Canon 550 to 7D

Farmlife

I've got a canon 550 and i'm thinking of upgrading to the Canon 7d. I mostly use it for fast sports shots, so the higher shutter speed and the faster continuous shooting mood appeal to me. Thing is i've heard there's a new Mark 2 coming out soon, is it worth my while changing from the 550 for the few changes or has anyone any better idea's? the 7d at €1600 with the 18-135mm lens is around my budget.

chisel

I went from a 500D to a 7D and haven't regretted it for a second. Buy a body only at the best deal you can and try to get L glass 2nd hand with what you save?

inkedpt

Farmlife wrote: »

...Thing is i've heard there's a new Mark 2 coming out soon....

Canon released a firmware update for the 7D recently... don't think they'll put a 7D MarkII in the market in the next years.

5uspect

inkedpt wrote: »

Farmlife wrote: »

...Thing is i've heard there's a new Mark 2 coming out soon....

Canon released a firmware update for the 7D recently... don't think they'll put a 7D MarkII in the market in the next years.

Is it out already?

Splinters

The 7D is a stunning camera, with some great practical advantages over the 550D. Much better build quality, considerably better autofocus, way higher fps in burst etc but in terms of image quality its not going to make any difference whatsoever. Theres a valid argument to say the autofocus is so good on the 7d you'd probably manage to get shots that your 550d might never have got, but the sensor is identidal in both so would not give you any better image quality or high iso performance. This isnt opinion by the way, theres plenty of in depth comparisons which will confirm it if you'd like the links.

Ultimately it just depends on whats more important to you. You'll see better image quality and low light performance from the new 650D then the 7D, but then again its to be expected since its using the Digic 5 processor instead of the 7D's Digic 4 (actually I believe it has two of them, still same image quality).

If the burst speed is your priority (understandable for sports shooting) then the 7D is the way to go. Personally in your position Id be looking at a 5D mkII. Conns have them new for 1999 now which means 1600 will easily get one new (or ex-demo at least) if you shop around. Then again, thats just me. It all boils down to what you need.

5uspect

The 7D viewfinder is worlds better than anything in the xxxD series.

Splinters

Yep, theres many advantages, no argueing that. However non that will directly impact image quality.

Saying that, the image quality from the 550D is probably as good as most people need for most uses anyway, and theres no denying the other advantages are a huge benefit.

Like I said, it totally depends on your needs and what you're hoping to gain from the upgrade. That'd be my take on it anyway.

Farmlife

Thanks for that, think i'll still hang on to the 550 for messing about, I'd love to get the 5D but the budget says no. I can get the 7D and 18-135mm lens new in a shop here for €1620 or when i'm over in the US pick it up in Best Buy for $1799.99 (€1470) but when you take in the US tax and EU Duty/VAT I'm better off picking it up here and getting my IOP voucher and EU warranty, So i think the mind is made up,

Do you know if i get one here will it have the firmware update done, or will i have to do that, Thanks

5uspect

According to teh internets the update is due sometime this month. So any cameras currently in stock are very unlikely to have it installed.