7D - First impressions

Tim Joy

Tim Joy

Veteran
*This is after taking about 30 min of footage, grading and editing it. Be up soon.*

But from what I've seen- it's awesome.

The great things, in no particular order:

No mud.
file naming doesn't reset when you format the card.
Banding is minimal.
Stood up in grading really well.
Comfortable to hold.
QT files editable right away.
Highlight falloff is smooth.
Colors!
nice menu
big range of image adjustments.
You can snap a photo during shooting.
Really sharp screen. easy to focus on.

Cons:

Miss an articulating screen.

Conclusion:

I love it already! Shooting a docu feature on it next week side-by-side with 35mm film. That should be interesting. :)
 
interesting note about the screen.

hmm... it will be fun/weird for quick stuff to "angle yourself" funky for the screen. I see low/high shots being strange now.

Of course, I'll just do this ole trick... "oh well you were just lucky to get away with it as long as you did. This whole articulating screen thing is definitely on its way out. It's time to man up".

that lie outta make me feel better. :)
 
The screen is very sharp, and pretty solid for focusing, and there's an easy zoom-in button by your thumb for expanded focusing. Very handy.

I noticed that the screen doesn't seem to show how much noise you're getting. I did a shot at 6400 ISO and it looked fine on the screen, but not on the computer. It was very noisy.

I ordered a 7" monitor before I used the camera and I think it will be a lot easier having a bigger lcd on an arm that can be positioned.

Have I mentioned how much I love this cam?? Rendering a master now. Make an h264 tomorrow and you'll see some hardcore extreme-case trying-to-breakup-the-image shots. (quite a challenge so far)
 
Hi Tim (or anyone else who has a 7D):

If you could answer my questions concerning the 7D's HDMI "live" audio & video which I posted earlier ...
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1756438&postcount=9

... I'd be much obliged. Thanks!

I was able to hold a 7D for just a few minutes at Pro Photo Supply here in Portland, Oregon today. They received about a dozen or so in today to fill some of the pre-orders they had. But they didn't have a HDMI monitor in the store so we couldn't answer my questions (yet).

Pro Photo Supply has a web site, but I don't know if they handle "mail orders":
http://www.prophotosupply.com/

BTW, I agree with Tim: The 7D feels great in your hands; not too small, not too big or too heavy, "just right"; and it feels _solid_. I'm looking forward to learning more about how it works.
 
Hi "ydgmdlu" (gotta love screen names :-)

Thanks for the link. I had seen that discussion earlier today, but that 7D user doesn't mention anything about live audio out via HDMI ... unless I missed that detail after reading that thread twice. 8-)

Has anyone confirmed whether or not the 7D outputs live _audio_ via HDMI during preview and record? Thanks again.
 
Peter J. DeCrescenzo said:
Hi Tim (or anyone else who has a 7D):

If you could answer my questions concerning the 7D's HDMI "live" audio & video which I posted earlier ...
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1756438&postcount=9

... I'd be much obliged. Thanks!
.
Click to expand...


on mine in pal 25p 1080...output to my marshall monitor reads 1080i 60, but its not full screen until you playback recording..good enough to pull focus but i dont think you would want to take anything from it.
as for sound i aint tried that yet.
 
el presidente said:
on mine in pal 25p 1080...output to my marshall monitor reads 1080i 60, but its not full screen until you playback recording..good enough to pull focus but i dont think you would want to take anything from it.
as for sound i aint tried that yet.
Click to expand...

Hi e.p.: Thanks for that additional info. Question: Are HDTVs (like for home use) in PAL-land typically able to display 1080i60? Just wondering.

My interest in the 7D's live HDMI output is primarily for monitoring audio & video during a shoot, especially for focus & framing, and also to confirm solid audio if/when recording sound direct to cam (in all its AGC/ALC glory).
 
Question: Are HDTVs (like for home use) in PAL-land typically able to display 1080i60?
Click to expand...

Answer: just plugged it into my bravia and playback live is reported as 1080 which is different to normal as it reports 1080 50i etc.

i dont think sound came out in live but the quality for monitoring was great.
 
Last edited:
The camera is indeed great.
One thing I noticed though is that 1/48 shutter is not available. I guess when shooting 24p we will have to make due with 1/50, but this is a PAL shutter speed.
 
el presidente said:
i dont think sound came out in live but the quality for monitoring was great.
Click to expand...

Could you please check? This is a very important feature that could make this camera ten times more easy to sell as a prosumer camera. No audio monitoring means you don't know if you can rely on it for audio AT ALL. But if you could somehow monitor audio from the HDMI, then all we need for to call it a prosumer is the Magic Lantern firmware disabling the AGC and giving us bars.

Big deal. Please someone check this out. :thumbup:

Thanks Peter for keeping on this subject.
 
Not a jab at all. Peter has been asking great questions all over the forum. I meant what I said with no pun or underhanded put downs intended.
 
just double checked for you

no sound on hdmi live recording output...i wouldnt record with this anyway (apart from just for reference)
 
Sttratos said:
The camera is indeed great.
One thing I noticed though is that 1/48 shutter is not available. I guess when shooting 24p we will have to make due with 1/50, but this is a PAL shutter speed.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. The DVX/HMC/HPX etc. default shutter is 1/50 when shooting 24p as well. You really wont notice any difference between 1/48 & 1/50.
 
el presidente said:
just double checked for you ... no sound on hdmi live recording output...i wouldnt record with this anyway (apart from just for reference)
Click to expand...

Hi e.p.: Thank you very much for the double-check.

Of course, I'd prefer the answer was "Yes, the 7D outputs live audio via HDMI during preview & record", but I much prefer knowing what it actually does vs. not knowing.

I agree, for critical audio recording & monitoring using an external device designed for the purpose is the way to go.

I look forward to seeing & hearing what Tramm Hudson & his merry band of Magic Lantern firmware hackers may someday provide us. But in the meantime, the 7D has many useful features as-is to keep us gainfully occupied.

Thanks again.

And yes, please let's hear more 7D first impressions!
 
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