First week of BIF action with 7D MK II

[Phil L]

Again, nice shots. Which AF mode are you using? Have you tried playing around with them? I just bought one last week, and I haven't had too many chances to get out yet.

Thanks, glad you like the shots.
I'm still fooling around with settings. I mostly set it up the same way I had the original 7D set up.
BBF, Center Point Expanded focus points.

 

[Phil L]

I received the MK II on Monday Nov. 3 and had a chance to get out a few days this week to try it on BIF shots.

Here are two bald eagle shots and these are my photo blog posts for the week if anyone wants to see how I made out. There are more eagle shots plus an osprey with two fish and cool mid air gull battle over a caught bird.

All were shot as jpegs using a 300 f4 with a 1.4 extender attached.

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/07/high-speed-chase/

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/06/osprey-double-dipper/

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/05/looking-for-a-place-to-land/

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/04/get-out-of-our-neighborhood/

Dear Friend Mr. Phil L
Great Bird Photos. One question Please, I am not Bird Photographer, But I have 7D MK II, The question is---How do you set up the AF type and What kind of AL focus or AL Servo speed that you use to get these perfected bird in flight photos.
Thank you, Sir.
Surapon

Thank you for looking at these photos.
I use AI Servo but I'm still fooling around with the other settings. I mostly set it up the same way I had the original 7D set up.
Use BBF, Center Point Expanded focus points.

 

[Phil L]

Very nice series , Phil . I especially like the Heron. Well done.

+1

Thanks I appreciate it.

 

[CaptainZero]

Again, nice shots. Which AF mode are you using? Have you tried playing around with them? I just bought one last week, and I haven't had too many chances to get out yet.

Thanks, glad you like the shots.
I'm still fooling around with settings. I mostly set it up the same way I had the original 7D set up.
BBF, Center Point Expanded focus points.

I like them a lot. My question was more on what you're using for the AF in the menus. Are you using #1 or #2? Have you played around with any of those settings? Earlier I asked about the AF points, and you answered that one, so thank you by the way.

 

[surapon]

I received the MK II on Monday Nov. 3 and had a chance to get out a few days this week to try it on BIF shots.

Here are two bald eagle shots and these are my photo blog posts for the week if anyone wants to see how I made out. There are more eagle shots plus an osprey with two fish and cool mid air gull battle over a caught bird.

All were shot as jpegs using a 300 f4 with a 1.4 extender attached.

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/07/high-speed-chase/

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/06/osprey-double-dipper/

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/05/looking-for-a-place-to-land/

http://phillanoue.com/2014/11/04/get-out-of-our-neighborhood/

Dear Friend Mr. Phil L
Great Bird Photos. One question Please, I am not Bird Photographer, But I have 7D MK II, The question is---How do you set up the AF type and What kind of AL focus or AL Servo speed that you use to get these perfected bird in flight photos.
Thank you, Sir.
Surapon

Thank you for looking at these photos.
I use AI Servo but I'm still fooling around with the other settings. I mostly set it up the same way I had the original 7D set up.
Use BBF, Center Point Expanded focus points.

Thanks you, Sir, Dear Friend Mr. Phil L.
I will learn how to use AI servo from now, and set up at "Case 5=For Erratic subject moving quick in any direction/ in Tracking sensitivity", With Center point Expantion focus points.
Yes, Sir, So many thing that I must learn to use this new 7D MK II.
Thanks again, Sir, Happy New Year 2015 to your Family and You.
Surapon

 

[Phil L]

Again, nice shots. Which AF mode are you using? Have you tried playing around with them? I just bought one last week, and I haven't had too many chances to get out yet.

Thanks, glad you like the shots.
I'm still fooling around with settings. I mostly set it up the same way I had the original 7D set up.
BBF, Center Point Expanded focus points.

I like them a lot. My question was more on what you're using for the AF in the menus. Are you using #1 or #2? Have you played around with any of those settings? Earlier I asked about the AF points, and you answered that one, so thank you by the way.

I started out using Case 1 but just switched to Case 3 to try it out. I have had several instances where the AF absolutely refused to lock on to a flying bird. Never had that issue with the first 7D.
Still (after 2 months) trying to dial it all in.

 

[Phil L]

Here's two from this afternoon of a bald eagle just after snatching up a ruddy duck. Actually took these with the old 7D, my 7D MK II is in the shop, so the IQ is only so so, this is more for subject matter.

The second shot where the eagle is looking right into the face of the duck while flying off kinda freaks me out a bit. But so it goes in nature.

Full series of eight photos is up on the blog now.

http://phillanoue.com/2015/02/03/baby-food/

 

[Phil L]

Just posted another bald eagle series from this morning.

http://phillanoue.com/2015/02/04/keeping-a-watchful-eye/

 

[Click]

Just posted another bald eagle series from this morning.

Very nice series phil.

 

[CaptainZero]

Very cool shots! I'm heading to Jackson Hole next week, and should be able to get a few sports shots. Haven't shot a moving subject with mine yet.

What is wrong with yours?

 

[Hector1970]

Hi Phil,
I'm very impressed with your photos. Regardless of the camera you are a very skilled photographer.
I was wondering after having the 7D Mark II for a while what you make of the image quality.
I bought it and the 100-400mm L II.
What I find is that looking through the viewfinder (and I have very good eyesight) I find them image really sharp and crystal clear. The photo itself I find a much lesser quality than a 5D Mark III.
Maybe I'm spoilt with the full frame and need to lower my expectations.
I find the image in focus but not detailed when I zoom in. Pixels don't seem to be clearly defined, noisier than I'm expecting. The picture seems to be unsharp , sharpening improves it but somehow it's not fully satisfactory.
I may have a bad version of the camera but there is nothing obviously wrong with it.
The image through the viewfinder seems remarkably sharp. The lens does look as if it's locked on correctly.

 

[Phil L]

Just posted another bald eagle series from this morning.

Very nice series phil.

Thanks much I appreciate you checking it out.

 

[Phil L]

Very cool shots! I'm heading to Jackson Hole next week, and should be able to get a few sports shots. Haven't shot a moving subject with mine yet.

What is wrong with yours?

Thanks, glad you liked the photos!

Long story short, my 7D MK II AF was inconsistent at best. I have two original 7Ds and have been shooting wildlife action with those for the past five years and they both focused faster and more accurately then the new MK II.
Canon is proving to be worthless at this point. I wish I returned it to B&H the first week I got it. Too late now.

 

[Phil L]

Hi Phil,
I'm very impressed with your photos. Regardless of the camera you are a very skilled photographer.
I was wondering after having the 7D Mark II for a while what you make of the image quality.
I bought it and the 100-400mm L II.
What I find is that looking through the viewfinder (and I have very good eyesight) I find them image really sharp and crystal clear. The photo itself I find a much lesser quality than a 5D Mark III.
Maybe I'm spoilt with the full frame and need to lower my expectations.
I find the image in focus but not detailed when I zoom in. Pixels don't seem to be clearly defined, noisier than I'm expecting. The picture seems to be unsharp , sharpening improves it but somehow it's not fully satisfactory.
I may have a bad version of the camera but there is nothing obviously wrong with it.
The image through the viewfinder seems remarkably sharp. The lens does look as if it's locked on correctly.

I sent my 7D MK II into Canon due to inconsistent focusing issues. I just got it back today and it seems to be about the same. For instance I shoot a burst of 8 frames...Two are sorta out, two way out, two sorta in, maybe two mostly in, I never had these issues with the original 7D.
Right now I don't trust the camera.

I had better results last week shooting with my five year old 7D, with a 15 year old 300 and a 20 year old 1.4X attached.

 

[Phil L]

Here's a bald eagle flight from this afternoon.
Got one anyway.

 

[Click]

Great shot Phil. 8)

 

[Phil L]

Great shot Phil. 8)

Thanks much, glad you like it.

 

[Cog]

 

[Click]

Well done, Cog.

 

[Cog]

Pigeons in flight. Shot on the kit EF-S 18-135 IS STM @135mm