7D impressions, not favorable nor for the easily offended

[felix.reichardt]

...

1. Its dead simple to assign either the joystick or the big weel to choose the foucs points and it can be done without taking an eye from the viewfinder. Has been like that since the xxD. Manual page 218!
2. Spot metering tight to the choosen AF point? Choose a pro body. Also the 5D II that does not have that feature ...
3. The modi "green" and "creative" - don't need them? dont use them! What's the point to rant about it

Seriously, go and RTFM and check what you get before you complain you don't get pro features in a body that costs 1/3 or 1/4 of a pro body ...

If you prefer the 5D II because you are praising it so high in the other thread you might be in for another shock because it will lack all the features you want and operates in axactly the same way as the 7D ... so you better download and RTFM of the 5D II before you get it. Or better get a 1D series or a Nikon ... Just to warn you before you have to return another body.

[aphotographynut]

Hi Felix:

I am sorry to be such a nit picker....I have a 1D and it gives me everything I need except the ISO performance and resolution. I thought I could do it "cheap" with the much newer (more "advanced") 7D. I cannot. I am going to wait to see what the 1DmkIV provides.

also: EVERYONE seems to be missing the point on the focus points. YOU HAVE TO SELECT WHAT MODE FIRST, auto, manual, group, manual with assist, etc etc etc. BEFORE YOU CAN SIMPLY spin a dial. This is either accomplished with the push of an extra button (FEL) near the shutter release or going into the Q menu. No offense, but unless someone comes to my home and shows me, you are all missing this point. I had the Sales Person try to show me (both before buying and before returning). He could not. I called 1-800-OK Canon and spoke with not one, but two techs who both agreed, that I was doing it correctly. And yes, I read manuals. I am saying: the focus system is great!, the way you go about making simple changes within the system was poorly thought out. It may be possible to do a firmware update to allow the "re-programable" buttons to be "re-assigned" to that function, but currently it is not possible.

The other point of locking in a meter to a focus point in spot metering is a feature that a lot of people I have spoken with simply crave. I can live with the work around of locking exposure, and recomposing. A simple button press and it is done (though Nikon has proven that you don't need to do that).

Here is my final point on all this: For some reason, we as photographers, seem to simply GUSH over anything that Canon produces (and Nikon for that matter). Why? To loosely quote Ol' Chuck Heston in "The Ten Commandments": Am I no longer human? Are these not the same arms I had a moment ago? ( he was commenting on why people were treating him differently, we question a LOT in life, why not criticize something we don't like, and what common sense tells us is wrong?) We do not have to accept every feature/item that Canon, Nikon, etc. simply gives us and "take it". I have personally complained to Canon on these features. If WE don't, (assuming there are features that we don't like) then Canon has NO CLUE on what we want. I also have praised them on several features/items. I have worked for a Japanese company and I can tell you first hand, unless you tell them, they don't understand that a flashing RED LIGHT on something is a BAD thing, not a GOOD THING (true, long and unrelated story).

So simply put: I wanted to point out what I believe were the "shortcomings" of this particular camera. I had hoped that those who read it would check it out to make sure these "quirks" were acceptable to them. Lastly; there are a lot of good things in the camera, but for me, they were offset by the other items.

Have a great day everyone.

A

[felix.reichardt]

Page 220 says: without pressing the <...> button, you can select the AF point directly with <jog dial> or <joystick> ...

Which AF mode you are using, thats one time to be done right but not for every shot? So to shot in single point manual selection you go for Single Point AF mode and set that as standard.

Then you need to change custom controls to assign which button does what. (Pages 217 and following). So I would assume that matching either the jog dial or the joystick to the AF point direct selection function will do what you want to achive together with above setting?

[wildviper]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

...

2. Spot metering tight to the choosen AF point? Choose a pro body. Also the 5D II that does not have that feature ...

Seriously, go and RTFM and check what you get before you complain you don't get pro features in a body that costs 1/3 or 1/4 of a pro body ...

Sorry to say Felix, but my consumer Nikon D70s could spot meter from any focus points. This argument was given to me by the Canon rep too...oh, just buy a pro body!!!! WTF I just spent $2,000 and the most basic function is not there? Nikon has had this for so long...

There is NO reason for Canon to not have incorporated this.

And before you say go back to Nikon...I just returned my 7D and bought a D300s.

[felix.reichardt]

Originally Posted by wildviper

Sorry to say Felix, but my consumer Nikon D70s could spot meter from any focus points. This argument was given to me by the Canon rep too...oh, just buy a pro body!!!! WTF I just spent $2,000 and the most basic function is not there? Nikon has had this for so long...

There is NO reason for Canon to not have incorporated this.

And before you say go back to Nikon...I just returned my 7D and bought a D300s.

I am not saying it would not be a nice thing and on the 7D it can be achived by pressing the * button. Well, its one extra step of course but you have the function.

But its a fact that its only available as auto function in CANON pro bodies and one should check that before buying a camera. If you prefer Nikon then by all means buy it and be happy with it. If one buys a 2000 $ toy some homework needs to be done first and then buy the one best fits. If not then don't blame the manufacturer. Its not they keep it a secret its all open on the website/manual to be downloaded or ask on forums.

I have just visited your website (nice stuff!!). Are you sure you cannot live with the 7D without spot metering tight to the selected AF point. Your subjects seem rather static (portraits, stills). Seems not something you could not easily overcome (meter once, shot many = manual and a check with the histogram/LCD.

[wildviper]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

I am not saying it would not be a nice thing and on the 7D it can be achived by pressing the * button. Well, its one extra step of course but you have the function.

But its a fact that its only available as auto function in CANON pro bodies and one should check that before buying a camera.

First of all, I think you are confused with what I am saying with what the OP is saying.

I was SHOCKED to learn that Canon's DO NOT offer Spot Metering off of a focus point. The 7D's spot metering is ONLY on the center focus point. So, if you move your focus point to the farthest left, you CANNOT spot meter with that. Even my BASIC Nikon D70s, could do spot metering from whichever focus point I activated.

This is simply not available in the 7D. With no buttons, hacks or jumping through fire.

And while you are correct that I should have researched more, I did. I just NEVER imagined such a "basic" feature would NOT be in a mid-level Canon camera. So, I didn't even think of checking that feature. I was naive.

[felix.reichardt]

Originally Posted by wildviper

First of all, I think you are confused with what I am saying with what the OP is saying.

I was SHOCKED to learn that Canon's DO NOT offer Spot Metering off of a focus point. The 7D's spot metering is ONLY on the center focus point. So, if you move your focus point to the farthest left, you CANNOT spot meter with that. Even my BASIC Nikon D70s, could do spot metering from whichever focus point I activated.

This is simply not available in the 7D. With no buttons, hacks or jumping through fire.

And while you are correct that I should have researched more, I did. I just NEVER imagined such a "basic" feature would NOT be in a mid-level Canon camera. So, I didn't even think of checking that feature. I was naive.

According to the manual you can. Choosing evaluative metering and selective AF spot selection + pressing the * button locks metering to the selected AF spot.
Unless I read that wrong ... then I stand corrected. Not entirely automatic though that's true but possible.

Anyway. Glad the 300s works perfect for you .

[wildviper]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

According to the manual you can. Choosing evaluative metering and selective AF spot selection + pressing the * button locks metering to the selected AF spot.
Unless I read that wrong ... then I stand corrected. Not entirely automatic though that's true but possible.

Anyway. Glad the 300s works perfect for you .

I think we will just agree to disagree. Evuluative is not the same as Spot even if it was Evaluative on one spot. Spot is pure meter, versus Evaluative is based on algorithms. Canon missed the boat in my opinion.

[felix.reichardt]

Originally Posted by wildviper

I think we will just agree to disagree. Evuluative is not the same as Spot even if it was Evaluative on one spot. Spot is pure meter, versus Evaluative is based on algorithms. Canon missed the boat in my opinion.

OK, maybe it will change soon @ Canon to auto since now they have more cross type sensors making the outer points more usefull/precise.

[Elisha]

Evaluative meters the whole frame. But when you AEL with evaluative on an off center point, it spot meters that point only.
I tested it indoors the other day.

[felix.reichardt]

Originally Posted by Elisha

Evaluative meters the whole frame. But when you AEL with evaluative on an off center point, it spot meters that point only.
I tested it indoors the other day.

Ok, Thanks for the confirmation. It sounded like that from the manual.

[Fireice_2]

I guess this is the same banana afterall. Just a different implementation though.

[Jose]

Concur with most of your comments. I called Canon about the point focus selection and had to talk to two of their experts and just could not figure out how to do it by just using the joy stick...finally called me back and said that it could not be done as in the 5DII or 50D. It is sad that Canon just cannot issue a program where the user can determine what the function would be. I am not computer geek but I wonder why is it that someone cannot come with software plug-ins to achieve those things.

I kept mine since the accuracy of the autofocus is a definite improvement over previous cameras including the EO1 Series and image quality is better than the 50D.

[Elisha]

Originally Posted by Jose

Concur with most of your comments. I called Canon about the point focus selection and had to talk to two of their experts and just could not figure out how to do it by just using the joy stick...finally called me back and said that it could not be done as in the 5DII or 50D. It is sad that Canon just cannot issue a program where the user can determine what the function would be. I am not computer geek but I wonder why is it that someone cannot come with software plug-ins to achieve those things.

I kept mine since the accuracy of the autofocus is a definite improvement over previous cameras including the EO1 Series and image quality is better than the 50D.

Ok can you be more descriptive as to what point of focus change you are talking about?
Are you referring to moving from center to off center points in any of the AF modes?
If so you can. You just have to custom configure the joystick to be used for AF point selection in the custom menu.
The menu that allows you to custom configure the hardware buttons.

[Jose]

When I am referring to autofocus in general, I am addressing the accuracy of the autofocus system regardless of mode. I am getting a greater % of in-focus images than with any of my previous Canon cameras ( and these include all of them starting with the 10D). When I am selecting a particular focus point with the multicontroller in the 7D, I have to press the AF point selection/magnifyer button first and then select the particular focus point. Canon technician also pointed out that I could also press the shutter button half way and accomplish the same. But still I have to push two buttons. And yes, I have read pages 219-220 various times and not able to set the camera to just to use the controller to select an autofocus point. Also went to the Custom Control CFn IV-1 and tried the settings without luck. But if you have found a way to use the multicontroller alone to select and AF poing, I will grateful if you show the details of how to accomplish it.

[julieharnage]

Canon 7D – Quick Initial Impressions and Comparison to 5D Mark II Trent Chau : Photography

for those interested in some bathroom reading on the 7d.....

[swampler]

Bathroom reading...that bad?

[julieharnage]

Originally Posted by swampler

Bathroom reading...that bad?

lol no ways... just a little lengthy

[felix.reichardt]

Thanks for the link Julie

[julieharnage]

Originally Posted by felix.reichardt

Thanks for the link Julie

np