Canon EOS 7D Mark II Video Review (superb AF, IQ close to 5D3)

TheCameraStoreTV on YouTube posted their video review of Canon’s EOS 7D Mark II.

TCSTV’s Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake take a look, with a little help from acclaimed photojournalist Todd Korol. It’s an introduction to features and performance. They talk about the outstanding auto-focus, one of the killer features of the [shoplink 22664]EOS 7D Mark II[/shoplink] (and explain and test it in depth). Another highlight of the 7D Mark II is the high ISO performance and overall image quality, coming very close to the [shoplink 2431]EOS 5D Mark III[/shoplink]. You get all you need to know in 17 minutes. The review is not without criticism.

The EOS 7D Mark II is the industry leading DSLR in the APS-C world, the best possible APS-C camera for professional sport and action photographers, not to forget photojournalists. And it comes with the relatively affordable price of $1799 for the body only. This will be a huge best seller, given that you get the AF-system of the [shoplink 4119]EOS-1D X[/shoplink], 10fps, and amazing high ISO. Read more about the EOS 7D Mark II’s excellent weather sealing, the highly advanced AF, and the industry leading high ISO performance (have a look here too). All our coverage on the EOS 7D Mark II can be seen here.

7D Mark II

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is shipping in the US:

EOS 7D Mark II price check for your country: [shopcountry 22664]

Don’t miss our big giveaway, see here for instructions.

Reminder: We have a Big Giveaway Going On (COSYSPEED Camslinger bags and more)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can enter our giveaway and win simply by visiting and liking any of the participating sites on Facebook and/or following them on Twitter. To win one of the prizes use the dedicated giveaway box above.

Courtesy of COSYSPEED, we are giving away a  CAMSLINGER 160 Street Edition bag, and two PHONEBAG 135, and we are doing it on five sites. The giveaway is live for Canon Watch, Sony Alpha Rumors, 43 Rumors, Fuji Rumors, and for Cosyspeed. Makes 15 prizes in total. Like and follow!

The more sites you like on Facebook and follow on Twitter (using the giveaway box), the more entries you’ll gain and hence increase your chances to win one of the prizes. If you instead visit and like just the Canon Watch Facebook page, then you’ll enter Canon Watch’s giveaway, but you are missing  the chance to win anything on the other sites. So, like and follow to increase your chance to win! The more social you are, the more chances you have to win.

Just to remind: each site is giving away 1 CAMSLINGER 160 Street Edition bag and 2 PHONEBAG 135 – makes 15 prizes in total. The contest ends 11/26/2014 at 12:00 AM. Good luck to anyone!

The CAMSLINGER 160 Street Edition bag introduces a new concept of carrying a mirrorless camera on the hip or as a sling bag (works also for a superzooms or a smaller DSLR). It’s not a solution to transport large amounts of gear as the bags are on the smaller side, but for daily live when out shooting with smaller gear it will be a very quick and good solution. I have one and I love it. The prizes: Cosyspeed CAMSLINGER 160 Street Edition bag Cosyspeed

More after the break 

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Blood Brother – A Hearth-Warming Movie Shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D


John Pope talks about “Blood Brother,” and how the small form factor of the EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D helped him capture some of the most moving scenes without being intrusive

Blood Brother is a feature documentary about a young man with a strong desire for a family he’ll find at an AIDS hostel in a small village outside the city of Chennai, India. The movie got the Grand Jury Prize for documentaries at the Sundance Festival 2013.

The movie is the product of cinematographer John Pope and his good friend Steve Hoover, the director of the movie. A short description of what Blood Brother is about:

Rocky Braat, a young man from a fractured family and a troubled past, went traveling through India without a plan. Then he met a group of HIV positive children living in an orphanage — a meeting that changed everything for him.

Rocky left his life, friends, and career in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to live with the kids. Steve Hoover, his best friend and filmmaker, was unsettled and intrigued by this drastic action. In an effort to find out what compelled Rocky to give up every source of stability in his life, Hoover decided to trace Rocky’s story, following him to India.

He witnessed Rocky and the kids endure disease, abject poverty, and death. But, strangest of all, in the midst of these troubles, he also saw their deep joy.  And he came to understand why Rocky had given up everything he had to experience it.

‘Blood Brother’ is a story of friendship. It’s a story of a life, stripped down to its essence. Most of all, it is a story about love, enduring in the face of death.

Blood Brother was shot starting 2011 over a two-year period using various gear: a venerable Canon EOS 5D Mark II, [shoplink 337]EOS 7D[/shoplink], Vixia camcorders, and a random use of smartphone video. About the full-frame Canon EOS [shoplink 254]5D Mark II[/shoplink] John Pope says:

At the time in 2011 […] there weren’t many cameras on the market that were as good in low light as the EOS 5D Mark II. Being able to shoot in low light is always important especially if you’re going for a natural look of existing practicals in a location that you don’t have control over. […]  Although it’s not always easy to articulate the look of a larger sensor, I think that it lends itself to a different feel of the space within the image.”

More about the technical background can be read at Canon DLC. The movie caused some controversy you can read about here while director Steve Hoover’s response can be read here. All filmmaker proceeds are donated to the children seen in the film and to HIV/AIDS initiatives.

Blood Brother:

  • Director: Steve Hoover
  • Writers: Steve Hoover, Phinehas Hodges, Tyson VanSkiver
  • Producers: Danny Yourd, Leigh Blake, John Carlin, Steve Hoover
  • Editor: Steve Hoover
  • Additional Cinematography: Tyson VanSkiver, Phinehas Hodges, Steve Hoover, Danny Yourd
  • Colorist: Allan Stallard

Video below: Blood Brother trailer

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Canon 50-1000mm Cine-Servo Lens on Display

Canon’s new 50-1000mm Cine-Servo lens was on display for the first time at Inter Bee 2014 in Tokyo. The lens is yours if you have a whooping $70,000 you don’t need.

  • Covers up to Super 35mm Sized Sensors
  • 50 to 1000/75 to 1500mm Zoom
  • ENG-Style Zoom, Focus, Iris Servos
  • For Broadcast or Cinema Shooting Styles
  • 180° Focus Ring with Knurled Grip
  • Double Focus Markings in Feet and Meters
  • Detachable Drive Unit
  • Zoom Speed: 1.5 to 180 Seconds
  • Programmable Zoom, Focus, Iris Positions
  • 11-Blade Aperture Design
[via News Shooter]

Canon 50-1000mm

Show Us What You Can Do With A Canon Camera

canon camera
One of last week’s most liked pic: Vasily Bulanov‎ – Ko Kho Khao, Phangnga, Thailand. Canon EOS M, EF-M 11-22mm + vari-ND filter

How it works:

1) Submit your picture with a short description on Canon Watch’s Facebook page
2) Like and comment the pictures from other readers on the Photo Stream
3) A selection of the most liked pictures will be posted every Sunday here on Canon Watch

Show the world what you can do with a Canon camera!

And btw, we have a cool giveaway going on. Win one out of 15 prizes. If you know how it works use the box below, if not have a look here for instructions.

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