Skimmer Close-up’s
Here are a few close-up Skimmer shots. Close cropped these photos as the backgrounds were filled with distracting elements.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head.
1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation, 500mm
1/400 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, 500mm
1/500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, 500mm
Tern vs. Fish
The fish won this battle as the Tern miscalculated just a tad as his eyes were apparently bigger than his stomach, or throat. He kept trying to swallow the fish to no avail. He finally gave up but it made a cool photo-op.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1600 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation
Self Healing 7D?
I decided after my 7D started showing error 20 last weekend that I’d live with taking my battery in/out for a few weeks before sending it back to Canon for the 3rd time. It’s prime time at the coast and I didn’t want to be without a camera for another couple of weeks. Went out on Sat morning and shot around 1200 pictures and it only locked the mirror up about 10 times early during the shoot. Went out again today and took about 1700 shots and no issues what so ever. Not sure if it was a fluke or if the shutter needed some breaking-in time. What ever the case, I’m going to keep using it until the problem comes back. Hopefully it won’t. Probably wishful thinking on my part…
Update: my 7D is still working OK after several outings and several thousand shots. Not going to send it back again.
7D Saga Continues
I thought that the second time that I sent my 7D back to Canon for service would be last, but I was sadly mistaken. Got the camera back a week ago from Canon and they replaced the same “mirror box assembly” as they did the first time. Took it out on Friday to shoot and everything was looking good for about 600 shots and then it started acting up again with the same error 20 message and locked up mirror. Hoping that the 3rd time is really the charm. I love this camera but this is getting old very fast.
Spoke too soon about 7D being fixed
Took my newly repaired 7D to Brazos Bend yesterday to test it out. It was great to be shooting with it again until the mirror started locking up with the same error 20. Sent it back to Canon for another round of repairs. Hopefully second time is the charm.
7D Repaired
I got my 7D back today from Canon. The repair ticket said: “mirror box cam gear assembly, back cover and CF cover assembly was replaced and product functions were confirmed. The image sensor assembly was cleaned. Other electrical adjustments, inspection and cleaning and parts replacements were carried out.”
This ended up not being a warranty repair because they found “rust on the body”. Apparently salt water and cameras don’t really mix after all. Total cost including sales tax and shipping was $216, which is about the same price that I’ve had to pay for previous shutter replacements on my other cameras. Must be a universal price for most repairs.
Here is a timeline in case anyone is interested in how long it may take for Canon to repair a camera.
4/8 – Camera started acting up with error 20 and mirror kept locking up
4/9 – Tried camera again but still had same problem. Came home and went to Canon website to fill out the repair request form. Got an e-mail from Canon very quickly with authorization/repair order number. Boxed up the camera and dropped off with Fed Ex for 3 day delivery
4/14 – camera arrived at Canon factory service center in Irvine, CA
4/18 – Received e-mail from Canon with estimated repair cost and notice that it wouldn’t be a warranty repair. The e-mail said: “Error 20. Also rust on body, CF door sticks – difficult to open, specified issue not covered under warranty”
4/19 – Called Canon to discuss warranty repair issue. Didn’t win the argument and wanted my camera repaired/returned ASAP so I went on-line and paid for the repair via credit card
4/20 – Received e-mail from Canon that the repair had been completed and the camera was being shipped that day back to me via Fed Ex
4/22 – Received camera around 11:00 a.m.
Now going to take some time to reset all of the custom functions back to where I had them. As stated in my other post, when they repair a camera, they reset every setting back to the original factory settings. Hoping to get out this weekend to try this puppy out. All is right with the world again. Well, my little part of it anyway…
My 7D is D.O.A.
My Canon 7D died this weekend. It started acting up on Friday at FeatherFest at San Luis Pass. Shutter would lock up with error 20. Took the battery out and got it to work after trying it several times. Went back out yesterday to Brazos Bend and it started doing it again. Took it back to the car and got my 40D. I forgot how much difference there is between the 7D and the 40D. The autofocus on the 7D blows the 40D out of the water. There is no comparison. Got frustrated and left early. Packed the 7D up and sent it back to Canon for repairs.
I’m guessing that the shutter will have to be replaced, which is a surprise since I’ve only had it since last June. I’m guessing that I’ve got around 100,000 actuations with 85 shooting trips in the last 10 months. The 7D’s shutter is supposed to be rated for 150,000 actuations. I’ve been through 4 shutters on my other cameras so this may be the 5th. I’ll just have to wait and see what Canon says.
Tim Timmis Photography 