Canon 7D queries!

[frederick_stevens2]

<p>I have been fairly happy with my 40D but I am impressed by some of the stuff I am reading about the 7D. What I would like is low noise, very fast AF and the ability to enlarge bits of an image. I am getting a Canon 400mm f5.6 prime lens soon and one of my uses would be shots of birds in flight etc.<br /> I was convinced that the 7D was the way forward. It has some bells and whistles my 40D doesn't have but my concern is solely with IQ. The 7D has an awful lot of pixels - are there too many? I have read some very adverse comments from people who have gone from the 40D to the 7D about 'soft' images from the 7D. Can this be true?<br /> I have trodden the usual route - 20D, 30D and 40D and each step has been an improvement. The 40D is alleged to be 30% faster on the AF than the 30D - will the same be true for the 7D? <br /> The 50D was not good and it seemed to be a step too far. One of the problems seemed to be the number of pixels but the 7D has 18 megapixels - I wonder what Canon have done with the 7D to deal with this and why they didn't do it with the 50D? I have read the techno babble but it is not accessible to me.<br /> I suspect Canon are governed by their advertising research and their need to keep selling cameras and this is very understandable BUT I don't want to be suckered into an endless quest for the 'good' camera whilst Canon remove large sums from my bank account!<br /> Hell Fire! This site is quite good -<br /> http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM<br /> I was able to compare images from the 7D with images from the 50D and I would say that the 7D does win. I suspect many of you have gone my route and are planning on getting a 7D. You may already have one! I would be interested to read what you may have to say about the swap from a camera like the 40D.</p>

<p> </p>

[angel_bocanegra]

<p>The feel in your hands is different, more solid. Not to mention the new cool viewfinder that is customizable with grid lines, spot meter indicator or have nothing at all. Try it, its a huge leap over the 40D. Its a joy to use. You will have to spend some time reading the huge manuel that it comes with. It has many custom features.</p>

[angel_bocanegra]

<p>Oh, and as far as IQ goes, dont read negative comments and just try for yourself. Go to a camera shop or rent, I promise you will notice a huge difference in noise, resolution, and even the metering is more accurate in no flash tungsten lighting. The new color metering system works better in AWB then it does on a 40D, you get more accurate color in natural indoor lighting, very pleasing and a real joy to use.</p>

[PuppyDigs]

<p>Similar questions two threads down (& also asked/discussed many times these past couple months).</p>

[frederick_stevens2]

<p>My thanks. I am reading the adjacent threads! My problem is that I was immunised many years ago against advertising blurb and I really thought I was finished with camera buying when I got the 40D but clearly I wasn't. My only concern is IQ and it doesn't matter how good the camera and lens are if you miss the shot but if you can have the good camera and lens and also get the shot then that would be a bonus. The 7D could be the answer.</p>

[dcstep]

<p>Sounds like you've really answered your own question. Here are a couple of samples with my 7D and 400mm f5.6L:<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4123184927_406f8a2a6e.jpg" alt="" width="442" height="500" /></p>

<p>and:<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2428/4081565681_8774f5ecbb.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="370" /></p>

<p>I shot the mallard on my first outing with the 7D. I DO use a tripod with gimbal head for most birds in flight. The white tail buck was hand held, but braced against a tree. Why I'd want a 40D or 50D is beyond my comprehension.</p>

[frederick_stevens2]

<p>David - Yep! Those are the photos I aim to capture and my thanks for your input.</p>

<p>Angel - you could be right about the 'feel' of the 7D. I would certainly welcome a better viewfinder. As my eyesight ages I cannot imagine how I ever coped with my Leica and its two very small viewfinders!</p>

[Andy Collins]

<p>Frederick, everyone else has pretty much said it all. I moved to the 7D from a 30D and think that the 7D is simply a phenomenal camera that is well enough equipped to handle just about any photographic situation. I can't say enough good things about it. What I love the most is that Canon actually designed it to be a very high performance camera from the ground up, not just an upgraded xxD body. The ISO performance is just fine to me at the lower ISOs but at the higher ISOs it's most impressive. This is the first camera I've owned that I feel very comfortable routinely using ISO 3200, and 6400 is impressive as well. Like Angel said though, you have to devote a lot of time to thoroughly reading the manual. The AF is amazingly fast, accurate, and impressively customizable but you have to understand how to configure it and how to use it to utilize its full potential. The entire camera is extraordinarily customizable for that matter. Even though there were a number of negative posts about the 7D when it first came out, I believe there will be a lot more rave reviews after 7D users learn fully how to use the camera. This is the closest to a 'do-everything' camera I've ever owned; you've got to get one if you can!</p>

[ben_goren]

<p>Frederick,</p>

 

<p>As far as image quality goes, there’s only one question you need to answer that will be

the determining factor:</p>

 

<p>How big will you print?</p>

 

<p>If your printer sits on your desktop, then save your money. Improvements in IQ will be barely

discernible with a loupe at absolute best, and most of the time truly invisible.</p>

 

<p>But if you buy your ink by the pint and your paper by the roll, then, yes, the 7D will have better IQ — but the 5DII will have a significant

edge over the 7D.</p>

 

<p>Cheers,</p>

 

<p>b&</p>

[jimstrutz]

<p>Most of the early negatives about the 7D's image quality were from people using Adobe's ACR 5.5, that uses their beta version of the 7D raw converter. The new ACR 5.6 (release candidate for now) is reported to be much improved with 7D raw files. Either use that or Canon's DPP if you shoot raw. The other early issue has been with poor AF on some 7Ds. Canon seems to have been able to do a good job adjusting them when people have sent them in though.</p>

<p>BTW, I own both the 40D and 50D, and find the image quality of large prints consistently better from the 50D, and especially at high ISO. If all you're doing is pixel peeping on a monitor you can come to very different conclusion, but that is not the way to tell anything. Also, the AF on the 50D is noticeably improved, and for me, that alone was worth the upgrade. It' faster and much more consistently accurate in low light. From everything I've read the 7D's AF is an even bigger step up. I'm thinking that would make bird in flight pictures a lot easier.</p>

[dcstep]

<p>Ben Goren said, again:<br>

"As far as image quality goes, there’s only one question you need to answer that will be the determining factor:<br>

How big will you print?<br>

If your printer sits on your desktop, then save your money. Improvements in IQ will be barely discernible with a loupe at absolute best, and most of the time truly invisible."</p>

<p>Apparently our friend Ben is still living in the 20th century. Another question to ask is, "How big will you view?" Many of us now view our images on 46" and 52" HDTVs in 1080 resolution. You can indeed see the difference between a 40D and a 7D. Yes, the 5D Mk II has even better IQ, but Frederick wants to do nature photography with a 400mm f5.6L that he's already ordered. For that purpose, the 7D's crop-sensor will be superior than the 5D2's FF, because aiming is much easier with the larger image in that viewfinder.</p>

[JohnMWright]

<p>I have too many good images (and have seen many many others from other photographers) from my 50D to accept the "50D is/was not good" hype... go look at real world samples. And read Bob Atkin's reviews of the 50D and 7D.</p>

<p>Having said that, I would pick a 7D over the 50D any day. I'll get a 7D as soon as I can convince my wife not to kill me for it.</p>

 

[darryl_klein]

<p>Went from my 40D ( which I love and kept for my wife and a backup) to a 7D. I was mainly interested in frame rate, focus, and (I know I know more pixels dont matter) pixels as I shoot trained hawks, so need the speed, focus and some crop room. I was not disappointed. I marvel everytime I view the results. Hi ISO is also better than 40D with proper processing. </p>

 

[frederick_stevens2]

<p>Very useful posts and I am most grateful. I am persuaded that I should get the 7D - I am trying to find one in the UK at the right price! Prices vary by as much as £300 and some of the cheaper sites can be dodgy. I would be worried if I had any AF problems with the 7D because that would be one of my main reasons for buying it!</p>

[dcstep]

<p>I think that the early AF issues were due to firmware that's been fixed. Initially my Live View focus was unuseable. With the latest firmware update that's fixed. A very few people had trouble with it wandering between images in high speed burst rates. The instances that I saw of that were fixed or the camera replaced. (I think that the second case is very rare and may or may not have been fixed by firmware, since we don't know what Canon did to the ones that were sent in). The AF in live view was definitely a firmware issue.</p>

<p>Also, it's a good time to buy now because all the RAW conversion software is getting finalized for the camera, so that you'll get top drawer images no matter which software you choose. I'm anxiously awaiting DxO's module for the 7D and I've been using DPP with good results, but hating the way that it changed my workflow. By the end of this month I think all the leading RAW converters will have been optimized to the 7D.</p>

<p>I would guess that you've got good support for Canon in the UK. I've never had to use them in the US, but I've read of many good experiences. They ARE easy to get on the phone and very helpful with the issues that I've discussed with them over the years. As long as you don't buy grey market I think you'll be ok.</p>

<p>Can't wait to see some images from your garden with the 7D and 400mm.</p>

[frederick_stevens2]

<p>David - I have finally ordered my 7D. I found a site in the UK which seems to be OK and the 7D body is £1150 and that is £226 cheaper than Amazon UK. I will report back as to what happens - people in the UK might be interested. Times are hard and we are seeing pre-Xmas sales which is a little odd.<br /> You might like to see this site<br /> http://www.flickr.com/photos/arapesh/<br /> It shows something of our garden not to mention my idiot wife! Take my advice and never marry a psychiatrist. I get a full analysis every day. I have threatened to throw her in the pond but it might upset the newts and they are a protected species and I could be in trouble if I upset them.<br /> We have quite a lot of animals visiting our garden including foxes, grey squirrels and hedgehogs. We had a fly-in of three ducks recently who stayed on the pond for a few days. One of them had a bad leg and I told the RSPCA and a very jaundiced lady 'phoned me and said they had done all the ponds in South Manchester and she had endless 'phone calls about them. We did have two herons who visited but when they realised that the pond had no fish they soon deserted us.<br /> Veritably all of nature's wonderful and only man is vile. Our lives are totally governed by two deviant cats but I just wish they wouldn't occupy the whole bed. They can hear the elctric blanket switch on from miles away and they arrive on the bed with large 'thuds', wet through and covered in mud. Ah well! It's called life.</p>

[frederick_stevens2]

<p>I thought I should try to publish a photo which epitomises my problems with the 40D/7D and the lens debate.<br /> We have had earache from Mr Blackbird for the last three years in the garden. He is doubtless defending his territory and his nest and we are the intruders. I have told him that it is our garden but he doesn't listen! My attempts to get his photo have not been too good. If I get too close he just flies away and if I stay at a distance the image is no good. This pic was taken with a 70-200mm f4 Canon but is only about 10% of the whole photo and this is why I have ordered the 400mm Canon prime lens. The decision to also get a 7D was because I want the fast auto focus and the better view finder and I may even be able to get pictures of Mr Blackbird in flight. He has disappeared at the moment and is probably sunning himself in warmer climes but if and when he returns I would like to be ready.<br /> My dear lady fully agrees and in that respect I am more fortunate than John Wright! My wife is an animal nutcase and if I want to justify anything I only have to tell her how useful it will be for getting even better pix of animals. I will now try to publish the pic. Aaaagh! I think I have half succeeded.</p>

[dcstep]

<p>Well now, if you're doing that with a 70-200mm, then you're going to be overjoyed with the 400mm f5.6L. You certainly captured him gourging himself. I think that the very best bird photos show a behaviour, such as your black friend slurping a BIG beak full of worms. This is a wonderful capture. With the 400mm, since you can get further away, you'll have a more favorable angle of view and have to crop less. Still, that's a wonderful shot.</p>

[frederick_stevens2]

<p>David - you are most kind. I fully agree with you - photos should show 'a behaviour'. Cartier Bresson certainly did this. If I never see another sunset over the Lake District I shall not be too sad. Van Gogh painted sunflowers behaving not just being. You can feel the heat in his paintings<br>

One has to be fairly knowledgeable about digital photography just to be able to do it but some folk seem only to be interested in the gear and not the pix they can produce using the gear. I want a 7D and a 400mm prime because it is the cheapest way to go to get the results I need.<br>

I will try to add another pic of Mr Blackbird which shows him in his full confrontational glory. Once again it is only a 10% chunk of a photo and needs the 400mm! Animals tell you the truth and they don't lie. The human animal is a very odd creature and 50 years of clinical psychology has shown me just how odd the human animal can be.</p>

[dcstep]

<p>Yes indeed, he does have an evil eye. If he were a raven, I'd say, <em>"Nevermore."</em></p>