Canon 7D II

[birderbert]

I have to say, I am impressed with the quality of the pics coming out of the camera. I bought the 7D II/100-400 II combo mainly for birds in flight photography [which is where my Olympus Micro 4/3 system sucks big time!]. The idea was that at the 400mm setting, using the 1.4x teleconverter I could reach almost 900mm equivalent [100mm better than my Olympus combo]. I was never told that most of the autofocus sensors disappear with an F8 combo, which renders the system almost useless for BIF. The lens & TC were returned 2 days ago.

I ordered a Sigma Sport 150-600 f/5.0-6.3 which is about the same price as the Canon 100-400 II and which at f6.3 should make all of the 65 point AF sensors useable! My dilemma is that I am worried about the 7D's ability to consistently provide proper exposures.  Many of the pics are overexposed with blown out highlights. I typically use Manual Mode for my bird pics but this camera has an exposure meter that moves to the right of the viewfinder in Manual Mode and often is not visible at all.  Since the camera is new to me and I am obviously not familiar with all of the settings as yet, I am reaching out to any experienced 7D II user for advise on the camera.

[oldfulica]

Jul 17, 2015 8:30:16 GMT -8 birderbert said:

I have to say, I am impressed with the quality of the pics coming out of the camera. I bought the 7D II/100-400 II combo mainly for birds in flight photography [which is where my Olympus Micro 4/3 system sucks big time!]. The idea was that at the 400mm setting, using the 1.4x teleconverter I could reach almost 900mm equivalent [100mm better than my Olympus combo]. I was never told that most of the autofocus sensors disappear with an F8 combo, which renders the system almost useless for BIF. The lens & TC were returned 2 days ago.

I ordered a Sigma Sport 150-600 f/5.0-6.3 which is about the same price as the Canon 100-400 II and which at f6.3 should make all of the 65 point AF sensors useable! My dilemma is that I am worried about the 7D's ability to consistently provide proper exposures.  Many of the pics are overexposed with blown out highlights. I typically use Manual Mode for my bird pics but this camera has an exposure meter that moves to the right of the viewfinder in Manual Mode and often is not visible at all.  Since the camera is new to me and I am obviously not familiar with all of the settings as yet, I am reaching out to any experienced 7D II user for advise on the camera.

Hi Bert
I have the old 7D (not mkII) and the 100-400 II. Unfortunately the lens auto focus will not operate with the old 7D but I didn't realize it wouldn't work through all the F stops, with the new 7D. However the lens does work fine with my 5D MKII. I used the old 7D with the prime 300mm F4 lens and it worked fine. I didn't get the over exposed problem you mention. I wear glasses and I can't see the exposure compensation in the viewfinder if I am wearing them. If I take my glasses off, I can see the exposure in the viewfinder ( bit of a hassle ). I have heard good things about the 7D II and have seen some great pictures taken by some very good photographers with it. I also shoot in manual mode.
Both of my cameras work best if slightly underexposed. I can always lighten them later.

[birderbert]

Len

The autofocus problem only surfaces with the addition of the 1.4xTC. Will the 5D II autofocus work in its entirety with a 1.4x tele-converter attached??

I too have seen lots of great pics taken with the 7D II, that's primarily the reason why I bought it. I am putting it down to Operator Error and/or unfamiliarity with the camera.  I was hoping that some of the many users of this camera would share their favourite "settings" for bird photography!

[oldfulica]

Jul 18, 2015 8:22:50 GMT -8 birderbert said:

Len

The autofocus problem only surfaces with the addition of the 1.4xTC. Will the 5D II autofocus work in its entirety with a 1.4x tele-converter attached??

I too have seen lots of great pics taken with the 7D II, that's primarily the reason why I bought it. I am putting it down to Operator Error and/or unfamiliarity with the camera.  I was hoping that some of the many users of this camera would share their favourite "settings" for bird photography!

Yes, the 5D, 1.4 TC and 100-400 mm works fine through all the settings.

[birderbert]

Len

I was told that at f8 the 1D, 5D, 7D etc only allow autofocusing using the centre 4 point AF expansion! Are you saying that all of your 65 AF points are available?

[oldfulica]

Jul 19, 2015 11:06:55 GMT -8 birderbert said:

Len

I was told that at f8 the 1D, 5D, 7D etc only allow autofocusing using the centre 4 point AF expansion! Are you saying that all of your 65 AF points are available?

Well you have me thinking. I don't know as I only use spot focusing and 4 point (for BIF). I will have to try it with the other settings. So far I have had no reason to use them. I only use more AF points with my wide angle lens.

[oldfulica]

Jul 19, 2015 11:06:55 GMT -8 birderbert said:

Len

I was told that at f8 the 1D, 5D, 7D etc only allow autofocusing using the centre 4 point AF expansion! Are you saying that all of your 65 AF points are available?

Bert, I tried my camera with the 1.4 TC today and it does't work through all the autofocus points with it attached. Now I don't know if this holds true for the 1.4 TC II as I have the old one. But as I said, I have never used more than 1 to 4 points of focus for birds yet. If I use more than 4 points for a moving object, I may focus on something in the background and throw the focus off the subject. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. Did you have the 1.4 TC II?

[birderbert]

Len

Yes I had the 1.4 TC II. I wonder if Canon will be able to fix the f8 autofocus road block? I'm guessing no since the restriction seems to have existed for years without a firmware fix in any of their top end cameras!

[guyzerr]

Canon 7D II & 100 - 400II is my go to gear.
I shoot all my BIF's and PIF's ( planes in flight ) on Tv. I can't make my adjustments fast enough if I shoot on manual. Single point focus / spot focus always..... I NEVER change it. I find that it tracks like a cruise missile once you lock on and if you're good at tracking it will stay locked on. On nice sunny days I start at ISO 400 and a shutter speed of at least 1/800 or so. Drive set to Ai Servo......I rarely change it. Never for birding. If my subject moves it stays on that setting. Then I take a shot and check the histogram. If anyone shoots without checking that he / she should hang up their gear. If you like what you see stay with it. If not then make your adjustments.

My two cents on returning the Canon lens for a Um.... you know. Big mistake. You can't beat the build, quality and IQ of a Canon. Returning the Tc..... great decision. An expensive unusable toy when it comes to BIF's. Most buyers place it deep in their gear bag after the first use. It might be ok if used on a tripod depending on what sort of photography one is using it for. It's ok, and just ok on stationary objects but to try and hand-hold a big heavy lens like that with an attachment that turned it into a gazillion mm lens is pretty much reserved for the rock steady behemoth of an individual that comes along once in a lifetime. IQ is always affected when you couple a Tc between a lens and body and it doesn't matter the make or model.

Here's my suggestion to learn how to BIF with your fantastic body. Shoot seagulls. Yes seagulls because there's millions of them. Go to White Rock and park your butt on a log, wait 1 minute and then start cracking them off. They fly fast, they fly slow, towards or away from you and you get lots of chances to make mistakes and learn from it. Always keep in mind that longer the lens the more unsteady you'll end up so try and keep it in as close as you can.

Here's my Flickr address. Most shots have their Exif info intact and almost everything shot in the last 24 months or so was taken with that gear combo so you'll get an idea what it can do.
I'm not the best photographer in the world but I manage as best as I can.

Link: www.flickr.com/photos/guypambrun/sets/

I hope that helps....................

PS: There is a tape fix for your autofocus issue available on Youtube and / or the internet. I tried it and it does work but I was so discouraged with the IQ that I like thousands of other users sold my Tc.