[Barbu]

[quote name='jitteringjr' date='05 June 2010 - 09:00 AM' timestamp='1275717612' post='234']

[...] keep in mind with the 50D and 550D you have tunnel vision even if you can see everything in the view finder with out moving your eye because it isn't a 100% viewfinder in them. You are only seeing the center crop tunnel. At least with the 7D you can move your eye and see the real frame the camera will capture. [/quote]



Actually this isn´t quite the case, and the 100% viewfinder has nothing to do with that.

Nikon D300: 100% viewfinder, easy to avoid the „tunel” as long as you keep the eye close enough.

Canon 1D/1Ds Mark-whatever: 100% viewfinder, no tunnel vision whatsoever. The frame sides are perfectly viewable with no wiggling around, and on 1D (non-s) most people can see the whole picture at a glance. That's critical in sports, when cropping means another step in the workflow (or summary rejection from an editor in a hurry, just because you had a brightly coloured object in a distant corner unrelated to the subject).

Olympus E-3: the viewfinder is just as big as any good APS-C or DX camera, it has 100% percent viewfinder, and easily observable frame all around.



The examples can go on and on; I love the 7D for almost any aspect of it, I could learn to live with the crowded megapixels, but I still worry about the viewfinder. It's very nice in the specs, but I'm trying to find out just why does it seem so tunneled; it's almost like the eye relief is (much) less than the official specification. And no, it has nothing to do with glasses or your eyes.

[ragsnoldiron]

[quote name='wim' date='05 June 2010 - 01:08 AM' timestamp='1275728939' post='243']



My eye problem is one of the reasons to go with Canon, BTW, when I switched to digital. Canon cameras allow me to focus manually; with other brands I don't even get a (properly) sharp image in the VF. I know that others with the same eye problem have the same experience... <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



Kind regards, Wim

[/quote]



Similar reason for going to Canon with digital for me. One thing that I enjoy very much is the fresnel focusing screen I bought from Brightscreen for my 1 series cameras. I bought the p222 model and it has a very large centre fresnel. I also had the Canon split and high precision screens, but now just use the Brightscreen. In my wife's 40D we bought and installed the Katz eye split with fresnel screen too for focusing, but put a tenpa eyepiece magnifier on the camera because she prefers the "close-up" feel with the magnifier on; you have to look around the frame with the magnifier on but instead of a tunnel look it is more like sitting in the front row at the cinema.

[wim]

[quote name='Symple' date='05 June 2010 - 04:57 PM' timestamp='1275749855' post='247']

Similar reason for going to Canon with digital for me. One thing that I enjoy very much is the fresnel focusing screen I bought from Brightscreen for my 1 series cameras. I bought the p222 model and it has a very large centre fresnel. I also had the Canon split and high precision screens, but now just use the Brightscreen. In my wife's 40D we bought and installed the Katz eye split with fresnel screen too for focusing, but put a tenpa eyepiece magnifier on the camera because she prefers the "close-up" feel with the magnifier on; you have to look around the frame with the magnifier on but instead of a tunnel look it is more like sitting in the front row at the cinema.

[/quote]

I also had a Katz-eye focusing screen for the 40D, actually one with wedge, extra gridlines and Opti-bright coating. Worked very well indeed, although I found MF without it was easily as good as it was with the Ef-S screen. Since then, I have alwyas opted for the -S screens from Canon, as they work well from my POV for macro, fast glass, and low light. Even with slow lenses <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



Considering the 7D: a few hours ago I got a used 1D Mk III at a very good price, and I must say I just love the VF. Yes, only 10 MP, but since I will use it for very specific types of shooting, that won't be a problem <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. For anything else there is the 5D II, and I am off to sell the 5D Classic now <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. I have no need for 3 digital bodies <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



Kind regards, Wim

[[email protected]]

FWIW, I've found that a Nikon DK-21M magnifier such as found on the D300 will fit on Canon crop bodies such as my 40D (if you really want to be sure it will stay there put a little bit of double-stick tape in the grooves before putting it on the camera). I use this and a Katz Eye on my 40D, & it has really improved the viewfinder experience.



I do wear glasses for distance vision, but I'm lucky enough that 5 clicks to the left on the diopter wheel allows me to use the camera without them.

[[email protected]]

[quote name='wim' date='05 June 2010 - 06:02 PM' timestamp='1275753760' post='249']

Considering the 7D: a few hours ago I got a used 1D Mk III at a very good price, and I must say I just love the VF. Yes, only 10 MP, but since I will use it for very specific types of shooting, that won't be a problem <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. For anything else there is the 5D II, and I am off to sell the 5D Classic now <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. I have no need for 3 digital bodies <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.

[/quote]



Congrats Wim, more than once I've considered doing the same thing but the weight & size put me off it. Beautiful viewfinder & images with that camera though.

[wim]

[quote name='funkboy' date='11 June 2010 - 03:43 AM' timestamp='1276220634' post='438']

Congrats Wim, more than once I've considered doing the same thing but the weight & size put me off it. Beautiful viewfinder & images with that camera though.

[/quote]

<img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> thanks.



It was the same here, emphsis on was. However, at the moment used ones are priced quite reasonably, and the weight and size did put me off too in the past. However, considering what I do want to shoot with it, there isn't too much choice AFAIAC. The 1D Mk IV isn't worth it for me, because I don't use a camera like it enough to justify the cost. And it and the 7D are the only cameras with AF systems that'll do what I need them to do. Then taek th eVF into account fro my eye sight, and the choice (and decision) becomes a lot easier. <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



BTW, I did find that the 85L just got a new lease on life as well. Goes very well with the camera, no MA required as with 5D II, and the AoV is just right for my type of portrait shooting too. Reminds me a lot of the SMC Takumar 105 F/2.8 I did have once, just a few stops faster version as it were <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. And AF is relatively fast and very accurate.



Kind regards, Wim

[scottburgess]

[quote name='wim' date='02 June 2010 - 04:16 PM' timestamp='1275520584' post='111']

Hi Lars,



We had a discussion on the 7D, in a 7D vs 5D II topic, where I mentioned the problems I had with the 7D VF and its tunnel vision aspect, especially in combination with th efact that I have to wear glasses.



Today I had the opportunity to compare the 550D, 50D and 7D side by side, with the same lens, so I thought I'd share my experience here...



[/quote]



Thanks for posting this, as my wife wants a 7D. Live view may reduce or eliminate such concerns eventually, though, and we're waiting for the Mark II.



Anyone heard any rumors about some cameras not even having pentaprisms? I haven't, but I can imagine such a product in the amateur camera lines.



Scott

[wim]

Hi Scoot,

[quote name='Scott - California' date='26 June 2010 - 10:28 AM' timestamp='1277540935' post='711']

Thanks for posting this, as my wife wants a 7D. Live view may reduce or eliminate such concerns eventually, though, and we're waiting for the Mark II.



Anyone heard any rumors about some cameras not even having pentaprisms? I haven't, but I can imagine such a product in the amateur camera lines.



Scott

[/quote]

Yes, and it isn't a rumour, but fact. All of the xxxD cameras have pentamirrors rather than pentaprisms, which is one of the reasons why their viewfinders are supposedly a little darker than their xxD and 7D cousins.



Although this was certainly true for the 350D, and possibly with the cameras before it, I personally don't really see much of a difference if I have to be honest with any of the later camera bodies.



Kind regards, Wim