Originally Posted by
Jambo
Do it, I've had the 7d mkII body since it came out. There's not a body around I'd chop it in for even now, the AF is otherworldly. Short of winning the lottery anytime soon and buying something like a 1dx mkIII I wouldn't trade the 7d mkII in for anything.
I'm also extremely fortunate to have a 70-200 mkII IS f2.8, and the 100-400 mkII f4-5.6. I love the 100-400, but the 70-200 at 2.8 really is something else. I was also pretty much blessed to have ready access to a Canon 500mm f4 prime for a number of years. Honestly, the 500 was great for birding when you need reach, but if you could only have one lens I'd take the 70-200 2.8 IS in a heartbeat. It really is as sharp as they say, and the speed is unbelievable. Quite often I used to just go out with the 70-200 2.8 and my aforementioned friend's old canon tc 1.4x and be good to go in most situations. I literally love the extra reach out to 400, but I'd already had the 70-200 for a couple of years and that f2.8 is a killer.
Put it this way, my friend who had the Canon 500mm f4 at the moment has all my kit. When he goes out 95% of the time he takes the 70-200 2.8.
Last year he sold the 500mm f4 to MPB and said they were excellent (I'd been the only one using it for some time). I don't know how much you know about photography, so I'm not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but the best advice I ever heard was 'it's all about the glass'. Trust me, I learnt through experience over time it is. For wildlife get the fastest (best aperture) quality lenses you afford, then start looking at bodies. Years back I pumped all my money into a decent (at the time) semi pro body, the FPS and AF were great, but then used to get frustrated at the quality of my snaps with a slow, dark (ish) f5.6 300mm. If you’re lucky enough to be able to stretch to it (at the time I was), the L series stuff is literally life changing.
I'd go for a second hand 70-200 f2.8 IS mkII, apparently the only real difference between the mkII and mkIII is the fluorite coating on the elements. You'll save £££ and from what I understand the performance is comparable. With that and the 7d mkII body you'll be good to go. Chuck in the 1.4tc if you're feeling frisky.