need a body for 100-400ii + 1.4TCiii. 7dmk2 or 80d or wait? Bird photography

[bobbob2]

Hi.

I've been using the 70d with the 100-400ii+1.4tciii for bird photography for some time now and I'm ready to move to a new body. The 70d is great for what it is but it does not AF at f8. I've been shooting manual for almost a year, with some excellent results, but without a prism in the viewfinder, getting perfect focus is a question of luck more than skill, especially with subjects as unforgiving as birds. There is a certain comfort in knowing that any focus issues are entirely my own fault rather than gear related, but I'm ready to move on.

The 7dmk2 seems to ideal candidate for a new body but the 80d seems a worthy competitor, especially at f8. It's also cheaper but that's not the determining factor. I've been reading up on the subject and it seems that on paper the 7d2 is better for my purposes. However, I would really appreciate some input from people who have compared both bodies with the mentioned lens setup for birds.

There is a thread going over this question over at Fredmiranda but I'm not sure what to make of it. https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1488551/0

Additionally, rumours of the 7dmk3 and 90d coming out are holding me back. I'm not entirely sure what's going on with the 2019 releases? Should I wait? It would be at least another year until the release, get stock delivered and fix teething problems, if any, of the new models.

[bobbob2]

Thanks, good video!

You are the only one that's suggesting the 80d over the 7dmk2 and it's not making my life any easier 🙂

[Waddizzle]

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@bobbob2 wrote:

Thanks, good video!

You are the only one that's suggesting the 80d over the 7dmk2 and it's not making my life any easier 🙂

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I do not feel that I am suggesting the 80D.  I have already pointed out that the 7D2 is probably the better overall choice.  I have simply been pointing out that  if you want to use the 1.4x III with that lens, and make sure it is the “III” version, then the 7D2 could be a major disappointment.  

In fact, it will be a disappointment.  From time to time, I might swap out bodies with a lens when the batteries get low.  Every so often I wind up putting the 7D2 on the 100-400 + 1.4x III.  It will take a few minutes to figure out that there is nothing wrong with the camera.  I just simply failed to notice the lens setup that I was using.  #seniormoments

You might want to check out Part 1 of that two part series.  It takes a lot of practice to track BIF with just a single focus point.  Grant Atkinson does an excellent job of explaining the AF settings in the 80D.  They are the same settings found in 7D2, and all of Canon’s current prosumer and professional bodies.  

 Atkinson spends some time to explain what settings professionals would use, and why.  He takes the time to make recommendations on what settings could work best for someone new to wildlife shooting with a super telephoto lens, and why.

[bobbob2]

I see, I misunderstood you. To clarify, are you saying that the 80d focuses better with the TC than the 7d, but the 7d is overall a better camera even with the TC, slower focus issues aside?

[govindvkumar]

I recommend you to wait for some time as canon would be releasing their much rumoured Canon 7D MArk iii body in the first quarter of 2019. I expect it to have better iso performance an faster auto focsing capabilities when copmared to the mark 2 version

[Waddizzle]

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@bobbob2 wrote:

I see, I misunderstood you. To clarify, are you saying that the 80d focuses better with the TC than the 7d, but the 7d is overall a better camera even with the TC, slower focus issues aside?

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Pretty much, yes.  That is what I am saying.  The 7D2 is the better camera, overall.  But, the 80D will perform better when you are using a TC with a lens that creates a minimum aperture of f/8.