7D vs. 5D Mark II: INITIAL thoughts, test shots coming tomorrow (requests welcome)

Folks:

Today I picked up my &7D from my retailer! Sorry I couldn't update my "Availability" thread, but the DNS stuff didn't get resolved until a few hours ago!

Anyway, FIRST here are my VERY INITIAL impressions. Keep in mind that MOST of these are made in comparison to a 5D Mark II:

1. Despite the Canon specs on weight, the "heft" AND the ergonomics between the 7D and the 5D Mark II "feel " NO different; although I admit I'm not used to having the "M-Fn" button where it is (I have it mapped to activate the VF level).

ONE CHANGE: seems that Canon has added a spring mechanism to the CF Card door (so it snaps out). The 5D Mark has no spring door.

2. Colors: about the same

3. AF speed: the 7D is noticeably faster. Could I say "significantly faster"? Not sure at this point.

4. Learning curve: if you are getting the 7D I STRONGLY suggest you "RTFM"! When I got the 5D Mark II I was able to get up and running with LITTLE referral to the manual. But the 7D has MANY MORE features AND controls that will force you to read up BEFORE you take it out.

5. AF accuracy: based on VERY INITIAL shooting, RIGHT NOW it SEEMS that the 7D shots I took today are not as sharp

as what I'm used to getting from the 5D Mark II. I should say that my 5D Mark II is set to ONE SHOT AF -- and my first 7D shots were set to AI SERVO. In addition, I normally use my 5D Mark II using the spot CENTER (high precision) AF point ... and I used the 7D today using ZONE AF. I'll know more when I do serios test shots tomorrow.

SPEAKING of my test shots tomorrow ...

... here's my plan: I'm going to shoot test shots using BOTH the 7D and 5D Mark II. Right now my test shots will involve:

* ISO 50-6400 shots, on a tripod with IS OFF, using an IR remote, both bodies using a 24-105L
* focus shots using a 50 f1.2L
* AND OF COURSE .... DUCKS, using a 70-200 f2.8L IS

If you have any other requests or suggestions for my test shots tomorrow, please feel free to reply!

How are the non-center AF points compared to the 5DMKII.
I am guessing it's much faster as well.

nicksan wrote in post #8731131
How are the non-center AF points compared to the 5DMKII.
I am guessing it's much faster as well.

Nick:

Was it faster? Yes. Was it MUCH faster? I can't say that just yet. Because my VERY first shots on the 7D were done in bright sunlight on high-contrast subjects. The 5D Mark II, with peripheral AF points, usually had problems ONLY on white / low contrast subjects (like white cars).

Thanks ... will test that out as well!

Isn't this a little like comparing apples to oranges? The 5D2 should crush it in IQ and noise. The AF isn't surprising, I can't wait until they put the AF in the 5D.

If you could do shots at ISO3200 and ISO1600 also, please. Something with shadow in the image. Please shoot RAW (not sure if there is a converter yet). If not then turn the in camera NR off. So far, all the images posted that I have seen have NR turned on. It's hard to get a baseline comparing to what I normally shoot, RAW and no NR.

K6AZ wrote in post #8731270
Isn't this a little like comparing apples to oranges? The 5D2 should crush it in IQ and noise. The AF isn't surprising, I can't wait until they put the AF in the 5D.

From the BETA test shots that I've seen on the Internet, the high ISO noise was better -- but not WAY BETTER -- on the 5D Mark II than the 7D.

Re IQ: out of the 99 initial test shots (most of them high speed bursts), although I didn't inspect each of the 99, I came across ONLY ONE where IQ looked REAL CLOSE to the 5D Mark II. Which mean -- at least for that ONE -- that IQ CAN be comparable.

But as I said ... my first day shots were "uncontrolled". Which is why I'd like to reshoot under more controlled circumstances.

bohdank wrote in post #8731276
If you could do shots at ISO3200 and ISO1600 also, please. Something with shadow in the image. Please shoot RAW (not sure if there is a converter yet). If not then turn the in camera NR off. So far, all the images posted that I have seen have NR turned on. It's hard to get a baseline comparing to what I normally shoot, RAW and no NR.

NO problem with NR turned off!

FYI I was going to shoot a half-empty bookshelf indoors, NO flash, with every non-interpolated ISO from 100-6400.

FYI I ALWAYS use DPP; since IMO Canon knows how to decode their proprietary RAWs better than anyone!

suatives wrote in post #8731325
=superlatives;8731325]​From the BETA test shots that I've seen on the Internet, the high ISO noise was better -- but not WAY BETTER -- on the 5D Mark II than the 7D.

Re IQ: out of the 99 initial test shots (most of them high speed bursts), although I didn't inspect each of the 99, I came across ONLY ONE where IQ looked REAL CLOSE to the 5D Mark II. Which mean -- at least for that ONE -- that IQ CAN be comparable.

But as I said ... my first day shots were "uncontrolled". Which is why I'd like to reshoot under more controlled circumstances.

But seriously, the high reflectivity of buildings would be nice. Those shots always catch my attention. Love them. Not sure how the 7D would do on it compared to a T1i, so that would be nice!

suatives wrote in post #8731325
=superlatives;8731325]​From the BETA test shots that I've seen on the Internet, the high ISO noise was better -- but not WAY BETTER -- on the 5D Mark II than the 7D.

Re IQ: out of the 99 initial test shots (most of them high speed bursts), although I didn't inspect each of the 99, I came across ONLY ONE where IQ looked REAL CLOSE to the 5D Mark II. Which mean -- at least for that ONE -- that IQ CAN be comparable.

But as I said ... my first day shots were "uncontrolled". Which is why I'd like to reshoot under more controlled circumstances.

They will be interesting to see, but at this point I just don't see an APS-C camera competing with a FF camera. That's why I own both.

it is nice that you are taking requests, don't be surprised if all the time you spend doing these tests brings you a ton of headaches too, like, this test is invalid because of this, or because of that.... and you should have done this, but you did that.... and so on and so forth.
Congrats on the new body, looks to be a good one, happy shooting

thatkatmat wrote in post #8731493
it is nice that you are taking requests, don't be surprised if all the time you spend doing these tests brings you a ton of headaches too, like, this test is invalid because of this, or because of that.... and you should have done this, but you did that.... and so on and so forth.
Congrats on the new body, looks to be a good one, happy shooting

Thanks for the congrats!

FYI that was exactly why I asked for suggestions and requests ... to MINIMIZE the "headaches"! And more importantly, so the test shots would be of maximum use to people here. Not t mention the fact that I MAY NOT have thought of everything.

If I weren't cognizant of the users here on POTN ... would I have offered to take pictures of DUCKS???

quadwing wrote in post #8731552
Me on the other hand, I'm quick on my feet.

Here's a 100% crop taken with my 50D when I was out in California.

http://www.k6az.com/te​mp/IMG_1863_crop.jpg

K6AZ wrote in post #8731581
Here's a 100% crop taken with my 50D when I was out in California.

http://www.k6az.com/te​mp/IMG_1863_crop.jpg

Hahaha. Man. I gotta make a candid shooters club on this forum someday.

I would love to see a dark background such as trees with a bright sky that is easily blown for the 5DmkII to compare with the new metering system on the 7D. And please include LOW LIGHT high ISO shots. I am tired of seeing 7D high ISO shots in very high lighting. THANK YOU for your effort!!

I was noticing that with a lot of the ISO 3200 test shots. You need dark areas to really see how much noise there is. Bright lighting kind of masks noise.