Adventures in Canon 7D land, now with 7d vision!

'Don't, Don't, Don't believe the hype!' Drop the beat and cue Flavor Flav it is time to drop some lyrical musings on and about Canon's 7D. Don't believe the hype, take it for fact. This camera and the 5d Mark II are the start of a new revolution.

First let me say this without any hesitation, I love this camera. Now is it a timeless, perfect type love? No, but pretty damn close.
Like most who have sold kidneys, donated plasma, bartered equipment or bribed their loved ones into getting either a 7D or a 5D Mark II because you had to have one, did you literally regret the purchase upon your first test? I did. Like most men, I don't need to read instructions or do my research, I have been born with the ability to figure out anything. So I fired up the camera had it in auto mode and started shooting in the lowest light possible. Lets just say the language coming from my edit bay could make a sailor blush and a truck driver shake his head. Luckily I have the internet and the ability to use key words and soon I had educated myself and started shooting again. Now the language coming from the edit bay sounded like a sonnet for the fair maiden in the castle tower. It was beautiful.

So my first word of advice, read up on the camera. My hero in the world of this new technology is Philip Bloom. His web site, philipboom.co.uk is incredibly insightful and full of cool clips and information. It is a must read for any beginner. He has a tutorial DVD on the 5D as well as the 7D. I didn't buy it, hell I just spent all my capital on the camera. I plan to get it, really, honestly! I also heard Philip speak at WEVA. I will also include some additional links of some cool things I have found along the way. Canon 7D lenses for Shooting Video is a great clip and gives you an ideal of the toys needed to take your cinematography to a new level. Now I say cinematography, not videography. The canon 7D is not a video camera. It is a DSLR that shoots beautiful video and has more in common with a motion picture film camera than a true video camera. You now have to select your lens much like a true cinematographer, choosing the lens with the subject, lighting, shot composition and artistry in mind. I now currently have two lenses, this makes my choices a little easier. I won't go into lens choices right now, frankly I don't know squat, I am learning as I go. That 20x zoom lens on my Canon XHA1 made life simple but not satisfying. I needed more, I had lens envy.

Camera settings are extremely important. You must shoot in manual but you really need to tweak the camera even more to start. Follow this thread to start. I will include a very great video below. It is all about dynamic range and it is @#$%ing funny.

How to increase the Canon 7D dynamic range (Tutorial) from Luka on Vimeo.
Once again all of this only scratches the surface. Google is now your friend. I find new info daily and people who are way more smarter than me are hacking, creating, rigging and multi tasking with this camera in new and exciting ways every day.
So now armed with some righteous new geek knowledge I am ready to really sink my teeth into this great new tool. The clips below show the start of my education and my new obsession with the Canon 7D. I am looking at it right now with longing. It need new lenses, new accessories and lots of love. I think it is time to bribe my wife again.

Kristine & Jeff's Wedding Trailer from Perfect Sky Productions on Vimeo.

Canon 7D slow motion test or how to slow a boy down. from Perfect Sky Productions on Vimeo.

7D slow motion test with my little Diva! from Perfect Sky Productions on Vimeo.