Canon has announced that there will be a firmware update to the 5D mkII to enable 24fps movie mode in early 2010. I would think that if they were going to be releasing a 5D mkIII next year then they wouldn't do the firmware update, they'd just release the new camera.
Tenuous logic, but it and the MkI-MkII time line is all that's available.
I posted these in Nature, but figured I'd share them in the 7D forum.
I rented the 7D and the 400 f/5.6L for a week to see if I really wanted to switch back to canon or not (for the 400L, not really for the 7D)
I really, really like the combo to be sure, and my lens might need some MA (as many of my shots were *just* OOF - perhaps because I'm not sure a release on my tripod or other technique flaw of mine), but overall I really like how it feels. Very fast to focus lens. Focusing system is about where the D300 sits, meaning pretty darn good.
I must say - I prefer the look of the noise of the 7D over the D300 - It's finer grain-like, whereas my D300 (even with zero NR), just looks more mottled. Makes a difference when you start cropping pretty heavily. Oh, and with 18MP, cropping seems to go on forever.
I think the next 5D (whether it is a Mk III, or a 3D) will come sooner than three years along, given the competition from Nikon & Sony (& others?), a pressure that didn't exist for much of the Mk I's life. It seems that Canon brought out the 50D in 12 months rather than 18 due to competition... and would the 7D exist at all if not for the D300/s?
Then again... until the competition comes out with a competitive 1080p FF SLR, maybe Canon will maintain a dominant position in the sector. Maybe that argument is right.
cputeq wrote:
I posted these in Nature, but figured I'd share them in the 7D forum.
I rented the 7D and the 400 f/5.6L for a week to see if I really wanted to switch back to canon or not (for the 400L, not really for the 7D)
I really, really like the combo to be sure, and my lens might need some MA (as many of my shots were *just* OOF - perhaps because I'm not sure a release on my tripod or other technique flaw of mine), but overall I really like how it feels. Very fast to focus lens. Focusing system is about where the D300 sits, meaning pretty darn good.
I must say - I prefer the look of the noise of the 7D over the D300 - It's finer grain-like, whereas my D300 (even with zero NR), just looks more mottled. Makes a difference when you start cropping pretty heavily. Oh, and with 18MP, cropping seems to go on forever. ...Show more →
The French magazine Chasseur d'Image posted a 10 pages analysis of 7D vs D300s. They are very very similar on many levels, however the 7D has the edge on IQ (more details with the 18MP vs 12, but also -surprinsingly- better high iso - analyzed on A2 size prints, with a less agressive noise suppression on the 7D that leads to more noise but also retain more details). However the D300s has still the edge on the AF and 3D tracking. The 400/5.6 however has nothing to compare at that price in the Nikon line-up (but I would be surprised if Nikon does not release a VR version at some point). If you ask the Nikon folks on the Nikon forums they will tell you that the D400 is coming, Canon camera do not focus and the D300s is still the best camera in its class. Good luck with you decision!
Just got my 7D that I ordered last Tues evening from B&H. It has firmware 1.0.9 on it. I was a little surprised. I thought I would need to update it. It hasn't been out all that long. Just passing that along. Thought it was just a little strange.
BennyR wrote:
Just got my 7D that I ordered last Tues evening from B&H. It has firmware 1.0.9 on it. I was a little surprised. I thought I would need to update it. It hasn't been out all that long. Just passing that along. Thought it was just a little strange.
Still seems like there are very few "professional" 7D reviews out there.
I stumbled upon this review from "NeoCamera", which I've never heard of...just thought I would share. Some complaints on color rendition and inconsistent metering...ring true to anyone?
Center point one shot is about the same between the 7D and 5D2 - both very good. The peripheral points on the 7D are better. Servo on the 7D is giving me a higher hit ratio. I'm still working on that - haven't had much of a chance to track any birds in flight yet, but I did work with my sister's dog in the back yard the last 2 days. And, of course, the obligatory freeway traffic at speed test. I need to catch up with the camera's ability!
The 5D and 5D2 do track well with the center point and expansion activated, but I didn't have very good results away from center. There are other advantages in the more flexible 7D system that give it a decided advantage in servo. For one thing, you can adjust the sensitivity of the AF system on the 7D to switch subjects when, for example, you are tracking a subject as it passes behind a pole or another player. Much like the 1-series in that respect.
I'm still exploring all the AF features in the 7D, but so far, I like it.
Ironically, with pretty much all bodies that I use, including the 1D's, I pretty much use the center point with/without expansion 99% of the time. I guess if I was a BIF kinda person or shot a lot of stuff off axis in servo, I'd feel different. I bought the 7D for an inexpensive backup to my 1D3 for sports photography. I find the 5D2 to focus fine, and is more than adequate for my event/wedding and portrait work. But the FPS was not ideal for sports, and as everyone mentions, the peripheral points are not that great. It's just that I shoot center point 99% of the time which does trump many of the arguments (for me) when it comes to AF changes/advantages.
ScottSchupbach wrote:
Here is a review of the 7D Auto Focus from a user over on BPN. I've been considering a 7D and a 400/5.6 for a lighter weight birding set up.
Right from his initial posts about the 7D a few weeks back,quite a few people including me had questioned his settings/AF modes used in his initial tests. I doubt that he even microadjusted his combination before testing it the first time around.
Glad to see his views have changed somewhat with the passage of time ;-) and proper use of the AF modes on the camera (finally).
I would take all opinion with a grain of salt and not base anything unless one/you really try this camera hands-on /in the field.
