7D Mark II - Focus Discussions

johnf3f wrote in post #17812101
Well my 7D2 arrived today. Looks nice and the handling is fine, though it is tiny after my 1 Series - might need a grip? AF seems snappy and accurate on my 24-70 and 16-35, though I am hoping to try it on my 800mm tomorrow - if the weather and the Kingfishers co-operate!
I have put the settings (AF, Back Button Focus etc) as near as I can to my 1DX so there shouldn't be too many mistakes! We shall see!

Enjoy it John.
Sad that this is the thread where we talk about 7D2 good or bad,. but it is what it is.

I've really enjoyed mine, and after 12 years of giant 1 series bodies I am very happy to have a more portable option!

That's why I was looking at this thread. All I heard of the 7D2 was high praise from people who were upgrading to it. I hadn't heard much from people who were using it alongside 1 series bodies, except for a few locals.
No camera is perfect and no series of cameras is produced that doesn't have the odd blooper, sounds like Pondrader has one! But so far I am liking it and I think it will do the job I require well - but I will have to get some decent conditions to find out. I did go out this afternoon chasing Short Eared Owls but the light was poor so the 1DX had to be used and even then they were just record shots at best, still there is always tomorrow (so long as the forecast is wrong!).
I am loving the light weight of the 7D2 and the "feel" controls has been improved significantly over earlier APSC models - looks like Canon have done a nice job with this one!

johnf3f wrote in post #17812101
Well my 7D2 arrived today. Looks nice and the handling is fine, though it is tiny after my 1 Series - might need a grip? AF seems snappy and accurate on my 24-70 and 16-35, though I am hoping to try it on my 800mm tomorrow - if the weather and the Kingfishers co-operate!
I have put the settings (AF, Back Button Focus etc) as near as I can to my 1DX so there shouldn't be too many mistakes! We shall see!

Looking forward to your outings with your 800mm and 1DX.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #17812138
Enjoy it John.
Sad that this is the thread where we talk about 7D2 good or bad,. but it is what it is.

I've really enjoyed mine, and after 12 years of giant 1 series bodies I am very happy to have a more portable option!

Not sure I'd call it sad but it does help put things in perspective. Go back to when the focus issue threads started. At that time, just over a year ago, I wasn't getting any shots like I expected to get. All the posts raised the spectre of a camera problem. So the testing began. Over a couple of months I struggled with the issue and with MFA, finally just giving up on the focus tests and started trying to do my best with the camera.

For the first couple of months I blamed all the bad shots on user error. After reading hundreds of focus issue posts and it became is it me or the camera. I still don't know.

I revisited the focus test thing again a short while ago. Did the tests with the tamron at 600mm from a distance of about 6 meters instead of 30 meters or so as usual. This gave me the fine detail I needed. Subsequent tests at about 30 meters look good. Now if the weather will cooperate some weekend. Unfortunately, I've been to this point in the process many times.

Just need to get some shots under my belt with the current settings. Hoping I got it nailed this time. Right now being able to say I have a good camera and I am incompetent is a step up. Much better than being the proud owner of $2000 paperweight.

Thanks to all the people here who are so willing to offer advise.

Rod

One more thing I will add for diamonddawg21 or someone else may be interested in. Options for 65 point zone AF. This not work in the other two zone modes, 65 only. You can choose an initial AF point or let the system identify the closest object which it is very good at. Here is an example letting the system pick the object.

digital paradise wrote in post #17811957
Case 2 with TS set to -2 is a very good start for single or expanded. Here is another take. Many people who bird lower the TS to keep focus on the subject. The single point or expansion cluster can go off the bird for a second or two and not lose focus. As long as you get back on right away.

---------------

With that Case and TS setting I was able to track an eagle going behind a tree (narrow part towards the top of a Pine) and still be in focus and on him when he came out the other side.

Yes, in my opinion this is a good BIF camera.

Peter2516 wrote in post #17813031
Looking forward to your outings with your 800mm and 1DX.

I have had the 800mm and 1DX for a while now (2 years) and any bad shots are down to me! It is a cracking combination if small birds are your fayre or you can only get shots at a distance. A Canon 600 Mk2 may be better but I am very happy for now.
I looked at the 7D2 as a lighter option for more mobility with my 300 F2.8 as the 1DX and 800 limit mobility and generally benefit from support (more weight!). An additional benefit of the 7D2 is that I can have it ready beside me if things get too close for the 800 - this doesn't happen often!
I am hoping the 7D2 will perform very well in the AF/exposure/frame rate department and be reasonably flexible with iso's. I am not expecting it to equal the 1DX, that isn't going to happen. but at it's current price it is a VERY tempting camera - and I was tempted!

I think Pondrader is a cry baby and should take up needle Point, Although his Fox and Marten, Bear's were not bad .....IMO

Pondrader - You're shots are exceptional! The 7d2 I shot all year was sharp, unfortunately had to sell off. When I replaced about 2 months ago - the unit was totally different, even came with 1.02. Tried various MA - had detail sharpness in some, not in many. Finally gave up and sent back (w/in my return window) Pondering another try or moving to a d750..

Ya ,..Im just sitting here feeling sorry for myself. I've been down and without my camera for so long I think I may have lost my edge. And from the sound of it there not in the know enough to figure out how to give it back to me.

Pondrader wrote in post #17813154
I think Pondrader is a cry baby and should take up needle Point, Although his Fox and Marten, Bear's were not bad .....IMO

Heh, heh, heh.... Wwwaaaaaa !

I'd keep raising a fuss. You have plenty of wonderful shots you can share with them vs. the not so good.

Luckily ..I can post for the next two years and never skip a beat. Who needs a camera ??

johnf3f wrote in post #17813088
I have had the 800mm and 1DX for a while now (2 years) and any bad shots are down to me! It is a cracking combination if small birds are your fayre or you can only get shots at a distance. A Canon 600 Mk2 may be better but I am very happy for now.
I looked at the 7D2 as a lighter option for more mobility with my 300 F2.8 as the 1DX and 800 limit mobility and generally benefit from support (more weight!). An additional benefit of the 7D2 is that I can have it ready beside me if things get too close for the 800 - this doesn't happen often!
I am hoping the 7D2 will perform very well in the AF/exposure/frame rate department and be reasonably flexible with iso's. I am not expecting it to equal the 1DX, that isn't going to happen. but at it's current price it is a VERY tempting camera - and I was tempted!

There were some excellent threads in FM by Arbitrage who posted all sorts of comparison shots between a 1dx and 7dii with big whites and TC's etc. You'll be blown away by how tough / impossible it was to tell the difference.

Pondrader wrote in post #17813262
Luckily ..I can post for the next two years and never skip a beat. Who needs a camera ??

Hosted photo: posted by Pondrader in
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forum: Canon Digital Cameras

OK, spill it. I can understand them feeling safe at a distance and you getting your 300mm 400mm shots. But, this was 110mm, what maybe 15 feet (if uncropped) and that fox is as relaxed as can be? What do you do, roll in their pee or something?