My 20D just died yesterday. Was considering the 5D Mk II, but leaning toward the 7D. I do a little of everything but really do love sports, auto and motorcycle racing, animals at zoos and the like where frame rate and focus speed are important.
WilliamG wrote:
I have to say, the more I use my 7D, the more I absolutely hate my 5DII AF system....
*sigh*
I don't quite feel the same way. I feel like the 5DII gives me better overall images and image quality. I own both. I love the 7D and purchased it for wildlife so the new autofocus system is a dream for things like BIF but for pure landscapes, urban and portrait work, I like the resulting images from the 5DII better. In fact, I find it more consistent than the 7D.
Finally have some photos to contribute to this thread. I picked up my 7D on Wednesday. One of my main uses is youth and high school hockey. My 40D is maxed out, often at ISO3200, and the AI Servo in this kind of light is poor.
These are all shot jpg, Standard NR, Neat Image applied as a batch in post. Maybe a bit too much NI, gotta work in that.
7D AF is definitely a lot better than the 40D, but I'm still working out some kinks. Including remembering to hold down AF-ON (I've been using * for 5 years); my finger tends to land on * and I don't always notice. Been using center point with expansion, also tried zone and center point only. I think expansion is best. Also using the slowest setting for AI Servo tracking; I need to play with that more too.
msalvetti wrote:
7D AF is definitely a lot better than the 40D, but I'm still working out some kinks. Including remembering to hold down AF-ON (I've been using * for 5 years); my finger tends to land on * and I don't always notice. Been using center point with expansion, also tried zone and center point only. I think expansion is best. Also using the slowest setting for AI Servo tracking; I need to play with that more too.
You can remap the AF-on and * buttons. Even better, you can do like I've done and map the buttons so that af-on does AF with the currently selected AF point and * does AF with the center AF point.
WilliamG wrote:
I have to say, the more I use my 7D, the more I absolutely hate my 5DII AF system....
*sigh*
Well, that's the rub. Luckily I use my 5D II for landscape, macro, general walkabout and in that case it's AF is more than adequate. I don't try and push it and try to avoid AI servo. I use my 1D II and 40D for action/wildlife and soon I will have my 7D. It's always hard going from the 1D II to the 40D/5D II, but for my usage patterns the 5D II results are so good you soon forget about AF issues. But hey drop the 7D AF into the 5D II body and we have our D700 killer.
Ken-In_VA wrote:
You can remap the AF-on and * buttons. Even better, you can do like I've done and map the buttons so that af-on does AF with the currently selected AF point and * does AF with the center AF point.
I had remapped the two buttons with my 40D, but I want to start using AF-ON. I like the feel of it better on the 7D than on the 40D, and it should work better than * when wearing gloves.
Thanks for the tip on the mapping options; not sure I could keep that straight. I'm having a hard enough time just switching to AF-ON.
Ken-In_VA wrote:
You can remap the AF-on and * buttons. Even better, you can do like I've done and map the buttons so that af-on does AF with the currently selected AF point and * does AF with the center AF point.
How do you set them for different points? That sounds ideal, but I don't see an option for AF with center point separate from just AF with the selected one.
It looks like under C.FnIV-1. When you select the * button to customize, the second option is for Metering and AF Start. Then if you press the Info button, you can select whether the AF is from a manually selected AF point or a registered AF point.
msalvetti wrote:
It looks like under C.FnIV-1. When you select the * button to customize, the second option is for Metering and AF Start. Then if you press the Info button, you can select whether the AF is from a manually selected AF point or a registered AF point.
You can also select the same options for AF-ON.
Mark
Awesome, thanks, I didn't see the additional options after you press the INFO button. This is pretty cool, although it will take some getting used to.
I feel like these are the kind of options that people set up, don't learn how to use, and then complain when it doesn't work how they expect. I'll shoot a few thousand pictures before I start whining about it not working
Edit: the only option that's driving me nuts now is the inability to set ONE SHOT <-> SERVO for any button other than the DoF preview. I want it to be a one-press (not hold-down) option, for another button like M.fn.
One of my favorite action shots with the 7D. This camera rocks...this was the first of 3 frames (all in focus). I waited for the bird to come parallel to me and in the sun...and shot 3 frames, 7D didn't let me down. The AF just works !
#2
7D ( @600mm ---> 300 2.8 IS with 2x Tele) , hand held at 1/400. Image could be sharper...I am still tweaking the microadjustment for this combo (started today). Let me know if you think if this is not in focus/sharp (eye area) on your screens.
