Comments for Light and Matter http://www.gorephoto.com/blog J. Matthew Gore's Photographic Journal Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:44:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Canon SLRs for Video : 5D Mark II vs 7D vs T2i/550D by Matthew http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972&cpage=1#comment-1877 Matthew Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:44:09 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972#comment-1877 I've never done underwater work, so I'll have to make a couple of guesses... but I'll assume that you'll want the camera that's best for video, and the camera that has the best low-light performance. When it comes to low light, the 5D mark II has a noticeable advantage at ISO1600 and beyond (and a slight advantage before that) when it comes to still photography, and that performance translates to video as well. The 7D is a little smaller and lighter, for what that's worth. When it comes to which camera is better for video, though, each camera has it's separate strengths. I think that the 7D is probably a little easier to use, but the 5D mkII has some great firmware features available. You might want to check out the link in the "Video Features" section of this post for further details. If anyone else has ideas on this subject, please feel free to chime in! - Matthew I’ve never done underwater work, so I’ll have to make a couple of guesses… but I’ll assume that you’ll want the camera that’s best for video, and the camera that has the best low-light performance. When it comes to low light, the 5D mark II has a noticeable advantage at ISO1600 and beyond (and a slight advantage before that) when it comes to still photography, and that performance translates to video as well. The 7D is a little smaller and lighter, for what that’s worth.

When it comes to which camera is better for video, though, each camera has it’s separate strengths. I think that the 7D is probably a little easier to use, but the 5D mkII has some great firmware features available. You might want to check out the link in the “Video Features” section of this post for further details.

If anyone else has ideas on this subject, please feel free to chime in!

- Matthew

]]> Comment on Canon SLRs for Video : 5D Mark II vs 7D vs T2i/550D by Anbusathiyan R http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972&cpage=1#comment-1876 Anbusathiyan R Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:16:17 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972#comment-1876 Hi, While comparing with 5D to 7D , which one is best for under water videography. Hi,
While comparing with 5D to 7D , which one is best for under water videography.

]]> Comment on Canon SLRs for Video : 5D Mark II vs 7D vs T2i/550D by Matthew http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972&cpage=1#comment-1872 Matthew Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:13:51 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972#comment-1872 I'm afraid that I'm probably not the best person to ask about movie making equipment. As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm a photographer, and not a film-maker. Consequently, I can give you detailed information about the SLRs and their technical details, but I'm afraid that beyond their specific use, I don't know the best equipment to supplement them for movie-making. I've read a couple of things about pre-amps for mics for the 5D Mark II, and seen some rigs for stabilization and focusing, but I don't know enough about them to make any sort of recommendations. Good Luck with your search, though! - Matthew I’m afraid that I’m probably not the best person to ask about movie making equipment. As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I’m a photographer, and not a film-maker. Consequently, I can give you detailed information about the SLRs and their technical details, but I’m afraid that beyond their specific use, I don’t know the best equipment to supplement them for movie-making. I’ve read a couple of things about pre-amps for mics for the 5D Mark II, and seen some rigs for stabilization and focusing, but I don’t know enough about them to make any sort of recommendations. Good Luck with your search, though!

- Matthew

]]> Comment on Canon EOS 7D vs. 5D MarkII : Who should buy the 7D? by Matthew http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=291&cpage=1#comment-1867 Matthew Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:41:29 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=291#comment-1867 Hi Jixou, Sorry for the delay; I've been traveling! To begin with, you should always be shooting RAW, so white balance should not be an issue. It makes a lot more sense to correct white balance after the fact than during the ever changing lighting conditions of real life. When you shoot RAW, no white balance is hard-coded into the data, so you can set the white balance just as easily after the shoot as when it's happening (assuming that you use some kind of reference, like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NU5UW8?ie=UTF8&tag=lighandmatt-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B002NU5UW8" rel="nofollow">X-rite passport</a>). I don't have a 5D for comparison purposes, but my guess is that the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NEGTTW?ie=UTF8&tag=lighandmatt-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B002NEGTTW" rel="nofollow">Canon 7D</a> will be a little better than the 5D, despite the denser pixel resolution. Just as importantly, though, the extra megapixel count will allow you to use a noise reduction plugin and then down-sample to the size that you need and retain greater sharpness. See<a href="http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=404" rel="nofollow"> here</a> for further explanation. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G5ZTLS?ie=UTF8&tag=lighandmatt-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B001G5ZTLS" rel="nofollow">5D Mark II</a> would, of course, be a better option to get the lowest noise. However, no matter what camera you choose, if you're shooting at the highest ISO settings, you're not going to get the greatest image quality... you'll still be better off creatively using off-camera flash, fast lenses, IS lenses, or any combination of the three. Good luck! - Matthew Hi Jixou,

Sorry for the delay; I’ve been traveling! To begin with, you should always be shooting RAW, so white balance should not be an issue. It makes a lot more sense to correct white balance after the fact than during the ever changing lighting conditions of real life. When you shoot RAW, no white balance is hard-coded into the data, so you can set the white balance just as easily after the shoot as when it’s happening (assuming that you use some kind of reference, like the X-rite passport).

I don’t have a 5D for comparison purposes, but my guess is that the Canon 7D will be a little better than the 5D, despite the denser pixel resolution. Just as importantly, though, the extra megapixel count will allow you to use a noise reduction plugin and then down-sample to the size that you need and retain greater sharpness. See here for further explanation.

The 5D Mark II would, of course, be a better option to get the lowest noise. However, no matter what camera you choose, if you’re shooting at the highest ISO settings, you’re not going to get the greatest image quality… you’ll still be better off creatively using off-camera flash, fast lenses, IS lenses, or any combination of the three.

Good luck!

- Matthew

]]> Comment on Canon 7D vs. Canon Rebel T2i : Half the price… half the camera? by Matthew http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=757&cpage=1#comment-1859 Matthew Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:56:47 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=757#comment-1859 Hi Marcio, Sorry for the slow response! For some photographers, the benefits of the 7D certainly justify the price... but you're right... probably not the weekend photographer. The 550D/T2i is an awesome choice for you; I'm sure that if you head over to B&H (on 9th Ave @ 34th St), they'll have any selection of cameras and lenses that you'd like. It may cost a little more to get the body and lens that you want separately, but you'll end up with better equipment that way. If you haven't already, you might consider checking a lens testing site to see which lenses for Canon offer the best optical performance; sometimes the advertising and the prices don't tell the truth. My favorite is probably www.photozone.de , but there are others as well. Good luck! - Matthew Hi Marcio,

Sorry for the slow response! For some photographers, the benefits of the 7D certainly justify the price… but you’re right… probably not the weekend photographer. The 550D/T2i is an awesome choice for you; I’m sure that if you head over to B&H (on 9th Ave @ 34th St), they’ll have any selection of cameras and lenses that you’d like. It may cost a little more to get the body and lens that you want separately, but you’ll end up with better equipment that way.

If you haven’t already, you might consider checking a lens testing site to see which lenses for Canon offer the best optical performance; sometimes the advertising and the prices don’t tell the truth. My favorite is probably http://www.photozone.de , but there are others as well.

Good luck!

- Matthew

]]> Comment on Canon 7D vs. Canon Rebel T2i : Half the price… half the camera? by Marcio http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=757&cpage=1#comment-1839 Marcio Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:15:03 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=757#comment-1839 Very nice article! I'm looking for a new camera, leaving from a Nikon 40D. As I'm a weekend photographer, I understood that 7D benefits does not worth the money invested in it. Although it is pretty hard to find the 550D kit with 18-135mm lens in NYC or the body and lens sold separately, I just found the 550D kit with 18-55mm lens, which I don't want it. Anyway, I'll look for the 550D, in case I don't find it, I'll think about the 7D. Very nice article! I’m looking for a new camera, leaving from a Nikon 40D. As I’m a weekend photographer, I understood that 7D benefits does not worth the money invested in it. Although it is pretty hard to find the 550D kit with 18-135mm lens in NYC or the body and lens sold separately, I just found the 550D kit with 18-55mm lens, which I don’t want it.

Anyway, I’ll look for the 550D, in case I don’t find it, I’ll think about the 7D.

]]> Comment on Canon SLRs for Video : 5D Mark II vs 7D vs T2i/550D by phuntsho wangdi http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972&cpage=1#comment-1838 phuntsho wangdi Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:03:30 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972#comment-1838 i want to shoot a feature film with Canon EOS 5D Mark II Camera therefore it will be very kind of you if you can write me the detail about its price and also the accessories required like stands, lenses, rigs etc. i want to shoot a feature film with Canon EOS 5D Mark II Camera therefore it will be very kind of you if you can write me the detail about its price and also the accessories required like stands, lenses, rigs etc.

]]> Comment on Canon SLRs for Video : 5D Mark II vs 7D vs T2i/550D by phuntsho wangdi http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972&cpage=1#comment-1836 phuntsho wangdi Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:41:13 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=972#comment-1836 hi David i seriously wants to shoot a feature film with Canon EOS 5D Mark II Camera therefore it will be very kind of you if you can write me the detail about its price and also the accessories like stands, lenses, rigs etc. required with the above mentioned Camera to shoot a professional feature movies. hi David
i seriously wants to shoot a feature film with Canon EOS 5D Mark II Camera therefore it will be very kind of you if you can write me the detail about its price and also the accessories like stands, lenses, rigs etc. required with the above mentioned Camera to shoot a professional feature movies.

]]> Comment on Canon EOS 7D vs. 5D MarkII : Who should buy the 7D? by Doug Barry-Martin http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=291&cpage=1#comment-1835 Doug Barry-Martin Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:22:55 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=291#comment-1835 The weight of the camera may be a factor when shooting sports. The 7D is 820g, the 5DII 810g, the 50D is 730g (all without battery). The 5D will usually need a heavier and larger lens to give the same range as a lens for an ASCP sensor. Have you considered the 50D? The weight of the camera may be a factor when shooting sports. The 7D is 820g, the 5DII 810g, the 50D is 730g (all without battery). The 5D will usually need a heavier and larger lens to give the same range as a lens for an ASCP sensor. Have you considered the 50D?

]]> Comment on Canon EOS 7D vs. 5D MarkII : Who should buy the 7D? by Doug Barry-Martin http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=291&cpage=1#comment-1834 Doug Barry-Martin Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:10:11 +0000 http://www.gorephoto.com/blog/?p=291#comment-1834 I too have a 5D and it it is great in low light but I can see how you might need more from it. Therefore you may need to go to a Nikon D700 (great at low light but not quite the image quality of the 5D). Or the king of low light cameras is the expensive and heavy D3x. Of course the 5D MkII is a step forward from the 5D and is probably the logical choice. I would expect the 7D to be noisier than all of these. If I am unhappy with the noise from my 5D I apply a Photoshop Noise Reduce filter at strength 5 / details 17 / color 22 / sharpen / 16. Then add 11 to 22% smart sharpen at 0.7 radius. If the noise is heavy then apply more strength. Works very well and gives a nice slightly soft focus which is great for weddings. I too have a 5D and it it is great in low light but I can see how you might need more from it. Therefore you may need to go to a Nikon D700 (great at low light but not quite the image quality of the 5D). Or the king of low light cameras is the expensive and heavy D3x. Of course the 5D MkII is a step forward from the 5D and is probably the logical choice. I would expect the 7D to be noisier than all of these.
If I am unhappy with the noise from my 5D I apply a Photoshop Noise Reduce filter at strength 5 / details 17 / color 22 / sharpen / 16. Then add 11 to 22% smart sharpen at 0.7 radius. If the noise is heavy then apply more strength. Works very well and gives a nice slightly soft focus which is great for weddings.

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