I would also recommend having one or two super-telephotos before taking the plunge on a 1D MKIV or the next generation 1D body.


Personally, I think the 7D is very, very good. The 7D focuses and tracks more than fast enough and the images out of it are spectacular and I don't think anyone would complain about the extra reach. Sure the MKIV is a step up, but it's not a huge step up in my opinion. The images out of the MKIV may be slightly creamier overall, but nothing that some PP can't take care of. I think the difference is minimal. I would say that if a cloud came out and went in front of the Sun, then that would have a bigger impact on the overall quality of the image, then if someone were shooting with a 7D or a MKIV.


Of course the weather sealing of the MKIV is a major improvement over the 7D if you tend to shoot in inclement weather. I also think that the MKIV is better in shooting in lower light with less noise if someone needs that capability, but with the excellent noise reduction software out there, this result can be duplicated on the computer.


If I had to pick one reason to get a MKIV it would be to capture "peak action" which is what action photography is all about.


For example if you are trying to get a shot of a volleyball player spiking the ball, then you will have a better chance of getting the peak action image with the MKIV. Lets say that you want the player to be as high as possible over the net with his or her arm fully extended with the ball in the frame with just the right expression on their face as they're generating all of this power right before the spike, then the MKIV will be better for that because it shoots a faster frame rate. Lets say that the 7D may get 3 great shots of the spike and the MKIV may get 4 great shots of the spike. The MKIV will capture the "in between shots" that the 7D may miss and if that extra shot that the MKIV captures is the best one, then that's where it's value lies.


Other examples may be of a soccer player kicking the ball over their head with a bicycle kick, or a football kicker kicking a field goal and you're trying to get the ball in the frame coming off of his leg. If you're looking for the "peak moment" then the MKIV will capture an extra frame or two. For surfing, I find the MKIV better at capturing the surfer at the apex of the wave or at the height of a jump, or it could be as simple as their eyes looking into the lens.


That doesn't mean that the 7D can't capture these peak action shots, because it certainly can, however the MKIV just gives you that little bit of an edge in capturing that absolute peak moment.


Rich