7D worth it for photography only?

dfbovey wrote in post #13799793
I bought the 7D for the auto focus system, knowing I'd be mostly using it for nature/wildlife/birdin​g. I'd think the only other camera in Canon's current line up that would be better for this purpose is a 1D4. But if you're on a budget the 7D is the best option if this is what you shoot. It's far better than the 50D for what I shoot. And that's why I bought it.

I'd add the 1DmkIII to the "better for this purpose" list as well.

twoshadows wrote in post #13800661
I'd add the 1DmkIII to the "better for this purpose" list as well.

Yup, the larger file size for cropping purposes is the only advantage the 7D has over the MarkIII. I'd give the MarkIII the advantage but there are instances where the 7D would be beneficial. Files are almost twice as large.

I use mine for photography only, and yes getting is was worthwile for me.

But why is this topic in the lenses section and not in the camera section?

I use one and it's great compared to 5D you will notice a significant crop factor.

hennie wrote in post #13800785
...But why is this topic in the lenses section and not in the camera section?

Probably to balance out all the lens threads in the camera section.

mcowens wrote in post #13797578
here is a sample vid i shot with my 7d when i was in the NYC
http://youtu.be/nFdVTH​PONRo

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Some wicked talent that defies the laws of physics. If I ever tried that stuff, you'd be taking photos of me in a stretcher. Hahahaha.....

I miss NY!

twoshadows wrote in post #13800656
I read too many stories from competent users that make me think otherwise (myself included). When the camera's AF works the 7d on the whole is spectacular, especially for the price. Unless you shoot a lot at high ISOs, but that's not a strong point for any 1.6x cropper...

+1, Some people are too quick to dismiss ANY problem as "Oh its user error" I had my share of complaints and problems with the 7D's AF, Using it as stated by Canon and all the bloody articles out there(And how i used my old cameras mind..) and I still got the "USER ERROR" and lectured at like im a bloody moron...

Is some of it user error?? Yes... but when you get people like me or twoshadows or others who have shot a wide variety of cameras and shot thousands of images, its a bit less likely

The best way I've come to describe the 7D's AF is "Finicky" very...very finicky.... and perhaps tuned a bit too much towards speed applications at the expense of precision applications

Most of my biggest complaints would be solved by simply making the points substantially smaller, Even Spot AF's points and what its considering for the AF calculations are WAY too large compared to the xxD cameras and the 1-series in my opinion

FWIW, I still love my 7D and I still like the AF, Just think its far from perfect and could use some improvements

would rather go with a 5d for photo purpose.. definitely wont spend the extra for a 7d

I just got the 7D and I like but you are right that the focus points are a little too large and they do not go away after the focus is set. It woudl be nice if they would drop out after you hit the focus or just had them be smaller. I use the Spot focus and have found the spot + expansion to work well for certain things like BIF with just sky in the back. I do like the body though. It just feels better than my T2i in every way.

KenjiS wrote in post #13821864
+1, Some people are too quick to dismiss ANY problem as "Oh its user error" I had my share of complaints and problems with the 7D's AF, Using it as stated by Canon and all the bloody articles out there(And how i used my old cameras mind..) and I still got the "USER ERROR" and lectured at like im a bloody moron...

Is some of it user error?? Yes... but when you get people like me or twoshadows or others who have shot a wide variety of cameras and shot thousands of images, its a bit less likely

The best way I've come to describe the 7D's AF is "Finicky" very...very finicky.... and perhaps tuned a bit too much towards speed applications at the expense of precision applications

Most of my biggest complaints would be solved by simply making the points substantially smaller, Even Spot AF's points and what its considering for the AF calculations are WAY too large compared to the xxD cameras and the 1-series in my opinion

FWIW, I still love my 7D and I still like the AF, Just think its far from perfect and could use some improvements

No Angle wrote in post #13822710
I just got the 7D and I like but you are right that the focus points are a little too large and they do not go away after the focus is set. It woudl be nice if they would drop out after you hit the focus or just had them be smaller. I use the Spot focus and have found the spot + expansion to work well for certain things like BIF with just sky in the back. I do like the body though. It just feels better than my T2i in every way.

I think KenjiS is talking about the size of the actual focus sensors, not the AF points in the viewfinder. The actual AF sensors cover a substantially larger area of the scene than the AF boxes in the viewfinder, which can throw focus somewhere other than intended without the photographer realizing it. This can result in the belief that the camera is missing focus (especially when shooting with a very limited DOF) when in fact the AF system is working as designed.

gunjanx wrote in post #13762493
Lets keep Ergonomics, Mega pixel, HD video, 8 frames/sec and Magnesium Alloy body aside..

Is 7D really worth it for photography focused crowd? I mean if we compare core and pure photography features with 40D or 50D, does 7D win on big? Or even when compared to T2i, does it win big?

Would you be ok to have 40D or 50D rather than 7D for pure photography needs? If not, why would you go for 7D?

Since you're excluding so much, what are you including? If you just mean the sensor, than no. I think its the same sensor as on the 60D and T2ii, but i could be wrong. Seems like you've excluded everything but it and the glass. It's all the other things that add to the experience of that camera. I would have gotten it in a heart beat if I could have reconciled the additional expense for me over the 60D. Ergonomics and usability are very important aspects of any camera.

stsva wrote in post #13823783
I think KenjiS is talking about the size of the actual focus sensors, not the AF points in the viewfinder. The actual AF sensors cover a substantially larger area of the scene than the AF boxes in the viewfinder, which can throw focus somewhere other than intended without the photographer realizing it. This can result in the belief that the camera is missing focus (especially when shooting with a very limited DOF) when in fact the AF system is working as designed.

Precisely, I just wish the design was better (I fully realize its working "the way its designed" i just hate that the way its designed means it chooses to focus on the edge of the leaf at the VERY bleeding edge of the AF point, using spot AF, as opposed to the bird i really want on focus, Or grabbing the VERY EDGE of my dog's ear instead of her eye, Whatever is MOSTLY in the focus point should be what the camera focuses on, and things near the very edge should not affect that the way in my experience it does..)

For instance the Nikon D300s and its 51-points cover roughly the same area (ok slightly more) as the 7D's 19, but the points themselves are much smaller.... I would rather have the D300s' array compared to the 7D's as i feel personally that its more selective...

The points themselves on the 7D are bloody -huge- imho, and while useful when tracking moving subjects are less discerning when working with precise applications...

mwsilver wrote in post #13824717
Since you're excluding so much, what are you including? If you just mean the sensor, than no. I think its the same sensor as on the 60D and T2ii, but i could be wrong. Seems like you've excluded everything but it and the glass. It's all the other things that add to the experience of that camera. I would have gotten it in a heart beat if I could have reconciled the additional expense for me over the 60D. Ergonomics and usability are very important aspects of any camera.

Yep, This, just the sensor? Probubly better off looking at a 5DII or something..But the 7D is more than just the (Admittedly very good) sensor...

kevindar wrote in post #13762632
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dude, that is hilarious.