Canon 7D review for professional wedding photographers

Tim, how would you incorporate the lack of ACR support for the 7D into your workflow?

wdwpsu wrote in post #8799458
Tim, how would you incorporate the lack of ACR support for the 7D into your workflow?

Seconded. I didn't realize when I picked up a 7D the other week that a non-preliminary lightroom update wasn't available yet. I'm hoping it comes soon!

Tim, have you found the 3200 ISO acceptable on it? I'd be interested in hearing yours or anyone else's opinion on the noise performance at that level. So far, I've been trying to keep it at 1600 max which looks fine to me in post.

ACR supports the 7D. It's only beta support but it works fine. I've heard the full release will result in better color and much better noise control. I've used DPP to play with the RAW files too, I don't like the tool or the workflow but it works fine.

ISO3200's fine, great even. ISO6400 isn't too shabby. With ISO12800 you lose quite a bit of detail, but if it's lose detail or have a blurry photo it's a pretty easy choice (assuming you don't want to add flash).

tim wrote in post #8801905
ACR supports the 7D. It's only beta support but it works fine. I've heard the full release will result in better color and much better noise control. I've used DPP to play with the RAW files too, I don't like the tool or the workflow but it works fine.

I did upgrade to lightroom 2.5 and I see that there is that beta support for it. Opening the 7D raw files was then possible in lightroom for me. I've read, however, a lot of complaints that it looks bad in terms of color and noise control with this preliminary support, though the coming update should fix that. It doesn't look particularly bad to me, but I'm wary of doing any processing in it until the official release comes out.

tim wrote in post #8752850

• There's a bunch of new metering modes. If I read the manual I might work them out. Until then hit the new M-Fn button until it lets you select center point focus. That's what the cool kids use anyway.
  
• The focus confirmation's a dot at the bottom right of the frame. That kinda sucks, it doesn't seem like much but that's a huge distance for your eye to travel when you're focused elsewhere. A red dot at the focus point is much easier, and less distracting from the subject. It does sometimes flash, maybe I just need to read the manual. I don't like manuals. I like idiot proof.
  

I noticed that too. I've been trying out AF point expansion with the center point selected for focusing, which I like so far. You have to enable it in the custom function menu before you can select it, but you can see it as a greyed out option in the focusing selection screen from the start. It has the center focus square and then four little squares on each side. I've just been considering it in focus whenever the little squares disappear after pressing the shutter button down halfway.

kenshinvt wrote in post #8802096
I did upgrade to lightroom 2.5 and I see that there is that beta support for it. Opening the 7D raw files was then possible in lightroom for me. I've read, however, a lot of complaints that it looks bad in terms of color and noise control with this preliminary support, though the coming update should fix that. It doesn't look particularly bad to me, but I'm wary of doing any processing in it until the official release comes out.

I definitely noticed a yellow, almost orange tint to the pictures, as well as some blending. The pictures look great on the initial preview, but then kind of goes blahh.. Wondering if Adobe will have a patch in the coming weeks (doubtful) or if I need to take out the CD and try Canon DPP for the first time.

tim wrote in post #8801905
ACR supports the 7D. It's only beta support but it works fine. I've heard the full release will result in better color and much better noise control. I've used DPP to play with the RAW files too, I don't like the tool or the workflow but it works fine.

ISO3200's fine, great even. ISO6400 isn't too shabby. With ISO12800 you lose quite a bit of detail, but if it's lose detail or have a blurry photo it's a pretty easy choice (assuming you don't want to add flash).

I shot some 3200 shots myself and they seem to be pretty good, especially compared to the 50D where I couldn't' find anything usable at 3200 for the most part.

At this point I am more concerned with the lower ISO's than the higher ISO's believe it or not. ISO 400 seems to have a more noise than I would expect, but I need to put it side by side with my 50D and do some testing, hopefully will do some this week but mostly been shooting when I have the chance. Some folks are showing some really bad color noise even at 400.

Thanks for the review Tim, I am seriously considering this as a future upgrade route, my 30D & 20D are good old troopers but getting a little long in the tooth. I think an upgrade will be on the cards in the new year (as long as my personal banker, Mrs G, allows it!! ).

I'll be interested to hear your further thoughts on it as you get using it more.

I have two weddings next weekend, it should get a good workout then.

tim wrote in post #8808287
I have two weddings next weekend, it should get a good workout then.

Looking forward to hearing your opinion then.

Are you shooting primarily with the 7D then or will you be using your 40D's as well?

I shoot with two bodies all day, so i'll use the 7D and a 40D. I'll use the 7D with the 17-55 most of the day, though i'll swap the Sigma 30 F1.4 and perhaps the 70-200 F2.8 IS on it as well. I've used it enough informally to be confident with it on a wedding day. I just have to find how to change a couple of things before the wedding, the 7D's so configurable it can take me five minutes to find things in the menus and CFs sometimes.

tim wrote in post #8808832
I shoot with two bodies all day, so i'll use the 7D and a 40D. I'll use the 7D with the 17-55 most of the day, though i'll swap the Sigma 30 F1.4 and perhaps the 70-200 F2.8 IS on it as well. I've used it enough informally to be confident with it on a wedding day. I just have to find how to change a couple of things before the wedding, the 7D's so configurable it can take me five minutes to find things in the menus and CFs sometimes.

Good luck, can't wait to hear your results. My feelings on the 7D are very mixed right now, I still have my 50D and will keep it for a little while until I make a final decision on what I want to do.

Most reviews i've read have been positive, and reviews from photographers who've used it a real weddings have been very positive. The think it's the best AF system in any Canon camera right now.

tim wrote in post #8809674
Most reviews i've read have been positive, and reviews from photographers who've used it a real weddings have been very positive. The think it's the best AF system in any Canon camera right now.

I love the AF, the image quality is where I am on the fence. I've been seeing very hit and miss results.

Saxi wrote in post #8809698
I love the AF, the image quality is where I am on the fence. I've been seeing very hit and miss results.

How so? Are you looking at the RAW images at 100%, or are you judging by processed images/prints?

tim wrote in post #8810378
How so? Are you looking at the RAW images at 100%, or are you judging by processed images/prints?

Looking at raw images at screen resolution and processed images. It has been really hit or miss, I haven't quite made my mind up, the higher ISO definitely are better for noise, but 200 & 400 seems like it has more noise. I've seen it a few times, not sure if it is something that happens all the time, as I have been primary shooting at 100-200 ISO and 3200. I'm hoping this week I can do a lot more shooting.