You know how home made meals are usually better than the same meals at a restaurant? One of the reasons why home made meals are better is they are generally a LOT less expensive if not free.
The same applies to home-studios! You don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get some really awesome studio lighting. Obviously they're not the REAL DEAL (this is where my analogy fails), but they can be very similar and for a fraction of the cost. Pretty much everything you need can be found cheaply at Wal-Mart and/or Home Depot/Lowes.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Canon 7D. 21 days in. Rerereview.
I've reread my initial "review", if you can call it that, of the 7D a few times, and I've come to the conclusion that the post really didn't do justice to the camera. Note, probably no review I can provide can be fully counted on, but I feel as though maybe I should tell a little bit more than what was said in the beginning. Now that I've really had the time to shoot with the camera I can provide a more "mature" depiction of the camera, rather than the "Oh I just got it now I want to talk about it" state of mind I may have been guilty of earlier.
As stated before, the camera feels very good in hand. The body is designed quite well, and it feels snug and not as bulky as it could. The buttons on the back of the body have nothing to hide, and everything is well placed. A couple of the most useful physical features of the camera are the Quick menu and the One-touch RAW + Jpeg buttons. The quick menu is essentially what the name sounds like...its a quick menu. Press the button and you'll see your settings neatly displayed on the LCD which can be easily navigated through and changed, you guessed it, quickly. The instant RAW + Jpeg button is useful if you're shooting Jpegs just for the fun of it, and then you see something really cool so you need to quickly record a RAW image as well. I do not find much use for this feature, however, considering I shoot entirely in RAW. I would also imagine that most people using the 7D would be doing likewise. Of course the feature works both ways, so If you're shooting RAW and you also want to record a Jpeg you can do that as well, but I can't really think of a practical application where you would be unable to make a jpeg from the RAW image later... Lets not go there.
Also as as stated previously, the menu controls are logical, but some features can be a little buried. The 7D also has a feature which allows the photographer to write his or her copyright information into the metadata which is just super. Since I'm upgrading from the XT I'm not used to this feature and I'm so glad its there. Something else great about the menu is that you can customize pretty much every button on the back of the camera. Very very cool. I've found that having image quality assigned to the SET button in the middle of the dial is the most useful for me.
The custom functions are easily utilized, and can be very useful in the right situation . Just simply begin in manual mode, choose the functions and settings you would use to shoot in that given situation, and then assign them to C1, C2, or C3. I use C1 for standard daylight shooting, C2 for night shooting, and C3 for video.
Another great feature is the electronic level. Just hit info a couple times while your shooting and the level will come up on the LCD. You can also have it appear in the viewfinder through the activated AF points, but I haven't spent the energy to figure out how to do it. When I first read about the level, I thought it was cool, but I didn't think I would use it. Wrong. I've already used it several times in practical applications and its oh so useful, and in all my experiences, accurate.
I don't shoot a lot of fast moving subjects, but today I decided to go out and shoot my dogs just to play around with the all new AF. Love it. Its deadly. The 7D tracked my running dogs with ease, even when they were running towards me. The 8fps was also a very useful tool and a pleasure to listen to. Oh, the power. The low-light AF also greatly outperforms the XT, but I'm not too sure how it racks up against direct competitors. Again, the 100% viewfinder is a blessing.
I've looked at the noise on the 7D SEVERAL times. Yes, I've been pixel peeping. What I've found is that the noise at high ISOs isn't as bad as I thought it was. I was actually just looking at a few JPEGS I took indoors in low light at 5000 ISO and I found the noise levels to be surprisingly manageable. Here are a couple screenshots of an image I shot in the middle of the night at 4000 iso. The Raw files were opened in DPP and then brought into Lightroom as Tiffs. NR tools were used in both programs. Taken with a Canon 50mm 1.8 II at 1.8 for 1/40 sec at ISO 4000. The second image is at 100%.
Another point of interest is the apparent softness in the images viewed on the LCD screen. To some people, like me, this may cause some stress early on in the game. Its important to remember, however, that we're dealing with 18 megapixels, the image we're viewing on the LCD is a Jpeg rendition (even in RAW), and that every sensor depicts a RAW file differently, and that each RAW file put out any given camera needs a given amount of editing.
As far as video goes, I'm not going to pretend like I know stuff, 'cause I don't. After doing some research I've realized that in order to really fully get into video one has to invest in a plethora of other expensive gear that I'm just not ready to commit to by any stretch of the imagination. I'll dabble with what I've got and edit with iMovie. You can find a lot of other reviews raving about the 7Ds video capabilities.
A feature that I'm excited about, but haven't been able to test yet, is the ability to trigger multiple speedlights via the pop up flash. I haven't been able to play yet because as of right now I don't have any speedlights. Maybe soon? Should be very useful.
And I guess that'll wrap up my 3rd edition of the Canon 7D "review". Thanks for reading. Here are some sample photos taken with a similar workflow as mentioned above.
As stated before, the camera feels very good in hand. The body is designed quite well, and it feels snug and not as bulky as it could. The buttons on the back of the body have nothing to hide, and everything is well placed. A couple of the most useful physical features of the camera are the Quick menu and the One-touch RAW + Jpeg buttons. The quick menu is essentially what the name sounds like...its a quick menu. Press the button and you'll see your settings neatly displayed on the LCD which can be easily navigated through and changed, you guessed it, quickly. The instant RAW + Jpeg button is useful if you're shooting Jpegs just for the fun of it, and then you see something really cool so you need to quickly record a RAW image as well. I do not find much use for this feature, however, considering I shoot entirely in RAW. I would also imagine that most people using the 7D would be doing likewise. Of course the feature works both ways, so If you're shooting RAW and you also want to record a Jpeg you can do that as well, but I can't really think of a practical application where you would be unable to make a jpeg from the RAW image later... Lets not go there.
Also as as stated previously, the menu controls are logical, but some features can be a little buried. The 7D also has a feature which allows the photographer to write his or her copyright information into the metadata which is just super. Since I'm upgrading from the XT I'm not used to this feature and I'm so glad its there. Something else great about the menu is that you can customize pretty much every button on the back of the camera. Very very cool. I've found that having image quality assigned to the SET button in the middle of the dial is the most useful for me.
The custom functions are easily utilized, and can be very useful in the right situation . Just simply begin in manual mode, choose the functions and settings you would use to shoot in that given situation, and then assign them to C1, C2, or C3. I use C1 for standard daylight shooting, C2 for night shooting, and C3 for video.
Another great feature is the electronic level. Just hit info a couple times while your shooting and the level will come up on the LCD. You can also have it appear in the viewfinder through the activated AF points, but I haven't spent the energy to figure out how to do it. When I first read about the level, I thought it was cool, but I didn't think I would use it. Wrong. I've already used it several times in practical applications and its oh so useful, and in all my experiences, accurate.
I don't shoot a lot of fast moving subjects, but today I decided to go out and shoot my dogs just to play around with the all new AF. Love it. Its deadly. The 7D tracked my running dogs with ease, even when they were running towards me. The 8fps was also a very useful tool and a pleasure to listen to. Oh, the power. The low-light AF also greatly outperforms the XT, but I'm not too sure how it racks up against direct competitors. Again, the 100% viewfinder is a blessing.
I've looked at the noise on the 7D SEVERAL times. Yes, I've been pixel peeping. What I've found is that the noise at high ISOs isn't as bad as I thought it was. I was actually just looking at a few JPEGS I took indoors in low light at 5000 ISO and I found the noise levels to be surprisingly manageable. Here are a couple screenshots of an image I shot in the middle of the night at 4000 iso. The Raw files were opened in DPP and then brought into Lightroom as Tiffs. NR tools were used in both programs. Taken with a Canon 50mm 1.8 II at 1.8 for 1/40 sec at ISO 4000. The second image is at 100%.
Another point of interest is the apparent softness in the images viewed on the LCD screen. To some people, like me, this may cause some stress early on in the game. Its important to remember, however, that we're dealing with 18 megapixels, the image we're viewing on the LCD is a Jpeg rendition (even in RAW), and that every sensor depicts a RAW file differently, and that each RAW file put out any given camera needs a given amount of editing.
As far as video goes, I'm not going to pretend like I know stuff, 'cause I don't. After doing some research I've realized that in order to really fully get into video one has to invest in a plethora of other expensive gear that I'm just not ready to commit to by any stretch of the imagination. I'll dabble with what I've got and edit with iMovie. You can find a lot of other reviews raving about the 7Ds video capabilities.
A feature that I'm excited about, but haven't been able to test yet, is the ability to trigger multiple speedlights via the pop up flash. I haven't been able to play yet because as of right now I don't have any speedlights. Maybe soon? Should be very useful.
And I guess that'll wrap up my 3rd edition of the Canon 7D "review". Thanks for reading. Here are some sample photos taken with a similar workflow as mentioned above.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Ricoh GXR- The Future of Point-and-Shoots?
In my experience Ricoh has never really been one for a lot of media coverage. You just don't hear all that much about them. If not for an early JPG magazine story I wouldn't even know about the company today. Regardless, Ricoh is getting ready to release an all new kind of point and shoot camera directed towards professional photographers. This is the Ricoh GXR.
Whats so different about the GXR is that its an interchangeable UNIT camera. There is a standard camera body in addition to separate lens units that can slide in and out of the body. Thats cool, but whats more cool is that in each interchangeable unit there is a completely different sensor. This means that sensors can be paired with specific lenses so that the best possible image quality can be obtained. In addition, the way the units are designed eliminates any dust from adhering to the sensor because the sensor is not exposed to open air when switching units as in an SLR when changing lenses. The GXR's low light capabilities are pretty impressive as well.
Currently there are only two lens/sensor units available: the GR LENS A12 50mm macro, and the S10 24-72mm. I'm sure more will soon follow after everything is said and done.
You can DPreview's hands on review here.
Frankly, I'm very excited about this camera. I think this could easily be the future of point and shoots. The amount of versatility brought forth by this new design is very impressive. A very capable, very powerful camera that can easily be put in a pocket in a bag is something very useful. I could see a lot of people and professionals choosing the GXR as their "take everywhere" camera. There's also something to be said about the amount of peripherals available for the GXR. Ricoh has already put forth a wide angle adapter, a telephoto adapter, a special lenscap, a shoe-mounted viewfinder, and a flashgun specifically for this camera.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
M42 and other DSLR adapters
Ever get frustrated at how ridiculously expensive camera equipment can be? Save for the 50/1.8 I reviewed, lenses can get pretty pricey pretty quick.
Well, you dont have to look too far for quality at a GREAT price. And I'm not talking about dept stores.
I'm talking about lens adapters. No, not strap-ons for your existing lenses. I'm talking about an adapter that connects to your camera mount like a lens, but then allows other types of lenses that would normally be used on older 35mm cameras to be mounted on top of it. These things are fantastic because the adapters themselves are very inexpensive, and the additional lenses you are now able to use with your DSLR are also inexpensive. There are some great second hand lenses out there that are old, but have been cared for and can be found for dirt cheap. The best part? Most of these lenses are fast primes!
There are several different kinds of adapters, but I believe the most common adapter is the M42 mount. The M42 was made by Pentax before they came up with the K-mount. Its a screw mount, which is pretty self explanatory. I have three lenses that I use with the M42 adapter, but I'll have to add the specs later because they're in Savannah. Here are some samples.
Another notable adapter is the Hasselblad adapter. With a special and relatively inexpensive mount, I can use the same lens on my DSLR as I do on my Hassy 500c/m. Of course there is a substantial crop factor, and I'll have to do a little more research to figure out what the factor is. I would guess an 80mm on a APS-C sensor would be in the 200mm range, but thats a complete guess. The biggest benefit is that you can get Carl Zeiss sharpness without having to dish out the extra cash for standard Zeiss lenses for your Canon or Nikon. Here are a couple examples.
Of course there is a catch. As you might have guessed, these older lenses are going to most likely have an aperture ring and manual focus. This means that, instead of setting the aperture directly from the camera body, you're going to physically have to adjust the aperture on the lens. This is not so bad, but it does have a few drawbacks.
Most of the lenses you'll be using with these mounts have a button on the back of the lens that, when activated by its normal camera, activates the aperture blades while the shutter is firing and closes them down. After the shutter is finished firing, the camera releases the button, and the aperture blades go back to wide open so that the image you see through the viewfinder is much brighter and therefore easier to see.
Because of the mount on the DSLR, there is no button to activate the aperture blades. Even though you may be turning the aperture ring, the aperture blades will stay open. You're going to have to set the lens so that the aperture blades adjust as you turn the aperture ring. Usually there is a switch on the side of the lens which allows this feature.
This means that you'll be at the mercy of whatever aperture your set to. If your at f/22, you'll be looking through a very small opening, and the image in the viewfinder will be relatively dark compared to that which you are used to. It doesn't all have to be bad though. This can be viewed as an advantage because you'll be able to see exactly what is going to be in focus in real time instead of having to guess. Its like you have the DOF preview on constantly.
Another drawback which you may have guessed is manual focus. Not recommended for sports or toddlers. After that, suck it up. AF is overrated.
I'll edit the post later with better figures and lens names.
Thanks for reading!
Well, you dont have to look too far for quality at a GREAT price. And I'm not talking about dept stores.
I'm talking about lens adapters. No, not strap-ons for your existing lenses. I'm talking about an adapter that connects to your camera mount like a lens, but then allows other types of lenses that would normally be used on older 35mm cameras to be mounted on top of it. These things are fantastic because the adapters themselves are very inexpensive, and the additional lenses you are now able to use with your DSLR are also inexpensive. There are some great second hand lenses out there that are old, but have been cared for and can be found for dirt cheap. The best part? Most of these lenses are fast primes!
There are several different kinds of adapters, but I believe the most common adapter is the M42 mount. The M42 was made by Pentax before they came up with the K-mount. Its a screw mount, which is pretty self explanatory. I have three lenses that I use with the M42 adapter, but I'll have to add the specs later because they're in Savannah. Here are some samples.
Another notable adapter is the Hasselblad adapter. With a special and relatively inexpensive mount, I can use the same lens on my DSLR as I do on my Hassy 500c/m. Of course there is a substantial crop factor, and I'll have to do a little more research to figure out what the factor is. I would guess an 80mm on a APS-C sensor would be in the 200mm range, but thats a complete guess. The biggest benefit is that you can get Carl Zeiss sharpness without having to dish out the extra cash for standard Zeiss lenses for your Canon or Nikon. Here are a couple examples.
Of course there is a catch. As you might have guessed, these older lenses are going to most likely have an aperture ring and manual focus. This means that, instead of setting the aperture directly from the camera body, you're going to physically have to adjust the aperture on the lens. This is not so bad, but it does have a few drawbacks.
Most of the lenses you'll be using with these mounts have a button on the back of the lens that, when activated by its normal camera, activates the aperture blades while the shutter is firing and closes them down. After the shutter is finished firing, the camera releases the button, and the aperture blades go back to wide open so that the image you see through the viewfinder is much brighter and therefore easier to see.
Because of the mount on the DSLR, there is no button to activate the aperture blades. Even though you may be turning the aperture ring, the aperture blades will stay open. You're going to have to set the lens so that the aperture blades adjust as you turn the aperture ring. Usually there is a switch on the side of the lens which allows this feature.
This means that you'll be at the mercy of whatever aperture your set to. If your at f/22, you'll be looking through a very small opening, and the image in the viewfinder will be relatively dark compared to that which you are used to. It doesn't all have to be bad though. This can be viewed as an advantage because you'll be able to see exactly what is going to be in focus in real time instead of having to guess. Its like you have the DOF preview on constantly.
Another drawback which you may have guessed is manual focus. Not recommended for sports or toddlers. After that, suck it up. AF is overrated.
I'll edit the post later with better figures and lens names.
Thanks for reading!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Light Pollution, A Continuation
Light Pollution was the name of my final in my photo II class. The project was centered around man made light pointlessly illuminating natural objects.
A couple nights ago I gained some inspiration and decided to go out and continue what I started. Hopefully I'll keep it as an ongoing project.
This is one of the two I took last night. You can find the whole project here.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Beauty of The Canon 50mm 1.8 II
So, to finish up with the Canon 7D Review, I'd like to link to a review that is 100x better than the one I gave, and one that puts my thoughts at ease about the 7D. Scott Bourne wrote a review on the 7D as both a still and video camera. Here is a link to his review.
Moving on to the 50mm 1.8...
Although this information is most useful for all of those just getting into DSLR photography, pretty much anybody that doesn't already have this lens or its equivalent should also benefit.
Canon's 50mm f/1.8 has been on my camera for over a year. Put simply, this lens is a trooper. At $100.00 (I got mine cheaper on Amazon), it can't be beat. For chicken feed (as far as lenses are concerned) you get a fast, sharp prime lens with beautiful bokeh. This is by far the least expensive lens in my bag, and its the one I use most often. But, however, the lens is $100.00 for a reason.
The build quality is quite poor. The barrel is made of plastic. The autofocus, when it works, sounds like it has sand in its grooves. The AF quit entirely before its first year of use. While it may be meticulous to focus manually at wide open, the 50 1.8 is still incredibly useful, and is my main portrait lens. Here are some samples taken with my nifty fifty.
These were all taken on Canon APS-C (cropped sensor) cameras. On cropped sensors, the effective focal length of a 50mm lens is equivalent to that of an 80mm lens on a 35mm camera.
Put simply, this is probably the smartest buy anyone can possibly have. Even with a broken AF, my 50 1.8 has so many more hours on my camera than my other lenses that its not even close. Its just straight up fun to use. This really goes to show that you don't have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to get beautiful images. Sure, its not the end all be all of lenses by any, and I mean ANY, stretch of the imagination, but it is one of the cheapest and most practical pieces of gear that I own. I think I would be lost without it.
Moving on to the 50mm 1.8...
Although this information is most useful for all of those just getting into DSLR photography, pretty much anybody that doesn't already have this lens or its equivalent should also benefit.
Canon's 50mm f/1.8 has been on my camera for over a year. Put simply, this lens is a trooper. At $100.00 (I got mine cheaper on Amazon), it can't be beat. For chicken feed (as far as lenses are concerned) you get a fast, sharp prime lens with beautiful bokeh. This is by far the least expensive lens in my bag, and its the one I use most often. But, however, the lens is $100.00 for a reason.
The build quality is quite poor. The barrel is made of plastic. The autofocus, when it works, sounds like it has sand in its grooves. The AF quit entirely before its first year of use. While it may be meticulous to focus manually at wide open, the 50 1.8 is still incredibly useful, and is my main portrait lens. Here are some samples taken with my nifty fifty.
These were all taken on Canon APS-C (cropped sensor) cameras. On cropped sensors, the effective focal length of a 50mm lens is equivalent to that of an 80mm lens on a 35mm camera.
Put simply, this is probably the smartest buy anyone can possibly have. Even with a broken AF, my 50 1.8 has so many more hours on my camera than my other lenses that its not even close. Its just straight up fun to use. This really goes to show that you don't have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to get beautiful images. Sure, its not the end all be all of lenses by any, and I mean ANY, stretch of the imagination, but it is one of the cheapest and most practical pieces of gear that I own. I think I would be lost without it.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Canon 7D Review Continues...
I thought I would give you all another update on the 7D. Upon further examination... the 7D isn't quite so bad in low light as I had imagined. One of the culprits for the amount of noise was actually Lightroom. Apparently Canon's Digital Photo Professional handles noise a LOT better than the current Lightroom. I've done a little research and it appears that others are having the same issue, and have found DPP to be superior in this respect. Lightroom beta 3 is being tested right now and, when released, should have some new noise algorithms.
I've also started setting up my custom functions. These are pretty useful, seeing as you can customize pretty much everything.
So yeah. A useful little update. I was sweating a little bit, but this makes me feel better. I'm not one for pixel-peeping, but noise is noise, and this is noise on a camera projected to perform amazingly well in low light high iso situations.
I've also started setting up my custom functions. These are pretty useful, seeing as you can customize pretty much everything.
So yeah. A useful little update. I was sweating a little bit, but this makes me feel better. I'm not one for pixel-peeping, but noise is noise, and this is noise on a camera projected to perform amazingly well in low light high iso situations.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Canon 7D Review
A couple days ago I upgraded to the new Canon EOS 7D. I'd like to talk a little bit about it and give a brief, unofficial review to those thinking about purchasing.
But first, I'd like to give props to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT. This has been my camera for 5 years, and it has been a workhorse. I've learned so much from it, and it has performed consistently well up until a few months ago. I'm so glad the XT was my first DSLR, and I suggest it to anyone thinking of making a move into digital photography.
So, onto the 7D. (Be forewarned. I'll probably be making a lot of comparisons to the Rebel XT (even though they're not comparable) only because this is the only other DSLR I've been shooting with for any substantial period of time.
I'll start where pretty much everyone else starts. First impressions; the build quality of the 7D is very nice. The camera is weighty at 860 grams. This is a relief for me. It doesn't feel cheap, and I know that if it gets bumped a couple times there won't be anything drastically wrong (although this could be coming from the knowledge that the camera boasts a magnesium chassis and is weather sealed). The grip is very well designed and is quite ergonomic. I like holding it...
The menu system makes sense and is very logical. Some features (like extended ISO) are a little hidden, but once found they can easily be found again. I haven't been able to wrap my mind around the Custom settings (C1, C2, C3,), but I also haven't put forth THAT much brain power into them yet.
What I like best about his camera is its 100% viewfinder. There isn't a whole lot of sensor to go around, and this feature is a great way to make the most of what there is. What is also great about the viewfinder is that its not nestled too closely to the LCD screen, so you don't have to squeeze your face up to the back of the camera to look inside. Something else thats pretty cool is the 8 frames per second this camera can force. Really useful for sports, and something nice to have for those of us who do a little bit of everything. The 18 megapixels isn't too shabby either, and is a HUGE upgrade from the 8 megapixels on the XT. Although, once you get to a certain point, megapixels really don't make THAT much of a difference. I think Canon may have done better to have kept the 15 megapixels as on the 50D and, in doing so, brought the price down a wee tad.
The noise levels on this camera are a bit of an issue for me. The noise section of the DP Revew review for the 7D and competitors can be found here. On that review, the 7D holds its own and does pretty well. In my experience I've found noise levels to be pretty high, especially when shooting in low light (the reason for using high iso). When I got the 7D I expected it to make the XT look like a kid with a new drum set, and it does do a lot better in low light, high iso situations, but not to the extent I expected. Then again, I may have had unrealistic expectations. Canon IS packing 18 megapixels into an APS-C sensor.
The Video feature is easy to access and manage for the most part. When in Manual mode, you can still adjust shutter speed, iso, and aperture while shooting. You can also take stills while recording video which is nice. I just don't know if I have the computing power to manage the massive files. imovie also isn't the ideal editing software, or so I am told... Anyway, from what I've played around with the quality is fantastic and well worth its chunk of overall retail price. This is going to be the area where I may catch a little heat, but I did not choose the 7D for its video! Was that someone fainting in the audience? The 7D is going to be my primary still camera for several years until I move into full frame. But that's not going to stop me from using the 7D's video awesomeness. I just may not be able to use it to its full extent for a little while. I can easily see myself making a few bad short films whenever I have the time. You can see a few clips I took for The War Eagle Reader here.
In summary:
Cosmetically, the camera is pretty. It is weighty, but still feels good in hand.
Menu controls are easy to use, but some features a little hidden.
Video easy to access.
Convenient button options on back of camera.
8 frames per second is quite fast.
Not a great low light/high iso camera
And there you have my sporadic, splotchy, quick and rough review of the Canon 7D.
But first, I'd like to give props to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT. This has been my camera for 5 years, and it has been a workhorse. I've learned so much from it, and it has performed consistently well up until a few months ago. I'm so glad the XT was my first DSLR, and I suggest it to anyone thinking of making a move into digital photography.
So, onto the 7D. (Be forewarned. I'll probably be making a lot of comparisons to the Rebel XT (even though they're not comparable) only because this is the only other DSLR I've been shooting with for any substantial period of time.
I'll start where pretty much everyone else starts. First impressions; the build quality of the 7D is very nice. The camera is weighty at 860 grams. This is a relief for me. It doesn't feel cheap, and I know that if it gets bumped a couple times there won't be anything drastically wrong (although this could be coming from the knowledge that the camera boasts a magnesium chassis and is weather sealed). The grip is very well designed and is quite ergonomic. I like holding it...
The menu system makes sense and is very logical. Some features (like extended ISO) are a little hidden, but once found they can easily be found again. I haven't been able to wrap my mind around the Custom settings (C1, C2, C3,), but I also haven't put forth THAT much brain power into them yet.
What I like best about his camera is its 100% viewfinder. There isn't a whole lot of sensor to go around, and this feature is a great way to make the most of what there is. What is also great about the viewfinder is that its not nestled too closely to the LCD screen, so you don't have to squeeze your face up to the back of the camera to look inside. Something else thats pretty cool is the 8 frames per second this camera can force. Really useful for sports, and something nice to have for those of us who do a little bit of everything. The 18 megapixels isn't too shabby either, and is a HUGE upgrade from the 8 megapixels on the XT. Although, once you get to a certain point, megapixels really don't make THAT much of a difference. I think Canon may have done better to have kept the 15 megapixels as on the 50D and, in doing so, brought the price down a wee tad.
The noise levels on this camera are a bit of an issue for me. The noise section of the DP Revew review for the 7D and competitors can be found here. On that review, the 7D holds its own and does pretty well. In my experience I've found noise levels to be pretty high, especially when shooting in low light (the reason for using high iso). When I got the 7D I expected it to make the XT look like a kid with a new drum set, and it does do a lot better in low light, high iso situations, but not to the extent I expected. Then again, I may have had unrealistic expectations. Canon IS packing 18 megapixels into an APS-C sensor.
The Video feature is easy to access and manage for the most part. When in Manual mode, you can still adjust shutter speed, iso, and aperture while shooting. You can also take stills while recording video which is nice. I just don't know if I have the computing power to manage the massive files. imovie also isn't the ideal editing software, or so I am told... Anyway, from what I've played around with the quality is fantastic and well worth its chunk of overall retail price. This is going to be the area where I may catch a little heat, but I did not choose the 7D for its video! Was that someone fainting in the audience? The 7D is going to be my primary still camera for several years until I move into full frame. But that's not going to stop me from using the 7D's video awesomeness. I just may not be able to use it to its full extent for a little while. I can easily see myself making a few bad short films whenever I have the time. You can see a few clips I took for The War Eagle Reader here.
In summary:
Cosmetically, the camera is pretty. It is weighty, but still feels good in hand.
Menu controls are easy to use, but some features a little hidden.
Video easy to access.
Convenient button options on back of camera.
8 frames per second is quite fast.
Not a great low light/high iso camera
And there you have my sporadic, splotchy, quick and rough review of the Canon 7D.
Canon 7D Test from Nach0o on Vimeo.
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