Originally Posted by
EdN
I am a 5D Mk II user and I've also been giving some thoughts to the 7D
because I also like to do wildlife and bird photography when I get the chance.
Like you, I would want more reach and I've also looked into the 500 F/4 L which
is a bankbook breaker. In order to see how heavy it would be to pack around,
I've also "tested" out how I would like to aim and use it by holding
out a 4 kg (8.8 lbs) bag of sugar at arm's length during my grocery shopping.
It's doable but not for a long period of time.
What I'm considering now is getting a 7D to supplement my 5D Mk II for the
wildlife stuff and the bonus is potentially a much more robust and fast AF
system. Cost is way cheaper than the 500 F/4 L and packing a body in the bush
is a lot better than an extra 8.5 lbs. With my current 300 F4 L, I would get
480 F4 equivalent which "gets" me the big lens' reach.
What I'm waiting for is Bryan's review on the 7D, some confirmation on image
quality, decent high ISO performance, feedback from users on top-notch AF
performance, and some more $$ in the bank account. The 5D Mk II is too good to
sell.
If you are already looking at the 500 F/4 L, the 7D is much cheaper.