I am looking at an upgrade. My heart was set on the 7D due to the newer technology and faster fps. Now I am getting drawn in to the Full Frame bodies. The 7D and Mark II are fairly similar in price as I want to stay under $2K.

I shoot about 30% sports so want the faster fps and other 70% is split between Architecture/Landscape photography and Portraits.

I own all EF "L" lenses from Canon-- 16-35 L, 24-105 Macro L IS, and 70-200 L IS f/4.

Is the older technology of the 1DS Mark II worth it to get Full Frame vs Crop Sensored 7D or is the newer technology of the 7D better?

Any thoughts would certainly be appreciated.

Jeff

Just wanted to say thanks so much to everyone who's taken time to respond. I can't wait for Saturday--the weather is unseasonably warm for the Minneapolis area...I'm secretly hoping for at least partially clear skies to use the deep blue as a backdrop after the sun sets.

I'll post some pics later!! If there is anyone who is attending let me know, we could hook up and strategize together.

Warm Regards,

Jeff

Gil,

Beautiful photographs and appreciate your ideas!!

Jeff

This weekend in Hudson, WI is a Hot Air Balloon festival and the expectation is for 40 balloons.

Would love your ideas, past photos, and especially camera settings to shoot them at dark when they all light up. Manual mode, AV, TV?? Lens preferences?

I own a Canon 40D and my lens selections are all Canons... 16-35 L, 24-105 Macro L IS and a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS. When they do the 'Moon Glow' I've heard it doesn't last very long so I'm guessing I should use one lens and stick with it.

Any suggestions would be great. I definitely plan on using a Tripod.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

WOW..great tips, thanks so much for the detailed response.

Jeff

PS..I agree that most agents pictures are subpart, and you know I'm being kind in that response. I hear all the time when I ask agents to consider me, "Oh, my husband has a nice camera." I need to get some guts and say something like, "Well if he was given a nice racecar, how do you think he'd do driving it in the next Indy 500? It's one thing to have a nice camera, it's another thing to truly know how to use it to assist you in selling a home."

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who replied to my question. I will decide after the first of the year what is right for me.

Thanks again to all-- Jeff

I own a Canon 40D---I just bought a new focusing screen with the grids from www.adorama.com

http://www.adorama.com/SearchSite/Default.aspx?searchinfo=canon+40d+focusing+screen

Cost was $40.00---I just put it in last week, SUPER easy, seriously took me less than 30 seconds. I love the new grid. Once that is changed all I had to do was go to my Menu Settings and under the focusing screen menu changed it to the one I bought which was the EF-D. I find it helps a ton with lining up shots, especially Architectural and Landscapes---I noticed I tended to have a bit of a crooked eye.

I highly recommend getting the one you like.

Jeff

I am an amateur and have always been intrigued to learn more and have a coach at my fingertips. I'm curious if you've had experience, good or not so good in regards to NYIP? Perhaps you've used another online course to truly dive deep and hone your skills--if so, would love to hear about the experience, learning and cost.

Thanks---Jeff

I sold my Canon T2i and got a used Canon 40D---actually bought the 40D for less money and then I used that on a more universal lens. I love my Canon 28-105 L lens--pretty much fits any and all uses except super wide and for things like super long. I also own a Canon 16-35 L that is a super sharp lens but for a catch all still prefer the 28-105--ya just can't go wrong with it.

Good Luck Newbie---we've all been there--heck I still am!!

I bought a nice piano piece from music bakery.com. I downloaded the file on to my desktop and have attempted numerous times to read the smugmug directions as to how to get that to play on my front page when people go to my website. I am totally lost.

Appears to me anyways if you want it done you need to be a computer programmer. Wondering if anyone out there knows exactly how to do this and can walk me through it? I want it to play upon entering the site and have the ability to adjust volume or to shut off sound.

Can you help?

I don't want to waste your time on this subject all night but I've only ever formatted in the camera...and all I shoot with is Sandisc and I do have one Transcend...ironically I've had issues with both so I am leaning toward the fact it MAY be my camera. The exact warning I got with the Transcend card last month was, "No Images on Card"...this time was a brand new 16GB Sandisc and it said, "Card needs to be formatted". Hopefully one day the mystery will be solved-- thanks again Chuck.

I've only formatted in camera. Should I actually format in camera and then on my computer as well? This is the second card in the past 2 months this has happened. I am totally guessing here but I'm thinking by it not finishing what it was attempting to do it somehow creates a new 'path' and appears to be empty. Strange--appreciate your thoughts. Jeff

Meaning they were shot in portrait mode and I was rotating them I assume in Windows Microsoft Picture Manager--i need to start using a diff program to load & organize

I did not reformat the card. I was just dumb enough to try and rotate my images I'd just pulled up and for whatever reason the 'program', crashed while trying to rotate. So when I looked at the contents of said CF card, it said card needed to be reformatted...of course I didn't fall for that game. I did buy a program called Card Recovery & it found them!! Thanks!!

Thanks I'll give it a shot!!