7D HDMI output at 1280x720

[ClarkLZeuss]

From the wiki (and experience) I know that the HDMI output of the 7D "is limited to 1620x1080 (3:2) while the camera is not recording. This requires the user to crop the footage from the external recorder to 1620x910 (16:9) and then resize it to either 1280x720 (79%) or 1920x1080 (119%)."

I would like to hook both of my 7D's up to a video switcher, like the Blackmagic ATEM, for live production. However, I don't think the switcher will accept a weird video signal size like 1620x1080, and if it did, it probably can't crop & resize. So, could the HDMI output of the 7D to be modified to be exactly 1280x720?

[ansius]

just drop the idea, not really worth. it would be different story with the clean hdmi output cameras, but not the 7D. canon DSLR's and live production doesn't go together well, you need also to split hdmi so operator could see what he is doing.

and if you find a converter / scaler that can do, renting one is about the same as renting a decent camera...

[ClarkLZeuss]

Forgive my ignorance: is clean HDMI Out not a possibility for ML on the 7D? Like you pointed out, there still needs to be all the UI on the camera LCD For the operator. So I guess I'm asking if dual display is a ML possibility for the 7D.

[ansius]

I'm not so knowledgeable to answer for sure, cpu power wise i think that could be done, because 7D is dual cpu, but on other hand that makes programming anything for it rather difficult, thus 7D was one of the last cameras to get ML at all, and many features are still missing.

honestly i do not see point in using 7D in live event - first, it is not particularly light sensitive and it tends to overheat already with current load on both processors, second - it is to hard to focus for live camera work (that is all aps-c or s35 cameras), third - battery life, ok can use grip or and adapter to socket (because you are already on a wire anyway) and forth - you need extensive rig system to be use easy for hand held shooting in live.

I speak this because I have done live camera work many, many times. as camera operator for a two month tour, as director and switcher for two music DVDs and many live events. If you can get get cameras with decent remote control (meaning color/iris/gain adjusted from PTS) - operators then are concerned with composition only and if recorded - saves so much time in post.