Original 5D or new D7000?

[chex]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum - my mom is thinking about the above choice and is asking me which to get. I have no experience with the 5D. Which of the two would you guys recommend for her?


Thanks for the help!

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I assume your mom doesn't already own lenses from either Canon or Nikon, so that shouldn't be an issue.

I have a 5D (original) and love it. I have no experience with the Nikon D7000. However, there are some differences that bear considering:

   In case she has any interest in video, be aware that the D7000 does video but the original 5D does not (the 5D Mk II does).

   I upgraded from a cropped-sensor Canon 10D to the full-frame 5D mainly because the viewfinder in the crop-framed 10D was too small (a little like looking down a long tunnel). The D7000 has a DX-sized sensor, less than full-frame, so do look through the finders of both and see if the difference matters to your mom.

   The D7000 is newer technology and has better weather- and dust-sealing than the 5D.

   The D7000 has a few more megapixels and probably has better dynamic range and noise characteristics -- I don't know.

   It would be good for your mom to hold each one, look through the finder, and try the controls for normal shooting. If one feels better than the other, that should be a very important consideration, IMHO.

I hope this helps a little, and I hope someone who has tried both will chime in hear.

Eric

[francois]

I assume your mom doesn't already own lenses from either Canon or Nikon, so that shouldn't be an issue.

I have a 5D (original) and love it. I have no experience with the Nikon D7000. However, there are some differences that bear considering:

   In case she has any interest in video, be aware that the D7000 does video but the original 5D does not (the 5D Mk II does).

   I upgraded from a cropped-sensor Canon 10D to the full-frame 5D mainly because the viewfinder in the crop-framed 10D was too small (a little like looking down a long tunnel). The D7000 has a DX-sized sensor, less than full-frame, so do look through the finders of both and see if the difference matters to your mom.

   The D7000 is newer technology and has better weather- and dust-sealing than the 5D.

   The D7000 has a few more megapixels and probably has better dynamic range and noise characteristics -- I don't know.

   It would be good for your mom to hold each one, look through the finder, and try the controls for normal shooting. If one feels better than the other, that should be a very important consideration, IMHO.

I hope this helps a little, and I hope someone who has tried both will chime in hear.

Eric

One thing to consider is the warranty. I doubt that you'll find a used Canon 5D (original) with a valid warranty!

[PierreVandevenne]

I still have my original 5d and I love it - however, if the choice is today between a second hand 5D and a new D7000, I'd go D7000 without a signle hesitation. Except if you have a bunch of Canon lenses, as already mentioned in the thread, the only reason to chose the 5D would be the full frame factor. How strongly do you want that?

[chex]

I doubt she knows or cares about the difference from FF to APS and I don't want to try to explain it. The point regarding the warranty is a good one...I'll never live it down if something fails on a 2nd hand camera and she has to pay for a repair...

I'll probs recommend the Nikon just because it seems like it may be a more painless way to go

Thanks for the replies!

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I'll probs recommend the Nikon just because it seems like it may be a more painless way to go

As a happy 5D owner, I think that makes perfect sense. Good luck!

Eric

[Guillermo Luijk]

The D7000 has a few more megapixels and probably has better dynamic range and noise characteristics -- I don't know.

Noise characteristics of the D7000 are from another world compared to those of the classical 5D. Specially at low ISO, the dynamic range of the D7000 outperforms the 5D, even the 5D2. When light becomes scarce and one needs to push ISO to expose properly, both sensors perform similarly having the same DR at ISO1600.

Here a comparision including 5D and K5 (same sensor as D7000):




And here a comparision 5D vs K5 (same sensor as D7000) in 2 different real situations:

HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE AT LOW ISO (typ. tripod applications)




LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS (typ. high ISO applications)




These confirm the K5 (D7000) being much better in DR at low ISO, but similar at high ISO.

Regards

[EgillBjarki]

Big sensor vs. new small sensor.

I do not shoot that much in low light so I would choose 5D because of the big sensor. Guess it all comes down to the intended use of the camera.