I started a thread in the T2i forum wondering why so many people seem to make an issue of the T2i's build quality compared with the 7D and 5D?

My point was that I don't abuse my cameras, so the T2i's build quality is more than adequate for me (and I shoot in a LOT of conditions, outdoors). I further supported my point with the case of my 6-year-old consumer-level Canon Powershot S2. It's about as "plastic-y" as they come...and yet I've shot 50K+ images on that camera over the years, in rainstorms, snowstorms, hauled it for hundreds of miles down bumpy dirt roads on my motorcycle, and even dropped it a couple times...and it's never broken and works perfectly. And its build quality is NOT as good as the T2i.

So I'm wondering...how many of you regularly abuse your 7D's? It may sound like a snarky question, but it's honestly not intended as such. I'm really curious how often 7D and 5D owners leave their cameras out in the rain, drop them in the mud, beat them against walls, etc?

It just seems to me that the all-metal "superiority" claim is a bit weak...

Scott

Sometimes I take the 7D underwater to around 130 feet... does that count?

But you can't compare a 7D with a 1D either... the 7D is like a toy next to a 1D.. :-)

1 hour+ in pouring rain with a slightly covered 50mm/1.4:)

It's not just build quality, the iso on the T2i miss the 160 iso and multiples of 160 that seem to be less digital noise than the non 160 iso levels. T2i only has one processing engine instead of two on the 7D and for us with big hands the T2i is a little small, it's less in weight so you miss out on some of the stability that comes with extra weight.

I do lots of nature photography so my 7D sees lots of rain, snow, heat, humidity, sand, dirt, and whatever else mother nature brings about.

If you shoot outside for any extended period of time you'll appreciate the build quality. If you're only filming indoors in a clean room, then yeah it's not an issue.

Mike Calla, if you actually let your camera get poured rain on for an hour and it was fine...then I'm impressed...though in that situation, I think Canon should market the 7D as (seriously) being waterproof. I admit I would NOT do that wth my T2i...but I wouldn't do that with if a 7D if I had one either!

As for general outdoors shooting, I've spent lots of time outdoors—in all kinds of conditions—with cameras of lesser build quality than my T2i and never had an issue.

Again, I'm not doubting the ruggedness of the 7D/5D...just suggesting that the T2i isn't the delicate, fragile, easily broken camera everyone seems to make it out to be.

Scott

Justifying purchasing the 7D over the t2i was simple for me because of the benefits of ISO settings. Sometimes, especially if your working without external lights, these extra ISO's are crucial. Build quality was another strong point, because I shoot and plan to shoot mostly outside. To be more specific on how I abuse the 7D, I recently shot outside for a day with sand flying around everywhere (by a pond). I also shot recently outside with firework smoke/cigar smoke everywhere. I feel like if your going to really use camera alot, and you plan on using it for a long time and want it to really last, the 7D is just the better option.

Shoot in the rain forest all the time. Lot's of rain, bugs, mud, mold, and fungus. Holds up spectacular especially with 70-200L. Tank!

I have T1i and 7D and you can clearly see that 7D is ready for everything :-) A friend of mine (a photographer) is using 5D and he did TTD session in the ocean where he himself went into the water with the camera up to his chest - camera never stopped working :-)

I haven't really used my 7D in challenging weather ( except for South Florida sun). I did have continuous overheating on several shoots; one was out in the hot sun, another was an all day shoot in air conditioning, and yesterday in a green screen studio. I only ran the camera for a couple of hours, shutting down after each take, and the overheatring wa really a pain.
I love the image it produces, but the overheating is just one of the many ergonomic pains in the ass.
Bruce Yarock

I actually posted here one day after canceling a shoot because it was raining...later that day i was researching ways to DIY a rain jacket and came a across a chap on the net who was using his 7D in extreme conditions... i found out that my 7D is weather resistant so i gave it shot! No probs. done it few times now!

A few months ago I shot with my 7D in the Arctic at -40C below (actually I think it's also -40F below too as this is where the two scales converge, as I recall). Thing froze over completely with a film of ice within a few minutes each time I got the 7D out (including the lens front - which does n't help with the clarity of your pictures/video as you can imagine!) It all continued to work flawlessly (electronically) otherwise - and still does. The 7D is built like a tank and that's just the way I like it!

Mine fell off a picnic table onto concrete last night. Still worked, nothing but a few little "character" scratches.

There's no question the 7D/5D are tough cameras...but for anyone who doubts the Rebel series are "pu$$y" cameras...check this post out...
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eos-rebel-t2i-eos-550d-hd/478735-t2i-plenty-strong-me-3.html#post1529905

This guy drove off with his Rebel on the roof of the car...it flew off at 35mph, hit the asphalt hard, tore off the lens...but the body was fine—he used it for another 2 years. Pretty good confirmation that the lowly Rebel line can take some abuse too! :-)

Scott

I had my 7D ripped out of my hand and watched bounc off the cement floor. Mind you the lense broke, put a new lense on, and kept shooting. The body had no issues.

I haven't really used my 7D in challenging weather ( except for South Florida sun). I did have continuous overheating on several shoots; one was out in the hot sun, another was an all day shoot in air conditioning, and yesterday in a green screen studio. I only ran the camera for a couple of hours, shutting down after each take, and the overheatring wa really a pain.
I love the image it produces, but the overheating is just one of the many ergonomic pains in the ass.
Bruce Yarock

did you install the new firmware bruce? supposed to have fixed the overheating threshold probelm although i never had an issue so cant confirm it..

Manus,
Right after I installed the new fimware, I let the camera run in record mode for a full 12 minutes several times. After the 2nd time, it started overheating. Then i id testimonila shots on wed, and thursday ( 2 hours each day), and turned the camera off and on after each interview, (10 each day) and got no overheating.
At this point, I have no idea...
Bruce Yarock

After you installed new firmware, you need to remove the battery for it to take effect, so maybe after that first time you removed the battery and it stop overheating but turning off and on for me is the key to keep it cool.

My precious has been through a lot.. Filming for 6-7 hours in - 25c degrees to working in heavy snow/rain/slush all day long.. Works as a charm :)
7D is more water resistant than most people think...

Morten,
I think that hot sun and humidity are the real problems. Good to hear that you've had such success in the cold.
I'm going to do another test having changed batteries and see if the firmware update did help.
Bruce Yarock

I've put mine through hell an back. Africa, jungles, volcanos, salt water, volcanic gases etc!! I shoot mainly in high heat, dusty, humid, cold, and environments where I hike through jungles for days with it either over my shoulder or in a backpack (not the kind made for the camera). It's held up well.

Used to use canon video camera, and they would go in the shop after every use. Switch to Panasonic P2 cameras, did not have a problem at all for three years. I bought a 7d for shooting time-lapse, but field tested it, and like it better then my Panasonics, so it became my everyday use. I shoot about 1000-3000 pictures a day and about 2 hours of video. I'm shooting an entire 10 part Africa series on it.

I get teased occasionally by BBC and others. Simon King (BBC Presenter/DOP) apparently told a group of people that he shoots with real camera equipment. But when lugging it up 5000-6000 meter Mountains and for several days in the jungles, I love it! I've managed to sell my series to the big boys, so who cares what people think.

Michael

I'm shooting outside this week end and a music video next week end in the hot South Florida sun. Looking forward to seeing how much the overheating issue comes into play, now that I've installed the new firmware.
michael- have you had any overheating issues?
Bruce Yarock

I have found that one of the simplest ways to keep the camera running during a shoot is to just bring a small cooler with some ice packs in it and a large ziplock bag to prevent condensation. Whenever I have a break in the shoot for more than a minute or two I'll put the cam in the bag in the cooler. Works great, though a few people have given me odd looks...

You could probably also just use a large, flexible ice pack and put it directly on top of the camera or something. I didn't have anything like that lying around the house so I went the cooler route.

Supposedly RED shoots often use ice packs.

Hi everyone,
I'm shooting nature video & stills in Florida. No overheating problems yet and still using the old firmware. Mostly I shoot short clips of 30 sec to 1 minute, so this probably explains it. The main reason for the short clips is that I focus and compose through the viewfinder as if taking a still shot, setting exposure manually. Then switch to video mode and use a remote Canon RC1 from my 10D days to start/stop the video. If I get the focus wrong I only lose a 30 sec clip instead of the whole shoot. Cheap insurance.

Here's the abuse from this am:
I was shooting a pair of woodpeckers in a tree at dawn doing microphone tests. The sun was behind a cloud and the camera was pointing directly at where the sun would have been. I took the CF card inside and listened to the audio. When I went back outside the full sun was blazing directly down the barrel of the 100-400 lens at full extension. Wow. I would never allow that intentionally and have always been very aware of the damage that could cause. Then went to a local park and shot some Swallow Tail Kites in a tree, both still and video. Perfect. Sorry 7D and thank you for forgiving me, I promise not to do that again.