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Canon EOS 7D Ratings, Reviews and Owners Manual

October 23rd, 2009 • Filed Under•90 views

With a host of brand new features designed to enhance every facet of the photographic process, from still images to video, the new 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 all-new 18.0-megapixel 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.

Canon EOS 7D Digital Camera

Index of Canon EOS 7D Expert Reviews

Luminous Landscape— “Frankly, the reason is that I am seeing things which I am not sure are a consequence of the camera’s inherent characteristics or are specific to pre-production cameras or even this specific camera. This includes overall image softness and some digital artifacting. Nothing terrible mind you; just enough though that I am aware of it, and therefore don’t want to make any undue assumptions.”

TechRadar— “Just about the only area in which the 7D is significantly better than the D300S is its video mode. The D300S’ is seriously hampered – only five minutes of recording time per clip, a maximum of 720p resolution and the generally less impressive overall quality of Motion-JPEG compared to the 7D’s silky-smooth H.264 all make the 7D better for aspiring videographers.”

Steve’s Digcams —“Once in your hands, you can immediately feel the ergonomic improvements of the Canon EOS 7D camera, starting with a new super-fluid body design with continuous curves outlining the top of the camera and a revised grip that fits better in a user’s hand. The camera has a new Quick Control Button, which opens an easy-to-navigate menu on the camera’s LCD screen.”

Rob Galbraith—“Control layout and customization Given the fact the 7D isn’t that much bigger a camera, Canon has done well in dispensing with the 50D’s cramped button layout in favour of buttons that are larger, arranged mostly on the side of the rear LCD rather than below it and are easier to press.”

PhotographyBlog— “The only real fly in the ointment is the official recommended retail price is starting to step on the toes of the 5D Mark II, which lacks some of the newer innovations and weather-sealing, but does offer that coveted 21 megapixel full-frame sensor and even better ISO performance.”

cnet reviews—”The good: Very fast; excellent photo quality; flexible autofocus system; big, bright viewfinder; streamlined interface; adds wireless flash control. The bad: Single card slot; some annoying small and hard-to-feel buttons; limited to three shots for bracketing; Live View focusing still slow. The bottom line: An excellent midrange dSLR, the Canon EOS 7D delivers for the money.”
Digital Trends—”it’s a great DSLR that just so happens to record high-definition videos. The big question, though: Is the camera worth its steep asking price? Happily, the answer is yes, since it’s an investment that will pay you back for years to come in terms of great photos. Moreover, for those who enjoy a challenge, it will take some time to learn all of the device’s capabilities. (Canon doesn’t supply an almost 300-page manual just for laughs.) Fortunately, this is one book we wouldn’t mind studying for a long time to learn its intricacies – suffice it to say there’s plenty to absorb between the covers.”
DigitalCameraInfo—”Color accuracy wasn’t as high as we’ve seen on some Canon models, but it will take a critical eye to spot any flaws, and long exposure performance in both color accuracy and image noise were impressive. In bright light, image noise was well contained through ISO 800, but rose above competitive models at higher settings. Images looked sharp as long as the lens wasn’t stopped down too far, and dynamic range was excellent, making this a fine camera for high-contrast shooting situations. “
DigitalCameraReview—”The autofocus is pretty good, image quality is very good, and ISO noise is good considering the resolution. The camera zings along at 8 fps when it needs to and will do that all day before the buffer fills if you’re shooting JPEGS. There’s true 1080p HD video if you’re into that sort of thing and the whole package is well built and designed to resist the elements.”

TrustedReviews—”Canon has taken something of a risk by reducing the sensor resolution of the PowerShot G11, but it has paid off handsomely. The G11 all of has the build quality, features and performance for which the G-series is rightly renowned, and the image quality is as good as a small-sensor compact is ever likely to get. Restored to its rightful place, the G11 is one of the two or three best compacts currently available. “
DPReview—”The G11 is the latest in a well-established line of compact cameras aimed at enthusiasts and, with its large-bodied, retro styling it would appear to be just as aspirational at its predecessors. However, there’s hardly a niche left in the camera market that isn’t finding itself getting pretty crowded as more manufacturers hunt for areas that will allow them room for a little bit of profit margin. As such, if you’re tempted to buy the G11 for its image quality, flexibility of lens range or high level of manual control on a compact camera, you may find a camera that outdoes it – the G11’s talent is to offer all of these things.”

PC Magazine—”Bottom Line:The Canon EOS 7D is one of the best midrange D-SLRs money can buy. But if you don’t need comprehensive video recording features or ultra-high-resolution images, there are a handful of competing D-SLRs that produce comparable image quality for half the price. Pros:Excellent still-image and HD-video quality. Fast performance. Various HD video recording options. Cons:Pricey. Video recording is not as simple as with a dedicated camcorder.”
photographybay—”As a still camera, the 7D produces solid high-resolution images that will satisfy most pixel peepers, budding amateurs and many pro photographers. If you’re a pro on a budget, you could do a lot worse than add a 7D to your kit. While the 7D is not the best thing since sliced bread and it’s image quality doesn’t challenge the 5D Mark II, it’s a big step in the right direction. The Canon 7D gets an easy recommendation from me.”

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There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

Comment by
Richard (Alhambra, CA) on 23 October 2009:

Well after much deliberation between this and a 5d Mark II i decided to opt for the 7D and spend the extra I save on some nice wide angle lenses. First of all for anyone who is expecting a 1.6 crop camera’s image quality to be better than the 5d mark ii you can forget it. The 5D mark ii is a full frame sensor camera and the 7D is a crop, different cameras for different purposes. I know three people who own a 5d mark II, wedding photographer, cinematographer and a landscape photographer. As you can tell, they all need wide angle and good low light performance. The 5D Mark II/other full frame cameras are targeted towards users with wide angle needs. So if you find yourself in a crowded room with little light during a wedding the EOS 7D may not be for you, less you put on a 10-22mm EFS lens which is the widest lens for a APS-C camera.

Image Quality from this camera is amazing, I’ll put up some pictures once it stops raining where I live. Detail is very good, and the 28-135 lens accommodates this cameras ability very nicely, however, starting off at 28mm will probably be too long for most people in everyday situations such as those for street photographers. Picking up a 17-55 2.8 lens will probably be highly recommended by many.

Build Quality is superb. This “tank” of a camera is no light weight and one of the first things you notice when you pick up the camera is the hefty feel you get. Very ergonomic grip and a robust feel all around. Don’t expect to have it hanging around your next too long though. Weather seals are improved and you can notice that the area above the viewfinder is much larger thanks to a 100% coverage pentaprism.

Autofocusing, now I’ve read some issues about the 7D’s new focusing system such as softness from auto zone focusing and I am also getting some mixed results with that as well, some images ranging from very soft to some being as sharp as single AF select. I will update later as I take it out for more situations. However, with that being said, the camera’s autofocusing with the 28-135mm lens is very quiet, very fast and accurate for the most part especially with using the cameras single AF select mode.

Battery Life: still on the first charge off the box, taken about 500 test shots and a few seconds of 720p recording, battery life is about halfway.

ISO performance. Now here is where many have a bone to pick. I am not afraid to use high ISO as my prints rarely go beyond 11×14. More than often I found myself using nothing higher than ISO 1600 on my girlfriend’s 500D/T1i. With the 7D I feel very comfortable using 3200 with about ISO 4000 being my cut off point, that’s where the trade offs between detail and noise will become apparent and start to bother me.

Overall this camera is a very impressive and I’d give it a rating of about 90/100. It has alot to offer being a HD video DSLR.It’ll provide many rebel users enough room to learn and grow. However, I cant stress enough that if you find yourself needing wide angle capabilities and low light performance, saving up for a full frame, it will definitely be worth the wait in the long run. In fact a few 5D Mark I cameras are available for cheaper than the 7D. Without a doubt this is one of the top crop cameras of the market right now. You won’t regret buying this camera.

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Comment by
Gatorowl "billybob" (Florida, USA) on 23 October 2009:

I think this question is one that most of us ask ourselves when considering a purchase of this magnitude. The question is not an easy one, and I’m not sure I made the correct decision in purchasing this marvelous piece of technology. Let me put it in perspective; I am a prosumer camera user. I love photography and take a variety of photographs including family pictures, sports photography (see photos at smugmug for gatorowl), and casual street photography. I have owned lots of cameras including film, digital P&S and DSLRs. The 7D is my sixth DSLR (including a DReb XSI that I sold after two weeks). Before the 7D, my main camera was a 40D, which I found to be satisfactory especially the image quality (IQ). The negatives of the 40D are lack of weather sealing, 6.5 frames per second (fps) repeat rate, 1600 ISO max (can be pushed higher) and some focusing issues especially in sports photography. Of course, when comparing with the the DReb series, these “negatives” immediately become positives. The 40D has better construction, much faster repeat rate, and much better focussing (the T1i has, arguably better high ISO capabilities). The 40D compares well with the Nikon D90. Both cameras are very close. The D90 has video, better high ISO performance, and is a little more compact. However, it is a little slower in repeat rate, and I found selecting D90 focus points a bit on the clumsy side. Anyway, because of lens choices, I decided to go Canon. The 50D held no allure mainly because it was an incremental improvement. So, I thought my kit was set for at least a couple of years.

Notice that in the above discussion, I never talk about IQ. Of all the 10MP or better DSLRs that I have used, there is no noticeable difference in IQ. However, after the 7D announcement and some of the preliminary reviews, I was convinced that the 7D was a quantum improvement over the 40D in every respect. I panicked, sold my 40D and bought a 7D.

So, what did I find? The 7D is a great camera and is a clear improvement over the 40D. In some respects, it is substantially better than a 40D, but IQ isn’t one of those major improvements. If you look at your files at 100%-300%, you will see more detail in a 7D shot. I have a standard photo that I take in my office when I get a new lens. I had to blow the photos up to 300% before I could detect differences. There was more texture detail in the 7D and the contrast and saturation were better. However, to be honest, it’s not clear how much of this difference is attributable to the camera or the lenses (I shot the 40D with a Sigma 70-300mm and the 7D with a Canon 70-300mm IS lens). Frankly, I’m not surprised. DSLRs are so good right now, differences in IQ at low ISO are marginal. However, I do feel confident that I can shoot at 1600 ISO or 2000 ISO with the 7D without a substantial reduction in quality. While I can control noise at 3200 ISO, color saturation and contrast decline more than I like. With the 40D 800 ISO was as far as I wanted to go, but I would push it to 1000 when desperate. The 7D provides is a major ISO gain.

I really love the 7D focus system. I don’t know if it is as good as the Canon 1D series, but it is so, so much better than the 40D. By focusing on the exact point in a field, I feel like my creative options are substantially expanded. I was frequently frustrated by having the wrong part of my picture in focus. This need never happen with the 7D.

The 8fps repeat rate is a nice bonus. It just raises the probability that the exact frame you want will be captured.

So, the question is should you upgrade? You have to decide whether you can afford it; so my advice assume that you can afford the camera, but are looking for the camera that best matches how you shoot.

If this is your first SLR (film or digital):

I’d recommend starting with a Canon T1i or Nikon 90D. The 7D is an extremely complex camera that will take many hours to learn and dozen of hours shooting to master. Unless you have the time to invest in such a camera it will just be a source of frustration. Unlike almost every other camera I’ve owned, the user will obtain disappointing or bad results unless s/he truly understands this equipment. By contrast, you can take other DSLRs and just start shooting. Unlike the other cameras, the 7D has no scene modes. With other DSLRs you can take your time and gradually learn the more sophisticated capabilities. Most importantly, the quality of your pictures will be just as good.

If you are moving up from an entry level DSLR:

You need to ask yourself why you are moving up? If you are dissatisfied with the IQ, then the 7D is not your answer. Using the 7D, it will take a lot more work (initially) to become proficient. However, if you need a faster framerate, better high ISO performance (although the T1i and D90 are very good for high ISO), long for a better focussing system, or shoot in the rain or the beach, then the 7D might make sense.

If you are moving up from a mid-level XXD or Nikon D300:

As before, you’re getting very little IQ improvement (wildlife photographers claim they can use the extra cropping capability, but I’m not convinced it’s substantial). Buy the 7D because the features provide you with value. Also, I would seriously discourage anyone from switching from a Nikon D300 to a 7D. There has to be an absolute must-have 7D feature for you to make that leap.

As for me, I don’t regret this purchase. I’ll never say never, but I’m hoping that the 7D will be my last crop-sensor camera. I love the flexibility and expansion of creative options that the new features allow me. It’s a wonderful camera. I’m looking forward to spending many hours becoming intimately acquainted with its capabilities.

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