7D, 40D owners

My question is to those that owned a 40D and upgraded to a 7D besides all the hype of the fancy features, what is your impression of IQ and low to medium ISO's. I tried a 50D and didn't like it, the 40D was pretty good and regreted selling it, now I'm interested in a wildlife (primarily) camera and back up to my 5D Mk II that I use for lanscape. Look forward to your thoughts and I realize this may be a little early.
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Image's In Light North West
http://rossmurphy.zenfolio.com/
http://imagesinlightnw.blogspot.com/

My initial reaction is that I really really like the 7D over my 40D...obviously I'm still going through the learning curve, but fortunately much of the items on the 7D menu system are very similar (intuitive) from my experiences with my 40D for the past 2 years.

I have only had it out taking pics for about 10 minutes last night, but here's my initial "cool factor" reactions:
Sound - 8fps much quieter and nicer sound than the 6.3fps on the 40D.

Images with the same lens used on both cameras appear to be much sharper and the colors/contrast/exposure, etc. just seem to pop...my 40D's always seemed a bit dull and lifeless.

AutoFocusing system (AF) - fast and responsive and most importanly appears to be quite accurate. This is probably the area with the greatest need to read the manual (RTM).

Video - not sure yet, have not used it...but I also have a a Canon HG20. Now the question will be do I keep the 7D as my video source for the limited stuff I want HD video for, or do I need to keep both? Time will tell once I can compare both side by side.

I will get my 7D tomorrow. After using it for a while I will be happy to leave you my opinion. Bab

Good to hear. Neat that the shutter sound is even quieter than on the 40D. Will have a 7D soon. Getting ready now with new PC and getting CS4.

jm95051 said:

My initial reaction is that I really really like the 7D over my 40D...obviously I'm still going through the learning curve, but fortunately much of the items on the 7D menu system are very similar (intuitive) from my experiences with my 40D for the past 2 years.

I have only had it out taking pics for about 10 minutes last night, but here's my initial "cool factor" reactions:
Sound - 8fps much quieter and nicer sound than the 6.3fps on the 40D.

Images with the same lens used on both cameras appear to be much sharper and the colors/contrast/exposure, etc. just seem to pop...my 40D's always seemed a bit dull and lifeless.

AutoFocusing system (AF) - fast and responsive and most importanly appears to be quite accurate. This is probably the area with the greatest need to read the manual (RTM).

Video - not sure yet, have not used it...but I also have a a Canon HG20. Now the question will be do I keep the 7D as my video source for the limited stuff I want HD video for, or do I need to keep both? Time will tell once I can compare both side by side.

Click to expand...

I'll likely still buy a HD camcorder because you can record for longer than a certain number of minutes on the 7D (not that my camcorder clips are that lengthy even on a regular camcorder) BUT you get some really nice DOF video shots with the 7D....like shooting video with an 85 1.8 or 70-200 2.8L at 2.8, etc. Can't do that with a consumer camcorder.

xx
xx

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I know you mean well but please do not embed my images into the forum. Thanks for respecting that.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/some_recent_shots
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Tanglefoot47
Tulalip Wa.

Canon seems to have addressed every issue I've had with the 20/30/40D's (I've owned all three). The 7D is in different league altogether. From the improved viewfinder to the completely configurable buttons (they finally figured out that this is a computer, after all) to the image quality, it's superior to the 40D in every respect.

I have a 40D and it does what I need in a camera. I must admit the 7D has a lot going for it.

I have a canon HG10 video camera. HD, image stabilized and built in hard drive. It also takes single images. Good enough for me.
I am retired and gettin along a bit so maybe not as adventourus as I once was.
But, a 7D is exciting and in your shoes , go for it.

I have 5 PCs so I don't need more . I have several versions of PS , latest CS3, so I don't need more.
I am looking forward to your images and impressions this winter of the 7D.
Gerry

Justme said:

Good to hear. Neat that the shutter sound is even quieter than on the 40D. Will have a 7D soon. Getting ready now with new PC and getting CS4.

jm95051 said:

My initial reaction is that I really really like the 7D over my 40D...obviously I'm still going through the learning curve, but fortunately much of the items on the 7D menu system are very similar (intuitive) from my experiences with my 40D for the past 2 years.

I have only had it out taking pics for about 10 minutes last night, but here's my initial "cool factor" reactions:
Sound - 8fps much quieter and nicer sound than the 6.3fps on the 40D.

Images with the same lens used on both cameras appear to be much sharper and the colors/contrast/exposure, etc. just seem to pop...my 40D's always seemed a bit dull and lifeless.

AutoFocusing system (AF) - fast and responsive and most importanly appears to be quite accurate. This is probably the area with the greatest need to read the manual (RTM).

Video - not sure yet, have not used it...but I also have a a Canon HG20. Now the question will be do I keep the 7D as my video source for the limited stuff I want HD video for, or do I need to keep both? Time will tell once I can compare both side by side.

Click to expand...

I'll likely still buy a HD camcorder because you can record for longer than a certain number of minutes on the 7D (not that my camcorder clips are that lengthy even on a regular camcorder) BUT you get some really nice DOF video shots with the 7D....like shooting video with an 85 1.8 or 70-200 2.8L at 2.8, etc. Can't do that with a consumer camcorder.

xx
xx

--

I know you mean well but please do not embed my images into the forum. Thanks for respecting that.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/some_recent_shots
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/a_red_fox_family

Click to expand...

--

If you go into Home Depot and someone offers to help you and he is not an employee, you are in Canada

Could you test 70d mRaws at corresponding ISOs on the 40d? These would be interesting as they would be the same size.

Had a 40D for a short time, didn't really care for it. Got the 7D yesterday....love the sound of the shutter and the feel. VF is really nice and to hear those frames clipping off at 8 fps is music to my ears. 8 frames per sec sure sounds a lot faster than 6.5 fps on the 40D. Love the AF points, not sure about whether they are better but it sure makes me believe its better. Don't really care about the video, but maybe that's because I don't know the difference between 24 fps, 30fps, 60 fps. To me 60 fps sure sounds like it should be better than 24 fps.....but everyone seems to be sure that 24 is preferred over 60! I am sure that ISO 6400 is better than anything I have ever seen on any of the xxD models. I am really excited to get out and now shoot the dang thing instead of just staring at it.

I skipped the 50D but I am seriously interested
in the 7D and it's comparisons to the 40D.

I posted some early pictures on dpr to compare it at ISO3200. But i also took pictures at all other ISO's. Images are available for 20D, 40D, 7D and 5Dmkii

But since it was dark the shutterspeed is quite long. ISO100 -> 30s, ISO200 -> 15s, etc.

Camera was on a tripod, remote shutter, NO mirror lockup, [email protected] on crop, [email protected] on 5Dmkii, RAW, Noise reduction using DPP using default suggestion.

http://picasaweb.google.com/leendert.versluijs/ISOTesting

I told you that I would let you know my opinion so I tracked your thread to tell you what I think. Things are moving so fast here that mainly the threads of those fighting over their opinions are the only ones that last very long. I have had it since this morning & some of the threads about how sensitive it was to movement had me a little worried. I can honestly say that I am relieved & happy to absolutely love my new 7D. I took a couple of shots of one of my grandsons & the skin tones & detail make it seem that I could touch the screen & feel the warmth of his face. I went outside late this afternoon looking for something moving to shoot with my 400 5/6. I saw a squirrel jumping around the branches of a tree. In raw before I did anything I could count the whiskers on his face. I downloaded them in other threads because I was so excited, but I don't think anyone is interested. I will download them here. If no one else cares I am still really happy with the 7D. Bab {



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The squirel is impressive but both photos are missing their EXIF.

Hard to comment when one does not know what they are commenting about.
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Mike Mullen

I am not very technically gifted & I don't know why it is missing. I have a Flicker account under grammieb2008. These two shots are 1st in the photostream & if you click on them you can find the information under more properties. The head shot was done with 17-55 with fill flash & I think it looks very natural for a flash & the squirrel was done with a 400 5/6 qt 1000 wide open. Bab

You're killing me. I've got the 40d and really like it. But...but...wow What a camera. Could there be a 7d in my future?

Andy
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I liked my 40D too. Took a lot of well loved photos with it. Just save up & enjoy the 40D until you are ready. I really do love my 7D though. I took both shots in raw & converted them to tiffs so that I could send them to my desk top & then to I-photo who would upload them to Flickr for me. All that because I don't know how to upload photos & somehow flicker says they are j-pegs. I am really confused now. Bab

I shoot dance and theater events, primarily with a 1DMkIII, 5DMkII and 5D. I have a 40D, which I have no plans to get rid of as a backup or casual camera. Usually use it as a remote triggered (PW's) wide-angle.

That said I did get a 7D, primarily as a back-up and when I just want one body with a high fps and video. Kind of a baby combination of the 1DMkIII & 5DMkII. I am not disappointed, with a little long reach. Is the IQ as good as the pro/prosumer models, no, but with L lenses, will be fine.

While I have only had it for a few days, the AF is a real improvement, quiet shutter, good IQ, very good high ISO and choices with the HD video. While I truly didn't need this camera, I love it!

Especially being able to have two seperate AF points you determine, one for vertical and one for horizontal that the camera changes based on orientation. I WISH my 1DMkIII & 5DMkII did this. It will make doing single and group shots so much quicker.

The 40D is still a great camera and I will continue to use it as a remote. But if I had to have only one body, choosing between the 40D and 7D, no question the 7D.

I must confess however to being a camera "packrat". I still have a Minolta SRT101 35mm (manual everything )with complete lens array, and a Canonet 28, 35mm rangefinder with working external flash. Both dinosaurs, but still will take great pictures.

Hmmm sounds good so far, but I am still not hearing actual IQ comparisons, I know every one is excited about there new gear and thats great, but is there some one that can comment on the IQ of the 7D, is it really better than the 40D ???
Ross
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Image's In Light North West
http://rossmurphy.zenfolio.com/
http://imagesinlightnw.blogspot.com/

+ 1
Anybody with a 7d taking images at "normal" (100-400) ISOs?

Ross Murphy said:

Hmmm sounds good so far, but I am still not hearing actual IQ comparisons

Click to expand...

I've seen plenty of samples and comparisons and it's pretty obvious the 7D image quality at all ISO's is a decent step forward when compared to the 50D and 40D.

The only people who are fooled are the same people who thought the 50D was a step backwards from the 40D and who apparently believe they should compare the images from the two cameras at different magnifications (different final sizes).

It is my sense that the biggest improvement of the 7D compared to the 50D is not due to the extra pixels but improved sensor design.

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Mike Mullen