I shoot with both, but great L glass is just as important as a good camera body.
Keep in mind with the mkii you have the ability to micro adjust your lenses to squeeze that extra little bit of sharpness out of your lens. I was skeptical at first about adjusting them, but I'm a believer now after taking some time to adjust some of them for the mkii.
Your L glass will last a life time, your camera bodies don't.
Both camera's are worth the purchase for sure and you just can't go wrong either way !
Your picture quality will improve using them but even more when using nice glass in combination.
In your case that means buying the cheaper 5D and some nice glass.
A second hand 35L for example and along with your 70-200f4 you'd have already a great setup !
WilliamG wrote:
Eh? How does that even make sense....?
I'm ending up with the 5D + 7D combination myself, so in some sense it does make sense.
I've been using the 24-105 on 5D and 70-200 f4 L IS (optionally with 1.4x) on 40D for a while now, as a generic combo to take around. Now I'm upgrading 40D to 7D, mostly for the new AF and better low-light performance. If I get more reach for wildlife, that's a big plus.
I've been using the 5D indoors to shoot dance competitions because 40D just isn't good enough. According to my tests in the camera store I should be able to switch to 7D now.
7D's video capability is a definite plus, although 5D2 would have that as well.
I have a 5d2 and could not live without live-view + high res screen +MF adjustments + killer resolution/high iso.... But my work demands those things and I have plenty of glass.
Go with a classic 5d +glass.. Will produce awesome images for you.
Also, sell off that 17-85 on the B/S forum or ebay/amazon and put the cash towards more glass.
I bought a used 5D mkI last weekend. It was a little pricey, as I bought it from a specialist camera shop in London (York Cameras), but is in spanking condition. About 3,600 shutter-count, and not a single scratch or ding. Came in a box with everything, with the shop providing a new charger and battery
Using my 70-200mm F4L has been a joy; a more usable focal-length range, and beautiful bokeh. The 50mm 1.8 is also now a more useful portrait lens (but the 5D really shows its budget optics when compared to my old 400D).
Pdoc, sure 5D MkII is more money, but it will also last longer, because the 5D you get for £800 is not new. So, think about the cash outlay, but also value over time. Just my tuppence (British version of "just my 2 cents)