kimvette
Senior Member
Why review it if you haven't used, or even seen someone else use it in the flesh? If you HAVE used one, and want to say "this camera sucks" or "don't waste your time and money" why not post the basis of your eloquently-worded conclusion?
I'm sick of trollish one-liner reviews from $BRAND-X fanbois. Don't be a fan of a brand; DSLRs are tools, and picking a DSLR is a matter of picking the right tool for the job. Sometimes Nikon is the best tool, and sometimes Canon, and other times, Hasselblad. You need to take performance, reliability, and price all into consideration. Every camera is going to be a compromise in some way so PLEASE stop posting the moronic one-liner troll "reviews" to slam your "rival" camera brand. It's childish; just stop it. If you've never touched a particular model camera, or at least haven't even witnessed it in action, you have NO business posting a "review" of it.
I was a Nikon DSLR fan. I still am. However, every few years Canon and Nikon leapfrog each other, just like AMD and Intel do in the CPU world. The EOS 7D and 5D had so many great reviews that I had to try them out. After debating for weeks, I finally decided on the EOS 7D. After using it for a few days I am very confident in my decision. A few years from now in the $1,500-$3000 price level, I'm sure Nikon (or even Pentax? It could happen
) will leapfrog Canon. It happens.
For me, what tipped the scales in favor of the 7D over Nikon's offerings, or even the 5D? A lot of things; here is a list of a few of the top features from my perspective (most important features for me marked with an asterisk(*)):
- Incredibly low noise; although it may be noiser than the 5D in some respect, it is only slightly so
- The quick menu provides all settings at a glance
- the new autofocus algorithm - 19 cross-type AF sensors - and I am not disappointed*
- the HD video recording features that are vastly improved over the 5D
- the continuous burst rate (8 FPS - and yes, it does fire shots off unbelievably fast!)
- Excellent high ISO performance*
- wireless flash control (the built-in good for fill with a 420EX II and 580EX providing background and key lighting, respectively)
- 100% viewfinder coverage*
-----------------
Price:
This camera is not expensive; the price is unbelievable as competitors' offerings can't hold a candle to this camera's combination of performance, construction quality, and price.
-----------------
Also, the included "kit" lens is actually a mid-to-high end (but not L-series) lens and is a very good lens. It's an EF lens though, intended for FF cameras so you will have to contend with the 1.6 crop factor. This means the lens is approximately equivalent to a 44.8-216mm lens so you WILL need a wider lens to complement the kit lens.
I was getting soft photos at first. I didn't do an AF microadjust at first because I knew the biggest factor was technique. After spending two solid days playing with the camera and RTFMing in between (still not through the manual yet) I started getting reasonably sharp photos, so I did the microadjust procedure. I am now getting perfectly sharp photos out of this awesome camera.
I think a lot of the "focus problems" people are claiming to have with the 7D is either not having the patience to learn how to use it (remember, a camera is only one factor in getting a good shot and is NOT the largest contributing factor) and not doing the AF Microadjustment because they believe the manual's claim that "Normally, this adjustment is not required." In actuality when the tolerance for focus on such a small sensor is on the order of microns, it's likely that AF Microadjust is required for each and every lens you have, if you want razor-sharp photos.
Problems:
I'm getting on the soap box here:
Live View stinks when set to the default focus modes, which use Contrast AF. I thought I would like it but the contrast AF the 7D implements results in major shutter lag, just like a crap point and shoot camera - in fact the contrast AF is slower than the autofocus on a PowerShot S5 IS or SX10 IS.
Seriously. Both Canon and Nikon need to revisit their contrast autofocus algorithms in their respective live view modes and make their cameras perform at _least_ as well as their $200-$400 point and shoot cameras.
You can work around this through one of the 7D's unique focus modes (see below) but I still would not base a purchase decision on Live Mode.
*gets off soapbox*
You can use the focus points (phase-type focus) by setting the Live View to "Quick Mode" focus to work around the contrast focus sluggishness; what happens when you use that mode is the LCD will display the focus points, then when you press the shutter button (or AF lock) halfway, then the LCD is momentarily disabled while the lens is dropped, and the camera reverts to using the same cross-type focus points you use in the typical viewfinder shooting mode, focuses the lens, and quickly lifts the mirror back up and re-enables the display. In this Live View focus mode, it's far less sluggish.
What the contrast AF does have going for it is that it is extremely accurate; just don't expect to fire off quick shots because unless lighting is particularly favorable it will focus hunt a fair bit.
I'm sick of trollish one-liner reviews from $BRAND-X fanbois. Don't be a fan of a brand; DSLRs are tools, and picking a DSLR is a matter of picking the right tool for the job. Sometimes Nikon is the best tool, and sometimes Canon, and other times, Hasselblad. You need to take performance, reliability, and price all into consideration. Every camera is going to be a compromise in some way so PLEASE stop posting the moronic one-liner troll "reviews" to slam your "rival" camera brand. It's childish; just stop it. If you've never touched a particular model camera, or at least haven't even witnessed it in action, you have NO business posting a "review" of it.
I was a Nikon DSLR fan. I still am. However, every few years Canon and Nikon leapfrog each other, just like AMD and Intel do in the CPU world. The EOS 7D and 5D had so many great reviews that I had to try them out. After debating for weeks, I finally decided on the EOS 7D. After using it for a few days I am very confident in my decision. A few years from now in the $1,500-$3000 price level, I'm sure Nikon (or even Pentax? It could happen
) will leapfrog Canon. It happens.For me, what tipped the scales in favor of the 7D over Nikon's offerings, or even the 5D? A lot of things; here is a list of a few of the top features from my perspective (most important features for me marked with an asterisk(*)):
- Incredibly low noise; although it may be noiser than the 5D in some respect, it is only slightly so
- The quick menu provides all settings at a glance
- the new autofocus algorithm - 19 cross-type AF sensors - and I am not disappointed*
- the HD video recording features that are vastly improved over the 5D
- the continuous burst rate (8 FPS - and yes, it does fire shots off unbelievably fast!)
- Excellent high ISO performance*
- wireless flash control (the built-in good for fill with a 420EX II and 580EX providing background and key lighting, respectively)
- 100% viewfinder coverage*
-----------------
Price:
This camera is not expensive; the price is unbelievable as competitors' offerings can't hold a candle to this camera's combination of performance, construction quality, and price.
-----------------
Also, the included "kit" lens is actually a mid-to-high end (but not L-series) lens and is a very good lens. It's an EF lens though, intended for FF cameras so you will have to contend with the 1.6 crop factor. This means the lens is approximately equivalent to a 44.8-216mm lens so you WILL need a wider lens to complement the kit lens.
I was getting soft photos at first. I didn't do an AF microadjust at first because I knew the biggest factor was technique. After spending two solid days playing with the camera and RTFMing in between (still not through the manual yet) I started getting reasonably sharp photos, so I did the microadjust procedure. I am now getting perfectly sharp photos out of this awesome camera.
I think a lot of the "focus problems" people are claiming to have with the 7D is either not having the patience to learn how to use it (remember, a camera is only one factor in getting a good shot and is NOT the largest contributing factor) and not doing the AF Microadjustment because they believe the manual's claim that "Normally, this adjustment is not required." In actuality when the tolerance for focus on such a small sensor is on the order of microns, it's likely that AF Microadjust is required for each and every lens you have, if you want razor-sharp photos.
Problems:
I'm getting on the soap box here:
Live View stinks when set to the default focus modes, which use Contrast AF. I thought I would like it but the contrast AF the 7D implements results in major shutter lag, just like a crap point and shoot camera - in fact the contrast AF is slower than the autofocus on a PowerShot S5 IS or SX10 IS.
Seriously. Both Canon and Nikon need to revisit their contrast autofocus algorithms in their respective live view modes and make their cameras perform at _least_ as well as their $200-$400 point and shoot cameras.
You can work around this through one of the 7D's unique focus modes (see below) but I still would not base a purchase decision on Live Mode.
*gets off soapbox*
You can use the focus points (phase-type focus) by setting the Live View to "Quick Mode" focus to work around the contrast focus sluggishness; what happens when you use that mode is the LCD will display the focus points, then when you press the shutter button (or AF lock) halfway, then the LCD is momentarily disabled while the lens is dropped, and the camera reverts to using the same cross-type focus points you use in the typical viewfinder shooting mode, focuses the lens, and quickly lifts the mirror back up and re-enables the display. In this Live View focus mode, it's far less sluggish.
What the contrast AF does have going for it is that it is extremely accurate; just don't expect to fire off quick shots because unless lighting is particularly favorable it will focus hunt a fair bit.