ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

12 years, 5 months ago - Matt Jamie

I have a 7D and owned a 5D for a while (since sold). The 7D is a great camera - if you are on a budget I would say get this and spend the difference on some GOOD lenses, as a 5D with a crap lens will give you a crap image! The crop factor is there, but I have a 17-55mm lens which at the wide end is prob about 25mm after cropping, which is still pretty wide (I mean, how often do you need superwide anyway?). Low light shooting is better on the 5D - the extra size on the sensor means more light gets in, but again if you have a fast lens (wide aperture) you can shoot in lower light and still get good results. NB the 60D as mentioned above is "the same" in terms of image quality, and has the flip screen , but does not have the build quality or weather sealing like the 7D - so if you're planning to shoot outdoors in the rain or drop the camera a lot (!) the 7D is a better bet.

12 years, 5 months ago - Bryce Groves

The other issue with the 7D is the low-light performance – I was shooting handheld 'behind-the-scenes' recently at a commercial, and was disappointed with how high I had to put the ISO and the look of my footage. Yet at the same shoot was someone else doing the same with his 5D (and similar lens) and his footage looked a lot better. He claims it was the sensor size, and I'm sure I read something online to back that up afterwards.

12 years, 5 months ago - Pedro Ribeiro

Well to clear things out here. 7D is a much better camera than the 5D. you ask why?
First off it doesnt have a crop factor of 1.4 as Ashley said but in fact is 1.6x, so it is even more.
If its for film why the hell you want a full frame camera? when all the big cameras such as alexa, reds, sony f5 or f55 are similar to 7d in terms of crop factor which is a S35 sensor. if you learn how to work on a 7d in terms of lenses, when you jump to high budget productions as a cam op or dop is the same, same lens on a 7d would look the same on this cameras i have just mentioned. plus this camera makes 50 and 60p, 5d doesnt. 12 minute record time is the same for 5d and 7d... and i have recorded more than that... 7d doesnt overheat, 5d does... 7d has a the better body from all canon dslrs... now the camera doesnt make the operator... if you dont have nails to play guitar (camera) ofcourse even a iphone footage will look better... so dont hear this kind of comments that 5d is better... if i were you i would choose or 7d or 60d.

12 years, 5 months ago - John David Clay

Alton,

I empathy with your problem. definately go for a good lens set. my pov is C5DMk2 is better in (MP terms 21 /18mp even if it costs £500 more than the 7D so that's how I would see that, i think there is still an issue with the trickyness of focus on both although I thik from memory 5d is better slightly. (with DSlr Follow Focus etc.if you can afford that extra I would go for that great ISO lattitude also.

Thats the best advice I can give hope it is useful and all the best with filming.

Best

John D Clay

12 years, 5 months ago - Ashley Briggs

Hi Alton,

2 major differences between the 5 and 7D;

The crop factor. The 7D has a smaller sensor than the 5D's 35mm sized sensor which in real terms results in the fact that lenses on a 5D will remain at its true focal length (mm) whereas on the 7D there will be a slight zooming effect of around x1.4(ish). Thus a 50mm lens on the 5D = 50mm, whereas on the 7D = about 70mm. Pros and cons. The main con being getting a good super-wide angle lens cheaply for a 7D as a 24mm on the 5D would become a 32mm (isn) on the 7D.

The other main factor being that the 7D can only record for 12 minutes as a time before it auto cuts. Major issue if you need to record for anything longer.

Otherwise the camera's are very inter-changable and often get paired together as A cam B cam on shoots.

(And if you are looking to get booked for work commercially or as an cinematographer the 5D carries a bit more clout as it seems to be the 'go to' DSLR)

Ash.
www.ashleybriggs.co.uk / www.inspirationgone.com

12 years, 5 months ago - Richard Elson

If you're considering a 7D I'd go for the 60D - I checked with several DPs and they said you couldn't really tell the difference in footage, but the 60D has the big advantage of a flip out screen and is cheaper. If you've got the money I'd go for the 5D but if not the 60D is a great camera. I bought a 60D and have used it for several shorts and a feature length documentary and am very happy with the results. If you do get that though make sure you get lenses that are compatible with a 5D, they'll be better and means you can keep them if you ever upgrade. Also, it's worth spending extra on getting IS lenses (Image Stabiliser)