Where can I hire a 7D for a weekend ?
Discussion
Have been agonising about whether to buy myself a Canon 7d to replace my 400d. Have read countless reviews and threads on countless forums and opinion seems to be polarised into one of 2 camps either:
- it's great, worth every penny and the image quality of my photographs has been transformed
or
- it's a brilliant piece of technology and wonderful to use but like for like the pictures I've taken with it are less sharp and/or have more noise then my old camera due to excessively high pixel density/the low bandpass filter used on the sensor/the higher resolution exposing previously un-noticed flaws in lenses or technique/whatever.
Frankly it's doing my head in. I've got to the point where reading more or playing with one in a shop again for a few minutes isn't going to help me decide - I need to have one for a day and take some pictures back to back with my current camera.
So….I know on various places on-line where I can hire lenses for a few days - but can't find any that will rent to camera to me. Does anyone know where I can rent one from or even a retailer that will let me have one on a sale or return basis for a few days.
- it's great, worth every penny and the image quality of my photographs has been transformed
or
- it's a brilliant piece of technology and wonderful to use but like for like the pictures I've taken with it are less sharp and/or have more noise then my old camera due to excessively high pixel density/the low bandpass filter used on the sensor/the higher resolution exposing previously un-noticed flaws in lenses or technique/whatever.
Frankly it's doing my head in. I've got to the point where reading more or playing with one in a shop again for a few minutes isn't going to help me decide - I need to have one for a day and take some pictures back to back with my current camera.
So….I know on various places on-line where I can hire lenses for a few days - but can't find any that will rent to camera to me. Does anyone know where I can rent one from or even a retailer that will let me have one on a sale or return basis for a few days.
Seight_Returns said:
Have been agonising about whether to buy myself a Canon 7d to replace my 400d. Have read countless reviews and threads on countless forums and opinion seems to be polarised into one of 2 camps either:
- it's great, worth every penny and the image quality of my photographs has been transformed
or
- it's a brilliant piece of technology and wonderful to use but like for like the pictures I've taken with it are less sharp and/or have more noise then my old camera due to excessively high pixel density/the low bandpass filter used on the sensor/the higher resolution exposing previously un-noticed flaws in lenses or technique/whatever.
Frankly it's doing my head in. I've got to the point where reading more or playing with one in a shop again for a few minutes isn't going to help me decide - I need to have one for a day and take some pictures back to back with my current camera.
So….I know on various places on-line where I can hire lenses for a few days - but can't find any that will rent to camera to me. Does anyone know where I can rent one from or even a retailer that will let me have one on a sale or return basis for a few days.
Where are you, geographically?- it's great, worth every penny and the image quality of my photographs has been transformed
or
- it's a brilliant piece of technology and wonderful to use but like for like the pictures I've taken with it are less sharp and/or have more noise then my old camera due to excessively high pixel density/the low bandpass filter used on the sensor/the higher resolution exposing previously un-noticed flaws in lenses or technique/whatever.
Frankly it's doing my head in. I've got to the point where reading more or playing with one in a shop again for a few minutes isn't going to help me decide - I need to have one for a day and take some pictures back to back with my current camera.
So….I know on various places on-line where I can hire lenses for a few days - but can't find any that will rent to camera to me. Does anyone know where I can rent one from or even a retailer that will let me have one on a sale or return basis for a few days.
What sort of shots do you consider to be your main requirement?
What glass have you got?
AndWhyNot said:
I think Fixation will refund the hire costs if you buy one afterwards.sevros1981 said:
Flash Centre?
That's where I just rented one for a couple of weekends. From Birmingham in my case. Great people and very helpful.If you don't have any L spec lenses, and you really do need something quality to see what the 7D is capable of, you can rent lenses too.
Actually I also found that my 400D seems to take on a new lease of life for image quality with certain lenses - but that's only half the story.
LongQ said:
Where are you, geographically?
What sort of shots do you consider to be your main requirement?
What glass have you got?
I'm in London. Work City home SE.What sort of shots do you consider to be your main requirement?
What glass have you got?
Main use of my camera is photographing my children. I'm attracted to the 7d because of the AF, ability to crop deeper and the ergonomics and handling of a more substantial camere. Would like to have a play with video too.
I have Sigma 17-70 , EF-S 18-55 IS, EF 50 f1.8, EF 70-300 IS - If I get the 7d I'll get a better standard zoom to go with it (mulling over the usual 17-55, 24-105, 15-85 dilemna, 15-85 winning at the moment) and take a view on upgrading the tele zoom to one of the 70-200s depending upon how it works with the 70-300.
I'm coming to the conclusion that want I really want is a 7D with the sensor from the 5Dii - but doesn't everyone !
Edited by Seight_Returns on Wednesday 8th September 08:52
I hired from calumet in london- but wouldnt recommend them.
They had quite an eliteist attitude, seemed unwilling to help because I wasnt a full pro who'd be hired every week from them.
Lenses I hired were exceptionally dusty inside- id expect some dust in hire equipment, but this was so much it visible when shooting into a light source.
When returning the gear on monday, there was a long quee of people returning hire gear. I counted 3 people that had an issue with what they'd hired. They were quite rubbish when they dealt with me- they admiteed the lenses were both far too dusty and needed serviced, and only offered a paltry 5% off, with no budging.
I went to the Calumet behind Euston, but maybe other branches are better, or maybe I just had a bad experience.
They had quite an eliteist attitude, seemed unwilling to help because I wasnt a full pro who'd be hired every week from them.
Lenses I hired were exceptionally dusty inside- id expect some dust in hire equipment, but this was so much it visible when shooting into a light source.
When returning the gear on monday, there was a long quee of people returning hire gear. I counted 3 people that had an issue with what they'd hired. They were quite rubbish when they dealt with me- they admiteed the lenses were both far too dusty and needed serviced, and only offered a paltry 5% off, with no budging.
I went to the Calumet behind Euston, but maybe other branches are better, or maybe I just had a bad experience.
Seight_Returns said:
LongQ said:
Where are you, geographically?
What sort of shots do you consider to be your main requirement?
What glass have you got?
I'm in London. Work City home SE.What sort of shots do you consider to be your main requirement?
What glass have you got?
Main use of my camera is photographing my children. I'm attracted to the 7d because of the AF, ability to crop deeper and the ergonomics and handling of a more substantial camere. Would like to have a play with video too.
I have Sigma 17-70 , EF-S 18-55 IS, EF 50 f1.8, EF 70-300 IS - If I get the 7d I'll get a better standard zoom to go with it (mulling over the usual 17-55, 24-105, 15-85 dilemna, 15-85 winning at the moment) and take a view on upgrading the tele zoom to one of the 70-200s depending upon how it works with the 70-300.
I'm coming to the conclusion that want I really want is a 7D with the sensor from the 5Dii - but doesn't everyone !
Edited by Seight_Returns on Wednesday 8th September 08:52
I have just rented one from The Flash Centre's Birmingham branch. I assume the London boys are just as helpful - I've met a few of them at Focus on Imaging in the last few years and they seem to be a great crew to deal with. TFC's weekend rental deal is rather good, IMO - details on the web site.
I also rented;
a 24-105 (worked very well, very useful range even on the crop sensor, pleasing results.
a 14mm f2.8 - not a general purpose lens ..... or is it? Superb results and outstanding for wide close up shots even on my 400D.
a 70-200 f2.8 IS Mk2 .... which is something else, no matter which body I stuck it on - but on the 7D the levels of crop acheivable with little or no loss of detail are remarkable.
I also identified a focus problem with my 70-300 DO lens at the long end so that's going to have to go for a check over. It produced good results up to 200mm though.
I have a non IS 18-55 as the 400D kit lens but never got around to trying it on the 7D.
If you want lots of out of focus backgronds and shallow DoF you will get that more readily with a full frame sensor of course - but then your EF-S lenses will be redundant. On the other hand that would be a good escuse for renting one for the weekend .... just to try it.
Yes if you pixel peep at 1:1 you will be able to observe noise - but also incredible detail. I find the noise is easily dealt with if you feel the need. You probably won't see it in most images viewed (or printed) at 'normal' size. As an experiment I mounted my old 600mm manual FD mount lens (about 750mm with the FD to EOS adapter) on the 7D and cranked the ISO up to 3200 to be able to shoot hand held at about 1/4000th. Back doors of a white Spinter van with black and orange signwriting. It was about 80 to 100 meters away I would guess - maybe more. Manually focused of course. The name of the supplying dealer at the bottom of the number plate is quite readable even after a touch of noise reduction to make the bumpers a smooth dark gray and the black signwriting a deep black when viewed at 1:1. At more normal sizes I would not bother with the NR.
But your mileage may vary and the weekend rental deal is well worth it for getting to the position of making your own decision.
My problem is that I want the lenses as well as the body and it's the lenses that are by far the greater expense! On the other hand they would also work with full frame should the need arise ....
There is more to it than that of course - the feel and balance of the 7D is excellent, the viewfinder is a big leap from the lesser bodies - and you will need some large, memory cards. Battery life is remarkable. About 1000 shots a day, all with AF and IS on and planty of reviews, seemed to use around 50% of a battery. (I had a 2 battery grip fitted and it was reporting less than 25% of each battery used.)
My suggestion would be to rent a 7D and a 24-105 lens as a reference lens to compare with your existing lenses, go and play for the weekend (From Friday AM and return first thing on Monday if using TFC at a one day rate) and see what you think.
I appreciate that this is not the question asked but have you considered a midrange upgrade to a 50D instead? They have come down in price since the 60D was launched.
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod721.html
I too looked at the 7D for many months and then concluded that my 40D would take just as good shots and decided to wait until the 40D breaks (again!).
If you do rent it would be interesting if you posted your thoughts...
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod721.html
I too looked at the 7D for many months and then concluded that my 40D would take just as good shots and decided to wait until the 40D breaks (again!).
If you do rent it would be interesting if you posted your thoughts...
LongQ - Thanks very much indeed for that. Did you try the 24-105 on your 400d ? (that's my Plan B if I bottle out of getting a 7D). How does the IQ differ for 100/200 ISO between the 400d and 7d using that lens.
XRRR - Yeah, I certainly have been thinking about a 50D as an option - it doesn't seem to generate the same level of controversy as the 7d and would seem to tick most of the boxes. Suspect I'd be left thinking "what if" though for the sake of another couple of hundred quid.
XRRR - Yeah, I certainly have been thinking about a 50D as an option - it doesn't seem to generate the same level of controversy as the 7d and would seem to tick most of the boxes. Suspect I'd be left thinking "what if" though for the sake of another couple of hundred quid.
Edited by Seight_Returns on Wednesday 8th September 14:11
Seight_Returns said:
LongQ - Thanks very much indeed for that. Did you try the 24-105 on your 400d ? (that's my Plan B if I bottle out of getting a 7D). How does the IQ differ for 100/200 ISO between the 400d and 7d using that lens.
Good question. I didn't do back to back tests as far as I recall. Or rather I sort of did but I don;t think I remembered to download the 400D files from the CF card before I ran out of staorag ein the field and had to re-use it. I planned to re-shoot but it didn't happen.
On the other hand our needs may vary. The 24-105 worked very well as a general lens on both bodies. The problem I had, if you can call it that, was that the other 2 lenses I was trying out - the 70-200 and the 14mm were spectacular. The 24-105 just got on with the job and did it very well. Bear in mind it's a zoom and not designed or f2.8, as both the other lenses were. Yes I know the 70-200 Mk2 is a zoom but that is one very special lens at a very special price.
But that's only part of the story. I used the 400D first thing on Sunday morning then didn't touch it all day until the early evening when attached he 70-200 'cos I couldn't be bothered to dif ouot another memory card for the 7D. After a full day of 7D only the 400D felt really clunky and much more limiting in ways it is difficult to describe.
Now, the chances are that you would find the same thing with the 50D or even a 40D compared to the 400D but ...
It sounds like you have much the same doubts that I had. Don't take my words as confirmation one way or the other - take a rental and try it for yourself. TFC's weekend lens rentals are, IMO, very reasonable. I assume others are comparable.
Not sure if this helps but I found this simple spec comparison site the other week:
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_400D-vs-Cano...
http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_400D-vs-Cano...
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