EOS 7D user,information sharing thread.

[Raikyn]

Hi all, just popped in as one of my images was linked into this forum. So I thought I'd wander in and have a look around.

I had uploaded a raw 7d image for another forum, I guess it might be of some interest to people here as well, so I'll provide a link here as well.
http://rapidshare.com/files/312366707/IMG_0020.CR2

Not a great image, so don't judge it on that Just a macro bee shot.

 

[faineant]

Hi all, just popped in as one of my images was linked into this forum. So I thought I'd wander in and have a look around.

I had uploaded a raw 7d image for another forum, I guess it might be of some interest to people here as well, so I'll provide a link here as well.
http://rapidshare.com/files/312366707/IMG_0020.CR2

Not a great image, so don't judge it on that Just a macro bee shot.

Yup, I linked your image in this forum. I hope you don't mind, I did mention the photos are courtesy of their respective owners.

Cheers mate, great photos you got. :thumbsup:

 

[hobbit6003]

I thought I had every single AF issue fixed after 2 trips to CSC, but apparently not after some extensive holiday shooting in all modes...

I just did another test shots to prove a point.

1. Spot AF, centre focusing pt

2. 100% crop of 1:

3. Auto AF selection

4. 100% crop of 3:

These are just a few of the images I've taken of the same thing, the results were the same.


The single pt AF inconsistency issue was fixed alright, and now comes this...wonder what will it be next?

I'm now really a little traumatise to even bring this camera out for a shoot....sigh!

I've just made an appt with CSC tmr....

 

[doodah]

I thought I had every single AF issue fixed after 2 trips to CSC, but apparently not after some extensive holiday shooting in all modes...
I just did another test shots to prove a point.

I spent some time talking to the technician about AF calibration.

I know the root cause for your grief: sloppy AF calibration job.

Your target is on a flat plane. So, the camera to target distance should be ~ the same regardless of your choice of AF point.

However, in the calibration process, the technician needs to calibrate EACH AND EVERY AF point.

Since your center AF point is OK, it means that was all he fixed. He did not bother to check the side AF points.

When you chose auto AF selection, the camera activated several AF points and sent out a command to the lens motors that was an AVERAGE result of the information gathered from the various AF points. Consequently, the auto AF selection results are horrendous.

I bet if you check your side AF points individually, you'll find the AF is either inaccurate or inconsistent.

These lazy technicians should be whacked on the head.

 

[twinrongs]

I thought I had every single AF issue fixed after 2 trips to CSC, but apparently not after some extensive holiday shooting in all modes...

I just did another test shots to prove a point.

1. Spot AF, centre focusing pt

2. 100% crop of 1:

3. Auto AF selection

4. 100% crop of 3:

These are just a few of the images I've taken of the same thing, the results were the same.


The single pt AF inconsistency issue was fixed alright, and now comes this...wonder what will it be next?

I'm now really a little traumatise to even bring this camera out for a shoot....sigh!

I've just made an appt with CSC tmr....

Do you normally shoot wih Auto AF Selection or do you select your own AF point? What are the situations where you would be shooting in Auto AF selection?

Looking at Pic #3, you are shooting in Auto AF with 7 point auto-selected and f/2.8. Given the shallow depth of field, it would be difficult to have all 7 points in focus isn't it?

Maybe I'm not facing your focusing problem as I always manually select my AF point. My favourite setting is 19pt AF WITH AI Servo, so that I can manually select the AF point before releasing the shutter in continuous mode. So far AF is very impressive, especially the tracking ability of 7D.

 

[hobbit6003]

Do you normally shoot wih Auto AF Selection or do you select your own AF point? What are the situations where you would be shooting in Auto AF selection?

Looking at Pic #3, you are shooting in Auto AF with 7 point auto-selected and f/2.8. Given the shallow depth of field, it would be difficult to have all 7 points in focus isn't it?

Maybe I'm not facing your focusing problem as I always manually select my AF point. My favourite setting is 19pt AF WITH AI Servo, so that I can manually select the AF point before releasing the shutter in continuous mode. So far AF is very impressive, especially the tracking ability of 7D.

Just look what I've found!

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5652936#post5652936

 

[twinrongs]

Just look what I've found!

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5652936#post5652936

Seems like flickering of fluorescent light to me. Common problem if you shoot indoor, try shooting outdoor with natural lighting.

Back to the AF issue, do you usually select your own AF point (out of the 19 AF) or do you let the camera decide the AF pt for you?

 

[hobbit6003]

Seems like flickering of fluorescent light to me. Common problem if you shoot indoor, try shooting outdoor with natural lighting.

Back to the AF issue, do you usually select your own AF point (out of the 19 AF) or do you let the camera decide the AF pt for you?

I usually select my own AF pts, but I still have issues with them when I go on continuous shooting mode and AI servo. Compared to my 30D, the 7D gives me quite a low hit rate.

My colleague had done similar setting as mine (auto Af select) using his Nikon D300, and his focus was spot on.

Sigh, I just hope that it is an enduser problem....

 

[twinrongs]

I usually select my own AF pts, but I still have issues with them when I go on continuous shooting mode and AI servo. Compared to my 30D, the 7D gives me quite a low hit rate.

My colleague had done similar setting as mine (auto Af select) using his Nikon D300, and his focus was spot on.

Sigh, I just hope that it is an enduser problem....

Assuming that you know What and Where to focus when you're taking your photo, in what situation would you use the Auto AF Selection? Sorry mate, mental block for me as I cannot understand the logic of using Auto AF Selection with DSLR :dunno:

In 19pt AF mode WITH AI servo, you can select your own AF pt. I've many success using this configuration with Continuous shooting. You can even see the AF pt tracking and moving with the object. But note that if you change the AF mode to One-shot in 19pt AF, the AF pt selection becomes AUTO and you cannot manually select your AF pt :nono:

 

[muvouser]

Its confirmed. Those who have not tried please try it.


1. Single point Focus - All good and in focus

2. Zone AF - Consistently out of focus

3. 19 point AF auto selection - Consistently out of focus


Let's go as a group to pressure Canon to work out something. The larger the group the stronger the protest and the larger pressure for them to resolve the issue. Have they escalated the matter to Japan yet?

Those who are affected please contact me via PM so that we may have a "larger" voice for resolution.

 

[twinrongs]

Its confirmed. Those who have not tried please try it.


1. Single point Focus - All good and in focus

2. Zone AF - Consistently out of focus

3. 19 point AF auto selection - Consistently out of focus


Let's go as a group to pressure Canon to work out something. The larger the group the stronger the protest and the larger pressure for them to resolve the issue. Have they escalated the matter to Japan yet?

Those who are affected please contact me via PM so that we may have a "larger" voice for resolution.

Could you kindly quote the sources of your information for declaring "It's confirmed"?

Are you saying that if you select your AF pt manually, the focusing are "All good and in focus" in Spot, Single, Expansion and 19pt AF mode. However if you let the camera decide for the photographer the exact AF pt/pts in Zone AF and 19 pt AF Auto Selection, the focusing are "Consistently out of focus"? Just need a clearer understanding of such sweeping statements. Thanks.

 

[CYRN]

Do you normally shoot wih Auto AF Selection or do you select your own AF point? What are the situations where you would be shooting in Auto AF selection?

Looking at Pic #3, you are shooting in Auto AF with 7 point auto-selected and f/2.8. Given the shallow depth of field, it would be difficult to have all 7 points in focus isn't it?

Maybe I'm not facing your focusing problem as I always manually select my AF point. My favourite setting is 19pt AF WITH AI Servo, so that I can manually select the AF point before releasing the shutter in continuous mode. So far AF is very impressive, especially the tracking ability of 7D.

The issue here is that the cam "thinks" all those highlighted AF points were in focus. Isn't that the reason they are highlighted in the first place? :dunno:

 

[Sailor73]

Their pics are amazing..... made me re-think whether my 7D is not as sharp (all pics at 100% view is slight smudgy) or is it something I do wrong.

As I have listed in another thread, these are just a reminder of what the 7D can do. All photos courtesy of their respective owners.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lujide/4044565266/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelpie1/4052354142/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hodown55/4107770685/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fravenang/4021049751/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snidro/4116255898/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photog711/4092101241/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rantamplan_1000d/4086923659/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39935348@N08/4061323139/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_petryk/4059929695/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chromatics/4057057604/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chromatics/4055681105/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raikyn/4052397308/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hodown55/4107770139/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chromatics/4057058432/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fravenang/4021048533/sizes/l/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregob/4100519888/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/.../photos/floridanaturephotography/4019568069/sizes/o/

 

[doodah]

After spending more than a month at CSC and 5 personal visits from me, my 7D is finally back. Initial test results were not too good and that left a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyway, I persisted and I think I now understand some of the quirks of 7D AF among other things.

A whole battery of tests were carried out and after more than a thousand test photos, I think I now have some clues on the performance of the 7D vs 450D.

Anyway, the upshot is that I believe my 7D is now calibrated roughly to my satisfaction. :bsmilie:

Test conditions:

a) AF tests in jpeg mode:
- single AF point selected
- tripod mounted with IS turned off where applicable
- lens is intentionally defocused between shots, alternately towards minimum focusing distance and infinity
- 20 shots are fired for each selected AF point and AF size (standard size or spot)
- daylight and tungsten lighting conditions were tested

b) RAW tests:
a) Low light ISO - manual focus, ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 and 12800
b) Low ISO banding check - lens cap on, ISO 100, f/8, 1/1000 sec, 17 mm
c) Long exposure check - f/8, ISO 100 @ 104 sec, ISO 200 @ 52 sec
d) Diffraction effects - 55 mm, ISO 100, manual focus, daylight, f/2.8 to f/13, analyze distant roof shingles and tree leafs

Observations made:

a) No noticeable low ISO banding for my copy. High ISO is pretty impressive too, matches the 450D.

b) On the 17-55 lens, 7D resolution (distant roof shingles and tree leafs) is no different from 450D, all the way from f/2.8 to f/16. 450D was uprez to match 7D. Exact same test conditions as Darwin Wiggett.

Darwin Wiggett must either be a dumba** or he's intentionally going all out to malign the 7D. Otherwise, he must have a defective 7D (with extra strong AA filter)... which won't surprise me given my personal experience. :bsmilie:

c) Long exposures (104 sec @ ISO 100 and 52 sec @ ISO 200) on 7D are totally noise free

d) 7D AF algorithm exhibits the following quirks:

i) When lens motors are pushed all the way to the ends of either extreme (minimum focusing distance or infinity), 7D AF algorithm is no longer reliable. This was what tripped me up in my initial testing of the 7D AF.

After I learned that painful lesson, I never allowed the lens motor to reach all the way to the end of either extreme as I intentionally defocused the lens between each AF cycle. Close but never touching.

ii) Auto area AF tends to front focus 'cos the standard size of each AF point is large and the algorithm almost always picks the shortest AF distance.

Each side of the standard AF point extends half-way in the space between 2 adjacent AF points. Spot AF size extends just slightly beyond the borders of each AF box shown in the viewfinder.

iii) live view contrast based AF fails when light levels fall or when target is small and distant.

e) The peripheral AF sensors at the four (1/3rd composition guidelines) corner positions on 7D have an average hit rate of ~ 75% while those on 450D only achieve 45% hit rate.

f) Standard single point and spot AF differ only in size. There is NO difference in terms of AF precision per se.

g) If AF servo is activated when 100 mm macro lens is mounted on 7D, hit rate is close to 100% as I rock back and forth at nearly 1:1 magnification and aperture setting of f/8. Conversely on the 450D, AF servo hit rate is 80%

h) Center AF with f/2.8 lenses give higher hit rate than f/4 lenses... as stated in manual

i) 7D buttons can be configured to facilitate ease of AF selection:
- DOF button for switching between one shot AF and AF servo
- AF-on button for AF at selected AF point
- * button for AF at registered AF point

 

[jdbatino]

only works with 2.8 ?
Damn, so we need to throw away our 70-200 f4s for 2.8s ....

but yeah that could explain why my 70-200mm turns out crap 100% crops ,

 

[doodah]

only works with 2.8 ?
Damn, so we need to throw away our 70-200 f4s for 2.8s ....

but yeah that could explain why my 70-200mm turns out crap 100% crops ,

Bear in mind my test conditions are rather stringent. The target may be rather small and depth of field narrow. If your target is large and depth of field is deep, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[hobbit6003]

doodah,

You've done a very thorough test, and I'm happy that both our cameras turned out to be good!

I took my camera out to shoot my son playing soccer today, using AI servo with high speed continuous shooting, with single pt/ zonal/ expanded AF, and I'm glad to report that my hit rate is more than 80%, conservatively speaking.

This, compared to those similar shots I took over at Club Med 2 wks ago with the previous 7D, is quite a world of difference!

That said, I find that the auto AF select is much more reliable with the D300 than with the 7D, when used on a single focusing plane. Even with the new 7D, I'm only able to achieve ard 50% hit rate. This, I think, is inherent in its algorithm, which unfortunately, is something we can't do much about short of a firmware update.

So, after submitting more than a thousand pics to CSC for their perusal, I hope that a firmware update can resolve this niggling issue.

 

[doodah]

doodah,

You've done a very thorough test, and I'm happy that both our cameras turned out to be good!

I took my camera out to shoot my son playing soccer today, using AI servo with high speed continuous shooting, with single pt/ zonal/ expanded AF, and I'm glad to report that my hit rate is more than 80%, conservatively speaking.

This, compared to those similar shots I took over at Club Med 2 wks ago with the previous 7D, is quite a world of difference!

That said, I find that the auto AF select is much more reliable with the D300 than with the 7D, when used on a single focusing plane. Even with the new 7D, I'm only able to achieve ard 50% hit rate. This, I think, is inherent in its algorithm, which unfortunately, is something we can't do much about short of a firmware update.

So, after submitting more than a thousand pics to CSC for their perusal, I hope that a firmware update can resolve this niggling issue.

Your results are similar to those obtained in this test.

Personally, I never use area AF so I don't care too much about its performance.

 

[Minglink]

Hi all fellow 7D users... I just bought my 7D. After using it for my 5Days BKK trip. I notice something diff from my 500D. The AF Red highlight during AFing will not appear in my every shot. It just appear once in awhile as my 500D always appear. I check all menu setting but there isnt any setting for it. Maybe other 7D users may give me some guide. Thanks.


Using 7D with Tamron 17-35mm f2.8-f4 Lens currently. I have no Canon Lens to try.

 

[Sailor73]

AF Point will illuminate in red in the viewfinder if in low-light condition.

Hi all fellow 7D users... I just bought my 7D. After using it for my 5Days BKK trip. I notice something diff from my 500D. The AF Red highlight during AFing will not appear in my every shot. It just appear once in awhile as my 500D always appear. I check all menu setting but there isnt any setting for it. Maybe other 7D users may give me some guide. Thanks.


Using 7D with Tamron 17-35mm f2.8-f4 Lens currently. I have no Canon Lens to try.