Canon 7D Mark II Owners first thoughts

[digigal]

Got my 7DM2 yesterday and spent all evening trying to program the AF system for flying birds etc. Downloaded DPP 4.1 and shot some RAW test shots with higher ISO than I normally use. Shoot manual and used standard setting in DPP (never used program so unfamiliar with it). Transferred RAW file to PS and converted to highest JPG. Here's the link to the full size file--looks great to me for a ISO 4000 shot! I think the noise could be easily dealt with in post processing and a file like this could be printed. I would not have printed a ISO 4000 from my 7D
Catherine
http://www.pbase.com/mcat/image/158038187/large.jpeg

 

[Runnerguy]

I picked up mine today with promo lens deal 399.99 for 24-70 f4L is .I have been playing with the 7d II with my 300 f 2.8 II with the 2x and the af is very fast no problems with Bif in crappy dim rainy weather.I am very happy so far with my new camera and for my wildlife purposes it fits well, just need the grip I wonder when they will come in.

 

[RodS57]

Thanks to all who posted pics. My camera shipped today so if I am really lucky I will have it before Nov 8th. Gonna be a long week.

Glade to see someone test the tamron 150-600 as I have one. I also have the 70-300L and have never had a problem focusing in low light. Keeping fingers crossed.

Keep the pictures coming.

Rod

 

[RodS57]

Got my 7DM2 yesterday and spent all evening trying to program the AF system for flying birds etc. Downloaded DPP 4.1 and shot some RAW test shots with higher ISO than I normally use. Shoot manual and used standard setting in DPP (never used program so unfamiliar with it). Transferred RAW file to PS and converted to highest JPG. Here's the link to the full size file--looks great to me for a ISO 4000 shot! I think the noise could be easily dealt with in post processing and a file like this could be printed. I would not have printed a ISO 4000 from my 7D
Catherine
http://www.pbase.com/mcat/image/158038187/large.jpeg

Hope to see some good advise on the AF setup as BIF was the primary reason for buying this camera.

Rod

 

[RustyTheGeek]

Got my 7D Mark II, coming from an original 7D.

Some initial annoyances/thoughts:

• When you switch it on, it is asking for the date/time. This is because the GPS is initially disabled. Once you turn on the GPS it should get the time.
• I can't get the GPS working..... I turn it on and in the GPS Information Display I only see the compass heading. On the LCD there's a flashing GPS symbol. Strangely, when I turn off the camera, the GPS symbol is still flashing on the LCD. If I turn on the GPS logger, then also LOG shows on my LCD when I turn the camera off.
• There's so many menu panels it's a bit hard to find your way around. The Info button usually describes the options in sufficient detail, however certain screens omit any details
• Playback zoom control is so frustrating, because you cannot use the thumb buttons (AE lock & AF Point Selection) like on the 7D. You have to zoom using the magnifying glass button and then use the Main dial.
• It is possible to configure the default magnification to actual pixels, and specifically centered on the focus point. Note that you can zoom in one click higher than 100% so your image looks unsharp - so that's going to be annoying.

Anyway, I'm about to start reading the PDF doco to find out what I missed.

Just use the touch screen for zooming. Oh wait. Never mind. (LOL!) Okay, I'm bad. ;D

 

[RustyTheGeek]

i dont want to be rude, but the above picture looks like s.hit. either it was high iso and extremely cropped, or you don't know how to properly use your equipment.

Thank you for your comment. I had thought I had explained adequately but obviously not.

I normally only shoot in RAW but because people wanted pictures I went out on a dark day to shoot in JPEG only. I normally edit in Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop, which do not yet support the camera and I was not expecting to take award winning photos. Pictures of this quality would not make my portfolio but then I would not be shooting JPEGS on a cloudy day if others in this thread had not asked for test pictures. Yes all the photos are heavily cropped, also the lens I am using is not ideal but I am testing that as well. I am not proud of these shots and they were not posted for bragging rights but to help the community here.

Please can I respectfully suggest that if you only want to view good shots maybe a thread about a new camera called "first thoughts" is not the best place. Wait a few weeks and maybe I will have some pictures up to your high standards.

For those who have appreciated my small effort to get some quick shots for you, thank you.

Your response is pretty much what I was thinking... quick JPG shots to show what folks were clamoring for, anything shot with the 7D2. Thanks for taking the time to post them (and risk criticism in the process).

Next time, just take a quick picture of your shoe or the dog's ass so it will be obvious that it's not your best work! (Unless you have a whole gallery of high quality shoe and dog's ass shots, then I apologize!) :

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Here are four of the first shots from my CANON 7D Mark II at 3200, 4000, 5000, and 6400 taken in my my dark living room. These are all paintings hanging in the room that I often use to test ISO capability of different cameras. All are unprocessed JPEG, and my first impression is that they are almost as good as the 1DX I owned until recently. They are also better, I think, than ones I took with my SONY A6000. I am also impressed by the camera’s build and how quick it focuses. It blows away my 70D and the 7D I use to own.

Welcome to CanonRumors. Thank you for sharing your test with us.

I am very impressed with the quality of the noise (like film). It is the first APS-C camera that I could use ISO3200 without feeling desperate in the dark without flash. ;D

 

[weixing]

Hi,
Got it very late... manage to take a test shot at a cat @ iso 6400 using Tamron 150-600mm @ 150mm... hand held shot... Open directly from DPP 4 and take a screenshot at 100%... DPP default NR look quite good:

Have a nice day.

Hi weixing,

Congrats on the new camera.

I'm thinking of getting a 7DII to replace my starter camera (600D) and I have the Tamron 150-600 too - I was wanting to know; how is the autofocus with this lens attached and how does this combo work for you so far?

Thanks for any reply,

Cheers again.

Hi,
Only manage to have a quick test and compare to my 60D at center point, it's seem to be a bit faster at AI servo @600mm, but more "decisive". The real test will be on the weekend when I bring out for birding.

Anyway, like the AF selection level which can change the AF select mode very fast.

Have a nice day.

 

[John Strung]

Is it my imagination, or is the ability to change the number of focus points no longer in the Quick Control Screen as it was on the original 7D?

 

[Big_Ant_TV_Media]

got my 7D mark 2 today very happy still paying with it but here my questions
what are the best slider settings for say if i was shooting a fashion show with good lighting and runway
and or if i was on the sidelines of football game just shooting candids or players on the bench or coming off the field?

 

[bob118]

I'll have one in my hands tomorrow at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC at the Canon Exhibit, it may not be mine but just to hold one which I'm sure will not be much different than my 7D but I can run it thru it's paces with an expert from Canon to show me the in's and out's of it. Almost like getting a crash course on it before getting my own. Enjoy your cameras guys.

 

[RustyTheGeek]

got my 7D mark 2 today very happy still paying with it but here my questions
what are the best slider settings for say if i was shooting a fashion show with good lighting and runway
and or if i was on the sidelines of football game just shooting candids or players on the bench or coming off the field?

For shooting the Fashion Show Runway just use this preset on the dial...

I'm really being a stinker tonight... sorry! :

 

[Sportsgal501]

I'll have one in my hands tomorrow at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC at the Canon Exhibit, it may not be mine but just to hold one which I'm sure will not be much different than my 7D but I can run it thru it's paces with an expert from Canon to show me the in's and out's of it. Almost like getting a crash course on it before getting my own. Enjoy your cameras guys.

I messed around with one at the expo for about twenty minutes, I like it but now I'm undecided after also playing with the Canon 5D Mark III. I'm getting ready to transition to karate/taekwondo tournaments indoors and the Canon rep said the 5D Mark III would be a better fit. :-\
I'm going back tomorrow..........

 

[RustyTheGeek]

I'll have one in my hands tomorrow at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC at the Canon Exhibit, it may not be mine but just to hold one which I'm sure will not be much different than my 7D but I can run it thru it's paces with an expert from Canon to show me the in's and out's of it. Almost like getting a crash course on it before getting my own. Enjoy your cameras guys.

I messed around with one at the expo for about twenty minutes, I like it but now I'm undecided after also playing with the Canon 5D Mark III. I'm getting ready to transition to karate/taekwondo tournaments indoors and the Canon rep said the 5D Mark III would be a better fit. :-\
I'm going back tomorrow..........

In my limited experience shooting indoor sports I guess it boils down to what frame rate you want and if you need the extra reach that the crop will give you. The 5D3 will seem a bit slow compared to the 10fps of the 7D2. And if you need extra reach, adding a 1.4X TC to the 70-200/2.8 on the 5D3 slows it down a bit and narrows the gap of high ISO performance between the 7D2 crop without a TC at f/2.8 and the 5D3 at f/4 with the TC. I've read the threads about crop vs FF noise, etc and they make sense but at the end of the day, what works best for you as a photographer? Personally, I get tired of manually cropping FF images in post for the slight IQ difference the FF sensor might give me over the 70D or 7D2 crop sensor. In the end it will all work out, it just depends what you prefer. And the 7D2 is still a bit cheaper than the 5D3.

 

[mkabi]

I'll have one in my hands tomorrow at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC at the Canon Exhibit, it may not be mine but just to hold one which I'm sure will not be much different than my 7D but I can run it thru it's paces with an expert from Canon to show me the in's and out's of it. Almost like getting a crash course on it before getting my own. Enjoy your cameras guys.

I messed around with one at the expo for about twenty minutes, I like it but now I'm undecided after also playing with the Canon 5D Mark III. I'm getting ready to transition to karate/taekwondo tournaments indoors and the Canon rep said the 5D Mark III would be a better fit. :-\
I'm going back tomorrow..........

Tough call...
You need high frame rate and low light capabilities.
I would suggest a 1DX, but if its out of your price range...
You have to ask yourself... do you need high quality low light pictures with lesser pictures taken at the right time? Or slightly lower quality low light pictures with more pictures taken at the right time?

 

[BubbaGumbo]

Also had the chance to try out the camera today at Expo Plus in NY. Even in the poor expo lighting the focus was quick to lock and stayed locked with all of the lens combo's I tried. That new 400 DO is light and sharp as a tack. My favorite Body/Lens combo of the day and I must have demo'd about a hundred.

My only complaint regarding the 7D Mark ii was that, as configured, the viewfinder seemed distractingly busy. I believe those settings are highly customizable however. The combination of the smallish viewfinder and the wealth of info I found a bit distracting. Love the in-viewfinder level though. But my last crop camera was a 10D so not sure how this compares to the 7Dc. On the other hand, AF point coverage is excellent.

Can't speak to image quality but I can say from a handling perspective I would be very happy to have this as a crop body to supplement my full frame 5D's. I switched quickly back and forth with a 5D several times and the similarity of controls made the transition seamless. Barring any unexpected problems regarding High ISO IQ I expect I'll pick one up when the stocking sorts itself out.

 

[Big_Ant_TV_Media]

I'll have one in my hands tomorrow at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC at the Canon Exhibit, it may not be mine but just to hold one which I'm sure will not be much different than my 7D but I can run it thru it's paces with an expert from Canon to show me the in's and out's of it. Almost like getting a crash course on it before getting my own. Enjoy your cameras guys.

I MIGHT BE THERE FIRDAY IF NOT SATURDAY
the nyc halloween parade is friday from 5-9pm from 6th ave and spring st "canal street by the tunnel" too 14th st
and union square GET SOME SHOT WHILE YA IN THE AREA
i just got mine today im so nervous too use it tommorrow still getting used too it

 

[Big_Ant_TV_Media]

I'll have one in my hands tomorrow at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC at the Canon Exhibit, it may not be mine but just to hold one which I'm sure will not be much different than my 7D but I can run it thru it's paces with an expert from Canon to show me the in's and out's of it. Almost like getting a crash course on it before getting my own. Enjoy your cameras guys.

I messed around with one at the expo for about twenty minutes, I like it but now I'm undecided after also playing with the Canon 5D Mark III. I'm getting ready to transition to karate/taekwondo tournaments indoors and the Canon rep said the 5D Mark III would be a better fit. :-\
I'm going back tomorrow..........

the nyc halloween parade is friday from 5-9pm form spring st/canal street area if u get ther early u cang get some good shoot b4 the sun goes down unless u have flash
i will be at the expo saturday maybe too soak it all up and get tutored by the canon reps on how too use this camera to my needs

 

[Sportsgal501]

I'll have one in my hands tomorrow at the PhotoPlus Expo in NYC at the Canon Exhibit, it may not be mine but just to hold one which I'm sure will not be much different than my 7D but I can run it thru it's paces with an expert from Canon to show me the in's and out's of it. Almost like getting a crash course on it before getting my own. Enjoy your cameras guys.

I messed around with one at the expo for about twenty minutes, I like it but now I'm undecided after also playing with the Canon 5D Mark III. I'm getting ready to transition to karate/taekwondo tournaments indoors and the Canon rep said the 5D Mark III would be a better fit. :-\
I'm going back tomorrow..........

the nyc halloween parade is friday from 5-9pm form spring st/canal street area if u get ther early u cang get some good shoot b4 the sun goes down unless u have flash
i will be at the expo saturday maybe too soak it all up and get tutored by the canon reps on how too use this camera to my needs

Passing on the Halloween Parade, I have worked every weekend for the past two months. Taking a break carrying my camera gear around this weekend. But you have fun "figuring" out that new camera and when in doubt put it on the "green box".

 

[centuaryseries]

Picked mine up an hour ago.

What do you dislike?
So far the only thing I dislike is that it will take 2.5
hours to charge the battery! On the plus side its 9:45pm
so it will be ready for use in the morning.

What will be your primary use for the camera?
Everything I take photographs of, mostly fast jets/aviation.