This time its my 7D that’s gimped

While shooting a gymnastics competition today, out of the blue my 7D starts making scrapping / grinding noises every time I press the shutter button. More accurately something that needs to move to capture an image is having a difficult time because it’s rubbing against something else. Have no clue what it is and its Sat. today. I have to shoot the 2nd half of the competition tomorrow (my daughters competiting) and Canon is closed today so I can’t send it in and get a loaner. DAMN IT!

Can’t find anything on Google. Will send in the 7D on Monday and report back what they say about it.

In the meantime, maybe I’ll just hang out up top and shoot 400mm with my 5DII.

Review: C-SLR ProDot

Ok, what the heck is this?! A stick on thing for your shutter button?! Here’s the website: http://www.customslr.com/products/prodot

Red ProDot

Yup, that’s what it is, although I guess its use is not only limited to the shutter button. Now the real question is: Should you drop everything and go get one?

In my opinion, probably not. There IS a difference in “feel” but I don’t find that it is a “must have”. It does feel easier to trip the shutter, tho. I don’t really feel the “1/2” press at all now and it takes less effort (miniscule at best) to trip the shutter. When running and gunning I feel less inclined to put so much pressure on the button.

So why did I go back and buy another set (clear ones)?

1) I really like the “feel” of the dot. You might not tho (my daughter hates it, says it makes her skin crawl)

2) It adds color and at a glance I can tell which camera is mine and or which camera it is (I have 3 camera bodies and when stored in dry box, all I can see is the side view of the grip)

3) It’s cheap and one packet contains two pieces. I put one on the camera’s shutter button and the other on the battery grips shutter button.

4) I really like the way it feels as part of the camera, I don’t have to finger hunt for the button anymore when picking up and shooting for those quick candid shots.

The one thing I REALLY hate about it, which is a major reason why I’m not heavily “praising/promoting” this is…

The dots come off rather easily (could be me and my camera transport/carrying transport style). I’ve lost a dot 3 times now, lucky for me I’ve always found them in my bag. The adhesive is “residue free” and keeps its stickyness rather well. I just put the dot back on and it stays put until the camera gets put into a snug bag.

NOTE: you don’t have to worry about getting the letters on the dot to face a certain way because the shutter button rotates. Just stick the dot on and rotate it as you please.

Clear ProDot