First time out with the 7D

[bob williams]

Wally,


Well, I was experimenting today so I was using alot of different settings: The HDR was was actually 6 different shots bracketed 3 Stops above and 3 Stops below. I normally like to shoot either manual or Aperature priority, I usually keep iso between 400 and 800 since I was shooting with a Circular Polarizer filter. I try and keep shutter speeds above 800 and I normally shoot with a single point focus. But I was experimenting with the Auto Zone AF and kind of liked it. I used single point metering on the bird and I think I was using evaluative (Matrix Metering on the landscapes) I had a photo instructor provide the following for his "recipe for success" which generally works, but not always---Here it is: AV mode, aperature 6.3, Evaluative metering, ISO 800, single point AF. I have found this a very good place to start when shooting general wildlife. Two things I learned today: 1, Like others have said, the 7D overexposes by 1/3 stop. So, Meter 1/3 stop below (Left)center on the meter. or adjust EV by -1/3. The 2nd thing I learned----If I do my job, this camera performsextremely well.


One more thing---I did some tweeks on contrast, saturation and sharpeningin Canon's DPP software and ultimately reduced the shots to web sized.


Here are the details for your viewing pleasure, Hope this helps.


File NameIMG_9342.JPG
Camera ModelCanon EOS 7D
FirmwareFirmware Version 1.1.0
Shooting Date/Time1/10/2009 11:34:51 PM
AuthorRWilliams Imaging
Owner's Name
Shooting ModeAperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )1/2500
Av( Aperture Value )5.6
Metering ModeSpot Metering
AE lockON
Exposure Compensation-1/3
ISO Speed800
Auto ISO SpeedOFF
LensEF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length210.0mm
Image Size800x600
Image QualityFine
FlashOff
FE lockOFF
White Balance ModeAuto
AF ModeAI Servo AF
Picture StyleUser Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness5
Contrast1
Saturation2
Color tone0
Color SpacesRGB v1.31 (Canon)
Long exposure noise reduction0:Off
High ISO speed noise reduction0:Standard
Highlight tone priority0isable
Auto Lighting Optimizer3isable
Peripheral illumination correctionDisable
File Size616KB
Drive ModeHigh-speed continuous shooting
Live View ShootingOFF


The roadrunner close up:


File NameIMG_9268.JPG
Camera ModelCanon EOS 7D
FirmwareFirmware Version 1.1.0
Shooting Date/Time1/10/2009 11:32:42 PM
AuthorRWilliams Imaging
Owner's Name
Shooting ModeAperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )1/2000
Av( Aperture Value )5.6
Metering ModeSpot Metering
AE lockON
Exposure Compensation-1/3
ISO Speed800
Auto ISO SpeedOFF
LensEF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length400.0mm
Image Size600x800
Image QualityFine
FlashOff
FE lockOFF
White Balance ModeAuto
AF ModeAI Servo AF
Picture StyleUser Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness5
Contrast1
Saturation2
Color tone0
Color SpacesRGB v1.31 (Canon)
Long exposure noise reduction0:Off
High ISO speed noise reduction0:Standard
Highlight tone priority0isable
Auto Lighting Optimizer3isable
Peripheral illumination correctionDisable
File Size531KB
Drive ModeHigh-speed continuous shooting
Live View ShootingOFF


The first (Non-HDR)Landscape:


File NameIMG_8961.JPG
Camera ModelCanon EOS 7D
FirmwareFirmware Version 1.1.0
Shooting Date/Time1/10/2009 8:54:17 PM
AuthorRWilliams Imaging
Owner's Name
Shooting ModeManual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed )1/1250
Av( Aperture Value )6.3
Metering ModeSpot Metering
ISO Speed800
Auto ISO SpeedOFF
LensEF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length100.0mm
Image Size800x533
Image QualityFine
FlashOff
FE lockOFF
White Balance ModeAuto
AF ModeAI Servo AF
Picture StyleUser Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness5
Contrast1
Saturation2
Color tone0
Color SpacesRGB v1.31 (Canon)
Long exposure noise reduction0:Off
High ISO speed noise reduction0:Standard
Highlight tone priority0isable
Auto Lighting Optimizer3isable
Peripheral illumination correctionDisable
File Size602KB
Drive ModeHigh-speed continuous shooting
Live View ShootingOFF


The Second Non-HDR Landscape:


File NameIMG_9168.JPG
Camera ModelCanon EOS 7D
FirmwareFirmware Version 1.1.0
Shooting Date/Time1/10/2009 9:30:45 PM
AuthorRWilliams Imaging
Owner's Name
Shooting ModeAperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )1/2000
Av( Aperture Value )5.6
Metering ModeSpot Metering
Exposure Compensation-2/3
ISO Speed800
Auto ISO SpeedOFF
LensEF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length375.0mm
Image Size800x533
Image QualityFine
FlashOff
FE lockOFF
White Balance ModeAuto
AF ModeAI Servo AF
Picture StyleUser Defined 1(Standard)
Sharpness5
Contrast1
Saturation2
Color tone0
Color SpacesRGB v1.31 (Canon)
Long exposure noise reduction0:Off
High ISO speed noise reduction0:Standard
Highlight tone priority0isable
Auto Lighting Optimizer3isable
Peripheral illumination correctionDisable
File Size483KB
Drive ModeHigh-speed continuous shooting
Live View ShootingOFF

[Sheiky]

Very nice shots Bob! I'm sure you enjoyed your first time out [H] Beautifull scenery [Y]


Jan

[bob williams]

Thanks Jan

[Alan]

Like others have said, the 7D overexposes by 1/3 stop.
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Bob, I think Bryan's review said that the 7D underexposes by 1/3 stop.

[bob williams]

Bob, I think Bryan's review said that the 7D underexposes by 1/3 stop.

Alan,


Hmm, now I have to go back and re-read----but I shot about 700 shots yesterday, and when I followed the meter, I was over exposed by just a little. When I corrected to -1/3 and sometimes 2/3, the shot looked decent. But Thanks, Iccertainly don't want to misquote anyone, especially Bryan. I think I also saw this on some of the user reviews on FM.com, but I'll check.


Thanks for pointing this out.


Bob

[Alan]

Bob, what counts is that the shot looks good. And, if you're seeing it needs a -1/3 EC, then that's what is needed. Your shots look wonderful, by the way.

[bob williams]

Bob, what counts is that the shot looks good. And, if you're seeing it needs a -1/3 EC, then that's what is needed. Your shots look wonderful, by the way.

Thanks Alan I appreciate your comments, but you are 100% correct--here is Bryan's quote


" Also note that my 7D delivered exposures that are 1/3 stop darker than my compared-to bodies at the identical exposure settings in this test - thus the +1/3 EV examples. "


Now I am going togo back through my shots from yesterday (those that I haven't already deleted) and see if I can make sense of all of this----I can say this: of the four shots I posted, one was HDR, and one landscape was shot maually so they don't count, but both bird shots were exposed at -1/3 and and one landscape was exposed at -2/3rds.


Question for you and others---can camera body's differ in thier output as much as lenses can, i.e. good copy/bad copy?


Please forgive me, I don't mean to argue or justify my position--It's just that my "amatuer" findings were different than Bryans, so I am trying to understand it---all input/guidance is appreciated.


Thanks,


Bob

[Alan]

Question for you and others---can camera body's differ in thier output as much as lenses can, i.e. good copy/bad copy?
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Beats me, Bob. Someone more technical can hopefully answer this question.

[deltasun]

Really? 800 ISO? I guess if the 7D has good grain management, that's ok. I wonder what the significance is. Did you prof explain?

[neuroanatomist]

Question for you and others---can camera body's differ in thier output as much as lenses can, i.e. good copy/bad copy?

Ok, resurrected thread, I know, but it's an interesting (and unanswered) question. My guess would be no, camera bodies do not have the same copy-dependent output. Both cameras and lenses come off assembly lines, so yes, there will be variances and tolerances. The difference is that for a camera, the copy-to-copy differences are unlikely to have an optical effect, since just about everything in the camera that affects the quality of image capture is electronic (where tolerances are much tighter than for mechanical components or their assembly). The primary 'mechanical' effect, I think, would be positioning of the sensor relative to the lens mount (determining where the focal plane is relative to where it should be, by design) - and any variance there can be 'corrected' with AF Microadjustment on recent bodies. All of the metering systems, etc., are basically self-correcting (due to TTL measurements) with the camera's electronics. Lenses, on the other hand, have many more components that directly affect image formation. Optical elements may have small imperfections, be mis-angled or misaligned with one another, etc.


Just my 2&cent;.


--John