Go for the glass, the 7D will do for now and if you really want a MKIV just wait a bit when the price comes down. I own the MKIV and its a very nice body.


The glass retains its used value very well. You can pick up a minty one used for about a 10-15% discount over new and the real beauty is if you retain its condtion it will still be worth what you paid for it, sometimes more later down the road. There is the price drops when newer versions are released so I wouldnt go buying one of the great whites where new releases have been announced. Just wait until they are out and the last versions used price plummets where you can get a good deal, then you are set for probably a good tens years without having to worry about the used value.


Now question of the day is what do you intend to shoot with the great white? Too long can be worse than not enough. All of the superteles work nicly with teleconverters as this is what the converters were engineered for. I bought a 600 f4 and sold it because I cant justify keeping every single focal length at the cost of these puppies and found it to bee too long to shoot field sports and also not fast enough for indoor sports. I have to great whites, a 400 2.8 and a 200 f2 along with a 1.4x and 2x TC. With the 1.4 thats effectively makes the 400 a 560 f4 and with a 2x an 800 5.6. I have even stacked the two and got 1120 f8 although the camera only registered the 2x at 5.6. You can do the same with the 200 or 300 etc. The only folks I know who have the 500 and up pretty use them for exclusivley birding/wildlife. The 400 actually costs more than the 500 and a little less than the 600 and is also the largest lens with a 2.8 aperture.


Here is a moon shot done with the 400 2.8 and the two TCs stacked


[View:http://www.rnmphotography.com/Nature/Night-Sky/1D40637/1017486286_HV8t6-XL.jpg]