It's time to order...should I?

I was recently hired to photograph a full wedding. I've shot weddings, as a second shooter, with my A1. The results are great but I want something nicer for formals. This wedding is happening in March, so I don't have much time. I want the M7D for many reasons including the fact that I own two of the batteries and the 3600 flash already. I thought about the Canon 20d but then I would need to purchase the accessories I already own for the M7D. I also love AS and not being nailed by expensive IS lenses. Anyway...What freaks me out are these backfocus posts. It's great that KM is atempting to fix them, but I don't have time to be sending it in for service. I need all that time to learn the camera etc. Also, I can't purchase the M7D locally, only the 20d.

So tell me, should I be this concerned about the backfocus issues? There were focus issues with the A1 too, but I never had any of them. Are my chances good that I won't have a backfocus M7D? Or is it that only a small percentage have this issue and they are the ones posting? No offfense to those posting the issue, I'm just trying to make a decision here.

Please help!

I also plan to get a 7D in a month or thereabouts so I know how you feel. To put things into perspective though you should remember this:

• Canon 10D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Canon 300D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Canon 20D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Nikon D100 had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Nikon D70 had lots of complaints of problems when it came out

I bet if you went back to the Canon D30, D60, Pentax *istD, etc. you would find the same thing. Some percentage of units of anything as complex as a DSLR are going to have problems. Just go to some of the automobile forums on the internet and see how many complaints you will see about all kinds of new cars. Anyway, none of this will make you or me feel better if we get a bad DSLR, but I am just trying to insert a bit of reality into all of this.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.richardson.photoshare.co.nz/
http://www.printroom.com/pro/intrepid

If you buy a 7D, chances are good that you will get a good one. If you like A1, you will love 7D. Yes, there is a real possbility than you will end up with a lemon camera just like there was this chance with A1 or might even have with a lemon 20D.

The most important thing is that you thoroughly test and become familiar with the camera well in advance of shooting a wedding. A wedding is no place to find out that you have a backfocusing problem or a flash exposure problem.

If you are going to order the 7D, make sure you order from a place that allows you to make a switch or return the camera if necessary.

Word to the wise, before the wedding, practice, practice, and practice and take the A1 along as back up if you can't afford a second 7D as back up.

Stalyon said:

I was recently hired to photograph a full wedding. I've shot
weddings, as a second shooter, with my A1. The results are great
but I want something nicer for formals. This wedding is happening
in March, so I don't have much time. I want the M7D for many
reasons including the fact that I own two of the batteries and the
3600 flash already. I thought about the Canon 20d but then I would
need to purchase the accessories I already own for the M7D. I also
love AS and not being nailed by expensive IS lenses. Anyway...What
freaks me out are these backfocus posts. It's great that KM is
atempting to fix them, but I don't have time to be sending it in
for service. I need all that time to learn the camera etc. Also,
I can't purchase the M7D locally, only the 20d.

So tell me, should I be this concerned about the backfocus issues?
There were focus issues with the A1 too, but I never had any of
them. Are my chances good that I won't have a backfocus M7D? Or
is it that only a small percentage have this issue and they are the
ones posting? No offfense to those posting the issue, I'm just
trying to make a decision here.

Please help!

Click to expand...

--
Vance Zachary
http://www.pbase.com/photoworkszach
http://www.photoworksbyzachary.com

I'd say you're far more likely to get a good camera than a camera with an issue. Take a backup camera (doesn't matter if its DSLR or Film, principle applies)

To give yourself the best opportunity for success, I'd suggest a Stroboframe and the 5600HSD in wireless mode (or wired if you find it works just fine). Potentially, go with the 3600HSD instead, we just haven't heard of (m)any issues with that flash.

You may find you can do the back-focus, exposure, and CCD askew tests right at the store to help give yourself piece of mind. I believe most of the instructions are contained on threads in this forum.

I'm very happy with mine... Hope you will be as well.

Dave

My good friend Henry has it in the right perspective. I have the D7 and it is wonderful. Everything I am hearing on this forum lately about which camera to buy is basically splitting hairs. I guarantee you will get images you love and will be able to sell with this camera. One caveot: if you get the D7, go ahead and do some trial images with the 3600 flash because I do think there is some underexposure at ISO 100 which is better at ISO 400 or adding compensation on the flash. The Shadows and Highlights function in Photoshop CS, if done properly, has fixed this. I have the same flash. Again, I don't think any of these cameras are that significantly different when the final print is produced. They are all probably wonderful and a great way into digital photograhy. Have fun!
Erik Pronske, M.D.

Henry Richardson said:

I also plan to get a 7D in a month or thereabouts so I know how you
feel. To put things into perspective though you should remember
this:

• Canon 10D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Canon 300D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Canon 20D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Nikon D100 had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Nikon D70 had lots of complaints of problems when it came out

I bet if you went back to the Canon D30, D60, Pentax *istD, etc.
you would find the same thing. Some percentage of units of
anything as complex as a DSLR are going to have problems. Just go
to some of the automobile forums on the internet and see how many
complaints you will see about all kinds of new cars. Anyway, none
of this will make you or me feel better if we get a bad DSLR, but I
am just trying to insert a bit of reality into all of this.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.richardson.photoshare.co.nz/
http://www.printroom.com/pro/intrepid

Click to expand...

Thanks guys. I know all about the other cameras and their issues too. I do almost to much research when spending this kind of money. LOL My wife wishes I would just buy something! In the end I know she appreciates it though. I hate wasting money and I hate the hassles of warranties etc. Oh well, you never get anywhere unless you make that first move.

Speaking of the D70, I almost had one of those bt that forum was ablaze of backfocus complaints! The 20D does have all kinds of complaints as well. I even thought about another A1 but I don't like the thought of spending $600 knowing that it's not what I really want. The M7D should make me feel at home and the comfort level should be there quickly since a lot is the menus are similar. I have a feeling I would be lost in the 20D. I would buy an Evolt 300 in a heart beat if I knew they would get IS lenses at some point. The same with Pentax. I even have Pentax SLR film gear to use, but again they can't use IS lenses.

As for the flash situation, I do read a lot of the flash issues here. The 3600 seems to fair better and I would use ISO 200 or 400 as well. I really want the M7D for the formals (raw+jpg) and some shallow DOF shots that the brides always love. For formal lighting I will be using an Alien Bee B1600 and beauty dish. The rest (reception candids) I will probably use my trusted A1 for.

I'm going to give this thread a few days to grow and probably order on Monday. I'll let you know what I decide. It would really help if a local dealer had them. As of now, I have to drive 3 hours round trip to pick one up in person. : (

Erik Pronske said:

Henry Richardson said:

I also plan to get a 7D in a month or thereabouts so I know how you
feel. To put things into perspective though you should remember
this:

• Canon 10D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Canon 300D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Canon 20D had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Nikon D100 had lots of complaints of problems when it came out
• Nikon D70 had lots of complaints of problems when it came out

I bet if you went back to the Canon D30, D60, Pentax *istD, etc.
you would find the same thing. Some percentage of units of
anything as complex as a DSLR are going to have problems. Just go
to some of the automobile forums on the internet and see how many
complaints you will see about all kinds of new cars. Anyway, none
of this will make you or me feel better if we get a bad DSLR, but I
am just trying to insert a bit of reality into all of this.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.richardson.photoshare.co.nz/
http://www.printroom.com/pro/intrepid

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