Hi All,

I am very in to photography and am looking to upgrade my camera. I currently use a Canon 400d which I have had for aprox 5 years and it's been fantastic. As I am starting to get more and more bookings for weddings, a couple of promotional shoots and some portraits, (I also enjoy the odd trip to Brands Hatch to practice panning shots) I thought it's about time I treated myself to an upgrade. My options at the moment are: -

New Canon 60d with 17-85 IS

New Canon 60d with 18-135 IS

Ex-Demo/Used Canon 7d with 18-135 IS

The 7d is about £180 more expensive, but is it worth paying that little bit more??

What would you guys go for and why??

Cheers!

Chris

Some decent lenses....

I'd go for the 7d 100%. Not the best lens but a much more capable camera, especially for weddings (if you can't afford full frame).

I would say it depends on your ability, the 60D is a good camera and easy to use, I think the 7D can introduce noise when not wanted and is a bit more tricky to master. IMO.

I would also go with what KBPhoto said, glass is much more important the body it goes on, I currently put off buying the 7D in favour of buying "L" lenses, I noticed a marked difference in quality the minute I started using the new lens.

I had an 18-135 IS and it was ok but showed chromatic abberation quite badly, if you are doing weddings you don't want that on the white dress!

Thanks Guys,

With regards to lens, I borrow a friends 17-40 F4 L when I do weddings, or if his isn't available I can always hire an L lens for the day/weekend.

Chris

I've a 7d and having used lesser d's in the Canon range for me it's a no brainer go for the 7d. I take a lot of sports photography and it works great for this, you can also tend to go an extra stop so get better shots in low light.

The 18-135 is a great all round lens and if you're not doing anything professional or at a great distance will actually do you for almost anything.

I've a 7d and having used lesser d's in the Canon range for me it's a no brainer go for the 7d. I take a lot of sports photography and it works great for this, you can also tend to go an extra stop so get better shots in low light.

The 18-135 is a great all round lens and if you're not doing anything professional or at a great distance will actually do you for almost anything.

Agreed.

But he's photographing weddings and other stuff and (hopefully) charging a decent rate for it.

I'd expect the professional photographer at a wedding to have better quality lenses (wouldn't be too bothered about the camera) than a general purpose walk about lens!

Agreed.

But he's photographing weddings and other stuff and (hopefully) charging a decent rate for it.

I'd expect the professional photographer at a wedding to have better quality lenses (wouldn't be too bothered about the camera) than a general purpose walk about lens!

As I mentioned earlier, as far as lenses go I can either borrow my mates L lens or hire one quite cheaply for 7 days: -

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-ef-17-40mm-f4-l-usm-27-p.asp

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon-ef-16-35mm-f28-l-ii-usm-26-p.asp

The 400d I've got is starting to get a bit tatty, so I thought if I'm gonna treat myself to a new body I might as well go for the better one, but was just wondering which one that would be.

I can then save up for a new lens once I've bought the new body.

Cheers

Chris

Why not keep the lens(es) you have (if you are going to be borrowing / hiring better ones) and spend more on a better built body (e.g. 7D) in better condition than the one you have seen?

Current best price on a new UK spec 7D or keep an eye on the Canon refurb opportunities on eBay (I bought my 20D body from them nearly 8 years ago and it is still going strong with zero problems in the time I have had it).

Why not keep the lens(es) you have (if you are going to be borrowing / hiring better ones) and spend more on a better built body (e.g. 7D) in better condition than the one you have seen?

Current best price on a new UK spec 7D or keep an eye on the Canon refurb opportunities on eBay (I bought my 20D body from them nearly 8 years ago and it is still going strong with zero problems in the time I have had it).

This is the one I've seen... it's from Jessops, so it will come with 12 months Jessops Warranty, so at least I wouldn't have to send it off to HK if it goes wrong; -

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/G%20coded%20stock/products/Canon/EOS%207D%20Digital%20SLR%20with%2018-135mm%20Lens%20-%20Ex-Demo%20and%20Used%20Stock-87966/Show.html

Chris

Why not keep the lens(es) you have (if you are going to be borrowing / hiring better ones) and spend more on a better built body

+1

http://www.mpbphotog...canon-eos-7d-2/

^BAM, you've just saved £300 towards some L glass.

EG: http://www.mpbphotog...mm-f/4-l-usm-7/

Or to save you borrowing your mates: http://www.mpbphotog...40mm-f/4-l-usm/ -> Which makes the 7d and 17-40L yours for only £132 more than the Jessops kit (or about 3 weeks/weddings of hire).

Edited 14 November, 201213 yr by Mort

I had this debate recently. The 60D and 7D are very similar, they use the same sensor etc, so will produce the exact same image as each other.

The difference is essentially the 7D has more weather proofing, and a slightly higher burst rate. The 60D has a swivel screen. That's it.

Not strictly true.

The 7D has:

dual processors (compared to single);

19 cross-type AF Points (compared to 9);

It has AF micro-adjustment (for when your lenses front or back focus slightly);

The partial & spot metering areas are different;

The viewfinder covers 100% (as opposed to 96%);

The focussing screen is not changeable;

It is PASM only (60D has semi-auto modes as well);

It has more custom functions;

The 7D uses CF cards (the 60D uses SD);

8 fps (as opposed to 5.3);

etc.

While some of these are insignificant, there are also some that are quite important in some areas of photography (100% viewfinder coverage, card type or dual processor for example).

I can't recall what the 400D uses for memory cards, but this change needs to costed in if a 7D is chosen...

Not strictly true.

The 7D has:

dual processors (compared to single);

19 cross-type AF Points (compared to 9);

It has AF micro-adjustment (for when your lenses front or back focus slightly);

The partial & spot metering areas are different;

The viewfinder covers 100% (as opposed to 96%);

The focussing screen is not changeable;

It is PASM only (60D has semi-auto modes as well);

It has more custom functions;

The 7D uses CF cards (the 60D uses SD);

8 fps (as opposed to 5.3);

etc.

While some of these are insignificant, there are also some that are quite important in some areas of photography (100% viewfinder coverage, card type or dual processor for example).

I can't recall what the 400D uses for memory cards, but this change needs to costed in if a 7D is chosen...

The 400d uses CF cards, so that would save me some money there by not having to buy new cards (mind you, my sx210is compact uses SD, but I haven't got a large card for that).

The 100% view finder would be good for things like group shots at weddings to make sure I've got everyone in.

The dual processor would be good if I start to get in to the Motorsport photography more.

The difference is essentially the 7D has more weather proofing, and a slightly higher burst rate. The 60D has a swivel screen. That's it.

The 7d has a massively improved and better AutoFocus system which IMHO puts it way ahead of the 60d.

All the other processor does is increase the burst rate slightly, as I said the pictures out of both cameras will be identical.

I didn't really find much difference with the auto focus system, to be honest, but I am an amateur!

I made the choice for the 60D when there was £400 between them, and it just wasn't worth the extra. At £180... it may be worth the extra.

Either way, both cameras are very good and the OP won't be disappointed in either, and either would be a good upgrade to the 400D.

Either way, both cameras are very good and the OP won't be disappointed in either, and either would be a good upgrade to the 400D.

I agree with this, plus: if you're happy considering a 2nd hand 7d how about looking at a 2nd hand 60d? At about £500 it leaves almost half of your budget to get yourself some nice glass with it?

Hi

Jumping into this thread a little late, but hopefully can add my tuppence worth.

I have had a 7D since, IIRC, October 2009. It is almost unheard of for Canon to run a model this long, but what they did back in the summer was release such a radical firmware upgrade that they, to all intent and purpose, produced a 7D MkII.

It has been a long standing Canon policy to only fix bugs, and not add to features in a Firmware upgrade, but not so with this one. Manual audio level control ( a feature that all the video guys had been begging for in a 7D MkII) was added in the firmware upgrade.

Bottom line.....

The 7D is still a great camera 3 years on. The 60D is a good camera, but in many ways is still a high end amateur DSLR; whereas the 7D is firmly in the enthusiast / low-end PRO range. Lots of pros use it as their back up body, in scenarios where they don't need FF.

Re. lenses, the only real alternative to a good 'L' lens for wedding work is the EF 15-85mm. Last time I looked, this lens was around £500, but many reviewers place it easily alongside equivalent 'red rings'.

Just because a Canon lens has a red ring on it doesn't automatically make it better - not all 'L' lenses are the top of their class! Sometimes, a lens from another manufacturer can be a better choice. Case in point - the latest Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS - little more than half the cost of the equivalent 'red ring', but turning in results that are either comparable, or where there is a difference, so small that few could justify the extra money.

Anyway - these are only my thoughts. In my opinion, great photography is 10% gear, 30% location and 60% skill

The 60D is no mans land. Either get a Rebel (which you already have), or the 7D. The 60D is more money for a swivel screen and more plasticy horribleness. The 7D is the best crop camera that Canon make and although Nikon's image quality is better (especially with the D7000) the handling and ergonomics are awesome. If you're sticking with Canon, it's 7D or bust IMO. Otherwise, get a D7000 and the better Nikkor glass.

Out of interest, I'm a 7D owner and I just use 15-85 IS as my walkabout and have the f4 70-200 IS for length...

Hi All,

I ended up going for a 7D and an 85mm f1.8 lens. Just gotta try and find a little bit of time to go out and have a play around with it.

Good choices, both. Enjoy.

The focussing on the 85mm f1.8 isn't the quickest, but its a good value lens.

Good choices, both. Enjoy.

The focussing on the 85mm f1.8 isn't the quickest, but its a good value lens.

I certainly seems quicker than my Tamron and other Canon lens.... plus it's silent too

Wait until you try the 85mm f1.2L...

Wait until you try the 85mm f1.2L...

That's the lens designed for taking pictures of black cats in coal cellars at night, isn't it?

That's the lens designed for taking pictures of black cats in coal cellars at night, isn't it?

Nah, that's the EF 50mm f1.0 :love: