60D vs 7D for low light video only

E

Exact

Veteran
This must have been discussed a thousand times, but after much searching both here and via Google I am about as confused as ever.

Three things first -
1) I'm only going to use them for video - no photos. I have a 5D2 which would be the photo body.
2) I'm not interested in the GH2, I have lots of Canon glass and didn't like the GH1 (even with the hack).
3) I'm not willing to run Magic Lantern or any other hack, it needs to be solid and not at all flakey.

We currently have a 5D2 and 7D and I'm looking to add another couple of bodies for use along side (multi angle shooting). The flip out LCD means that at least one of them is going to be a 60D to allow for high / low shots, but I'm undecided on the second body. While I could order a 60D and test it for myself, I'd rather order them both at the same time if possible because of some time constraints.

Some people (on the web) are saying the 7D is much better than the 60D in low light, while others say they are identical. I've yet to see a sample video that demonstrates anything other than very similar, if not identical.

Since they have the same sensor, the same Digic 4 chip (yes I know that the 7D has two, but it's yet to be proven it's needed for video), same ISO setting etc, it stands to reason that they should be pretty much identical for video. But are they?

I'm looking for input from some one who has BOTH (60D & 7D) (or has had both) and can speak objectively about BOTH of them, rather than owning just one and possibly coming from a biased point of view.

Also, what other differences have you encountered that perhaps got in the way? I know that the 60D has the option of manual audio (we would use this for sync only) which I positively hate about the 7D - even when feeding it the output from a Zoom H4n. I know that the 60D wheel locks, it's missing the C1, C2, C3 user settings and you need to dive in to the menu to change white balance.

• Overheating - I've never had either 7D or 5D2 over heat, but obviously it's a concern, so what news on 60D overheating?

• Water proofing - We can use the 7D and 5D2 when it's not perfectly dry so I'm not too worried. We also have some water proof camera jackets if need be.

• SD cards - we have lots of them already so that's not a concern either (in fact it would save money to use SD cards).

What else did I miss?

Low light (f2.8 or faster with ISO at 1250 or so) is my real concern.... any feedback?
 
People will rip me for this... but whatever.

From my own experience... the 7D does perform a TAD better than the 60D in low-light. I own the 7D, 60D and T2i. I've owned them all since a month or two after they were available. Using the same glass, same ISO, same everything.... I still believe the 7D does a TAD better. Here's the thing.... I had to do an obnoxious crop to notice on screen (27" iMac). In other words, you REALLY have to go out of your way testing this thing to notice. And even when you do, it's hardly noticeable. The end result means that it doesn't matter.

OVERHEATING -- My 7D overheated a lot.... but that was in Africa shooting full-length clips OVER and OVER. That was about 15 months ago and I haven't had the problem since.
WATER PROOFING -- Only trust my 7D. The 60D and T2i aren't made for anything but dry, safe conditions. I'll take the 7D anywhere (get a screen cover, though. Don't wanna bust that LCD)

In short... I say go for the 60D. Manual audio is nice, but you'll be using off-camera audio anyway, I assume. The flip LCD is CLUTCH. Seriously. Life saver.
The only reason I would say 7D is manual Kelvin temps. Kelvin is really buried in the 60D, while it's only a button away in the 7D. That's the feature of my 7D that I wish the other two cams had.

hope this helps.
 
Thanks Jordy. The white balance (Kelvin Temp) being in the menu doesn't bother me that much. If you hit menu, go to the K temp setting once and set it, the next time you hit menu it's right where you left it, so the menu button sorta kinda functions like a white balance button unless you are diving in to the menus for other things.
 
all I've heard points to the image from the 550D, the 60D and the 7D being absolutely the same

I only own a 550D, though
 
jordy2324 said:
People will rip me for this... but whatever.

From my own experience... the 7D does perform a TAD better than the 60D in low-light. I own the 7D, 60D and T2i. I've owned them all since a month or two after they were available. Using the same glass, same ISO, same everything.... I still believe the 7D does a TAD better. Here's the thing.... I had to do an obnoxious crop to notice on screen (27" iMac). In other words, you REALLY have to go out of your way testing this thing to notice. And even when you do, it's hardly noticeable. The end result means that it doesn't matter.

OVERHEATING -- My 7D overheated a lot.... but that was in Africa shooting full-length clips OVER and OVER. That was about 15 months ago and I haven't had the problem since.
WATER PROOFING -- Only trust my 7D. The 60D and T2i aren't made for anything but dry, safe conditions. I'll take the 7D anywhere (get a screen cover, though. Don't wanna bust that LCD)

In short... I say go for the 60D. Manual audio is nice, but you'll be using off-camera audio anyway, I assume. The flip LCD is CLUTCH. Seriously. Life saver.
The only reason I would say 7D is manual Kelvin temps. Kelvin is really buried in the 60D, while it's only a button away in the 7D. That's the feature of my 7D that I wish the other two cams had.

hope this helps.
Click to expand...


Explain the need for kelvin Temp? and Where can I turn it on.. Sounds Awsome.. I have 2 7ds
 
Just a note on the WB being buried in menus - there is a custom function you can set that allows instant access to the WB (presets and dial-a-kelvin) via the "Set" button.
 
I've had some issues with the 7D overheating on set indoors. But to avoid that problem is just shut it down in between takes. Not a major issue.

I LOVE THE 7D

but at the same time, I like the idea of the 60D's flip out monitor + cheaper cost + similar low light performace.

I think its pretty clear, go 60D and spend the extra money on xtras.
 
Brandon J. Garcia said:
Kelvin temp is the color temperature. IE Manual white balance control.
Click to expand...

Right... and when I'm doing 3-cam stuff... it really sucks that I can't dial in all 3 manually. I gotta burn a lot of time in post syncing up WB between the 3. (different lenses also come into play, but camera is #1)
 
well, with magic lantern you can provide that control over WB to a T2i....
supposedly they are in the midst of porting it to the 60D

just thoughts.
 
Just finished cutting a house show together we did with a 7D (mine) and a 60D (friend's) that we shot at f/2.8 @ 1600ISO is pretty low light. I can say that footage-wise they are the same. I'm not blowing stuff up 400x to pixel peep, but honestly if I hadn't known which cameras were which I would never be able to tell.

That said, the plastic feel of the 60D is a stark comparison to the ruggedness of the 7D.
 
William_Robinette said:
Just finished cutting a house show together we did with a 7D (mine) and a 60D (friend's) that we shot at f/2.8 @ 1600ISO is pretty low light. I can say that footage-wise they are the same. I'm not blowing stuff up 400x to pixel peep, but honestly if I hadn't known which cameras were which I would never be able to tell.

That said, the plastic feel of the 60D is a stark comparison to the ruggedness of the 7D.
Click to expand...

Thanks - this is exactly what I needed to know. Once the body is on a tripod I don't need to 'feel' it any more ;) I just bought another 5D2 body for our real low light stuff (there is a clear difference from crop to to 5D2 - at least a stop. maybe more) but I'm going to pick up a 60D too.

Just need to get my USB widget going so I can leave cameras unattended and have remote start / stop capability and I'll be a happy guy :)
 
Technically they are the same. Should not be a difference.

I have a 7d and overheated only once when I was actually touching the camera body for a long take. Other than that I've shot long takes without overheating as long as my hand stays off the body.

I would not go over ISO 1250. I always try not even to hit that high.
 
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