It's yet another new camera day today. I picked up a Canon EOS 7D this morning to replace my worn out 40D, and have sat through rain and grey skies ever since. Not the kind of day to test out a camera, though (as I'll show in a moment) I did manage a few images this evening.
It's far too early to give more than a very immediate impression of the 7D. To begin, it needs a fair bit of 'setting up' most of which I've now done. The menus are very straightforward, for example switching the button functions (e.g. to disable AF on the shutter) is aided by a visual guide on the viewing screen. I've switched off most of the noise reduction settings (I prefer to deal with those issues during processing), and adjusted some of the auto-focus settings. It's beginning to feel like my camera. I've also set up three custom settings (with AF linked to the shutter) for night use.
One noticeable difference is file size. The RAW images come in at 25MB a frame, which will mean that I need to implement more frequent culls of what's stored on my hard drive. The maximum ISO is 12800 :faint: Oh, and it has HD video functions as well. As for the pictures (which is what this is all about) I really need to test it 'in the field'; that is test it when photographing wildlife in a variety of conditions, but I've not yet had much of an opportunity for that. The few shots I have taken were of newts in the pond this evening. The conditions were windy with a touch of drizzle (which disturbs the surface of the water), so far from ideal. Even so I think I'm happy with a few of the shots. 
Two newts out hunting
Newt resting on a leaf
Diving newt
Heading for the surface
Breaking the surface
I had hoped for a fox tonight, especially as I've now reached the ridiculous total of 2000 photos in my Fox of the Day series. I settled for a photo of Bold in the snow, taken last January. These are a fairly random selection from the series, beginning with the photo that started it all…
The very first photo, June 2005
The Old Dog Fox from November 2006
July 2007
February 2008
August 2009 (used by the band Everything Everything)
January 2010
Camera note: newt shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens. The foxes were photographed with a range of cameras: Olympus C370 (2005), Canon S2 IS (2006), Canon EOS 400D (2007-8), Canon EOS 40D (2009-10).
RobinL
6 Feb 2011Words, glad you got yourself set up. That's the one I would have gone for too!
Congrats on the 2000th fox! That's really something!
wellisteffi
6 Feb 2011Is great. :up:
Congrats from me. :coffee:
In another 2000 pictures from the fox. 😀
gdare
6 Feb 2011Congrats on taking 2000th fox photo :cheers:
Words
6 Feb 2011Robin, thanks! I seem to always come in near the end of a model's lifecycle so I wonder what Canon has coming next. I really need some decent weather to test out the 7D, but it did manage to photograph a fox last night (after I'd posted the blog).
Words
6 Feb 2011Wojtek, thanks! If I make it to 20000 I'll be delighted (and very old indeed!!!)
Words
6 Feb 2011Darko, thanks… I do wonder when I'll stop doing that series. At certain times of the year it gets tricky finding new shots.
anonymous
6 Feb 2011Wojtek writes:
Happy annifoxsary!
Hopefully we'll all be here to congratulate you on the 20000th picture. 🙂
Words
6 Feb 2011Steffi, thanks. Another 2000 is a possibility (I have more than enough archive shots to cope with that 😉 )
SittingFox
6 Feb 2011Originally posted by anonymous:
I like that 😀
Yes, congrats on your milestone and on the new camera! The weather this weekend has been rather trying and I'm yet to take a single photo. But apparently Tuesday will be better.
anonymous
6 Feb 2011Gaina writes:
I love the 7D so far! Pity it's out of my budget by a million miles! Haha
I hope that band paid you for using the photo!
Mickeyjoe-Irl
6 Feb 2011The new camera sounds great. You're all set for the next 2000. :up:
Cynthia23
6 Feb 2011Congrats!! Wow, the jumping foxes is such a cool shot!! :up:
Words
6 Feb 2011Cynthia. the leaping foxes was from a very good summer indeed. I loved the movement!
Words
6 Feb 2011Gaina, I'm enjoying the 7D. The real test will come in daylight, or at lest when it's dry. And yes, I got paid for the photos. 🙂
Words
6 Feb 2011Adele, thanks! Tuesday looks good, but I had some success in the rain very late last night, and again with the pond this evening.
Words
6 Feb 2011Erwin, I'm enjoying it and will even have a couple of photos of foxes to post later 😉
Words
6 Feb 2011Mick, yes all set and raring to go.
derspecht
7 Feb 2011:yes: Congrats to your new cam!
And a BIG CONGRATS to your 2000th fox! :hat: :hat: :hat: :cheers: :hat:
Words
7 Feb 2011Swen, thanks! On both counts :cheers:
cakkleberrylane
9 Feb 2011WOW!! 2000! Congratulations!! I liked the leaping foxes too!
Words
9 Feb 2011Lois, thanks! I'm looking forward to the next 2000. :faint:
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Its great have a lot of joy with the new camera