This is only a mediocre image at best and I’ll never use it for anything other than this post but I was impressed that I was able to get it at all.
Fair warning: This post is intended primarily for photography geeks…
1/800, f/6.3, ISO 1600, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Early one morning last week along the access road to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge we spotted this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk as it was about to land on a brush pile but there was one big problem for photography. It was still 5 – 10 minutes before the sun would rise over the nearby mountains behind me so I didn’t have any light! When the bird is a raptor I sometimes attempt photos in this situation anyway, just to see if there’s anything interesting or unusual about the bird or for ID purposes. I expected a blurry mess but once again the 7D Mark II pleasantly surprised me. Yes, there’s some noise in the background and the bird isn’t tack sharp with a lot of detail but look at my settings – 1/800 sec for a bird in flight, my ISO was 1600 and I had very little light for my focusing points to lock onto the hawk. But lock on they did. Given the conditions I was impressed with the image.
When we use a camera long enough we get used to, even take for granted, its performance. But on this morning I was about to be rudely reminded of the improvements Canon has made to the Mark II over my older 7D’s. Just a few minutes after photographing this hawk I tried to photograph another bird and immediately noticed that I wasn’t able to adjust my exposure (EV or exposure value). My exposure as set on the camera was fine for the hawk but it wasn’t for the new bird (can’t remember what species it was because I was so damned frustrated!). For the next half hour I tried to figure out what was wrong but I wasn’t smart enough to see the obvious that was literally in front of my face so I swapped cameras and put one of my older 7D’s on the 500 mm lens and spent the next 2 1/2 hours shooting with that combo.
Wow, what a disappointment! I always loved my 7D’s when they were all I had and knew but it was now painfully obvious how much slower and less accurate their focusing system was than that of the Mark II. Time and again I missed flight shots I knew I could get with the newer camera. I also sorely missed the significantly faster burst rate and better high ISO performance of the Mark II. To say that it was a frustrating morning is an understatement.
Finally, not long before I was ready to go home, I figured out what the problem was with the Mark II. The day before I had cleaned the electrical contacts on my Mark II, teleconverter and 500mm and in the process I had inadvertently moved the “Lock” switch (red arrow) to lock, which prevented me from changing my exposure (EV). As soon as I moved it back, voila! – everything worked splendidly.
I’ve always been an advocate of photographers investing the bulk of their available financial resources in quality lenses rather than the newest and best cameras to come on the market – after all, good glass can last a lifetime and modern DSLR’s become obsolete relatively quickly. But on this morning I was reminded that the camera can make a significant difference too.
The 7D has this same switch in the same place so if any of you with either camera ever lose the ability to adjust exposure I’d suggest that you look at this switch first.
Whew!, that was a lot of jabbering from me with no pretty pictures to make the pill go down easier but I’ve always thought of Feathered Photography as a photography resource as well as source of quality bird images and avian information.
Back to our regular programming tomorrow.
Ron
I sure do appreciate all that techno camera stuff, (and I can personally relate to your incident Ron) and I have to thank Prathap for his post. I was beginning to think I was the only one out here with a NIKON. There, I’ve said it….NIKON. Even though I don’t think there is all that much difference between the two brands. As usual thank you Ron for the info and the capture.
The state of the art for photography is truly amazing. I’ve just upgraded and am having fun learning to use new tools. Like you, Ron, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this new magic box will maintain focus even when it’s darker than a sack full of donut holes! Now, if I can just figure out how what all these buttons are for ….
Thank you for the input. I too have been looking at camera bodies and lenses. One problem I have with the Cannon 7D mark II is, it dose not fit well in my hand. I found it difficult to hold and reach the buttons. It seemed made for a larger hand. The 7D fit well in my hand but it was not recommended as highly as its newer model the 7D mark II, so I continue to look and think (and save).
Ron, I know you say that technically this is not a good photo, but to me it’s fantastic. I can’t see any of the problems you mention. Glad you were able to figure out the problem with the 7D Mark II.
Those problems are there, Susan but I’ve seen worse. When I first started photography I sometimes had a difficult time seeing things like noise and lack of detail too.
Yes, Ron, I agree. I had the same feeling when I switched from the 1D Mark IV to 1DX. As you know, we kinda can tell whether we successfully locked focus or not on the bird/wildlife the moment we click the shutter, without the need to review at the LCD. Time and again, those shots that I was sure I would miss if I used 1D Mark IV, the 1DX captured them sharp right at the eyes. I bet the 7D Mark II AF tracking is even more superior.
“we kinda can tell whether we successfully locked focus or not on the bird/wildlife the moment we click the shutter”
That’s right, Tin Man. And I had that sinking feeling that I wasn’t locking on much of the time when I was using the 7d on birds in flight. Not a good feeling…
I didn’t learn a thing…you might as well be have been talking Spanagalese…but, as usual, I sure enjoyed the results…landing gear deployed, aelerons down, tail fanned and lowered in landing mode, and touchdown on the verge of being completed…then there’s the picture of that black thing……???
Thanks for the chuckles, Patty – both of them. I needed them after a rather unproductive morning attempting to photograph birds.
Naturally I am with Patty. And can only add ‘britches’. Beautiful britches. Which are always a good start to the day. On me and on birds.
Dang, I didn’t even notice the britches this time, EC…
I ALWAYS notice britches. And if there are any Freudians around I will thank them to be quiet.
As soon as I read your first four words that’s EXACTLY where I was going with it, EC. But you cut me off. Could have had fun with it though. Lots of fun. Still might…
Ron, excellent techie post. I am very pleased with the focusing system on my 7D II – and that extra reach comes in pretty handy when photographing birds. I also own the 5D Mark III- and I have learned that the quality difference between the two cameras is very slight- the 5D III full size sensor gives me a slight edge in sharpness when the bird is farther away. Always trade offs to deal with.
Oh great Nancy, now you are saying, indirectly I know, that I should get a 7D II and use my 5D MK III as a back up! What is a retired person to do with little money and a love of toys??? VBG!
Dick— Just saying – now that you (and I) are retired, go with the toys…. two very nice bird photography DSLR cameras make life sweeter.
Ohhhh Nancy, that would be so nice, BUT my better half, not so sure that would be a good idea! You see we just sold our house and I bought a new Truck! She says I have a too big a toy right now!!!!
“Always trade offs to deal with.”
Yup, trade offs are the name of the game when it comes to photography, Nancy – particularly when you’re shooting birds…
I agree Ron. After obtaining the 7D2 I sold all my other cameras and now I just use this one. I do need to get a backup camera and I am thinking on just buying another 7D2.
I may buy another Mark II down the road too, Steve. After all, that’s what I did with the 7D some time ago and that decision served me well for quite a while.
Well, Ron – with my unskilled eyes, I love the capture for the hawk’s position as it comes in for a landing and it’s beautiful coloring. I found your lesson very interesting & it really shows me how much I have to learn about photography with regards to my camera & how to use it. I also have to tell you that when I first started reading your blog, I rarely paid attention to the other posts. That is no longer true. I really enjoy & learn from the interaction between you and many of my fellow posters like today between you & Dick and Prathap.
I like the landing position too, Jo Ann. I just wish conditions had been different so I’d have been able to get better image quality.
The comments of others on my posts are often more enlightening (and entertaining) than my text…
Thanks Ron, As a bird photographer myself and also owning the Canon 7D Mark Ii I love any helpful information. Please continue to do both.
Ron – my wife and I have also noticed the many differences (improvements) in the Canon 7D Mark II versus the Canon 7D. And we do believe the 7D was an excellent camera (think of all the great shots you took with a 7D). Very happy with our purchases.
Very interesting post! Well, I have a 5D MK III and was initially very satisfied with it over my previous 50D, that I have as back-up! And, I agree, although I don’t have a 500 mm lens, I have spent most of my $$ on high quality lenses.
After reading your past posts and viewing the beautiful work you do, I am slowly beginning to wonder whether it would be worth it to trade my MK III for a 7D MK II. Of course my take is not just avian photography, but also Macro, so I’m still in the gathering information stage at this point. Then there is the nagging concern how soon will Canon come out with the 7D MK III. But, I suppose that sort of thing will always be out there!
Dick, those are the kinds of decisions that always cause photographers angst, aren’t they? I’m relatively unfamiliar with the Mark III so I can’t be of any help. All I know is that I prefer the cropped sensor over full frame for birds.
YES, they are, since I went from a cropped sensor to full frame, and now thinking of going back! I look back at some of my shots with the cropped sensor and think, gee these aren’t that bad! I got pretty familiar with the 50D, but I’m still learning on the MK III, so as much as I angst over whether to go to the 7D II or not, I will probably stay a bit more with my MK III.
I completely agree with you, Ron. Lens is of course the most important equipment, but the camera body matters. I know how much happier I am using my Nikon D750 as opposed to my old Nikon D7100. It’s a difference of day and night.
I ended up having the exact same issue several months back. I saw that one morning, all of a sudden, I was unable to move the focus point. I was inside the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (my favorite place) early in the morning and I just couldn’t figure out what went wrong. In fact I panicked for a moment 🙂 I didn’t had any choice but to get it back to work.
Luckily after few minutes I figured out that I accidentally pushed the focus lock switch (very similar to the one you have shown). What a relief it was!
“In fact I panicked for a moment”
Boy, do I know that feeling, Prathap! I had visions of having to send my Mark II to Canon for repair and being without it for an extended period. I wasn’t a happy camper for that 2 1/2 hours.
I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one that’s ever been in this situation…
Well I learned something so that’s good. 😀
Arwen, what you learned may not be what you expected but I think any new knowledge is potentially of use…