7D Set Ups for Concert Photography

Hey All,

I am still in the process of learning about my 7D. I shot a show last week and wasn't over the top stoked on my results but there are glimpses of greatness no doubt. I'm noticing a softness that was just not there with my 30D and I know that many who start out with this camera experience this problem. I am sure that my low number of keepers is user error on my part. I decided to go back into the custom menus and some of the camera settings and dig into those areas for optimizing this camera for concert situations. Are there any settings you have discovered that have made a noticeable difference in your IQ at a show?

Some of my settings at the moment:

Auto lighting optimizer: Low


CF3-1 AI tracking sensitivity on first hash mark on slow side. (I don't shoot high energy bands

CF3-2: AF priority/tracking priority

CF3-3: AI servo AF Tracking Method - Continuous AF track priority

CF3-6: single point and single point expansion selected

CF3-7: Manual AF selection polnt - continuous

CF3-8: VF display enabled for low light. I sure wish this would illuminate for a longer period of time rather than just flashing red for less than a second. This proved tough for me in low light.

CF3-9 : All AF points displayed

Don't use a 7D, but AF point expansion might cause the camera to focus on an easy part, instead of the part you want / think to focus on (cheek or mic instead of eye for instance).

Got any examples of "soft" images? (100% crop, around the AF point used)

I shot with it this past Friday and switched from AF point expansion to single point AF and found the results to improve. I have also since jacked up the sharpness in the standard picture mode and monochrome and I have noticed that has helped as well. I am going to microadjust for my 17-50mm and I'm sure that will help too. I think I'm getting there. I don't have any crops right now. Will work on that and hopefully post some examples.

A

note: if you open your raw in camera raw your preset for sharpening and colors and contrast are not effective.. you have to open it with DPP from canon

I have the 7D for a year now and i shoot 92 bands in 2010 with it.. its a great camera for focusing and I only use the center point in one shot mode

I have the tamron 17-50 too.. I do the microadjust on it and it was not very offset.. just a bit like + or - 3 i don't remeber..

I have been using the 7D for concerts the last year and a half at countless events. Almost all my events are at night in dimly lit venues.

My set up:

- Shoot RAW only, usually medium size, but varies on gig
- I usually use auto white balance
- Shoot fully in manual
- Neutral picture style
- Shoot single shot
- Single point AF and I am constantly changing it depending on camera orientation. 7D crushed my 40D in this regard. Love the various AF points, though I tend to use the same few. This is where a lot of people struggle learning the 7D, but once you understand it's AF system, you will love it.
- Spot meting
- Disabled Auto lighting optimizer

From there I usually start most events shooting at 1/125, f/2.8, and 1600 ISO, and adjust accordingly

i would love to see the outcome of your picture with the 7D