Canon EOS 7D - seriously tempted!

I know we have a few 7D owners here... what do you think?

What do you think are it's strengths? Weaknesses?

What is the live-view like? Does it show you a 'live' view of changes such exposure compensation, focus, etc?

Now the summer is here I can't wait to get back into photography - and am tired of waiting for Nikon to come out with some new cameras

I have live view on my 550D but I switched it off as I heard that focussing is quicker without.
It somehow got turned on today though and I was fascinated by the live histograms. I need to have more of a play as it was fab.

I never used it on my D300, but since playing with the Panasonic TZ7 I actually quite liked it esp how changes I made (such as colour mode, exp comp etc) were shown 'live' on the screen as I made them.

Re the focussing, I think it was same on the D300, half shutter to focus but the live view screen goes blank for a moment - dunno why they just don't let it 'morph', which would make for a nicer end-user experience.

How you finding the 550D Em? I looked at them and the 50D too I want it all tho, pro (ish) body of the 50d and video mode of the 550!

Loving my 550d - but anything was going to be good compared to the 300d!
Didn't actually try focusing while in live mode. I am using BBF at the moment so I don't know if that will make any difference.
I'll have a try tomorrow.

Would you not fancy a D700 for similar money Azz ?

If there were similar then without a doubt the D700 is about 500 more tho.

7D 1100
D700 1600
(Camerapricebuster)

Never had a duel movie/stills camera so don't know how good the movie side is. What would concern me is the amount of memory used on the card in movie mode. I would rather stay with a stills camera and purchase a dedicated camcorder. A camcorder nowadays are small enough as to not load you up with heavy extra camera gear.

Bazza

For a decent HD camcorder you're looking at a few hundred quid anyway Bazza, and for short clips (which is what I want -Rocky/Cheetah) one in the camera is better for me.

I said 'similar' - plus the 700 could drop soon.

I really like the idea of the Nikon 700 in fact it it was a Canon (becase of the lenses I own) I'd have bought it.

I could never decide between the 5DII or 7D so didn't get either.

Image quality is obviously the aim with full frame and there's no doub't (in this £ group) the 5DII rules over the 7D

The 700 however handles noise so well having less MP crammed in and as a result can also give you 8fps compared to the 5DII's 3.9. The Canon 7D can match the 700 for speed but with 19MP on a crop sensor things get cramped for image quality.

D700 but I thought you wanted a smaller camera, so you didn't have to carry a heavy camera about???