Full Frame... alongside a 7d...
Discussion
I'm currently out in Canada and stumbled across the fact that for the couple of months in out here, I could buy a 5D mk3..
I already have a 7D... A few EF lenses, one of which is L, I'm just wondering if there is a generally agreed idea of when to go full frame?
I focus on Motorsport, cars, portraiture (army events and expeds) primarily... I've found the higher ISO (3200+) of the 7D to be quite noisy and understand the benefit I'd have in the area of night photography and strobe photography and also I'm quite fond of the shallow dof offered at less of a focal length compared to a crop body.
I'd be thinking of keeping the 7D for motor sports (due to the lack of reach with current lenses on FF) and a few other areas...
Generally, I think what this post is for is this question:
Looking at what I focus on, would you, if you had the funds, buy a 5d mk3 and run alongside a 7d?
I already have a 7D... A few EF lenses, one of which is L, I'm just wondering if there is a generally agreed idea of when to go full frame?
I focus on Motorsport, cars, portraiture (army events and expeds) primarily... I've found the higher ISO (3200+) of the 7D to be quite noisy and understand the benefit I'd have in the area of night photography and strobe photography and also I'm quite fond of the shallow dof offered at less of a focal length compared to a crop body.
I'd be thinking of keeping the 7D for motor sports (due to the lack of reach with current lenses on FF) and a few other areas...
Generally, I think what this post is for is this question:
Looking at what I focus on, would you, if you had the funds, buy a 5d mk3 and run alongside a 7d?
I'm moving from a 7d to a 5d mk3 this week. I've got a lot more into portraiture and landscapes and don't need the extra reach the 7d gives. I had been taking quite a lot of shots of mates on motorbikes when I get the 7d but I don't really do that any more.
I also wanted access to the best lenses and to stop needing to change lenses as often. The 24-105 on a FF sensor will give me pretty much what I need almost all the time instead of wide angle+walkabout zoom+primes for portraits.
The high ISO noise difference will mean shooting indoors at mates weddings etc is easier and hopefully better candid shots will appear!
So yes, if you have the cash go for one. It's not like you can't sell either camera if your needs change or you feel you're not getting the use out of it.
I also wanted access to the best lenses and to stop needing to change lenses as often. The 24-105 on a FF sensor will give me pretty much what I need almost all the time instead of wide angle+walkabout zoom+primes for portraits.
The high ISO noise difference will mean shooting indoors at mates weddings etc is easier and hopefully better candid shots will appear!
So yes, if you have the cash go for one. It's not like you can't sell either camera if your needs change or you feel you're not getting the use out of it.
The 5D3 is a superb piece of kit, the AF is more than up to motorsport, the IQ is superb and the high ISO is outstanding, I shot a wedding at ISO6400 and had no issues at all, I didn't even need any more noise reduction than Capture One's default raw profile.
Having moved onto medium format digital I was thinking of selling my gear but it is just so good for travelling I think I will hang on to the 5D3, the ISO 25 of my new kit isn't ideal for walkabout use.
Having moved onto medium format digital I was thinking of selling my gear but it is just so good for travelling I think I will hang on to the 5D3, the ISO 25 of my new kit isn't ideal for walkabout use.
DibblyDobbler said:
Would you not get a better result ceteris paribus by cropping an image from the 5D3 as opposed to using the extra reach from the 7D ?
I put this as a question as I'm not sure, but if the answer is yes then I would punt the 7D
Generally the answer is no.I put this as a question as I'm not sure, but if the answer is yes then I would punt the 7D

If you need to crop to apsc or more (focal length limited) then you're better off with a crop body
rottie102 said:
First part I agree with - that's why I had to buy a 1d for that but what's wrong with 6D for portraits? I'm very happy with mine
For fast lens/shallow DOF I dont think the focus points have enough spread - leading to focus and recompose, and the non centre points are weaker. Also the 5d3 spot focus mode can more accurately place focus.I often use live view 10* zoom for < f2.0 portraiture now on the 5d2.
If you can afford it, why the hell not?
FF is lovely, having used a 6D a number of times now I find myself drawn more towards FF too.. (I use a 7D myself like the OP)
One point worth a mention though is the 6D's AF speed in low light, it really is very fast - and I've read it is 'much faster' than the 5D3..
FF is lovely, having used a 6D a number of times now I find myself drawn more towards FF too.. (I use a 7D myself like the OP)
One point worth a mention though is the 6D's AF speed in low light, it really is very fast - and I've read it is 'much faster' than the 5D3..
I've had my 6D for just over a week as an upgrade from a 500D. And an upgrade it is 
On the 500D I didn't like going over iso800 as the noise was getting bad. One of the first things I did was try out the 6D's high iso and was amazed with the results.
ISO25600(!) had obvious noise, but after putting it through Lightroom's noise reduction it cleaned up really well. 100% crop: http://www.flickr.com/photos/56025993@N03/94829155...
AF in the 'dark' works pretty well, pointed at a bush in out garden (at night) and it locked on. There was some light from the house but it was still dark.
The 5Diii may have better af points, but I wasn't having much trouble with them first time out shooting portraits at 50mm f1.4 getting sharp eyes/lashes, much better than my 500D would normally guess at. Although the AF is mentioned in reviews as not being 'very good', I'd say that was in comparison to the 5Diii and anyone coming from a lower range (xxxD especially,) will see a big improvement.
I accept that the 5Diii's better. Having watched/ read a few comparison reviews, the biggest differences were the extra, slightly better AF points and better video quality (anti aliasing filter.)
Unfortunately there was no way I could justify the extra £900 to get one.

On the 500D I didn't like going over iso800 as the noise was getting bad. One of the first things I did was try out the 6D's high iso and was amazed with the results.
ISO25600(!) had obvious noise, but after putting it through Lightroom's noise reduction it cleaned up really well. 100% crop: http://www.flickr.com/photos/56025993@N03/94829155...
AF in the 'dark' works pretty well, pointed at a bush in out garden (at night) and it locked on. There was some light from the house but it was still dark.
The 5Diii may have better af points, but I wasn't having much trouble with them first time out shooting portraits at 50mm f1.4 getting sharp eyes/lashes, much better than my 500D would normally guess at. Although the AF is mentioned in reviews as not being 'very good', I'd say that was in comparison to the 5Diii and anyone coming from a lower range (xxxD especially,) will see a big improvement.
I accept that the 5Diii's better. Having watched/ read a few comparison reviews, the biggest differences were the extra, slightly better AF points and better video quality (anti aliasing filter.)
Unfortunately there was no way I could justify the extra £900 to get one.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff


