Field testing a production Canon EOS 7D Photo Gallery by romy ocon at pbase.com

Field testing a production Canon EOS 7D

Canon Manila (many thanks to JayR Romero and Toni Cuesta) loaned me a production Canon EOS 7D which I used in the field for almost a week,
shooting over a thousand photos and numerous video clips. The AF works great now (compared to the beta 7D I tested weeks ago), and I'd say its very nearly
as good as or even at par with my 1D2's AF. Acquisition and tracking of birds in flight (BIFs) with busy background are very fast and accurate. I pretty much used the
center point + assist points nearly all the time, and this setting works well even for BIFs with terrestial background. Posted in this gallery is a
couple of bursts at BIFs that show the many choices of wing position afforded by the 8 fps frame rate. I have also many unposted BIFs whose plumage is uncontrasty
and which are very small in the frame, and this 7D unit was able to lock focus despite the busy background.

I love the HD video ergonomics too. For long range shooting, the 1.6x crop factor extends the reach of my Sigmonster + Canon 2x TC (1600 mm) considerably,
when compared to my 5D2. The 720/60p works great for slomos - this makes it easier for our eyes to catch fast and twitchy bird movements.

Here's a footage of a pair of Zebra Doves (Geopelia striata), filmed in habitat under sweet early morning light.
Gear used - Canon EOS 7D + Sigmonster (Sigma 300-800 DG) + Canon 2x TC, 1600 mm, f/18, 1/125 sec, ISO 320 - 640, Manfrotto 475B/3421 support, captured in 720/60 and
overcranked to 720/24p in post process.

Just for fun, I took one short clip from the above series and slowed it down further to 20% of normal speed. The original 60 fps capture became 12 fps
and I used software interpolation to bring it back to 24 fps.

Zebra Doves at 1/5 slomo

And a footage of the moon rising over Manila captured last October 31, 2009.
Gear used - EOS 7D + Sigmonster + Canon 2x TC II, 1600 mm, f/18, ISO 250, 1/50 sec,
1080/24p capture rendered to 720p at 400% of normal speed (undercranked), Manfrotto 475B/3421 support.

On the debit side, I find the shadow noise at ISO 200-800 somewhat worse than I'm accustomed to (compared to my 40D at the pixel level).
The 7D does capture more detail per frame than the 40D, but I wish the low-medium ISO noise is a bit less. I'm currently exploring various workflows to mitigate this.
Also, there seems to be some instances when the 720/60p HD video has aliasing on the feathers, and moire on the fine feather patterns,
when using very sharp lenses. These concerns at 720/60p don't occur very often when using teleconverters, perhaps the TC is acting
as some sort of anti-aliasing/softening filter under such situation. I hope Canon will continue to come out with firmware(s) in the near future
to address these weaknesses of an otherwise ultimate birding camera (for both stills and HD video).

Romy Ocon
Paranaque City, Philippines
November 4, 2009

IMG_0568-1500x1000.jpg Collared Kingfisher Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris Habitat: Coastal areas to open country, but seldom in forest [COASTAL LAGOON, MANILA BAY, EOS 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_0532-1500x1000.jpg Collared Kingfisher Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris Habitat: Coastal areas to open country, but seldom in forest [COASTAL LAGOON, MANILA BAY, EOS 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_0532-100crop.jpg Collared Kingfisher Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris Habitat: Coastal areas to open country, but seldom in forest [COASTAL LAGOON, MANILA BAY, EOS 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag, processed 100% crop]	IMG_0648-1050x700.jpg Common Sandpiper Scientific name - Actitis hypoleucos Habitat - Common along the shores of wide variety of wetlands. [COASTAL LAGOON, MANILA BAY, EOS 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_0727-1200x800.jpg Collared Kingfisher Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris Habitat: Coastal areas to open country, but seldom in forest [COASTAL LAGOON, MANILA BAY, EOS 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]
IMG_0483-1500x1000.jpg Collared Kingfisher Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris Habitat: Coastal areas to open country, but seldom in forest [COASTAL LAGOON, MANILA BAY, EOS 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_1585-1500x1000.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 9 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a 6-shot burst]	IMG_1586-1500x1000.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 9 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a 6-shot burst]	IMG_1587-1500x1000.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 9 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a 6-shot burst]	IMG_1588-1500x1000.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 9 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a 6-shot burst]
IMG_1589-1500x1000.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 9 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a 6-shot burst]	IMG_1590-1500x1000.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 9 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a 6-shot burst]	IMG_1674.jpg Great Egret Scientific name - Egretta alba Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L SI + Canon 1.4x TC, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, 475B/3421 support, cropped from 18 Mp to 12 MP for composition, processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a six-shot burst]	IMG_1675.jpg Great Egret Scientific name - Egretta alba Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L SI + Canon 1.4x TC, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, 475B/3421 support, cropped from 18 Mp to 12 MP for composition, processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a six-shot burst]	IMG_1676.jpg Great Egret Scientific name - Egretta alba Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L SI + Canon 1.4x TC, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, 475B/3421 support, cropped from 18 Mp to 12 MP for composition, processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a six-shot burst]
IMG_1677.jpg Great Egret Scientific name - Egretta alba Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L SI + Canon 1.4x TC, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, 475B/3421 support, cropped from 18 Mp to 12 MP for composition, processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a six-shot burst]	IMG_1678.jpg Great Egret Scientific name - Egretta alba Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L SI + Canon 1.4x TC, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, 475B/3421 support, cropped from 18 Mp to 12 MP for composition, processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a six-shot burst]	IMG_1679.jpg Great Egret Scientific name - Egretta alba Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L SI + Canon 1.4x TC, f/5.6, ISO 320, 1/2500 sec, 475B/3421 support, cropped from 18 Mp to 12 MP for composition, processed and resized to 1500x1000, part of a six-shot burst]	IMG_1045.jpg Collared Kingfisher Scientific name: Todiramphus chloris Habitat: Coastal areas to open country, but seldom in forest [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L SI + Canon 2x TC, f/5.6 (wide open), ISO 800, 1/100 sec, bean bag, uncropped full frame processed and resized to 1500x1000]	IMG_1696-1500x1000.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 15 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000]
IMG_1598-1500x1000.jpg Little Egret Scientific name: Egretta garzetta Habitat: Coastal marsh and tidal flats to ricefields. [SAN JUAN, BATANGAS, EOS 7D + 400 2.8 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, cropped to about 6 MP then processed and resized to 1500x1000]	IMG_1388-DNG-DPP.jpg Raw conversion comparison - DPP 3.7.2 vs DNG 5.6/ACR 4.6 PS CS3	Flaming_Sunbird-IMG_5094.jpg 40D @ ISO 800 - zero sharpening and NR, neutral picture style, unprocessed 100% crop from DPP 3.7.2, except saved as PS quality 10 jpeg	White-throated_Kingfisher-IMG_6576.jpg 40D @ ISO 1250 - zero sharpening and NR, neutral picture style, unprocessed 100% crop from DPP 3.7.2, except saved as PS quality 10 jpeg	IMG_1461-1200x800.jpg Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, migrant) Habitat - from coast to above forests in high mountains. Shooting info - Paranaque City, February 9, 2010, 7D + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, 560 mm, f/5, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec, manual exposure in available light, major crop, 20.4 m distance.
IMG_1532-1200x800.jpg Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica, migrant) Habitat - from coast to above forests in high mountains. Shooting info - Paranaque City, February 10, 2010, 7D + 400 2.8 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 475B/3421 support, 560 mm, f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/2000 sec, manual exposure in available light, major crop, 28.7 m distance.	IMG_2983-900x600-FF.jpg Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata, resident) Habitat - open country, cultivated areas and gardens. Shooting info - Paranaque City, March 08, 2010, 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 2x TC, 475B/3421 support, 1000 mm, f/11, ISO 200, 1/320 sec, manual exposure in available light, contrast detect AF in Live View, 20.7 m distance, resized full frame.	IMG_2983-600x600.jpg Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata, resident) Habitat - open country, cultivated areas and gardens. Shooting info - Paranaque City, March 08, 2010, 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 2x TC, 475B/3421 support, 1000 mm, f/11, ISO 200, 1/320 sec, manual exposure in available light, contrast detect AF in Live View, 20.7 m distance, processed 100% crop.	IMG_2983-1500x1000.jpg Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata, resident) Habitat - open country, cultivated areas and gardens. Shooting info - Paranaque City, March 08, 2010, 7D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 2x TC, 475B/3421 support, 1000 mm, f/11, ISO 200, 1/320 sec, manual exposure in available light, contrast detect AF in Live View, 20.7 m distance, cropped/processed/resized to 1500x1000.

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