topic Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

clearblue — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 04:14:17 GMT

Hello,

I'm faily new to the DSLR world. I got an used EOS 7D with an used EF-S 18-135mm lens. I've been using it while traveling/hiking for landscapes and portrait pictures. It is a pretty heavy camera and caryring it all day is tiring. I'm looking to upgrade the body to a ligher and newer model. I will buy a used one. I'm not looking to change the lens so I would like to be able to re-use it on the new body.

What body model would you recommanend for a beginer/intermediate user? I'm looking for something to fit with the EF-S 18-135mm lens. Is there a model that has proven reliable and there are plenty available on the used market? I'm not looking for advanced features but for something ligher weight and at a decent price, around $200.

Thank you!

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

Waddizzle — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 21:15:12 GMT

How do you carry the lens? I used to get tired of carrying my camera, and found a camera strap fatiguing on hikes, not to mention the bump hazard that comes with having a camera swinging from your neck or shoulder. I also wasn't a fan of having a hard camera body bouncing off of my hip for a few hours, either.

So, I invested in a Lowepro Toploader Camer Holster. They come in a varying sizes. Some are designed for pro bodies, or bodies with a grip, and some are designed for bodies without a grip. In each of those types, they come in varying depths for lenses of different sizes. Now, I can hike with two free hands, and not worry about my camera bouncing around.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 21:27:35 GMT

The 7D is a 2009 model. Any Rebel T4i or later will be newer and lighter.

The 7D is a more specialized camera than a Rebel, but it sounds like that is not important to you.

Check the Canon eStore for refurb models.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

RobertTheFat — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 16:58:26 GMT

@jrhoffman75 wrote:
The 7D is a 2009 model. Any Rebel T4i or later will be newer and lighter.

The 7D is a more specialized camera than a Rebel, but it sounds like that is not important to you.

Check the Canon eStore for refurb models.

I don't disagree with John's points, but I will point out that:

- The 7D was, for its time, one of the best cameras Canon ever made; and ...

- No Tni has AFMA. But the 7D does; and unless you confine youself to "L" lenses, there may be times when you need it.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

wq9nsc — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 19:58:59 GMT

Bob,

I will add to your excellent response that even with L series lenses, AF microadjustment is often needed for perfect AF. It only takes a few minutes but the results are worthwhile and when I acquire a new lens or body I always check and adjust if needed before shooting anything important so some of the first images from any of my new gear are a series of boring photos with a target surrounded by the lawn 🙂 And several of my L series primes have required a slight (never more than 4 point offset) adjustment with a particular body. They are certainly close enough to use out of the box but since I generally use fast lens that are wide open most of the time, close isn't quite good enough 🙂

I use a slightly modified version of Canon's suggested procedure and shoot a series of three shots at 0 offset and then three shots each with offsets on the positive and negative adjustment sides in one session and then closely check them on the computer. From this series, I can quickly either choose the proper point or know exactly what adjustment points to shoot a second run using as the boundary adjustments. If the lens is one that I might use a 1.4X with, I will also do the shots for it in the initial run. This process takes 10 minutes or less to perfectly dial in a lens.

Rodger

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

jrhoffman75 — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 20:16:04 GMT

OP said " It is a pretty heavy camera and caryring it all day is tiring. I'm looking to upgrade the body to a ligher and newer model."

The 7D is a great camera. While I wouldn't go in that direction it seems to be what the OP wants.

Like Rodger I also check my focus on a new camera/lens combination.

I suspect that the type of lenses that most Rebel owners are using (f/3.5 or smaller apertures) have enough depth of field that the minor AFMA adjustments that we would make to our L lenses are encompassed in the DOF along with the less critical output.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

ebiggs1 — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 14:13:00 GMT

"I suspect that the type of lenses that most Rebel owners are using (f/3.5 or smaller apertures) have enough depth of field that the minor AFMA adjustments that we would make to our L lenses are encompassed in the DOF ..."

Exactly why the Rebel line doesn't offer it. I probably have had more than a hundred lenses in the past few years since my retirement and I can safely and confidently say most lenses, especially "L" lenses, do not need AFMA. That is what I have seen in my experience anyway. Two things about AFMA, one it is easy to screw things up. And, two it does not make a lens, any lens, sharper. A lens is as sharp as it will ever be the day it leaves the factory.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

ebiggs1 — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 14:17:27 GMT

" I'm not looking for advanced features but for something ligher weight and at a decent price, around $200."

You, my friend, are going to be disappointed! A camera with better and more advanced featuers than a 7D has, all for $200 bucks? Not likely in this world. Finding something "lighter weight" will be easy. Besting a 7D will not.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

clearblue — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 14:28:44 GMT

I'm *not* looking for advanced features...

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

ebiggs1 — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:39:03 GMT

" I'm not looking for advanced features ..."

I am sorry. I misread your requirement. However, the $200 dollar limit still is going to make it tough unless you settle for another older camera. The 7D is a very capable camera that hsd only weight going against it. That is because it is a magnesium body. The Rebels like the T4i which is about $200 used will be plastic. Agreed much lighter but less well built for sure.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

Waddizzle — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:49:07 GMT

@clearblue wrote:
Hello,

I'm not looking for advanced features but for something ligher weight and at a decent price, around $200.

Thank you!

Your budget is why i thought camera bag. The basic problem is not the camera. The problem is "carrying it all day long".

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

RobertTheFat — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 17:39:32 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
@clearblue wrote:
Hello,

I'm not looking for advanced features but for something ligher weight and at a decent price, around $200.

Thank you!
Your budget is why i thought camera bag. The basic problem is not the camera. The problem is "carrying it all day long".

I agree. If you're not looking for advanced features, stick with the 7D and use your money for lenses or other equipment.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

John_SD — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 21:22:17 GMT

"I'm not looking for advanced features but for something ligher weight and at a decent price, around $200."

A used PowerShot SX420 is what you want. Enjoy the snapshots.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

clearblue — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 01:37:00 GMT

Thank you! I appreciate all the answers and I read them carefully.

I have a decent toploader bag. I carry it on one sholder across the chest. This is in parallel with the regular backpack needed for the hike. I have to keep changing the sholder regulary due to the imbalance it creates.

I also looking into a backpack camera clip as it would place the weight closer the the body. This would also avoid having to take out and put the camera back in every time.

I would like to stick to a DSLR and use the lens I already have for it. The Rebel T4i sounds good. I don't really need a touch screen. I acutally prefer physical buttons. Are there any other Rebel models that stand in this limited budget?

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

RobertTheFat — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 02:31:02 GMT

@clearblue wrote:
Thank you! I appreciate all the answers and I read them carefully.

I have a decent toploader bag. I carry it on one sholder across the chest. This is in parallel with the regular backpack needed for the hike. I have to keep changing the sholder regulary due to the imbalance it creates.

I also looking into a backpack camera clip as it would place the weight closer the the body. This would also avoid having to take out and put the camera back in every time.

I would like to stick to a DSLR and use the lens I already have for it. The Rebel T4i sounds good. I don't really need a touch screen. I acutally prefer physical buttons. Are there any other Rebel models that stand in this limited budget?

Don't buy a T4i without actually handling it first. The reason the T4i had such a brief lifespan (before being replaced by the T5i) is that its black plastic coating tended to deteriorate and get sticky. Not all T4i's had that problem, but you wouldn't want one of those that did.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

ebiggs1 — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 14:09:34 GMT

"Don't buy a T4i without actually handling it first."

I would skip the T4i idea altogether. The T5i is essentially the same camera without the issues. I do like the Powershot idea. It sounds like that may be your best way to go. I usually have one everywhere I go. I have the G15, G16 and a G1x. I think these are all no longer made but they have replacements.

Re: Upgrade recommandation from EOS 7D

Waddizzle — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:23:23 GMT

@clearblue wrote:
Thank you! I appreciate all the answers and I read them carefully.

I have a decent toploader bag. I carry it on one sholder across the chest. This is in parallel with the regular backpack needed for the hike. I have to keep changing the sholder regulary due to the imbalance it creates.

I also looking into a backpack camera clip as it would place the weight closer the the body. This would also avoid having to take out and put the camera back in every time.

I would like to stick to a DSLR and use the lens I already have for it. The Rebel T4i sounds good. I don't really need a touch screen. I acutally prefer physical buttons. Are there any other Rebel models that stand in this limited budget?

It stills like more of a camera bag problem than a camera problem. A different camera won't change the holster hanging on our shoulder. The Lowepro top loaders come with a waist strap to stabilize it.

A backpack camera clip sounds hazardous on a hike. Not only is the camera exposed to dust, pollen, and damp leaves brushing against you and the bag. And then there is the drop hazard risk associated with a "backpack camera clip."

Yeah, a Rebel would be a lighter body. Your 7D is a far more robust body than any Rebel.