Canon 7D #3 Autofocus
January 9th, 2010 | Author: admin
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400.
TYPE OF TEST: CFR-2 (What does this mean?)
Canon 7D and autofocus
Many photographers have described the Canon 7D as an action camera. In November 2009 I had the opportunity to really test the AF system on a 3 week expedition to Antarctica. In this blog post I will share some of my experiences with the camera.
Autofocus on fast moving subjects
One important aspect of AF systems is their ability to follow fast moving subjects. Most AF systems fail when things get fast. Another problem with AF systems is the frequency of out of focus shots while shooting fast bursts, which can be very frustrating. So, how does the Canon 7D perform?
In the open sea between South-Georgia and Antarctica I was lucky enough to photograph the Antarctic Petrel. This bird is a fast glider in heavy winds and I have never before on my 3 other expeditions to Antarctica obtained good pictures of this bird in flight. When the bird showed up, I first tried to photograph it with my beloved Canon 1DS Mark III with 300/2.8L IS. This was not easy, so I switched over to my 7d and 70-200/2.8L IS. With 1,6 crop-factor and 200 mm this is almost equal to a full frame with a 300 mm. With its fast AF system the Canon 7D was better at locking on to birds in flight, and I got hundreds of sharp images.
I was also impressed with the tracking ability of the 7D. It could take many sharp pictures in fast bursts. Sometimes the AF lost track of the bird, but it was usually quick to get back on track again. Below are some pictures from a series on the Antarctic Petrel.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6 in 100% view.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Autofocus with bright background
One of the situations were AF-systems usually fail is with bright backgrounds. The AF is usually lock on the background under these conditions. This was going to be a challenging situation for the 7D!
When shooting the Antarctic Petrel (and also the Southern Fulmar) I was shooting at bright sea water, and as you can see the results below are very good. I was very satisfied, because under these conditions getting sharp pictures is usually hard work.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. Slightly cropped.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS + 1,4 Extender at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/1250 second, f/8,0 and ISO 400. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
One of the best things about getting sharp pictures is that you can go further and “play” with panning birds (or other subjects). For me a sharp picture is not the end of the story, but its a great opportunity to try different techniques with my camera. The picture below was taken with shutter speed at 1/15 of a second.
Canon 7D with EF 70-200/2.8L IS at 1/15 second, f/32 and ISO 100. Developed in Lightroom 2.6. No cropping.
You can also get a feeling for the Canon 7D tracking abilities from the video below. This video was first posted 22 Dec. 2009.
Canon 7D in cold weather. Video filmed on Canon 5D Mark II. NB: View it in full screen mode!!
Autofocus and sharpness
I will write about autofocus and sharpness in the next Canon 7D field review about Image Quality (#4).
Autofocus and settings
The AF settings in the Menu for the Canon 7D is closer to the pro Mark III and Mark IV cameras than the Canon 5D Mark II or 50D. The 7D has the ability to adjust the AF in many different ways. I may come back to these issues later in a tutorial etc. because these settings are not the same for all types of photography. The actual situation is very important for tuning your 7D to perform 100%.
The most important thing about AF-settings is the “One Shot” or “AI Servo” setting. I always use “One Shot” for non-moving subjects, and “AI Servo” for moving subjects. The 7D, 50D and lower also have a “AI Focus” setting which is something in between. To be honest, I don´t like the “AI Focus” setting at all because it seems to slow down the tracking ability of the AF system. When shooting the running dog in snow I did some of the shots with “AI Focus” by accident. Big gloves with cameras may cause problems too. When I looked at the pictures later, it seemed that there were more unsharp pictures in the series taken with “AI Focus” than with “AI Servo”. So, I will recommend that you use “AI Servo” on moving subjects and forget the “AI Focus” option.
Another issue is frame rate. For 8 frames per second you have to adjust the camera. The odd thing is that the 7D uses same symbol as the Canon 5D Mark II does for slow sync. This might be confusing when using 7D together with other cameras.
The AF Modes are very intuitive and easy to use. By pressing the “Q” button on the back of the camera it is easy to choose the desired AF Mode with the FEL button. I mostly used the selective AF with 4 extended focus points. Also the spot AF is great especially with non-moving subjects. Without the battery grip I get tired very fast when doing action shots.
Conclusion
In using the Canon 7D I have been more than satisfied with action shots. I can track the subject with a high degree of speed and precision, which I really like. The Canon 7D has the fastest AF I have used on assignments and expeditions, and it will be interesting to see how the Canon 1D Mark IV performs compared to the 7D.
The AF-system on the 7D is very close to the pro cameras with settings to tune the AF to your liking. It’s much easier to change to the desired AF Mode with this camera. Why should this be more complicated than on pro cameras?
I don´t like the “AI Focus” option, but maybe some of you use it and is satisfied with it.
One thing that I have mentioned in an earlier blog is the use of the battery grip, especially if you have activated the AF-ON button under the thumb area (the middle button on the back). Without the Battery Grip I get tired very fast when doing action shots, and I will strongly recommend you to get this accessory if you want to shoot action.
OJL
Thanks to Bob Baillargeon for copy-editing!
28 Responses to “Canon 7D #3 Autofocus”
Leave a Reply
f8 is not an appropriate aperture to test autofocus; too much
depth of field.
Hi Maljo
I didn´t want to waste these shots with f/2.8 just to reduce the depth of field. I always try to shoot situations like this with at least f/5.6, to capture the best images. This field review is most concerning AF tracking ability and not about how sharp it will be with different apertures…
what do you mean “you get tired” when not using the battery grip shooting action shots? can you clarify, please?
Great review and video.
One question, you recommend the battery grip. Some people tell me that the shoot button is very sensible. Do you think the same?
Thanks
Hi Doug
I don´t get a good grip without the battery grip with the 7D (and also 5D Mark II). I use my thumb on the middle AF-button on the back, and I can´t do this for an hour (with action photo) or more without getting very tired fingers. If you don´t need to use the AI Servo tracking all the time or have the AF-button activated at your shutter release button (as default) you don´t need the grip that much. For me the grip increase the usability of the 7D as a action camera a lot, and it feels more like photographing with the 1D / DS Mark III (IV) cameras.
Hi Radiga
Yes, the Shutter release button on the grip is more sensible than on the camera, but it has never caused me any troubles..
I completely agree with you on AF Focus. I fail to see the point in the feature; it’s meant to be designed so the camera decides when you want One Shot like behaviour, and when you want AI Servo like behaviour. In my opinion this is prone to failure for the same reasons we prefer full manual control sometimes. I want the camera to do what I want, not what it thinks I want. I decide if I want One Shot or AI Servo, and that never fails me.
Great post; thanks!
David Peacock
I notice that one of your shots above was taken using a 1.4x extender. What do you think of this extender? Do you find that the extender reduces the image quality? I have a 7D with a 70-200 f/4 IS L lens and a 1.4x extender, though I don’t find the image quality as high with the extender on. Maybe it’s just me – what do you think?
Thanks again for publishing these articles. Very helpful.
In response to one of the posters above, I have a battery grip on my 7D as well. Yes, the shooting button on the grip is very sensitive but you get used to it. I find that the grip makes the camera much more comfortable to hold.
Hey! Awesome review and shots. This site is great! I wish I could have as much equipment as you haha. Thanks
What a great review, I´m sooo getting Canon 7D. Great input on the “AI Servo”.
Canon 1D Mark IV must really be something amazing, to defend a much higher price than 7D.
I agree with this review. I have owned Canon 20D 30D 40D and now 7D. I shoot trained hawks in flight (including diving after prey if you’ve ever tried to follow one of those). I have never been able to get the shots I am getting now. The focus in the camera is astounding. Kudos to Canon! I also found selective expanded and ai servo to be best. I shoot with 70-200 F4 IS and have used 1.4 extender. (Leftcoastmark: I notice little to no degradation with 1.4 which is consistent with all reviews. .
PS focus is so good I used a 400MM L F5.6 last week first time with good results except many were not real fast motion (I couldnt find the bird : ) )
I will use try the 400MM lens more often now and may get brave enough to try it with the 1.4x extender.
Hell,
Thanks i think this is a great presentation,love those shots, i belive 7D is a very good camera. I am searching info on this camera, because i want to buy it. i am amateur photographer, could you please suggest me a lense to use on 7D for this porpuse? thanks again .
Regards,
isaac
Hello
I wondered if any of you brilliant people could give an advice. For 3 years I have been shooting different kind of pictures with my Canon 350D with a 55-200mm 4,5-5,6. Mostly wildlife, among other things the wildlife of Antarctica.
I am now preparing a reasearch project in South Africa where I will need to take pictures of whales for photo identification. Lots of details and colours is essential! Since I am not sattisfied with the pictures I can take with my old gear I have been looking very much at the 7D. My biggest problem is that the whales often is far away and that some of them, esspecially the dolphins, are very fast moving/swimming. Often I will have to take pictures of fast moving dark whales on a dark background in dim light.
Can any of you recommend a lens for a 7D, that could help me take such pictures?
What do you think of these options?
70-200mm f2,8 IS USM with a 1,4 extender
28-300mm f3,5-5,6
100-400mm f4,5-5,6
Regards
Christian
Thanks for a really “hands on” review of the 7D autofocus. Most of the reviews you can find from cyberspace are not really real world tests. Also I think it wouldn´t get anything more accurate with 2.8 although I would have tried with 5,6 heheh:)
Supergreat video too, thanks for your collaboration with us! Say hi to your dog too:)
Loved the review but help.i just got a 7D and went out to experiment on my neighbors dogs and the shots were not as sharp as what I get with my 50D. Put it on Tv, 500 with an iso of 100 using an 18-200. Any suggestions? Also one more question, I’ll be shooting two people and two dogs running down a beach in the next couple of days(early morning sunlight, any suggestions for sharpness?
Aloha!!!
Hi Deb
My suggestions are:
1. Use TV at 1/2000 and ISO 400 to freeze the motions. 1/500 is not fast enough
2. The lens in front of you 7D is very important. I use fast high quality glass.
Best regard
Ole Jørgen
Outstanding review. Loved the photography and the video.
Ole, thank you for taking the time to post your findings. What are your impressions on the overall image quality of the 7d compared to the 1dmkIII/IV? Specifically, how well does it hold the highlights? I was disappointed when I first received this camera in terms of IQ. Images from my venerable 1dmkII had more pleasing tonality and highlight rendering than the 7d. Thoughts?
Hallo Ole.
Saturday night I went to take pictures in car ice race on a circuit with my 7D.
I used a Canon 70-300 f4-5,6 IS, mostly at 300mm. I used no flash, Manual program, ISO 3200, f5,6, 1/20 sec. I worked to capture the movement.
In particular I have some sequnces taken at Hi speed (10 fps) in jpg that are incredible, not specially for the pitures, but essentialy for the focusing ability of my camera!
The sceene was like this: I took picture of cars in a corner of the circuit, I can have lateral view of the cars sliding on the ice. So I got some panning images, but I have an incredible sequence with 2 cars taken by their side. The car in front (nearest to me) shows all of its movement, tha car behind is ever focused (this car was something like stopped, from my point of view, because it was lateral sliding). Obviously all was white and the cars moved a wall of snow in their sliding that covered me and the camera, and I had 2 mooving subject to follow. Just 2 of 8 pics are not so good, because of the very slow aperture time, and also the car behind looks mooving, but it’s not a focusing mistake.
…and of course I’m going to sell those incredible picture to a magazine.
In addition I have to say that it was -11°c and I shot something lik 700 pics from 17 pm to 22 pm and I used just 1 battery (at the end it was half charge!). The camera remained almost on. I didn’t use flash or live view, but I have an IS lens…
The only problem I got was with the lens, because of the snow moved in the sliding and the wind that covered the front lens and made ice on (something like a filter!) but this is not a technical problem!
I’m an anthusiast 7D owner.
He Luca
Great to hear about your experiences with the 7D!
Thanks for sharing this helpful info!
Great shots, would you mind sharing your autofocus settings (custom function settings group III) for the shots shown here? Did you do any in depth testing or did you simply draw from your experience from the 1Ds III autofocus settings?
Regards
Karl Günter
Thank you for a most enlightening review.
I just finished shooting at an airshow (helo and fast jets) with the 7D and 300/2.8L IS. I was in fact wondering if I should have gotten a 1Ds MkIII for the occasion. In absolute terms, I was very surprised by some of the sharpness and details achieved. I also used AI Servo and this camera was phenomenal at locking onto a moving object. The only question was whether I would have gotten better results with a 1Ds MkIII.
Also as you have observed, the 7D performed very well against a bright background. I have supersonic jets crossing bright white clouds and it managed with aplomb. Dynamic range was very good too given the bright cloud, the shadowed areas of the planes and the bright flames coming out behind the engines.
The 7D and a top grade lens is a lethal combination for action shots.
Pretty informative ideas. You mentioned some valid points that I had not considered before. I will check back to check if you post any updates.
Great Review!
I use my 7D to shoot pro hockey and love the focusing system. My only problem is my lens, 70-200/2.8L USM, I have to use a monopod to catch the action. I think the camera and lens are great, wish I had the IS but that will have to wait.
I’m also getting some great portrait images out of this camera!
Ole, thank you for the “real world field” review….I was debating whether or not to upgrade from a 40D and w/your review and using a rented 7D for a week has persuaded me to make the upgrade!
One of the major benefits to me is the improvement it makes while using the 100-400 in low light situations…I was becoming very frustrated trying to capture moving targets…BIFs.
@John O’Neill;
John, I checked out your site and was pleasantly surprised to see hockey pix…nice shots.
I just had the opportunity to shoot a U New Hampshire hockey game w/the (rented for game) 7d and 70-200 2.8L IS…I was very satisfied w/the hand held results. I’ve posted a couple on flickr…search for bikejanitor in the people category if you’re interested.