ajramirez
Hall of Famer
- Location
- Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Name
- Antonio
As of last week, it had been two years and seven months since I bought my last digital camera (the Leica M9P). It is with some regret (well, not really) that I confess to having fallen off that wagon, as I have not only bought a new camera, but a DSLR at that. I am now the proud owner of a shiny new Canon EOS 7D Mk. II.
While I have been mostly a mirror-less user for the last four years (and a Leica M user for the last three), I always kept my Canon EOS 50D, particularly for work I do for the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art. The 50D has been a trusted companion for six (6) years, but I became increasingly concerned about its low light performance, and was keen to try out a more robust autofocus system for dance and theater photography. After much deliberation about whether I should go full frame or not, or whether I should switch to Nikon (had the D750 and a set of lenses in the B&H cart for a few days), I decided to go for the 7D Mk. II.
I received the camera last Thursday and took it out for its maiden voyage yesterday. I was able to put the camera through its paces in various shooting environments: street, landscape (seascape, actually), at the Museum, and at a theater troupe rehearsal.
The day started with a trip to Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Cabo Rojo is a town in the Southwestern tip of Puerto Rico, and Boquerón is a fisherman´s village in the town. I walked around for a bit, and got a few shots (all with the 17-40mm 4.0L):
JDP by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
JDP by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Boquerón by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Boquerón by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Boquerón by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
I then returned to San Juan to photograph some art pieces, and some exhibition hall photos, at the Museum of Contemporary Art for a book. I apologize for not being able to show you those shots.
Afterwards, the youth theater troupe ¨Jóvenes del 98¨ had a rehearsal at the Museum's courtyard, and I stayed and photographed it. Here are some sample shots (mostly with the 70-200mm 4.0L IS):
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
About the 7D Mk. II, I can say the following. The good: (1) The camera is extremely fast and responsive; (2) the shutter is very quiet (for a DSLR); (3) autofocus is extremely quick (near instant) and, dare I say, almost foolproof; (4) the live view implementation is light years ahead of the 50D; the dual pixel technology makes for very quick and responsive AF during live view; (5) image quality is very good; high ISO is quite a bit better than the 50D.
The bad: (1) the 10-22 EF-S (which is my only ultra-wide solution at this time) is nowhere near the quality of my 18mm ZM Distagon; it's quite soft and smeary at the corners at any aperture; (2) it's big, which shouldn't come as a surprise, but walking around with a 17-40mm mounted (which is my standard zoom lens) feels quite different from walking around with the M9P and a 35mm or 50mm. However, this is not likely to be a problem for the intended use of the camera.
All in all, I am quite happy with the purchase, and expect to get from it at least the six (6) years I got from the 50D.
Cheers,
Antonio
While I have been mostly a mirror-less user for the last four years (and a Leica M user for the last three), I always kept my Canon EOS 50D, particularly for work I do for the Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art. The 50D has been a trusted companion for six (6) years, but I became increasingly concerned about its low light performance, and was keen to try out a more robust autofocus system for dance and theater photography. After much deliberation about whether I should go full frame or not, or whether I should switch to Nikon (had the D750 and a set of lenses in the B&H cart for a few days), I decided to go for the 7D Mk. II.
I received the camera last Thursday and took it out for its maiden voyage yesterday. I was able to put the camera through its paces in various shooting environments: street, landscape (seascape, actually), at the Museum, and at a theater troupe rehearsal.
The day started with a trip to Boquerón, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Cabo Rojo is a town in the Southwestern tip of Puerto Rico, and Boquerón is a fisherman´s village in the town. I walked around for a bit, and got a few shots (all with the 17-40mm 4.0L):
JDP by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
JDP by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Boquerón by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Boquerón by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Boquerón by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
I then returned to San Juan to photograph some art pieces, and some exhibition hall photos, at the Museum of Contemporary Art for a book. I apologize for not being able to show you those shots.
Afterwards, the youth theater troupe ¨Jóvenes del 98¨ had a rehearsal at the Museum's courtyard, and I stayed and photographed it. Here are some sample shots (mostly with the 70-200mm 4.0L IS):
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
Jóvenes del 98 by ramirezaponte, on Flickr
About the 7D Mk. II, I can say the following. The good: (1) The camera is extremely fast and responsive; (2) the shutter is very quiet (for a DSLR); (3) autofocus is extremely quick (near instant) and, dare I say, almost foolproof; (4) the live view implementation is light years ahead of the 50D; the dual pixel technology makes for very quick and responsive AF during live view; (5) image quality is very good; high ISO is quite a bit better than the 50D.
The bad: (1) the 10-22 EF-S (which is my only ultra-wide solution at this time) is nowhere near the quality of my 18mm ZM Distagon; it's quite soft and smeary at the corners at any aperture; (2) it's big, which shouldn't come as a surprise, but walking around with a 17-40mm mounted (which is my standard zoom lens) feels quite different from walking around with the M9P and a 35mm or 50mm. However, this is not likely to be a problem for the intended use of the camera.
All in all, I am quite happy with the purchase, and expect to get from it at least the six (6) years I got from the 50D.
Cheers,
Antonio