Image quality 40d Better than 7D (1 Viewer)

[Stephen Powell]

I took the shot of the Rail - 7D yesterday and the result is poor. I took the Rainbow - 40D 2009. and was stunned by the quality. Lens 100-400 on 400. Image attached is section of a 800X800 pixel crop from each photo.
No post shot editing.
Saved for web to comply with size restrictions. 1:1 image available on my web page http://www.stephenpowell.com.au/Graphics/photocompareL.jpg
I have included a meta data comparison for each shot as text file for easier viewing.
Have I got my camera settings wrong?
Can some one explain the difference please?

 

[HokkaidoStu]

Well, the obvious diference is the Bee-eater was shot at f9 at 1/640 sec and the Rail was at f5.6 at 1/160 sec.

I find my 100-400L is often better when you step down the lens (ie not wide open at f5.6) and at 1/160 the shutter speed is a little low (especially if handheld): this may result in camera shake or (if the subject is moving) motion blur.

The 7D also needs a little more sharpening than 10MP cameras like the 40D. The Bee-eater seems to have come from a jpeg file (so already processed and sharpened in the camera) whereas the rail comes from a RAW file (no sharpening perhaps, depending which picture style you chose).

 

[mookadabird]

I'd say the main reason for the lack of image clarity in the rail shot is the result of an overcast sky, giving you a slow shutter speed, and the ISO being too low to help with it. Even on a tripod with the Image Stabilizer on I would expect some motion blur from the bird moving. The brighter light in the Beater image pushed the shutter speed up into the expectable range, (I'd aim for 1000+ if I could get it, going for f5.6,) given 640 is not that fast for 400mm, I would consider the clarity of that image a somewhat lucky shot. In short, don't be afraid of Hi ISO settings on the 7D. That is it's primary advantage over the 40D and 60D ... the extra pixels are nice but they are not deal maker.

You might throw a flash into the mix on overcast days. I'm just starting to explore the subject, so I don't have much in the way of specifics on how to use a flash in bird photography.

 

[BodyResults]

Stephen,

Besides the different shooting parameters your crop is not a fair comparison either. An 800 x 800 pixel crop on a 40D = 6.4% of the sensor. On the 7D this is only 3.6%

When comparing you need to choose a similar % of the sensor area.

I'm sure with these variables taken into account the 7D will shine.

Doug

 

[Roy C]

All as already been said, you are not comparing like for like shooting parameters.
I still have both the 40D and 7D and the 40D is very much just a backup these days, the 7D out shines it in just about every department. The 7D is at least a stop better in high ISO noise levels and will always yield more detail in a like for like shoot out.

 

[christineredgate]

Interesting ,Stephen.Last Summer I bought the 60D.Was not impressed.Took a shot of a Kestrel usin gboth the 40D and 60D with the same lens and identical settings ,and the 40D knocked the spots off the 60D.I returned the 60D,and it was suggested that I would have obtained better results with the 60D if I had used RAW settings.

 

[Keith Reeder]

The 7D (and the 60D) is hands down a better camera than the 40D in IQ terms, but you must do your comparisions at the image level.

 

[Stephen Powell]

Thanks to every one for your comments - answers. The rail was a bit of a grab shot. Did not get the time to 'think' to much about my settings. Will experiment with my settings a bit more to squeeze the best out of the 7D. I have been avoiding high ISO due to concerns about noise - grain.
Thanks again! The generosity of the advice and comments on Bird Forum is uplifting!

 

[Roy C]

Thanks to every one for your comments - answers. The rail was a bit of a grab shot. Did not get the time to 'think' to much about my settings. Will experiment with my settings a bit more to squeeze the best out of the 7D. I have been avoiding high ISO due to concerns about noise - grain.
Thanks again! The generosity of the advice and comments on Bird Forum is uplifting!

Stephen, have you seen the thread that is running at moment HERE with regards to 7D noise? When used properly the 7D is very clean up to and even above ISO 1600.

 

[Keith Reeder]

I have been avoiding high ISO due to concerns about noise - grain.

From my gallery here, Stephen:

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/331488/ppuser/4913
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/331487/ppuser/4913
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/331486/ppuser/4913

1600 ISO - easy.

 

[Tony_79]

There might be several reasons for soft image quality, first of all:
-Autofocus micro adjustment for each lens! 7D has option for that.
-in pixel level, 7D is a little bit softer than 40D (and many other lower pixel density sensors) because it has stronger antialias filter next to the image sensor. It can be corrected in raw converter/unsharp mask sharpening.
-7D requires good quality lens for tack sharp results, however 100-400 should do the job. I had 100-400 L and it was very sharp even wide open.
-Shutter speed: 100-400L requires at least 1/100s, readily 1/200s or shorter if possible (at 400mm).

7D + 100-400 at 400mm and f/5.6
http://tonskulus.kuvat.fi/kuvat/sekalaiset/100_400mm/muikelo4.jpg/full

All the details are in there!
So you just need to fine tune the camera and optics to work together.
And maybe some fine tuning for shooting technique too