Canon 7D, 200mm, ISO 3200
Generally I am a strong supporter of the philosophy that better equipment doesn’t make you a better photographer. But there are times when good kit makes all the difference…
When Canon announced the new 7D camera recently, I immediately decided that it was time for an upgrade from my (very) old and trusty Canon 400Ds that I have been shooting with for ages.
My main reason for the change was the amazing low-light capabilities of the 7D. So much of my photography is under challenging lighting. South African wedding venues seem to love dark thatch roofs and dark wood that suck up all the light and leave you with two options: lots of flash or lots of noisy photos on your previous-generation camera technology. Although I see myself as something of a Strobist, flash is not always the best way to go but delivering top quality is an unbendable principle.
My order was placed and the big day came—I was the proud owner of a 7D.
Just one week after receiving the new baby, we had a booking to shoot the 80th birthdays of an old friend’s parents—both of them! The venue is reasonably open with lots of windows but it gets pretty dark towards the middle of the room. I didn’t want to get in everyone’s faces with flash and the family had requested casual, natural photography of the occasion.
Enter the 7D and its low-light capability.
Canon 7D, 200mm, ISO3200
During the party I spent most of my time prowling about like a paparazzi with a 70-200/2.8 L Canon lens on the camera and shooting at ISO 3200. The result? I am extremely chuffed with them and the client is very happy. And that’s what counts.
