Earthshatteringly Disappointed With 7D

[JR]

I was going to get a 7D for that very reason...that was until the 1DX was announced so I will wait for it but shooting my little daughter on the move even using servo AF with my 5D mkII is such a pain! In the same setup you describe above, my keep rate with my 5D mkII is almost zero! So I just gave up ???

Just shoot at f/11 - it will seem like the AF is doing a good job. Don't mind that the background is in crisp focus, too.

Thanks I will try that. I never thought of trying this but it makes sense, and as a bonus I will feel good about my 5D mkII AF, so it will serve as therapy...until the 1DX gets here!

 

[Peerke]

Just a link to a site some of you probably know. It shows the capability of the 7D to shoot landscapes.

http://www.juzaphoto.com/gallery.php?l=en&id=38

It can be done. Take a look at some other galleries he made with his 7D. It's a great camera.

 

[drmikeinpdx]

I'm coming to this discussion late, but thought I'd offer my experience. I bought a 7D early in 2011 to supplement my 5D classic.

There is no doubt that the 7D is a much faster handling camera than the 5D or I believe the 5D II. That's why I bought it. I always shoot RAW and use various programs for post processing. I typically shoot at ISO 100 or 200.

I had quite a bit of trouble getting images that I liked from the 7D at first. The images are definitely different than what my 5D classic produces. There is more detail, due to the additional megapixels, but there is also more noise. I had to get used to using more noise reduction for my RAW files and less sharpening. (Of course sharpening depends on the lens and other factors too.)

I decided to keep the 7D as a sports/action type camera, since the 5D is certainly not good for those subjects. I got the 7D as a refurb through the Canon Loyalty program so it was not terribly expensive.

Working with the 7D has made me really appreciate the image quality of the 5D. It's hard to describe exactly what it is that I like, but I will note that I can manipulate the tone curves a lot before the image starts to break down - much more so than with the 7D

Mike

 

[dtaylor]

Thanks... i was hoping with the much lower pixel density it would be lower like F16, but F10 i suppose is a stop and a third more roughly... saving up for your 1dx?

Note that diffraction does not impact any format more than any other for the same FoV and DoF. Also, as neuroanatomist pointed out, it's a subtle effect at first and becomes progressively stronger as you continue to stop down.

On crop at the 7D's resolution I don't really notice it at all until f/11, where sharpening offsets it nicely. f/16 is still usable for most intents (subject matter / print size combos), but I will not stop down to f/22.

 

[awinphoto]

saving up for your 1dx?

Cash in hand, just waiting for B&H to start accepting pre-orders. ;D

Nice... You've mentioned before you're an "ameature" photographer and not professional, so what do you do for a profession that makes you so well versed in photography? Should I assume given your name and icon you are a medical photographer or work in neurology or is it something else entirely? Shoot I had that type of money in hand a few months ago but did my wife let me get a 1 series... nooooo... haha Went straight towards a house... oh well... my cameras are serviceable.

 

[briansquibb]

That's your personal preference but it doesn't mean the 7d is a bad camera, it's just not for you.

Which is why I have ended up with the 1D4 - top AF, top IQ

 

[K-amps]

I'm coming to this discussion late, but thought I'd offer my experience. I bought a 7D early in 2011 to supplement my 5D classic.

There is no doubt that the 7D is a much faster handling camera than the 5D or I believe the 5D II. That's why I bought it. I always shoot RAW and use various programs for post processing. I typically shoot at ISO 100 or 200.

I had quite a bit of trouble getting images that I liked from the 7D at first. The images are definitely different than what my 5D classic produces. There is more detail, due to the additional megapixels, but there is also more noise. I had to get used to using more noise reduction for my RAW files and less sharpening. (Of course sharpening depends on the lens and other factors too.)

I decided to keep the 7D as a sports/action type camera, since the 5D is certainly not good for those subjects. I got the 7D as a refurb through the Canon Loyalty program so it was not terribly expensive.

Working with the 7D has made me really appreciate the image quality of the 5D. It's hard to describe exactly what it is that I like, but I will note that I can manipulate the tone curves a lot before the image starts to break down - much more so than with the 7D

Mike

Hi Mike; This is great information since mostly people compare the 7d to the 5d2, and not to the 5dc.. Since I own a 5dc, and was considering a 7d, I wanted someone's experience with these 2 Cameras and always wanted to ask someone if I would see an improvement in IQ if i got the 7d after I already use the 5D. I mostly do scenery/street/people. Not so into sports/action yet, but the extra reach of the 7d (APS-C +higher pixel density) always made me think about it ... any thoughts from you on the 7d/5d noise & IQ would be helpful !!

 

[awinphoto]

That's your personal preference but it doesn't mean the 7d is a bad camera, it's just not for you.

Which is why I have ended up with the 1D4 - top AF, top IQ

As long as your happy with your results and your clients, then more power to ya...

 

[briansquibb]

That's your personal preference but it doesn't mean the 7d is a bad camera, it's just not for you.

Which is why I have ended up with the 1D4 - top AF, top IQ

As long as your happy with your results and your clients, then more power to ya...

Not a bad camera, just too much compromise on the IQ for me

Here is one that I almost threw away, but the client drooled over.

7D, 400mm@f4, 1/2000, iso 200 uncropped and hand held

 

[awinphoto]

That's your personal preference but it doesn't mean the 7d is a bad camera, it's just not for you.

Which is why I have ended up with the 1D4 - top AF, top IQ

As long as your happy with your results and your clients, then more power to ya...

Not a bad camera, just too much compromise on the IQ for me

Here is one that I almost threw away, but the client drooled over.

7D, 400mm@f4, 1/2000, iso 200 uncropped and hand held

Nice shot... what zoo/park/sanctuary was that at?

 

[briansquibb]

Nice shot... what zoo/park/sanctuary was that at?

Leeds Castle, Kent, UK

 

[awinphoto]

Nice shot... what zoo/park/sanctuary was that at?

Leeds Castle, Kent, UK

Nice... are you from the UK?

 

[briansquibb]

Here is another focussed with the 5dII, servo mode coming towards me .....

70-300L@300, 1/400, f5.6, iso200

 

[briansquibb]

Nice... are you from the UK?

Yes

 

[friedmud]

I was just out shooting a redtailed hawk that was in a tree nearby with my 7D. Even with my dumb old 55-250 IS I was able to get some decent shots of the bird as it flew away.

I really like the "continuous AF track priority" option! I had the middle AF point selected and after I locked on with it (which was admittedly slow due to the crappy lens) the AF points dutifully followed the bird around the frame as I "machinegunned" my way through a few seconds of flight. Every single one of those shots was in focus. Really impressive!

Drmikeinpdx: thanks for your comment! It seems to mirror my general feelings about the 7D. Unfortunately, I don't have the cash to step up to FF right now... so I'm going to continue to make peace with the 7D.

There are a ton of things to love about this camera... but there are definitely a couple of IQ issues...

 

[awinphoto]

Nice... are you from the UK?

Yes

Cool.. my wife was from Newcastle, UK... live in the US... nice work...

 

[awinphoto]

I was just out shooting a redtailed hawk that was in a tree nearby with my 7D. Even with my dumb old 55-250 IS I was able to get some decent shots of the bird as it flew away.

I really like the "continuous AF track priority" option! I had the middle AF point selected and after I locked on with it (which was admittedly slow due to the crappy lens) the AF points dutifully followed the bird around the frame as I "machinegunned" my way through a few seconds of flight. Every single one of those shots was in focus. Really impressive!

Drmikeinpdx: thanks for your comment! It seems to mirror my general feelings about the 7D. Unfortunately, I don't have the cash to step up to FF right now... so I'm going to continue to make peace with the 7D.

There are a ton of things to love about this camera... but there are definitely a couple of IQ issues...

I hope the new FF 5d will be a married system of full frame quality and at least 7D AF... if they come out with that camera, I'm dumping the 7d and 5d2... I never realized how rough the 5d2 AF can be where the 7d doesn't even think twice... Perhaps I'm giving Canon too much credit for being able to create such a camera but I can hope.

 

[wickidwombat]

nice shots briansquibb!,

can you give us people struggling with AF some detailed tips for shooting with the 5D2 AF?
it would really be much appreciated

cheers.

 

[JR]

Here is another focussed with the 5dII, servo mode coming towards me .....

70-300L@300, 1/400, f5.6, iso200

Wow! You certainly know how to focus with the 5D mkII! Nice!

 

[JR]

nice shots briansquibb!,

can you give us people struggling with AF some detailed tips for shooting with the 5D2 AF?
it would really be much appreciated

cheers.

You red my mind sir!