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hhltdave5 · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:11 am

No, I am not switching sides to Canon but my brother is looking to switch from Nikon to Canon and he has narrowed it down to the 60D or the 7D.

He is not a stock photographer just a consumer who really enjoys photography. He says he will be getting the L glass and asked me if I could help him make the decision about which to get. Not having personal knowledge I thought you guys could help.

He has handled each of them and likes both. He was first going to go with the 60D but now he thinks he is leaning toward the 7D. What are your opinions of each? Thanks

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2920 Location: South Wales

Hi Dave

I have a 60D and really like it. I use it with L lenses. At 18MP I think you need good glass for either model as the high resolution certainly shows up flaws in poor glass.

The main advantages of the 7D is it a very fast AF system and shoots 8 FPS. The AF on the 60D is good but not as fast as the 7D and it only shoots 5.3 FPS.

The 60D also has a polycarbonate body over an aluminium frame which some cite as making it less robust than the 7D and the previous XXD models, but I have accidently dropped it twice on very hard surfaces without leaving a scratch, so the 60D is thankfully very robust.

The articulated screen is very nice on the 60D especially if you shoot video.

For me the extra speed did not warrant the £500 difference in price at the time I bought it , but now the price differential is a fair bit less and I would probably go for the 7D. Both are very nice cameras.

Mike

hhltdave5 · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:22 am

Thanks Mike I appreciate the information. That will go a long way in helping him decide.

kayseepics · Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Posts: 487 Location: Here!

I have shot with a 7D for the past year or so and it's a great camera. Lighting fast AF, excellent video, and, as has already been pointed out a tough weather-sealed body. The only cautionary note is that at 18MP on a cropped sensor, you need to be close to bang on with exposures. In my experience the images are not very forgiving in terms of post-processing, and for anything but minor adjustments they tend to become a little noisy. Hope this helps.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 12:02 pm

Thanks everyone for the information. I will pass it on to my brother. Anything else anyone cares to say feel free.

scphoto60 · Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Posts: 72

Had a 7D for nearly a year now, brilliant camera...but, it likes good glass - 'L' lenses especially, also I agree that its not very forgiving of poor exposure and can be noisy if underexposed, so I tend to overexpose 1/3 stop which helps.

Steve

tonlammerts · Joined: 06 May 2010 Posts: 463

Why not consider sony A65/A77?

hhltdave5 · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:26 pm

peteklinger · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:10 pm

Opinion based on the following, 7-D, and if it's was myself, which it will be in the Spring... 7-D.

60-D

Vari-Angle Clear View 3.0" Flip-Out LCD
5.3 fps Continuous Shooting
9-Point AF System

7-D

Dust & Weather Resistant
7D's shutter is equally rugged and tested for up to 150,000 exposure cycles.
8 fps contimous shooting
19 high precision, cross-type AF sensors

The fps doesn't bother me, I do fine with a 40-D at 3.? and don't use the burst at 6 (or 5.?). Too fast, too many pictures to edit. But it's available if needed?

No flip out screen on the 7-D, also not important to me personally.

Two points that I find important in favor for the 7-D: 19 AF sensors, faster focusing, and rugged build, seals and shutter.

Something else to consider, $100 rebate on 60-D until Nov. 23rd, makes it $625 less.

I'd still rather have the focusing speed and durability and I shoot outdoors all year round.

Just backed up 2010 and the count was 24,000 photos. I don't know how many I threw away or culled. Durability counts that way. I don't bang around or drag my camera behind a car, and I really try not to drop it, so I look at built in ruggedness.

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2920 Location: South Wales

The 60D is also weather sealed to the same degree as the previous magnesium alloy models so that should not be a major concern. I agree with the previous poster regarding the advantages of the 7D.

Mike

hhltdave5 · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:49 am

Thanks everyone, I will get this off to my brother right away. Appreciate the help.

kropewnicki · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:12 am

I used my Dad's Canon 60d a few weeks ago.
The flip out screen is surprisingly useful.

I would get the 60d and spend the balance on another lens or upgrade an existing lens.

Mike Price · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 2920 Location: South Wales

The difference in price between the two meant I bought the 60D body and the 17-40 L lens for the same price as the 7D body.

Mike

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 2:34 pm

I tested Both Dave. Im going with Mikes last post. The articulating screen makes it a no Brainer.Also being a old Med Format Film Guy I prefer waist level perspective over eye level. With that screen. You got it.

imagesetc · Joined: 15 Sep 2011 Posts: 299 Location: South Europe

7D is not good choice for anyone, except professional photographers who already have full-frame sensor camera (5D, 1D), and need an extra focal lenght (nature, sports) due to crop factor. Otherwise its a waiste of money. 60D is perfect camera for advanced amateurs or pro-to-be. Vari-angle 3.0" LCD gives you so much. Candid camera (side shooting), easy ground-level shoot, journalism and interviews over crowd, over fence or wall, and self-portrait which is crucial for video guys filming some tutorials, etc. I`ve done some shots with my G12 attached on 6 ft stand and self-timer. My grandfather could not recognize his own house. :)