KBFI 3/24/10

[jerslice]

Warmest day so far this year meant haze and lots of it. Also my first outdoor test drive with the 7D. I have mixed feelings.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4461055529_b1d56c53bd_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4461055427_6fc99f744c_o.jpg

[hiss srq]

Jerm, who's Tiger is that? Boeings?

[Matt Molnar]

Jerm, who's Tiger is that? Boeings?
It belongs to Microsoft billionaires Paul Allen and Charles Simonyi. (Simonyi has also hitched a couple of rides to the ISS with the Russians.)

[Dahemody]

I have mixed feelings.

Looks pretty good to me!

[Cary]

These look great Jeremy. Since I have mixed feelings about the 7D also, what are your issues with it?

[jerslice]

Well, so far Cary I haven't played with it too much. Coming up from a 40D, I noticed a substantial increase in speed - both in the literal fps and in the writing capability. I blew through over 20 shots on that tiger and the camera barely broke a sweat. It was amazing. I also like that I can really customize the AF system WAY more than I could even dream of with the 40D. Given that, it does seems noisier at 100 than the 40D - but I also recognize that the file is MUCH larger than the 40D's as well and that does play a part. It does noticeably better so far in high ISO than the 40 though...800 looks like the 40D's 320. It's a nice change.
Yesterday's outing was very inconclusive for me: I had a very small handful of keepers (which is not normal for me, even with the low shutter speeds)...which make me wonder about the AF. But at the same time it was a warm day with mild heat haze (nearly 70 here yesterday!), light was never strong enough to run more than 1/250ish on ISO100...and eventually got under 1/160th consistently, which is a danger zone with aircraft even with an IS lens. So it's hard to tell. Exposure and white balance seem to be a bit gray. Though that could also just be my comp. And yours?

[Cary]

Hey Jeremy - I've noticed I have to increase my shutter speed by a stop or so to get consistently sharp photos, and Evaluative/Center Weighted metering has been wildly inconsistent for me. I've also noticed the same thing with noise. So, I'm not the biggest fan at this point.

[jerslice]

I found the vertical grain pattern to be interesting - here easily showing:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4463084015_fdd4a38dea_o.jpg

[jerslice]

and some additional cleaned up ones:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4463118663_b66230894b_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4463118811_32c6a8bc5c_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4463118745_02c0eb25cd_o.jpg

While it might appear grainier at 100% than the 40D at ISO100 it is a MUCH larger file. I find that when I've finished cropping I'm left with a file usually still at least as large as the biggest file on the 40D. In general I've found once the file is brought to size (ie 1300px wide or so) the grain is noticeably less than the 40D. But it's hard to tell. So far the vertical grain pattern really irritates me, and I compared it against some similar shots for the 40D's grain pattern. The grain pattern on the 40D also is vertical, but is not as clearly defined as on the 7D until you get above ISO400...but maybe that should be expected given the larger amount of information? Either way, unless you turn on the equalizer or spend time looking very intentionally for it, I haven't been able to see the pattern in a finished product.

[seahawks7757]

Well heres what I shot that day-
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4461372305_9eaf70eeac_b.jpg

And I got Allen 2!!!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4461404685_7de226e5b8_b.jpg

Lion Airlines 737-900!-
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2699/4461405831_5b8f74210e_b.jpg