Canon EOS 7D is a semi-pro DSLR camera with 18 megapixel display, HD video and can capture images continuously until 8fps. But, 7D do not feature full frame sensors. Quite the opposite stick with APS-C sized sensor is smaller than the range consumer DSLR, but complete with a wealth of professional features that go beyond the existing EOS 50D and in some cases even the EOS 5D Mark II. Because it's the best-featured Canon APS-C DSLR to date, and pitched directly against Nikon D300s.
Starting with the specification title, the EOS 7D is equipped with a brand new 18 Megapixel CMOS sensor, the D300 compared to 12.3 and 15.1 on the EOS 50D. This makes it the highest pixel density of any Canon DSLR to date, because although the 5D Mark II has a slightly higher pixel-count, it is more than compensated by the greater physical full-frame sensor. Thus there are understandable concerns over the noise level of the EOS 7D, and you can see for yourself how it compares directly to the EOS 50D, 5D Mark II and Nikon D300s in our pages of results.
EOS 7D improves on this with the highest speed 8fps. EOS 7D also became the third Canon DSLR to offer HD video recording, and the company clearly has listened to customer feedback. Thus EOS 7D enjoy full manual control over exposure, along with a selection of film resolution and, for the first time, frame rate options as well.
You can movies at 1920x1080 pixels, 1280x720 or 640x480. Full HD 1080 mode can be set to record at 30, 25 or 24fps, while 720 and can record VGA mode at 60 or 50fps. The inclusion of selection 24fps at 1920x1080 pixels will please the independent filmmakers who were frustrated with the speed of 30fps remains of the EOS 5D Mark II, while the owners in PAL regions will be pleased to find options that match their standard of 25fps video. There is also a stereo mini jack for connecting an external microphone.
Canon also makes some key improvements to the experience of the viewfinder, with the new EOS 7D boasts 100% coverage 1.0X magnification. Canon has also finally implemented on demand graphic LCD in the viewfinder, allowing it to display the grid without the need for an optional focusing screen.
Looking through the viewfinder, you will also see an upgrade from the usual system of Canon's 9-point AF to a brand new one with 19-points. Higher density of point AF also has allowed Canon to offer several innovative modes including AF zoning which allows you to manually select one of five groups rather than a single AF point at a time. With the preferred zone is selected, the EOS 7D will then try to focus on nearby subjects in the group.
Canon also enhanced metering systems that use 63-zone of the new Focus Color Luminance metering system (iCFL for short) with a double layer that allows it to take color information into account.
3in VGA screen has also been enhanced to better combat the glare, while the popup flash upgraded to include Speedlite transmitter, which allows the EOS 7D for Canon flashguns other remote control without additional accessories.
Completing the specification is a formidable body that includes flash sync, and HDMI port, and a powerful software bundle that allows full remote control of cameras from a PC or Mac.
Those are all a significant upgrade on the EOS 50D and even improve on the 5D Mark II is in many ways. A lot of inspiration for new features, from a quick shoot for color-based metering and on-demand graphical viewfinder, comes from Nikon, and for the first time at this level, Canon's going head-to-head with arch rivals rather than slotting the model in- between.
The big question of course is how it compares to the D300s Canon's latest, not to mention the EOS 50D and 5D Mark II? To find out we have used all four cameras side-by-side for several weeks, not only compared the picture quality of them, but they also film mode, AF and continuous shooting performance, viewfinder, screen, build quality and handling. We have also expanded our results page to include a detailed comparison of real-life detail and high-ISO noise performance for both JPEG and RAW files.
The design closely resembles the Canon EOS 7D existing EOS 50D when viewed from the front, although the head of the 7D is chunkier to accommodate the larger prism for the viewfinder; that said, the head is not as high as the EOS 5D Mark II, which of course require a larger prism still handle full-frame format. We've imagined EOS 7D below, along with arch rival, the Nikon D300s.
Canon EOS 7D body measures 148x111x74mm and weighs 900g with battery. This makes only fractionally larger than the EOS 50D (2mm wider and higher 3mm), although it is 88g heavier. EOS 5D Mark II is slightly larger overall (4mm wider, taller and thicker 3mm 1mm), although it actually weighs 10g less.
In 147x114x74mm, the Nikon D300s narrow 1mm, 3mm higher and the same thickness, but slightly heavier at 920g including batteries. With only a few grams of them, the EOS 7D, EOS 5D Mark II and Nikon D300s body (plus batteries) unsurprisingly felt less the same weight in your hand, even though you see the EOS 50D feels a little lighter.
The three Canon bodies may look roughly equivalent in terms of style and finish, but the EOS 7D really feel quite differently in private. EOS 50D and 5D Mark II share the same grip as the Canon previous round to the flat edge of the body curves that meet the main body at 90 degrees. This inner grip EOS 7D subtly into the dips, but to give a little better to buy your fingertips. It's nothing like that is pronounced as in the curved grip Nikon body that almost acts as a hook for your fingers, but in our view it is an improvement over previous designs.
Starting with the specification title, the EOS 7D is equipped with a brand new 18 Megapixel CMOS sensor, the D300 compared to 12.3 and 15.1 on the EOS 50D. This makes it the highest pixel density of any Canon DSLR to date, because although the 5D Mark II has a slightly higher pixel-count, it is more than compensated by the greater physical full-frame sensor. Thus there are understandable concerns over the noise level of the EOS 7D, and you can see for yourself how it compares directly to the EOS 50D, 5D Mark II and Nikon D300s in our pages of results.
EOS 7D improves on this with the highest speed 8fps. EOS 7D also became the third Canon DSLR to offer HD video recording, and the company clearly has listened to customer feedback. Thus EOS 7D enjoy full manual control over exposure, along with a selection of film resolution and, for the first time, frame rate options as well.
You can movies at 1920x1080 pixels, 1280x720 or 640x480. Full HD 1080 mode can be set to record at 30, 25 or 24fps, while 720 and can record VGA mode at 60 or 50fps. The inclusion of selection 24fps at 1920x1080 pixels will please the independent filmmakers who were frustrated with the speed of 30fps remains of the EOS 5D Mark II, while the owners in PAL regions will be pleased to find options that match their standard of 25fps video. There is also a stereo mini jack for connecting an external microphone.
Canon also makes some key improvements to the experience of the viewfinder, with the new EOS 7D boasts 100% coverage 1.0X magnification. Canon has also finally implemented on demand graphic LCD in the viewfinder, allowing it to display the grid without the need for an optional focusing screen.
Looking through the viewfinder, you will also see an upgrade from the usual system of Canon's 9-point AF to a brand new one with 19-points. Higher density of point AF also has allowed Canon to offer several innovative modes including AF zoning which allows you to manually select one of five groups rather than a single AF point at a time. With the preferred zone is selected, the EOS 7D will then try to focus on nearby subjects in the group. Canon also enhanced metering systems that use 63-zone of the new Focus Color Luminance metering system (iCFL for short) with a double layer that allows it to take color information into account.
3in VGA screen has also been enhanced to better combat the glare, while the popup flash upgraded to include Speedlite transmitter, which allows the EOS 7D for Canon flashguns other remote control without additional accessories.
Completing the specification is a formidable body that includes flash sync, and HDMI port, and a powerful software bundle that allows full remote control of cameras from a PC or Mac.
Those are all a significant upgrade on the EOS 50D and even improve on the 5D Mark II is in many ways. A lot of inspiration for new features, from a quick shoot for color-based metering and on-demand graphical viewfinder, comes from Nikon, and for the first time at this level, Canon's going head-to-head with arch rivals rather than slotting the model in- between.
The big question of course is how it compares to the D300s Canon's latest, not to mention the EOS 50D and 5D Mark II? To find out we have used all four cameras side-by-side for several weeks, not only compared the picture quality of them, but they also film mode, AF and continuous shooting performance, viewfinder, screen, build quality and handling. We have also expanded our results page to include a detailed comparison of real-life detail and high-ISO noise performance for both JPEG and RAW files.
The design closely resembles the Canon EOS 7D existing EOS 50D when viewed from the front, although the head of the 7D is chunkier to accommodate the larger prism for the viewfinder; that said, the head is not as high as the EOS 5D Mark II, which of course require a larger prism still handle full-frame format. We've imagined EOS 7D below, along with arch rival, the Nikon D300s.
Canon EOS 7D body measures 148x111x74mm and weighs 900g with battery. This makes only fractionally larger than the EOS 50D (2mm wider and higher 3mm), although it is 88g heavier. EOS 5D Mark II is slightly larger overall (4mm wider, taller and thicker 3mm 1mm), although it actually weighs 10g less.
In 147x114x74mm, the Nikon D300s narrow 1mm, 3mm higher and the same thickness, but slightly heavier at 920g including batteries. With only a few grams of them, the EOS 7D, EOS 5D Mark II and Nikon D300s body (plus batteries) unsurprisingly felt less the same weight in your hand, even though you see the EOS 50D feels a little lighter.
The three Canon bodies may look roughly equivalent in terms of style and finish, but the EOS 7D really feel quite differently in private. EOS 50D and 5D Mark II share the same grip as the Canon previous round to the flat edge of the body curves that meet the main body at 90 degrees. This inner grip EOS 7D subtly into the dips, but to give a little better to buy your fingertips. It's nothing like that is pronounced as in the curved grip Nikon body that almost acts as a hook for your fingers, but in our view it is an improvement over previous designs.
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