There is canonrumors.com. They have a rumor the release of the 7D mark ii might be around the corner.
If one's definition of "around the corner" is sometime after September (6+ months from now).
Generally, if you'd get a 5D markii (the mark iii is much more expensive) you'd get a sensor twice the size. The "outdatedness" of the autofocus is overplayed. People even do birding with that camera, and I get no more than one out of focus image per 500 frames.
The 5DMk3 wasn't developed for no reason. The problem with the 5Dmk2's AF system was that it was utterly unchanged from the 5D .. and it (the original 5D) wasn't really cutting edge back then, either, since it was borrowed from the Canon 20D (2004 intro). So sure, while people *can* do XYZ with it, the simple reality is that the 5D & 5Dmk2 series weren't competitive with its contemporaries.
...and given that I've had two 20D bodies (essentially the same AF system as in the 5D & 5Dmk2) and lots of out-of-focus bird shots, I'm a bit cynical about a success rate of 499/500 ... perhaps it is because I also try to capture photos of birds in flight? Yes, raptors are relatively straightforward in comparison to kingfishers, rollers and bee eaters (typically a more cluttered background for these latter), so it will also depend on how you shoot.
In looking at tech specs:
2004
Canon 20D: 9-point TTL
2005
Canon 5D: 9-point TTL .
... plus 6 "Invisible Assist AF points"
2009
Canon 5Dmk2: 9-point TTL
... plus 6 "Invisible Assist AF points"
... and Centre point cross type F5.6 or faster
...and Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster
Which are all pretty much the same core tech.
2010
Canon 7D: 19 cross-type AF points (f/2.8 at centre)
...with Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster
2012
Canon 5Dmk3: 61-points...etc
FWIW, I looked at the 5Dmk2 in great detail when it came out, to decide if it was the right camera for me to invest a bigger chunk of change in putting it into an underwater housing. The lack of improvements to its AF system was pretty much the key factor in my deciding to pass on it; I ended up building the UW system around the 7D.
If you're a journalist or someone who doesn't care a lot larger sensor, the 7D might be a good choice for its speediness, but at this time I wouldn't pay full price. (It's like buying a Mac Pro now)
Within reason, we always want a bigger/better sensor, since that's what is what gives is image quality. But there are trades such as its cost. If I were shooting static landscapes on fair weather days, I would have been content with a 5D or a 5Dmk2 ... but that wasn't my only interest. Until the 5Dmk3 shipped, the 7D was the superior AF Canon short of the 1D series ... and even now after the 5Dmk3 has shipped, one of the desirements for the 7D remains its extra reach from being a crop sensor.
Insfoar as price, of course it would be nice if it were cheaper today than in 2010...and at $1550 from a reputable retailer, it is indeed discounted some. Based on the 5D, I'd expect the 7D to have a three year product refresh cycle, which means that a notional 7Dmk2 is probably still a year off.
-hh
Funny. Reminds of my Canadian friends. What you might want to do is to pick up a good used 5DII or even 7D now that the 5DIII is out and the 1DX is coming in a few weeks (months considering they are late by months still). I can't with to see how the 1DX stacks up against my D4. Should be interesting.
