Canon 7D vs 5D Mark III for sports with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS
Asked 9/7/2013
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I currently use a Canon Rebel T3 with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS and mainly shoot outdoor sports like soccer and baseball. I’m considering upgrading and am deciding between staying with APS-C (7D) or moving to full frame (5D Mark III). Which body would be the better match for this lens in terms of autofocus performance and image quality? Also, is 6 fps on the 5D Mark III enough for sports shooting?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Like most things it depends. Do you shoot under lights at night? If so the 5dm3, is going to perform better (autofocus and cleaner high ISO), otherwise the 7d will perform wonderfully and provide greater reach.
As for FPS, in my experience as I get better at shooting most sports this matters less, as I am able to time the shots, rather than gunning through a sequence. If your timing is not great or you want to capture the stop action type sequences, the extra couple frames per second on the 7d will help.
I primarily shoot indoor sports (Volleyball), and have great success with a 5dm2, but it took a lot of learning to get the autofocus to work in this environment. I upgraded to a 5dm3, and it makes getting the shot much easier. I have also used the 5dm2/3 for soccer as well as twice I have shot with a 7d for soccer (with 100-400, not your 70-300). In general I would choose the 7d for daytime soccer for the greater reach.
Originally by user20982. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user20982
12y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Both can work well, but they suit different priorities.
The 5D Mark III is generally the stronger camera overall: better autofocus consistency, better high-ISO performance, and better overall image quality. If you shoot under lights or in poorer light, the 5D Mark III is the better choice.
The 7D’s main advantages are its higher frame rate and APS-C crop factor. With your 70-300mm, the crop body gives you a tighter field of view, which is helpful for field sports. Moving to full frame will make the lens feel shorter, so if you often rely on the long end, you may miss that extra reach.
As for 6 fps: yes, it is sufficient for sports in many cases. Good timing matters more than simply firing the fastest burst, though extra fps can help with fast action sequences.
So: choose the 5D Mark III if you want the better AF system, cleaner files, and better low-light performance. Choose the 7D if reach and burst speed matter more for your outdoor sports shooting.
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