WTB maybe: Canon body

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Anton Largiader
Anton Largiader's picture
WTB maybe: Canon body

I am tossing around the idea of getting a better camera body. Used. 5D3, 7D2, or 1D4 (pretty much in that order I think). All about the same cost, all with super powerful autofocus and high ISO for shooting gymnastics in terrible light. Let me know if you have any leads (or try to talk me out of it!).

I've been using my 10 year old Rebel and it has been fine for more predictable action (like running, swimming) but it doesn't have the dual-DIGIC autofocus that the next generation has, and that's important when the subject keeps moving erratically in dim light.

Matt Hazelgren
Matt Hazelgren's picture

I have a 7D Mark II I'm looking to sell. Was my main body for about 18 months until I upgraded to an R6 over the summer. Still works great. You're welcome to give it a test ride before making a decision if you want. My contact info is 540-604-7530, matthazelgren@gmail.com.

Anton Largiader
Anton Largiader's picture

Hi Matt,

Thanks. I've tried that number and email without much success so I'll try the email you have on file with the club.

Anton Largiader
Anton Largiader's picture

Update here... Matt was kind enough to lend me his 7D2 and 1.4 extender, and I've been having SO much fun. In chronological order:

1) I borrowed a 5D2 from a friend and used it at a high school tennis match. WAY better autofocus, nicer sensor, nothing not to like really. Can crop SO deep. Mostly kept the 70-200 on it since the FF let me run it a bit wider. The shots I took with my own camera? No keepers after looking at the ones from the 5D2.

2) I borrowed the 7D2 (which was basically Canon's top APS-C DSLR since 2015 or so) right before a lacrosse match. The match was in a high school stadium and I didn't have specific permission to go up to the sideline so I stayed 20 feet or so back and exclusively used the 7D with the 70-200 and the 1.4x. WOW. Amazing autofocus, insane burst rate, and good high ISO (I didn't really need it since the match ended just as the sun was going down, but it did let me push the shutter speed up). I had never shot lacrosse before and it took me a while to figure things out, so the 5D2 never came out of the bag. The 7D2 was simply the right tool for that job.

The 1.4x really didn't seem to cost me anything in terms of IQ so I went ahead and bought one. Got it today. Now Matt can have his back. :) And it looks like I'm going to buy his 7D2.

I do realize that mirrorless is the future, and this is a time of great upheaval in the camera world. Right now, a mirrorless body that does better than the 7D2 is way more than I want to spend, because the 7D2 autofocus outperforms the RP. Next body? Who knows. Maybe I'll take the plunge to ML or maybe I'll scratch a full-frame itch with a 5D4 when they get cheap (they haven't yet). Just for gymnastics, which is the original impetus behind this, I think FF would be the way to go with the lenses I have. But I realize that the rest of the shooting I like favors APS-C, and there isn't that much more gymnastics this year.

Anton Largiader
Anton Largiader's picture

Another update... Canon finally announced the R7, which isn't exactly a successor to the 7D2 but a mirrorless version of something between the 90D and the 7D2. Great AF, big megapixel jump, some crazy new capabilities and a fantastic price. A few things are a step down: weather sealing sounds lighter and there's no battery grip available. But it is 1/4 the cost of an R3.

They are hitting the shelves in about a month. I might try to pick one up next fall once sports start again, as a companion to the 7D2. Some sports, especially those on a 100-yard field like football/soccer/lacrosse, just want two cameras.