Hi, Better is a tricky subject, Phil.
Yes, it tracks and locks focus more consistantly. You can see it happening in the viewfinder a little more obviously. And if you lose focus on a BIF, you can pick it back up sooner than with the MKIII. Of course focus points come in to play here. The MKIII snaps into focus much quicker when expanding points to more than one single point. But you may lose the BIF in mixed trees etc.
Like the canon rep said, in Spot point with the 7D, you can lose the target fast with such a small focus point, which I believe is true for both cameras. This is where BIF shooting needs to be fine tuned to meet the area you are shooting in. I prefer the Spot Point on the 7D, but if the target at that very small point has mixed colors and no contrast it can miss focus also. So it's a decision depending on the area. I'm just now trying all the focus options in the 7D. There are more point options on the MKIII for focus assist. I used the center point/and one assist point on both sides of it in the MKIII. Helpful in BIFs. The 7D has more assist points than I normally like to use. Still playing with that. But with Spot Point, you have to be really accurate following the bird.
Pixel Perfect wrote:
There must be two types of 7D on sale, those with no noise reduction control at all and those that are normal. NR at ISO 200, what the heck are you doing, shooting 3 stops underexposed? My 40D is the nosiest camera I've used at low ISO, and the 7D is noticeably cleaner, even at the pixel level it appears cleaner, let alone at the print level.
BIFers use +1 in many instances. Mainly because of sky colors and contrast causing the underwing shadows to be too dark, causing alot of noise and loss of detail.
Josh, yes, I am in Standard on the ISO noise reduction. I couldn't find info as to whether Low is 'higher' reduction than Standard. I wish they had more options there. Mainly with Neat Image being so user friendly to the 7D, especially with large files, I didn't want a plastic looking photo OOcamera. I need to try those.
The problem with BIFs is only Biffers really understand the rigorous exposure changes. And not only is each situation different, unlike other forms of photography where there is plenty of time for decisions-giving you a standard criteria for set situations, BIF shooting changes per frame depending on the light and focal area for metering. Much more trial and error.
Netgarden wrote:
BTW, I love the onboard flash. Its nice to have a flash handy, and indoors I had a quick family birthday party to try it out.
Nooooooooooooo! No no no. You are not allowed to say this. You are no longer aN 133t f0tOn1nj4 in my book. You were doing so well and then you let slip that not every picture you take is an effort to win an international award for being the bestest artiste evar. How can you say this publicly. Take down that picture of the child. The 7D is not a real camera because it has a flash. All reall camoras hav no flash you id1iot. shoot me if you ever see me with anything less than the latests 1 series with professional crap interface and NO fLASH. No flash is always better. The D700 is for suxx0rs. ;-)
PaulCal wrote:
You kidding me? I couldnt disagree more. They are two completely different animals, IMO
Yes - the 7D has AF that works and weighs and costs half as much. But it's crap because it has a built-in flash and C-modes which work. Seriously, it's hard to see what even the 1D4 has over the 7D except high iso. I suppose it will have better tone/DR, but look at the disadvantages.
Hmmmmm....lol...I'd like to see you shoot active babies in dark light with people walking in front of you without a flash hahaha
We are allowed days off aren't we? Those lazy ones where we leave the bag at home, sit in the lounge chair with a bright flash and blind everyone?
Are you kidding me? The inboard remote for up to 3 slaves with manual options is nothing to sneeze at. I think it was very kind of Canon to include that on the 7D!
Breitling65 wrote:
Still can't figure why $5K and why more than mk III? Video? Btw your new picture/avatar looks cool. Is it you? It reminds me some french movie star from 60x ...
Reasons why it is $5K
1. Strong Japanese Yen
2. People who waited for the 1D3 due to past AF issue
3. Video!
Let us be thanful it isn't the price of a $5,300 D3S.
2. People who waited for the 1D3 due to past AF issue
3. Video!
Let us be thanful it isn't the price of a $5,300 D3S.
1. OK 2 & 3 - We got 5D mk II cost not more than 5D classic and with video too. Only difference is 2008/09 release time. Also I remember lots of people here on FM and other places saying "video is for FREE in camera" I personally don't believe in "free", but anyway...
Let us be thanful it isn't the price of a $5,300 D3S.
Netgarden wrote:
Hi, Better is a tricky subject, Phil.
Yes, it tracks and locks focus more consistantly. You can see it happening in the viewfinder a little more obviously. And if you lose focus on a BIF, you can pick it back up sooner than with the MKIII. Of course focus points come in to play here. The MKIII snaps into focus much quicker when expanding points to more than one single point. But you may lose the BIF in mixed trees etc.
Like the canon rep said, in Spot point with the 7D, you can lose the target fast with such a small focus point, which I believe is true for both cameras. This is where BIF shooting needs to be fine tuned to meet the area you are shooting in. I prefer the Spot Point on the 7D, but if the target at that very small point has mixed colors and no contrast it can miss focus also. So it's a decision depending on the area. I'm just now trying all the focus options in the 7D. There are more point options on the MKIII for focus assist. I used the center point/and one assist point on both sides of it in the MKIII. Helpful in BIFs. The 7D has more assist points than I normally like to use. Still playing with that. But with Spot Point, you have to be really accurate following the bird....Show more →
Fortunately, with all these high tech cameras, technique still plays an essential role. Putting the spot point on target does take alot of getting used to, as I am sure you are aware. I found center point and one assist point either side to be the most appropriate in single BIF scenarios too, particularly with unpredictable movement of the subject. Center point alone has become my preference, with tracking sensitivity set to the fastest or one down from fastest. This needs accurate tracking of the bird/moving subject and is more useful when you can predict the tracking path.
The 1D3 wants its user to tune it finely and accurately for the task at hand and is a complex tool that can and will produce stunning results if given respectful tweeking!
"Never get out of the boat, absolutely goddamn right, not unless you were going all the way" Well with the 1D3 you have to get out of the boat!
brainiac wrote:
Yes - the 7D has AF that works and weighs and costs half as much. But it's crap because it has a built-in flash and C-modes which work. Seriously, it's hard to see what even the 1D4 has over the 7D except high iso. I suppose it will have better tone/DR, but look at the disadvantages.
misterphil wrote:
Take a look at Netgardens website.
Well, the title of the thread is a bit misleading as far as the photo material uploaded here is concerned because only stationary bird shots are shown, no BIF shots.
Another issue is that the reference point of comparison is a bit fluid.....i.e., 1DMkIII.
Some (e/g., Mark Fadely) have reported excellent results with it when tracking fast moving targets, others have had problems with their camera's Servo AF performance.
Is 7D better than Mark's Mark III ?( ) Well, only Mark can answer that question.
PetKal wrote:
Tommy, did you order any of those two lenses ?
That was excellent.....made that misshapen thread end on a good fun note.
- yes, the thread met a timely demise.
No, I didn't order one, but I may go for that 100 Macro at some point. I'm not too interested in the 50L, but I wanted to be fair to brand "A" when I made my point.
I laughed when Fred locked it right after my post.
Back to the topic at hand, I think a couple of BIF shots in the beginning of the thread would have been helpful. I'm still finding the handle on my 7D in terms of birds in flight, but I'm a bit out of practice. After looking at Netgarden's shots, I think I'm WAY out of practice.
I need to try those.
This is a cut and dry case of inflation.
- yes, the thread met a timely demise.