Canon 7D Mk II is announced and available for pre-order (1 Viewer)

[Joe52]

Thanks for the advice on RAW conversion.
I downloaded the Cameraraw 8.8 and installed it on the PC. However, Photoshop still contains version 7 and I cannot find a way of making the program recognise the new plug-in.

Thats odd, I just updated to 8.8 today, when I started CS6 the plug-in was loaded OK, did you have PS closed when you installed the plug-in?

 

[Pauhana]

Out experimenting w/new camera chasing butterflies since no migrants yet.

Both 800 ISO w/ Canon 100-400 v1

Randy

 

[PeterBird]

The weather improved considerably over the last few day, so I went out some more with the 7DII and the 100-400II. I do like the combo. The IS is very good and both IQ and AF speed are as good as the 400 5.6 in my view. No scientific comparisons, just my feeling when shooting with the combo. Adding the 1.4II converter does not take away much of the image quality. It does affect AF speed, of course, but it remains quite fast. Being limited to the centre AF point (+4 assist points) makes BIF a little harder, but with more or less 'busy' backgrounds, that is what I would use anyway. Some shots, all were cropped considerably:
1. Northern Shoveler ( 400mm - 15% of original)
2. Tufted Duck (400mm - 23% of original)
3. Common Whitethroat (560mm - 20% of original))
4. Willow Warbler (560mm - 26% of original))
5. Mediterranean Gull (560mm - 23% of original)

 

[Roy C]

The weather improved considerably over the last few day, so I went out some more with the 7DII and the 100-400II. I do like the combo. The IS is very good and both IQ and AF speed are as good as the 400 5.6 in my view. No scientific comparisons, just my feeling when shooting with the combo. Adding the 1.4II converter does not take away much of the image quality. It does affect AF speed, of course, but it remains quite fast. Being limited to the centre AF point (+4 assist points) makes BIF a little harder, but with more or less 'busy' backgrounds, that is what I would use anyway. Some shots, all were cropped considerably:
1. Northern Shoveler ( 400mm - 15% of original)
2. Tufted Duck (400mm - 23% of original)
3. Common Whitethroat (560mm - 20% of original))
4. Willow Warbler (560mm - 26% of original))
5. Mediterranean Gull (560mm - 23% of original)

Nice set Peter :t: the lens looks like it is taking the 1.4x tc very well. The 7D2 handles heavy cropping very well as can be seen with your shots.

 

[Roy C]

Here is one I took on the 7D2 a couple of days ago - I am not that pleased with it as the light was harsh (mad dogs and Englishmen..........) but I do think that the 7D2 gives 'cleaner' images than the 7D1.
Taken with the 400/5.6 handheld - I cannot handhold as steady these days as I once could so seriously looking at a lightweight(ish) I.S. lens.

 

[PeterBird]

Here is one I took on the 7D2 a couple of days ago - I am not that pleased with it as the light was harsh (mad dogs and Englishmen..........) but I do think that the 7D2 gives 'cleaner' images than the 7D1.
Taken with the 400/5.6 handheld - I cannot handhold as steady these days as I once could so seriously looking at a lightweight(ish) I.S. lens.

Lovely picture, Roy! I completely agree with you about the difference between the 7D and the 7DII

Peter

 

[Mick Sway]

The weather improved considerably over the last few day, so I went out some more with the 7DII and the 100-400II. I do like the combo. The IS is very good and both IQ and AF speed are as good as the 400 5.6 in my view. No scientific comparisons, just my feeling when shooting with the combo. Adding the 1.4II converter does not take away much of the image quality. It does affect AF speed, of course, but it remains quite fast. Being limited to the centre AF point (+4 assist points) makes BIF a little harder, but with more or less 'busy' backgrounds, that is what I would use anyway. Some shots, all were cropped considerably:
)

I'd be great full if anyone could share their settings for the Mark II, as yet I'm not greatly impressed particularly with flight shots.
It could be the Bigma 50-500 that's making them soft.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[BodyResults]

I'd be great full if anyone could share their settings for the Mark II, as yet I'm not greatly impressed particularly with flight shots.
It could be the Bigma 50-500 that's making them soft.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Mick, I think the Bigma 50-500 is typically less sharp than the Canon 400 f5.6 of the Canon 100-400 5.6. I had one once and quickly changed it out to the 400 5.6 to get better sharpness.

Regarding flight shots my typical setting are:
Manual Exposure
Wide Open aperture
Shutter speed - I prefer 1/3,200 but will go down to 1,600 if I am concerned about ISO.
AI Servo plus single point plus 4 surround
For scenarios the case doesn't matter if you customize the three settings. Typically I'm at Tracking -2, Accel/Decel 0, Af Pt switch 0

First photo is a Prairie Falcon at 1/3200 about 30% of original file @400mm. Second is a very erratic flying White-throated Swift at 1/4000 @400mm. Because they were flying above my head and almost never dipped below the horizon I use all points focus for this. I had great difficulty tracking with single point plus 4. This photo is about 10% of original file. Third photo is taken at 1,200mm 600 f4 with 2x 1/3,200. This had to have been near 100 meters out and I was surprised how well the 7D2 did on this. Not much crop on it.

I'd be curious about the scenario settings others are using for BIF. For faster smaller birds I'm tempted to move up the tracking sensitivity.

Doug

 

[SC2birders]

For BIF settings, I suggest to check my postings of April 13 & 14. You can't get worse light nor a busier background than the shots of the spoonbill. The advantage of the new focus system in the Mk2 is that it will focus on the nearest object within the zone you have selected and ignore the background. I would like to say that I could hold just the center few points on the eye of a flying bird, but I can't manage it. Back when I did a little skeet shooting, I used a shotgun, not a rifle.

 

[hosesbroadbill]

I'd be great full if anyone could share their settings for the Mark II, as yet I'm not greatly impressed particularly with flight shots.
It could be the Bigma 50-500 that's making them soft.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

ai servo. same settings as above. -2, 0,0. I use zone auto focus (9 points). Back button focus with af-on button custom set for those settings.

A few Oystercatcher shots with the new Sigma Contemporary from the first day I had the lens. Bird were close and moving very fast.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17007195670/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/16571289473/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17193069002/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/16572593974/in/photostream/

 

[Mick Sway]

7D Mark2 settings

Mick, I think the Bigma 50-500 is typically less sharp than the Canon 400 f5.6 of the Canon 100-400 5.6. I had one once and quickly changed it out to the 400 5.6 to get better sharpness.



Doug

For BIF settings, I suggest to check my postings of April 13 & 14. You can't get worse light nor a busier background than the shots of the spoonbill. The advantage of the new focus system in the Mk2 is that it will focus on the nearest object within the zone you have selected and ignore the background. I would like to say that I could hold just the center few points on the eye of a flying bird, but I can't manage it. Back when I did a little skeet shooting, I used a shotgun, not a rifle.

ai servo. same settings as above. -2, 0,0. I use zone auto focus (9 points). Back button focus with af-on button custom set for those settings.

A few Oystercatcher shots with the new Sigma Contemporary from the first day I had the lens. Bird were close and moving very fast.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17007195670/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/16571289473/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/17193069002/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/120553232@N02/16572593974/in/photostream/

Thanks Guys will try your suggestions. I have tried the Canon 400 f5.6 but passed it on to my wife.
Thanks again.
Mick

 

[GYRob]

Typically I'm at Tracking -2, Accel/Decel 0, Af Pt switch 0

This is my main setting Doug.

Rob

 

[Colin]

Thanks guys for these last few posts on settings used. I will be experimenting with some of these. I am finding that when I get things right I am quite satisfied with the pics but am having lots of failures. It is down to operator error and often not being able to keep 'on' the BIF. I will keep practising.

 

[Mick Sway]

Canon 7D Mk II

Thanks guys for these last few posts on settings used. I will be experimenting with some of these. I am finding that when I get things right I am quite satisfied with the pics but am having lots of failures. It is down to operator error and often not being able to keep 'on' the BIF. I will keep practising.

See here:
http://www.canonrumors.com/2015/04/new-firmware-coming-for-eos-7d-mark-ii/

 

[Barred Wobbler]

See here:
http://www.canonrumors.com/2015/04/new-firmware-coming-for-eos-7d-mark-ii/

Interesting. Let's hope it arrives soon. I'm off on a trip in early May and I'd like to think my camera is up to date when I go.

With my luck, it'll be released two days after I get home.


Pic from Thursday with the 7DII and the Sigma 150-600 sport

 

[Mick Sway]

7d Ii

Interesting. Let's hope it arrives soon. I'm off on a trip in early May and I'd like to think my camera is up to date when I go.

With my luck, it'll be released two days after I get home.


Pic from Thursday with the 7DII and the Sigma 150-600 sport

Same here, Lesvos beckons a week today.
Though my camera didn't contain a USB lead which I have now had to order seperately , the camera's port/USB socket not being standard.

 

[petemorris]

It should have come with a cable, and it is standard, just the faster and more up to date USB3.

Cheers

Pete

 

[senatore]

Advice/help please.

Have had my 7D ii for a month now and am very pleased with it.As others have said the AF is fast and accurate and the ISO performance impressive. I've taken many keepers my old 7D i would not have touched.

However all is not rosy in the garden I am having trouble getting decent flight shots.I'm getting some decent ones but am getting far more poor out of focus shots which is doubly annoying as I did pretty well with them with the 7D i.

I'm sure I haven't got the AF problem others have had because I'm getting consistently good AF when shooting static birds and when testing my flight shot settings on static targets the AF is fine.

I've dabbled with quite a few flight shot settings settings but not had much success.My current settings used with a Canon 5.6 400 lens tried out yesterday with mixed results were :-

AI Servo
AV
5.6
9 focus points
Case 2 at -2 , 0 , 0

I use back focusing (AE lock button).

I've attached a sample shot.

I'm sure it's down to me and need more practice but if anyone has any tips/advice I would be obliged as I need to get on the ball when the Hobbies show up.

Max

 

[Roy C]

Advice/help please.

Have had my 7D ii for a month now and am very pleased with it.As others have said the AF is fast and accurate and the ISO performance impressive. I've taken many keepers my old 7D i would not have touched.

However all is not rosy in the garden I am having trouble getting decent flight shots.I'm getting some decent ones but am getting far more poor out of focus shots which is doubly annoying as I did pretty well with them with the 7D i.

I'm sure I haven't got the AF problem others have had because I'm getting consistently good AF when shooting static birds and when testing my flight shot settings on static targets the AF is fine.

I've dabbled with quite a few flight shot settings settings but not had much success.My current settings used with a Canon 5.6 400 lens tried out yesterday with mixed results were :-

AI Servo
AV
5.6
9 focus points
Case 2 at -2 , 0 , 0

I use back focusing (AE lock button).

I've attached a sample shot.

I'm sure it's down to me and need more practice but if anyone has any tips/advice I would be obliged as I need to get on the ball when the Hobbies show up.

Max

When you say 9 focus points Max, do you mean single point expansion with 8 assist points? If so you do realise that you have to pick the bird up with the single AF point to begin with?

 

[Colin]

See here:
http://www.canonrumors.com/2015/04/new-firmware-coming-for-eos-7d-mark-ii/

Thanks Mick. Interesting. Will keep an ear to the ground.