Canon EOS 7D Owners Thread

[tdodd]

Les, think for a moment what is happening when you shoot at high ISO. If you were to shoot at 100 ISO and expose fully to the right you would have pixels in the frame that were fully saturated and essentially noise free. But, up the ISO to 5000 and even the brightest pixels will be exposed to only 1/50 or 2% of their capacity. Other pixels will be even less well saturated. If your exposure is 2 stops under then the brightest pixels will only be receiving 0.5% of the light. If you crop the image to 1/4 of the frame then you've thrown away 3/4 of the light you captured, leaving you with just 0.125% of the light in that crop. It's not much to work with.

Looking back to your development settings in DPP for the swan shot, not only did you have High ISO NR set to low, but also you had sharpening set to 6. With a capture such as yours, in very poor light, I think you need to accept that a more hands on approach to refining your sharpening and NR adjustments is required. I don't know how intelligent DPP's sharpening is, but there was no earthly point in sharpening the noisy sky, yet it surely looks like that's what happened. Even within DPP you do have independent control over chroma and luminance NR. Roll your sleeves up and get involved in refining the settings, or look to using NR software such as Neatimage, Noise Ninja, Noiseware and others. If you were to use software such as Lightroom you would get a little more control. If you were to use Photoshop you could gain a lot more control.

Here's what DPP was able to do on your JPEG with some adjustments to the NR settings. Perhaps with access to the original raw there would be more scope to improve things.....

Full image....

Of course, applying NR has eroded detail, although to be honest there wasn't much in the way of "real" detail there in the first place, as it was so obscured by noise. Limited noise can actually create the impression of detail, but it is false detail and not worth having in my opinion. This brings me back to targeted sharpening. There's no point sharpening noise and there's no point sharpening false detail. Your best bet here is to perform edge sharpening only on the main features such as the outline of the swan, areas of different colour around the bill and head, and better defined feather areas. That's not something you can tailor in DPP, but I think setting sharpening as high as 6 was probably counter-productive.

 

[Flukeman]

The 7d is a camera above my ability and I was going to go back to my 400d but after seeing the pictures in this topic and how helpful the comments have been, I'm going to stick with the 7d.

Yesterday I discovered a button with a "Q" on it, pressing it brings up a screen and you can change the settings, I think thats really handy. I think I'm going to call that button the "Quick Control" button

 

[canonbabie]

Reference the firmware update - coming from a computer stand-point, I've always worked under the premise that if you're not experiencing any problems, especially those listed in the 'fixed list' of a new firmware/bios, then don't tempt fate by updating. If it's not broken, don't fix it. Should I not apply the same logic to a camera firmware update?

While I'm here, I have a question about the viewfinder. Mine appears to be a bit dark.

It's as if the DoF Preview button is always on, albeit only slightly. I don't remember it always being like that, so I thought I'd ask for comparisons here.

I've tried different lenses and there's no change. I don't know if my eyes are deceiving me, but it appears more prevalent around the edges, as if there's a circular area centre screen, where it's lighter.

There's nothing on the LCD or the pictures.

Hi bought mine middle of last year,couple of months later started to have this problem,a grainy grey/black effect round the edges.Went to Jessops to ask but nothing was resolved as it did not affect anything I let it alone.

After reading your post decided to respond to it.The effect normally comes into play when pointed at the sky.So today thought I would try and see when it comes in with the lens Wide/Zoomed.It looks like at the furthest zoomed out and on mine it would be 300.

So it looks like you are not Alone,in fact I am going to ring Canon today about it can only ask.

Regards.

 

[canonbabie]

Just picked up my new DSLR today, another 7D

After buying one at launch and finally outing it 6 months ago in favour of a couple of M4/3 Panasonic cameras, I have gone full circle

I have spent months deliberating and review reading but for ME I don't think there is a better 'all round' body....

So 7D'ers, a couple of questions....

Grip - worth it or not?
What lens have you got on yours the most? (I have bought a 24-105L as my walkabout choice)

Hi I must be Slow because I have just found this thread,have now responded to one Question and now yours.

At present my Lenses are 17-55 USM IS and the new 70-300L USM IS.

I am not an all weather, every scenario shooter but I believe these lenses give me the options that I need.

Hoping you are all getting on with the 7D and loving the fast focus system it has.Now I am starting to get to grips with it I know I am.

Regards and stay Fast.

 

[canonbabie]

Hi bought mine middle of last year,couple of months later started to have this problem,a grainy grey/black effect round the edges.Went to Jessops to ask but nothing was resolved as it did not affect anything I let it alone.

After reading your post decided to respond to it.The effect normally comes into play when pointed at the sky.So today thought I would try and see when it comes in with the lens Wide/Zoomed.It looks like at the furthest zoomed out and on mine it would be 300.

So it looks like you are not Alone,in fact I am going to ring Canon today about it can only ask.

Regards.

Rang Canon today,agreed the viewfinder should not be doing this.
Want me to send Body in will take about two weeks to return.
What to do??

Regards.

 

[jj_glos]

Rang Canon today,agreed the viewfinder should not be doing this.
Want me to send Body in will take about two weeks to return.
What to do??

Regards.

How long have you had the camera from Jessops? My first 7D developed a shutter fault which played havok all one weekend but then stopped once I took it to the shop. I wasn't happy and Jessops happily exchanged it. It was a couple months old I think at the time. edit: I see you bought at middle of last year, you could argue it's not fit for purpose and shouldn't have a defect so soon and press for a replacement?

I'm on my 3rd 7D, the 2nd one I traded for a 1D3 but sadly I had to downgrade again. I tried the 40D and 50D but ended up back with a 7D. I can't say I find it a difficult camera to use personally. I try to keep the shutter speed as high as I can when hand holding, and exposing to the right helps massively. I do get lazy at times and use auto ISO in manual mode, this does result in slightly underexposed shots which doesn't help at higher ISO. I'm getting out of this habit though

A few shots:

 

[Jelster]

Rang Canon today,agreed the viewfinder should not be doing this.
Want me to send Body in will take about two weeks to return.
What to do??

Regards.

Send it ?

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums

 

[canonbabie]

How long have you had the camera from Jessops? My first 7D developed a shutter fault which played havok all one weekend but then stopped once I took it to the shop. I wasn't happy and Jessops happily exchanged it. It was a couple months old I think at the time. edit: I see you bought at middle of last year, you could argue it's not fit for purpose and shouldn't have a defect so soon and press for a replacement?

Hi,

Would have to dig out reciept but I think about March last year.
Love the Camera it replaced the 450D,and your right It is easy to use,not easy with the new lens to keep steady as I have small hands,hey but who cares.

Love the shots she is georgeous.

Thanks for posting,

Regards.

 

[Original Poster]

Rang Canon today,agreed the viewfinder should not be doing this.
Want me to send Body in will take about two weeks to return.
What to do??

Regards.

Get it sent, you'll regret not doing it.

 

[canonbabie]

Oh dear got carried away with first problem forgot about second one concerning Viewfinder.
I don't know if anyone has experienced this one.

When looking into the viewfinder from a distance, with the lens cap on, the glass has a purple tint to it, normal I think. Take the lens cap off and it becomes an iridescent colour, it does on mine.

What I have noticed is that, at the bottom left of the viewfinder, in bright conditions, there are a couple of what look like sunspots. The only way to alleviate this is to squash your eye right up flat to it and that's uncomfortable.

Had always thought the eyepiece cup was too flat anyway, I got sick of this and because again I think an extender is not available I decided to look for something else on the market.

As luck would have it a search brought up the Hoodman Hoodeye Loupe, it's like what you find on large (BBC) Video cameras. It allows for either eye operation by turning round, and for use with glasses, while letting your eye rest on it without being uncomfortable and without being flat up against either the cup or making smear marks on the screen.

The problem is still there but now feels less uncomfortable and somewhat less pronounced.

Anyone else have this to put up with.

This was also shown to Jessops.

Regards.

 

[canonbabie]

Now my Rants over here are a couple of pictures

Regards.

 

[Just Dave]

Might be a dumb question

Can or does the flash on a 7D AF beam assist emit in manual,TV,AV modes, is there a setting somewhere I need to change, it does already emit in Auto, CA, C1,C2,C3

TIA

 

[tdodd]

It should do, so long as you have not disabled it (page 214 of the manual). In order for it to work you will need to manually pop the flash up.

However, if you are in AI Servo AF mode you will not get AF assist. That's the case with any EOS camera.

 

[Just Dave]

However, if you are in AI Servo AF mode you will not get AF assist. That's the case with any EOS camera.

Doh thanks Tim, so simple it is in AI Servo, why did I not think of that :bang:

 

[DucDuc]

Hi All, I'm also a new 7D owner. Moved from my trusty 400D (we were together for four years) and will never look back (sorry friend), ok it's a "spare"/back up but I would never use the 400D by choice. Yeah the 7d is at first a bit intimidating but, partially due to circumstances (not just cause I'm a geek), I read the manual before I got the camera. Read the manual as soon as I opened box and went through each camera menu page with the manual. I was still intimidated by it especially since some test shots did not meet my expectations. In all I spent about 10 hours over 3days holding the camera and looking the menus getting to know it and never took a single picture.

The a few test shots around the house and played with features to see the results.

However! My first time out two weeks ago with the camera I relied on the proven learning from the 400D for some set up and fired away. OMG some results I'm very pleased with, with a higher percentage of keepers.

Here is one,

ok it's not the perfect image but for the first time out with a new body I would have been happy with a less.

The view finder alone is a huge improvement, the power of the camera for action photography is among the best Canon has to offer. Get to know your features before you consider a change away from it. Unless you are a strict portrait or landscape type, then you may want a 5DmkII instead but the 5D can not focus or run the FPS needed in action shots.

It's not to say the 7d is incapable of portrait work or that the 5D is not able to get action but they excel in differnt areas and should not be compared the way many on the net have tried.

I got this one yesterday

Again I wont win any awards for it but the camera is capable of a respectable still life. I've only done about 1000 shots with it so far but again I would never look back or consider a change (fav. subject = motorsports)

I can see that knowledge of the tool is key to success for me and the and the 7D, it is not as forgiving as the 400D was but when I get it right in the camera there is no comparison

 

[menthel]

Just ordered mine, can't wait!

 

[Russ77]

For anyone worried about noise at high ISO, these were taken at ISO5000

OK, they are a little noisy and I have cleaned them up a little in LR3 but if I only had my 400D I wouldn't have got any pictures!!

 

[menthel]

For anyone worried about noise at high ISO, these were taken at ISO5000

OK, they are a little noisy and I have cleaned them up a little in LR3 but if I only had my 400D I wouldn't have got any pictures!!

Very reassuring for my new purchase! You should see my shots at 3200 on the 40d, so noisy! Looks like a made a good choice.

 

[chphoto]

Mine arrived today, I haven't gone through any major changes with it, just stuck my 50mm f1.8 on the front and had a play with the factory settings! (the battery is charging now, lol)

I managed to get a decent picture of one of the kittens sitting in the shade at something like ISO 4000 with the lens at f1.8 The 400D would have been hopeless! Not knocking the 400D, it's last proper outing was some promo & live gig photos for a local band - the pictures, if I may say so myself, are awesome!

 

[chphoto]

I'm having ridiculous fun testing the new stuff on this camera, it's awesome. The latest mess around involved 3 mad kittens and a garden. Auto focus tracking = astonishing!

 

[Yanzi]

I just ordered mine today. I'm so excited!

I had a play with it on Monday in Jessops and was sold. Like a few of you on here, I'm also upgrading from a 400d. Can't wait to get started with it

 

[1.2f]

what lenses are fellow owners using with their 7D's?

 

[Oggy]

what lenses are fellow owners using with their 7D's?

I bought my Canon for aircraft and wildlife photography so I started with the 100-400. I was offered the 15-85 bundled with the 7D at a very good price so I bought that too. I am how looking at 300+mm primes.

 

[philgale]

hey ducduc, you can't be far away from me. salford at night is a sight to see

 

[jj_glos]

what lenses are fellow owners using with their 7D's?

I'm using the sigma 30mm f1.4 a lot at the moment, it's a cracking lens. Also have the 50 f1.4, 70-200 f2.8, 150-500 os, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, Samyang 8mm fish eye and the Canon 100mm usm macro.

 

[grum]

Will be joining the 7D gang very soon after ordering one from HDEW cameras. £958 Inc delivery with a three year guarantee.

Should compliment my 5D well

 

[IanT74]

Will be joining the 7D gang very soon after ordering one from HDEW cameras. £958 Inc delivery with a three year guarantee.

Should compliment my 5D well

Thanks for this Grum. I looked this morning and the price had gone back up. I phoned and they have given me the reduced price deal.

Now to source some CF cards to go with!

 

[Jackwow]

what lenses are fellow owners using with their 7D's?

I was using EF-S 10-22 and EF 24-105 which I already had before I upgraded to the 7D but now I use an EF-S 15-85 most of the time and the 10-22 occassionally.

 

[nigpd]

Now to source some CF cards to go with!

These are the ones to get

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Extreme-Compact-Flash-Cards/dp/B002NO7Q26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=computers&qid=1298896529&sr=8-1

 

[Russ77]

what lenses are fellow owners using with their 7D's?

I've got the Canon 15-85mm as my main lens. Have also used the Sigma 170-500 which doesn't do too badly on it (If I posted some rugby pictures up in this thread then that's what they were taken with ) and I also have the Canon 50 f1.8 but not used it yet.

I've shot a few parties using the 15-85 and the keeper rate is generally quite good, certainly better than my 400D and 18-200mm combination.

I was worried about losing focal length but the increased MP count allows me to crop when I just don't quite have the range

 

[grum]

Thanks for this Grum. I looked this morning and the price had gone back up. I phoned and they have given me the reduced price deal.

Now to source some CF cards to go with!

No worries. I should have said, some people suggest they are grey imports, though they told me over the phone that there was a 1 year warranty with Canon UK then the remaining 2 years were through them, so I dunno. :shrug:

Doesn't particularly bother me I have to say.

As far as CF cards go I've been using Transcend ones in my 5D with no issues - I don't know whether the fast burst speed on the 7D means fast cards are needed (and I want to shoot video).

 

[hollis_f]

I don't know whether the fast burst speed on the 7D means fast cards are needed (and I want to shoot video).

Video only needs 8 MB/s (p. 149 of the manual) and burst speed isn't affected by card speed until the buffer (around 15 raw files or 75 jpegs) is filled. Card speed greatly affects buffer emptying.

 

[alexam]

Anyone know of a motion sensor that will trigger the 7D when tripped?

 

[Yanzi]

Mine arrived this afternoon I love it!

Messed around with it a bit so far to get the gist of things, the menus are totally different and far more advanced than the 400d but that was to be expected. Can't wait to get out with it.

Also looking forward to trying out some macro/close up shots. Live view will come in handy to check that the focussing is bang on. I used to find it a bit difficult to tell through the viewfinder on my other camera, it often took a few shots!

 

[grum]

Video only needs 8 MB/s (p. 149 of the manual) and burst speed isn't affected by card speed until the buffer (around 15 raw files or 75 jpegs) is filled. Card speed greatly affects buffer emptying.

OK thanks. Mine should be arriving middle of this week - can't wait. I'm going to be doing a lot of shooting extreme sports type stuff and I reckon the 7D will be perfect for this.

 

[IanT74]

No worries. I should have said, some people suggest they are grey imports, though they told me over the phone that there was a 1 year warranty with Canon UK then the remaining 2 years were through them, so I dunno. :shrug:

Doesn't particularly bother me I have to say.

As far as CF cards go I've been using Transcend ones in my 5D with no issues - I don't know whether the fast burst speed on the 7D means fast cards are needed (and I want to shoot video).

No problem, I was fully aware what I was buying.
I have ordered a couple of 8gb Transcend 133x CFs from Memorybits.co.uk. They were the cheapest I could find. Picked up a screen protector from the for sale section too - the seller still has one available if anyone is interested. I am really looking forward to trying this thing out. I hope the advanced auto focus system can help me get more keepers in my bird photography.

 

[menthel]

Just been going through some photos taken at 6400 iso, bloody amazing. My 40d went into a messy meltdown at 3200.

 

[chphoto]

I'm quite liking the high ISO performance so far. It's a massive leap from the 400D, which only went to 1600 and even looked messy at 800!

I'm really looking forward to my next band shoot with, it will be the first with this camera

 

[grum]

Got mine now - very impressed so far. The AF is definitely a big step up from my 5D. Great video mode too.

Does anyone have any experience of a third party grip for the 7D? I have a Phottix one for my 5D which seems pretty decent, just wondering if the 7D version is the same. I have heard linkdelight are ok too but just wondering if anyone has any experience specific to the 7D. The official Canon one just seems a little too expensive for what it is.

 

[IanT74]

Got mine now - very impressed so far. The AF is definitely a big step up from my 5D. Great video mode too.

Does anyone have any experience of a third party grip for the 7D? I have a Phottix one for my 5D which seems pretty decent, just wondering if the 7D version is the same. I have heard linkdelight are ok too but just wondering if anyone has any experience specific to the 7D. The official Canon one just seems a little too expensive for what it is.

Hi Grum,

Glad you are enjoying your new camera!
How long did yours take to arrive from ordering?
I ordered mine on Monday 10am and was told I would get it this week but I've had no e-mail that it's even been despatched yet.
I e-mailed Friday afternoon but have had no response.

Ian