80d vs 7d Mark II

[chief54]

Thinking of switching from 80d to 7d Mll. I am an avid bird in flight photographer and like the 7d Mll with 10 fps, 65 focus points, dual card slots and weather seal. The 80d has 7fps 45 and no weather seal. Would really like a 1dx but that is out of my paygrade, was ready to pull trigger on a used 1d MlV at around $1000 but for $300 more I can get a new 7d with up to date system and the controls seem to work same as my 80d and 6d Mll. Really like the 80d but do not see any downside to an older camera. Any thoughts.

[Waddizzle]

If you are thinking of switching from the 80D to a 7D2, then save your money.  The biggest difference between the bodies is build quality.  For most users, the difference in build quality is insignificant.  For some, it is a deal breaker.  Advantage, 7D2.

When it comes to image quality, I think the 80D has less noise than the 7D2 at higher ISO settings.  The 7D2 begins to get noisy at ISO 800.  The 80D does not show as much noise until ISO 1600, one full stop better.  This is a subjective opinion on my part, but most test reports seem to bear this out.  Advantage, 80D.

When it comes to the number of AF points and AF tracking, the two bodies are fairly close.  They are too close to justify jumping ship from the 80D to the 7D2.  While the 7D2 has more AF points, the 80D has the next generation AF system compared to the 7D2.  The 7D2 only has one AF point capable f/8, while the 80D has 27 f/8 AF points.  Advantage, 80D.

The 1D Mark IV is a very good body, too.  I would liken it to being a precursor to the 7D2.  The 1D4 has a very good AF system.  The 7D2 has a next generation AF system compared to the 1D4.  Advantage, 7D2 for the higher resolution.

The 6D2 uses the same generation AF system as the 80D, literally. Like the 80D, it tracks moving subjects very well.  I have used all of these bodies photographing “Friday Night Lights”, and the 6D2 runs circles around the 1D4 and 7D2.  The 6D2 produces acceptable images at ISO 12800 with modest Noise Reduction.  Both the 7D2 and 1D4 need significantly more Noise Reduction applied to their images at ISO 12800.  Advantage 80D, for the 1.6 crop factor.  Advantage 6D2, for the lower noise.

So, why do you want to switch bodies?  If your 80D had died, then i could understand considering a different body.  But, you already have one of the best buys in the Canon DSLR lineup.  It is a great all-around camera body.  The more expensive bodies may have better performance in one category  or another, but in most cases the differences will only matter seasoned professionals.

[chief54]

I want to switch because of faster shutter spped, 2 card slots and weather sealed

[ebiggs1]

"... 2 card slots and weather sealed"

This rules out the 80D.  The 1D4 is better weather sealed than the 7D2.  Also the 1D4 still has the favorable crop factor of 1.3x.  A little less than the cropper 80D. A plus for tele work maybe a slight disadvantage for WA stuff.

[ebiggs1]

Do you want to do this?

I don't venture out in wet weather often but sometimes you just get caught out unexpectedly.  We 'were' having an extreme drought here. Guess that's over.  The super fantastic Canon 1DX.

[Waddizzle]

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@chief54 wrote:

I want to switch because of faster shutter spped, 2 card slots and weather sealed

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If build quality is your priority, then by all means go for it.  

Like I posted earlier, the 7D2 definitely has the edge when it comes to body build.  Do not expect any improvement in IQ or AF performance.  The two bodies are too close to justify those parameters as reason to switch, not unless you just want two camera bodies.  They both scored an 84%.  

The 80D may have fewer AF points, but it has the next generation Dual Pixel AF.  The 80D gives you 27 AF points capable of focusing at f/8.  The 7D2 has only one AF point capable of focusing at f/8, the center AF point.  

I like to use EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM with EF 1.4x III extender.  The 7D2 will gI’ve you only one AF point with this combination.  The 80D will give 27 AF points with that lens setup.

The 7D2 AF cases settings are nothing more than presets for 3 AF settings, which alter the AF tracking behavior.  The same settings are in the 80D.  You just do not have presets.  The default AF settings are the same as Case 1.  You could create your own AF presets by saving your current camera settings as a custom shooting mode, if you wanted.

The 7D2 wins the body build category, hands down.  I would give the 80D the nod in nearly every other category, though.  You would have to do some serious pixel peeping to see the differences in ISO and IQ.

I find it weird that one body could be rated with better ISO, while the other is rated to have better IQ.  Seems to me they should go hand in hand.  My preference is for the IQ of the 80D, which has roughly 25% higher resolution.

[TCampbell]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

When it comes to image quality, I think the 80D has less noise than the 7D2 at higher ISO settings.  The 7D2 begins to get noisy at ISO 800.  The 80D does not show as much noise until ISO 1600, one full stop better.  This is a subjective opinion on my part, but most test reports seem to bear this out.  Advantage, 80D.

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I'm staring at the test images on DPReview

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-7d-mark-ii/11

It looks to be the other way around... the 7D II is less noisy than the 80D ... the 7D II seems to beat the 80D by a little more than 1 stop (maybe 1.5).

If you use the link, leave the 7D II selected as one camera, set the 80D as the other, swtich to RAW views (it defaults to JPEG) and play with the ISO.  As you get to higher ISOs the difference becomes apparent.  

[Waddizzle]

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@TCampbell wrote:

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@Waddizzle wrote:

When it comes to image quality, I think the 80D has less noise than the 7D2 at higher ISO settings.  The 7D2 begins to get noisy at ISO 800.  The 80D does not show as much noise until ISO 1600, one full stop better.  This is a subjective opinion on my part, but most test reports seem to bear this out.  Advantage, 80D.

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I'm staring at the test images on DPReview

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-7d-mark-ii/11

It looks to be the other way around... the 7D II is less noisy than the 80D ... the 7D II seems to beat the 80D by a little more than 1 stop (maybe 1.5).

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I would have to agree with you for those test images.  The images are a little hard to compare because of their resolution differences.  Here is another comparison link.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-80d-review/13

I cannot remember which site, because I really do not look at them, one of them "rates" the highest effective ISO that the camera body is useful.  The 80D had rated slightly higher than the 7D2.  I recall that you had posted the link.

I also downloaded the RAW images from your link, and resized them to same resolution  6000x4000, and the 80D seems cleaner to me.

7D Mark II , ISO 6400

80D, ISO 6400

I had both cameras for a couple of months, and found the 80D seemed to have cleaner shots with more Dynamic Range, especially under low light conditions.  But, the 7D2 did seem to have cleaner in-camera JPEGs.

[Waddizzle]

Here is a side by side comparison by DP Review

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-80d-review/14

You have dial in the second camera. 

The above screen shot is the result.  Yellow bar is the 80D and the white bar is the 7D2.  While I have not done any tests, just subjective evaluation of RAW images from both bodies, I prefer the images coming from the 80D.  The above comparison would seem to agree.

The FPS speed differences are almost moot, IMIHO.  The lens will ultimately determine the FPS when yoiu set Image Priority to full Focus Priority.

[ebiggs1]

Everybody likes to upgrade or just buy a new camera from time to time. I fully understand.  However, you have selected three of my most favorite bodies. I could be happy with any of them.  I think you might look at it this way.  How professional body do you want?  1D Mk IV full on pro, it don't get any better, or 7D Mk II, almost but not quite professional.  80D best prosummer camera made today.

I might add, I use dual card slots, a lot, and maybe that would make the decision.