Image Quality - 7D vs 5D MkII

[Jemmwm]

Hi all,
I am STILL tossing up between these two cameras (I've previously asked an ISO question about these two also).
I am a perfectionist (unfortunately for me, lol) and LOVE a really good image.
Is the IQ of the 5D MkII noticeably different from the 7D when viewed at printed size, or on screen (remembering that I am a perfectionistic, but hopefully not a pixel peeper)?
I love to shoot landscapes and to photograph my travels as well as I can - which is of course a mix of landscapes, people and wildlife if I come across it etc. I enter some competitions but nothing really serious at this stage.
I can see the advantage of the 7D for my travels, being crop sensor, but will I be disappointed in the image quality, and wish I had bought the 5D MkII?? The 5D MkII wins on ISO and low light.
Would I miss the pop-up flash, for the odd occasion I need fill-flash on my travels?
My main lens is the 24-105L, and I also have the kits lenses and a "nifty fifty", so accept that I also need to get new glass at some stage.
Sorry for the long question, but thought more background information may help you help me. Cheers!!
PS The budget difference between the two is not a deal-breaker
PPS I'm probably leaning towards the 5DMkII....

[RichardTaylor]

I shoot with a 40D & 5D and a 24-105 is one of my lenses.
When travelling I take both cameras.

Having a crop sensor is not an advantage for a lot of travel.
A full frame camera is, especially when using a 24-105. Two reasons - better low light performance means you can shoot those low available light street scenes and interiors a lot easier (because of the good high ISO performance) and the 24mm is great in those "tight" locations. On a crop camera it can be too long.

On our last 6 week vacation I only missed not having a flash once and that was below decks on a 16th century sailing ship where the light was abysmal.

For landscapes etc the 5D is fine.

If you are shooting a lot of wild life then get the 7D mainly because of the better auto focus performance.

[Jemmwm]

That is exactly the information I was after. Thank you so much Richard!

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

If you are shooting a lot of wild life then get the 7D mainly because of the better auto focus performance.

richard, can you elaborate on this subject? never heard the 7d has a better autofocus then the 5d MKII

[Gaurav Prabhu]

Get the 5DMKII if you can as its IQ is much better than 7D due to obvious larger sensor. If you go for 7D, you will need to get extreme wide-angle lenses due to the crop sensor. Again 5DMKII is one of the best camera Canon has ever produced. Wish I could get one too.

[RichardTaylor]

All from DPR

7D autofocus specs

Canon EOS 7D Review: 2. Specifications: Digital Photography Review

5DII auto focus spec.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Review: 2. Specifications: Digital Photography Review

Notice the number and type of autofocus points for the 7D compared to the 5DII

Performance
Read the comments about the 5DII autofus performance
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Review: 14. Performance: Digital Photography Review

and the 7D
Canon EOS 7D Review: 13. Performance: Digital Photography Review

Here are the conclusions.
5DII
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Review: 40. Conclusion: Digital Photography Review

7D
Canon EOS 7D Review: 30. Conclusion: Digital Photography Review

[MrJones]

ok, so now you got me confused
I was sure about getting the 5D MKII, mostly because I'm missing the wide angles when photographing parties and events but the AF on the 7D is way better...
what to do... what to do...

[RichardTaylor]

If you shoot a lot of action. Then no contest. - 7D
If you shoot only a bit of action & are happy with your 40D shooting that action then the 5DII.

For me the 7D or its replacement will only be when my 40D dies and is not economic to repair (I shoot a fair bit of action).

I can't see myself replacing my 5D for a very long time.

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

If you shoot a lot of action. Then no contest. - 7D
If you shoot only a bit of action & are happy with your 40D shooting that action then the 5DII.

For me the 7D or its replacement will only be when my 40D dies and is not economic to repair (I shoot a fair bit of action).

I can't see myself replacing my 5D for a very long time.

so basically if you had to choose...mostly portrait and weddings and such, 5D it is?

[hieu1004]

This is how you should decide:

People / portraits / landscape: 5D

Sports / Nature / Wildlife: 7D

Now I am not saying the 5D can't do sports or the 7D can't do portraits/landscapes - it it just the cameras excel in those areas. In fact, I do portraits, landscapes, sports, nature all w/my 7D ALL the time. It's just different horses for different courses - the larger sensor in the 5D will capture more detail in landscapes and give ideal DOF for portraits while the 7D's amazing AF system will allow you to focus and sustain focus for fast moving objects.

Don't be worried about low light shots on the 7D - it is very capable - If you nail exposure and/or expose to the right - you can get away with high ISO shots - granted it might not look ideal if you're making LARGE prints - but it is more than usable. I shoot at ISO 6400 quite often when I do not have my flash handy. Some examples below:

ISO 6400


ISO 12800