Compared to its predecessors, many changes have been made to the EOS 7D Mark II, the first revamped model in five years. This article is an interview with the developers to obtain first-hand information on the shooting functions of the EOS 7D Mark II, and to find out more about the appeal of the camera. (Reported by: Ryosuke Takahashi)
Q: How do we determine which AI Servo AF characteristic to use?
A:
"You can make a selection between [Case 1] and [Case 6] according to the subject or scene you are photographing. Choose a Case according to the description that corresponds to the scene in question". You can view the descriptions of each Case by pressing the INFO. button when the selection screen is displayed.
Q: Under what circumstances does "Select AF area selection mode" come in handy?
A:
"It comes in handy when you want to enable only the minimum necessary mode so that switching can be performed speedily. It will be easier if you assign this function to the AF area selection lever using Custom Controls."
Q: What is "AF point auto switching"?
A:
"This is a setting for the switching sensitivity of the AF points to track a subject that moves significantly upward, downward or to the left or right." This AF function is a part of the AI Servo AF characteristics that aims at tracking the parallel movement of the subject.
Q: How does "Tracking sensitivity" function?
A:
"This is a setting for tracking the subject when an obstacle enters the AF point or when the AF point loses track of the subject." This feature is basically effective when you are photographing a moving object. Note that it does not work during One-Shot AF.
Q: What are the types of scenes for which depiction is enhanced by the higher pixel count?
A:
"The higher pixel count makes it possible to reproduce all kinds of scenes in detail. The effect is particularly obvious when you are photographing a distant landscape, for example". Increasing the pixel count helps to further bring out the details in high-frequency areas, such as when you want to reproduce the fur of an animal.
Q: How do we use "Acceleration/deceleration tracking"?
A:
"Use it when you want to change the tracking sensitivity in response to a sudden and rapid change in the speed of the moving subject, such as when the subject suddenly moves or stops". This feature is effective for vertical movements of the subject, and is useful such as in sports photography.
Q: Is it possible to shoot at the highest speed of about 10 fps under all kinds of circumstances?
A:
"The continuous shooting speed may vary according to the circumstances, such as the shutter speed, aperture value, condition of the subject, brightness, or the lens in use. Also, the speed may slow down during EOS iTR AF or anti-flicker shooting."
Q: What are the advantages of dual cross-type AF points?
A:
"Focusing performance of dual cross-type AF points is higher compared to other AF points. The centre AF point is of the dual cross-type". An f/2.8 cross-type sensor is used for the centre AF point, allowing for more precise focusing when a lens brighter than f/2.8 is used.
A: f/2.8 Cross-type Focusing
B: f/5.6 Vertical Line Detection
C: f/5.6 Horizontal Line Detection
Q: Can the number for "Selectable AF point" be changed?
A:
"Yes. You can make a selection from 65 points, 21 points and 9 points in the [Selectable AF point] menu". This setting allows you to select the AF point you want to use more quickly, so you are recommended to set it according to your preference.
Q: Is the maximum burst higher than that of the EOS 7D after the firmware upgrade?
A:
"Yes". The maximum burst on the EOS 7D Mark II is 1,090 shots for JPEG images, 31 shots for RAW, and 19 shots for RAW+JPEG. Enhancement in the specs is noticeable particularly in the case of RAW+JPEG.
Born in Aichi in 1960, Takahashi started his freelance career in 1987 after working with an advertising photo studio and a publishing house. Photographing for major magazines, he has travelled to many parts of the world from his bases in Japan and China. Takahashi is a member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS).
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