5D vs 7D strictly from a video perspective

O

Outlaw Productions

Well-known member
I have been at this for months, I currently have a T2i and am impressed with what it can do. I want to step it up to the next level. My question is this, will I see that much of a difference from the T2i to the 7D? What would the consensus be here 7 or the 5?

let me know what you guys/gals think.....
 
We have the 550D, 60D, 7D and 5D2. The 5D2 is without doubt our 'Go-To' cameras for all[/]u situations unless we need a crop camera for extra reach. The output from the 550D, 60D and 7D are realistically indistinguishable from each other, whereas the 5D2 is at least a stop better and probably 1.5 or 2 stops better. We tend to limit the 7D to ISO1250 whereas we don't hesitate to take the 5D2 to ISO 1600, 2000 or even 2500.
 
The difference is pretty minor on all the current-gen Canon VDSLR's (soft upscaling to 1080p, awful 720p, alaising/moire). Most agree that there is no visible difference between t2i & 7D. If you upgrade, do so because you need HD-feed to monitor or any of the other fancy features.

If you upgrade to 5D there is a slight chance you'll get dissapointed, Especially if comnig only from a video perspective. Lower rez screen than t2i. No 720p mode. Same hdmi output rez as t2i. And video quality is the same, except more dynamic range and slightly better color, but tbh there is no BIG difference (most people would probably define the visual difference only by means of, not rarely, vey shallow DoF). Personally though i love the 5D image, but then i'm a pixelpeeper.

Also FF glass is something very different... unless you're already geared with L-series or Zeiss primes there is a risk you'll find your current glass (if it fits!) to be not as good anymore. FF glass is expensive for a reason. What i'm saying is... don't haste to "upgrade" your camera & then find yourself in a position not affording the type of glass that you WILL need to justify an FF sensor.

5Dmk2 is an "old" camera (3 year cycles) and will likely be replaced this year, hearsay is that test bodies for Mk3 is out. Now, to be honest there is no guarantee that they'll implement a proper alaising-free video signal (and very unlikely fixing rolling shutter). BUT hold out 6 months and see. I would not upgrade from t2i to 5Dmk2 unless i had a photo interest with it. Especially not since the technicolor cinestyle works on both t2i & 7D, greatly improving on the range.
 
As someone who owns both, I'll give you my perspective. For a commercial I will always choose the 7D. I have the TV Logic 5.6" monitor that loops out the HDMI signal to HD-SDI and I'm therefore easily able to run video village for my clients, agency, director etc. It's easy to pull focus, and it allows me to use the Tokina 11-16 2.8 zoom which is a fantastic lens.

If I'm doing something music video or narrative on an indie scale, and I get to pick my camera, I'll usually use the 5D. I can throw my Z finder on there, and I don't need to try to get video out working. The 5D produces beautiful wide shots... looks stunning with a 35mm lens on... great stuff. I use old Nikon AI-S glass and most lenses easily cover the FF sensor.

If I had to own only one... the 7D. More versatile, better video out, better LCD, heavier duty construction, slow motion... if you could only own one, for me it's the 7D.

By the way, I have two friends that bough the T2i and both of them had the LCD screen burst and turn green somewhere around 6-8 months after they bought it. That Z-Finder is a bit too rough for the cheaper construction.

Hope that helps!

JT
 
As far as overheating issues go, however, the 60D is the more robust out of all of them. The 7D being the worst.
 
From my work which is purely video as well, I got first a 7D, its great, especially with the HD monitoring. I needed a 2nd cam which is also better than my current so as late as 5 weeks ago, when I concluded any new camera from japan will be delayed due to the disaster, I bought a 5D cuz I needed another cam asap.

The 5D is a great compliment to the 7d/t2i/60(all have similar image output). It is BETTER than all the aps-c sensored cams.

Running both cams through charts and actual tests, the difference of full frame makes you have like double your lenses, for instance if you have 50mm, its 80mm on your 7D, a 105mm is 168mm and so forth.
While the 5D doesnt have 60P, its color aliasing is lesser than the apsc sensors.
Its also better in low light.
Its image aesthetic is better than the aps-c.

Forget its bells and whistles, I look at them as merely sensors with a lens attached to them. The thing i look at is the bottom line, the image output.
Forget the sound, the ergonomics etc, these things are not designed for it.

So even if its already old and due for update, get it if you need it now. If your work pays for it, then it doesnt matter. My 5D which I got 5 weeks ago is already paid for.

If a new one comes out, you can't get it soon anyway, also you wait for it to get good reviews and for its bugs to be ironed out.
 
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