Comments on: 7D Image Quality & AI Servo AF Pattern Comment (for birds in flight)

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:17:14 +0000

Hi Alberto, Thanks for your kind words. Processing my 7D images takes just about the same amount of time as processing my MIV images. Good luck with your equipment choices. If I lived in a place where the birds were small and distant and I had a pro body I would not hesitate to buy the 800 as my prime lens. If I had a 40D or 50D or a 7D I would opt for the 500 plus the 1.4X II TC for more flexibility. I will try to take a peek at some of your images soon. I just walked in the house after a long day of flying.

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:16:36 +0000

I will get started on the guide when I get back from Midway in mid-March. I prefer to handhold for birds in flight unless the birds and the lenses are really big

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:15:11 +0000

Hi Darwin, Thanks for getting in touch. I should have said that the review is totally worthless for sports and wildlife folks as I have no knowledge of landscape stuff. I gotta admit that I did not agree with much of what you said but not wanting to get into a piss fight I will just say “sorry” and let it go at that. BTW, though I have written a few books the correct spelling of my first name is Arthur.

By: Alberto Lopez

Alberto Lopez — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:52:03 +0000

Hi Artie,

Love your articles!

Ive seen very impressive photographs taken with the 7D also, by Arthur and Glenn, and I believe it is a great camera, though, was post processing essential for making them that good? I personally dont like to do post processing that much I have to admit, I basically do some white balance, sharpening and maybe some tonal corrections once in a while and clone stamps once every blue moon.

Im a relatively newcomer to bird photography, I started out with a XT then upgraded to the 40D and know I am up for another upgrade. I am debating if wether to get the 7D or wait a little bit more and get a pro body. Right now I only have the 400mm L F 5.6 and I will eventually get the 500mm or the 600mm L lens.

Im trying to decide if I should get the 7D to be able to buy a super telephoto lens sooner, or get a pro body and wait a little bit more. I think I will probably get the 500 because of the price and I also read in your Cd book that if you would have to pick only one of the two lenses you would pick the 500, is this still true? The crop factor camera will definitely give me the length needed and if I get the pro body I will loose this but gain more image quality so its hard to decide.

So I would appreciate any recommendations.

Here are some of my pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/puertoricanwildlifephotography/sets/72157602455721111/

Alberto

By: Edy

Edy — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:37:42 +0000

Hi Artie

I hope you can finish the 7d user guide (especially for birding or landscaping) as soon as possible. I am 7d user and still struggling to set the camera for birding and landscape.

Do you always use tripod when shooting bird in flight ?

Thanks
Edy

By: Darwin Wiggett

Darwin Wiggett — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:16:09 +0000

Hi Authur, I think as an action camera the 7D is amazing, I loved it for action and for sports. I can totally see why a wildlife shooter would find the camera a wonderful addition.As a landscape camera it did not work for me when using smaller apertures unless I did super agressive sharpening in post. I think you are correct, everyone must test for themselves. As for your conclusion that my review ‘is totally worthless’, well numerous people thanked my for the review because it forced them to rent and try out the camera (some loved it, some didn’t). So at the bare minimum, it got people trying things out before making a blind investment in a camera. I think you would agree that is probably a good thing. Sincerely, ‘that guy’

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:07:45 +0000

YAW and good plan

By: Connor Stefanison

Connor Stefanison — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:29:18 +0000

Thanks for the tips Art, I’ll be sure to try them out.

Connor

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:18:58 +0000

Connor, YAW. As far as sharpness, I am not sure what you are looking for: the scaup image looks perfectly sharp to me. A bit of Eye Doctor work (as described in Digital Basics) would make it look a bit sharper. Not sure where but I have written a bunch about sharpness; most folks spend too much time worrying about how sharp an image looks at 10,000% rather than on learning to create good image files, making great prints, and selling their work…

I read that guy’s review and consider it totally worthless.

ps: Try the tests….
pps: You might try doing a search for “the pen test.”

By: Connor Stefanison

Connor Stefanison — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:39:52 +0000

Hi Artie, thanks for the reply. Below is a link to the sharpest image i’ve gotten with the 7D. Not sufficiently sharp for my liking. For sharp 7D shots I’ve so far only seen your shots and some by Glenn Bartley.
Using the 500 F4, I was always using a tripod, and usually high shutter speeds with “sharp” f-stops like F9. I really tried everything I could to achieve tack sharpness.
http://connorstefanison.zenfolio.com/p1030223908/hb0b9467#hb0b9467
Judging from your shots, unfortunately I think i bought a dud.
I read your new post, it’s quite informative and well done.

Here is Darwin Wigget’s review I mentioned earlier.
http://darwinwiggett.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/the-canon-7d/

Thanks,
Connor

PS. I just signed up for your newsletters. They’re really good, I look forward to reading many future newsletters.