7D2 high speed vs low speed continuos shooting

[Loi Nguyen]

I already have a 1DX and a 5D3. My big lens is a 500f4 II. Recently I picked up a 100-400 II and extremely pleased with it. The only issue is when I want to travel light, the 100-400 is a bit short with a FF. So I wanted to give the 7D2 a try.

only had it out for a couple of hours this morning, not a whole lot of practice. But I noticed that the image sharpness appears to depend on whether I had it in high speed mode 10fps or low speed mode 5fps eve n for static subject. My "keeper" rate as far as sharpness went way up with reduced shooting speed.

Has anyone observed this behavior? It's a bit of a let down actually if it is true. I will need to decide in a week or so to keep or return or send it in.


thank you.

loi

[Rachel Hollander]

Loi - I had read in a review (can't remember which one) to try setting the high speed rate to 8 fps and that would have better sharpness. I've got mine set that way and seem to get a decent keeper rate. My biggest problem with the 7D2 is that it seems more sensitive to atmospheric interference.

Rachel

[Loi Nguyen]

Rachel, thank you. It is good to know. I find it is difficult to get sharp images with the 7D2. Not sure I will keep it. This is the best of the morning. Didn't find anything except these Red Wing Balck Birds, which made a challenging target.

7D2
100-400 II @ 400mm
1/1600
f5.6
ISO-800
HH

Loi

[shane shacaluga]

This looks sharp enough to me! :)

Is the issue you are describing an issue with AF not being accurate or the high pixel pitch on the small sensor making slight camera shake more apparent?

[Jonathan Ashton]

Loi have you got a TC 1.4 111, it works like a treat with the 100-400 on the 1DX, so decisive and so quick - just can't believe it.

[Loi Nguyen]

This looks sharp enough to me! :)

Is the issue you are describing an issue with AF not being accurate or the high pixel pitch on the small sensor making slight camera shake more apparent?

Shane, don't think camera shake is an issue at 1/1600, but may be I should try a tripod. But if that is the case, it defeats the purpose of having a lightweight rig. I think the 7D2 is having issues when the continuos high shooting mode is set at the default 10 fps.

Jonathan, I have the 1.4X III, have not tested it with the 100:400 II and the 1DX yet. Did try it with the 5D3 and was impressed with the IQ, but was a bit slow. You are right, I can ditch the 7D2 and get better results with the 100:400 II + 1.4X III + 1DX more likely. Thank you for reminding me.

Loi

[David Stephens]

I own the 7D MkII and the 5D MkIII and borrowed a 1D X from Canon a while back, using all with EF 500mm f/4L IS II. Using the 500mm bare or with the 1D X, I'm get super sharp images about 8 out of 10 times. I use single-point, high-speed in AI Servo Mode. I found that my keeper rate dropped with single-point expanded, for reasons that I don't understand at all. I do realize that it's like hand holding 1,120mm, but I would expect the expanded mode to help me, not hurt me. Maybe it's because I've become very disciplined about not activating AF if the focus point is not on the bird.

This image is typical of the sharpness that I'm routinely getting:

Big Eagle! by dcstep, on Flickr

I'm overjoyed with the 7D MkII. It will not respond like the 1D X with the 2x TC-III attached, so I only use that for perched birds or in desperation when simply documenting something far away. I'm using the AF Mode 3 with sensitivity sped up. Still, I'm wondering if the expanding single-point is the cause of many shooters' problems. I did notice a seeming drop-off in keeper rate in that mode, but it's so hard to develop a repeatable test for accurately comparing keeper rates. Maybe I'll have the model airplane RC guys fly repeating patterns by me so that I can test the modes over and over for 100-shots in each mode.

I don't understand people having trouble coming from the 5D3, since I think that my 7D2 acquires focus and tracks just as well. Coming from the 1D X, I understand, because the 1D X locks on faster and manhandles the TCs so well, but then you have to use the TCs because of the focal length disadvantage of those huge pixels.

Oh, I'm at 10-fps.

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Dave, that was an excellent shot of BIF I'd say. I was even having issues with static shots, which was disconcerting. Jonathan reminded me that I have the 1DX and can add the 1.4X III to the 100:400 II, which should work well. I will give it a try this coming Saturday. meanwhile, i will take an easy way out and return the 7D2. Thank you everyone for your help. Loi

[David Stephens]

Loi, when you take static shots, are you turning off AI Servo Mode? That would be advisable, since the camera is expecting movement when in Servo Mode.

With the 100-400mm out at 400mm and the 1.4x TC-III added, you're at f/8 and you're going to get very slow response with the 7D2. At f/4 the 7D2 is excellent and it stays quick enough at f/5.6 that I leave my 1.4x on most of the time, but at f/8, it's incredibly slow and will only be useful for static subjects.

Try this before you send it in. Try the 100-400mm bare on the 7D MkII and then take the same subjects with the 1D X with the 100-400mm combined with 1.4x TC-III, then compare the files. If you don't prefer the 7D2 files, then send it back. I did that comparison with my 5D3/7D2 and prefer the 7D2 files, but YMMV with the 1D X.

[Joe Murphy]

[QUOTE=David Stephens;1058665
With the 100-400mm out at 400mm and the 1.4x TC-III added, you're at f/8 and you're going to get very slow response with the 7D2. At f/4 the 7D2 is excellent and it stays quick enough at f/5.6 that I leave my 1.4x on most of the time, but at f/8, it's incredibly slow and will only be useful for static subjects.[/QUOTE]

That doesn't sound right, I had a play with a friends 7D2 100-400mmII + 1.4III combo last week, AF speed was still instant, he was shooting BIF without any problems.

[David Stephens]

That doesn't sound right, I had a play with a friends 7D2 100-400mmII + 1.4III combo last week, AF speed was still instant, he was shooting BIF without any problems.

Wow, that surprises me. Did you try it with and without? Also, was that out at 400mm?

[Joe Murphy]

Wow, that surprises me. Did you try it with and without? Also, was that out at 400mm?

Yes Dave, at 400mm, the 1.4 III also worked great with the 400mm f5.6 prime, I was so impressed I have just bought the 1.4 III for my 7DII & 100-400mm II combo.

[Karl Egressy]

Initially I had problem with the 7D Mark II using 500 f4.0 L IS II and was upset about parting with 1D Mark IV.
After a while when the setting was adjusted slightly, my keeper rate went up substantially.
I tried 8 fps but now I use 10 fps and high speed like 1/2500-1/3200 and the focusing is good, sharpness is good.
My wife just showed me a series of BIF shots taken with 7D Mark II/100-400 f4.5-5.6 Mark II and they all were in focus.

[WimDelod]

I noticed this too. More keepers and better sharpness at pixel level when shooting at 8 fps versus 10 fps. Mostly I'm using 1/1250 - 1/1600s. Bit of a let down.