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7D Low Light Performance Test I Shot...

Rick Burnett

Rick Burnett

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I recently ran around downtown Raleigh, NC with a bunch of my filming buddies to test out our 7D cameras (we had a 5D but didn't get any of the footage).

MOST of this footage is mine, there are a couple shots in there I did not do that were with a variety of ~F2.0 lens.

http://vimeo.com/8391499

All shots were tripoded using a Velbon DV-7000. The lens was a Sigma 30mm F1.4 which shoots really nice (surprised me for the cost of the lens). As a note, the Sigma with the 7D has horrible autofocus at night. Luckily, you can zoom in with the 7D and focus very easy before each shot. Also, since it has no image stabilizer, the tripod is a must unless you like jello!

Overall I was very impressed. This footage is straight off the camera. I did flatten the settings in camera so I'd have more flexibility in post using these settings:

http://prolost.com/blog/2009/8/3/flatten-your-5d.html

I can say I've personally never used a camera that worked this well at night! Of course, I've never used a camera that costs more than $6000 so that's probably part of the issue.

Anyways, just wanted to share what I am seeing.
 
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No problem. I see all this discussion happening in other places about the 5D and new 1D about how they are better at low light, but I've discovered that for most stuff, with the F1.4, I just don't need anything past ISO1600 which is where I set as my limit! Given the cost difference, and the fact the Sigma lens are designed for this sensor size (and are cheap), I am happy with it.

My goal is to use this camera as a B camera with the Scarlet Fixed, as I am hoping the Scarlet Fixed will be able to handle fast pan/tilt in comparison and of course slow motion :)
 
Rick Burnett said:
Overall I was very impressed. This footage is straight off the camera. I did flatten the settings in camera so I'd have more flexibility in post using these settings:

http://prolost.com/blog/2009/8/3/flatten-your-5d.html
Click to expand...

Watch out! These settings are quite good but Sharpness should not set to minimum as it doesn't affect the aliasing but just get more softness on image and keep the whole aliasing.

The only way to go for "better" aliasing or less bad aliasing is with an optical filter in front of the lens.

You can see the NO effect on aliasing on those two test grabs from Prolost blog. (I would diminish sharpness by only one step)

Patrick

PS: I've done my test 1 year ago with some definition charts on the 5D mKII in HD video mode.
 

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Thanks for the help on that. I did order a Caprock 2.0 antimoire filter and it should be here tomorrow. I am going to go out to the downtown area again and shoot some stuff that was ruined by the aliasing and see how it works.

One thing I will do is lock down the shot where I know it is bad, then try a bunch of different settings and see what works.

Luckily the aliasing isn't as bad as it was on my Nikon D90 which was HORRIBLE, but it does crop up quite a bit on the 7D if you aren't careful as well!
 
I would be please you send us some pict of your test with the filter. It would also bee interesting to see it on some definition chart as we would see the loss of definition VS aliasing improvement. And look also to coloration or achromatic issues in wide angle shoot.

S35 Scarlet where are you?

Pat
 
Most definitely. I'll probably grab stills from the movie as this would be the best comparison to see. But then also run a little video.

Unfortunately I do not have any charts, but maybe my local camera shop can fix that.

I have seen maybe 2 comparisons of the Caprock so far and both of them have looked really good. Since I am going for the film look, I don't mind a small hit on sharpness, BUT, the pictures I saw, at least zoomed in, they looked just as sharp to me with and without the filter.

Working on getting a 10mm Ultra wide angle lens at the moment. We'll see how that works. I am not holding my breath on those results :)
 
Rick Burnett said:
Working on getting a 10mm Ultra wide angle lens at the moment. We'll see how that works. I am not holding my breath on those results :)
Click to expand...

Rick, first of all looks like you guys had some fun on your shoot.

I just got a 7D and have a 10-22. What would you like to see? Buildings, trees? Maybe I'll grab a shot and post.

Rick Burnett said:
No problem. I see all this discussion happening in other places about the 5D and new 1D about how they are better at low light, but I've discovered that for most stuff, with the F1.4, I just don't need anything past ISO1600 which is where I set as my limit! Given the cost difference, and the fact the Sigma lens are designed for this sensor size (and are cheap), I am happy with it.

My goal is to use this camera as a B camera with the Scarlet Fixed, as I am hoping the Scarlet Fixed will be able to handle fast pan/tilt in comparison and of course slow motion :)
Click to expand...

I agree with you, the 7D is a pretty phenomenal bang for the buck and a perfect complement to the REDONE and upcoming future cameras - worthwhile to save the $1000 over the 5D and see what everbody comes up with next year.
 
Haha, yes, we had a good time. We are all quite silly and always have tons of silly extra video when we are scouting around and testing. Helped us not think about the cold too!

Our question with the 7D and the 10-22 is using the anti-Moire filter, how the image is affected. There is quite a bit of sample footage on Vimeo with both the Canon and Sigma 10mm zoom, but last time I checked, very little with the Caprock filter (which I will check again after posting this).

Do you have the Canon or the Sigma? What I'd really love to see is a comparison of like the Canon, Sigma and Tokina (11mm) lens since the Tokina does F2.8.

Yeah, the cost difference allowed me to get a few more lens as well.

Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to play with a Red One. Apparently there is some in the area here, but I haven't seem them being rented alone without an operator :) eeeee
 
Rick Burnett said:
Haha, yes, we had a good time. We are all quite silly and always have tons of silly extra video when we are scouting around and testing. Helped us not think about the cold too!

Our question with the 7D and the 10-22 is using the anti-Moire filter, how the image is affected. There is quite a bit of sample footage on Vimeo with both the Canon and Sigma 10mm zoom, but last time I checked, very little with the Caprock filter (which I will check again after posting this).

Do you have the Canon or the Sigma? What I'd really love to see is a comparison of like the Canon, Sigma and Tokina (11mm) lens since the Tokina does F2.8.

Yeah, the cost difference allowed me to get a few more lens as well.

Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to play with a Red One. Apparently there is some in the area here, but I haven't seem them being rented alone without an operator :) eeeee
Click to expand...

I have the canon 10-22. I had the Tokina 11-16 and as I mentioned in another thread in my (unscientific but pretty close) comparison shots I found the Canon to be slightly sharper in the corners, but both are very good. Haven't used the sigma.
 
I found a few videos with the Sigma, and they looked sharp enough for me, but didn't really push the lens much. The only thing that interested me a lot about the Tokina was the speed. Sigma also released a newer version of their 10-22 that is F3.5 I believe across the entire range. Although every report I have read said the optics work about the same.

Since I use my Sigma 30mm F1.4 so much, I want to compare that to the Ultra Wide Sigma. I called the local camera shops but no one seems to have one local. Maybe I'll just go in and play with their Canon once the filter comes in :)
 
Yeah, the 1D has some AMAZING low light capability. But I will say, the price point and the remainder of the other issues that plague the 7D and 5D, the 7D still seems the best bang for the buck.

For the price of the 1D, I can get the fixed scarlet :)
 
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