The 7D

[Wingman]

What do yall think about the Canon 7D? Will the 19 auto focus points make it a good camera for BIF?

[coonewah]

Wingman, I usually shoot a 1D Mark II, in Nov. I rented a 7D to shoot a horse show (because of the high ISO). I found the auto focus on the 7D with a 70-200 2.8 faster and better tracking than my 1D.
Sid

[Wingman]

Well would you rather spend a little more for a 1d Mark III instead of the 7d? 45 AF points on the 1d. Is the number of AF points the key to BIF or is it something else?

[MudHog]

not sure on the Mark, but the 7D has a separate processor for the AF. That alone is likely a major part in why it can focus quickly and also hold a focus on a moving subject.

[coonewah]

The Mark III has a bad rep on focus problems. The new Mark IV is getting great reviews with its new focusing system, but the 5K price tag is tuff. I would go with the 7D myself, the 1.6 crop factor is great for wildlife photography.

[Wingman]

Thanks. How does the 200mm L lens compare with the 70-300mm lens I have on my xti now?

[coonewah]

With the 200 being F2.8 there is no comparison in low light conditions. In good light where you are shooting F8 and higher you will have trouble seeing the difference unless you are printing prints larger than 11X14.

[Wingman]

Thank you and I have another ?

Will I see an improvement if I attach my current 70-300 IS lens onto the 7d as opposed to the 70-300 lens on my XTi now? Or will I need to have a better lens to go with the 7d to see any benefits?

Just thinking outloud here but I probably can't swing new camera and L lens at the same time and was just wondering if I'd see improvemt by upgrading in increments.

[GordonGekko]

Although you didn't ask, the 7d is probably the most capable sub $2000 camera body they have made. The autofocus was good on the one I used, but still the mark iii autofocus is better, (the problems of which are greatly exhaggerated) but there is not the gap that existed previously. The mark iv has only been in my hands for a short stint, but so far it is the single most capable camera I have used, and the high ISO capabilities mean that I can get away slower glass and still get the shutter speeds I want. Still it is $5k.... so I need to hit a couple of homeruns before I buy it.

[Wingman]

But in terms of improvement over the XTi, the 7d would have to be a huge step up, right?

And if you wanted to still be in the 300mm range but have an L lens, would you opt for the 200mm 2.8 or get a 100-400L in a 4.5-5.6? I guess I would be willing to sacrifice shots in low light conditions to have a little more zoom and quality in bright light.

I'm wanting to jump up a few levels, but not ready to sell my liver and my daughter's hand in marriage just yet.

[GordonGekko]

yeah, it is a pretty big step up from the xti....the 200 is a great lens, but for BIF you will want the 100-400 or 400 5.6....you will want the extra reach....

[Wingman]

Thanks.

I'm just thinking of a particular spot where there is an eagle nest about 200 yards from the bank in a cypress. I can go there most any day of the week for several months during nesting season, so I can pick a sunny day to shoot, but I can never get closer to it than 200 yards. So in that instance, it would benefit me to have more zoom than it would a faster lens.

But there's always gonna be those cloudy days when I might see the eagle carrying a small child back to the nest to feed its young and that 4.5-5.6 lens is gonna give me a grainy picture. Oh well.

Now when I make the big time, I'm gonna get that 600mm lens so I can take a pic of y'all floating the 4th shell when you think I'm at home in bed.

[GordonGekko]

the newer camera bodies allow you to bump up the ISO and keep the noise/grain low....I think you will find ISO 1600 usable on the 7d more so than the xti....

[landscaper]

Wingman, have you shot the 100-400L at all, or have any of you for that matter? I'm test driving one on a trip to Arkansas next week and don't have any idea what to expect.

[MudHog]

Wingman, have you shot the 100-400L at all, or have any of you for that matter? I'm test driving one on a trip to Arkansas next week and don't have any idea what to expect.

you will fall in love with it.