Canon 7D files

Anyone out there own a Canon 7D? I am looking for your impressions on the files from actual field use. Please let me know what you think, I have a few concerns with the 2 7D test cameras I tried (not the ghosting issue)

Darwin

Hi Darwin,

Both my wife and I own a couple of 7D's, and so far no problems (no ghosting) but in fairness, we haven't put the cameras through too many tests as of yet. Been using them for mainly landscape work, and processing the RAW files using LIghtroom 3 beta version. What specifically do you have concerns with? I'd be willing to email you a few files for you to compare to your own 7D if you wish - just let me know.

Cheers,
Mike

Mike, what camera did you own before the 7D? Have you campared the 7D files with your older camera?. How do you like the details in your files e.g. do they hold up well when viewed at 100%. My concerns are less with noise and ghosting (the problems talked about on the web) but with the actual quality of the files. I would love to see one of your files especially anything shot at a distance or anything shot with a telephoto lens. Please just convert one of your RAWs without sharpening and save it as a JPEG and send it to me at wiggett@telusplanet.net The issue I see with the files is driving me crazy, maybe it is just me?

Darwin,
I'll had a 7D for about 3 weeks now. Have really put it thru the mill, and its operated flawlessly for all of my requirements. I shoot sports, landscape and travel, and its been very good in all the applications. I also shoot with a 5DMKII, and a 50 D. I think the 50 D is going to be put out to pasture...........

Sure Darwin. I'll try to send it off to you tomorrow as I'm swamped today (I still need my day job).

What I have noticed about my 7D files is that they seem to be somewhat less sharp than I expected - less sharp in fact than my previous camera, which was a simple little XTi. This flys in the face of other images that I've seen posted which show tack sharp wildlife detail. I figured it has to be with the noise reduction modes I was using or some other camera setting or perhaps using the beta version of Lightroom for the RAW conversion.

Friends who are getting those incredibly sharp results tell me that they've turned every noise reduction mode off - which is something that I have yet to try, but makes sense. It's still bothers me with a camera of this calibre however. Not sure if this is what you've encountered too.

Mike

Tom,

Have you done a direct comparison of the same scene with the 7D, 50D and the Mark II? If so I would love to see the comparison files! I want to make sure what I see from the 7D is real and not some error I am making. If you don't have a comparison set of images how about just sending me an unsharpened high res JPEG from your 7D? I want to see if the camera is actually capable of quality files. Help me out with some concrete examples.

And just FYI, in my tests I use various Canon cameras, use the same lens on each body, use live view for precise focus, use mirror lock-up, cable release and IS turned off. All images are shot in RAW and processed exactly the same way in DPP - so far what I see from the 7D is worrisome. What am I missing?

Hi Mike,

I am indeed surprised by the low quality of the files, all noise reduction off, processed in DPP. And still the files are very mushy (I get better files from the Rebel XSi even after I interpolate the Rebel files from 12MP to 18MP).

Mike I do not have a 7d this week. Could you do a quick test with yours? Photograph the same scene with all noise reduction off and then with noise reduction on (use Live view for focus, tripod cable release, IS off etc) and send me the RAW files. If you do this I would be happy to send you any one of my books for free! Thanks

Darwin

Be happy to Darwin. I'm a big fan of your work and actually own one of your books already, but I could always use another one! The RAW files are quite large, so should I mail you a CD with the images on them instead of emailing them? You can always email me off the list if you wish to discuss further: mkarakasphotography@mts.net

I actually shoot the same way you suggested - largely due to reading your past articles in Canadian Outdoor Photographer magazine!

Mike

Darwin,

Check out imaging-resource.com's compare-o-meter http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM. From the samples there I don't see anything wrong with the full size 7D files, in fact they look noticeably better and sharper than the 50D and the 450D in the side by side comparison, almost to the point of making me wonder if they had a bad copy of the 50D or if they used a lower quality lens on the 50D for the comparison. The high ISO performance of the 7D also appears to have a slight edge over the 50D in the comparison.

I'd be interested in finding out if there is some not very well known flaw though as I plan on the 7D as my next camera upgrade from my 40D when I can afford it.

The result from the link look like what I would expect!

But...I have found the 7D does good with subjects close to the camera like we see in the imaging-resouce site but with distant scenes and with really detailed nature photography the files fall apart. I only tested with real world examples and was disappointed hugely. I hope it is just me (either bieng too anal or doing something wrong) cause I want to love the camera. I will post the results to my blog in a day or two for everyone's input. Darwin

Darwin - In thinking about this, I'm not sure how it could show good fine resolution with close objects but poor with distant objects. (Assuming you've maxed out the detail it can capture in the image of the close object.) Looking at the fine detail in the links (like on the scale and brushes in the "still life" set) it seems like the images might be hitting about the finest detail that the camera can capture. And the 7D looks slightly softer or lower res to me than the 5DMkII (some of the 7D small numbers aren't as readable), but only very slightly. And that makes sense given the resolution difference (and maybe an AA filter difference?). BUT the 7D has some NR turned on (the file names have "NR_STD" in them).

Guess I'd like to get a look at what you're seeing...is it maybe just a contrast issue and after adjustments things even up between the two? That could potentially affect distant objects in nature more.

I talked to some recognizable and respected high level photographers who have tested the 7d and found what I have found, mushy flat files... Files that are no better than the Rebels or 30D through 50D. And for some reason the camera does not do well with wide angle lenses or distant scenes, they found the same result.

Anyway in the end it is about expectations. I expected the files from this semipro camera to fall in between the Rebel and the 5D Mark II. It didn't! The 12 MP Rebel Xsi easily matched it. The Mark II blew the 7D away in real world nature scenes. Why would I spend $2000 on a camera when a $500 model gives me the same quality? For me the fantastic handling and controls of the 7d are not worth the extra $1500.

So if you (in the general sense) are happy with a Rebel or 30D, 40D or 50D file quality then you you'll be happy with the 7D. If you wanted more, then you might be disappointed. Darwin

Darwin,

Have you tried a RAW processor other than DPP? I used it a little sometime ago but found issues in sharpness among other things.

I tried Camera RAW and can see no quality differences between DPP and Camera RAW when both are set to no sharpening and nosie reduction turned off. Darwin