 5d3 for several years already.

so out I went on safari and listening to all this advice guess what I had less keepers than with my 5d3....

then suddenly I thought f this, I'm gonna go back to one point servo and just let the camera do all the rest,no clever settings etc at all

now I get the best AF I have ever used. Most days 100%.

it's a learning curve.....

Good post. I've had to do this from time to time myself. Sometimes all the research and opinions just get ya buried in the weeds and you need to go back to basics. I love all the AF options, but it is easy to shoot yourself in the foot.

Literally!

thanks.