Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only) Reviews
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only) Reviews
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With a host of features designed to enhance every facet of the photographic process, from still images to video, the EOS 7D represents a whole new class of camera.Made to be the tool of choice for serious photographers and semi-professionals, the EOS 7D features an 18.0 megapixels APS-C size CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 4 image processors, capturing tremendous images at up to ISO 12800 and speeds of up to 8 fps. The EOS 7D has a cross-type 19-point AF system with improved AI Servo AF subject tracking and user-selectable AF area selection modes for sharp focus no matter the situation. The EOS 7D’s Intelligent Viewfinder provides 100% coverage and displays user-selected AF modes as well as a spot metering circle and on demand grid lines. iFCL metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system uses both focus and color information to provide accurate exposure even in difficult lighting. The EOS 7D also captures Full HD video at 30p, 24p and 25p with an array of manual controls, including manual exposure during movie shooting and ISO speed selection. The EOS 7D features a magnesium alloy body that is dust- and weather-resistant and shutter durability of up to 150,000 cycles. Readmore
- Body only; lenses sold separately
- Advanced HD movie mode with manual exposure control and selectable frame rates
- Intelligent Viewfinder with 100 percent field of view; 19-point, all cross-type AF system equipped with dual diagonal cross-type sensors
- Capture images to CF Card Type I and II, UDMA-compliant CF cards (not included)
See more technical details
By Charlie Brown (Seattle, WA)
I paid over $1,800 for the body and the RAW file takes 25M bytes, which is more than twice the size than my previous camera. So, I assumed that the picture quality should be good. Yes, the picture quality is indeed good, ONLY IF you resize the 25Mbytes of RAW file into something like 1024 pixels width, at ISO 400 and above. You buy a cheap point and shoot camera, and it’s image quality will be incredible in low ISO and when there is enough light. We pay more and spend more memory (and pay extra for that) for DSLR to get more descent ISO performance when there isn’t enough light. If you willing to resize to 1024 pixel width, there is no problem in high ISO - but then why would you spend 25Mbytes for the RAW ? And why would you pay $1,800 for the body ?
I took about 40 pictures in a gathering. It was in the evening and light was more than enough to read books very comfortably. So, at least the light was enough not to create bad quality pictures. However, I used high ISO (1600 and 3200) so that I don’t have any blurred pictures. Besides, I read so many praises by 7d fanatics about how good 7D’s ISO performance was. Somehow, I trusted them. But I was very surprised to see so many white dots/pixels in the dark area when viewed in 100%, as I showed in the uploaded picture. Indeed, there is no problem if you down-sample (resize) to 1024 pixel width. You won’t be able to see them.
I asked around about this problem and there were two types of responses. One is that it is the expected behavior of 7D, which has so many pixels in a small sensor. And I need to remap those white pixels using software. Indeed, LightRoom does it automatically. But not DPP (Raw processing software from Canon). And LightRoom is not ready for 7D as of now. The other response is that 7D is so good in high ISO performance, and I must have gotten a lemon. I hesitated what to do. And I just decided to return it and try an another 7D, only finding that this was a disaster. The new one showed the exactly the same behavior. In addition, the new one has hot pixels that appear even in ISO100. In fact, there are five such dead pixels. I know that this is OK, only if they are spread around. Unfortunately, all those five pixels are adjacent together and the whole white dead spot area is quite visible in every picture.
So, I don’t know at this moment what to do. I will definitely return this 7D that has the dead pixels. But unfortunately I can only exchange. Would I just exchange to another 7D and live with those white dots in high ISO, and be satisfied with down-sample’ed pictures ? Or would I exchange to other Canon camera or even Nikon… Anyway, my opinion is that this camera should not be this expensive and waste 25Mbytes for the RAW file just to create this kind of bad images in mid to high ISO. And for my horrible experiences, I can only give one star. But YMMV.
—edit—-
OK, I decided to get the replacement of 7D - this is the 3rd one. This time, I was tired. Whatever it is, I would just take it. I’ll live with white dots or some dead pixels or whatever. Let it be my destiny… So, I did not go through mid-to-high ISO testing, and I don’t know what it would be this time - and I would not care any more. But then when I took some pictures, I found that they were so soft. I investigated, and saw that 7D is not focusing correctly. The lenses required AF micro-adjustments. At least the previous two 7Ds did not have this AF problem and need not AF microadjustments, as the manual says. They were focusing correctly. Since the 3rd 7D is not, I went through AF micro-adjustments. However, I also found out that the AF microadjustment at particular distance and aperture is not global within one lens adjustment. For example, if I set the microadjustment correctly at F2.8 from 1 foot (this was +15), AF at F 5.6 from 7 feet was very fuzzy. So, I set the AF microadjustment from the setting, and the value was - 20, but then the pictures are fuzzy at F2.8 from 1 foot distance. I tried to find the middle value which would work in all cases, but once I found a AF miroadjustment for particular distance and aperture, it wasn’t working for other aperture and distance. So, there is no global setting for one lens. It varies depending on the distance and aperture within one lens adjustment. What a bummer… I think that a lot of people who are complaining about 7D’s AF problems have 7Ds like the one that I have now. BUT if you take picture at F8.0 or higher, AF will look OK - not because 7D works correctly, but because at this aperture the depth of field is deeper.
So, for all the people who praise Cannon 7D, either you are extremely lucky people, or you just don’t care/know about the details.
Or I am the extremely unlucky person …
By IDH (FL)
Received camera today and initial impression is good, but……..the main dial is not working correctly. When it is rotated, the associated function lags, or does not respond at all. The multi-controller button is also a bit unresponsive in the “up” direction. Over 500 shots with it already. Noisy at ISO above 400 (much more so than my 50D). Sharp at lower ISO settings. The three stars is warranted at this point considering Canon has let a bum unit past QC and the noisy high ISO performance. This is a disappointment considering the great performance of my 50D. I’ll update this section when the replacement from Amazon arrives next week.
Is it worth the upgrade? I thought so as I’m looking to add sports photography to my portfolio. The camera’s 8fps is FAST, and the AF in conjunction with the AI Servo mode works well capturing moving subjects. I can grab 15 RAWS before any noticeable slow down as the buffer fills. If capturing in JPEG mode, it seems to go on forever (using 8GB Sandisk Extreme III, not UDMA compatible).
It is not significantly larger or heavier than the 50D (except for the noticeable bulge around the viewfinder). The 100% viewfinder stops the guess work associated with framing your subject and lets in a lot of light. As multiple AF points illuminate in the viewfinder though, you get a red “haze” across the image field which grows in intensity as more points are illuminated (this does not affect the captured image). This is a bit distracting. The multi-function button next to the shutter makes adjusting the AF points a cinch. The AF point expansion is a great option when you want to control the focus point, but risk getting off subject when the subject is moving quickly.
The shutter is quieter than the 50D’s. The build quality seems a bit more hearty than the 50D. I can feel a very small amount of play in the lens mount on the 50D with heavier lenses attached such as the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. The lens mount on the 7D is very snug, and no play is evident.
The ability to see grid lines and the multi axis level through the viewfinder is a great option that helps immensely with getting orientation right the first time. Less image rotation later in Photoshop.
The LCD brightness is a bit dim in auto mode, but that can be changed to a manual setting with little effort. The LCD looks a bit smaller on the 7D, but this is due to the presence of a black border around the 50D LCD which has been removed on the 7D.
The ability to use the RC-1 remote is nice addition which was a missing feature in my opinion in the 50D, as well as the ability to control off camera flashes with the integrated Speedlight transmitter. I was using a 580EX II on camera to control a 430EX II off camera, but now I can use both off camera when needed without cords or expensive radio controllers.
The Auto Lighting Optimizer seems a bit more noticeable when at the default setting than with the 50D. For those times when you want or need to underexpose slightly, this can render the image too bright. It can be set to a lower setting or turned off in the menu.
Those are just a few of the things I’ve noticed so far. I am hoping that the first copy I received was a one time lemon and that the quality control is high enough to ensure that the next one has no mechanical flaws. Many flaws can be corrected later through firmware updates, and some are to be expected, but malfunctioning switches are a hardware issue that I hope are a rare assembly problem.
By Garrett Lowenthal (San Francisco, CA)
By any measure, the new Canon EOS 7D is a worthy successor to the EOS line of APS-C sensor DSLRs. I believe it finally levels the playing field for many Canon shooters envious of Nikon DXXX shooters.
I am an advanced amateur photographer who has owned the 20D for the last 5 years and will use it as a backup body now. With each Canon announcement of a successor to the XXD line of DSLRs, I was tempted to upgrade but resisted each time up until now. This was partly due to budgetary constraints, but I felt mostly that each new model was only an evolutionary modification rather than a revolutionary one. If there’s one thing to keep in mind in this fast-moving world of DSLR photography, then it is that DSLR bodies come and go (and depreciate quickly in value, like most electronic goods) but excellent glass will nearly always be sound investments (high-quality lenses maintained in good condition may appreciate in value).
The 7D appears to be a game-changer for many Canon photo enthusiasts like myself who prefer or can only afford to shoot with an APS-C sensor body. Nikon shooters have had an excellent choice of a crop sensor body in the D100/D200/D300 (now D300s), but for Canon shooters, the top-of-the-line equivalent was trailing in the feature set department. Now most of the features that were absent in the Canon XXD body as compared with their main rival are present in the 7D.
Notable features:
- 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Dual DIGIC 4 processors (a first for a prosumer Canon DSLR)
- Maximum 8 fps frame rate
- Maximum ISO 12,800
- VF with 100% coverage and 1.0x magnification (a first for a Canon DSLR)
- 19-pt AF (all cross-type with f/5.6 or faster lenses)
- 63-zone metering system (measures focus, color, and luminance)
- On-demand grid lines in VF (a first for any Canon DSLR)
- Built-in electronic leveler in 2 planes (a first for any Canon DSLR)
- Built-in wireless flash trigger (a first for any Canon DSLR)
- HD video in 1080p (30/25/24 fps) and 720p (60/50 fps)
I have had the camera for over a week now. My initial impressions are mostly positive thus far. Additional thoughts in the form of updates will be forthcoming once I get an opportunity to capture more images under various conditions (indoors/low light, outdoors, action, etc.) and get my act together to type it up. So far, I believe that the IQ, VF, LCD monitor, and handling are all vast improvements over the 20D. Taking photos at high ISOs and achieving low noise captures is all the rage these days. I feel that random photos I’ve taken at ISO settings up to 1600 are completely usuable. In the past, I felt comfortable shooting with my 20D mostly south of ISO 400/800. I shall pixel peep some more and shoot at even higher ISOs to see where the happy medium for me shooting with the 7D lies. Tolerance for noise, I feel, is very subjective.
Limitations:
There is a steep learning curve with this camera. The 7D is packed with new features that I have yet to maximize to my advantage. Coming from a 20D rather than a more recent line of XXD body makes things even more challenging. A careful read of the user’s manual is critical.
If ultimately low noise captures at high ISOs is most important to you, then a FF sensor body is the way to go rather than an APS-C sensor body. A larger pixel pitch that captures more light (at the expense of lower resolution) will help maintain low noise levels at very high ISOs. This is a key reason why the small-body FFs, such as the Nikon D700, Canon 5D/5DMkII, and Sony A900/A850, are so revered. Any of those cameras will likely outperform the 7D at high ISOs in terms of low noise captures. Moreover, they provide less DoF than APS-Cs at equivalent fields of view. However, the obvious downsides are their cost and need for big, heavy, and expensive glass.
The 7D should not be viewed as an HD camcorder replacement. Although useful to have and with slightly more shooting options as compared with the version currently offered in the 5DMkII, video capture in the 7D still suffers from lack of continuous AF. Unfortunately, the jello phenomenon (from rolling shutter) and monoaural sound (external stereo mic input is available, though) make for a less than harmonious package.
*** Please be aware that some information about potential problems with the initial batch of 7D bodies has surfaced on photography forums and elsewhere (including here on Amazon). They include difficulties with the new AF system (particularly in AI servo mode, though some users have had trouble in any AF mode) resulting in OOF photos, as well as ghosting (residual preceding images captured in subsequent images) under certain shooting conditions. Canon is aware of the latter and will issue a firmware update in the near future. Meanwhile, a firmware update (1.0.9) has already been issued that fixes problems with suboptimal AF in Live View, among other bugs. Of note, my copy has no troubles with AF that I have encountered at this point. ***
Overall Impression:
The Canon EOS 7D is probably the best overall Canon APS-C sensor DSLR currently available. As far as feature set, it fares extremely well with its slightly more expensive main rival, the Nikon D300s. In its favor, the D300s has a larger, 51-pt AF system and dual CF/SD card slots. A scientific shoot-out from a reputable photography website or magazine is sorely needed to help resolve the issue of which has better IQ at high ISOs. I believe the current lack of Adobe software support for 7D RAW images is the rate-limiting step.
With my limited use of the 7D thus far, I have found the camera to be a sheer pleasure to shoot with. It is a worthy upgrade for 10D/20D users, and probably for 30D users as well. Shooters of the 40D/50D will need to determine whether the new features are worth dishing out $1700 USD for, particularly during these challenging economic times. Mostly anecdotal evidence exists so far that suggests there may be a slight improvement in IQ from the 7D as compared with the 40D/50D. Nikon and other brand photo enthusiasts should weigh the benefits and risks of switching systems.
Once Canon publicly addresses any potential problems with the AF system encountered by some users, then I can offer the 7D my highest recommendation.
By trebe
The EOS 7D, Canon’s latest prosumer digital SLR, is a major step forward, incorporating some features found on the 5D Mark II, as well as some that are totally new to Canon’s prosumer line. With much that is new, even those familiar with Canon SLR’s, should be prepared to spend some time frequently consulting the often confusing manual.
Looking to upgrade from the 40D, I passed on the 5D Mark II, because its 3.9 frames per second shooting rate is inadequate for shooting sports. With the new features and a shooting rate of 8 FPS, the 7D was my choice. These are some early impressions of the 7D.
Housing, Controls and Display:
The 7D’s heavy-duty, dust and weather resistant housing, is made of lightweight magnesium, and feels rock solid. The 7D has a new arrangement of controls for users to get familiar with. The mode dial is similar to the 5D Mark II (no ‘Sports’, ‘Portrait, ‘Landscape’, etc). The power switch has been relocated to behind the mode dial. The video recording button is on the back, located on the right side of the eyepiece, similar to Canon’s ‘S’ series cameras. Shutter noise is quiet, similar to the 40D. Image quality and color rendition on the LCD display is good, and looks similar to the 40D. The display brightness can be set manually, or the camera will adjust it automatically.
Autofocus:
As I find that Canon’s nine point focusing pattern is often inadequate, the 7D’s improved autofocusing system was of special interest. For those unfamiliar, the AF pattern is eight points in a diamond shaped layout with the ninth point in the middle of the diamond. The new 19 point adjustable autofocus system basically adds points in the interior of the diamond area. The actual area of coverage, does not appear to have increased. Being center weighted is understandable, but expansion beyond the diamond area is arguably more useful than just increasing the number of focus points within the diamond area.
The rule of thirds is a useful guide for composing an image, however attempting to implement this rule using the diamond shaped pattern is often difficult. Say you want to focus on something in the top left quadrant of the frame. One method is to lock focus on the area, reframe, and then shoot. This works if the subject is stationary, however this method becomes more problematic for moving subjects. If only there was a focus point nearby. Increasing the concentration in the central area makes some sense, but I really wish they had expanded the overall area of autofocus coverage as well.
That issue aside, performance of the new autofocus system appears to be good. The 19 individual points, are also grouped into 5 multipoint zones, which can be selected using the Zone AF function. This feature could be very useful in many applications, like sports or group shots. Focus lock appears to be good. The high speed continuous shooting mode (8 FPS) is smooth like butter, and the shutter button quite sensitive. I look forward to seeing how the camera performs at shooting college basketball, when the season starts.
Remote Triggering and Wireless Flash:
A very convenient feature that was a long time coming to Canon’s prosumer line, is the ability to remotely trigger the 7D using Canon’s RC-1 remote, or other inexpensive remotes. The 7D can also be triggered by Pocket Wizards, via the N3 terminal. The integral flash is essential, and the 7D also has the capability to wirelessly trigger compatible Canon speedlights, eliminating the need for the ST-E2 transmitter, and makes creative flash photography more convenient.
Live View, Video, and Memory:
Photography via live view mode, is similar to a point and shoot, although the 7D is a little heavy to be holding in front of your face. As claimed by Canon, the image taken seems to be 100% of what appears in the LCD display. I use live view for rough framing when the camera is on a tripod. For HD video, Canon recommends using a CF card with a transfer rate of 8MB/second (which I unfortunately do not have). Shooting video is simple, but with a slow card, my results at the highest quality setting were not that impressive. The image was pretty sharp, and sound quality was good, but there were skips in the playback. When I reduced the frame rate, the skipping disappeared. Until I get a faster card, I can’t do a proper evaluation. You will need ample memory to shoot video, as a 4GB card holds about 12 minutes of content. For images at highest image quality (RAW + JPEG), the camera reads that a 32 GB card will hold about 960 images, an 8 GB card about 240, and a 4 GB card about 125.
ISO:
As the 40D tops off at ISO 1600, the 7D’s ability to shoot up to ISO 6400 is mind-blowing. The noise in test shots at ISO 4000 and above, were not bad. I rarely exceed ISO 800, but it is something I will now look into further.
LP-E6 Battery:
Canon’s LP-E6 batteries have a serial number, and the 7D will keep track of the battery’s power level, and number of shots taken. Canon continues to take measures to discourage the use of third party products. Non-Canon versions of the LP-E6 battery will work in the 7D, but are not recognized, and read as `empty’ on the battery meter, with no data available. Having used non-Canon BP-511 batteries for years in various Canon SLR’s, without any problems, I do not believe that they are inferior or dangerous. You can pay $60 for the Canon LP-E6 if you wish, but you can get generic LP-E6 batteries for as low as $10.
In these challenging economic times, value and quality are even more important. The 7D does cost more than the 40D and 50D when they debuted, but it is worth it. The 7D is better built, has many more standard features, and produces better images. It appears that Canon is very serious about competing with Nikon, which should benefit users of both brands. It will take some time for most users to begin tap into the potential this camera offers. Have fun taking some great images.
By Jodi-Ann Richards (Mia, FLA USA)
SECTION 1: WHO IS THIS REVIEW FOR
This review is ten (10) pages long because it was written for people who are not proficient with the terms and concepts used in the DSLR world. If you are a proficient DSLR user then I would recommend that you check one of the much shorter reviews here.
SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION
Last year when I reviewed the Canon 50D I pointed out that while it was a fantastic camera it was very clear to me that Canon was still not trying to compete directly with the Nikon D300. The Canon 50D was lacking many of the more advanced professional features found on the Nikon D300. For some strange reason Canon’s marketing department had clearly overlooked the growing market segment of semi-pros and serious enthusiasts. These people are not full-time photographers but have the same kind of needs when it comes to image quality, performance and build quality. All of this must be offered at a reasonable price since they are not full-time photographers. Nikon users had this in the Nikon D300. Now finally, in the Canon EOS 7D, Canon semi-pros and serious enthusiasts can have a true professional grade camera at an affordable price.
The first clue that this camera is out of the league of the 50D is the name change. This is no longer a XOD camera. It is not a 60D. It is now a XD camera which sits between the 50D and the 5D Mark 2.
I took the Canon 50D, Canon 7D and the Nikon D300 out for testing at the Miami Seaquarium and Parrot Jungle Island over the weekend. This year I have decided to break out the new features into the following areas: Ergonomics and Handling, Build Quality, Features, Performance (Speed) and Image Quality (IQ).
SECTION 3: NEW/CHANGED/REMOVED FEATURES
A. ERGONOMICS AND HANDLING
——Weight and Feel
The 7D actually weighs slightly more than the 5D Mark 2 so it is a very substantial camera. I love the way it fits in my hands especially with the new BG - E7 battery grip. You need to take this into consideration. If you are someone with small hands or just don’t like big heavy cameras then you might want to look at another camera. You will feel this camera around your neck if you have to do long hours of shooting especially with one of the bigger L lenses such as the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Lens.
——Clear View II LCD Screen
One of the benefits of shooting with a digital SLR is that you can review your shots right away. However, when you have paying clients you want to spend as little time as possible doing this. Starting with the 40D, Canon has been making steady improvements to the LCD screen to make it easier to read especially in bright sunlight. For the 7D Canon did two things:
1. They removed the air gap between the LCD screen and the cover glass. That space has now been filled with a special optical elastic material that has the same high refractive index as the glass itself.
2. The cover glass itself is now reinforced which makes it even better than the acrylic material used on the 50D and Mark II.
These two changes reduce glare and add contrast which makes viewing the LCD in bright sunlight a lot easier than on the Canon 50D or Nikon D300. The 50D LCD screen also tends to give images a blue cast, especially when working outside. The 7D no longer has this problem.
I could not see much difference between the three cameras while I was inside at the Miami Seaquarium. However, the 7D’s LCD screen was definitely a lot easier to read when I was shooting outside.
——Raw JPEG Button
I mostly shoot JPEG because it is a lot faster and requires much less space than RAW. However, whenever I am face with a really difficult lighting or exposure scenario I always switch to RAW. The RAW files allow me to better fix many things such as the exposure and white balance in Photoshop. The problem here is that I not only have to first waste time going through the menu to set the image quality to RAW but after that I have to waste more time doing the same thing to switch back to JPEG.
I can now simply press the new Raw JPEG button to have a RAW image recorded along with my usual JPEG image. Here is the neat thing. Right after that the 7D goes back to simply recording JPEG. This feature also works if you normally shoot Raw and then want to occasionally switch to JPEG.
I found this feature really handy at a certain section of the Miami Seaquarium that had multiple colored lights. I knew that none of the preset white balance settings would work with this kind of lighting. I did not want to spend a lot of time trying to find the right color temperature so I simply used this feature to get a RAW image. Later on at home I was able to use Photoshop to get the right white balance.
——Multi-Function Button
The 7D offers two (2) main AF Selection Modes that are also found on the Canon 50D - Automatic and Manual Single Point. I normally shoot with Manual Single Point selection mode. However, there are always times when I am composing the shot with my eye to the viewfinder and realize that one of the other selection modes would be better for the shot. With the Canon 50D and the Nikon D300, I have to first remove my eye from the viewfinder and then change the selection mode. Once again, after one or a couple shots I have to repeat this exercise again. With the Canon 7D I can change the selection mode without ever removing my eye from the viewfinder. I simply press the AF Point Selector and then the Multi-Function button to change the selection mode.
This button can also be programmed via C.Fn IV - 1 to activate FEL, AE Lock, One-touch Raw + JPEG or VF Electronic Level.
——Orientation Linked AF Point
When I am photographing a model, for any given scene and position I like to do both portrait (vertical) and horizontal shots. I usually start with vertical shots and then do some horizontal ones. As I mentioned before I normally shoot with Manual Single AF selection mode. This usually means that I have the top point selected for the vertical shots. When I turn the camera to the horizontal position that same point is selected which means that the selected point is now the one furthest to the right. I now have to spend time selecting the top most point again for this orientation. And of course, I have to repeat this exercise once again when I switch back to vertical orientation.
Using C.Fn III -12 I can now tell the 7D that I want to use different AF mode/points based on the orientation. Once that is done I simply manually turn the camera to an orientation and set the AF Mode/points for that orientation. I can specify this for horizontal, vertical with the camera grip at the top and vertical with the camera grip at the bottom.
Now, when I turn my camera from the vertical to the horizontal and then back to the vertical position there is no more wasting time changing the AF selection point. This feature is not available on the Nikon D300.
——Dedicated Quick Menu Button
The Quick Menu is another area that Canon has been making steady improvements on starting with the 40D. With that camera I had to push the info button twice for the screen to appear and I still had to use the buttons on the top of the camera. The Canon 50D improved on that concept. All I have to do is push the multi-controller straight down to get into what is called the Quick Control Screen where the shooting parameters are displayed on the LCD screen. Also, I could now use the multi-controller to simply select any shooting function and use the quick-control dial to change its settings. Of course, this is a lot easier than having to make selections by pushing different buttons on the top of the camera.
The 7D has taken this concept of a quick menu to the next level by giving it its own separate dedicated button. I set the shooting parameters the same way as on the 50D but it is a lot more convenient to have a dedicated button for getting access to this menu.
The Nikon D300 does not have a similar Quick Menu concept.
——New position for the power button
The power button has been moved from the bottom of the camera. This made it very awkward to turn the camera on or off when it was sitting flat on some surface such as a table. The power switch is now located just behind the mode dial. I like this placement better than the one on the Nikon D300 where the power switch is right before the shutter button. I don’t think the power switch should be that close to the shutter button as it can lead to new users accidentally pressing the power switch instead of the shutter button. This actually happened to me when I just started using that camera. Once I got use to the camera it never happened again so it is not a big deal. However, I think from a design point of view that the power switch should be no where that close to the shutter button.
B. BUILD QUALITY
The 7D is built like a tank. The body is fully weather sealed similar to the 5D Mark 2. I do a lot of work on the beaches around Miami and Fort Lauderdale here in South Florida so this feature is really important to me. For shots in or really close to the water I would always use the Nikon D300 because that camera is better sealed than the Canon 50D. It is really good to finally have a semi-pro camera with the same build quality as my L lenses.
The shutter is now rated at 150,000 exposures versus the 100,000 of the Canon 50D. This is the same as the Nikon D300.
C. FEATURES
——Exposure Value (EV) Compensation
From time to time I come across some real tricky exposure scenes where I need to use exposure compensation to tell the camera that I want it to brighten or darken the image rather than using the standard exposure. Other times I just want to be creative such as when I have a backlit subject. With the Canon 50D I could only set EV compensation up to 2 stops in either direction. There have been times where that was not enough to produce the effect I wanted so I would use the Nikon D300 in those cases because it allowed me to set EV compensation up to 5 stops in either direction. The Canon 7D now offers up to 5 stops in either direction as on the Nikon D300.
The Nikon D300 still has one small advantage over the Canon 7D though. The problem is that with the Canon 7D you can only see up to 3 stops of EV in the viewfinder. You can set up to 5 stops but the display only shows up to 3 stops. There is an indicator that you have set more than 3 stops but there is no way to tell exactly how much it is. With the Nikon D300 you can always tell exactly how many stops you have set right here in the display of the viewfinder.
——Grid and Electronic Level
The Canon 7D is now equipped with a grid that displays in the viewfinder and an electronic level that is displayed on the LCD screen in live-view and when shooting movies. For photographers like me who shoot most of the times without a tripod, this is a very welcome feature. It reduces the amount of time I have to spend later on in Photoshop straightening my photos. Without a tripod, it does not matter how hard I try there are always some photos that need straightening.
The Canon 7D has two (2) grid display options while the Nikon D300 only has one. The Nikon D300 does not have an electronic level.
——New 19 Point AF System and New Selection Modes
One of the criticisms leveled against the Canon 50D was that it only had 9 AF points whereas cheaper cameras such as the Nikon D90 had 11 AF points. The Canon 7D is equipped with 19 AF points. Like the Canon 50D all of them are cross-type which means that they are sensitive to both horizontal and vertical lines. In addition, the center point is what is described as an x-type which means that it is also sensitive to diagonal lines as well. However, it requires lenses that are f/2.8 are faster.
Even though the Canon 50D had 9 AF points versus the 51 AF points on the Nikon D300 I could never see any significant difference between them when it came to tracking moving subjects. However, there was one situation where I felt the Nikon D300 had the edge because it had more AF points. This was when it came to tracking really fast erratically moving subjects. I once did a shoot with both cameras at the dog track and I felt that the Nikon D300 did a slightly better job with those kind of really fast erratically moving subjects. I think the extra 8 AF points on the Canon 7D will put it on par with the Nikon D300 for tracking these kinds of subjects. Both cameras performed well tracking the fast moving dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium. However, those kinds of subjects do not have the kind of erratic movements like the dogs at the race track.
Canon did not simply increase the number of AF points. It also wisely added new selection modes so photographers can make the most of the AF points when composing their shots. The Canon 50D has two (2) AF selection modes - automatic and manual single point. The 7D has those two (2) plus three (3) new ones:
—Manual Select: Spot AF
The cameras AF system is generally not very good when it comes to focusing overlapping subjects such as an animal in a cage. Whenever I have been to Parrot Jungle Island to photograph the parrots there I always switch to manual focusing whenever I am photographing the ones in cages.
The new Spot AF mode is similar to the regular Manual Select: Single Point AF. However, it only uses the central part of the selected AF point for focusing. It is therefore very useful for pinpoint focusing scenarios such as an animal in a cage. I tried this method with the parrots in their cages at Parrot Jungle Island and it was very effective.
—Manual Select: AF Point Expansion
With this method, the selected and adjacent AF points are used to track a subject. This method is useful for tracking moving subjects when it is difficult to do so with just one AF point.
At Miami Seaquarium I used this method when a single dolphin was performing.
—Manual Select: Zone AF
With this AF selection method the 19 points are divided into 5 zones. The central zone contains the main 9 AF points. The other zones each contain 4 AF points. The zones are located to the left, right, top and bottom of the focusing area. You can select any one of these zones. All the points in the zone you select are use for the automatic selection of the AF point. This method achieves faster focus than Single Point AF and AF Point Expansion and can be used for tracking moving subjects. However, there is one major drawback that you have to be aware of. It tends to focus the nearest subject and so keeping track of a specific subject is more difficult than with Single Point AF or AF Point Expansion.
At Miami Seaquarium I used this method whenever a group of dolphins were performing where it was not important to keep track of a specific dolphin.
——Metering System
To improve the tracking of moving subjects even better, the 7D is equipped with a new 63 zones metering system that measures not just focus and luminance but also color across all 63 zones.
The color information from the metering system also helps to fix two other common problems that photographers face.
The first problem is related to the fact that silicon sensors are not so sensitive to red. This creates a problem when photographing red subjects such as a red rose. Even though you have the perfect exposure, you will notice that the rose ends up being overexposed. I get around this problem by using exposure compensation to underexpose the shot or simply using Photoshop to pull back the highlights. I tested this feature by photographing several red roses I brought at a local Publix Supermarket. The Canon 7D did a much better job than both the Canon 50D and the Nikon D300.
The second problem concerns certain light sources such as sodium lights that have very unusual light spectrum which tend to fool the AF systems of DSLRS so they end up back focusing. The Canon 7D can get around this problem since its metering system can detect these types of light sources and make the necessary compensations. I did not get a chance to test this feature but I will update this review later on with my findings.
——Built-in Flash
The built-in flash has a wider coverage. It can now cover an angle of 15mm. However, the range has decreased from 13 meters (42 feet) to 12 meters (39 feet).
It is the next feature that I am more interested in. The flash now has a built-in wireless transmitter like the one on the Nikon D300. Just like the Nikon D300, I can now control up to 3 groups of flashes right from the Canon 7D. Why is this so important? Well, you can use a number of flashes like the Canon 580EX II or the Nikon SB-900 to create some very interesting photographs. For example, on one occasion I did a photo of a friend sitting in a sofa in her living room. I first tried the shot with the Nikon SB-900 onboard the Nikon D300. She was illuminated okay but I felt that the background was too dark. I placed a Nikon SB-800 flash behind her and bounced it off the ceiling to light the background. The resulting photo looked way more natural than the one with just the onboard flash. I only needed two flashes to get this done because I could use the built-in flash of the Nikon D300 as a transmitter by quickly changing some menu settings. I placed each flash in a separate group so I could control their output separately. If the output from the remote flash behind the subject was too bright I could easily reduce its output. If I could not use the built-in flash as a wireless transmitter I would have been forced to purchase a transmitter or another flash.
——100% View Finder Coverage
I love the view finder on the Canon 7D. The pentaprism of the 7D is way bigger than the one in the Canon 50D. Not only does it deliver 100% coverage but also 1.0x magnification. This is one less thing to worry about when composing my shots. I don’t have to constantly remind myself that I am only seeing 95% of the scene as when using the Canon 50D.
The Nikon D300 also provides 100% viewfinder coverage.
——Movie Mode Functionality
I am just mentioning this here but I will update my review later on as I find time to really test this out.
——Customizations
Just about every main button on the Canon 7D can be programmed via C.Fn IV. As an example, half-pressing the shutter button can be programmed to start both metering and AF or just start metering or to lock AE. This truly gives ultimate flexibility to photographers depending on their own personal preferences, the type of photography they specialize in and the specific scene that they are photographing.
D. PERFORMANCE (SPEED)
Can you say fast? This camera is built for speed. Despite having a whopping 18MP this bad boy can fire off 8 fps versus the 6.3 fps of the Canon 50D. The Nikon D300 can achieve 8 fps but you need a battery grip with special batteries to accomplish that. Without that it can only do 6fps. Even the new D300s can only do 7 fps and that is in 12-bit mode. In 14-bit mode, which is what the Canon 7D uses, the Nikon D300s can only do 2.5 fps. Of course, all of this impressive speed from the Canon 7D is due to the fact that it has dual DIGIC 4 Chips.
The Canon 7D can buffer up to 126 JPEG images if you use a UDMA card with it. This is a significant increase over the 90 that the 50D could do with a UDMA card. The Nikon D300 can buffer up to 100 JPEG images.
E. IMAGE QUALITY
18.0 MP CMOS Sensor, High ISO, Resolution and DR
One of the biggest concerns expressed about the Canon 50D was its densely packed sensor with 15.1MP. I was very surprised when the Canon 7D was announced to find out that Canon had decided to push the limit even further by packing close to another 3MP into a crop sensor. Last year they managed to keep noise under control by introducing gapless micro lenses. The gapless micro lenses are still there in the Canon 7D. However, they have also reduced the distance between the micro lenses and the photodiodes. As a result the light can be more easily focused onto the photodiodes. In theory this should result in a better signal to noise ration than on the Canon 50D.
I tested the three (3) cameras both indoor and outdoor at ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400. I tested the Canon 50D and Canon 7D also at ISO 12800. It is not available on the Nikon D300. The tests I did had High ISO Noise Reduction set to standard on all three cameras. For each ISO I loaded the three photos into Photoshop and viewed them at 100%. I am not interested in minute differences that would be revealed by 100% crops.
The Canon 7D easily beats the Canon 50D in every test. The Canon 50D definitely exhibits some amount of banding at both ISO 6400 and 12800 which are completely absent on the Canon 7D. The call between the Canon 7D and the Nikon D300 is a lot closer. At lower ISO I really cannot tell any difference between them even though the Canon 7D has close to 6MP more than the Nikon D300. At higher ISO I would probably give a slight advantage to the Nikon D300 but the difference is really marginal. This is really impressive high ISO performance for a 18MP crop sensor.
The Canon 7D provides lots of sharpness and detail. It easily out resolves both the Canon 50D and especially the Nikon D300 at lower ISO. However, at really high ISO the sharpness and detail on the Canon 7D and the Nikon D300 are really close because the Canon 7D has to apply more noise reduction which leads to some loss of detail and sharpness.
Since the signal to noise ratio is better on the Canon 7D than the Canon 50D you would expect its Dynamic Range (DR) to be better than the 50D. Based on my own tests I would say this is true. However, I would still give the Nikon D300 a slight edge over the 7D when it comes to DR.
I want to stress something here. All three (3) cameras have excellent high ISO performance, resolution and DR. When I say that one camera is slightly better it does not mean that the other camera is bad. I know fanatics on both the Canon and Nikon sides like to think that if their camera does not beat the other brand in every area it means that their camera is bad. Do not be misled by these people. No two cameras are going to score exactly the same score on every single IQ test. Just like in school, there is an acceptable range of performance that is considered excellent. I consider all three cameras to be excellent. What I find really impressive about the Canon 7D is that it is able to pull of this excellent performance with its whopping 18 MP crop sensor.
F. VALUE
I know fanatics like to focus solely on IQ when it comes to determining the overall value of a camera. However, if you check all the professional review sites you will see that IQ is just one of several areas that are used to determine the value of a camera. Why is this? The answer is really so simple it makes you wonder why the fanatics just don’t get it. The answer is that there is always some amount of trade-off between performance and image quality. You will notice that cameras that are optimized for IQ like the 5D Mark 2 have comparatively low frame rates per second. The 5D Mark 2 only has 3.9 fps. The Nikon D700 has 5 fps. You should never buy these cameras if your primary use for them is to shoot sports.
The Canon 7D is a really impressive camera because it scores high in all areas even though it is a 18MP crop sensor camera: ergonomics, build quality, features, performance and IQ. It might not be the best in all of these areas but overall I think it is a slightly better camera than the Nikon D300/D300s. It provides you with unbelievable performance and still delivers excellent IQ.
SECTION 3: Is this the right camera for you?
Your buying decision should be based on your requirements, budget and personal preferences.
It is very tempting when comparing the 7D to the 50D and 40D to get carried away with the 3MP and 8MP difference respectively. However, you really need to consider the type of work that you will be doing and the maximum print size that you expect to do. Here is a summary of the maximum print sizes for different megapixels (resolution):
6 megapixels 8” * 10”
8 megapixels 11” * 14”
10 megapixels 13” * 19”
As you can see if your maximum print size is 8” * 10” then you are covered with even a 6 megapixels camera. You should really have a very good reason for needing the 18MP found on the Canon 7D.
Here is what you should do. Check off the new/changed features that you think you will need based on where you would like your photography to start and be in a couple of years. If these new/changed features are not really important to you then consider the Canon 40D or Canon 50D. The 50D has a lot more features than the 40D but you need really good optics with it because its densely packed sensor will show up the flaws in the lens. For example, photos taken with the 50D and the 28-135mm kit lens tend to be rather soft. I want to point out that the IQ that I saw with the Canon 7D is with the EF 50mm f/1.4 and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Lens. These are high quality optics. I would not pair the Canon 7D with a kit lens and expect professional results. You can start with that lens if you want and upgrade later on. However, remember that you will not be seeing the true potential of that remarkable engineering feat that the Canon 7D is.
The Canon 7D and Nikon D300s (D300 replacement) are very close in price. Both cameras are really very good so it comes down to your requirements and personal preferences here. However, I always point out that Canon lenses are always cheaper and more readily available than their Nikon counterparts.
Also, if this is your first DSLR the Canon 7D has a big advantage over the Nikon D300s. The Canon has a fully automatic shooting mode so you can start out being a complete novice and still use the 7D. I would never recommend the Nikon D300s to someone who is new to the DSLR world unless you are ready to invest a lot of time learning. That camera does not have any fully automatic shooting mode. Also, it tends to just display icons with no description because it is really aimed at experienced photographers. The Canon on the other hand always has a description of each icon it displays. For example, when setting white balance you will see an icon and a description such as shade or sunlight. You won’t see anything like this on the Nikon D300s. With the Canon 7D you can start out shooting in full automatic mode then go on to the Creative Automatic (CA) mode. This allows you to set the technical stuff like depth-of-field using a graphical user interface. You can then graduate to using full manual mode later on.
If you spend $1,700 on a camera like the Canon 7D and you are new to the DSLR world you should take a photography course to make the most of your investment. You can check out my totally free course for Amazon users at tajdslrcourse.
SECTION 4: Conclusion
The Canon 7D is the camera I always knew Canon could deliver. It is finally here and I am really impressed not just by its technical engineering feats but also by the many ergonomic improvements. It shows that Canon really listened to its users this time around. I think this camera is going to do much better than the 50D. Despite all its many features, I cannot stress enough that it is still a camera that you can start out as a novice and grow with. It is true that Canon did remove the scenic shooting modes but you still have the full automatic shooting mode and creative auto mode.
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Read more Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only)
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only) Reviews
Read More From Here Now
With a host of features designed to enhance every facet of the photographic process, from still images to video, the EOS 7D represents a whole new class of camera.Made to be the tool of choice for serious photographers and semi-professionals, the EOS 7D features an 18.0 megapixels APS-C size CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 4 image processors, capturing tremendous images at up to ISO 12800 and speeds of up to 8 fps. The EOS 7D has a cross-type 19-point AF system with improved AI Servo AF subject tracking and user-selectable AF area selection modes for sharp focus no matter the situation. The EOS 7D’s Intelligent Viewfinder provides 100% coverage and displays user-selected AF modes as well as a spot metering circle and on demand grid lines. iFCL metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system uses both focus and color information to provide accurate exposure even in difficult lighting. The EOS 7D also captures Full HD video at 30p, 24p and 25p with an array of manual controls, including manual exposure during movie shooting and ISO speed selection. The EOS 7D features a magnesium alloy body that is dust- and weather-resistant and shutter durability of up to 150,000 cycles. Readmore
Technical Details
- 18.0-megapixel CMOS Sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors for high image quality and speed- Body only; lenses sold separately
- Advanced HD movie mode with manual exposure control and selectable frame rates
- Intelligent Viewfinder with 100 percent field of view; 19-point, all cross-type AF system equipped with dual diagonal cross-type sensors
- Capture images to CF Card Type I and II, UDMA-compliant CF cards (not included)
See more technical details
2009-10-31
By Charlie Brown (Seattle, WA)
I paid over $1,800 for the body and the RAW file takes 25M bytes, which is more than twice the size than my previous camera. So, I assumed that the picture quality should be good. Yes, the picture quality is indeed good, ONLY IF you resize the 25Mbytes of RAW file into something like 1024 pixels width, at ISO 400 and above. You buy a cheap point and shoot camera, and it’s image quality will be incredible in low ISO and when there is enough light. We pay more and spend more memory (and pay extra for that) for DSLR to get more descent ISO performance when there isn’t enough light. If you willing to resize to 1024 pixel width, there is no problem in high ISO - but then why would you spend 25Mbytes for the RAW ? And why would you pay $1,800 for the body ?
I took about 40 pictures in a gathering. It was in the evening and light was more than enough to read books very comfortably. So, at least the light was enough not to create bad quality pictures. However, I used high ISO (1600 and 3200) so that I don’t have any blurred pictures. Besides, I read so many praises by 7d fanatics about how good 7D’s ISO performance was. Somehow, I trusted them. But I was very surprised to see so many white dots/pixels in the dark area when viewed in 100%, as I showed in the uploaded picture. Indeed, there is no problem if you down-sample (resize) to 1024 pixel width. You won’t be able to see them.
I asked around about this problem and there were two types of responses. One is that it is the expected behavior of 7D, which has so many pixels in a small sensor. And I need to remap those white pixels using software. Indeed, LightRoom does it automatically. But not DPP (Raw processing software from Canon). And LightRoom is not ready for 7D as of now. The other response is that 7D is so good in high ISO performance, and I must have gotten a lemon. I hesitated what to do. And I just decided to return it and try an another 7D, only finding that this was a disaster. The new one showed the exactly the same behavior. In addition, the new one has hot pixels that appear even in ISO100. In fact, there are five such dead pixels. I know that this is OK, only if they are spread around. Unfortunately, all those five pixels are adjacent together and the whole white dead spot area is quite visible in every picture.
So, I don’t know at this moment what to do. I will definitely return this 7D that has the dead pixels. But unfortunately I can only exchange. Would I just exchange to another 7D and live with those white dots in high ISO, and be satisfied with down-sample’ed pictures ? Or would I exchange to other Canon camera or even Nikon… Anyway, my opinion is that this camera should not be this expensive and waste 25Mbytes for the RAW file just to create this kind of bad images in mid to high ISO. And for my horrible experiences, I can only give one star. But YMMV.
—edit—-
OK, I decided to get the replacement of 7D - this is the 3rd one. This time, I was tired. Whatever it is, I would just take it. I’ll live with white dots or some dead pixels or whatever. Let it be my destiny… So, I did not go through mid-to-high ISO testing, and I don’t know what it would be this time - and I would not care any more. But then when I took some pictures, I found that they were so soft. I investigated, and saw that 7D is not focusing correctly. The lenses required AF micro-adjustments. At least the previous two 7Ds did not have this AF problem and need not AF microadjustments, as the manual says. They were focusing correctly. Since the 3rd 7D is not, I went through AF micro-adjustments. However, I also found out that the AF microadjustment at particular distance and aperture is not global within one lens adjustment. For example, if I set the microadjustment correctly at F2.8 from 1 foot (this was +15), AF at F 5.6 from 7 feet was very fuzzy. So, I set the AF microadjustment from the setting, and the value was - 20, but then the pictures are fuzzy at F2.8 from 1 foot distance. I tried to find the middle value which would work in all cases, but once I found a AF miroadjustment for particular distance and aperture, it wasn’t working for other aperture and distance. So, there is no global setting for one lens. It varies depending on the distance and aperture within one lens adjustment. What a bummer… I think that a lot of people who are complaining about 7D’s AF problems have 7Ds like the one that I have now. BUT if you take picture at F8.0 or higher, AF will look OK - not because 7D works correctly, but because at this aperture the depth of field is deeper.
So, for all the people who praise Cannon 7D, either you are extremely lucky people, or you just don’t care/know about the details.
Or I am the extremely unlucky person …
2009-10-29
By IDH (FL)
Received camera today and initial impression is good, but……..the main dial is not working correctly. When it is rotated, the associated function lags, or does not respond at all. The multi-controller button is also a bit unresponsive in the “up” direction. Over 500 shots with it already. Noisy at ISO above 400 (much more so than my 50D). Sharp at lower ISO settings. The three stars is warranted at this point considering Canon has let a bum unit past QC and the noisy high ISO performance. This is a disappointment considering the great performance of my 50D. I’ll update this section when the replacement from Amazon arrives next week.
Is it worth the upgrade? I thought so as I’m looking to add sports photography to my portfolio. The camera’s 8fps is FAST, and the AF in conjunction with the AI Servo mode works well capturing moving subjects. I can grab 15 RAWS before any noticeable slow down as the buffer fills. If capturing in JPEG mode, it seems to go on forever (using 8GB Sandisk Extreme III, not UDMA compatible).
It is not significantly larger or heavier than the 50D (except for the noticeable bulge around the viewfinder). The 100% viewfinder stops the guess work associated with framing your subject and lets in a lot of light. As multiple AF points illuminate in the viewfinder though, you get a red “haze” across the image field which grows in intensity as more points are illuminated (this does not affect the captured image). This is a bit distracting. The multi-function button next to the shutter makes adjusting the AF points a cinch. The AF point expansion is a great option when you want to control the focus point, but risk getting off subject when the subject is moving quickly.
The shutter is quieter than the 50D’s. The build quality seems a bit more hearty than the 50D. I can feel a very small amount of play in the lens mount on the 50D with heavier lenses attached such as the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. The lens mount on the 7D is very snug, and no play is evident.
The ability to see grid lines and the multi axis level through the viewfinder is a great option that helps immensely with getting orientation right the first time. Less image rotation later in Photoshop.
The LCD brightness is a bit dim in auto mode, but that can be changed to a manual setting with little effort. The LCD looks a bit smaller on the 7D, but this is due to the presence of a black border around the 50D LCD which has been removed on the 7D.
The ability to use the RC-1 remote is nice addition which was a missing feature in my opinion in the 50D, as well as the ability to control off camera flashes with the integrated Speedlight transmitter. I was using a 580EX II on camera to control a 430EX II off camera, but now I can use both off camera when needed without cords or expensive radio controllers.
The Auto Lighting Optimizer seems a bit more noticeable when at the default setting than with the 50D. For those times when you want or need to underexpose slightly, this can render the image too bright. It can be set to a lower setting or turned off in the menu.
Those are just a few of the things I’ve noticed so far. I am hoping that the first copy I received was a one time lemon and that the quality control is high enough to ensure that the next one has no mechanical flaws. Many flaws can be corrected later through firmware updates, and some are to be expected, but malfunctioning switches are a hardware issue that I hope are a rare assembly problem.
2009-10-28
By Garrett Lowenthal (San Francisco, CA)
By any measure, the new Canon EOS 7D is a worthy successor to the EOS line of APS-C sensor DSLRs. I believe it finally levels the playing field for many Canon shooters envious of Nikon DXXX shooters.
I am an advanced amateur photographer who has owned the 20D for the last 5 years and will use it as a backup body now. With each Canon announcement of a successor to the XXD line of DSLRs, I was tempted to upgrade but resisted each time up until now. This was partly due to budgetary constraints, but I felt mostly that each new model was only an evolutionary modification rather than a revolutionary one. If there’s one thing to keep in mind in this fast-moving world of DSLR photography, then it is that DSLR bodies come and go (and depreciate quickly in value, like most electronic goods) but excellent glass will nearly always be sound investments (high-quality lenses maintained in good condition may appreciate in value).
The 7D appears to be a game-changer for many Canon photo enthusiasts like myself who prefer or can only afford to shoot with an APS-C sensor body. Nikon shooters have had an excellent choice of a crop sensor body in the D100/D200/D300 (now D300s), but for Canon shooters, the top-of-the-line equivalent was trailing in the feature set department. Now most of the features that were absent in the Canon XXD body as compared with their main rival are present in the 7D.
Notable features:
- 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Dual DIGIC 4 processors (a first for a prosumer Canon DSLR)
- Maximum 8 fps frame rate
- Maximum ISO 12,800
- VF with 100% coverage and 1.0x magnification (a first for a Canon DSLR)
- 19-pt AF (all cross-type with f/5.6 or faster lenses)
- 63-zone metering system (measures focus, color, and luminance)
- On-demand grid lines in VF (a first for any Canon DSLR)
- Built-in electronic leveler in 2 planes (a first for any Canon DSLR)
- Built-in wireless flash trigger (a first for any Canon DSLR)
- HD video in 1080p (30/25/24 fps) and 720p (60/50 fps)
I have had the camera for over a week now. My initial impressions are mostly positive thus far. Additional thoughts in the form of updates will be forthcoming once I get an opportunity to capture more images under various conditions (indoors/low light, outdoors, action, etc.) and get my act together to type it up. So far, I believe that the IQ, VF, LCD monitor, and handling are all vast improvements over the 20D. Taking photos at high ISOs and achieving low noise captures is all the rage these days. I feel that random photos I’ve taken at ISO settings up to 1600 are completely usuable. In the past, I felt comfortable shooting with my 20D mostly south of ISO 400/800. I shall pixel peep some more and shoot at even higher ISOs to see where the happy medium for me shooting with the 7D lies. Tolerance for noise, I feel, is very subjective.
Limitations:
There is a steep learning curve with this camera. The 7D is packed with new features that I have yet to maximize to my advantage. Coming from a 20D rather than a more recent line of XXD body makes things even more challenging. A careful read of the user’s manual is critical.
If ultimately low noise captures at high ISOs is most important to you, then a FF sensor body is the way to go rather than an APS-C sensor body. A larger pixel pitch that captures more light (at the expense of lower resolution) will help maintain low noise levels at very high ISOs. This is a key reason why the small-body FFs, such as the Nikon D700, Canon 5D/5DMkII, and Sony A900/A850, are so revered. Any of those cameras will likely outperform the 7D at high ISOs in terms of low noise captures. Moreover, they provide less DoF than APS-Cs at equivalent fields of view. However, the obvious downsides are their cost and need for big, heavy, and expensive glass.
The 7D should not be viewed as an HD camcorder replacement. Although useful to have and with slightly more shooting options as compared with the version currently offered in the 5DMkII, video capture in the 7D still suffers from lack of continuous AF. Unfortunately, the jello phenomenon (from rolling shutter) and monoaural sound (external stereo mic input is available, though) make for a less than harmonious package.
*** Please be aware that some information about potential problems with the initial batch of 7D bodies has surfaced on photography forums and elsewhere (including here on Amazon). They include difficulties with the new AF system (particularly in AI servo mode, though some users have had trouble in any AF mode) resulting in OOF photos, as well as ghosting (residual preceding images captured in subsequent images) under certain shooting conditions. Canon is aware of the latter and will issue a firmware update in the near future. Meanwhile, a firmware update (1.0.9) has already been issued that fixes problems with suboptimal AF in Live View, among other bugs. Of note, my copy has no troubles with AF that I have encountered at this point. ***
Overall Impression:
The Canon EOS 7D is probably the best overall Canon APS-C sensor DSLR currently available. As far as feature set, it fares extremely well with its slightly more expensive main rival, the Nikon D300s. In its favor, the D300s has a larger, 51-pt AF system and dual CF/SD card slots. A scientific shoot-out from a reputable photography website or magazine is sorely needed to help resolve the issue of which has better IQ at high ISOs. I believe the current lack of Adobe software support for 7D RAW images is the rate-limiting step.
With my limited use of the 7D thus far, I have found the camera to be a sheer pleasure to shoot with. It is a worthy upgrade for 10D/20D users, and probably for 30D users as well. Shooters of the 40D/50D will need to determine whether the new features are worth dishing out $1700 USD for, particularly during these challenging economic times. Mostly anecdotal evidence exists so far that suggests there may be a slight improvement in IQ from the 7D as compared with the 40D/50D. Nikon and other brand photo enthusiasts should weigh the benefits and risks of switching systems.
Once Canon publicly addresses any potential problems with the AF system encountered by some users, then I can offer the 7D my highest recommendation.
2009-10-28
By trebe
The EOS 7D, Canon’s latest prosumer digital SLR, is a major step forward, incorporating some features found on the 5D Mark II, as well as some that are totally new to Canon’s prosumer line. With much that is new, even those familiar with Canon SLR’s, should be prepared to spend some time frequently consulting the often confusing manual.
Looking to upgrade from the 40D, I passed on the 5D Mark II, because its 3.9 frames per second shooting rate is inadequate for shooting sports. With the new features and a shooting rate of 8 FPS, the 7D was my choice. These are some early impressions of the 7D.
Housing, Controls and Display:
The 7D’s heavy-duty, dust and weather resistant housing, is made of lightweight magnesium, and feels rock solid. The 7D has a new arrangement of controls for users to get familiar with. The mode dial is similar to the 5D Mark II (no ‘Sports’, ‘Portrait, ‘Landscape’, etc). The power switch has been relocated to behind the mode dial. The video recording button is on the back, located on the right side of the eyepiece, similar to Canon’s ‘S’ series cameras. Shutter noise is quiet, similar to the 40D. Image quality and color rendition on the LCD display is good, and looks similar to the 40D. The display brightness can be set manually, or the camera will adjust it automatically.
Autofocus:
As I find that Canon’s nine point focusing pattern is often inadequate, the 7D’s improved autofocusing system was of special interest. For those unfamiliar, the AF pattern is eight points in a diamond shaped layout with the ninth point in the middle of the diamond. The new 19 point adjustable autofocus system basically adds points in the interior of the diamond area. The actual area of coverage, does not appear to have increased. Being center weighted is understandable, but expansion beyond the diamond area is arguably more useful than just increasing the number of focus points within the diamond area.
The rule of thirds is a useful guide for composing an image, however attempting to implement this rule using the diamond shaped pattern is often difficult. Say you want to focus on something in the top left quadrant of the frame. One method is to lock focus on the area, reframe, and then shoot. This works if the subject is stationary, however this method becomes more problematic for moving subjects. If only there was a focus point nearby. Increasing the concentration in the central area makes some sense, but I really wish they had expanded the overall area of autofocus coverage as well.
That issue aside, performance of the new autofocus system appears to be good. The 19 individual points, are also grouped into 5 multipoint zones, which can be selected using the Zone AF function. This feature could be very useful in many applications, like sports or group shots. Focus lock appears to be good. The high speed continuous shooting mode (8 FPS) is smooth like butter, and the shutter button quite sensitive. I look forward to seeing how the camera performs at shooting college basketball, when the season starts.
Remote Triggering and Wireless Flash:
A very convenient feature that was a long time coming to Canon’s prosumer line, is the ability to remotely trigger the 7D using Canon’s RC-1 remote, or other inexpensive remotes. The 7D can also be triggered by Pocket Wizards, via the N3 terminal. The integral flash is essential, and the 7D also has the capability to wirelessly trigger compatible Canon speedlights, eliminating the need for the ST-E2 transmitter, and makes creative flash photography more convenient.
Live View, Video, and Memory:
Photography via live view mode, is similar to a point and shoot, although the 7D is a little heavy to be holding in front of your face. As claimed by Canon, the image taken seems to be 100% of what appears in the LCD display. I use live view for rough framing when the camera is on a tripod. For HD video, Canon recommends using a CF card with a transfer rate of 8MB/second (which I unfortunately do not have). Shooting video is simple, but with a slow card, my results at the highest quality setting were not that impressive. The image was pretty sharp, and sound quality was good, but there were skips in the playback. When I reduced the frame rate, the skipping disappeared. Until I get a faster card, I can’t do a proper evaluation. You will need ample memory to shoot video, as a 4GB card holds about 12 minutes of content. For images at highest image quality (RAW + JPEG), the camera reads that a 32 GB card will hold about 960 images, an 8 GB card about 240, and a 4 GB card about 125.
ISO:
As the 40D tops off at ISO 1600, the 7D’s ability to shoot up to ISO 6400 is mind-blowing. The noise in test shots at ISO 4000 and above, were not bad. I rarely exceed ISO 800, but it is something I will now look into further.
LP-E6 Battery:
Canon’s LP-E6 batteries have a serial number, and the 7D will keep track of the battery’s power level, and number of shots taken. Canon continues to take measures to discourage the use of third party products. Non-Canon versions of the LP-E6 battery will work in the 7D, but are not recognized, and read as `empty’ on the battery meter, with no data available. Having used non-Canon BP-511 batteries for years in various Canon SLR’s, without any problems, I do not believe that they are inferior or dangerous. You can pay $60 for the Canon LP-E6 if you wish, but you can get generic LP-E6 batteries for as low as $10.
In these challenging economic times, value and quality are even more important. The 7D does cost more than the 40D and 50D when they debuted, but it is worth it. The 7D is better built, has many more standard features, and produces better images. It appears that Canon is very serious about competing with Nikon, which should benefit users of both brands. It will take some time for most users to begin tap into the potential this camera offers. Have fun taking some great images.
2009-10-27
By Jodi-Ann Richards (Mia, FLA USA)
SECTION 1: WHO IS THIS REVIEW FOR
This review is ten (10) pages long because it was written for people who are not proficient with the terms and concepts used in the DSLR world. If you are a proficient DSLR user then I would recommend that you check one of the much shorter reviews here.
SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION
Last year when I reviewed the Canon 50D I pointed out that while it was a fantastic camera it was very clear to me that Canon was still not trying to compete directly with the Nikon D300. The Canon 50D was lacking many of the more advanced professional features found on the Nikon D300. For some strange reason Canon’s marketing department had clearly overlooked the growing market segment of semi-pros and serious enthusiasts. These people are not full-time photographers but have the same kind of needs when it comes to image quality, performance and build quality. All of this must be offered at a reasonable price since they are not full-time photographers. Nikon users had this in the Nikon D300. Now finally, in the Canon EOS 7D, Canon semi-pros and serious enthusiasts can have a true professional grade camera at an affordable price.
The first clue that this camera is out of the league of the 50D is the name change. This is no longer a XOD camera. It is not a 60D. It is now a XD camera which sits between the 50D and the 5D Mark 2.
I took the Canon 50D, Canon 7D and the Nikon D300 out for testing at the Miami Seaquarium and Parrot Jungle Island over the weekend. This year I have decided to break out the new features into the following areas: Ergonomics and Handling, Build Quality, Features, Performance (Speed) and Image Quality (IQ).
SECTION 3: NEW/CHANGED/REMOVED FEATURES
A. ERGONOMICS AND HANDLING
——Weight and Feel
The 7D actually weighs slightly more than the 5D Mark 2 so it is a very substantial camera. I love the way it fits in my hands especially with the new BG - E7 battery grip. You need to take this into consideration. If you are someone with small hands or just don’t like big heavy cameras then you might want to look at another camera. You will feel this camera around your neck if you have to do long hours of shooting especially with one of the bigger L lenses such as the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Lens.
——Clear View II LCD Screen
One of the benefits of shooting with a digital SLR is that you can review your shots right away. However, when you have paying clients you want to spend as little time as possible doing this. Starting with the 40D, Canon has been making steady improvements to the LCD screen to make it easier to read especially in bright sunlight. For the 7D Canon did two things:
1. They removed the air gap between the LCD screen and the cover glass. That space has now been filled with a special optical elastic material that has the same high refractive index as the glass itself.
2. The cover glass itself is now reinforced which makes it even better than the acrylic material used on the 50D and Mark II.
These two changes reduce glare and add contrast which makes viewing the LCD in bright sunlight a lot easier than on the Canon 50D or Nikon D300. The 50D LCD screen also tends to give images a blue cast, especially when working outside. The 7D no longer has this problem.
I could not see much difference between the three cameras while I was inside at the Miami Seaquarium. However, the 7D’s LCD screen was definitely a lot easier to read when I was shooting outside.
——Raw JPEG Button
I mostly shoot JPEG because it is a lot faster and requires much less space than RAW. However, whenever I am face with a really difficult lighting or exposure scenario I always switch to RAW. The RAW files allow me to better fix many things such as the exposure and white balance in Photoshop. The problem here is that I not only have to first waste time going through the menu to set the image quality to RAW but after that I have to waste more time doing the same thing to switch back to JPEG.
I can now simply press the new Raw JPEG button to have a RAW image recorded along with my usual JPEG image. Here is the neat thing. Right after that the 7D goes back to simply recording JPEG. This feature also works if you normally shoot Raw and then want to occasionally switch to JPEG.
I found this feature really handy at a certain section of the Miami Seaquarium that had multiple colored lights. I knew that none of the preset white balance settings would work with this kind of lighting. I did not want to spend a lot of time trying to find the right color temperature so I simply used this feature to get a RAW image. Later on at home I was able to use Photoshop to get the right white balance.
——Multi-Function Button
The 7D offers two (2) main AF Selection Modes that are also found on the Canon 50D - Automatic and Manual Single Point. I normally shoot with Manual Single Point selection mode. However, there are always times when I am composing the shot with my eye to the viewfinder and realize that one of the other selection modes would be better for the shot. With the Canon 50D and the Nikon D300, I have to first remove my eye from the viewfinder and then change the selection mode. Once again, after one or a couple shots I have to repeat this exercise again. With the Canon 7D I can change the selection mode without ever removing my eye from the viewfinder. I simply press the AF Point Selector and then the Multi-Function button to change the selection mode.
This button can also be programmed via C.Fn IV - 1 to activate FEL, AE Lock, One-touch Raw + JPEG or VF Electronic Level.
——Orientation Linked AF Point
When I am photographing a model, for any given scene and position I like to do both portrait (vertical) and horizontal shots. I usually start with vertical shots and then do some horizontal ones. As I mentioned before I normally shoot with Manual Single AF selection mode. This usually means that I have the top point selected for the vertical shots. When I turn the camera to the horizontal position that same point is selected which means that the selected point is now the one furthest to the right. I now have to spend time selecting the top most point again for this orientation. And of course, I have to repeat this exercise once again when I switch back to vertical orientation.
Using C.Fn III -12 I can now tell the 7D that I want to use different AF mode/points based on the orientation. Once that is done I simply manually turn the camera to an orientation and set the AF Mode/points for that orientation. I can specify this for horizontal, vertical with the camera grip at the top and vertical with the camera grip at the bottom.
Now, when I turn my camera from the vertical to the horizontal and then back to the vertical position there is no more wasting time changing the AF selection point. This feature is not available on the Nikon D300.
——Dedicated Quick Menu Button
The Quick Menu is another area that Canon has been making steady improvements on starting with the 40D. With that camera I had to push the info button twice for the screen to appear and I still had to use the buttons on the top of the camera. The Canon 50D improved on that concept. All I have to do is push the multi-controller straight down to get into what is called the Quick Control Screen where the shooting parameters are displayed on the LCD screen. Also, I could now use the multi-controller to simply select any shooting function and use the quick-control dial to change its settings. Of course, this is a lot easier than having to make selections by pushing different buttons on the top of the camera.
The 7D has taken this concept of a quick menu to the next level by giving it its own separate dedicated button. I set the shooting parameters the same way as on the 50D but it is a lot more convenient to have a dedicated button for getting access to this menu.
The Nikon D300 does not have a similar Quick Menu concept.
——New position for the power button
The power button has been moved from the bottom of the camera. This made it very awkward to turn the camera on or off when it was sitting flat on some surface such as a table. The power switch is now located just behind the mode dial. I like this placement better than the one on the Nikon D300 where the power switch is right before the shutter button. I don’t think the power switch should be that close to the shutter button as it can lead to new users accidentally pressing the power switch instead of the shutter button. This actually happened to me when I just started using that camera. Once I got use to the camera it never happened again so it is not a big deal. However, I think from a design point of view that the power switch should be no where that close to the shutter button.
B. BUILD QUALITY
The 7D is built like a tank. The body is fully weather sealed similar to the 5D Mark 2. I do a lot of work on the beaches around Miami and Fort Lauderdale here in South Florida so this feature is really important to me. For shots in or really close to the water I would always use the Nikon D300 because that camera is better sealed than the Canon 50D. It is really good to finally have a semi-pro camera with the same build quality as my L lenses.
The shutter is now rated at 150,000 exposures versus the 100,000 of the Canon 50D. This is the same as the Nikon D300.
C. FEATURES
——Exposure Value (EV) Compensation
From time to time I come across some real tricky exposure scenes where I need to use exposure compensation to tell the camera that I want it to brighten or darken the image rather than using the standard exposure. Other times I just want to be creative such as when I have a backlit subject. With the Canon 50D I could only set EV compensation up to 2 stops in either direction. There have been times where that was not enough to produce the effect I wanted so I would use the Nikon D300 in those cases because it allowed me to set EV compensation up to 5 stops in either direction. The Canon 7D now offers up to 5 stops in either direction as on the Nikon D300.
The Nikon D300 still has one small advantage over the Canon 7D though. The problem is that with the Canon 7D you can only see up to 3 stops of EV in the viewfinder. You can set up to 5 stops but the display only shows up to 3 stops. There is an indicator that you have set more than 3 stops but there is no way to tell exactly how much it is. With the Nikon D300 you can always tell exactly how many stops you have set right here in the display of the viewfinder.
——Grid and Electronic Level
The Canon 7D is now equipped with a grid that displays in the viewfinder and an electronic level that is displayed on the LCD screen in live-view and when shooting movies. For photographers like me who shoot most of the times without a tripod, this is a very welcome feature. It reduces the amount of time I have to spend later on in Photoshop straightening my photos. Without a tripod, it does not matter how hard I try there are always some photos that need straightening.
The Canon 7D has two (2) grid display options while the Nikon D300 only has one. The Nikon D300 does not have an electronic level.
——New 19 Point AF System and New Selection Modes
One of the criticisms leveled against the Canon 50D was that it only had 9 AF points whereas cheaper cameras such as the Nikon D90 had 11 AF points. The Canon 7D is equipped with 19 AF points. Like the Canon 50D all of them are cross-type which means that they are sensitive to both horizontal and vertical lines. In addition, the center point is what is described as an x-type which means that it is also sensitive to diagonal lines as well. However, it requires lenses that are f/2.8 are faster.
Even though the Canon 50D had 9 AF points versus the 51 AF points on the Nikon D300 I could never see any significant difference between them when it came to tracking moving subjects. However, there was one situation where I felt the Nikon D300 had the edge because it had more AF points. This was when it came to tracking really fast erratically moving subjects. I once did a shoot with both cameras at the dog track and I felt that the Nikon D300 did a slightly better job with those kind of really fast erratically moving subjects. I think the extra 8 AF points on the Canon 7D will put it on par with the Nikon D300 for tracking these kinds of subjects. Both cameras performed well tracking the fast moving dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium. However, those kinds of subjects do not have the kind of erratic movements like the dogs at the race track.
Canon did not simply increase the number of AF points. It also wisely added new selection modes so photographers can make the most of the AF points when composing their shots. The Canon 50D has two (2) AF selection modes - automatic and manual single point. The 7D has those two (2) plus three (3) new ones:
—Manual Select: Spot AF
The cameras AF system is generally not very good when it comes to focusing overlapping subjects such as an animal in a cage. Whenever I have been to Parrot Jungle Island to photograph the parrots there I always switch to manual focusing whenever I am photographing the ones in cages.
The new Spot AF mode is similar to the regular Manual Select: Single Point AF. However, it only uses the central part of the selected AF point for focusing. It is therefore very useful for pinpoint focusing scenarios such as an animal in a cage. I tried this method with the parrots in their cages at Parrot Jungle Island and it was very effective.
—Manual Select: AF Point Expansion
With this method, the selected and adjacent AF points are used to track a subject. This method is useful for tracking moving subjects when it is difficult to do so with just one AF point.
At Miami Seaquarium I used this method when a single dolphin was performing.
—Manual Select: Zone AF
With this AF selection method the 19 points are divided into 5 zones. The central zone contains the main 9 AF points. The other zones each contain 4 AF points. The zones are located to the left, right, top and bottom of the focusing area. You can select any one of these zones. All the points in the zone you select are use for the automatic selection of the AF point. This method achieves faster focus than Single Point AF and AF Point Expansion and can be used for tracking moving subjects. However, there is one major drawback that you have to be aware of. It tends to focus the nearest subject and so keeping track of a specific subject is more difficult than with Single Point AF or AF Point Expansion.
At Miami Seaquarium I used this method whenever a group of dolphins were performing where it was not important to keep track of a specific dolphin.
——Metering System
To improve the tracking of moving subjects even better, the 7D is equipped with a new 63 zones metering system that measures not just focus and luminance but also color across all 63 zones.
The color information from the metering system also helps to fix two other common problems that photographers face.
The first problem is related to the fact that silicon sensors are not so sensitive to red. This creates a problem when photographing red subjects such as a red rose. Even though you have the perfect exposure, you will notice that the rose ends up being overexposed. I get around this problem by using exposure compensation to underexpose the shot or simply using Photoshop to pull back the highlights. I tested this feature by photographing several red roses I brought at a local Publix Supermarket. The Canon 7D did a much better job than both the Canon 50D and the Nikon D300.
The second problem concerns certain light sources such as sodium lights that have very unusual light spectrum which tend to fool the AF systems of DSLRS so they end up back focusing. The Canon 7D can get around this problem since its metering system can detect these types of light sources and make the necessary compensations. I did not get a chance to test this feature but I will update this review later on with my findings.
——Built-in Flash
The built-in flash has a wider coverage. It can now cover an angle of 15mm. However, the range has decreased from 13 meters (42 feet) to 12 meters (39 feet).
It is the next feature that I am more interested in. The flash now has a built-in wireless transmitter like the one on the Nikon D300. Just like the Nikon D300, I can now control up to 3 groups of flashes right from the Canon 7D. Why is this so important? Well, you can use a number of flashes like the Canon 580EX II or the Nikon SB-900 to create some very interesting photographs. For example, on one occasion I did a photo of a friend sitting in a sofa in her living room. I first tried the shot with the Nikon SB-900 onboard the Nikon D300. She was illuminated okay but I felt that the background was too dark. I placed a Nikon SB-800 flash behind her and bounced it off the ceiling to light the background. The resulting photo looked way more natural than the one with just the onboard flash. I only needed two flashes to get this done because I could use the built-in flash of the Nikon D300 as a transmitter by quickly changing some menu settings. I placed each flash in a separate group so I could control their output separately. If the output from the remote flash behind the subject was too bright I could easily reduce its output. If I could not use the built-in flash as a wireless transmitter I would have been forced to purchase a transmitter or another flash.
——100% View Finder Coverage
I love the view finder on the Canon 7D. The pentaprism of the 7D is way bigger than the one in the Canon 50D. Not only does it deliver 100% coverage but also 1.0x magnification. This is one less thing to worry about when composing my shots. I don’t have to constantly remind myself that I am only seeing 95% of the scene as when using the Canon 50D.
The Nikon D300 also provides 100% viewfinder coverage.
——Movie Mode Functionality
I am just mentioning this here but I will update my review later on as I find time to really test this out.
——Customizations
Just about every main button on the Canon 7D can be programmed via C.Fn IV. As an example, half-pressing the shutter button can be programmed to start both metering and AF or just start metering or to lock AE. This truly gives ultimate flexibility to photographers depending on their own personal preferences, the type of photography they specialize in and the specific scene that they are photographing.
D. PERFORMANCE (SPEED)
Can you say fast? This camera is built for speed. Despite having a whopping 18MP this bad boy can fire off 8 fps versus the 6.3 fps of the Canon 50D. The Nikon D300 can achieve 8 fps but you need a battery grip with special batteries to accomplish that. Without that it can only do 6fps. Even the new D300s can only do 7 fps and that is in 12-bit mode. In 14-bit mode, which is what the Canon 7D uses, the Nikon D300s can only do 2.5 fps. Of course, all of this impressive speed from the Canon 7D is due to the fact that it has dual DIGIC 4 Chips.
The Canon 7D can buffer up to 126 JPEG images if you use a UDMA card with it. This is a significant increase over the 90 that the 50D could do with a UDMA card. The Nikon D300 can buffer up to 100 JPEG images.
E. IMAGE QUALITY
18.0 MP CMOS Sensor, High ISO, Resolution and DR
One of the biggest concerns expressed about the Canon 50D was its densely packed sensor with 15.1MP. I was very surprised when the Canon 7D was announced to find out that Canon had decided to push the limit even further by packing close to another 3MP into a crop sensor. Last year they managed to keep noise under control by introducing gapless micro lenses. The gapless micro lenses are still there in the Canon 7D. However, they have also reduced the distance between the micro lenses and the photodiodes. As a result the light can be more easily focused onto the photodiodes. In theory this should result in a better signal to noise ration than on the Canon 50D.
I tested the three (3) cameras both indoor and outdoor at ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400. I tested the Canon 50D and Canon 7D also at ISO 12800. It is not available on the Nikon D300. The tests I did had High ISO Noise Reduction set to standard on all three cameras. For each ISO I loaded the three photos into Photoshop and viewed them at 100%. I am not interested in minute differences that would be revealed by 100% crops.
The Canon 7D easily beats the Canon 50D in every test. The Canon 50D definitely exhibits some amount of banding at both ISO 6400 and 12800 which are completely absent on the Canon 7D. The call between the Canon 7D and the Nikon D300 is a lot closer. At lower ISO I really cannot tell any difference between them even though the Canon 7D has close to 6MP more than the Nikon D300. At higher ISO I would probably give a slight advantage to the Nikon D300 but the difference is really marginal. This is really impressive high ISO performance for a 18MP crop sensor.
The Canon 7D provides lots of sharpness and detail. It easily out resolves both the Canon 50D and especially the Nikon D300 at lower ISO. However, at really high ISO the sharpness and detail on the Canon 7D and the Nikon D300 are really close because the Canon 7D has to apply more noise reduction which leads to some loss of detail and sharpness.
Since the signal to noise ratio is better on the Canon 7D than the Canon 50D you would expect its Dynamic Range (DR) to be better than the 50D. Based on my own tests I would say this is true. However, I would still give the Nikon D300 a slight edge over the 7D when it comes to DR.
I want to stress something here. All three (3) cameras have excellent high ISO performance, resolution and DR. When I say that one camera is slightly better it does not mean that the other camera is bad. I know fanatics on both the Canon and Nikon sides like to think that if their camera does not beat the other brand in every area it means that their camera is bad. Do not be misled by these people. No two cameras are going to score exactly the same score on every single IQ test. Just like in school, there is an acceptable range of performance that is considered excellent. I consider all three cameras to be excellent. What I find really impressive about the Canon 7D is that it is able to pull of this excellent performance with its whopping 18 MP crop sensor.
F. VALUE
I know fanatics like to focus solely on IQ when it comes to determining the overall value of a camera. However, if you check all the professional review sites you will see that IQ is just one of several areas that are used to determine the value of a camera. Why is this? The answer is really so simple it makes you wonder why the fanatics just don’t get it. The answer is that there is always some amount of trade-off between performance and image quality. You will notice that cameras that are optimized for IQ like the 5D Mark 2 have comparatively low frame rates per second. The 5D Mark 2 only has 3.9 fps. The Nikon D700 has 5 fps. You should never buy these cameras if your primary use for them is to shoot sports.
The Canon 7D is a really impressive camera because it scores high in all areas even though it is a 18MP crop sensor camera: ergonomics, build quality, features, performance and IQ. It might not be the best in all of these areas but overall I think it is a slightly better camera than the Nikon D300/D300s. It provides you with unbelievable performance and still delivers excellent IQ.
SECTION 3: Is this the right camera for you?
Your buying decision should be based on your requirements, budget and personal preferences.
It is very tempting when comparing the 7D to the 50D and 40D to get carried away with the 3MP and 8MP difference respectively. However, you really need to consider the type of work that you will be doing and the maximum print size that you expect to do. Here is a summary of the maximum print sizes for different megapixels (resolution):
6 megapixels 8” * 10”
8 megapixels 11” * 14”
10 megapixels 13” * 19”
As you can see if your maximum print size is 8” * 10” then you are covered with even a 6 megapixels camera. You should really have a very good reason for needing the 18MP found on the Canon 7D.
Here is what you should do. Check off the new/changed features that you think you will need based on where you would like your photography to start and be in a couple of years. If these new/changed features are not really important to you then consider the Canon 40D or Canon 50D. The 50D has a lot more features than the 40D but you need really good optics with it because its densely packed sensor will show up the flaws in the lens. For example, photos taken with the 50D and the 28-135mm kit lens tend to be rather soft. I want to point out that the IQ that I saw with the Canon 7D is with the EF 50mm f/1.4 and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Lens. These are high quality optics. I would not pair the Canon 7D with a kit lens and expect professional results. You can start with that lens if you want and upgrade later on. However, remember that you will not be seeing the true potential of that remarkable engineering feat that the Canon 7D is.
The Canon 7D and Nikon D300s (D300 replacement) are very close in price. Both cameras are really very good so it comes down to your requirements and personal preferences here. However, I always point out that Canon lenses are always cheaper and more readily available than their Nikon counterparts.
Also, if this is your first DSLR the Canon 7D has a big advantage over the Nikon D300s. The Canon has a fully automatic shooting mode so you can start out being a complete novice and still use the 7D. I would never recommend the Nikon D300s to someone who is new to the DSLR world unless you are ready to invest a lot of time learning. That camera does not have any fully automatic shooting mode. Also, it tends to just display icons with no description because it is really aimed at experienced photographers. The Canon on the other hand always has a description of each icon it displays. For example, when setting white balance you will see an icon and a description such as shade or sunlight. You won’t see anything like this on the Nikon D300s. With the Canon 7D you can start out shooting in full automatic mode then go on to the Creative Automatic (CA) mode. This allows you to set the technical stuff like depth-of-field using a graphical user interface. You can then graduate to using full manual mode later on.
If you spend $1,700 on a camera like the Canon 7D and you are new to the DSLR world you should take a photography course to make the most of your investment. You can check out my totally free course for Amazon users at tajdslrcourse.
SECTION 4: Conclusion
The Canon 7D is the camera I always knew Canon could deliver. It is finally here and I am really impressed not just by its technical engineering feats but also by the many ergonomic improvements. It shows that Canon really listened to its users this time around. I think this camera is going to do much better than the 50D. Despite all its many features, I cannot stress enough that it is still a camera that you can start out as a novice and grow with. It is true that Canon did remove the scenic shooting modes but you still have the full automatic shooting mode and creative auto mode.
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Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only) Reviews
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