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Archive 2025Buying a 7D in 2025?
p.3 #2Buying a 7D in 2025?
EB-1 wrote:
Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.I suspect that some users did not have the high grade cameras soon after they were introduced and were not fully aware of the differences between the various camera grades. I hauled around a bunch of 1Ds series bodies as main cameras from 2003 to 2012 because that was the best in Canon at the time. Even after the 5D III in 2012 the 1Ds III was better for some things up to 2015. If all someone was an xxD then it probably seemed good enough. Most people that got a 7D also had some FF body at that time.
EBH
My whole story with AF ups and downs:
I got into DSLRs with XT (350D) in 2006 and I tried further upgrades of the bodies so that 50/1.4 or 1.8 focused on a central point where I wanted it be focused, when shot at wide open or stopped down just slightly. I then learned that 350D was unable to do so (no high precision baselines), so I got 30D, which was tad better, but still quite low success rate compared to my (then future) 1D2n.
1D2n's option to pick either focus priority or shutter priority was a gamechanger, especially the option in the separate custom functions (those that could be only enabled from the computer to be set in camera) that blocked shutter until AF had focus. I used the same set of lenses I used before, no maintenance, no recalibration, I mounted those lenses on that 1D2n and I was getting pretty much reliably focused pictures at a rate I could only get from my xxD and xxxD bodies when I repeatedly shot the same picture and one of them was sharp where I really wanted it (AF point did not move).
It is my suspicion that all the non-1D bodies right until 60D had simply hardcoded a shutter priority, and it's been swapped to hardcoded focus priority on 60D and newer bodies that did not have a custom function to set a preferred mode.
Later after I got 1D2n I bought 400D for cheap, as I knew it had the 20/30D AF which at least had the high precision baseline, and when I got an option to buy 40D for cheap I sold the 30D and bought 40D to have a live view of some sorts. But both of those bodies weren't significantly better than the 30D I sold, so the 1D2n had to soldier on, especially when I had the opportunity to try a 7D and well, it was just somewhat better than 40D but still no 1D2n level.
Then I got the SL1 for video, shot it alongside 1D2n and found the AF to be pretty on par, maybe not in speed, but in accuracy. I shot all the same lenses I mentioned before.
So then I realized I could retire the trusty Brick (I still have it, it works, and is a mechanical and optical marvel), and get finally into fullframe with 6D. Good AF times were ahead, that later only improved with the R6/2.
Pixelpuffin wrote
I find it sad how many now rubbish the older DSLR’s despite many loving them back in the day.Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.
MintMar wrote
Not me! I was unhappy with the AF performance of the non-1D bodies (I owned XT, XTi, 30D, 40D) in the past so much that I simply bought a journo beater 1D2n in 2010 and stayed with it for any fast and/or thin-dof shooting for further 4 years, until I found out that SL1 (which I bought to upgrade mt XTi for walkarounds and also some video work) while not as fast, was basically as accurate with fast lenses as the 1D2n. And yes, I tried friend's 7D at that time, and no, it was not better than the much older 1D2n.EBH
My whole story with AF ups and downs:
I got into DSLRs with XT (350D) in 2006 and I tried further upgrades of the bodies so that 50/1.4 or 1.8 focused on a central point where I wanted it be focused, when shot at wide open or stopped down just slightly. I then learned that 350D was unable to do so (no high precision baselines), so I got 30D, which was tad better, but still quite low success rate compared to my (then future) 1D2n.
1D2n's option to pick either focus priority or shutter priority was a gamechanger, especially the option in the separate custom functions (those that could be only enabled from the computer to be set in camera) that blocked shutter until AF had focus. I used the same set of lenses I used before, no maintenance, no recalibration, I mounted those lenses on that 1D2n and I was getting pretty much reliably focused pictures at a rate I could only get from my xxD and xxxD bodies when I repeatedly shot the same picture and one of them was sharp where I really wanted it (AF point did not move).
It is my suspicion that all the non-1D bodies right until 60D had simply hardcoded a shutter priority, and it's been swapped to hardcoded focus priority on 60D and newer bodies that did not have a custom function to set a preferred mode.
Later after I got 1D2n I bought 400D for cheap, as I knew it had the 20/30D AF which at least had the high precision baseline, and when I got an option to buy 40D for cheap I sold the 30D and bought 40D to have a live view of some sorts. But both of those bodies weren't significantly better than the 30D I sold, so the 1D2n had to soldier on, especially when I had the opportunity to try a 7D and well, it was just somewhat better than 40D but still no 1D2n level.
Then I got the SL1 for video, shot it alongside 1D2n and found the AF to be pretty on par, maybe not in speed, but in accuracy. I shot all the same lenses I mentioned before.
So then I realized I could retire the trusty Brick (I still have it, it works, and is a mechanical and optical marvel), and get finally into fullframe with 6D. Good AF times were ahead, that later only improved with the R6/2.Jan 21, 2025 at 06:31 PM
p.3 #3Buying a 7D in 2025?
MintMar wrote:
Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.Not me! I was unhappy with the AF performance of the non-1D bodies (I owned XT, XTi, 30D, 40D) in the past so much that I simply bought a journo beater 1D2n in 2010 and stayed with it for any fast and/or thin-dof shooting for further 4 years, until I found out that SL1 (which I bought to upgrade mt XTi for walkarounds and also some video work) while not as fast, was basically as accurate with fast lenses as the 1D2n. And yes, I tried friend's 7D at that time, and no, it was not better than the much...Show more →
I still have my old 400d, 40d, 50d, 70d, 80d, 100d, 200d, 7d, 7dii, 6d, 6dii, 5d, 5diii & 1div
All are worth very little these days…so what…who cares…..I certainly don’t .
All are kept in a single plastic storage box (with giant silica gel packs), all work without issues.
A few years back I compared both 400d - 7dii using 200/2.8Lii on tripod
To this day I’m still undecided whether I was blown away by the lowly 400d or disappointed by the much hyped 7dii 😂
It was a great insight
Yes, mirrorless is a major MAJOR leap forward. But that’s not justification to be dissing on the fore-bearers.
A lowly gripped 400d with say a 24stm using centre point AF is to my mind still a very comfortable and certainly capable camera. It’s just that modern mirrorless has vastly reduced the operator input needed 😂, and yet now delivers almost 100% guaranteed success rates unless the operator tries to meddle and thus quickly realises his once finely honed skills have gone to mush!!….But he can correct in post!!!
Just leave it on auto and press the BIG button.
Honestly nobody will ever know, you look the part that’s what really counts these days
Like a toddler clutching moms iPad… guaranteed sharp pictures everytime !!!
Pixelpuffin wrote
I find it sad how many now rubbish the older DSLR’s despite many loving them back in the day.Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.
I still have my old 400d, 40d, 50d, 70d, 80d, 100d, 200d, 7d, 7dii, 6d, 6dii, 5d, 5diii & 1div
All are worth very little these days…so what…who cares…..I certainly don’t .
All are kept in a single plastic storage box (with giant silica gel packs), all work without issues.
A few years back I compared both 400d - 7dii using 200/2.8Lii on tripod
To this day I’m still undecided whether I was blown away by the lowly 400d or disappointed by the much hyped 7dii 😂
It was a great insight
Yes, mirrorless is a major MAJOR leap forward. But that’s not justification to be dissing on the fore-bearers.
A lowly gripped 400d with say a 24stm using centre point AF is to my mind still a very comfortable and certainly capable camera. It’s just that modern mirrorless has vastly reduced the operator input needed 😂, and yet now delivers almost 100% guaranteed success rates unless the operator tries to meddle and thus quickly realises his once finely honed skills have gone to mush!!….But he can correct in post!!!
Just leave it on auto and press the BIG button.
Honestly nobody will ever know, you look the part that’s what really counts these days
Like a toddler clutching moms iPad… guaranteed sharp pictures everytime !!!
Jan 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
p.3 #4Buying a 7D in 2025?
Pixelpuffin wrote:
Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.Not me! I was unhappy with the AF performance of the non-1D bodies (I owned XT, XTi, 30D, 40D) in the past so much that I simply bought a journo beater 1D2n in 2010 and stayed with it for any fast and/or thin-dof shooting for further 4 years, until I found out that SL1 (which I bought to upgrade mt XTi for walkarounds and also some video work) while not as fast, was basically as accurate with fast lenses as the 1D2n. And yes, I tried friend's 7D at that time, and no, it was not better than the much older 1D2n.I still have my old 400d, 40d, 50d, 70d, 80d, 100d, 200d, 7d, 7dii, 6d, 6dii, 5d, 5diii & 1div
All are worth very little these days…so what…who cares…..I certainly don’t .
All are kept in a single plastic storage box (with giant silica gel packs), all work without issues.
A few years back I compared both 400d - 7dii using 200/2.8Lii on tripod
To this day I’m still undecided whether I was blown away by the lowly 400d or disappointed by the much hyped 7dii 😂
It was a great insight
Yes, mirrorless is a major MAJOR leap forward. But that’s not justification...Show more →
My experience with non-1D bodies older than 60D and EF-50/1.4 wide open was different. But the very same 50/1.4 very well on 1D body and lower bodies after 60D. Of course, RF is even better, but that's a live view style focusing and not a separate optical path.
MintMar wrote
Pixelpuffin wrote
I find it sad how many now rubbish the older DSLR’s despite many loving them back in the day.Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.
All are worth very little these days…so what…who cares…..I certainly don’t .
All are kept in a single plastic storage box (with giant silica gel packs), all work without issues.
A few years back I compared both 400d - 7dii using 200/2.8Lii on tripod
To this day I’m still undecided whether I was blown away by the lowly 400d or disappointed by the much hyped 7dii 😂
It was a great insight
Yes, mirrorless is a major MAJOR leap forward. But that’s not justification...Show more →
My experience with non-1D bodies older than 60D and EF-50/1.4 wide open was different. But the very same 50/1.4 very well on 1D body and lower bodies after 60D. Of course, RF is even better, but that's a live view style focusing and not a separate optical path.
Jan 22, 2025 at 03:34 AM
p.3 #5Buying a 7D in 2025?
Pixelpuffin wrote:
I find it sad how many now rubbish the older DSLR’s despite many loving them back in the day.
Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.
I used to love my 8086 based pc…not so much today. I used to love my 24” tv set…not so much today. I used to love my slow dot matrix printer…not so much today. I used to love watching my three tv stations I picked up with my antenna…not so much today.
Sometimes old stuff just is old.
Feb 15, 2025 at 08:51 AM
p.3 #6Buying a 7D in 2025?
I owned both the 7D and the 7DII. What made me jump was the rear screen. The 7DII was so much higher-res that it made checking focus, etc. easy. Before, I had to either zoom in and scroll around, or wait until I could see the images on the computer. With the II is could do it right there, in real time.
High ISO wasn't what it is today, but de-noising took care of that if/when I had to shoot at 16,000.
High ISO wasn't what it is today, but de-noising took care of that if/when I had to shoot at 16,000.
Feb 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
p.3 #7Buying a 7D in 2025?
I had the 7D years ago, and although it worked well for me most of the time, the times it didn't were extremely frustrating. Big areas of disappointment were AF at critical time (just bit off, but enough to ruin a good or great shot) and noise in less than perfect lighting. I replaced it with a 1D MIII, and then followed with the 1DX. I loved the 1DX. The images out of it were, IMHO, on par with the 5DMIII, but just a little "smoother". I wound up using it for a lot of landscape work. I replaced it and my 5DSR with the R5II late last year, and even though I am really loving this body, I still miss the 1DX. I don't know how you would go from a 1DX2 back to a 7D. I think it would be a "use once and never pick up again".
Feb 19, 2025 at 07:42 AM
AmbientMike
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p.3 #8Buying a 7D in 2025?
chez wrote:
Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.I used to love my 8086 based pc…not so much today. I used to love my 24” tv set…not so much today. I used to love my slow dot matrix printer…not so much today. I used to love watching my three tv stations I picked up with my antenna…not so much today.
Sometimes old stuff just is old.
Interesting you'd bring up TV, you might look at thefreetvproject.org. Apparently pretty popular lots of channels for free
And I get tired of technology that doesn't work if it rains
Edited on May 04, 2025 at 11:34 AM · View previous versions
Pixelpuffin wrote
I find it sad how many now rubbish the older DSLR’s despite many loving them back in the day.Kinda reminds me of the kid who ditches his longtime friend when a new cool kid moves in nearby.
Sometimes old stuff just is old.
Interesting you'd bring up TV, you might look at thefreetvproject.org. Apparently pretty popular lots of channels for free
And I get tired of technology that doesn't work if it rains
Edited on May 04, 2025 at 11:34 AM · View previous versions
Feb 19, 2025 at 11:50 AM
p.3 #9Buying a 7D in 2025?
Terrible camera, especially for around $200 for a used one in great condition.
Canon EOS 7D 100.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens 400mm f/6.3 1/320s 1600 ISO -1.0 EV
Apr 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
p.3 #10Buying a 7D in 2025?
I still have mine, I have a love - hate relationship with it. The love part; Solid built like a brick and for its time a good sensor, easy to operate, bit noisy at ISOs over 400 or so. I took some great images with it that now can't be repeated. The hate part was the AF, I don't think I ever got a shot of a bird that was spot on in focus.
Apr 28, 2025 at 06:25 AM
p.3 #11Buying a 7D in 2025?
Ferrophot wrote:
........ bit noisy at ISOs over 400 or so. ............. the AF, I don't think I ever got a shot of a bird that was spot on in focus.
ISO 1600, fast-flying Killdeer.
........ bit noisy at ISOs over 400 or so. ............. the AF, I don't think I ever got a shot of a bird that was spot on in focus.
ISO 1600, fast-flying Killdeer.
Canon EOS 7D 100.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens 400mm f/11.0 1/2500s 1600 ISO -0.3 EV
Apr 28, 2025 at 07:12 AM
p.3 #12Buying a 7D in 2025?
Only have a 7D and 7DII. I have worn out the 7D completely, rubber rotting off shutter count must be out of this world. Bought a used 7DII and a 18-135 together for 800 bucks and have been using it for many years now. You just cannot wear those things out. AF sucks behind belief, but I don't care at this point. Just have to take a lot of photos. But, when it hits all those little pixels do their magic.
May 02, 2025 at 09:38 PM
semmmyq
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p.3 #14Buying a 7D in 2025?
In 2025, the 7D’s main drawbacks vs modern bodies:
Ancient AF (slow/low accuracy vs 1DX2/5D4)
Poor ISO performance (noisy beyond 1600)
No 4K/clog (irrelevant for sports but limits versatility)
Heavy for APS-C (same weight as some FF bodies)
Verdict: Fun nostalgia piece, but even an old 90D or used R7 would smoke it. Only buy if dirt-cheap!
Ancient AF (slow/low accuracy vs 1DX2/5D4)
Poor ISO performance (noisy beyond 1600)
No 4K/clog (irrelevant for sports but limits versatility)
Heavy for APS-C (same weight as some FF bodies)
Verdict: Fun nostalgia piece, but even an old 90D or used R7 would smoke it. Only buy if dirt-cheap!
May 04, 2025 at 08:16 AM
p.3 #15Buying a 7D in 2025?
artsupreme wrote:
Actually, you could probably sell your Commodore 64 for a sizable sum, which makes me wish I kept my Atari. So maybe, one day, the 7D will be as "valuable" as PnS cameras are nowadays lolYou noticed too!
My G12 & G16 that I bought for literally pennies a few years back are going for stupidly high prices these days. I kept all my old digital compacts. Plus all my old DSLR’s too
😂I sold an old Canon PowerShot G9 X in 2023 for like $250. Felt like I hit the lotto with that one lolIf you have a 1DXII and 5D4, why would you want a 7D? I guess another question would be how much would you pay for a 7D?
This is exactly what I was thinking. It seems the 1DXII would be far superior for sports, and the 5D4 would be far superior for everything else. I shot a 7D exclusively for 8 years, and its a good camera, but you have much better cameras.
Ming-Tzu wrote
Pixelpuffin wrote
Ming-Tzu wrote
Mike_5D wrote
Sure, I loved my Commodore 64 back in the day, but I don't know what I'd do with one today.My G12 & G16 that I bought for literally pennies a few years back are going for stupidly high prices these days. I kept all my old digital compacts. Plus all my old DSLR’s too
😂
This is exactly what I was thinking. It seems the 1DXII would be far superior for sports, and the 5D4 would be far superior for everything else. I shot a 7D exclusively for 8 years, and its a good camera, but you have much better cameras.
May 04, 2025 at 11:19 AM
p.3 #16Buying a 7D in 2025?
Why would anyone buy a refurbished 7D in excellent condition for $300 or less that can't take decent photos?
How about because that may be all they can afford?
How about because that may be all they can afford?
Canon EOS 7D 100.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 lens 400mm f/8.0 1/125s 800 ISO -1.0 EV
Dec 03, 2025 at 11:10 PM
p.3 #17Buying a 7D in 2025?
I still have PTSD from my time with the 7D, haha. Some people clearly got them to work, but it was never in the cards for me.
I rented a 7D II when they came out and the AF seemed equally inconsistent, so I passed on that model.
Perhaps the real problem was with the lenses I owned at the time. Yet, I never had issues nailing focus with the same lenses using the center AF point on the 6D (that thing was like the Eye of Sauron).
What was maddening about the DSLR era was how some camera and lens combinations seemed to work consistently while others just did not.
I rented a 7D II when they came out and the AF seemed equally inconsistent, so I passed on that model.
Perhaps the real problem was with the lenses I owned at the time. Yet, I never had issues nailing focus with the same lenses using the center AF point on the 6D (that thing was like the Eye of Sauron).
What was maddening about the DSLR era was how some camera and lens combinations seemed to work consistently while others just did not.
Dec 05, 2025 at 10:51 PM
p.3 #18Buying a 7D in 2025?
I’m currently trying to create a photo book of action shots of my son when he played football (7yr-18yr) he’s taking a year off whilst he gets settled into his apprenticeship
I’m guessing I had somewhere around 50-70K football shots of his team. I rattled those down to 3,000 and currently I’m down to 500
I used 5dc, 7d, 7dii and 5diii during that period.
Now looking back at the shots my 7d plus 70-300L captured I am so impressed. All mine are JPEG’s yet when I view them on the 65” TV screen I’m literally staggered and can’t believe I actually took them. They are so sharp!!
I still have all those cameras and I plan to start using them again… and why not??
I’m guessing I had somewhere around 50-70K football shots of his team. I rattled those down to 3,000 and currently I’m down to 500
I used 5dc, 7d, 7dii and 5diii during that period.
Now looking back at the shots my 7d plus 70-300L captured I am so impressed. All mine are JPEG’s yet when I view them on the 65” TV screen I’m literally staggered and can’t believe I actually took them. They are so sharp!!
I still have all those cameras and I plan to start using them again… and why not??
Dec 06, 2025 at 04:13 AM
p.3 #19Buying a 7D in 2025?
I honestly don't understand some of these comments. I still have and use both a 7D and a 7D II In fact the 7D II stays pretty much attached to my 600/4.0. They are still my go to camera's for action and sports also. Yes, mainly the 7D II but I won't hesitiate to throw a lens on the 7D if needed also. I just never found them lacking for my work in good light. I'll also admit they don't compare to today's standards the higher ISO's. But I've been at this game a long time and still remember when I hated using even ISO 400 film.
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Dec 06, 2025 at 08:28 AM
p.3 #20Buying a 7D in 2025?
I did have some issues with fast moving subjects with my 7D mk 1 but still some of my favourite images were taken with it
Dec 06, 2025 at 09:06 AM