My 7D has got a bad case of the shakes at DVinfo.net

Neil Dankoff · September 26th, 2009, 07:23 PM

Good new/Bad news

Good news- I bought 7D this morning
Bad news- only had 10 minutes to play with it
Good news-3 small children will be in bed within 30 minutes
Bad news- wife doesn't go to bed for another few hours

Bruce Foreman · September 26th, 2009, 08:09 PM

Reminds me of when I bought my "dream" modular press camera in the 1960's. I must have played with and "fondled" that Graflex XL the whole evening, as my wife headed for bed she asked me, "Well...Are you going to sleep with the Graflex or with me?".

She didn't have sharp edges.

Still doesn't.

Paul Mailath · September 26th, 2009, 08:41 PM

try getting amorous on the lounge, if you're lucky she'll have a headache and go to bed early - if you're unlucky - well, I guess it's a no lose situation.

Benjamin Eckstein · September 26th, 2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mailath

try getting amorous on the lounge, if you're lucky she'll have a headache and go to bed early - if you're unlucky - well, I guess it's a no lose situation.

Fantastic!

Neil Dankoff · September 27th, 2009, 10:51 AM

I tried out the video mode with a 17-40L and a 85mm and although the quality looks great, the video is extremely shaky. Even though I am simply using handheld, it seems to be much worse than any other consumer camcorder that I have used in the past. Unless I am doing something wrong, it would seem that an IS lens or a tripod might be necessary.

Please tell me I'm doing something wrong.

Daniel Bates · September 27th, 2009, 10:57 AM

The DSLR form factor is not given to being held steadily for long periods of time. That said, there are ways to hold a DSLR relatively steady. Are you using proper shooting posture?

Also keep in mind that an 85mm lens on a 7D gives you an effective 136mm angle of view, which is solidly in the 'telephoto' range (and more difficult to hand-hold steadily than, say, a 17-40mm).

Chris Barcellos · September 27th, 2009, 10:59 AM

Like the 5D, the reasons are pretty simple.

1. No stabilization.

2. The design lends itself to shake.

The first, you can do nothing about.

The second, has to do with the slr design. If you "redistrbute" movement that is applied the camera by your body movements, a big change will occur. I think it has to do with the axis and center of gravity or some other something else, being so centered on the chip that it magnifies all movement. You will see a vast improvement just putting the camera on a shoulder rig. I think that works to extend the lines to those we are used to with video cameras.

Chris Hurd · September 27th, 2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Dankoff

Please tell me I'm doing something wrong.

You're doing nothing wrong; it is a very simple case of ergonomics.

Video mode on a D-SLR calls for some means of camera support... ideally a tripod.

Bill Pryor · September 27th, 2009, 04:18 PM

Even with a shoulder mount camera it's difficult to hold a long lens shot steady. When I do hand held, it's strictly wide angle, or on a Steadicam. But most everything is on a tripod.

Jon Fairhurst · September 27th, 2009, 09:16 PM

That's something I hadn't considered with the 7D. It doesn't go as wide as the 5D2, which means it's potentially even worse for handheld use. If you get a 14mm rect, or 15mm fisheye, you can snowboard with the camera in your hand. But on the 7D, the 14mm is a 22.4mm equivalent. Based on my experience using a 24mm on the 5D, you can't really chuck that combination around.

Chris Hurd · September 27th, 2009, 11:56 PM

However there is the EF-S 10-22mm, perhaps sufficiently wide enough for hand-held use in video mode... light weight and yields a 16-35mm field of view.

Shaun R Walker · September 28th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mailath

try getting amorous on the lounge, if you're lucky she'll have a headache and go to bed early - if you're unlucky - well, I guess it's a no lose situation.

What are you doing lurking in this thread Paul? You're everywhere! Then again, so am I. Good advice by the way.

Jon Fairhurst · September 28th, 2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

However there is the EF-S 10-22mm, perhaps sufficiently wide enough for hand-held use in video mode... light weight and yields a 16-35mm field of view.

For handheld, up close, extreme sports, the 10-22mm would be on the top of my wish list for the 7D. As you move to longer focal lengths, get a shoulder rig, steadi-thing, moving stabilizers, and at the longest lengths stick with a tripod.

September 26th, 2009, 07:23 PM	#1
Neil Dankoff Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 25	It's in my home! Good new/Bad news Good news- I bought 7D this morning Bad news- only had 10 minutes to play with it Good news-3 small children will be in bed within 30 minutes Bad news- wife doesn't go to bed for another few hours

September 26th, 2009, 08:41 PM	#3
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	try getting amorous on the lounge, if you're lucky she'll have a headache and go to bed early - if you're unlucky - well, I guess it's a no lose situation. __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

September 27th, 2009, 10:51 AM	#5
Neil Dankoff Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 25	My 7D has got a bad case of the shakes I tried out the video mode with a 17-40L and a 85mm and although the quality looks great, the video is extremely shaky. Even though I am simply using handheld, it seems to be much worse than any other consumer camcorder that I have used in the past. Unless I am doing something wrong, it would seem that an IS lens or a tripod might be necessary. Please tell me I'm doing something wrong.

September 27th, 2009, 10:59 AM	#7
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Like the 5D, the reasons are pretty simple. 1. No stabilization. 2. The design lends itself to shake. The first, you can do nothing about. The second, has to do with the slr design. If you "redistrbute" movement that is applied the camera by your body movements, a big change will occur. I think it has to do with the axis and center of gravity or some other something else, being so centered on the chip that it magnifies all movement. You will see a vast improvement just putting the camera on a shoulder rig. I think that works to extend the lines to those we are used to with video cameras. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

September 27th, 2009, 09:16 PM	#10
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	That's something I hadn't considered with the 7D. It doesn't go as wide as the 5D2, which means it's potentially even worse for handheld use. If you get a 14mm rect, or 15mm fisheye, you can snowboard with the camera in your hand. But on the 7D, the 14mm is a 22.4mm equivalent. Based on my experience using a 24mm on the 5D, you can't really chuck that combination around. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

September 26th, 2009, 08:09 PM	#2
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Reminds me of when I bought my "dream" modular press camera in the 1960's. I must have played with and "fondled" that Graflex XL the whole evening, as my wife headed for bed she asked me, "Well...Are you going to sleep with the Graflex or with me?". She didn't have sharp edges. Still doesn't.

September 27th, 2009, 10:57 AM	#6
Daniel Bates Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Daegu, Korea Posts: 180	The DSLR form factor is not given to being held steadily for long periods of time. That said, there are ways to hold a DSLR relatively steady. Are you using proper shooting posture? Also keep in mind that an 85mm lens on a 7D gives you an effective 136mm angle of view, which is solidly in the 'telephoto' range (and more difficult to hand-hold steadily than, say, a 17-40mm).

September 27th, 2009, 04:18 PM	#9
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Even with a shoulder mount camera it's difficult to hold a long lens shot steady. When I do hand held, it's strictly wide angle, or on a Steadicam. But most everything is on a tripod.

September 27th, 2009, 11:56 PM	#11
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	However there is the EF-S 10-22mm, perhaps sufficiently wide enough for hand-held use in video mode... light weight and yields a 16-35mm field of view. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!