Preview of new Canon 7D

[Geoff F]

Canon 7D to be released in the US later this month Canon EOS 7D Preview - photo.net

Not sure that it has much to add for most wildlife photographers and if I was spending that much more than my 40D I think I would probably go all the way to a 5D.

However, see what you think of it.

[MeadsMan]

It`s the high iso performance I am really hoping for with this new release from Canon,I guess only time and someones comparison tests will tell how good it is.It`s still alot of money,and it will need to be a big improvement,for me to shell out that amount of money,but I hope it does perform well.

[Stevelphoto]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Canon 7D to be released in the US later this month Canon EOS 7D Preview - photo.net

Not sure that it has much to add for most wildlife photographers and if I was spending that much more than my 40D I think I would probably go all the way to a 5D.

However, see what you think of it.

This has been discussed widely on many forums and the general concensus is that there is at lot more to offer for wildlife photographers. Improved weathersealing, completely new AF system, increased resolution and the 8fps.There aren't too many wildlife photographers using 5Ds - the slow frame rate and not so special AF for a pricey body isn't that appealing for wildlife togs.

I think it would be nice for Canon to make a 10mp APS-C camera very similar to the 40D but with a better buffer and significantly improved ISO performance - they could probably do it, considering they have managed to pretty much maintain buffer and ISO perfomance whilst upping the resolution - logic would suggest they could improve these things by now dropping the resolution.

[MeadsMan]

I take it due to the high 18 Megapixels,Canon have crammed in,we are not confident in the new sensor,giving great results at high iso then ?

[wrogers]

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

I take it due to the high 18 Megapixels,Canon have crammed in,we are not confident in the new sensor,giving great results at high iso then ?

The problem is that the tighter you pack electronics, the more heat that is given off, hence why the new Iphone had a problem with overheating.

this extra heat can give nasty consequences, like the IPhone 3Gs turning brown and also Noise at high ISO's

try this link

an excerpt from the link

Causes of Noise

There are a number of sources of noise contamination.

Heat generated might free electrons from the image sensor itself, thus contaminating the "true" photoelectrons. These "thermal electrons" give rise to a form of noise called thermal noise or dark current.

Another type of noise is more akin to the 'grain' obtained by using a high ISO film. When we use a higher ISO, we are amplifying the signal we receive from the light photons. Unfortunately, as we amplify the signal, we also amplify the background electrical noise that is present in any electrical system.

In low light, there is not enough light for a proper exposure and the longer we allow the image sensor to collect the weak signal, the more background electrical noise it also collects. In this case the background electrical noise may be higher than the signal.

So why is using a larger image sensor better?

Each photosite itself generates electrical noise that can contaminate its neighbor. In a larger image sensor, the photosites can be physically further apart and thus be less affected by that contamination.

A larger image sensor also means that the photosite can be larger, thus have a larger light gathering capacity. It is therefore able to generate a larger signal to noise ratio.

That is why a digital camera with 6 million pixels crammed into a 1/1.8 in. image sensor has more noise (especially at high ISOs) than a 6MP digital camera using the much larger half-frame (APS-sized) image sensor.

I hope this Helps.

MY personal View is that the glass and ISO Noise need improving more than resolution... Nikon has the D300 and D300s that have far lower noise levels than the 40D and 50D. This is where Canon falls down.

at the moment I wish I had a D300s and some magical adapter to put a canon 400mm F\5.6 L lens onto it!!


Wil

[welshcameraman]

It is exciting to see canon go pretty much head to head with the nikon 300/300s. Which are really the benchmark cameras for us enthusiasts. Being in the canon camp,I am already looking forward to seeing the reviews, but at the moment tend to agree with Geoff, if you are going to spend that kind of money,then spend a bit more and get the 5d mark 2 and maybe a 1.4 extender.

And of coarse, apart from wedding photographers, who really wants to spend, how much?...2, 3, 4 hundred pounds extra for an hd recording facility? Canon say they have surveyed 5000 photographers and say thats what they want, anybody on here want to start a survey of our own? I am on the no thanks side.

Martin..welshcameraman

[Hobjob]

For me the nice thing about this camera is that it is not full frame.

This means that with a 1.6 crop, my 100-400 lens still gives me 600+.

I f1nd that my 1.4 extender degrades the photo a bit, and I seldom use
it these days - others (notably John) disagree and use theirs all the time

[MeadsMan]

Quote;

MY personal View is that the glass and ISO Noise need improving more than resolution... Nikon has the D300 and D300s that have far lower noise levels than the 40D and 50D. This is where Canon falls down.

at the moment I wish I had a D300s and some magical adapter to put a canon 400mm F\5.6 L lens onto it!!


Wil

Wil, I am in exactly the same position as you,I love my Canon 400mm f5.6 prime,I just whish/hope Canon gives us something that performs a fair bit better at higher iso settings,I hope to stay optamistic about it,but from what you have explained to us it is looking a bit doubtfull if the 7D will be much of an improvement at this.

[Badllarma]

With it having the new processors (lower noise, better low light performance, hopefully)) 8 fps and 18 meg I think the 7D is a no brainer I'm into video as well so as far as I can see it ticks every box I've ever wanted.And there is one more thing.........

The one thing that blows all of these feature away is finally a 100% view finder which when trying to capture anything is a must IMO makes me scream when shooting sports and landscape to create a perfectly composed picture only to have a 1" or two added to each end of the frame, your can crop in post of course but this has always been a real pain in the A%*E to me.

I was envious of the 5D II low light capabilities but always though it was too
sedately for the subjects I shoot Sports, wildlife and Events. So now finally looks like we finally have a contender for replacing my 40D

[wrogers]

It seems that only a few people really want the HD video...
Personally i think I would use it, but not enough to warrant paying more than an extra £100-200.

If they released a 7D and a 7DV , one with and one without video I think that would work very well, but hey, this is Canon were talking about, who think that people will upgrade their 40D/400D whatever up to a camera that will out resolve even some L series lenses!!!

I think that they should have stuck with 15Mp for the 7D, or less.
and focused on getting the actual image quality up rather than image size

sure an 18Mp still would look lovely at A2 on my wall. my 10Mp picture looks a little iffy when I walk past it (right next to bedroom door) but at least the actual picture is sharp. an 18Mp out resolved picture would look no better.
If I had £1600 for the body and £1000 to upgrade my glass to L or primes, then I would buy one, simple as that, but they have just pushed it too far for me.

(searches google to find next lottery draw!)

Personally I will stick with upgrading slowly to L glass and then think about a new body. I might even change focal lengths and stop wildlife photography to ease the money side!!

Will