Are These The EOS 7D Mark II Specifications?

[Don Haines]

I believe that a lot of pros are more impressed with a camera that does the job with no surprises than the latest whiz-bang feature....

And if you look at Canon, an awful lot of new technology and features get introduced in Rebels and P/S cameras so the masses can "debug" them before it goes to pro or semi-pro level cameras.... and when they eventually make their way to the pro level cameras they are solid.

 

[Lawliet]

and when they eventually make their way to the pro level cameras they are solid.

Well, atm you need a 3rd party hack to bypass the internal processing and create video material that's at least somewhere near of what's expected for HD work, i.e. won't get you reprimanded for technical quality by content management.
Same goes for the idea that it will still take some time for 4K to take of. It takes just as much time to get a project to be shown on those screens to go through the complete production process.

Pro level solidity sounds nice, but in the end Canon cooks just with water, as everybody else - from the POV of someone working in a heterogeneous environment, of course.

 

[RodS57]

Most buyers will be looking for integrated imaging devices, not specialized stills or video cameras.

Indeed. That explains why everyone has one of these:

...instead of a screwdriver, crescent wrench, wire cutters, etc. :

dSLRs outsell mirrorless by >4:1, and Canon sells far more dSLRs than Sony (and Panasonic). Maybe 'majority' means something different to you? : :

I've got 6 of those! That's why I don't need an SLR that does video. :

 

[jrista]

@jrista: Spending hours in post sounds downright painful. If high dynamic range landscapes were my bread and butter, but my loyalty was to Canon, I'd be frustrated, too. Perhaps a good ND grad filter might be preferable to hours of post between now and when you either pick up a D800/810 or Canon unveils a comparable alternative?

Also, on the sunflowers -- one thing I've always loved about them at sunset is how because the petals aren't opaque, they glow when back-lit. Just my taste, but I would probably leave them in shadow enough that the petals that glow have contrast to those that are in shadow. That might give more overall contrast to the scene and help it feel more realistic. Just a thought. Glad to see you're out shooting...

I actually have a full set of ND Grads and the Lee filter system. I ended up with only my soft grads the day I took the sunflower shots, and only one weak hard grad (I'm not really sure where all my hard grads are...I've been doing landscapes so seldom lately, they could be anywhere). I don't like the way soft grads darken the background part of the foreground when used with harsh brightness transitions, and the 0.3 Hard GND was simply not enough to be worth hassling with the filter system. So I went with HDR instead (which is still not perfect itself, with so much DR in a scene, and a glaringly bright sun, it's difficult not to encounter problems with posterization and improper blending.)

The images I shared a while back were just quick and dirty preliminary edits...I've edited several more much more extensively now, and I've tweaked the contrast to do just that...allow the sunlight shining through some of the petals to show.

 

[Famateur]

@jrista: Spending hours in post sounds downright painful. If high dynamic range landscapes were my bread and butter, but my loyalty was to Canon, I'd be frustrated, too. Perhaps a good ND grad filter might be preferable to hours of post between now and when you either pick up a D800/810 or Canon unveils a comparable alternative?

Also, on the sunflowers -- one thing I've always loved about them at sunset is how because the petals aren't opaque, they glow when back-lit. Just my taste, but I would probably leave them in shadow enough that the petals that glow have contrast to those that are in shadow. That might give more overall contrast to the scene and help it feel more realistic. Just a thought. Glad to see you're out shooting...

I actually have a full set of ND Grads and the Lee filter system. I ended up with only my soft grads the day I took the sunflower shots, and only one weak hard grad (I'm not really sure where all my hard grads are...I've been doing landscapes so seldom lately, they could be anywhere). I don't like the way soft grads darken the background part of the foreground when used with harsh brightness transitions, and the 0.3 Hard GND was simply not enough to be worth hassling with the filter system. So I went with HDR instead (which is still not perfect itself, with so much DR in a scene, and a glaringly bright sun, it's difficult not to encounter problems with posterization and improper blending.)

The images I shared a while back were just quick and dirty preliminary edits...I've edited several more much more extensively now, and I've tweaked the contrast to do just that...allow the sunlight shining through some of the petals to show.

Gotcha. Looking forward to the final edits. On the sunsets thread, yes?

 

[Tugela]

...I will hold off on upgrading until Canon gets a clue, or make the switch to Panasonic, perhaps Sony, (who do appear to have a clue).

A clue about your specific needs, that is. I wonder if Panasonic or Sony have a clue about how to make products that appeal to the majority.

The popularity of a camera like the 70D (not to mention the 5D3 when ML came out) suggests that your "majority" is very likely a minority. Most buyers will be looking for integrated imaging devices, not specialized stills or video cameras. And since 4K is the future, while HD is the past, that is what is going to drive those buyers, especially when they start to buy 4K TVs and see the difference in quality. People who buy 4K TV sets (in other words, high end buyers - the same folk who buy most high end DSLRs) are not going to be interested in shooting HD afterwards, they will want 4K. So who will they turn to? Apparently that isn't going to be Canon.

Something tells me that by the time 4K displays go mainstream, Canon will have cameras for the mainstream to go with them* -- if success in the DSLR market requires it. While those who adopt 4K TVs early might be the same slice of the market that buys high-end DSLRs, I don't think they comprise a majority of the market Canon depends on for its bread and butter. I don't have a source (so someone feel free to correct/corroborate), but I believe Rebels and 70Ds make up a far greater market for Canon than pro gear.

We have to remember that this is about business . A tit-for-tat strategy on feature set vs. feature set with the competition does not necessarily mean good business. Only Canon decision-makers have the inside information to support their strategy, and the proof will be in market performance and shareholder value.



*Imagine how awesome 4K with DPAF will be!

Prices for 4K TV sets are already as low as $3700 CDN for 2014 models. 4K monitors can be had for about $600. High resolution tablets are here and quite common as well. So, the TV sets are about to hit mainstream very soon. I expect that will happen in 2015, when you should start to see sets in the ~$2500 range become available. So what camera manufacturers are ready for this? Certainly not Canon, and Nikon is just a joke.

4K is already here. It is not something that is happening in five years time, it is happening right now.

It is not really the point however, as 4K footage downscaled to HD is superior to native HD footage. Even if you don't have a 4K display device your stuff is still going to look better if you shoot in 4K. Plus of course you future proof your raw footage.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

For me, a 7DII will offer a number of useful advantages to my existing 5DII cameras. A higher frame rate and a longer reach. I'm hoping that these will not be at the expense of the high iso ability of the 5DIII and great per pixel sharpness and clarity I see from that same camera. The 7DII is a newer generation to the 5DIII, so I think we should be seeing advances in those areas. If not....I'll pass and save for a 1DXII

 

[Sporgon]

For me, a 7DII will offer a number of useful advantages to my existing 5DII cameras. A higher frame rate and a longer reach. I'm hoping that these will not be at the expense of the high iso ability of the 5DIII and great per pixel sharpness and clarity I see from that same camera. The 7DII is a newer generation to the 5DIII, so I think we should be seeing advances in those areas. If not....I'll pass and save for a 1DXII

Shooting at base ISO and being able to process a file without having to watch awful blotches or noise would be nice

A couple of questions come to mind; do you actually go looking for noise ? I mean getting a group like-minded friends round and having a noise hunt ? Or the one who can create the most noise gets a coconut ?

Secondly have you used a 70D ? ( disclaimer here - I haven't but I'm hearing very good reports.......)

 

[rajivsubs]

Wow, 48 pages of comments on a rumor that does not even have CR# attached...you guys have way too much time on your hands. The CR guy is laughing all the way to the bank

 

[Woody]

The CR guy is laughing all the way to the bank

The CR forum page on my monitor does not have any advertisement.

Otherwise, yes, 48 pages of comments for the 7D2 rumor is quite something. Is this perhaps the most discussed rumor on CR forum ever? Shows many folks have high hopes on the new (rumored) sensor technology....

 

[GMCPhotographics]

For me, a 7DII will offer a number of useful advantages to my existing 5DII cameras. A higher frame rate and a longer reach. I'm hoping that these will not be at the expense of the high iso ability of the 5DIII and great per pixel sharpness and clarity I see from that same camera. The 7DII is a newer generation to the 5DIII, so I think we should be seeing advances in those areas. If not....I'll pass and save for a 1DXII

Shooting at base ISO and being able to process a file without having to watch awful blotches or noise would be nice

A couple of questions come to mind; do you actually go looking for noise ? I mean getting a group like-minded friends round and having a noise hunt ? Or the one who can create the most noise gets a coconut ?

Secondly have you used a 70D ? ( disclaimer here - I haven't but I'm hearing very good reports.......)

I'm not interested in a 70D. I had a 7D for a number of years and it was good, but noise was bad over 400 iso and I didn't care for the image quality I saw from it either.

 

[Don Haines]

The CR guy is laughing all the way to the bank

The CR forum page on my monitor does not have any advertisement.

Otherwise, yes, 48 pages of comments for the 7D2 rumor is quite something. Is this perhaps the most discussed rumor on CR forum ever? Shows many folks have high hopes on the new (rumored) sensor technology....

Definitely an indication of pent-up demand..... I wonder how many will purchase one?

 

[privatebydesign]

Definitely an indication of pent-up demand..... I wonder how many will purchase one?

Not me, I never had any interest in the 7D after basic testing showed it was no better than my current FF cropped. There is no reason to expect the MkII to be that much better and even if it is a similarly speced FF will follow.

 

[Lee Jay]

Definitely an indication of pent-up demand..... I wonder how many will purchase one?

Not me, I never had any interest in the 7D after basic testing showed it was no better than my current FF cropped.

If you aren't getting more real resolution with a 7D than with a Canon full-frame, then you have problems elsewhere - lenses, focus, motion blur, etc.

 

[cnardo]

Absolutely, positively can’t wait for the next UPDATE to this CR thread …or better yet, getting the real scoop. Been saving gift cards/cash for 18 months now and unless this new 7D2 (or whatever it is called) in in the stratosphere, I am in for a new crop sensor camera. Currently have the 5D3, SL1 and M. looking for a wildlife/sports camera body

 

[Canon1]

Definitely an indication of pent-up demand..... I wonder how many will purchase one?

I thought the same thing, but when scrolling through all the pages, there are really only a handful of characters making the majority of all of this noise. But I do think that the existence of hundreds of 7DII posts that have popped up here over the last year might be a good indication of pent up demand.

To answer your question: I'll likely be an early adopter.

 

[3kramd5]

Yeah Canon may eventually add 4k. That just shows Canon is no longer an innovator, just a follower.

Yeah, maybe Canon should follow Sony's innovative lossy compression that eliminates data from RAW files, or follow Panasonic's innovative inability to make a successful dSLR and give up like they did. 'Cuz, you know, DPAF and the ability to accurately autofocus track a moving subject during video, that's certainly not innovative. :

Didn't you know?

in·no·va·tion
noun \ˌi-nə-ˈvā-shən\

: being first to market with features I want.

 

[Don Haines]

Definitely an indication of pent-up demand..... I wonder how many will purchase one?

I thought the same thing, but when scrolling through all the pages, there are really only a handful of characters making the majority of all of this noise. But I do think that the existence of hundreds of 7DII posts that have popped up here over the last year might be a good indication of pent up demand.

To answer your question: I'll likely be an early adopter.

Same for me...
I was sorely tempted when to 70D came out... but sat on it in the hopes of an even better AF system on a successor to the 7D.... As long as they don't make it worse than the 70D (and that just isn't going to happen) I intend to get one too.... perhaps I should start up a poll

 

[Slyham]

I would love one and I definitely need want to upgrade my T1i. However, it will be out of my price range. I'm crossing my fingers that some great deals come out on the 70D after the 7D II is released.

 

[NancyP]

Come on, folks, we can hit 50 pages by Photokina time! Then we can start the post-announcement whining thread and aim for 60 pages on that.

Yes, there's some pent-up demand.