Soothsayer

[Mike Farley]

It looks as though Canon is leaving it until the very last minute if it is going to launch the 7DII at Photokina. I do wonder why the delay. Not that I know much about marketing, but if the camera were truly revolutionary I would expect an early announcement to get everyone talking about it before the show.

[Mike Farley]

It's here. I am not sure it was worth the wait ......

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/337309 ... 7d-mark-ii

[davidc]

I was pretty sure that was going to be your view before the thing was even announced

The impression I get is that your heart is set on CSC now and maybe you were hoping Canon would do something stunning to make you change your mind? Maybe I was reading to much into the pros/cons of CSC/SLR discussion perhaps

To me it looks like a straightforward upgrade if you're wanting prosumer features but only an APS-C sensor size. It's iteration rather than revolution but then again, were we really expecting anything different? It still comes down to the question of "what photos can this let you take that the 7D1 cannot?"

Anyway, if you don't feel the need to upgrade surely that's great, it means you can spend the money to get the tilt-shift lens you have been mentioning

Out of interest, as a wider question, what was the last camera that made you say "wow" and why? For me it was the 6D, probably predictably given I bought it - the high ISO performance from pre-purchase reviews followed by the low light autofocusing ability after I started using it. Even my first SLR, the 550d, which was new and a huge step up from my previous cameras, didn't make me wow

[Mike Farley]

Reading the first impressions review on DPR, this looks like a good camera for those wanting to capture sports and action, but do not want or cannot afford the 1Dx. I would also imagine that the sensor technology has moved on un regards to high ISO performance, but not necessarily dynamic range if Canon's more recent cameras are an indication. There also appear to be improved video capabilities, for those who want that in a camera, as well as other extras such as GPS. All that said, it does not seem to be as revolutionary a camera as perhaps could be expected after a five year interval. As you say an iteration and likely an indication of just how good the first 7D was for its day.

Not that I am really disappointed. I expect DxOMark to show that the camera performs similarly to the 70D, which in turn only offered a small improvement over the 7D and the other cameras based on the 18 MP sensor. My real concern was that early rumours of a new sensor design would be correct, which would have created a real quandary. You are correct in thinking that I am more interested in CSCs these days, mainly m43, which offers similar image quality in a much smaller and more covenient form. Had Canon really moved the game on in sensor performance, a purchasing decision would have been much more tricky. Clearly, I need to see the camera and the reviews before making any judgements, but my initial impression is that for the majority of my photography the additional features of the 7DII offer limited benefit.

You ask which camera has really excited me recently. That's easy, the Olympus E-M10. It's well made, has many features of the E-M1 and gives good results, all in an easily carried and inexpensive package. Olympus is about to release the 40-150 f/2.8 zoom and 1.4 converter, which should provide the high quality long telephoto the m43 system has been missing until now. Over this coming weekend, I will be able to assess the C-AF performance of the E-M1 when I have the camera for a 48 hour "test drive". The tilt/shift lens is really more of a nice to have. If I were to own one, in reality I would probably not use it that much. With the corrections available in Photoshop, especially when there is only an occasional requirement, it's only the tilt functions for limiting or extending DOF where such a lens has real value.

[Mike Farley]

After posting my previous reply, I read Amateur Photographer's first impressions report. Generally it is favourable, although there is comment about the lack of a tilting touchscreen and WiFi. Perhaps a movable screen is not compatible with the extended weather sealing Canon claims, but most cameras these days have a touchscreen, which is a very useful way for setting AF points and adjusting other controls. As for WiFi, it is available, but only with the addition of an expensive £600 accessory. For that money, it is possible to buy a complete camera where WiFi comes as standard and have change. I am not sure that Canon fully understands what its customers expect in a modern camera.

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/re ... nds-review

[Mike Farley]

Thom Hogan's views on tbe 7DII, as well as the different strategies Canon and Nikon are pursuing, are interesting. He says that the 7DII is a "significant upgrade" over the old model, but that only really applies to those who require the improved and new features of the new camera. If Canon had done something more with the sensor, rather than just another tweak, I would have agreed. What is odd is that the 7D occupies a portion of the market where Nikon has long chosen not to compete, despite having zillions of very similar models in other segments and the repeated clamour for a D300 replacement.

http://www.dslrbodies.com/newsviews/can ... s-bar.html

[davidc]

Nikon have the D7000 and it's also worth remembering their full frame bodies let you shoot in crop mode to make use of DX lenses (should you want to) and gain extra reach out of your existing kit.

I'll be interested to see what you think of the EM1.

[Mike Farley]

Nikon have the D7000 and it's also worth remembering their full frame bodies let you shoot in crop mode to make use of DX lenses (should you want to) and gain extra reach out of your existing kit.

I'll be interested to see what you think of the EM1.

The point about the D300 which many are looking for in a successor was that it was a crop sensor in a pro style body and a prosumer price tag. All of the current APS-C cameras in Nikon's range, as well as the lower priced full frame models, are pitched at different segments of the consumer market.

I am looking forward to testing the E-M1, although my E-M10 died today which will prevent me doing the head to head comparison I had planned. The camera is still under warranty and hopefully this is just a glitch, rather than a general issue with Olympus' build quality.

[davidc]

The untimely demise of a camera is sad to hear, what happened?

[Mike Farley]

When I turned the camera on, a grinding noise briefly came from the lens during which time live view displayed on the rear screen, but the camera was otherwise unresponsive before shutting down. I changed lenses to eliminate the possibility of that being the cause. It wasn't. Fortunately, the system is so light and compact that I was able to carry other cameras, so all was not lost.

Since then, I have been trying to find out if there is an underlying issue with the camera, but apart from one person on Amazon.com experiencing what sounds like a similar problem, there are remarkably few complaints about reliability. The same goes for its big E-M1 brother. It seems that I have been unlucky, but it does give me a opportunity to find out how good the customer service from the dealer (CameraWorld) and Olympus is. There will be reports.