Any new 7D owners?

[apchoo]

Finally bought a 7D after deliberating and testing different models (5D, 7D, D70s, 350D) for a week. I guess I had always known that I would buy a KM ... doesn't hurt to be sure, eh? But I thought I would get the 5D being more affordable and newer than 7D, but you've read my feedback ... ended up with the 7D and loving every mm of it . I realised that the 5D is all the rage now but anyone else bought a 7D recently?

My 7D comes with firmware v1.10e and a KM 28-100mm F3.5-5.6 (D) kit lens. The 28-100mm is similar in build quality to the 5D's 18-70mm (lightweight, plastic mount). Unfortunately the 18-70mm isn't yet available here as a standalone lens, which means I don't have a wide lens, hence, my query about the Sigma 10-20mm in a previous thread.

At present, my 7D settings are:

• AF-S focus "LOCK" on the centre focusing element
• ISO set to Auto
• multi-segment metering
• flash & exp. compensation at 0.0
• fill-flash
• AS on
• "A" mode mostly, "P" otherwise

To all those seasoned 7D owners (is there a 7D owners list ?) I need your insight on this wonderful piece of technology. Bear in mind I've only had my 7D for 24hrs ...

• I've experienced occasional underexposure when shooting without flash. I read this is common when using multi-segment exposure metering and remedy is set exp. comp. to 1eV. Is this true even with the latest firmware?
• Noise reduction is set to on ... any reason not to?
• I find that I was occasionally focusing incorrectly when using full frame focusing which is why I locked it on the centre element. What was I doing wrong in the first place?
• I read that flash comp need to be set to +1eV if using the 5600HS. Is that needed with the built-in flash? So far, my flash shots has been good with the built-in flash.

These are my initial observations so far. Will have more questions, I sure. I'm very impressed with 7D's AWB (e.g., skins tones are just sooo accurate), excellent exposure most of the time, ease of changing settings with the myriad of buttons & dials, and the similarity to my old 7xi with the command dials, etc. AF is a tad slow ... could be the slow kit lens or my focusing setting ?

BTW, I did get that secondhand Minolta 50mm F1.4 (ebay ). Looking forward to receiving it and shooting portraits with it. Anyone want a 7000 body ?

[apchoo]

Some of my first 7D photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/apchoo/sets/914463/

[ileaf]

welcome man!
i'm abit "surprise" that someone still prefer 7D over 5D given its much more attractive price for similarly specified cameras.

all DSLR may be designed to under-expose a little (including 7D), but not to the extent of +1EV comp. for general scene. that'll be too over...
for me, i usually set it to +0.5EV

for flash comp, if u get it at +1EV, i think u can send it to KM service center for re-calibration. its not a norm, and i guess it can be corrected.
for me with 3600HS + bounce, ~+0.5-+1.0EV.
direct flash: +0.5EV.

as for the 50mm f/1.4, go grab it! u won't regret it! but beware of BF!

[chianchiek]

hi there, can i know how much did you pay for it? would like to know what's the recent price for this camera~

[Drudkh]

First of all, welcome aboard!

Originally Posted by apchoo I've experienced occasional underexposure when shooting without flash. I read this is common when using multi-segment exposure metering and remedy is set exp. comp. to 1eV. Is this true even with the latest firmware?

Not all sets need to set +1 EV. For mine, I +0.3EV is just enough in low light: eg. under shade, indoor, night without flash.

Originally Posted by apchoo Noise reduction is set to on ... any reason not to?

The noise reduction only kicks in when exposure is 1 sec and above. I just set to on, no need to worry when to switch on & off.

Originally Posted by apchoo I find that I was occasionally focusing incorrectly when using full frame focusing which is why I locked it on the centre element. What was I doing wrong in the first place?

Can you elaborate the line in bold? What so you mean?

Originally Posted by apchoo I read that flash comp need to be set to +1eV if using the 5600HS. Is that needed with the built-in flash? So far, my flash shots has been good with the built-in flash.

Same as the quote, not all sets are the same. That's how electronic works. You'll have to test it out yourself.

Take more photos and enjoy your camera.

[apchoo]

Originally Posted by ileaf i'm abit "surprise" that someone still prefer 7D over 5D given its much more attractive price for similarly specified cameras.

I didn't like the feel of the 5D ... too small for my hands. And I appreciate the myriad of 7D buttons and dials.

Originally Posted by ileaf all DSLR may be designed to under-expose a little (including 7D), but not to the extent of +1EV comp. for general scene. that'll be too over... for me, i usually set it to +0.5EV

Yeah, +1eV was a bit too high. I was partially misled by the LCD screen thinking my outdoor shots were underexposed. When I view it on the computer monitor and TV ... wah overexposed! I'll test with +0.3eV next time.

Originally Posted by ileaf for me with 3600HS + bounce, ~+0.5-+1.0EV. direct flash: +0.5EV.

I'll remember that when I get my 5600HS.

Originally Posted by ileaf as for the 50mm f/1.4, go grab it!

Ummm ... typo there ... should be 50mm f1.7.

[ileaf]

yup, the LCD screen is indeed misleading. sometimes i thought my metering skills are way off!

[apchoo]

Originally Posted by chianchiek hi there, can i know how much did you pay for it? would like to know what's the recent price for this camera~

I'm in Melb, Oz, so the following are Aussie dollars.

Current list price is $1,999 for 7D body + KM 28-100mm kit lens. Bargained it down to $1,899 for the following:

• 7D body + 28-100mm
• KM MPP-1000 LCD screen protector (spare)
• 2nd original KM NP-400 1500mAh battery
• 3rd party in-car NP-400 battery charger
• extended 12-mth warranty (total 2yrs)

KM Oz currently has a $300 cashback promotion, and I plan to get back the 10% GST when I depart for S'pore/M'sia in a week's time. I'll end up paying $1,426 after all the rebates which is about S$1,845 at today's exchange rate. I think the 7D body still sells for >S$2K in S'pore.

But I plan to get the 5600HS from AP when I'm in your fair city. The 5600HS rrp here is $1,000 ... just ridiculous!

[chianchiek]

I wish there is rebate in singapore as well... in US you'll get USD200 rebate too~

[apchoo]

Originally Posted by Drudkh Originally Posted by apchoo I find that I was occasionally focusing incorrectly when using full frame focusing which is why I locked it on the centre element. What was I doing wrong in the first place? Can you elaborate the line in bold? What so you mean?

Sorry ... got the terminology wrong. I meant Wide Focus Area which was the default for my 7D. As a result, the 7D was frequently using one of the other 8 focusing elements to focus instead of the central one resulting in the main subject not in focus. I switched to Focus-area Selection then lock it on the central element thereby ensuring that I was always focusing in the middle of the viewfinder.

Did I miss something about WFA? Was I doing something wrong in not getting the correct element to focus the subject when I'm in that mode?

[TME]

Originally Posted by ileaf yup, the LCD screen is indeed misleading. sometimes i thought my metering skills are way off!

U learn to associate the level of brightness on the LCD with over or under exposure soon enough. Alternatively use the histogram mode to check... the blinking areas will indicated both over and underexposure... after a while u get the hang of things...

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by apchoo Sorry ... got the terminology wrong. I meant Wide Focus Area which was the default for my 7D. As a result, the 7D was frequently using one of the other 8 focusing elements to focus instead of the central one resulting in the main subject not in focus. I switched to Focus-area Selection then lock it on the central element thereby ensuring that I was always focusing in the middle of the viewfinder. Did I miss something about WFA? Was I doing something wrong in not getting the correct element to focus the subject when I'm in that mode?

When you select Wide Focus Area, and you half press the shutter button, the camera will auto select one of the AF points to lock focus. How it selects, is most probably the easiest subject to focus. While in this mode, you can press the four-ways cursor keys to focus instead of the shutter button. But, if you press the button in the middle of the four-ways cursor, it will only focus with the center square AF point.

you can refer to this post http://forums.clubsnap.org/showpost....42&postcount=4

[apchoo]

Originally Posted by Drudkh When you select Wide Focus Area, and you half press the shutter button, the camera will auto select one of the AF points to lock focus. How it selects, is most probably the easiest subject to focus. While in this mode, you can press the four-ways cursor keys to focus instead of the shutter button. But, if you press the button in the middle of the four-ways cursor, it will only focus with the center square AF point. you can refer to this post http://forums.clubsnap.org/showpost....42&postcount=4

Thanks for the tip. I think I'll lock it on the central element for regular shooting. Any other funnies or in low light I tend to use MF anyway.

[Agetan]

Welcome aboard...

I had my first 7D about 5 months ago now... and just added another 7D for backup.

5D is just not the same league as 7D... Build quality is totally different. Given the price of 7D and 5D, they are only about $200 different, 7D is the obvious choice...

Hart

[deslim27]

Originally Posted by Agetan Welcome aboard... I had my first 7D about 5 months ago now... and just added another 7D for backup. 5D is just not the same league as 7D... Build quality is totally different. Given the price of 7D and 5D, they are only about $200 different, 7D is the obvious choice... Hart

$200? In Singapore?

[ileaf]

Originally Posted by deslim27 $200? In Singapore?

$200 only?? doubt so in singapore.
comex just few weeks, the price difference was >S$1K!!

[PIXX]

Originally Posted by Agetan Welcome aboard... I had my first 7D about 5 months ago now... and just added another 7D for backup. 5D is just not the same league as 7D... Build quality is totally different. Given the price of 7D and 5D, they are only about $200 different, 7D is the obvious choice... Hart

Where did you get your 7D? Its either its your 7D is real good bargain or the 5D is real bad buy. $200 difference in Pounds, you mean?

Pls let us know where to buy leh.

[apchoo]

The price difference in Oz is almost negligible because of the 7D $300 cashback promotion. Without any discounts, the prices (incl. GST) for the current promotions are as follows (all in Aussie dollars):

7D body + 28-100mm = $1,699 ($1,999 - $300)

5D body + 18-70mm + 75-300mm = $1,599

I got my 7D for $100 less which made it equivalent to the 5D promotion. Because the 5D was released in Oz just 10 days ago, it is almost impossible to get a discount from retailers because of the 2nd lens promotion .

[apchoo]

I didn't realize this feature (?) initially being at this side of the camera, but my wife later noted that the 7D built-in flash does a kinda pre-flash a split second before it fires a second time when actually recording the shot. I'm not referring to focus assist or red-eye mode. When I press the shutter release button down full to record an image, the flash goes bang-bang. And that had an undesireable effect when I was shooting some toddlers and kids indoors yesterday. The first burst caused the kids to start to blink their eyes (as you would in a reflex action) so when the 2nd burst occurred in actually recording the shot, I get shots of kids with their eyes half closed . They looked like they were all very sleepy! Has anyone else encountered this problem? My Flash Mode is set to "Fill-Flash" and Flash Control to "ADI Flash". I almost wished I had used red-eye mode---at least they would have blinked already when the actual recording flash burst was fired.

Do the 3600HS and 5600HS have this "feature" as well?

[arthuryeo]

Hi

I am Melb too. where did you buy your 7D from? How do you claim GST?

Thanks.

regards,

Arthur

Originally Posted by apchoo I'm in Melb, Oz, so the following are Aussie dollars. Current list price is $1,999 for 7D body + KM 28-100mm kit lens. Bargained it down to $1,899 for the following: 7D body + 28-100mm KM MPP-1000 LCD screen protector (spare) 2nd original KM NP-400 1500mAh battery 3rd party in-car NP-400 battery charger extended 12-mth warranty (total 2yrs) KM Oz currently has a $300 cashback promotion, and I plan to get back the 10% GST when I depart for S'pore/M'sia in a week's time. I'll end up paying $1,426 after all the rebates which is about S$1,845 at today's exchange rate. I think the 7D body still sells for >S$2K in S'pore. But I plan to get the 5600HS from AP when I'm in your fair city. The 5600HS rrp here is $1,000 ... just ridiculous!