Canon 7D: 'I need a Must Have's List'

[SDsc0rch]

good points here

I would only add the mode dial lock

best 100 bucks I've spent for the 7D


I can confirm the 10-22, 17-55

I also use the 70-200/2.8ii

[rpt]

I would put a 15-85 on the list. If you go look at your photos and see that when you use the flash, some part of the subject is darker than what you would have liked, then add a flash to the list too. I got the 600 EX-RT.

You could also revisit your photos and see if you hardly shoot above 55mm then may be a 17-55 f2.8 may be the one for you...

[Botts]

This forum is genuinely awesome.  Thanks to all for the feedback.

So, if I am pushing my luck here please tell me ... but what would folks suggest for a bag/case?  Anyone have a favorite that works as kind of the 'everyday' camera bag?  I have a Lowepro MicroTrekker from Ritz Camera for my Canon Rebel G that I am using

I really like my Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home

And my extra small Timbuk2 Snoop Messenger.

For flying I really like my HPRC 2550W case.  It's waterproof, and built like a tank.

Finally, if I'm out on a serious shoot, I like the now discontinued LowePro Computrekker AW Plus.  You can still find these on eBay.   I often carried Gitzo 3541LS legs with a Wimberley Gimbal strapped to the bag, a gripped 7D with 500mm mounted, a 7D with 70-200mm f/4 IS mounted, and a 10-20mm, 35L, and 17-55mm loose in the bag.  My 15" MacBook Pro lived in the back of the bag.  It was heavy, but it carried a ton of gear.

I like the Crumpler for when I'm on a dedicated photo trip".  But it's a touch too big for casual use.  I like the XS Timbuk2 bag for when I'm out travelling and want to have my camera on me.  The XS bag held my 6D with 35L mounted, a 430EX II, and a 70-200mm f/4 IS.

[Zv]

I use a Kata bug 205, they have a rain cover and an outer spine that protects the camera area. My bag fell from an airport trolly and it just rolled softly and landed upside down on that part, no problem at all. I hate to think what could have happened if I was using my lowepro! The bug series also have a laptop are that holds my rather large 16inch Sony Vaio comfortably. The bags are also made of lightweigt materials which is very welcome! And you can attatch a full sized tripod to it using the straps that come with it. I can fit a 7Dwith 70-200 attatched and 5D II easily, plus all my lenses.

The only downside is no extra area for things like your shopping or souvenirs! For those days I use my lowepro fastpack 200. Its smaller but has a large space at the top for random s@%& like a towel or t-shirt etc. It also has a kind of fast side open thing for your camera though i still have to fumble a bit. Maybe I need to figure it out. Anyway, Its not water resistant at all, which blows. when traveling you really need  that. Especially in tropical locations!

[FTb-n]

+1 on the locking mode button -- funny how often I grab the 7D, take a shot and find that the mode button has migrated to Bulb.

As for that dream kit built around the 60D and 7D (although I might prefer two future 7DII's):

- EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS w/hood (generic) w/Hoya HD clear: Use this on your 60D
- EF 70-200 f2.8L IS Mark II w/hood w/Hoya HD clear: Mostly on the 7D
- EF 40 f2.8 pancake
- 430EX flash
- ThinkTank Digital Holster 20 for 60D/17-55
- ThinkTank Digital Holster 30 for 7D/7-200
- ThinkTank Pro Speed Belt

...and when all this is too much to carry:
- PowerShot S100 (currently $250 at Amazon)
- Tamrac 5686 pouch

[verysimplejason]

If you love your 7D, You will hate the 6D. After owning the 7D, I wouldn't want anything less than its AF and the 5D3 is that camera for me IMO. You will have to ditch the Kit lens from the 60D with either camera.

+1 million

+1 million if you are into tracking fast moving objects subjects mostly.

But if you AF and recompose like I do... the 6D AF might even be better.

It will boil down to what you value more... The 6D will give you less noisy images across the ISO spectrum, and probably better IQ overall. Nice interface with a Tablet.

The 7D is noisier, but better AF points across the frame, it has faster burst.

Consumers/enthusiasts might prefer the improvement of images with the 6D, but pros might give a higher rating to getting a high % of keepers and fast action... might prefer the 7D.

If you DO end up keeping the 7D, then Mt. Spokane's lens list is a very good one. For me the 6D seems very enticing for non-pros, especially with the -3EV center AF point and high ISO performance that not only matches the 5diii, but sneaks past it.

You also forgot DR.  It's very important for someone who's doing landscape photography and thus 6D seems a near perfect match for me.  But if I have money, I won't hesitate going to 5D3 straight.  Though IQ-wise 6D is better (almost negligible), 5D3's AF makes the camera more versatile.  Having said that, I don't think 6D's AF will hinder me from getting professional quality photos.

[Cory]

Would anyone mind a quick 10-22 vs 11-16 (the new one) comparison?

[moocowe]

I just purchased Reikan FoCal to calibrate my 7D, and wish I'd done it when I first got the camera!

Some of my favourite gear for the 7D:
17-55mm IS for general walkabout
Tokina 11-16mm for landscape
430EX II & homemade flashbender (I keep losing Sto-Fens)
ThinkTank Retrospective 10 is my current favourite small bag

Sigma 35 1.4 looks like a winner too. Sigma 30 1.4 didn't impress me much, and my 50 1.4 is a bit too long.

Oh, and macro lenses are fun on those days where you don't want to venture outside.

[RLPhoto]

If you love your 7D, You will hate the 6D. After owning the 7D, I wouldn't want anything less than its AF and the 5D3 is that camera for me IMO. You will have to ditch the Kit lens from the 60D with either camera.

+1 million

+1 million if you are into tracking fast moving objects subjects mostly.

But if you AF and recompose like I do... the 6D AF might even be better.

It will boil down to what you value more... The 6D will give you less noisy images across the ISO spectrum, and probably better IQ overall. Nice interface with a Tablet.

The 7D is noisier, but better AF points across the frame, it has faster burst.

Consumers/enthusiasts might prefer the improvement of images with the 6D, but pros might give a higher rating to getting a high % of keepers and fast action... might prefer the 7D.

If you DO end up keeping the 7D, then Mt. Spokane's lens list is a very good one. For me the 6D seems very enticing for non-pros, especially with the -3EV center AF point and high ISO performance that not only matches the 5diii, but sneaks past it.

You also forgot DR.  It's very important for someone who's doing landscape photography and thus 6D seems a near perfect match for me.  But if I have money, I won't hesitate going to 5D3 straight.  Though IQ-wise 6D is better (almost negligible), 5D3's AF makes the camera more versatile.  Having said that, I don't think 6D's AF will hinder me from getting professional quality photos.

Then get a 5D2 and save the 600$ for a 17-40.

[señor Steve]

I recently moved from the 7d to 5d mkiii.  After getting used to the speed of the 7d, the mkiii is the least pricey way I was willing to move to ff.  That said, the 7d is excellent.  It is not as flexible as the mkiii regarding dof and low light photography to be sure, but is a great camera.  I have shot it with many lenses.  My opinion on the 17-55 is that it is a big lens.  I bought the 24-70 because I knew I was going FF eventually.  If I shoot a wedding, or event, it is great, but otherwise I usually put something else on the camera.  It is nice to have because it is so versatile, but if I'm going to be in a more organized shoot, I will tend to use primes.  My most loved lenses on the 7d were the 10-22 and 35L.  The sigma 30mm is close to the L lens in output if not focus performance, but make sure you get a good copy.  I imagine the sigma 35 is great, but all I own are Canon lenses.  You will appreciate fast primes more on a crop sensor than on a  full frame if you like the shallow dof and vignetted look.  The 50mm f/1.4 is popular and the 85 f/1.8 is a good value too.

[Stichus III]

I own a 7D and I agree with everybody that said that you should get the Canon EF-S 10-22 mm USM. It is by far my favorite lens. Surprisingly versatile and worth every penny.

[azezal]

I agree with everyone here but would like to divert your attention to the sigma 35 1.4 or if ur into manual focusing/movies the samyang 35 1.4,these two caught my eye

[Zv]

Here's a link to some accessories I think might be useful.
http://zeebytes.blogspot.jp/2012/12/christmas-accessory-list.html?m=1

[M.ST]

RE to: I would only add the mode dial lock

Don´t waste you money for the mode dial lock or you waste a lot of time for changing the modes.

[nightsky87]

I have a Canon EF-S 15-85 on my crop body and that was great as a walkaround lens. But since I got the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC USD, I haven't been using the other lens. The 24-70 range might not be so versatile as far as crop is concerned but I find it does better for people shots since it doesn't have the distorted perspective of wider angle lenses. The Tamron is fast ( f/2.8 ) so you can get decent DoF and its also sharp when using a crop body. And the vignetting its known for also disappears when using crop. And using a lens like that makes upgrading to FF later on much easier! To fill the wide angle, you can then grab a 10-22 and that leaves only a tiny gap in the lens range.