lunatech

Maggie...the most wonderful companion ever. I still miss her after all

these years.<div></div>

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I use the Tamron SP AF11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF), been a good lens for me so far. Covers what I consider the sweet wide angle: 24mm equivilant (the so called architectural lens). It is cheaper than the KM model. I bought it from B&H in New York. I also bought the 8mm Peleng (made in Belarus) fish eye on eBay. Not quite a round fish eye with the 7D's 1.5 crop factor, and the construction has a lot to be desired, but it has been a lot of fun for about $300CDN (if you really want to get wide!)

Interesting! Here is a link to a Minolta AF MC Hartblei 2.8/80 mm TS PC shift tilt lens from the eBay store at Kiev Camera: (long link but you can search on Kiev or Hartblei).

 

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Minolta-AF-MC-Hartblei-2-8-80-mm-TS-PC-shift-tilt-LENS_W0QQitemZ7536287600QQcategoryZ3343QQcmdZViewItem

 

I was tempted to buy this but decided that you really need a wide angle for shifting/tilting and 80mm on my 7D (equivilant 120mm) wouldn't be very useful. The price is good though!

 

11mm shift adapter? Hmmm....

You are making an investment when you buy into a company line. You depend that you will be able to build and expand your system as you build skills or expand your horizons. I bought into the 7D because I had lenses and flash already and it had features I really wanted. Will I eagerly await the next step in technology like the rumoured 9D? Not anymore. KM does not care enough to service the customers of a whole country. They are late to market and don't get it when it comes to marketing. It is the final throes of a company going under. Another lesson in buying off-brands. If I was looking into starting out in photography I would be steering clear of this sad situation.

It's too bad we don't state lenses in angle of view instead of focal length...we now will have endless confusion for the foreseeable future (OK, 6 months!)

 

The 18-70mm will crop a picture like a 27-105mm lens on an APS-C camera. The focal length does not change, but the crop does. Until 35mm film is finally dead (or at least obscure) we will still have to calculate everytime we talk about lenses. If we stated lenses in angle of view we wouldn't have this problem. Sigh.

 

And the pre-flash issue...it is a problem. Like many people my daughter has the uncanny ability to sense the pre-flash and begin closing her eyes every single time. Lots of nice pictures where she looks half asleep. Any others have droopy eye shots? Funny, seems like I never had this problem with my film cameras/older flash units.

I noticed, then read in the manual, that noise reduction is automatically disabled for continous shooting with the 7D. Found out when I had disturbing crappy noise in the shadows when shooting 400 ISO or above.

I, for one, am in for the Tamron 11-18mm. I have been waiting months and I was overjoyed to see the lens finally arriving. I don't know if the KM lens has any attributes that make it better, I can't wait to find out when someone reviews them...I will just have to take a chance. Its only money (ouch!). :( B&H isn't the cheapest on the net I see, but I have to go with a place that ships to Canada and I can trust.

 

I have been waiting for wide for my 7D...it has to be at least a 24mm equivilant, the so called "architectural lens". I bought the Peleng 8mmm on eBay, it is a real work of art (read: lousy construction, fairly soft focus) but I actually have been having a whole lot of fun with it.

 

I wish I could just run down and pick up the Tamron at the camera store, but alas, I live in Canada.

 

Long live wide angle!!

Hank;

 

Sorry man, far be it from me to paint everyone with the same brush. My apologies to you and other salepeople who do care and do a good job. I guess I am the tired and uncaring one. Six ribbons of shame for me.

 

I guess this is the result of a frustrating few months trying to buy various products (and not just camera equipment) and just not getting anywhere with salespeople who just shrug their shoulders. In so many cases customer service has gone by the wayside in the retail industry. I dealt with many computer and camera salespeople both professionally and personally who I loved to deal with over the years, seems the best retired or moved away. Can't seem to find someone that makes me want to go in to see what's new anymore. (Is this just me getting old?) The other exasperation is trying to find products in Canada...smaller market, less products.

 

And thanks for the heads up on the service for Canon/Nikon Hank. The grass is always greener...

 

Life ain't so bad...especially when ya see what other people have to go through (like Gulf coast?)

Makes you wonder about what marketing gurus KM hired here in Canada. Little or no advertisment, prices out of all reason, salespeople ill trained or not provided incentives (at least it felt like it.) Does KM really want to sell their products, or what business do they want to be in? I know our market here is small, but it seems if they had a worldwide push they wouldn't be such an "off-brand".

 

There just isn't a drive or maybe there isn't enough competition around here but I wish for once someone would cattle-prod the retail industry here. I for one am most happy to shop elsewhere (usually the States/online of course) rather than face the dismal, uncaring, un-inspired, tired salepeople in most places here in Canada. And if I didn't already have a long time, big investment, and wasn't so pleased with the 7D as an instrument, I would happily move to a brand like Nikon or Canon that cares about providing sales and service.

Well, I see why Minolta will never do well here in Canada...seems like they didn't want to succeed, they are liquidating their Canadian unit:

 

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0509/05090701km_liquidate.asp">www.dpreview.com/news/0509/05090701km_liquidate.asp</a>.

 

 

Might not matter much, I decided not to buy any equipment here anyway, prices in Canada are unreasonable compared to the States. Sure hope service doesn't become a problem though, or future compatable lenses and such. No fun being an orphan! The 7D made me love photography all over again too.

Is that only for Japan, Ralph? I heard of many instances of Japanese releases for the home market only, the rest of wait months. I hope this isn't the case here! (And I worry about the price premium between an aftermarket brand and the KM).

 

And I hear you, Harris, about the disadvantages of not having the lead brands (Canon/Nikon). The store I bought my 7D from is no longer selling KM...not enough sales according to the salesguy. Haven't seen too much advertising either from KM, makes you wonder if they really want to be in the market.

Three months and still no Tamron AF 11-18mm with Minolta mount. I am

afraid to ask Tamron 'when?" again...if I hear end of month one more

time...

 

Anyone know someone there, anyone else waiting for a true wide angle

for 7D? How can we push for this?

Good work, Phillipe. What kind of kite do you use, (three stick, box, etc.)? The string isn't in the shot I see, I am curious what your rig/kite looks like. (show us a pic?) :)

There are some Canadian eBay stores that you might want to look at, maybe out of province so save on the PST. I bought mine here in Ottawa but don't feel I am any better served by being local. If you need service you will need to ship to service center anyway (Mississauga I believe).

 

Like the man said, buying accesories online is the way to go. I have bought excellent aftermarket batteries for $8 abroad, Minolta's are listed at Henry's for $140. Got the VC-7D grip (with battery) for $120CDN, listed at Henry's for $275CDN sans battery. Bought the 5600 (D) flash for $300CDN complete with shipping and duty on eBay, listed at Henry's for $799.99.

You can be an early adopter and take a double hit with both the high price that is sure to drop and work as an unpaid beta tester, or you can sit and wait forever till "they" stop developing new technology and you're safe. Usually the price drops dramatically only when the next big thing comes along and takes its place. Look at the Canon Rebels or Nikons D70/D70s or Pentax ist or istier. Sometimes it is hard for us geeks to have last year's news, and the marketers know this!

 

I did buy the 7D when it dropped from $2700 suggested retail (before it was available, and I would never buy it at that price) to $1800 (here in Canada). I haven't seen much movement here or on eBay, maybe a couple hundred dollars. Don't know what I will do when the supposed "9D" will come out, the camera I really want. Maybe 2nd mortgage...

 

The next level up camera better be 12MP or there abouts, better noise control and sharper picture. Lighter would be good too! Control and menu layout OK as is, (maybe hedge the future with a 3" LCD...or can we dream here...a preview LCD?) Not sure about the Sony deal...surely they will not incorporate their stupid propietary memory sticks?

 

I assume we will see a 7D light (5D or 7Ds??? who names these cameras?) before we will see the dream machine.

Nice place to be flying a kite! What kind of camera did you attach? Can you show us your rig? I always wanted to do this! (And be where you are!!)

My bag of photo gear (including a 7xi) sat in the closet for years. I did a lot of photography and spent many an hour happily in the B&W darkroom and even as a teacher I taught photography (among other things). Loved it but the desire faded away, mainly the idea of taking film in and having someone else make my image was not appealing, and didn't have the time to spend doing the darkroom thing anymore.

 

I had use of one of the first consumer digital cameras, the Canon Xapshot (anyone remember these?) Finally, digital cameras started to come in on their own and the performance/price point made it attractive enough to spend some money and it was good. I bought a couple of P&Ss and was happy with the convienience but never happy with the quality. Of course I had a bag of Minolta lenses and of course Minolta was the only maker without a DSLR, and when the 7D came in the sticker shock almost choked me.

 

But finally I had enough and handed over the credit card for a 7D and haven't looked back. I love photography now, more than ever, and am itchy to shoot every day. I joined a local photo club and have entered photo contests and am still looking for the ultimate image and drag my heavy camera bag where ever I go. I am a computer nerd and have all the latest but it still is a thrill to capture the image that needs little or no manipulation.

 

The 7D is not without its faults and really, someday someone will provide me with a true wide angle lens (there goes that credit card again!) but the anti-shake and the controls are great and eventually I will have to fork over more money for a "9D" but the long story short...to each their own but for me there is no turning back. Digital imaging is just yet another advancement in technology to help one capture the moment and I for one am hooked on doing just that.

I would assume that like other stories of announced products lately, that you would not expect to see an actual product until about 6 months to a year after the official announcement. It is actually getting tiring hearing about some product announcement then waiting and waiting to actualy see it. It is a marketing game to keep customers on the hook. Recent instances are the three digital lenses announced by KM...I asked them about it and the company reply is that they have no production or shipping date. Great...so I also been awaiting the Tamron 11-18mm with Minolta mount and they too have been continualy promising "the end of month" for several months now. As a saleperson said to me: it's "fartware" (vapourware that stinks). Keep on dreaming of the 9D...like the 7D it will be a long wait..maybe too long.

I've had the 7D since March. I had left film long ago, my 7xi was collecting dust (and it was swallowing rolls of film, guess I will need to get it fixed!) I have always been a fan of digital...being a computer geek anyway. Couldn't wait till the price point and resolution came to the nexus of where I could do my own image processing. Waiting for processing or having someone else do my photo manipulation and printing, finding out you missed the shot days later, or looking for a slide projector are over for me. I don't miss anything about film!

 

The cost of the Minolta camera was my big hold back...I debated going with a Nikon, Canon, Pentax or Olympus and start over again with lenses, flashes, etc. I was using a Pentax Optio 5MP, 5X zoom P&S and loving how easy it was to have with me and not worry about lenses, camera bags etc., so EVF cameras were considered too. Digital noise and lag time was the big issue. I like low light or night shots and couldn't get anything decent. Finally after a stiff drink I handed over my credit card and got the 7D.

 

I love the 7D for its knob and button controls, (hate menus!) large LCD (hate tiny ones!), long battery life, and certainly the anti-shake. I have a huge heavy bag of stuff to carry again, and the credit card is getting further workouts but I haven't looked back. I love photography all over again. The benefits of being able to chimp shots right there is cool...I still blow shots forgetting some setting or another so it helps to be able to practise on the spot. Big problem is the growing number of pictures sitting on the hard drive...I do have to get printing!!

 

With the 7D photography is now again an adventure, a hobby and a passion. I want to shoot every day, not something I would have ever considered with film. And after thousands of shots I think the big challenge is getting the picture right the first time...I am not a big fan of having to digitally "fix" the picture. The thrill of having a picture appear perfect on screen right from the camera is a real buzz...makes me want to do more. I find digital harder...less latitude, no forgiveness on highlights, never just sharp enough, but it is fun trying!

ADI only works with D lenses, and only if you have no filters...all in all pretty limited. Older flashes don't work well because they meter different as noted above. (I also heard rumours they operate at different voltages. A salesman said, oh yeah, you could zap your camera with older flashes...this after selling me the camera. Seems like everyone wants to keep this incompatable flash business a secret until they sell you the cameras under pretext that you can use your older equipment.) Your flashes will fire, ( I would guess..I do not have those particular models) but it will be unpredictable...you will get underexposures and blown exposures, I haven't found any pattern.

I had an old Quantaray flash from my film days which gave me inconsistent results. Surprized me...I thought I was screwing up until I heard that old flashes don't work with digital cameras (score 1 for camera salesman, 0 for me). So I searched around and figuring the Minolta flashes were way overpriced, I bought a Sigma EF-500 DG ST that is supposedly designed for digital cameras.

 

Usually same results, either I don't know what I am doing or this flash isn't working on the 7D as advertised (score 1 for Konica Minolta, 0 for me)

 

I am reluctant to get the expensive KM flash unless someone can guarantee me they will work. Either that or I'll eBay the lot and go with a Canon or Nikon.

Hi all..newbie post...

 

I am anxiously awaiting the Tamron AF 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di-II lens for

my 7D...anyone know where I can buy such a thing? I was told by

Amplis, Canadian supplier, it would be here locally (Ottawa ON) end of

July. So far no word. I need a wide angle!!