Upgrade Canon From 50D to 7D ?

[StRoRo]

Hi,
For wildlife I photography I currently use a Canon 50D and have the 100-400 4.5-5.6L (The pump) and the 28-70 F2.8L lens.

I photograph mostly birds but I am missing a lot of photographs becuase of focusing issues.
Its not the camera its me. I set the focus point to the centre but unless the subject is exactly in the middle it misses the focus. Its easy when the subject is going slow, but when they are flying its more pot luck I manage to keep pan and keep the bird bang in the middle while the camera focuses. The bird is usually just off centre.

The 7D has 19 focus points with a nice group of 9 surrounding the middle area of the camera.

I know there are other improvements, better ISO quality, HD video, more pixels (but you need good glass to make it count)

Is the upgrade worth the money I need to spend getting a 7?

I know about the other feature

[glsammy]

I went for the 7D for the very reason your talking about. I've often found my 40D to be very frustrating when trying to get birds in flight.
The 7D is way better. You have many options to use other focus points. Provided you start off with the subject near enough in the centre it will track the bird very well.
Personally I think the 7D is worth every penny. I certainly don't regret the purchase.

[GTH]

I totally agree with glsammy. Definitely worth every penny !!....and without a doubt, you get a greater number of "keeps". The 7D is a joy, and as yet i haven`t tried all of the settings.
The "In flight" is almost a revolution where that is concerned.

[MeadsMan]

I have a friend who like you has the 50D,he has had a play with my 7D,and he really wants to get his paws on one of his own now.I upgraded from a 400D,and I am very pleased that I did.I think Canon took a big leap forward when they came up with the 7D.Apart from the AF,the quality at high iso settings is very favourable.

[turkeyneck]

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

I have a friend who like you has the 50D,he has had a play with my 7D,and he really wants to get his paws on one of his own now.I upgraded from a 400D,and I am very pleased that I did.I think Canon took a big leap forward when they came up with the 7D.Apart from the AF,the quality at high iso settings is very favourable.

Yer spot on with this last remark also, the high ISO quality is mind blowing

[Stephen Raff]

A few years back I used to own the 1D mk2 pair with amognst others the 100-400mm L. This was a fantastic partnership with incredible AF and very detailed images, and images were perfectly printable up iso 1600. Off course you only have the 1.3x crop factor, no live view and dont have movies but for less than the 7D this is a tempting camera.

Just my thoughts though,
Stephen

[The_Moaner]

I own a Sony A700 and used a Sigma 150-500mm with it. Alas I was never happy with that combo. Always Moaned about it.
So I decided to spend ALL my cash on a Canon 7D and did a deal with Sigma for Canon fit 150-500mm.
First off, I'm very very happy with my Canon 7D, but have to be honest, not happy with my captured images.

Turkeyneck is doing far far better than me with same combo. We both go to LLanelli Wetlands and his images are very good. So I must ask him when I next see him what settings he uses. Mind you, it could be that he is a better photographer than me. Take Care All.

[shaun39]

Hi i have the canon 7D and the same lens you have-I use the centre focusing points and all the settings on high speed etc and with birds in flight normaly 800ISO,with good panning you'll get some good shots. I upgraded to the 300mm 2.8IS lens and with this combo i have taken shots of tufted ducks apearing out of the mist and landing not far from me-at 7 am this winter in very poor light.
The camera will freeze anything with good glass and good technique-

[johnf3f]

A friend of mine was looking at the 7d earlier this year and like me he was very impressed, especially with the viewfinder - it's superb for apsc. However he ended up buying a used 1Diii which was about the same money at the time. He wanted the build quality and body design as well as a pro quality sensor. Things have odviously moved on and now the "consumer" 7d has 80% more pixels and very good high ISO. He is finding that the 10mp sensor resolves more than you would expect and that the 1Diii is proving to be an excellent landscpe camera, which none of us expected.
I suggest looking at both a used 1Diii and 7d before buying, there is MUCH debate as to which is the better camera. As to the (mythical?) focus issues on the 1diii I know quite a number of 1Diii owners (earlier and later models) - they all have read about these problems but NONE have ever experienced them, in fact they have all been bowled over by the af performance. Oh yes and the batteries are cheaper (non OEM)!
Happy choosing!

[StRoRo]

I have decided to go for the 7D.
its strange because I read a log of pro reviews and they seem disappointed with it and yet when I ask people who use it for the same reason I would and there I'm told that its great.
Im sure I wont be disappointed.