Canon prevents me from buying the 7D Mark II

[Harv]

I have been a Canon user my entire life. I love the product, including DPP which is my RAW converter of choice.

I presently shoot with a 1D Mark IV and a 5D Mark III, which are fully supported by my present version of DPP. The 7D Mark II requires that I update my DPP.

Here is my problem with that.....

The newer version of DPP does not support my operating system. I run Vista 64. Updating my operating system requires that I go to Windows 8 which needs a clean install. Huge job. Also, I'm not sure that a lot of my current software will run on Windows 8. I have CS4 as well as plugins such as NIK, Neat Image and a slew of other free standing applications.

As much as I was not comfortable with the user interface of Lightroom when I tried a demo last year, I thought I would now have to go that route. Guess what? Right. It's now only available under CC and I refuse to rent software on a monthly fee basis which is why I still run CS4.

I'm 72 years old so I guess my 1D4 and 5D3 will have to do me the rest of my life or until my computer cr@ps out and I have no choice.

All Canon had to do was continue to support the operating system and I would have added a 7D2 to my bag.

Okay..... rant over.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

You really can't blame Canon for not supporting an operating system two generations old.

There is already talk about the follow up to Windows 8.

 

[Old Sarge]

I am having the same problem. I use Vista on my main machine (I have a laptop with Vista and Netbook with XP and a Surface Pro3 with 8.1). I may have to use DPP on my Surface Pro and then transfer the files to my desktop. You and I are the same age (though I just caught up a week ago) and I don't want to go through the problems of a new OS, with which some of the programs I use most often are not compatible. But I may have to break down and do it and just run a virtual machine for those programs. Too much monkey motion for this old geezer.

 

[KacperP]

You use Vista 64?! Is that possible and not go mental?
If you worry about win 8.1, why not 7 64-bit?

 

[LesC]

Why not go for Windows 7, plenty of life let in that yet & so much nicer than Vista (& XP in my opinion) I updated my aging PC from XP to 7 & all the programs worked no problem & install was a breeze. Does your PC good to have a clean install now and then too ...

I was against renting at first but after price drops now consider the Photoshop CC/Lightroom package pretty good value.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I have been a Canon user my entire life. I love the product, including DPP which is my RAW converter of choice.

I presently shoot with a 1D Mark IV and a 5D Mark III, which are fully supported by my present version of DPP. The 7D Mark II requires that I update my DPP.

Here is my problem with that.....

The newer version of DPP does not support my operating system. I run Vista 64. Updating my operating system requires that I go to Windows 8 which needs a clean install. Huge job. Okay..... rant over.

I would suggest upgrading to Windows 7 if you upgrade. Windows 10 will likely be out early next year.

I'd stay with your 1D MK IV, its still well ahead of the 7D MK II. Don't fall for the hype. If Keeping a old OS prevents you from replacing the 1D MK IV, Canon did you a favor.

I'm also your age, I reinstall my OS once a year. To make it easier, I create a disk image on a spare hard drive to have as a backup. Then, I only have to update programs installed or updated since the previous image was made. That helps reduce the big job. I've bought two new Dell XPS computers with Windows 8 in the past year. I just pull out the hard drive with Windows 8, put in a SSD and install Windows 7.

Right now, DPP4 is pretty bad, you are not missing anything.

 

[Loswr]

Harv, you can preorder the 7DII from B&H and get $30 off the boxed LR5. Would that work?

 

[Old Sarge]

Harv, you can preorder the 7DII from B&H and get $30 off the boxed LR5. Would that work?

LR5 requires Windows 7 with service pack 1 as a minimum. Not a big help.

 

[dstppy]

Vista was garbage.

Get 7Pro x64, you'll never regret it.

Rant over ;D

 

[Harv]

Hmmmmm.... lots of grist for the mill here. Thanks for all the input, folks. I was not aware that Windows 7 was still available.

Neuro, that's one path, but I prefer to keep my business with local vendors.

 

[jdramirez]

No offense, but it sounds like you are setting up impediments... creative cloud, local vendors, antiquated operating systems...

We don't always get exactly what we want, but we find a way to make it work.

 

[mrsfotografie]

Vista was garbage.

Get 7Pro x64, you'll never regret it.

Rant over ;D

+1000!!!!

 

[Harv]

No offense, but it sounds like you are setting up impediments... creative cloud, local vendors, antiquated operating systems...

We don't always get exactly what we want, but we find a way to make it work.

No offence, but..... I already have Vista which has been working just fine and I have no desire to incur additional cost if not necessary. I am not the only one who disagrees with renting software via Creative Cloud. Many others feel as I do.

Also, I live in Canada and find cross-border shopping to be a pain in the butt. What's wrong with being loyal to my dealer of many years who has treated me well and provides me with great service?

If I can't find a reasonable solution, so be it. It's not like I must buy the 7D2. My current bodies work just fine. The 7D2 would just have been another toy to play with.

 

[Steve]

No offense, but it sounds like you are setting up impediments... creative cloud, local vendors, antiquated operating systems...

We don't always get exactly what we want, but we find a way to make it work.

Nah, all that stuff is legitimate complaints. Most people find it difficult to update an operating system and there's always a cascading set of problems that follow with programs not working, lost settings, reinstalling everything, its a PITA. There's also nothing wrong with wanting to support local people who spend, hire, and pay taxes in the local community nor is there anything wrong with being annoyed that Adobe has moved to rental scheme. IMO, it really doesn't seem worth it to upgrade to a new camera that might be, at best, a marginal improvement in a couple of specs over his current bodies if the setup he has works for what he does. And I'm saying this as someone who built the computer I'm typing this on, regularly reinstalls the OS, buys stuff online and is interested in the 7DII (depending on how it performs v 1DIV).

 

[Halfrack]

Hey Harv,

You can get a brand new computer with Windows 7 pre-installed, but you'd have to order it via an online shop (NewEgg or Dell come to mind) unless your local computer store has a copy still. Setup a 2-port USB kvm switch box between your old machine and your new one, and you should be good. Do it soon, as Windows 7 will be supported for a while, but hardware companies may not be able to sell it after Windows 10 launches.

Lightroom 5.5 is a boxed product, so your local camera store should have it for you. That and the newest version of Elements and you'll never pay a monthly fee

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=971835&gclid=CJiHhcmyqsECFQqQaQodvGIAqg&is=REG&Q=&A=details

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1004072&gclid=COGhkaKyqsECFQemaQodfGoA7w&Q=&is=REG&A=details

 

[privatebydesign]

I have been a Canon user my entire life. I love the product, including DPP which is my RAW converter of choice.

I presently shoot with a 1D Mark IV and a 5D Mark III, which are fully supported by my present version of DPP. The 7D Mark II requires that I update my DPP.

Here is my problem with that.....

The newer version of DPP does not support my operating system. I run Vista 64. Updating my operating system requires that I go to Windows 8 which needs a clean install. Huge job. Also, I'm not sure that a lot of my current software will run on Windows 8. I have CS4 as well as plugins such as NIK, Neat Image and a slew of other free standing applications.

As much as I was not comfortable with the user interface of Lightroom when I tried a demo last year, I thought I would now have to go that route. Guess what? Right. It's now only available under CC and I refuse to rent software on a monthly fee basis which is why I still run CS4.

I'm 72 years old so I guess my 1D4 and 5D3 will have to do me the rest of my life or until my computer cr@ps out and I have no choice.

All Canon had to do was continue to support the operating system and I would have added a 7D2 to my bag.

Okay..... rant over.

Quit your ranting and do your homework. LR is available as a perpetual license from any number of sources, even in Canada. Adobe themselves even still sell it!

https://www.adobe.com/products/catalog/software._sl_id-contentfilter_sl_catalog_sl_software_sl_mostpopular.html?promoid=KLXMV

 

[jdramirez]

No offense, but it sounds like you are setting up impediments... creative cloud, local vendors, antiquated operating systems...

We don't always get exactly what we want, but we find a way to make it work.

Nah, all that stuff is legitimate complaints. Most people find it difficult to update an operating system and there's always a cascading set of problems that follow with programs not working, lost settings, reinstalling everything, its a PITA. There's also nothing wrong with wanting to support local people who spend, hire, and pay taxes in the local community nor is there anything wrong with being annoyed that Adobe has moved to rental scheme. IMO, it really doesn't seem worth it to upgrade to a new camera that might be, at best, a marginal improvement in a couple of specs over his current bodies if the setup he has works for what he does. And I'm saying this as someone who built the computer I'm typing this on, regularly reinstalls the OS, buys stuff online and is interested in the 7DII (depending on how it performs v 1DIV).

I just replaced s failing hard drive with a ssd... and I totally agree that it can be a huge pain in the ass, but choosing to use a computer that is antiquated is what is causing the problem, not that Canon doesn't support 3.1, 95, xp, or Vista. And there are resolutions to the problem, get a computer solely for photo editing with a new os being the first, then getting a boxed version of Lightroom, and asking if the local store will match the offer from the online store.

There's nothing wrong with supporting a local store, but it is a reciprocal relationship. I give you my hard earned money and you provide the gear and service I require. If you fail in that regard, my hard earned money will go elsewhere.

 

[Old Sarge]

Hey Harv,

You can get a brand new computer with Windows 7 pre-installed, but you'd have to order it via an online shop (NewEgg or Dell come to mind) unless your local computer store has a copy still. Setup a 2-port USB kvm switch box between your old machine and your new one, and you should be good. Do it soon, as Windows 7 will be supported for a while, but hardware companies may not be able to sell it after Windows 10 launches.

Lightroom 5.5 is a boxed product, so your local camera store should have it for you. That and the newest version of Elements and you'll never pay a monthly fee

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=971835&gclid=CJiHhcmyqsECFQqQaQodvGIAqg&is=REG&Q=&A=details

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1004072&gclid=COGhkaKyqsECFQemaQodfGoA7w&Q=&is=REG&A=details

You know, this sounds like a plan if I can find the real estate for another case. Except I would probably build the new PC and install Windows 8. Then I could take my time migrating programs and create a virtual machine to handle the one program that is an absolute must as well as others that I am just comfortable using. Another retirement project for me.

 

[mjbehnke]

I would get the Windows 7 64-bit update for Vista. Windows 7 and Vista use the same kernal, they just made a few changes to the OS to make it run better and removed some of the junk that people didn't need or want. Most of the Vista drivers are the same as the windows 7 drivers. So, should be a very easy upgrade.

 

[jointdoc]

You can download Adobe DNG Converter 8.3 and use DNG. It is free. That should work on Vista and solve your problem. Here are the supported systems: Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista® with Service Pack 2, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1

I have never used DPP but I assume most programs use DNG format

Sooner or later your hard disk is going to die so I would recommend you back up your system just in case.

The DNG converter should buy you time until you decide to update your system. Please let me know if DPP can use DNG.