Upgrading my Canon EOS 7D Mark II
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| Canon EOS 7D Mark II paired with EF 400f/5.6L USM Lens |
Upgrading current Canon gear for my Birds in Flight / High-Speed Action Photography
Over the years many birds in flight and bird photographers have asked me for my opinion on my thoughts on the development, direction and / or evolution of the Canon DSLR / Mirrorless camera’s Autofocus (AF) system and other optimisations.
I have truly enjoyed every moment with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II (mostly paired with the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens). I have only really used the camera for Birds in Flight Photography, bees and butterflies, but, I know and have worked with many Canon EOS 7D Mark II photographers applying it in every photography genre out there. I cannot recall one single photographer that was not happy with his or her camera. Mostly, I have met them as camera / photography students and many of them are still learning on how to extract the maximum value from their cameras. There were many technology / other challenges, but these are expected when a (new) photographer tries out mastering any of the camera settings unfamiliar to him / her.
During August 2017 I did a write-up about my own Canon EOS 7D Mark II Long-Term Use and Experience.
I still do the majority of my Birds in Flight Photography with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II paired with the 'ever-green' Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
I still follow my own quote over the years of ‘shoot with what is in your hands and make (and enjoy) the moment – chase the light, forget about kit in hand’. This is still very relevant to me to this day.
However, camera (and AF) technology is moving forward at a rapid pace and I have revisited my own quote a few times over the last three years. Sometimes thinking of what I would want to see as a replacement camera (in my hands for birds in flight photography).
Canon EOS R7 / EOS R10 Launch 2022 >>
I have had the opportunity to field test both the Canon EOS R and later the Canon EOS R6 for Canon South Africa. I did a wide variety of photography / and birds in flight with the EOS R, but was generally not that impressed at the time. I changed my tune quite somewhat during field testing the Canon EOS R6 for birds in flight photography exclusively.
In 2017 I created an article 'The Future of the Canon EOS 7D Mark III' which is now renamed 'End of Canon EOS 7D Mark III Speculations' - in anticipation of the release of a possible Canon EOS 7D Mark III.
On 24 May 2022 Canon launched the APS-C Canon R7 (and Canon R10) that should become the new standard for fast-action wildlife Canon APS-C hobbyist photographers looking for upgrading / replacing their current Canon EOS 7D Mark II cameras.
I still do the majority of my Birds in Flight Photography with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II paired with the 'ever-green' Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
I still follow my own quote over the years of ‘shoot with what is in your hands and make (and enjoy) the moment – chase the light, forget about kit in hand’. This is still very relevant to me to this day.
However, camera (and AF) technology is moving forward at a rapid pace and I have revisited my own quote a few times over the last three years. Sometimes thinking of what I would want to see as a replacement camera (in my hands for birds in flight photography).
My main Canon EOS R7 Interest Areas:
- APS-C vs Full Frame
- Autofocus System
- Memory Card(s)
- Sensor (Megapixels)
- Image Processor(s)
- RF to EF Lens Compatibility / AF Speed (via Lens Adapter)
Canon EOS R7 / EOS R10 Launch 2022 >>
It was the first time I really became exited about the new Autofocus (AF) System. Not so much the higher frame rate of the EOS R6 compared to the EOS 7D Mark II, but the accuracy and tracking of the new Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF II System deployed in the Canon EOS R6 / EOS R5 (inherited from the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III).
Page Image Information © Vernon Chalmers
Page Image Information © Vernon Chalmers
Image 1: Product Images - Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens pairing
Image 2: Pied Kingfisher with Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens
Image 3: Grey Heron with Canon EOS R6 / RF 800mm f/11 STM lens
Image 4: Cape Teal Ducks with Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens
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| Cape Teal Ducks in Flight : With Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5/6L USM lens Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town |
