7D - Your Thoughts?

desperatedan1992

desperatedan1992

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Hello All

Just after a general review on the 7d.

My main photography is portrait and wedding however i would like to do motorsports as well.

I need something for speed and the two top cameras in mind were a 7d or the 1d III.

At the moment im thinking 7d as it has video as well which would work well with weddings mixing the video and pictures into the dvd however i have no idea on its general performance.

I have seen many people use the 1d III at weddings because of the high iso performance and obviously the speed of the beast will be more than ample for motorsport.

The AF system on the 1d III i hear is very good on the newer models however i also hear that the 7d has a whole new different better system.

Can anyone give me advice on the highlighted areas?

Many Thanks

Dan
 
Hi Daniel,i love my 7D as do many other people on here do,i personally find the AF system on the 7D very good but i cant compare it too a 1D as i have never used one,camera bodies are a very personal thing,best thing i can say is try before you buy,

regards,
john.
 
I love my 7D and wouldn't trade it for any other body at the moment. It does everything I want perfectly. The AF system on the 7D is fantastic, you will have no complaints there. The high ISO performance on the 7D is good, not 5Dmk2 good, but good non the less. I can't comment if it's as good as the 1D III when it comes to ISO, as I've had very limited time shooting on that body.
 
Just a shot in the dark but would andybody be able to post a picture of the 7d on the highest iso and someone with the 1d 3 post a picture at the highest iso. No worries if not im sure there are some about, thanks for the info guys its much appreciated. What is the deal with video then, e.g. recommendation on standard sized cf card and whats the length and quality like audio + visual

Many thanks

Dan
 
I have both bodies so can make some comments but bear in mind I have not used the 1DmkIII much yet.

Feel - The 1D is heavier that the 7D but feels much better imo. Plus the extra shutter etc is a nice thing to have. You can of course get a grip for the 7D which makes it very similar. I would say go to a shop and have a feel of the 7D and a 1DmkIV which is identical in size to the mkIII.

AF - They both have good AF from what I have seem. Both will be more than good enough for motorsport. Even my old 400D was pretty ok for that subject to be honest. If you get a 1DmkIII make sure you read up and know about the AF issues effecting this camera, especially the early models.

Noise - The 1D is quite a bit better at high ISO but it depends what you want to go with the images. At 100% you can see noise in both obviously but when they are cropped for internet use or around A4 prints (not printed bigger than that) the noise all but vanishes from both cameras. You can also use NR software either in LR3 or PS plug-ins to remove a lot of the really nasty noise.

One thing I really like about the 7D over the 1D is the MUCH better screen. The screen on the 1D is pretty crappy really but the 7Ds is very sharp and fantastic colours. Make it much easier to check if shots are pin sharp or not.

The 1D doesn't have video obviously. I've not really used the video on the 7D yet but thats mainly because I only have 4GB CF cards at the moment which are really too small for video. I think it is a nice feature to have but only you can decide if you really want/need it or not.

Another thing to think about is the 1.3x or the 1.6x crop factor of the 1D and 7D. I find both fine, if anything I quite like the 1.3 of the 1D but I shoot a lot of aviation and find it fits my 100-400 well. I have no idea about weddings though! Bottom line for me is I reckon you would be happy with either and it wouldn't be a deciding factor for me.

All in all both cameras are very nice and I think you would be more than happy with either. I also think both would do the job you want them to just fine.
 
The 7D is the first completely new 'clean sheet' camera from Canon in years. It has a new highly customisable AF system, new metering system, new viewfinder, new shutter mechanism, the ability to control multi flashguns remotely and wirelessly and video capability, just to name the main features you get for your dosh.

I can say without hesitation that it's the best camera I've owned to date and I wouldn't swap it for anything else currently out there. It's without doubt the ultimate camera for bird photograhy, but that doesn't make it ideal for everyone obviously. Having said that I'd have no hesitation using it for weddings, portraits or any other genre of photography and I'd expect excellent results. I think it's an excellent all round camera, but of course for specialised use there may be a better choice for you.

As for noise, I regularly shoot at 800 and 1600 ISO, and find it quite usable up to 3200 ISO. 6400 is a bit of a stretch, and 12800 ISO is a joke IMHO. Most people though accept that the 7D is a good high ISO performer, especially for a 1.6X crop senor camera - it seems to be criticised by some mainly for noise at low ISOs which is a mystery to me as I haven't encountered the problem.

No complaints here anyway - hope that helps.
 
I was undecided which one to go for just like yourself.
In the end I opted for a 1D Mk3.
It feels great and sounds amazing. IQ is first class as well.

I also use a 5D2 so I had no need for the video. I sold all my EFs lenses so for WA shots I would have had to put up with the 1.6 crop which I didn't fancy although the 1D3 has a 1.3 crop. The crop with tele lenses would have been a boost though.
All-in-All one happy bunny.

The 7D by all accounts is a mean machine. I have heard reports of noise at lower ISO speeds but I'm sure it can't be that bad.

Whichever camera you choose I'm sure you will be delighted.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys, im heading more towards the 7d but like everyone else has said i need to try the 1D IV to egt a feel for similarity.

All appreciated

Dan
 
7D beats the 1D3

5D2 beats the 7d for what you use it for, apart from motorsports but still, use the camera properly and anticipate things and it does ok.

For weddings and portraits though the 5D2 can't be beaten and if that's where your money is it's worth spending the extra few hundred pounds to get one.

Really, I have both, the 7D has unnacceptable noise levels for my wedding work.

I can say that confidently as my assistant took over 1000 pictures with the 7D and 1400 with the 5D2 of an extremely colourful Sikh wedding, the amount of noise at ISO1600 was unbelievable compared to the 5D2

Plus, don't expect the 5D to be upgraded to a MkIII for a couple of years yet so resale value is still strong.
 
mstphoto said:
The 7D by all accounts is a mean machine. I have heard reports of noise at lower ISO speeds but I'm sure it can't be that bad.
.
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Oh yes it is... all the way to ISO400 thanks partly to the higher dynamic range and for Canon pushing the higher ISO capability.
 
Still though, the 5D2 feels much cheaper imho than the 7D and if it wasn't for the fact it's full frame, should be cheaper money as well!

drew
 
buckas said:
Still though, the 5D2 feels much cheaper imho than the 7D and if it wasn't for the fact it's full frame, should be cheaper money as well!

drew
Click to expand...

Must be the lack of flash that does it. :cuckoo:
 
Overall, it's the better choice.
Has video, built in flash, faster fps, higher pixel count to name but a few.

Whilst not a pro body so to speak the 7D still is weather sealed to a degree and has a great AF system.

If you are going on pure and simple IQ then I'd say the 1D but factoring everything else in, as well as being cheaper new with a warranty than a used 1D3 then for the OP, it's the right choice. (out of the two)

I've seen threads where people have had bought the 7D, sold it and bought a 1D3 to keep it. My 7D is up for sale as I want two 5D2's.

My responses are to the OP's question, he mentioned video, which is a good option for things like speeches as it's better than a load of photo's of three guys in suits reading from a sheet.
 
Gel said:
Overall, it's the better choice.
Has video, built in flash, faster fps, higher pixel count to name but a few.
Click to expand...
Since when does the 7D have faster FPS than the 1DmkIII?

I do agree with you though that on ballance the 7D is seeming like the better choice for the OP. :thumbs:
 
deputy dawg said:
what made you get rid of your 1d mkiii then Gel
Click to expand...

I never had one. Doesn't mean to say I haven't seen loads of threads like this one talking about the two, their strengths etc. The 1D3 is a great camera, just not what I feel the OP is looking for. I don't need to own one to know that, it's a logical decision based around fact.

However, if I had a 1D3 I would sell it because I need high iso performance, 21mp is very handy and love full frame. Something which only the 5D2 has a combination of. Even the CPS rep said to stick with the 5D2 for ISO performance over the 1D4!

I gues the only reason I would recommend the 7D to the op (Over the 5D2) is the fps.

EMA747 said:
Since when does the 7D have faster FPS than the 1DmkIII?
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My mistake for some reason I thought it was 8fps
 
Gel said:
My mistake for some reason I thought it was 8fps
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7D is 8 fps and 1D 10 fps.

A bit off-topic but another combo could be 1DmkIII so sports etc and 5D2 for other things and low noise. :shrug:
 
Gel said:
Overall, it's the better choice.
Has video, built in flash, faster fps, higher pixel count to name but a few.

Whilst not a pro body so to speak the 7D still is weather sealed to a degree and has a great AF system.
Click to expand...

Video, well still think that's a gimmick, buy a video camera if you want video, built in flash of limited use (fill in flash), faster fps 1D MKIII 10fps v 7D 8fps (machine gun photography great) if you don't have the autofocus system to back it up, 1D still ahead in those stakes, higher pixel count creates more noise, weather sealed, hmmm still not as good as the 1D series. I'm not knocking the 7D, but you arguments don't really hold water.
 
Nikon user but also have used the Canon 7d. Quite simply it is an excellent camera. Very quick, good ISO, nice build.

Still not a Nikon though
 
I've shot video on my 7D with a sigma 50-500mm lens @1080p and I'm planning on doing the same with a 1.4x converter, so that's 500x1.6cropx1.4 giving a whopping 1120mm f9 effective hd video. Not too shabby for a gimmick
 
pete.rush said:
Video, well still think that's a gimmick, buy a video camera if you want video, built in flash of limited use (fill in flash), faster fps 1D MKIII 10fps v 7D 8fps (machine gun photography great) if you don't have the autofocus system to back it up, 1D still ahead in those stakes, higher pixel count creates more noise, weather sealed, hmmm still not as good as the 1D series. I'm not knocking the 7D, but you arguments don't really hold water.
Click to expand...

I think you're talking about the 7D in general compared to the 1D3 as opposed to the original posters query, which specified video, which the 1D3 doesn't have.

That's ok though. you see it a lot in forums.
 
Skyline On Fire said:
A gimmick?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pco4OmpYSQo

Really?

Try and get video as fantastic as that on any Camcorder that costs the same as the 550D! Hell.. Try and get that with any camcorder that costs the same as a 5Dmk2!
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Don't be fooled into thinking you will get video like that from a 7D or any DSLR on its own...here's the guy who shot that with his rig

http://philipbloom.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/DSC_50001.jpg

There's several k's worth of extra kit required.
 
I've used my 7D for weddings, cracking results. Only issue as you might expect is the group shots, crop sensor not always a useful thing :D I can post some examples if you wish.

I also use if for Motorsport, which along with wildlife, is what the beast is designed to do :thumbs: truly amazing!

I cannot comment on the comparison to the 1 series as I havent played with them :'(
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Don't be fooled into thinking you will get video like that from a 7D or any DSLR on its own...here's the guy who shot that with his rig

http://philipbloom.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/DSC_50001.jpg

There's several k's worth of extra kit required.
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he didnt use anywhere near that rig,

I took the Canon 7d, Zacuto Tactical rig, Z-Finder V2 and one lone lens, a Canon 35mm f1.4, which becomes more like a 50mm lens on the 7d. So a bit like what I did with Sofia’s People (but I didn’t have the Zacuto rig for that).


the zacuto tactical rig is small. also i have seen plenty of video as good as this with no more an a screw in handle. google sophias people, its just as good, and he just used the z finder for that one, total extra cost of around £250.
 
joescrivens said:
he didn't use anywhere near that rig,

I took the Canon 7d, Zacuto Tactical rig, Z-Finder V2 and one lone lens, a Canon 35mm f1.4, which becomes more like a 50mm lens on the 7d. So a bit like what I did with Sofia’s People (but I didn’t have the Zacuto rig for that).


the zacuto tactical rig is small. also i have seen plenty of video as good as this with no more an a screw in handle
Click to expand...

OK theres still over a K's worth of extra kit - and the OP's talking of using it at weddings for stills / video, which if you want to sell the video is probably unrealistic without extra kit which will make a quick switch from stills to video difficult.

IMG_7325.jpg


video is a pain on a DSLR without extra kit
 
malla1962 said:
What about the focusing? the 7d walks it over the 5dmk2.
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If you want to photograph a bird in flight or a animal running probably........ most times using fixed / center point i doubt you notice the difference
 
Hi, Is it correct to say that lenses for the 7D against the 5D2 must play apart in costs, as they cannot be interchanged.
 
I wonder if people who talk down video on cameras really have had a go and really tried it properly. I was one and having owned the 7D since it came out never had used the video. A true sceptic. Then one day suddenly just by pure chance while doing some macro decided to turn the video on because I saw the butterfly perched and just sucking nectar on a flower and thought of having a go. After trying my hand on a few editing glitches etc when I saw what I could accomplish I was totally bowled. And I am no good at all at any video stuff but looking at the stuff I have decided to immerse a bit more into it.

I went from one "video? on a camera? naaaah, go and get one proper video camera if you want one", to all the way "Having a video on a camera is really a huge plus point". Although may I clarify that I wouldn't choose a camera based simply on the fact of it having video features, but it certainly features high on my list of essential when deciding on what camera to choose.

As for noise, once you expose properly I see no problem with noise at lower iso, this was taught to me by one of the very experienced members here in the forum. I used to have this problem with low iso but now I realise that if I nail the exposure I have no problems with noise.

High iso images? I have a few. I cannot deny there is a bit of noise once you decide to blow out at 100% but in my view these are very acceptable images.

This one at iso 3200
_MG_2001.jpg
 
They can be interchanged providing you use EF lenses.

The 5D2 cannot accept EF-S lenses but there are no 'L' EF-S lenses yet.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
If you want to photograph a bird in flight or a animal running probably........ most times using fixed / center point i doubt you notice the difference
Click to expand...
I agree about the centre point being very good but the outside points on on the 5d might as well not be there.
 
zulupentax said:
I wonder if people who talk down video on cameras really have had a go and really tried it properly.
Click to expand...

I have and the quality is excellent but i have to use a tripod, i have to pre-focus and if i need to refocus i need to delete the blurry shaky footage while I'm doing this - and if the suns on the rear screen I've go no chance - do you think you could shoot a wedding hand held manual focus with just a 7D or 5D2 ?
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
I have and the quality is excellent but i have to use a tripod, i have to pre-focus and if i need to refocus i need to delete the blurry shaky footage while I'm doing this - and if the suns on the rear screen I've go no chance - do you think you could shoot a wedding hand held manual focus with just a 7D or 5D2 ?
Click to expand...

No, you get 10 minutes video on either and the card gets hot, the sensor gets hot etc.

But the OP wanted to mix video and stills, not film a whole wedding.
 
Gel said:
No, you get 10 minutes video on either and the card gets hot, the sensor gets hot etc.

But the OP wanted to mix video and stills, not film a whole wedding.
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Even filming a few minutes is a pain -trying to focus using the rear screen and manually focusing without introducing any shake or blur is a pain, without using ancillary kit.
 
I guess its all down to costs, and any camera without a quality lens is missing out on its expextations
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Even filming a few minutes is a pain -trying to focus using the rear screen and manually focusing without introducing any shake or blur is a pain, without using ancillary kit.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I guess it's based on my experience of it.

I can hold the 5D2, gripped with a 70-200 IS aloft for ten minutes and if I'm covering an event 2 hours.

I wouldn't even consider the 7d / 5D2 / 1D4 for video if it was a professional choice. A Sony HDV pro camera would be my choice instead, for a wedding.
 
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