Canon 7D Mk II is announced and available for pre-order (5 Viewers)

[Roy C]

I have just been playing around with a 1.4x tc on the 400/5.6 and am pleasantly surprised at the AF speed at f8 with the combo - my first thoughts are its as fast if not faster than the 5D3.
I also tried the AI servo 'near to far' test at 560mm - this involves focus on something near and then something far away without disengaging the AF (I use back button focusing), it worked very well.
I just need to get out now and take some pics to see if the AF accuracy and IQ is holding up.

 

[colincurry]

These are all taken with the 7d2 and the 100-400 2? Are they really big crops?

Isaac

The treecreeper is around 67%; the butterfly 88%; Blackbird 73%; thrush 73% and Robin 88%.

Colin

 

[hosesbroadbill]

Isaac

The treecreeper is around 67%; the butterfly 88%; Blackbird 73%; thrush 73% and Robin 88%.

Colin

Sorry. Let me be clear. Do you mean that the treeceeper is 67% of the original image or that you cropped it 67% and therefore the image you posted is 33% of the original image...

 

[colincurry]

The treecreeper is 33% of the original image cropped 67%.

Colin

 

[hosesbroadbill]

The treecreeper is 33% of the original image cropped 67%.

Colin

Thanks for the clarification. Why do you crop so much? Just too far from subject? It seems that all of the shots your posted are not as sharp as they should be. I think that has very little to do with the lens and camera and mostly to do with just asking too much of the equipment. I would imagine that when you get shots of much closer subjects that the IQ will improve dramatically. Do you have shots like that?

Also did you see the last set of shots that I posted? I think the combo you have should be beating the image quality I am getting by quite a bit. I think the major difference is the shots I posted are all in good light and lightly cropped. I have not gone back to check but probably the most cropped image is still 60% of the original image. I think that makes the greatest difference in IQ with any lens and camera combo. Close, well lit subjects will always produce better images.

Please don't take what I am saying in a negative way but I think this is why the shots are suffering in terms of sharpness.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

With a bird as small and active as a treecreeper you're lucky to get a focus point on it long enough to press the shutter at whatever range, much less get in close enough for a tight crop on a perfectly focused static bird.

Treecreepers don't do stills.

 

[hosesbroadbill]

With a bird as small and active as a treecreeper you're lucky to get a focus point on it long enough to press the shutter at whatever range, much less get in close enough for a tight crop on a perfectly focused static bird.

Treecreepers don't do stills.

I feel your pain. We have Brown Creepers that are equally elusive. But there were several kinds of birds posted that all shared the same softness. Very difficult to determine performance of a lens when viewing major crops of small fast moving birds in less than ideal conditions. That is not a knock on anyone, just on the situation. For me at least who is greatly interested in the other options out there such as both Sigma lenses and the 100-400ii plus a 1.4x paired with the 7d2, I really am scrutinizing the shots posted. Knowing the whole situation that lead to the shot gives me (and others I am sure) more of and idea of what happened and what lead to potential softness or sharpness.

Judging from what I have seen on this and other forums, regardless of the combination used, the shots that are the best are of close subjects in good light. When that is not the case, the results are not what they should be. Well I guess that is wrong. The results are what they should be in those cases. Just not great images and not images that can be used by others to determine what a lens is capable of.

 

[Roy C]

I am going to start with the 7D2 at the deep end today providing the light is good enough (and the birds are still there lol) - going to have a crack at some Martins and a few early Swallows in flight. That should really test the AF system, I will be using Manual mode for exposure and probably start off in case 5 with zone or wide zone for the area mode and take it from there.

 

[Roy C]

BTW folks from what I can see 5D3 batteries will also fit the 7D2 and visa versa - can anyone confirm this as I could be needing a spare today.

 

[senatore]

I am going to start with the 7D2 at the deep end today providing the light is good enough (and the birds are still there lol) - going to have a crack at some Martins and a few early Swallows in flight. That should really test the AF system, I will be using Manual mode for exposure and probably start off with case 5 and take it from there.

Good luck with the new camera Roy but as you have already mentioned buying a new camera ruins the weather.I've had mine for nearly two weeks and the weather in the West Midlands has been grim ever since.

I liked your earlier post on BIF shots because I've been given completely different advice from friends with the mark ii regarding which case to chose.

I know this has been asked before but I cannot find the posts.Does anyone know if there are any third party batteries out there for the 7Dii that the charger and the camera accepts.

Max

 

[Roy C]

I know this has been asked before but I cannot find the posts.Does anyone know if there are any third party batteries out there for the 7Dii that the charger and the camera accepts.

Max

I would also like to know of any decent third party batteries Max so thanks for putting this up.

 

[Roy C]

Good luck with the new camera Roy but as you have already mentioned buying a new camera ruins the weather.I've had mine for nearly two weeks and the weather in the West Midlands has been grim ever since.
Max

Always the way Max lol - looks like it could be reasonable next week from the forecast I saw last night.

 

[dabut101]

Sadly there is no name on the third party batts i have only a sticker saying LPE6 DC 7.2V===2100 mah but to me they seem better than originals 7d or 7d2 and either charger will take them.purchased off fleabay as £11 a pair but when i got them it was 2 packets of 2 for that price



dave

 

[hampers]

I would also like to know of any decent third party batteries Max so thanks for putting this up.

Roy
I these from Amazon,
DSTE® 2pcs LP-E6 Rechargerable Lithium-ion Battery for Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 5D Mark III, EOS 6D, EOS 7D, EOS 60D, EOS 60Da, EOS 70D

Sold by DSTE

£16.99

Have found to perform similar to Canon battery and good value. Rarely used though as easily get >1000 on Canon battery. Work fine in Canon charger.

Phil

 

[PeterBird]

BTW folks from what I can see 5D3 batteries will also fit the 7D2 and visa versa - can anyone confirm this as I could be needing a spare today.

I know for a fact that the 7D batteries fit the 7II, and they are the same LP-E6 batteries the 5D mark III uses, so they should fit. Have fun with the new camera. Looking forward to your findings.
Peter

 

[Roy C]

I know for a fact that the 7D batteries fit the 7II, and they are the same LP-E6 batteries the 5D mark III uses, so they should fit. Have fun with the new camera. Looking forward to your findings.
Peter

Thanks for that Peter :t: the only reason I queried it was because my 5d3 battery is LPE6 but the 7D2 one is LPE6N seems like the 'N' does not make any difference.

 

[Roy C]

Sadly there is no name on the third party batts i have only a sticker saying LPE6 DC 7.2V===2100 mah but to me they seem better than originals 7d or 7d2 and either charger will take them.purchased off fleabay as £11 a pair but when i got them it was 2 packets of 2 for that price



dave

Roy
I these from Amazon,
DSTE® 2pcs LP-E6 Rechargerable Lithium-ion Battery for Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 5D Mark III, EOS 6D, EOS 7D, EOS 60D, EOS 60Da, EOS 70D

Sold by DSTE

£16.99

Have found to perform similar to Canon battery and good value. Rarely used though as easily get >1000 on Canon battery. Work fine in Canon charger.

Phil

Thank you Dave and Phil - I will have a gander on Amazon.

 

[rentoncharman]

The LPE6 battery is fully compatible with 7DII but has slightly lower mAh capacity than the new LPE6N battery that Canon recommend for the 7dII, 3.5% less mAh. Be wary of having the GPS system activated on your 7dII, it eats the juice!

 

[stevo]

Bit more info on the 7Dmk2 & version 2 of the 100-400mm http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/2015...r-and-the-eos-7d-mark-ii-as-requested-part-i/

Steve.

 

[Roy C]

The LPE6 battery is fully compatible with 7DII but has slightly lower mAh capacity than the new LPE6N battery that Canon recommend for the 7dII, 3.5% less mAh. Be wary of having the GPS system activated on your 7dII, it eats the juice!

Thanks for that :t: I have just checked my GPS setting and see that it is disabled - that where I shall leave it.