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For Birders - KM7D vs 30D first day comparision

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Ok, I got back out this morning on a very cold but sunny day. Temps around 15-20 degrees but nice light from the morning's rising sun. Went to a new error today and encountered some very cooperative subjects. Spent quite awhile shooting with the Canon setup and getting a slew of quality shots. Once I realized the owls were not going away I got the 7D and 300 f/4 out to do some shooting with. Once again, not getting in done. Slow moving owl side lit but the rising sun shooting the 7D in continous AF with both wide array and center AF. The 7D would capture one shot in focus, hunt and then reacquire, hunt again and reacquire. Much the same thing as I have been seeing for 8 months now. I'm curious if the 5D or A100 does better? The light conditions were great today so there really is no excuse. Maybe if conditions are good the next time I go back I'll break out the Maxxum 7, load up some Velvia and test it also. I'm sure it will do fine though as it always did.

I did capture fairly identical shots of a Kestrel today with both the 30D and the 7D I'll get those up tonight or tomorrow as an IQ comparision.

Two typical shots from today.



 
thanks for the report

Just wondering - did you ever have a chance to get your 7D calibrated/serviced?

It is surprising that there is so much hunting with the type of shots you are discussing. (good lighting, simple background)
jamesdak said:
Ok, I got back out this morning on a very cold but sunny day.
Temps around 15-20 degrees but nice light from the morning's rising
sun. Went to a new error today and encountered some very
cooperative subjects. Spent quite awhile shooting with the Canon
setup and getting a slew of quality shots. Once I realized the
owls were not going away I got the 7D and 300 f/4 out to do some
shooting with. Once again, not getting in done. Slow moving owl
side lit but the rising sun shooting the 7D in continous AF with
both wide array and center AF. The 7D would capture one shot in
focus, hunt and then reacquire, hunt again and reacquire. Much the
same thing as I have been seeing for 8 months now. I'm curious if
the 5D or A100 does better? The light conditions were great today
so there really is no excuse. Maybe if conditions are good the
next time I go back I'll break out the Maxxum 7, load up some
Velvia and test it also. I'm sure it will do fine though as it
always did.

I did capture fairly identical shots of a Kestrel today with both
the 30D and the 7D I'll get those up tonight or tomorrow as an IQ
comparision.

Two typical shots from today.





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Click to expand...
--
Bernard

a100+28/2... yee~ha!~
7D+STF135... yee~ha!~
AS/SSS rocks!
lens reviews and more on dyxum.com!
 
Never gave it a thought. The 7D has always been reported to have a less than steller AF tracking system. I tested it for BF/FF when new and found it to be pretty much dead on with all my lenses. In todays case what was occuring wasn't a full run out to infinity type hunting, just adjusting out of focus and then back in.
 
Interesting information. Has me thinking, I could sale my 400 G + 1.4 tc for enough to cover most of a 30D + 100-400 is or maybe 400 prime. My only complaint about the Minolta gear is AF speed and accuracy. I dont do much with flying birds but with any wildlife af is critical. I think I would really miss the 400 G though.
 
Sure you can offset some points against others, but the harsh reality is the 30D is a better camera on overall merit (remember, I'm a 7D user with no real scope to change in the forseeable future unless the body dies). Can't comment on glass quality in an educated manner, but siffice to say that the lenses my wife has on her 300D allow her to take pictures at least on a par with any lens I have used on the 7D, so scientific numbers aside, i would wager in the real worls there would be little discernable difference.

Cheers!
--
Craig A Clark
F-Nine ~ DIGITAL
http://www.f-nine.co.uk/
http://photo.f-nine.co.uk/
http://caclark.zenfolio.com/
 
That's sort of how I funded the buy. I started selling some excess lenses off that I just did not use anymore planning on getting a true wide angle for the 7D. But frustration with the 7D's AF tracking led me to the purchase of the 30D instead. Now after a few trips shooting with it I think I will sell my 300 f/4 and 1.4x t-con. I am going to run an image quality test first but I don't see a need to have the Canon 400mm lense and the Minolta 300. By selling the 300, the t-con, and the hard to get drop in polarizer for the 300 I should be able to get enough to buy a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM lens. With that and my 7D normal and wide primes I should have it all covered for now.

Now to see if my "forum stalker" jumps on my case again because I dared to talk about possibly selling something, LOL!!!
 
Not to jump on the Canon band wagon, but....I sold my 7D last month with all my glass (80-200/2.8 HS G, 28-75/2.8D). I purchased the 30D, 70-200/2.8 IS USM L, 300/4 IS USM L and 1.4 tc.

My observations after shooting for 2 weeks...

Nothing beats the 7D for ergonomics. Everything is readily accessible with a button or switch. Still getting use to the layout of the 30D.

I'm pleased to say that focus speed and accuracy is far better with the 30D. I'm glad I made the switch for this reason alone. The availablity of the high end glass made my transition to Canon quite painless. The price of the L lenses is easier to handle too, especially now with rebates.

The Canon 300/4 with the 1.4 tc attached focuses faster the my 7D with the 80-200/2.8 HS G.



30D with 300/4 & 1.4tc

However great the 30D focusing may be, my 7D, 28-75, 80-200 5600 HSD performed flawlessly for my last bikini shoot. I have not used the 30D for bikini shots yet but I only hope it performs as well as the 7D.



7D, 28-75D, 5600HSD (unedited)

Cheers,

Pat
 
jamesdak said:
That's sort of how I funded the buy. I started selling some excess
lenses off that I just did not use anymore planning on getting a
true wide angle for the 7D. But frustration with the 7D's AF
tracking led me to the purchase of the 30D instead. Now after a
few trips shooting with it I think I will sell my 300 f/4 and 1.4x
t-con. I am going to run an image quality test first but I don't
see a need to have the Canon 400mm lense and the Minolta 300. By
selling the 300, the t-con, and the hard to get drop in polarizer
for the 300 I should be able to get enough to buy a Canon 70-200
f/2.8 IS USM lens. With that and my 7D normal and wide primes I
should have it all covered for now.

Now to see if my "forum stalker" jumps on my case again because I
dared to talk about possibly selling something, LOL!!!
Click to expand...
I think most people about here are sensible enough to know that there is more to a photographer than the camera they use. 30D like all others has its pros and cons...

For you particular shooting it makes sense..for someone else..maybe not...

I really don't care what badge is on a camera..I make a buying choice on what I need/want, and budget...I think most do too.

On the other hand a skilled master will always get great shots...even with a flawed camera....it may not be as easy..but it has been shown time and time again.

We all get distracted by gear and tech specs..when really the only thing that counts is what you produce with the thing!
--

 
Pat,

What do you think of the 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens? I'm thinking of getting that one real soon. Do you really notice the weight and what is you opinion of how well the IS works?
--
Long live the HMS Beagle
 
Exactly, in the right conditions even my Panasonic DMC FZ10 can capture some great images. Too bad it's wonderful lens is coupled to such a noisy sensor.

All of these from the FZ10:







--
Long live the HMS Beagle
 
Why don't you just move on ?

You've said everything that might be of interest for users here a long, long time ago. So what's keeping you ?
I am curious about human nature, especially its irrationality.

J.
 
Jean,

Just out of curiousity, why do you care?

If you must know I still own and shoot a KM 7D, Maxxum 7, and about 20 other Minolta SLR bodies. I also still maintain and use a slew of prime lenses on said cameras. I make limited post such as this to help fellow bird photographers who want the best images they can get and are not all wrapped up in silly "brand loyalty" issues. I addressed the post to bird photographers so please respect those of us who happen to shoot both Minolta and other equipment. This for me means Canon, Mamiya, Panasonic, Olympus, and even old Polariod Land Camera that gets played with occassionaly.
--
Long live the HMS Beagle
 
The weight is not too much of a problem FOR ME. I was used to huffing the 80-200/2.8 HS G around. That's no lightweight either! The Canon 70-200 is a little longer and the weight feels similar. Unfortunately I've only used it one time so far. That was for an ice hockey game. The pics are posted but the webmaster made them 150% crops so its pointless looking at them. The only thing the lens is missing is focus hold button(s). I got mine at B&H for $1599, that's not including the rebate ($90). Yes folks, that's with image stabilization too. Another reason I jumped to canon.
Sorry I'm not too much help right now.

Pat
 
Jean,

Please disregard my first statement of the previous post, it was innappropiate. But, I did ask in the original post for people to not turn this thread into a flame war. There are several people still responding to this thread in a constructive way and your post seemed to really serve no purpose to the discussion.
--
Long live the HMS Beagle
 
Pat, thanks I'm pretty sure I am going to make the purpose. I'm going to talk to a local shop today who claim to price match and see if they will match B&H's price.
--
Long live the HMS Beagle
 
jamesdak said:
Jean,

Please disregard my first statement of the previous post, it was
innappropiate. But, I did ask in the original post for people to
not turn this thread into a flame war. There are several people
still responding to this thread in a constructive way and your post
seemed to really serve no purpose to the discussion.
Click to expand...
I did not feel offended in any way and I am fully conscious that I am the one taking the risk to deviate the thread here.
So don't apologize.

Jean
 
--
Thanks,

Digitalshooter!

Member of the 7D and Beercan Cult! Looking for a muffler for my 7D!

The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming clearer and its calling me to the darkside!
 
Quite a compliment coming from a person with your background and experience. I hope to post more similar shots soon.
Thanks.

ps- save a ticket for me if/when Maria hits your courts!! I'll make to trip up North...

Cheers,

Pat
 
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