After handling Nikon and Canon I am really impressed with 7D

Thats about what they are selling for now. In fact I took a good look at the camera with 28-75mm, but I opted against it for now.

I use many different cameras and even MF digital backs, but the OP did stir the pot by comparing consumer DSLRs to his mid-range camera even if price was the main target. He might as well had posted the 7D as the best camera of all time rather than the toy snipe. BTW, you should see what some are capable of creating with those toys...

Thats about what they are selling for now. In fact I took a good look at the camera with 28-75mm, but I opted against it for now.

I use many different cameras and even MF digital backs, but the OP did stir the pot by comparing consumer DSLRs to his mid-range camera even if price was the main target. He might as well had posted the 7D as the best camera of all time rather than the toy snipe. BTW, you should see what some are capable of creating with those toys...

Ditto. It's always interesting when I go there because I get to hang around the camera section for a few minutes and listen to all the wrong answers that the sales people give out. It's unreal. As for actually testing them, I've gone into a couple CC's here and more often than not, the batteries aren't even charged. One store didn't even have lenses on the cameras, saying that it was a company policy.

Rich Lanthier said:

I'm a Minolta guy all the way (for the next little while anyway)
but testing anything at CC is a joke. I realize I might be
generalizing but whever I ask a question of anyone at the CCs in
the DC area, I always have a better answer than they do. The demo
equipment is also beaten to death. Those tethers. My, I would never
buy a demo from CC for sure!!!
--
Rich Lanthier
Having fun and learning a lot, I think ; a little searching can
go a long way.

Click to expand...

--
mtritt
http://trittphoto.smugmug.com

I got my 5D for that price, a month ago!!

anyway, back to the topic

I used to have Rebel XT, so I can make unbiased comments, since I've really used both

I lover the smaller size of xt for transport, but its bad grip and light body, added with high shutter vibration and lack of AS made me canot shot safely even with the 1/f length rule.

I got KM5D later which is bigger, heavier, and steadier, even with AS off, I can get more keepers than the XT (often blurred)

Menus is also better on the KM

but the terrible thing of KM is I have to go to another country only to get a lens!!!! And that lens is FRONT FOCUSING #@%@#%#$^#%#^
--
Ko-ni-ca Mi-nol-ta Dy-nax 5-D
Ca-non Re-bel X-T

Many threads/replies stopped after my reply!

Good comparision with the 5D. Out of curioustiy now I want to lay my hands on some midrange cameras by other makers just to see how they compare.

jamesdak said:

The viewfinders were little and dim. For some reason the
Canon took about 4 seconds after pressing the shutter release to
actual fire. I sure hope it was broke or set up wrong.

Click to expand...

Yeah, it was set up wrong or broken. Sometimes my 7D has a 2 second delay after pressing the shutter release before taking the photo. It's because I forgot to change it back to single shot from the 2-second delay setting. I have a DRebel and played with the DRebel XT. There is no delay.

--
Henry Richardson
http://www.hrich.com
http://www.printroom.com/pro/intrepid

Well, if I could get a Ferrari for the cost of a Ford than why would I not do it? As to entry level DSLR's I feel the Minolta 5D I've handled is better than the original cameras (to now remain un-named so as not to incite a riot!) mentioned in my first post. My amazement isn't that such and such manufacturer made such a cheap feeling product. It's that ANY manufacturer was making such a cheap product. I guess when you only handle higher end Minolta gear you don't realize what else is really out there in the market. I just can't see dropping $900 bucks for something that felt like the cameras I handled.

José B said:

I was one of the early adopters and I think I paid US$ 1650 or
something.

The 7D really a mid-range DSLR thus it compares the likes of 20D
(and now 30D) and the D200 albeit the latter is more expensive.
However the feel for these cameras are comparable. Depending on
your needs the D200 is weather sealed while the 7D as you know is
about as user friendly as a camera could get with the knobs and
dials. I like the handling of the 30D/20D too plus what's inside
the camera is superb too but we're only comparing the
handling/ergonomics here.

Congrats with your new camera.

José

Click to expand...

No Josè ,

i didn't buy D200 right now , but i had a long time shooting with it. A very good camera and very well built; but i think that it's not this great upgrade coming from my 7D. Let's say that i didn't felt in love with this camera.

After have seen some my pics taken with full frame eos 5D , i liked a lot the different perspective with wide angle such as with tele zooms. BTW even Canon has some points that i don't like , mainly the flash system, But i have to admit that Canon give you much choices , for cameras and for lenses. Well right now i'm continuing to enjoy my great 7D , cause i'm confused yet about Sony-Km story. I'll wait to see ehat they have to offer , then i'll choose.
Happy shooting!

Maurizio.

--
My gallery :

http://www.photoforum.ru/11712

Konica Minolta Dynax 7 D , Vertical Control Grip VC-7D , AF 17-35 F/2.8-4 (D) , AF 28-75 F/2.8 (D) , AF 70-200 F/2.8 APO G (D) SSM.

Question: How are you judging "feels cheap"

Is it based on weight? Did the Nikon or Canon flex in your hand? Did something fall off?

I think we have to be careful of these subjective assumptions. Steel is heavier than titanium, plastic in some uses is better than metal.

So why did they feel cheaper?

I worry that we get too many of "this camera is poorly made arguments" based on really subjective measures.

Some find the 5D to less well made than the 7D. There are features I wish my 5D had, but I don't like the size of the 7D. I think the size and lightness of the 5D is feature for me, that is not so for others.

Maybe the "feel" of the Nikon or Canon is just not the best for you, vs cheap..

Just thinking out loud

--
Ken H.
KM FiveDee - Kit 18-70- SG 70-300 APO

Hi Mar,

Sorry, I wrote those comments for James that he got a pretty good deal with the 7D.

Regarding upgrading your 7D, I am not sure what you are looking for. Notwithstanding AS, I believe that the D200 is a superb upgrade from the D100. Actually, if I were still shooting with the 7D, I would really consider the D200. However, I would probably still end up where I am right now with Canon from a big picture standpoint: superb lens lineup, very good flash system. lots of DSLR bodies to choose from, outstanding image quality in regular and low light environment and etc.

Having said the above I think with your investment in KM lenses, I agree that you should wait and see what Sony will offer in the next few months.

Regards,

José

Mar said:

No Josè ,
i didn't buy D200 right now , but i had a long time shooting with
it. A very good camera and very well built; but i think that it's
not this great upgrade coming from my 7D. Let's say that i didn't
felt in love with this camera.
After have seen some my pics taken with full frame eos 5D , i liked
a lot the different perspective with wide angle such as with tele
zooms. BTW even Canon has some points that i don't like , mainly
the flash system, But i have to admit that Canon give you much
choices , for cameras and for lenses. Well right now i'm continuing
to enjoy my great 7D , cause i'm confused yet about Sony-Km story.
I'll wait to see ehat they have to offer , then i'll choose.
Happy shooting!

Maurizio.

--
My gallery :

http://www.photoforum.ru/11712

Konica Minolta Dynax 7 D , Vertical Control Grip VC-7D , AF 17-35
F/2.8-4 (D) , AF 28-75 F/2.8 (D) , AF 70-200 F/2.8 APO G (D) SSM.

Click to expand...

--
Shooting with the famous Replacements (1DMarkIIN and 30D)
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/canon_1dmk2n
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/canon_30and20d
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/maxxum_7d

.....how to send you a private message?

--
My gallery :

http://www.photoforum.ru/11712

Konica Minolta Dynax 7 D , Vertical Control Grip VC-7D , AF 17-35 F/2.8-4 (D) , AF 28-75 F/2.8 (D) , AF 70-200 F/2.8 APO G (D) SSM.

Mar,

You can send it to my yahoo account:

[email protected]

Mar said:

.....how to send you a private message?

--
My gallery :

http://www.photoforum.ru/11712

Konica Minolta Dynax 7 D , Vertical Control Grip VC-7D , AF 17-35
F/2.8-4 (D) , AF 28-75 F/2.8 (D) , AF 70-200 F/2.8 APO G (D) SSM.

Click to expand...

--
Shooting with the famous Replacements (1DMarkIIN and 30D)
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/canon_1dmk2n
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/canon_30and20d
http://www.pbase.com/jmb_56/maxxum_7d

Hi all,

I have researched the 20/30D/1DmkIIN and D200 and have come to the conclusion that neither of those cameras can make me trade-in my 7D. Only a D2X will make me feel like i have upgraded to a camera worthly of replacing the 7D.The D2X has everything i want in a single camera to last me many years.

In the last 4 weeks, i have tried to buy a 70-200/2.8 SSM twice, but the price is high and it's a risk to end up with a system that's not going anywhere.

All, those other cameras are good at what they do, but the improvements over the 7D are not enough for me to invest money in a change. Then it will be much better to buy a Sigma 70-200/2.8 IF The new Sigma 70-200/2.8 Macro HSM would be a very good replacement for my 70-210/f4, if it was announced with a KM mount.

Regards,

Rob

José B said:

Hi Mar,

Sorry, I wrote those comments for James that he got a pretty good
deal with the 7D.

Regarding upgrading your 7D, I am not sure what you are looking
for. Notwithstanding AS, I believe that the D200 is a superb
upgrade from the D100. Actually, if I were still shooting with the
7D, I would really consider the D200. However, I would probably
still end up where I am right now with Canon from a big picture
standpoint: superb lens lineup, very good flash system. lots of
DSLR bodies to choose from, outstanding image quality in regular
and low light environment and etc.

Having said the above I think with your investment in KM lenses, I
agree that you should wait and see what Sony will offer in the next
few months.

Regards,

José

Click to expand...

.......7D is a great camera i will continue to shooting for a long time until she died!!!! For the future we'll see.

--
My gallery :

http://www.photoforum.ru/11712

Konica Minolta Dynax 7 D , Vertical Control Grip VC-7D , AF 17-35 F/2.8-4 (D) , AF 28-75 F/2.8 (D) , AF 70-200 F/2.8 APO G (D) SSM.

jamesdak said:

It'll be interesting down the road to see if us Minolta
owners get left without any new options. I personally like how
Minolta sets up the user interfaces of their cameras. But, I also
realize that Canon and Nikon must have thier own strengths to keep
such a strong customer base.

Click to expand...

Nikon is floating off the use of their older film cameras by journalists. That's where they got their name, from the F1. It's now mostly a name thing.

Canon I've never seen any particular advantage. The cameras are ok, but not really special. I think a lot is simply more advertizing. They also flood the market with models at all levels.

Minolta, when they went AF lost a lot of what they had. Their strengths were in things like macro and so on. In the MF days they were a choice camera for field biologists. The ability to handle out of the ordinary photography. As a AF camera they became much more just another me too camera. They at least understood that cameras should be designed with input from photographers.

The 7D as a system is a shadow of what used to be. And still is the top camera in user interface. I'm not expecting to see another like it. The future is cameras designed by computer geeks. Folks who don't do photography.

Walt

Canon is nothing spectacular attitude...but, got to say I am beginning to be a Believer.

Canon AF is lightning fast.

I have owned alot of Minolta glass and nothing even comes close to focuing as fast, IMO. No Scientific data to back this up, just personal opinions, based on usage.

Another edge canon has over Minolta is Lens Price,which was a major surprise, of the higher end glass and AVAILABILITY!

I was so sick and tired of being ona B&H waiting list for the 70-200mm SSM, get an e-mail saying B&H finally had some in. Race over to the website, only to see they were all sold out!

All in all, I still prefer Minnolta. Even with the slower focusing glass. Minolta has more pleaasing bokeh, across the board, and their bodies are untoughed by anyone.

System versus system though. Canon is the leader and offers alot more to a photographer. I just do not need all those choices and Minolta had me pretty well covered.

Though, to be blunt, I was so ticked off about the age of Minolta Glass.I missed so many shots because of the slower focusing, while my Canon & Nikon buddies were getting them.Sure, the ones I did get were slightly better, to a picky SOB like me, but not enough to make up for missed stuff.

I had already decided if Minolta did not update the lens line-up, i was switching, Then when Sony forced a brand change upon me, I makde up my mind to choose the best brand, for me, by me, and not stick with a camera body, out of loyalty and in the hopes it would improve to teh point that the other manufacturers were at already.

--
Dave Patterson
---------------------
Midwestshutterbug.com
----------------------------------
When the light and composition are strong, nobody
notices things like resolution or pincushion distortion

The Niikon D200 is a nice camera , and my friends has no banding issue, but it is not superior to the 7D. I think I have used the D200 about as much as my 20D. if not, darn close.

I much prefer the 7D over the D200 , or the 20D, to be truthful.

That said, I prefer the availablitiy of Canon glass, and the certainity\stability of the product line, as well as its much faster focusing.

I would definitely not switch to Nikon, from Minolta, solely for the D200..

LOL, which is obvious, I guess, since I did switch to Canon and could have sent it all back for Nikon stuff instead.

After spending quite some time with th D200, I chose not to .

--
Dave Patterson
---------------------
Midwestshutterbug.com
----------------------------------
When the light and composition are strong, nobody
notices things like resolution or pincushion distortion

--
-Kehoe

midwestshutterbug said:

I have owned alot of Minolta glass and nothing even comes close to
focuing as fast, IMO. No Scientific data to back this up, just
personal opinions, based on usage.

Click to expand...

What little I've tried Canon it's sometimes fast, but no better at focusing on what I want than any other. I'm very picky about focus where I want it, not where some microprocessor thinks is best to focus on. So it's not a big point with me, the Minolta AF gets it wrong fast enough. Canon gets it wrong just as often but faster.

midwestshutterbug said:

Another edge canon has over Minolta is Lens Price,which was a major
surprise, of the higher end glass and AVAILABILITY!

Click to expand...

This depends highly on what lenses you are looking at.

midwestshutterbug said:

System versus system though. Canon is the leader and offers alot
more to a photographer. I just do not need all those choices and
Minolta had me pretty well covered.

Click to expand...

It all depends on what sort of photographer you are. They are the leader in sales but that just does not imply anything about using them to take photos. They fit some photographers well, but not others.

I do realize I'm a old guy and out of touch with the younger folk. I craft photos, not in a hurry. So what's important to me is different.

midwestshutterbug said:

I had already decided if Minolta did not update the lens line-up, i
was switching, Then when Sony forced a brand change upon me, I
makde up my mind to choose the best brand, for me, by me, and not
stick with a camera body, out of loyalty and in the hopes it would
improve to teh point that the other manufacturers were at already.

Click to expand...

Before the 7D came out I was deciding where to go from my RD-175, Minolta's original DSLR, which is being cut off by continual change in computers. (I've been upset at Minolta's DSLR development for 10 years). I have a small amount of old Nikon gear with my astronomy stuff, but that would probably not transfer into a modern system and is film.

Every time I'd go and try out C or N gear I really was not happy, though it is something I can use. I've had even more time to experiment with Nikon than Canon as more in my family have Nikon. After getting my 7D I spent a week in the field shooting side by side with my sister using Nikon. And we traded back and forth some comparing how we did shots. Both worked, but the controls were slower to use on the Nikon. Particularily if a lot of settings needed changing between shots. It's hard to beat the 7D setup for convenient shooting. My sister does her serious work on color film view camera formats, the large Nikon outfit she has is her casual outfit. I also got to go through another sister's large Canon outfit, but no field time. Out of that I'm still headed to Nikon if the 7D/Sony thing does not work out. Though that will be quite a few years down the road as I've essentially completed my 7D system. I started over a year ago. I don't regret the choice. What choice there will be in another 10 years is really unknown. For all we know both C & N could be gone by then.

Walt

Walt, I'm glad you are happy with your equipment , and that it serves you so well.

I have wanted to slam my 20D to the ground, more than once, because I could not instantly change a setting --but, that was due to my own lack of familararity with the camera body. Not the camera itself.

Minolta makes the most inuitive body available, in the 7D, In my not a darn bit humble Opinion.

I do not regret, not a for a second, my change to Canon. I think it is the stronger lens system.

I wish Minolta had it, Sony never took over Minolta, and I was still shooting Minolta but, then again, while I may oftimes wish for alot of things that never were or never will be again, I try to learn to deal with what is and adapt.

--
Dave Patterson
---------------------
Midwestshutterbug.com
----------------------------------
When the light and composition are strong, nobody
notices things like resolution or pincushion distortion