Curious Questions for 7D Owners

Tainted

Tainted

Well-known member
Two questions:

How many of you actually wanted to buy a 5D2 but went with the 7D because of the lack of 24p and 60p on the 5D2 (even despite the fact the 5D2 is supposedly getting an eventual update)?

Of those folks, now that you have a 7D, how many of you plan on ditching it and getting a 5D2 once the new firmware comes out?

(Note: I know some us will go for both bodies, so that complicates things a bit, but mention that if that's your scenario...)
 
For a start, the 5D is a grand more, but it smokes the 7D in terms of stills, so if stills are a major part of what you do the 5D seems the way to go.

However for video, it's not clear how good the firmware will be. Philip Bloom, in an article comparing the 5D and 7D on his website, says the 5D in 30P is MUCH better than the 7D in 24P, but when you convert the 5D 30P to 24P in a software program, the native 7D footage is better.

My question is: will the 5D 24P firmware be like it being a "native 24P" camera, or will it be like the current 5D results of converted 24P?

If the former is true, I will ditch my 7D as soon as the new firmware comes out. But if the latter is true, the 7D will still be much better value if video is what you mainly use it for. My guess is the latter, but I would love to hear more educated people's opinion on this matter.

In any case, they're both AWESOME cams, and they'll both produce great results, now and in the future.
 
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Um....it's $1,000 more....I'll save that for the Scarlet and enjoy my 7D!!

Plus I don't expect the PQ to be any better. 30p looks better because of more frames...more info.. Dropping it down To 24 frames per second will degrade the image a little. IMO (that's how I view most cameras...).
 
I use 720p60 a LOT on the 7D for slow motion stuff, and I don't recall that being an option even in the firmware update for the 5D (where is that update, anyway? Wasn't it announced a long time ago?)
 
So, my real question is quite simply this:

Who here would have rather had bought a 5D2 but bought a 7D instead because of the framerates, and now that you have the 7D, are plenty happy and have no intent to upgrading to a 5D2 once the firmware comes out.

What I'm trying to get at (Canon are you listening?), is whether Canon is losing money because of the drawn out wait for the firmware. I personally know two people in this camp, and I was curious how many of you might also be in that camp (e.g., you would have happily paid $1000+ more for the 5D2 if it had the framerates, but since it didn't you went with the 7D, pocketed the extra, and are perfectly content now and won't be upgrading when the firmware comes out)?
 
Exactly what you said Tainted is what i feel. The framerates of the 7D were a BIG winner for me!

If the 5D does get ALL of the framerates the 7D does then i really will be thinking about getting a 5D instead ;)
 
I do not have a 7D but I'm going to answer your question anyway because I think my answer is still relevant. I could be very wrong but I suspect there are others like me who are buying neither the 7D nor the 5D2 until the 5D2 firmware is available and questions about it are answered once and for all. So Canon is losing money from me, at least momentarily.

I already have one 5D2 and love it! Technically, it's my wife's (photographer) but I borrow it...a lot...especially when she isn't looking! I like it so much that I am now strongly considering buying my own. But since I have the luxury of using her 5D while waiting to see if the firmware will address all the framerate questions, I will buy neither. If the firmware is good, I will buy another 5D, my own. If it does not address the issues, I will buy a 7D and use the extra $1k to buy another good (most likely Canon) lens. Either way, Canon is going to get about $2500 from me...if it ever releases the firmware update!!!
 
This is a good question, but the senario is so different for each person. I upgraded from the nikon d90 to the canon 7d... but the $1000 is a huge deal. I have spent $1000 on a redrock rail system AND another $1000 on canon glass.

Im looking at the long term investments. I will likely buy a new body in 2 years, but the rails and glass are valuable indefinitely... 2 years from now the 5D II and 7D will both be old news.
 
I bought the 7D solely because of the framerate options. I would prefer having a full frame camea to take advantage of my wide angle lenses - the crop factor isn't ideal for me. Buying a 5D would save me money on wider, more expensive lenses.
 
I like the smaller sensor and would have bought a 7d no matter what. Maybe I'm weird though...
 
There's something to be said about buying a 25mm and knowing its a 25mm. There's something nice about going really friggin wide as well.

Been shooting with a GH1 and a 7D for a week now, really the first time they get put to a proper filmmaking test, and i can't get as wide as i want. Also for matching angles/greenscreen work, the math is a bit confusing. I still don't quite understand if the multiplier affects DOF as well as FOV, or not, etc etc.

Granted, the 7D's sensor is closer in size to a super35mm motion picture film. Still, that's a standard, that adds to the aesthetic of 'film' that we're all after. Hence, sensor size 'better suited to filmmaking'.

Still, it's not the only aspect that makes film what it is. Framerate is way more important to me, so far. I'll shoot 24, and not compromise that, but full frame would be fantastic. We've seen films shot on IMAX, which is bigger than s35mm, and I think, if shot at 24p/25p (I live in PAL and the round numbers are sweet), it would look like a movie still, but the picture would feel huge.

That said, after only a couple of years in this, If the 5DMkII shoots a native 25p, not a 30 converted to 25p, I'll go for it in a flash. It'll be an 'art cam' thing. It's how I think of these SLR's. I like the 7D, but the 'special thang' about the 5d is that full frame sensor.

Even if it's not the movie norm in terms of FOV and DOF, it's still controllable, and I think if shot at a filmic framerate, it could fly.

Doing this I'm wondering what I feel I'm in a position to compromise aesthetically, or mess with, or choose to change. Framerate is a no go, 24 is fantastic, I can write music to it at 120bpm. The FOV? Why not bigger, bring it on.

I'd do a 5d with the firmware.
 
All about frame rates! That was what sealed a 7D for me. I personally don't think the 5d2 firmware update will be as good as the native 7D rates - but then I could be wrong. I'm happy with what I've got 'right now'.

In the future, maybe it'll be a 5D MK III with 120fps. Who knows? But TODAY, now being 3.48pm my 7D is ready to rock and roll!
 
I bought the 7d mainly for 24P video use. But there are other considerations I took into account other than frame rates. There seems to be some decent value lenses for the 7D that I couldn't find for the full frame 5D - like the tokina 11-16 2.8 and the tamron 17-50 2.8. You can't just take the price of the camera body into account, you should also consider the lens prices, and this really increases the difference in price between the two.

Coming from a Dvx100, I find the shallow depth of field on the 7D to be a challenge in focusing at times, especially if I'm at 2.8 on the lens. The 5D is even more pronounced in this area, making it even harder for someone like me to achieve sharp focus.

Between a 5D and a 7D, I'm happy with the 7D, but still awaiting the scarlet.

-Joe
 
As an owner of both of these cameras, each has their advantages, I would not want to be without either of them.

The only thing I would caution 7D users about is not to aquire any more EF-S lenses than absolutely necessary. I love my Tokina 11-16mm, plan to buy the Tamron 17-50mm VC - just to get the image stabilization. Beyond that it is going to be Zeiss primes or other manual lenses for video only use.

If Canon comes out with a 1Ds mkIV, I might have to part with the 5d mkII. Time will tell whether or not it's single chip can handle all of the shooting modes the 7D already does.

What I am hoping for is a proper video camera from Canon that utilizes EF lenses.

It might be quite a wait.
 
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