Looking to step up from my t2i and need advice on new camera

[sliderhorse]

I have been using my t2i and need help deciding which new camera to buy.  I use a canon 100-400 f4.5 lens which i love.  I mainly shoot birds in flight and nature.  My camera now does a great job but I would like something that looks better with a high ISO setting.  I only use manual settings and love my back focus feature so a new camera would also have to have that. My price range is less than $2000.  Any advice is appreciated.

[cicopo]

No idea what you mean by "back focus feature" but  the 7D2 fits both your budget & needs, and will into the future. .

[ScottyP]

I nearly always agree with Cicopo, but the part about better performance at higher ISO unfortunately points mostly to a full frame camera. The improvement from T2i to 7d2 is at best, perhaps 1 stop. At most. A full frame camera will be more than one more stop above the 7d2.

[cicopo · Accepted solution]

Going full frame will give up a lot of artificial reach. As for high ISO from the 7D2 I've seen some very impressive samples shot at 12,800.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1356768

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1355985

You can work your way backwards through this thread for lots of high ISO shots from different cameras too.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1308983&page=90

[sliderhorse]

Thanks I think I'm will get the 7d2. It has the faster focus and faster fps than my t2i.

[cicopo]

Be aware it has a learning curve. I bought one about 4 weeks ago & it took a bit of reading to fully understand all the AF possabilities & how to run through them . I recommend downloading the manual & AF manual that Canon Support offers to start the homework.

[DigiBill]

Before purchasing the 7D you should also consider the 70d,  Both are fine cameras.  The 70d has abundant features, tilt/touch screen and excellent, fast focus.  FPS for the 70d nearly matches the 7D.  Good luck with your final decision.  Suggust you google " canon 7d vs canon 70d" for lots of comparisons.

[RobertTheFat]

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@DigiBill wrote:

Before purchasing the 7D you should also consider the 70d,  Both are fine cameras.  The 70d has abundant features, tilt/touch screen and excellent, fast focus.  FPS for the 70d nearly matches the 7D.  Good luck with your final decision.  Suggust you google " canon 7d vs canon 70d" for lots of comparisons.

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The camera the OP says he's considering is the 7D2, not the 7D. But maybe the 7D should be part of the equation. The 7D2 is clearly a better camera than the 70D; so if the OP is up for a purchase of that magnitude, it's a no-brainer. But the comparison between the 70D and the 7D isn't nearly so clear. The 70D is arguably a more modern camera, with some interesting features the 7D lacks. But the 70D seems to have generated vastly more complaints than the 7D had at the corresponding stage of its existence. Some of those complaints are undoubtedly overstated, but it does make one think. And the 7D ought to be pretty cheap right now, with the 7D2 starting to gobble up its market share. So if I were the OP, and I didn't want to spring for the 7D2, I believe I'd pick the 7D over the 70D.

Full disclosure: I own two 7Ds, and I've never even seen a 70D. So consider the source. But I do stand by my opinion.

[DigiBill]

Bob....

I moved up from the t1i to the t3i and two months ago went to the 70d.  Before deciding on the 70d it was six months of reading and research.  Spent some time at the local camera shop trying the 7d as well as the 70d.  My suggestion to the OP is do his "homework"......read, read, read and be sure to try the camera at the local camera shop.

On one visit to the camera shop I "played" with a Sony mirorless camera.  Made me think about switching.  But really glad I stayed with Canon.

Bill