[palmor]

Bad review or not I've been really happy with my 7d so far. I had been saving for a 1d mkIII for a while when they announced the 7d and I decided to save the almost $1000 and get the 7d instead (it had about 90% of what I wanted in the 7d.. the only thing missing that I would have liked is focusing at f/8 but not for the $$).

Anyway like every new camera I've owned it takes getting used to. I was worried about the 18mp but so far so good even with a "consumer zoom" like the Sigma 17-70 (my only non L lens in my Canon bag).

I also think people have to set their expectations a little differently when viewing a 18mp cropped sensor photo at 100%.

Canon EOS 7D ,Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro
1/125s f/2.8 at 17.0mm iso800


and for the peepers.. 100% crop.. not too bad for wide open, consumer lens on an 18mp camera that people are afraid will out resolve all but the best glass.
NO PP at all:


As far as the AF, again so far so good. This was a sequence of an Osprey out fishing:

Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/2000s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso80


Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/2500s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso800


Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/1250s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso800


Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/1600s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso800



I haven't been out taking any landscape shots but I can post some examples when I do.


John

[Jonson PL]

Bad review or not I've been really happy with my 7d so far. I had been saving for a 1d mkIII for a while when they announced the 7d and I decided to save the almost $1000 and get the 7d instead (it had about 90% of what I wanted in the 7d.. the only thing missing that I would have liked is focusing at f/8 but not for the $$).

Anyway like every new camera I've owned it takes getting used to. I was worried about the 18mp but so far so good even with a "consumer zoom" like the Sigma 17-70 (my only non L lens in my Canon bag).

I also think people have to set their expectations a little differently when viewing a 18mp cropped sensor photo at 100%.

Canon EOS 7D ,Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro
1/125s f/2.8 at 17.0mm iso800


and for the peepers.. 100% crop.. not too bad for wide open, consumer lens on an 18mp camera that people are afraid will out resolve all but the best glass.
NO PP at all:


As far as the AF, again so far so good. This was a sequence of an Osprey out fishing:

Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/2000s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso80


Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/2500s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso800


Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/1250s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso800


Canon EOS 7D ,Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
1/1600s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso800



I haven't been out taking any landscape shots but I can post some examples when I do.


John

Beautiful stuff. Real photos is what it is all about in the end.
Good point, about how we’re now viewing 18mp cropped sensor photos at 100%.

Good looking Iso 800 shots of the Osprey

[Samsungian]

Birds in flight are always a great test for autofocus tracking. You've proven the Canon 7D is a fine camera for capturing birds in flight.

You've given me more for me to think about. People love their 400mm 5.6L too. A lens I've considered and then watched go up $230 and now down $100. Tempting...

[palmor]

People love their 400mm 5.6L too. A lens I've considered and then watched go up $230 and now down $100. Tempting...

Did you mean $1000 and $1200 because if you know where I can get them for $230 I'll take 10 I picked mine up for $950 from ebay plus the 10% cash back at the time.



John

[Samsungian]

Thats a very good deal!

I was talking cash off current pricing. When I first studied Eos 400mm 5.6L it was $1099 plus delivery new. Past couple years it's gone up to $1329 and now back down to $1229. The $1,099 price point was when any used Pentax FA 400mm 5.6 typically sold for $2400-$2500.

I opted for 300mm f4 IS but like your flight images I've seen others who get real nice birds in flight keepers with 400mm 5.6L. Its a real bargain in the current line up, especially coming from used only Pentax FA 400 5.6 pricing stand point.

Did you mean $1000 and $1200 because if you know where I can get them for $230 I'll take 10 I picked mine up for $950 from ebay plus the 10% cash back at the time.



John

[palmor]

Thats a very good deal!

I was talking cash off current pricing. When I first studied Eos 400mm 5.6L it was $1099 plus delivery new. Past couple years it's gone up to $1329 and now back down to $1229. The $1,099 price point was when any used Pentax FA 400mm 5.6 typically sold for $2400-$2500.

I opted for 300mm f4 IS but like your flight images I've seen others who get real nice birds in flight keepers with 400mm 5.6L. Its a real bargain in the current line up, especially coming from used only Pentax FA 400 5.6 pricing stand point.

Ahh, I get it. I completely read your post wrong I really do like the lens (as most people do) the only thing I wish is that the MFD was a little bit closer. When I happen on a small bird that decides to land next to me I find myself too close sometimes (which was never a problem for my Tokina ATX 400 or the DA*300+tc) since they were both close focusing lenses).


John

[Samsungian]

That's where pentax glass had the competetive edge, the minimum focus distance. From what I've noticed spec sheet wise pentax supertelephoptos achieve closer focus better than anyone else.

Ahh, I get it. I completely read your post wrong I really do like the lens (as most people do) the only thing I wish is that the MFD was a little bit closer. When I happen on a small bird that decides to land next to me I find myself too close sometimes (which was never a problem for my Tokina ATX 400 or the DA*300+tc) since they were both close focusing lenses).


John

[superfuzzy]

Bad review or not I've been really happy with my 7d so far. I had been saving for a 1d mkIII for a while when they announced the 7d and I decided to save the almost $1000 and get the 7d instead (it had about 90% of what I wanted in the 7d.. the only thing missing that I would have liked is focusing at f/8 but not for the $$).
John

Overall the 7D reviews have been over the top positive. I think the the blogger Darwin's conclusions are still interesting to consider. Thanks for posting your photos and good luck with your 7D!

[pingflood]

Ahh, I get it. I completely read your post wrong I really do like the lens (as most people do) the only thing I wish is that the MFD was a little bit closer. When I happen on a small bird that decides to land next to me I find myself too close sometimes (which was never a problem for my Tokina ATX 400 or the DA*300+tc) since they were both close focusing lenses).


John

I found the same so bought the 300/4 to complement it as it focuses a lot closer (.33x magnification with the 1.4x converter). Now I have 300/4 IS, 420/5.6 IS (with 1.4x which even on a 50D doesn't cause any visible image quality drop even wide open), and 400/5.6. The 400/5.6 focuses FAR faster and because of the 8.2(?) meter focus limiter in the rare event that it does hunt it won't rack the lens far.

The 7D looks like an excellent camera. I would be tempted but have found the 50D to track extremely well (then again, I almost always use center point only for BIF shooting) so can't really justify upgrading.

[Samsungian]

Does 300mm f4 IS and 1.4x TC II combo focus faster on 1Ds Mark II or same speed compared to 50D ?

I found the same so bought the 300/4 to complement it as it focuses a lot closer (.33x magnification with the 1.4x converter). Now I have 300/4 IS, 420/5.6 IS (with 1.4x which even on a 50D doesn't cause any visible image quality drop even wide open), and 400/5.6. The 400/5.6 focuses FAR faster and because of the 8.2(?) meter focus limiter in the rare event that it does hunt it won't rack the lens far.

The 7D looks like an excellent camera. I would be tempted but have found the 50D to track extremely well (then again, I almost always use center point only for BIF shooting) so can't really justify upgrading.

[pingflood]

Does 300mm f4 IS and 1.4x TC II combo focus faster on 1Ds Mark II or same speed compared to 50D ?

I haven't done any formal tests, but having shot thousands and thousands of frames with both bodies I would make the following general statements:

The 50D is as fast as anything I've used, ever. In the past I'd give the nod to the 1-series for pure speed, but the 40D/50D are so good they keep right up with them....

The 1Ds Mark II is superior for servo tracking when using all focus points. There just isn't enough points on the 50D to accurately track smaller subjects when moving around the frame.

Since I almost always use center point only (because I do not trust the camera to pick the right spot to focus on when doing birding) the 50D works great for me. Light weight and great performance.

The 300/4+1.4x isn't SLOW but the 400/5.6 is so wicked fast that most other glass pales in comparison. That and the long MFD focus limiter makes a world of difference.

[Samsungian]

Wow, Thanks!

More to think about...

I haven't done any formal tests, but having shot thousands and thousands of frames with both bodies I would make the following general statements:

The 50D is as fast as anything I've used, ever. In the past I'd give the nod to the 1-series for pure speed, but the 40D/50D are so good they keep right up with them....

The 1Ds Mark II is superior for servo tracking when using all focus points. There just isn't enough points on the 50D to accurately track smaller subjects when moving around the frame.

Since I almost always use center point only (because I do not trust the camera to pick the right spot to focus on when doing birding) the 50D works great for me. Light weight and great performance.

The 300/4+1.4x isn't SLOW but the 400/5.6 is so wicked fast that most other glass pales in comparison. That and the long MFD focus limiter makes a world of difference.

[pingflood]

Glad I can help muddy the waters.

Honestly, it's sad to see the 50D getting such a poor rep; it's a superb body that I think was a big step forward from the 40D in some aspects and was tarnished by DPreview's poor testing. People who've never even held one "know" it's got "worse noise than the 40D" blah blah, while just about everyone who bought one is very happy with its performance.

Sorry, I get on a rant about this at times, not sure why it bugs me so much...

[Samsungian]

50D currently at a very appealing price point:

$942.95

Canon | EOS 50D SLR Digital Camera (Camera Body) | 2807B006

I wanted HD then the more I've read the more I've realized it was a spec that comes with great additional cost to properly implement it.

So Canon 50D may be the best bang for buck at this moment in time. A nice addition to my eos slower autofocus full frame kit.

Can you microadjust lenses on 50D?

Found it! Yes I can microadjust

Can you format 16GB cards as 16GB in 50D?

Likely so. My 5D Classics will only format 8GB of 16GB, however if I owned lets say... 50D I can format 16GB and then get 16GB out of it on my 5D. I don't own 16GB just a bunch of 8GB but I was curious.

Looks like I get me a spare $50 in the mail for being loyal customer too:

"EOS & PowerShot Loyalty Program

As an exclusive offer to our registered EOS and PowerShot customers (who have registered before October 12th), a $50 mail-in rebate is available if you purchase and register a Rebel XS, XSi, T1i, 50D, 7D or 5D Mark II; or a $20 mail-in rebate is available if you purchase and register a PowerShot camera* between October 12, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Download .pdf for complete details."


I've wanted a built in flash eos dslr as I own NO canon flash and 50D would do this too. Another spare battery, another charger. Man about the only thing better would be if Canon doubled 1 year factory warranty as they did with my two 5D.


Hmmmmmmmmmmmm 50D

Glad I can help muddy the waters.

Honestly, it's sad to see the 50D getting such a poor rep; it's a superb body that I think was a big step forward from the 40D in some aspects and was tarnished by DPreview's poor testing. People who've never even held one "know" it's got "worse noise than the 40D" blah blah, while just about everyone who bought one is very happy with its performance.

Sorry, I get on a rant about this at times, not sure why it bugs me so much...

[pingflood]

So Canon 50D may be the best bang for buck at this moment in time. A nice addition to my eos slower autofocus full frame kit.

Can you microadjust lenses on 50D?

Found it! Yes I can microadjust

I've played with my lenses but found that so far all of them have been dead on. But it IS nice to have if you need it!

Can you format 16GB cards as 16GB in 50D?

Likely so. My 5D Classics will only format 8GB of 16GB, however if I owned lets say... 50D I can format 16GB and then get 16GB out of it on my 5D. I don't own 16GB just a bunch of 8GB but I was curious.

Yeah, the current spec I think allows for 2TB(!) cards to be used. I use a 16GB in mine without problems. Keep in mind that the 50D can use UDMA cards and you will want them if you plan on shooting a lot of high fps stuff.

Looks like I get me a spare $50 in the mail for being loyal customer too:

"EOS & PowerShot Loyalty Program

As an exclusive offer to our registered EOS and PowerShot customers (who have registered before October 12th), a $50 mail-in rebate is available if you purchase and register a Rebel XS, XSi, T1i, 50D, 7D or 5D Mark II; or a $20 mail-in rebate is available if you purchase and register a PowerShot camera* between October 12, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Download .pdf for complete details."


I've wanted a built in flash eos dslr as I own NO canon flash and 50D would do this too. Another spare battery, another charger. Man about the only thing better would be if Canon doubled 1 year factory warranty as they did with my two 5D.


Hmmmmmmmmmmmm 50D

Just make sure you have glass good enough to feed it.