After all the combinations I tried, the best for me is just the center point and tracking sensitivity is set to moderate slow. Unlike 50D or 5DII, 7D's center point is very potent. I was carried away with AF expansion, while it was joy to track with this set up, perfect focus shots were very few compared with that of center point only. Again, center AF point only gives the best compromise specially with busy BG, and I bump the back AF botton to acquire focus if needed(to overcome the slow tracking sensitivity).
All shots with 400L at about 400-800 ISO.
Note that fast flying ducks against the water BG is not so easy like blue sky.
Full frame: http://ruhikant.smugmug.com/photos/672439736_8iobW-O.jpg
Excellent! This is exactly what I was looking for as examples of the AI autofocus with the 7D. Using the single, center focus point without expansion and slow tracking -- that's how I used to set the 1DM3 when I had one.
How much of the frame was filled with the bird? (There's been posts going around forums stating that the focus on the 7D was terrible for BIF, but the subject was only at 5% to 10% of the frame which is totally unrealistic and the crop would look like crap anyway.)
AJay wrote:
Excellent! This is exactly what I was looking for as examples of the AI autofocus with the 7D. Using the single, center focus point without expansion and slow tracking -- that's how I used to set the 1DM3 when I had one.
How much of the frame was filled with the bird? (There's been posts going around forums stating that the focus on the 7D was terrible for BIF, but the subject was only at 5% to 10% of the frame which is totally unrealistic and the crop would look like crap anyway.)
Thanks,
Alan
Thanks Alan, most of them are about 40-50% crop, but not sure how much 100% of the VF.
dolina wrote:
Silly question but I have to ask. How much of a help is the pixel density vs ur previous 1.6x body?
Not much different from 50D(15MPVs18MP) but key is to get sharp pictures.
wow, sounds like you guys would buy the 7D so you can shoot with it like you did with much lesser equipment, even tho the 1d3 is a 1d series. The new capabilities sound like they mean 0 to you. Focusing with the center point.....
well, the new capabilities include all the focusing options that were not available before in Canon cameras, as I understand it. The OP mentioned "I was carried away with AF expansion, while it was joy to track with this set up, perfect focus shots were very few compared with that of center point only." And there there was deserved commentary for the great pictures.
But the point remains, that the new focusing options in the camera failed, and the center point focusing on a F5.6 lens got the shot. With all the support and lack of surprise it just sounded like the 7D center focusing point would make a sale. My 30D center focusing point is potent as well, as was the 20D.
But the new features, including focusing improvements and the total 7D package are on my short list. I am still a little unsure how this machine really performs and how it provides enlargement capability as compared to the 5d2 and Sony 24 bit turbo-diesels.
Mark, I am now confused myself. The thought of Peking Duck or Duck with Sweet and Sour sauce got me sidetracked. I was just presenting pretty pictures taken with the center point and got taken away sharing my goodtimes while waiting for a super duper affordable picture making machine like the 7D.
