James, you make the erroneous assumption that the 7D focusing is bad. In fact, it is quite good. Not 1DsMkIII good but certainly way better than any of my 3 1DMkIIIs were. Lots of people will flame me for that last comment and it is included only to illustrate that "good" and "bad" are a matter of perspective.
I don't think people want the 7D AF per se, they simply want competent AF as a baseline and then would like to move up from there. Forget the 36 MP for a moment, if Canon responds to the D800 by continuing to a pattern of limiting the AF capability of the 5D then they will pay a price in the market if that market actually values AF performance as much as it appears to on the forums. Pretty simple.
In the past, Canon guessed right and people looked past the AF because of other capabilities, price points, and the competition. All that has changed in the last few years with the biggest change coming this week. How they respond is something none of us know. If they are stupid about it then Nikon sales are going to go way up.
I like AF in the 7D.
works well in low light - is adjustable from small spot up to extended and even small clusters.
It is fast.
all point are cross point.
Has it own processor ... all pretty good stuff.
and for reference, the 1DIV has the same small AF spot size option. The bummer part it can only be activated using 6 or 7 supper telephoto lenses in the L series.
Would be interesting to learn about Canon marketing decisions for the AF in the 5Dmkii. What roll the 1DIII played in it.
jamesf99 wrote:
OK, I've never owned - or shot - a 7d, so I can't speak from experience
I stopped reading here. It's an obvious job at getting people riled up, but not a very good one. Camera forums are easy to troll for some reason.
In any event, I (and several other people around the globe) have used a 7D and don't really have any issue with the focus system. It does exactly what Canon says it does, and it does it well.
Only complaints of the 7D I'll give credit to are those of image quality. I agree it could be better.
jamesf99 wrote:
Personally, I have no desire to see the crippled 7d AF show up in another body, even if it is better than the one-usable AF point in the 5 series.
I have owned several copies of the 7D and although it is better than previous xxD cameras it doesn't approach the 1 series AF.
No I don't want to see the 7D AF in the new 5D and it will not compare to the AF system in the D700 or D800. We need a 1 series like AF in a small FF package like the 5D.
surf monkey wrote:
Wait. What? Are we talking about the 7D or the new yet-to-be-determined 5D replacement?
Some of you want exact 7D AF on 5DIII and all am saying is hell NO. This is not a 7D debate guys. We want something like D800 AF. So all you 7D fanboys should take a chill pill and relax. No need showing off your wonderful 7D images.
Jim Victory wrote:
I have owned several copies of the 7D and although it is better than previous xxD cameras it doesn't approach the 1 series AF.
No I don't want to see the 7D AF in the new 5D and it will not compare to the AF system in the D700 or D800. We need a 1 series like AF in a small FF package like the 5D.
Jim
When people complain about AF, I don't get it ...
Auto Focus has one requirement, just one; and that requirement is to move the focal length of a lens to a certain point. Period.
Now it seems to me, the only issues pertaining to this would be Accuracy and Speed. I mean a control system is essentially embedded software and as such the 3rd issue, Consistency, is expected.
Now it might just be my low standards, but the 7D excels in both these areas. When I put the focus point over a subject and hit the AF-ON button and then trip the shutter, my subject is always in focus.
I honestly don't know how people are complaining about the 7D's AF. I can understand complaints about the image quality, but it's auto focus? Let's not get carried away here.
From every review the 7D's AF is darn good and most robust amongst all compact cropped camera. 19 X-type points with various AF zone selection. Not to mention the multitude of AF settings under CFn for one to dial in to suit one's capabilities.
I had a 1d2n and now a 7D. Can't see the difference in AF performance. The spot AF alone blows away the old 1d2n when it comes to AF-ing through branches and fence. IIRC the 1d4 can only spot AF at the center only. I would be very happy if the new 5d has the 7D's AF system. Check out the CPN articles, both the 7D and 1d4 share the same design concepts.
Why the hate on the 7D? Alot of selective regurgitation happening lately. What's next quote DxOmarks or compare two different images shot by two different persons and two different times with different lenses?
okafoja wrote:
Some of you want exact 7D AF on 5DIII and all am saying is hell NO.
Well, not to burst your bubble but given Canon's track record, it's the closest you're going to get.
You are not going to get the 1DX's AF nor are you going to get the 1DIV's AF ... If the 5DmkII's replacement get's a 1-Series AF system, I'll be really surprised.
Even if Canon chooses to implement the 7D's AF ... Don't be silly, of course it won't be the same thing. Do you think they were sleeping between 2009 and 2012? There will be improvements.
jamesf99 wrote:
OK, I've never owned - or shot - a 7d, so I can't speak from experience, but I've read enough assessments and have owned enough 1-series and 5-series cameras to know how much they differ. I've often wondered why anyone, using any Canon camera, would want the 7d AF in anything.
Why would anyone set their sights so low? Why accept another crippled AF system like that found in the 7d (and yes, it absolutely is crippled even if it's better than the circa 1995 stuff we have in the 5 series)? I see it all the time here and have never understood it.
Can someone please explain, with rational points about why you think trading one crippled system for one that is only slightly less crippled is a good thing? Are we just beggars waiting for Canon to drop something into our cups?
Personally, I have no desire to see the crippled 7d AF show up in another body, even if it is better than the one-usable AF point in the 5 series.
Note: to apologists or those that insist the 5 series AF is fine, just move along and be happy.
Jim Victory wrote:
I have owned several copies of the 7D and although it is better than previous xxD cameras it doesn't approach the 1 series AF.
No I don't want to see the 7D AF in the new 5D and it will not compare to the AF system in the D700 or D800. We need a 1 series like AF in a small FF package like the 5D.
akin_t wrote:
Even if Canon chooses to implement the 7D's AF ... Don't be silly, of course it won't be the same thing. Do you think they were sleeping between 2009 and 2012? There will be improvements.
This is my point. I don't want the 7D AF in the new 5D. They should have something better than this base solely on technical improvements. Do you want the current 7D AF in a new 7D? No you would probably want something a little better.
We have had the old AF technology used in a newer camera with the 5D II. Even an improved variant of the 7D AF in the new 5D would be better.
.