Manual focus in video mode
 

Hahaha.... From what I have read. Its still manual AF. Not that its important. But an option to on/off auto focus during video recording would be great. So looks like 5D is still it.

Wait, what the hell - you can't manually focus while filming?

incorrect.

Manual focus only. There's no auto-focus.

Oh ok, thank god - I must have misread one of the posts above.

So winner all-around then? How does it compare to the GH1?

The GH1 is a micro 4/3 camera with a much smaller chip. And, from what I've heard from a friend who has one, the "jello effect" is very pronounced when shooting 1080p, unless you're locked off on a tripod (so he shoots 720). The jello effect I saw on a short done with the Nikon D90 was very bad too and made that camera unusable for the type of work I do. I'll be very interested in seeing what this new Canon does in that regard. I'm planning on upgrading from my 20D in the near future, and it would be nice to have a camera that does good video so I could use it as backup in case I ever have a repair problem with my XH A1.

I have the 20d too. Does the 7d use the same lenses?

My understanding is that any Canon digital SLR lens will work with APC sensor Canons. However, specific lenses developed for Canon's APC chip camera will have issues with the Canon full frame sensors. Can anyone confirm that ?

That is correct. the EF (full frame) lenses will work on any Canon EOS camera, while the EF-S (APS-C crop) lenses will only work on the crop sensors (Rebels, 20/30/40/50D).

Full-frame cameras such as the 5D Mk. II are *not* compatible with the EF-S lens series.

However, any Canon EOS camera is is compatible with the full line of EF (not EF-S) lenses.

EF-S lenses will mount only to a non-full-frame Canon EOS camera, such as the 7D.

[ edit: or, what Matthew says above, which is a better way to state it ]

Hope this helps,

I can't remember the last time I used AF in Live View - I know I have, it's just been a while. 5x or 10x focus confirmation and manual focusing is faster than AF for me.

I do think it's interesting that the 7D got an upgraded AF engine but lost the ability to use it in LV.

From the specs listed out there, doesn't the 7D have the same auto-focusing functions as the 5d?

With Live View on, you can focus the following ways:

1. Quick Mode - Before you start recording, hitting the button set for Quick Mode will drop the mirror for a split second to focus on whatever your focus point is aiming at. Hit Record and you can manual focus from there. (I use this method 100% of the time on the 5D)

2. Contrast Detect - Hold onto the button set for Contrast Detect and the camera will slowly auto-focus to whatever you're pointing at. You can be recording as this happens. The problem is that CD is very slow and adjusts the contrast of your image during filming - essentially screwing up that bit of footage.