Canon 7D vs 5D Mark II vs 1D Mark IV

Canon is a long standing, highly trusted name in the world of photography. When the name Canon is on the product, you know that you have chosen something that will perform to your standards, and that will last for years to come. This was true in the days of the pocket instamatic, the 35-mm, and now the digital camera. Different photographers have different needs based on the kinds of pictures they plan on taking, the environment in which they will most often be working, and, of course, their budget. Before making a decision about a camera, you must first understand your needs and then, with these needs in mind, do some research; perform a camera comparison before making a final choice. A buying guide such as this one will make an excellent tool in your efforts to make the ideal purchase.

The first factor you will need to take into account is where you will be taking most of your photographs. Will you be outdoors, using mostly natural light, or are you looking for a camera for family events like weddings and reunions, that will be primarily inside. The light levels you will need should have an impact on the camera choice you make. The Canon 7d is a great compact digital camera that takes excellent pictures at lower ISO levels. This means that pictures in medium to high light settings will have excellent definition and detail.

The 1d Mark IV, on the other hand, offers beautifully detailed pictures at ISO levels up to 6400. This means that pictures at low light levels that may appear grainy when taken with a Canon 7d will be crystal clear with the 1d Mark IV. This is because the latter has a larger sensor that allows for more light and ensures higher image quality.

The 5d Mark II boasts high levels of clarity in your photographs of ISO levels at 1600 and above, meaning that you will have lots of freedom as to when and where you take your shots. Pictures taken at an evening baseball game, for example, will be dark, grainy, and unclear with a low ISO camera, but the 5d Mark II will give you the clarity you desire. This camera is a great choice for professional photographers.

If you are seeking a digital camera so you can snap pictures at your son’s school play and your sister’s wedding, you may not need or desire any additional attachments or special lenses. However, if you are working your way through a camera comparison because you need attachments to create a more versatile collection of images, you will want to look into the 5d Mark II.

This camera was designed with multiple options for taking quality pictures in many different places for many different purposes. Moving shots, portraits, and nighttime pictures are all offered by this camera in high definition quality. The 1d Mark IV is comparable to the 5d Mark II in its capabilities and versatility.

While the Canon 7d does not offer the versatility available with its other two counterparts, it is indeed a capable and quality camera. For those looking for a quality digital camera on a budget, this is likely the right choice. The average selling price for the Canon 7d is about $1,500. With rapid continuous shooting, this camera can shoot 8 frames per second, and in medium or higher light, it guarantees clear, beautiful pictures with minimal graininess. It is compact and easy to carry from place to place and will satisfy the needs of many photography hobbyists.

More versatile in various light levels, the 5d Mark II is designed for amateur and professional photographers who need a little more from their camera. It will not shoot frames as rapidly as the 7d, but it will offer clearer pictures in lower light levels. It is generally priced around $2,500.

The Canon 1d Mark IV is the premier camera of these three. If your photography needs are more complex, and you need to be able to snap shots in multiple environments with multiple situations, a camera comparison will point toward this option. You will find this camera priced around $3,500. If you are taking photographs in various environments, of all kinds of different subjects, posing or moving, this may be the camera for you.

This buying guide is not meant to point you toward or away from a particular camera. All three of these options are excellent, high quality products. However, it is important that you get what you need from your digital camera; it is equally important that you are not paying for features you do not need. Therefore, you should use this buying guide to delineate what you truly need and subsequently make a wise and economically logical choice.