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7DMII or 90D for Low-Light Wildlife Photography?

kyoto5
Apprentice

Very very new to wildlife photography, and photography in general. Camera I own currently is--get ready for this--a Rebel t1i, which got me through photography class. Now I want to get into wildlife photography and am looking for something <$800. I found the 7DMII at a good price point, and I've heard it's reliable in the wildlife scene, but I'm worried about its low-light capabilities--shooting at dawn/dusk, etc. I've heard wildly different things...should I be worried? Is the noise something that could be fixed in Topaz or Lightroom?

I've also seen the 7DMII be compared to 90D, which obviously has newer hardware while still getting around 10 fps, I believe? So presumably the ISO capabilities will be better while still being good for wildlife. But it's above my price range everywhere I've checked, so not sure if it's worth the investment. It also starts to get into the same range as the 5DMIV--on eBay at least--which seems to be the preferred overall, so maybe I should be considering that as well? (A little too expensive, though)

Basically, I'm worried the 7DMII won't perform well during dusk/dawn, which is the ideal time for the wildlife I'd like to shoot. Is the splurge for the 90D a good idea? Is there another camera entirely closer to the 7DMII's price range I don't know about?

11 REPLIES 11

Great material and some fine images there!  Given the expressed budget of the OP: "I want to get into wildlife photography and am looking for something <$800", I suspect the R-series bodies will be outside their scope.

I was always surprised that the 90D did not have the same tracking system as the 7DII, given it was a much newer body and I suspected (and time confirmed) that Canon would not make a 7DIII.  It's a pity... even though the sensor is going to be slightly noisier, it would have certainly enhanced the 90D considerably.


cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris

Tronhard
VIP
VIP

You said you want to get into wildlife photography with a budget of >$800.  An important question to ask is what lenses do you have, and what would you consider buying and is any lens purchase part of the $800 limit.  Remember glass is at least as important as the body for wildlife (and most other genres, actually).

I don't use Topaz or Lightroom, but I do use PS to a limited degree, and as long as you get your exposure right you should be able to reduce noise.  As Alan and I have both said, more pixels does not mean better results necessarily, especially in low light.

Right now it would be helpful to get some responses from you as regards the questions we have asked and our responses to your questions to clarify how it's going.


cheers, TREVOR

The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris
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