London, UK, 1 September 2009: Canon today unveils the EOS 7D digital SLR camera – a completely new design to meet the specific demands of photographers. Incorporating a new 18MP APS-C CMOS Sensor, developed by Canon, the EOS 7D also features: Dual “DIGIC 4” processors to offer fast, high-quality performance in all light conditions, an ISO range expandable to 12,800 and continuous shooting at 8 frames per second – without the need for additional accessories. Impressive technologies are matched by excellent build-quality designed with the photographer in mind – to create a whole new photographic experience.
Canon 7D
Moderators: adam, Forum Admins
Canon 7D
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09090 ... neos7d.asp
-
Green_Manalishi
- First Team Regular
- Posts: 2029
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:34 pm
Re: Canon 7D
Looks nice.
Body is USD1699.00 so what price in Australia?
Around AU$2000?
Happy to stick with my 30D for another year or two. Best camera I've ever owned.
Body is USD1699.00 so what price in Australia?
Around AU$2000?
Happy to stick with my 30D for another year or two. Best camera I've ever owned.
Occasionally available in blue
Re: Canon 7D
what i really like is the 19 AF points... and the 8fps... if only the 5DMkii had included that... oh well...admin wrote:Wow - time to upgrade from my 40D.
On paper the 7D is a superb crop camera.
Re: Canon 7D
Another nice feature:
Dual Axis Electronic Level. The electronic level shows both pitch and roll angles.
Dual Axis Electronic Level. The electronic level shows both pitch and roll angles.
Re: Canon 7D
for low light conditions...berbatov wrote:12800 iso... why?
it would be very interesting to see how clean the 12800 is... the recent improvements at high ISO have been outstanding...
Re: Canon 7D
Will it be useable at anything close to 12800 ISO?adam wrote:for low light conditions...berbatov wrote:12800 iso... why?
it would be very interesting to see how clean the 12800 is... the recent improvements at high ISO have been outstanding...
Re: Canon 7D
Canon EOS 7D
Hands-on Preview
by Shawn Barnett
The long-rumored Canon 7D has finally materialized: an advanced subframe digital SLR that Canon says is in the same class as the 5D Mark II. This is not the 60D with a new name, we're told, but a whole new line; whether the 7D supplants the 50D is not clear.
What is clear is that the Canon EOS 7D is replete with features, many of which seem like a fulfillment of an enthusiast checklist. Other features are clear responses to just about every corner of the digital SLR market, features that are heretofore only seen on one or two cameras from Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, and even Canon's Rebel line. The end result is that much of what Canon users may have admired in other cameras is now available in the Canon 7D.
Competition is good.
The Canon 7D also goes a long way toward tempering fears that the next round of Canon digital SLRs would be full-frame, as several of the advancements take advantage of the sensor's smaller size to achieve greater frame rates. Though the new sensor is 18 megapixels, the Canon 7D is still capable of capturing eight frames per second while maintaining 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion thanks to its dual DIGIC 4 processors. That makes the Canon 7D essentially the company's pro-grade subframe digital camera, going up against the Nikon D300s, leaving the current 50D to compete with the Nikon D90. It's interesting that Canon has essentially had no camera in this category until now.
There's a lot of detail to fill in, but let's get to the walkaround first to provide the usual context. The Canon 7D is similar in size to the EOS 50D, just a little larger, measuring 5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 inches (148.2 x 110.7 x 73.5mm), and weighing 33.3 ounces (2.08 pounds, 945g) with a battery and CF card. With the 28-135mm kit lens, it weighs 51.75 ounces (3.23 pounds, 1,467g).
Look and feel. Falling somewhere between the 5D Mark II and the 50D, the Canon 7D will feel familiar to either type of user. It has a big, comfortable grip with an indentation for the middle finger. The pentaprism housing is a little larger than the 50D, but a little smaller than the 5D Mark II. That's interesting, because the pentaprism in the 7D is actually larger than the 5D Mark II, to support the 100% viewfinder with 1.0 magnification, something we'll get to shortly. Unlike the 5D Mark II, the Canon 7D has a pop-up flash built in.
Canon has nested an infrared sensor into the front of the grip for remote release, something that they've left out of higher-end EOS cameras, instead confining it to the Rebel series. It's a welcome inclusion. Upper right are four holes for the microphone.
Like the 5D series, the Canon 7D's Mode dial is devoid of Scene modes, the first visible sign that this is a pro sub-frame camera. The power switch is in an entirely new place, jutting out toward the rear from under the Mode dial. The Status LCD illumination button is upper right of the LCD, as on the 5D, rather than as on the 50D. And the new Multi-Function (M-Fn) button is just behind and left of the shutter release button. This button can be programmed to quickly adjust several camera parameters.
A new LCD design graces the back of the Canon 7D. Canon has eliminated the air gap between the LCD and cover glass by sandwiching a special optical elastic material between the LCD and the cover glass. This optical elastic material has the same high refractive index as the glass itself. The cover glass is also a reinforced glass instead of the acrylic used on the 50D and 5D Mark II, so they also eliminated the special anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings found on the other recent EOS cameras. The appearance of the LCD is indeed reminiscent of instruments like a liquid-filled compass, with added contrast and less glare. Better yet, it doesn't give your images a blue cast that makes color harder to judge, especially when outdoors with the 50D or T1i.
Also new on the back is the Quick menu button, which brings up the Standard status display, allowing easy navigation and adjustment of the various controls. Where the Live View activation button currently exists on the 5D and 50D, a new RAW+JPEG toggle button has been added, an innovation first seen on Pentax digital SLRs. Whether you're in RAW or JPEG mode, pressing this button turns on RAW+JPEG for the next frame, then reverts to whichever mode you had active. Just lower left of the optical viewfinder are three holes for the speaker. Also new is the Live View/Movie mode switch and start button. When the surrounding switch is set to Live View, as shown above, the Start/Stop button enters and exits Live View mode. When set to Movie mode, the Start/Stop button starts and stops recording.
Because Canon moved the power switch to the upper left under the Mode dial, a new Quick control dial Lock switch was necessary, appearing lower left of the dial. Just upper left of this dial is the ambient light sensor, which the Canon 7D uses to automatically adjust the LCD backlight.
Viewfinder. A significant upgrade to the Canon 7D is its 100 percent viewfinder coverage, something currently only available on a very few competing digital SLR cameras, including the Pentax K7 and the Sony A900. Furthermore, the Canon 7D's viewfinder delivers 1.0x magnification.
The Canon 7D's pentaprism is quite a bit bigger than the Canon 50D's, as shown above.
Much as we've seen in Nikon SLRs, the Canon 7D now uses a Polymer Network LCD as the focusing screen, which includes 19 autofocus points that seem to appear from nothing, rather than the static AF points of old. That also means that gridlines can be turned on and off electronically, rather than requiring a system of interchangeable focusing screens, and the 19 AF points can be clustered as needed.
In low light, a red LED comes on to illuminate the LCD's features, much like the Nikon system, only a little brighter in the early unit I used. In auto mode, the system would detect the light level rather rapidly and switch the LED off and on as light levels dictated. You could also turn this feature off or on.
Another new feature for Canon includes visible indication of focus tracking as a subject moves across the viewfinder. Canon notes that in very cold weather, the LCD might respond more slowly than the AF system itself is making changes, thanks to the reduced response of LCDs in cold weather.
And just like Nikons, the viewfinder gets darker and blurry when you pull the battery, since the liquid crystals go back to a relaxed state without power.
Dual-axis Electronic Level Display
Another feature popping up in more cameras is some form of leveling tool. The Canon 7D has two. The graphic above describes what you see in the optical viewfinder, and there's also one in the Canon 7D's Live View mode. Though the above graphic seems cryptic, essentially the AF indicator bubbles become like bubbles in a level. As you tilt the 7D to the left, the bubble floats to the right. One bubble in the center means the camera is level. Two means it's off by one degree, etc. The six AF points top to bottom also indicate pitch in much the same way.
In Live View mode, the leveling feature is easier to understand and considerably more attractive. Looking much like an airplane's attitude indicator, with its artificial horizon line, the lines light up green when your pitch and roll have settled into a nice even state, as seen at right.
This view is also available on the rear LCD in a larger size without Live View mode active. In these latter two modes, the level displays 360 degree roll and 10 degree pitch in one degree increments. Pressing the Info button cycles through the available displays. The Dual-axis Electronic Level display is also available in the Canon 7D's Movie mode.
Sensor. While Canon led the retreat in resolution for the sake of low-light image quality with the announcement of the 10-megapixel PowerShot G11 and S90 in mid-August 2009, the new Canon 7D continues the subframe SLR's charge ahead to 18 megapixels, up from 15.1 in the Canon 50D. The new CMOS sensor's 4.3-micron pixel pitch is the smallest Canon has included in an SLR, but if the preliminary ISO results hold, they've improved their sensor performance and image processing sufficiently to handle the smaller size. Canon continues to use gapless microlenses, which are also said to be improved. Sensor dimensions are 22.3 x 14.9mm, with a 1.6x crop factor.
The Canon 7D's new sensor also required a boost in image readout speed, so it's fitted with an 8-channel readout, plus faster reading for each individual column; the 5D Mark II and 50D both have a four-channel readout.
Processors. Further increasing the overall throughput are the dual DIGIC 4 chips, making the Canon 7D the fastest sub-frame camera at this price point, capable of capturing up to 8 frames per second, with a burst depth up to 94 JPEGs. With a UDMA CompactFlash card, that average goes up to 126 JPEGs. You can also get 15 RAW images, or 6 RAW+JPEG shots. All of these speeds are possible in the Canon 7D's native 14-bit A/D conversion mode, while the competing Nikon D300s slows from 7 frames per second in 12-bit mode to 2.5 frames per second in 14-bit mode.
Sensitivity. Ranging from ISO 100 to 6,400, plus a Hi setting of 12,800, the Canon 7D seems to improve on the image quality found in the EOS 50D. The dual DIGIC 4 processors should help speed processing, as well as the results.
Shutter. The Canon 7D has a shutter mechanism that's rated at 150,000 cycles. Further, it's described as a rotary magnet shutter, the same design used in the Canon EOS 1v and the EOS 1D Mark II N and Mark III, but resized to fit the Canon 7D's APS-C sensor. This spec alone makes us want to describe the Canon 7D as the budget Canon 1D, as at least its frame rate makes it suitable for sports.
Need for Speed: Here's the Canon 7D ripping away at eight frames per second. I managed to keep it to just 10 frames in this shot. Download the MPEG4 video here for smoother playback.
The shutter sound is quick and relatively quiet, without a bunch of winding and whirring, something I appreciate. Naturally it's a little louder with the lens off, but here's a sample video of what eight frames per second looks like.
Remember, it was only four years ago, September 2005, that the professional Canon 1D Mark II N hit the scene, offering 10-megapixel, APS-H sized images at eight frames per second for $4,000. Now you can get 18-megapixel, APS-C images at eight frames per second for under $1,700 with the Canon 7D.
Autofocus. The Canon 7D's autofocus system has quite a few new features worth mentioning, and some of them are related to the Metering system, which we'll get to in a moment. First, as we've covered in brief, the AF system has 19 autofocus points, each of them a cross-type, optimized to detect both horizontal and vertical features with greater ease. In the center of the screen is the X-type sensor, designed to detect diagonal lines as well, and also requires lenses of f/2.8 or better, while the other points will work up to f/5.6.
New to the Canon 7D is the ability to cluster AF points, and move them around the screen. You can also select a finer point than usual, called a Spot point, choosing from all 19 across the screen.
There are so many autofocus options that it can become rather troublesome cycling through them. But Custom function III/6 allows you to disable the ones you don't plan to use so you can save time. A nice feature.
Canon is also making some interesting claims about the AI Servo AF system, which has a new algorithm that is expected to handle irregular movement better than the Canon 50D, which should mean better sports shots.
Another truly unique use of AI Servo technology is employed during Macro shooting. The new system can compensate and track so quickly with certain lenses that it can lock and track focus as you unconsciously move closer to and further from your Macro target, like a flower. It essentially adds a third dimension to any IS-capable lens.
And as you're tracking a subject that's moving rapidly, the new AF points will illuminate as your subject moves on the screen, further evidence that the Canon 7D has seen your target and is keeping it in focus.
We weren't able to make it work when we first had the prototype camera, but the idea of Orientation-linked AF was intriguing. You simply select the AF point you want to maintain -- say, the upper left point -- and when you rotate the camera from horizontal to vertical format, the Canon 7D remembers that you always want the upper left point, and it selects that point. If we can get it to work more simply and successfully, we'll be pleased to have that feature at our disposal.
Metering. As I said, the Canon 7D's new AF system is tightly linked to the Metering system, much like recent Nikon systems, and even the concepts are similar; but the uses are not the same. It all comes down to the Canon 7D's iFCL, or Intelligent Focus Color Luminosity metering system.
First the new meter has 63 zones, and they are linked to the 19 autofocus points. Sound familiar? The metering sensor has two layers: the top is sensitive to Red and Green, and the bottom layer to Blue and Green. So it can measure a full spectrum of RGB, rather than just luminosity; and when it compares the data between the AF system and its own color system, the Canon 7D has a better understanding of the image area; not only what colors there are, but what is where.
Nikon uses this same type of data to track objects moving through the image area, augmenting their continuous focus mode. Canon does not. They have other fish to fry. First, they make up for the normal foibles of silicon sensors by detecting Red and compensating silicon's red sensitivity, which gives it a tendency to overexpose red objects. The Canon 7D's meter, now having color vision, can make the necessary change.
The Canon 7D also uses the color information to better identify objects, merging that information with the AF sensor data to calculate an object's total range of distances; in that way it can set the aperture to keep that object in focus, if desired.
The color information also becomes important when trying to focus more accurately when shooting under unusual light sources, like sodium lights, whose unusual spectrum often fools AF systems into backfocusing significantly. When light sources like these are detected, though, the Canon 7D can compensate. For more on this issue, see our Exposure page.
Flash. The Canon 7D's built-in flash is able to cover a wider angle of up to 15mm, though its range is limited as a result, with a guide number of 39 feet (12 meters) at ISO 100. The Canon 50D's flash was able to cover 42 feet (13 meters), but the extra wide-angle coverage will be appreciated nonetheless.
In another answer to a long-neglected Nikon capability, the Canon 7D is the first Canon able to control up to three groups of wireless flashes direct from the built-in pop-up flash, using E-TTL or Manual control.
Canon sent us some interesting illustrations to outline the basic capabilities of the EOS 7D's wireless flash. They're a little large, though, so I put them all into one graphic, whose thumbnail you can click on at left.
Movie mode. The Canon 7D's Movie mode supports Auto and Manual exposure and multiple frame rates. Maximum resolution is 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 16:9 aspect ratio, or Full HD. Other resolutions include 720p and 640x480 at 30 frames per second. How you activate your movies has changed from other recent models, with both Movie and Live View modes linked to a single switch and button combination, placed within easy reach of your thumb.
Movie mode on all digital SLRs is not really ready to replace the family camcorder, however, because lenses don't focus quietly or quickly enough for the average consumer; as a result, we don't recommend you base a purchase decision on this feature alone. If you want to know a lot more about this feature, though, see our extensive writeup, complete with test videos, on the Canon 7D Video tab of this Hands-on Preview (or click here).
Analysis. The Canon 7D is long overdue. It's been rumored for something like five years, though most of those rumors spec'd it as a full-frame camera. But I think this is just right: I don't think they could have included another important feature without making the Canon 7D look absurd. Okay, maybe a real AF-assist lamp is all that's missing. Everything else is in there. Simple things like a RAW button, a programmable Multi Function button, and a Quick-menu button for easy navigation on the rear Status display all make using the Canon 7D easier, without having to delve so often into the menus. And I think Canon may have figured out a good solution for Live View and Movie modes, building-in a button for both, with a switch to select between them.
Nikon users have for too long been able to get away with buying just one flash to create interesting lighting with their cameras, while Canon users have had to buy at least two to take advantage of the company's powerful wireless flash system. Now, with the wireless flash control built into the Canon 7D, Canon fans just have to buy one of the more expensive -- but certainly more affordable -- digital SLRs in the lineup. Indeed, now you can have an 18-megapixel digital camera that does eight frames per second for under $2,000! Before now, you couldn't have one at any price.
This is the camera that Canon enthusiasts, indeed many camera enthusiasts, have been waiting for, and I suspect it will sell very well. Check out the image quality results to see whether it's worthy. Our initial impressions are quite good.
Hands-on Preview
by Shawn Barnett
The long-rumored Canon 7D has finally materialized: an advanced subframe digital SLR that Canon says is in the same class as the 5D Mark II. This is not the 60D with a new name, we're told, but a whole new line; whether the 7D supplants the 50D is not clear.
What is clear is that the Canon EOS 7D is replete with features, many of which seem like a fulfillment of an enthusiast checklist. Other features are clear responses to just about every corner of the digital SLR market, features that are heretofore only seen on one or two cameras from Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, and even Canon's Rebel line. The end result is that much of what Canon users may have admired in other cameras is now available in the Canon 7D.
Competition is good.
The Canon 7D also goes a long way toward tempering fears that the next round of Canon digital SLRs would be full-frame, as several of the advancements take advantage of the sensor's smaller size to achieve greater frame rates. Though the new sensor is 18 megapixels, the Canon 7D is still capable of capturing eight frames per second while maintaining 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion thanks to its dual DIGIC 4 processors. That makes the Canon 7D essentially the company's pro-grade subframe digital camera, going up against the Nikon D300s, leaving the current 50D to compete with the Nikon D90. It's interesting that Canon has essentially had no camera in this category until now.
There's a lot of detail to fill in, but let's get to the walkaround first to provide the usual context. The Canon 7D is similar in size to the EOS 50D, just a little larger, measuring 5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 inches (148.2 x 110.7 x 73.5mm), and weighing 33.3 ounces (2.08 pounds, 945g) with a battery and CF card. With the 28-135mm kit lens, it weighs 51.75 ounces (3.23 pounds, 1,467g).
Look and feel. Falling somewhere between the 5D Mark II and the 50D, the Canon 7D will feel familiar to either type of user. It has a big, comfortable grip with an indentation for the middle finger. The pentaprism housing is a little larger than the 50D, but a little smaller than the 5D Mark II. That's interesting, because the pentaprism in the 7D is actually larger than the 5D Mark II, to support the 100% viewfinder with 1.0 magnification, something we'll get to shortly. Unlike the 5D Mark II, the Canon 7D has a pop-up flash built in.
Canon has nested an infrared sensor into the front of the grip for remote release, something that they've left out of higher-end EOS cameras, instead confining it to the Rebel series. It's a welcome inclusion. Upper right are four holes for the microphone.
Like the 5D series, the Canon 7D's Mode dial is devoid of Scene modes, the first visible sign that this is a pro sub-frame camera. The power switch is in an entirely new place, jutting out toward the rear from under the Mode dial. The Status LCD illumination button is upper right of the LCD, as on the 5D, rather than as on the 50D. And the new Multi-Function (M-Fn) button is just behind and left of the shutter release button. This button can be programmed to quickly adjust several camera parameters.
A new LCD design graces the back of the Canon 7D. Canon has eliminated the air gap between the LCD and cover glass by sandwiching a special optical elastic material between the LCD and the cover glass. This optical elastic material has the same high refractive index as the glass itself. The cover glass is also a reinforced glass instead of the acrylic used on the 50D and 5D Mark II, so they also eliminated the special anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings found on the other recent EOS cameras. The appearance of the LCD is indeed reminiscent of instruments like a liquid-filled compass, with added contrast and less glare. Better yet, it doesn't give your images a blue cast that makes color harder to judge, especially when outdoors with the 50D or T1i.
Also new on the back is the Quick menu button, which brings up the Standard status display, allowing easy navigation and adjustment of the various controls. Where the Live View activation button currently exists on the 5D and 50D, a new RAW+JPEG toggle button has been added, an innovation first seen on Pentax digital SLRs. Whether you're in RAW or JPEG mode, pressing this button turns on RAW+JPEG for the next frame, then reverts to whichever mode you had active. Just lower left of the optical viewfinder are three holes for the speaker. Also new is the Live View/Movie mode switch and start button. When the surrounding switch is set to Live View, as shown above, the Start/Stop button enters and exits Live View mode. When set to Movie mode, the Start/Stop button starts and stops recording.
Because Canon moved the power switch to the upper left under the Mode dial, a new Quick control dial Lock switch was necessary, appearing lower left of the dial. Just upper left of this dial is the ambient light sensor, which the Canon 7D uses to automatically adjust the LCD backlight.
Viewfinder. A significant upgrade to the Canon 7D is its 100 percent viewfinder coverage, something currently only available on a very few competing digital SLR cameras, including the Pentax K7 and the Sony A900. Furthermore, the Canon 7D's viewfinder delivers 1.0x magnification.
The Canon 7D's pentaprism is quite a bit bigger than the Canon 50D's, as shown above.
Much as we've seen in Nikon SLRs, the Canon 7D now uses a Polymer Network LCD as the focusing screen, which includes 19 autofocus points that seem to appear from nothing, rather than the static AF points of old. That also means that gridlines can be turned on and off electronically, rather than requiring a system of interchangeable focusing screens, and the 19 AF points can be clustered as needed.
In low light, a red LED comes on to illuminate the LCD's features, much like the Nikon system, only a little brighter in the early unit I used. In auto mode, the system would detect the light level rather rapidly and switch the LED off and on as light levels dictated. You could also turn this feature off or on.
Another new feature for Canon includes visible indication of focus tracking as a subject moves across the viewfinder. Canon notes that in very cold weather, the LCD might respond more slowly than the AF system itself is making changes, thanks to the reduced response of LCDs in cold weather.
And just like Nikons, the viewfinder gets darker and blurry when you pull the battery, since the liquid crystals go back to a relaxed state without power.
Dual-axis Electronic Level Display
Another feature popping up in more cameras is some form of leveling tool. The Canon 7D has two. The graphic above describes what you see in the optical viewfinder, and there's also one in the Canon 7D's Live View mode. Though the above graphic seems cryptic, essentially the AF indicator bubbles become like bubbles in a level. As you tilt the 7D to the left, the bubble floats to the right. One bubble in the center means the camera is level. Two means it's off by one degree, etc. The six AF points top to bottom also indicate pitch in much the same way.
In Live View mode, the leveling feature is easier to understand and considerably more attractive. Looking much like an airplane's attitude indicator, with its artificial horizon line, the lines light up green when your pitch and roll have settled into a nice even state, as seen at right.
This view is also available on the rear LCD in a larger size without Live View mode active. In these latter two modes, the level displays 360 degree roll and 10 degree pitch in one degree increments. Pressing the Info button cycles through the available displays. The Dual-axis Electronic Level display is also available in the Canon 7D's Movie mode.
Sensor. While Canon led the retreat in resolution for the sake of low-light image quality with the announcement of the 10-megapixel PowerShot G11 and S90 in mid-August 2009, the new Canon 7D continues the subframe SLR's charge ahead to 18 megapixels, up from 15.1 in the Canon 50D. The new CMOS sensor's 4.3-micron pixel pitch is the smallest Canon has included in an SLR, but if the preliminary ISO results hold, they've improved their sensor performance and image processing sufficiently to handle the smaller size. Canon continues to use gapless microlenses, which are also said to be improved. Sensor dimensions are 22.3 x 14.9mm, with a 1.6x crop factor.
The Canon 7D's new sensor also required a boost in image readout speed, so it's fitted with an 8-channel readout, plus faster reading for each individual column; the 5D Mark II and 50D both have a four-channel readout.
Processors. Further increasing the overall throughput are the dual DIGIC 4 chips, making the Canon 7D the fastest sub-frame camera at this price point, capable of capturing up to 8 frames per second, with a burst depth up to 94 JPEGs. With a UDMA CompactFlash card, that average goes up to 126 JPEGs. You can also get 15 RAW images, or 6 RAW+JPEG shots. All of these speeds are possible in the Canon 7D's native 14-bit A/D conversion mode, while the competing Nikon D300s slows from 7 frames per second in 12-bit mode to 2.5 frames per second in 14-bit mode.
Sensitivity. Ranging from ISO 100 to 6,400, plus a Hi setting of 12,800, the Canon 7D seems to improve on the image quality found in the EOS 50D. The dual DIGIC 4 processors should help speed processing, as well as the results.
Shutter. The Canon 7D has a shutter mechanism that's rated at 150,000 cycles. Further, it's described as a rotary magnet shutter, the same design used in the Canon EOS 1v and the EOS 1D Mark II N and Mark III, but resized to fit the Canon 7D's APS-C sensor. This spec alone makes us want to describe the Canon 7D as the budget Canon 1D, as at least its frame rate makes it suitable for sports.
Need for Speed: Here's the Canon 7D ripping away at eight frames per second. I managed to keep it to just 10 frames in this shot. Download the MPEG4 video here for smoother playback.
The shutter sound is quick and relatively quiet, without a bunch of winding and whirring, something I appreciate. Naturally it's a little louder with the lens off, but here's a sample video of what eight frames per second looks like.
Remember, it was only four years ago, September 2005, that the professional Canon 1D Mark II N hit the scene, offering 10-megapixel, APS-H sized images at eight frames per second for $4,000. Now you can get 18-megapixel, APS-C images at eight frames per second for under $1,700 with the Canon 7D.
Autofocus. The Canon 7D's autofocus system has quite a few new features worth mentioning, and some of them are related to the Metering system, which we'll get to in a moment. First, as we've covered in brief, the AF system has 19 autofocus points, each of them a cross-type, optimized to detect both horizontal and vertical features with greater ease. In the center of the screen is the X-type sensor, designed to detect diagonal lines as well, and also requires lenses of f/2.8 or better, while the other points will work up to f/5.6.
New to the Canon 7D is the ability to cluster AF points, and move them around the screen. You can also select a finer point than usual, called a Spot point, choosing from all 19 across the screen.
There are so many autofocus options that it can become rather troublesome cycling through them. But Custom function III/6 allows you to disable the ones you don't plan to use so you can save time. A nice feature.
Canon is also making some interesting claims about the AI Servo AF system, which has a new algorithm that is expected to handle irregular movement better than the Canon 50D, which should mean better sports shots.
Another truly unique use of AI Servo technology is employed during Macro shooting. The new system can compensate and track so quickly with certain lenses that it can lock and track focus as you unconsciously move closer to and further from your Macro target, like a flower. It essentially adds a third dimension to any IS-capable lens.
And as you're tracking a subject that's moving rapidly, the new AF points will illuminate as your subject moves on the screen, further evidence that the Canon 7D has seen your target and is keeping it in focus.
We weren't able to make it work when we first had the prototype camera, but the idea of Orientation-linked AF was intriguing. You simply select the AF point you want to maintain -- say, the upper left point -- and when you rotate the camera from horizontal to vertical format, the Canon 7D remembers that you always want the upper left point, and it selects that point. If we can get it to work more simply and successfully, we'll be pleased to have that feature at our disposal.
Metering. As I said, the Canon 7D's new AF system is tightly linked to the Metering system, much like recent Nikon systems, and even the concepts are similar; but the uses are not the same. It all comes down to the Canon 7D's iFCL, or Intelligent Focus Color Luminosity metering system.
First the new meter has 63 zones, and they are linked to the 19 autofocus points. Sound familiar? The metering sensor has two layers: the top is sensitive to Red and Green, and the bottom layer to Blue and Green. So it can measure a full spectrum of RGB, rather than just luminosity; and when it compares the data between the AF system and its own color system, the Canon 7D has a better understanding of the image area; not only what colors there are, but what is where.
Nikon uses this same type of data to track objects moving through the image area, augmenting their continuous focus mode. Canon does not. They have other fish to fry. First, they make up for the normal foibles of silicon sensors by detecting Red and compensating silicon's red sensitivity, which gives it a tendency to overexpose red objects. The Canon 7D's meter, now having color vision, can make the necessary change.
The Canon 7D also uses the color information to better identify objects, merging that information with the AF sensor data to calculate an object's total range of distances; in that way it can set the aperture to keep that object in focus, if desired.
The color information also becomes important when trying to focus more accurately when shooting under unusual light sources, like sodium lights, whose unusual spectrum often fools AF systems into backfocusing significantly. When light sources like these are detected, though, the Canon 7D can compensate. For more on this issue, see our Exposure page.
Flash. The Canon 7D's built-in flash is able to cover a wider angle of up to 15mm, though its range is limited as a result, with a guide number of 39 feet (12 meters) at ISO 100. The Canon 50D's flash was able to cover 42 feet (13 meters), but the extra wide-angle coverage will be appreciated nonetheless.
In another answer to a long-neglected Nikon capability, the Canon 7D is the first Canon able to control up to three groups of wireless flashes direct from the built-in pop-up flash, using E-TTL or Manual control.
Canon sent us some interesting illustrations to outline the basic capabilities of the EOS 7D's wireless flash. They're a little large, though, so I put them all into one graphic, whose thumbnail you can click on at left.
Movie mode. The Canon 7D's Movie mode supports Auto and Manual exposure and multiple frame rates. Maximum resolution is 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 16:9 aspect ratio, or Full HD. Other resolutions include 720p and 640x480 at 30 frames per second. How you activate your movies has changed from other recent models, with both Movie and Live View modes linked to a single switch and button combination, placed within easy reach of your thumb.
Movie mode on all digital SLRs is not really ready to replace the family camcorder, however, because lenses don't focus quietly or quickly enough for the average consumer; as a result, we don't recommend you base a purchase decision on this feature alone. If you want to know a lot more about this feature, though, see our extensive writeup, complete with test videos, on the Canon 7D Video tab of this Hands-on Preview (or click here).
Analysis. The Canon 7D is long overdue. It's been rumored for something like five years, though most of those rumors spec'd it as a full-frame camera. But I think this is just right: I don't think they could have included another important feature without making the Canon 7D look absurd. Okay, maybe a real AF-assist lamp is all that's missing. Everything else is in there. Simple things like a RAW button, a programmable Multi Function button, and a Quick-menu button for easy navigation on the rear Status display all make using the Canon 7D easier, without having to delve so often into the menus. And I think Canon may have figured out a good solution for Live View and Movie modes, building-in a button for both, with a switch to select between them.
Nikon users have for too long been able to get away with buying just one flash to create interesting lighting with their cameras, while Canon users have had to buy at least two to take advantage of the company's powerful wireless flash system. Now, with the wireless flash control built into the Canon 7D, Canon fans just have to buy one of the more expensive -- but certainly more affordable -- digital SLRs in the lineup. Indeed, now you can have an 18-megapixel digital camera that does eight frames per second for under $2,000! Before now, you couldn't have one at any price.
This is the camera that Canon enthusiasts, indeed many camera enthusiasts, have been waiting for, and I suspect it will sell very well. Check out the image quality results to see whether it's worthy. Our initial impressions are quite good.
Re: Canon 7D
I shall upgrade from the 40D to the 7D.
Its a pretty significant upgrade from my 40D. Wouldnt be much of a change for a 5d series II such as what Adam is sporting these days.
Its a pretty significant upgrade from my 40D. Wouldnt be much of a change for a 5d series II such as what Adam is sporting these days.
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Green_Manalishi
- First Team Regular
- Posts: 2029
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:34 pm
Re: Canon 7D
I read on another forum that the 12800 ISO is comparable to 3200 ISO on 'older' modelsadmin wrote:Will it be useable at anything close to 12800 ISO?adam wrote:for low light conditions...berbatov wrote:12800 iso... why?
it would be very interesting to see how clean the 12800 is... the recent improvements at high ISO have been outstanding...
Occasionally available in blue
Re: Canon 7D
6 months later and I am yet to upgrade. One day soon unless the 5Dmk111 comes out:)admin wrote:I shall upgrade from the 40D to the 7D.
Its a pretty significant upgrade from my 40D. Wouldnt be much of a change for a 5d series II such as what Adam is sporting these days.
Re: Canon 7D
Now that is serious equipment.adam wrote:i am seriously considering the 1D MK IV... one day
You may have to sell the house to buy it:)
Re: Canon 7D
i could sell some older cameras to help... anyways, looks like i will have to wait... will see this season out with the 7D, unless my numbers come up 
5DMkii is better camera than the 7D... apart from the FPS... oh well i was pretty happy with the photos last weekend... had to work on them pretty hard though...
5DMkii is better camera than the 7D... apart from the FPS... oh well i was pretty happy with the photos last weekend... had to work on them pretty hard though...
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malvernfox
- Apprentice
- Posts: 238
- Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:26 am
Re: Canon 7D
Some great action shots including a bit of shoving on the sideline!
Will get out to a game this weekend--had my sons wedding in Melbourne on the weekend.
Its not too late to get some Nikon gear!
Will get out to a game this weekend--had my sons wedding in Melbourne on the weekend.
Its not too late to get some Nikon gear!
Malvern Fox
Re: Canon 7D
malvernfox wrote:Some great action shots including a bit of shoving on the sideline!
Will get out to a game this weekend--had my sons wedding in Melbourne on the weekend.
Its not too late to get some Nikon gear!
it's too late when you have dollars tied up in lenses... be good to see you back out there...
Re: Canon 7D
So does that mean you would recommend the 5Dmkii over the 7D?adam wrote:i could sell some older cameras to help... anyways, looks like i will have to wait... will see this season out with the 7D, unless my numbers come up
5DMkii is better camera than the 7D... apart from the FPS... oh well i was pretty happy with the photos last weekend... had to work on them pretty hard though...
Re: Canon 7D
i believe it is a better "camera"... but there other things to consider...
the 5D2 is full frame... so the 7D will give better reach... but then the 5D is 21mp against 18mp... not a big difference, but when cropping a photo, it makes the reach of the 7D less of an issue.
the frames per second is double on the 7D, 8 fps v 3.9.
the 5D2 is much better in low light... noise at high ISO is much more pronounced with the 7D.
the 7D has built in flash...
so it really depends on what you want shoot, when you want to shoot and how you want to shoot...
for me the 5D2 wins hands down... apart from FPS
the 5D2 is full frame... so the 7D will give better reach... but then the 5D is 21mp against 18mp... not a big difference, but when cropping a photo, it makes the reach of the 7D less of an issue.
the frames per second is double on the 7D, 8 fps v 3.9.
the 5D2 is much better in low light... noise at high ISO is much more pronounced with the 7D.
the 7D has built in flash...
so it really depends on what you want shoot, when you want to shoot and how you want to shoot...
for me the 5D2 wins hands down... apart from FPS
Re: Canon 7D
I found another interesting feature on my 40D the other day - it was pointed out to me by another photographer - its called long exposure noise reduction.
Now I like taking long exposures - typically these are 2minute to 10 minute exposures taken at night. One problem with digital cameras is the level of noise.
The long exposure noise reduction feature takes a second shot with the shutter closed then deducts that image from the first shot with the shutter open - this removes nearly all of the digital noise that occurs with long exposure shots.
Only problem is that every shot now takes twice as long - eg a 10 minute long exposure is followed by a 10 minute noise reduction exposure = 20 minutes and that is a long time between shots!!
Here is an example of a long exposure - taken overlooking Goolwa Beach - at the bottom of the image is the sand track for cars that want to drive onto the beach and head towards the mouth of the River Murray. The long exposure has captured a vehicle moving along the track.
Now I like taking long exposures - typically these are 2minute to 10 minute exposures taken at night. One problem with digital cameras is the level of noise.
The long exposure noise reduction feature takes a second shot with the shutter closed then deducts that image from the first shot with the shutter open - this removes nearly all of the digital noise that occurs with long exposure shots.
Only problem is that every shot now takes twice as long - eg a 10 minute long exposure is followed by a 10 minute noise reduction exposure = 20 minutes and that is a long time between shots!!
Here is an example of a long exposure - taken overlooking Goolwa Beach - at the bottom of the image is the sand track for cars that want to drive onto the beach and head towards the mouth of the River Murray. The long exposure has captured a vehicle moving along the track.
Re: Canon 7D
i got the 7D a few days ago! 
was in japan to ski and went through tokyo on the way back. found a second hand one (i can't find any difference to new so far) with a 18-200mm IS USM lens for about 1700AUD!
can't wait to try it out on gameday, also for its full HD recording! in the meantime i'm sorting through my tokyo and singapore photos!
bit of an upgrade from my 300D
was in japan to ski and went through tokyo on the way back. found a second hand one (i can't find any difference to new so far) with a 18-200mm IS USM lens for about 1700AUD!
can't wait to try it out on gameday, also for its full HD recording! in the meantime i'm sorting through my tokyo and singapore photos!
bit of an upgrade from my 300D
Re: Canon 7D
Let me know how you go.berbatov wrote:i got the 7D a few days ago!
was in japan to ski and went through tokyo on the way back. found a second hand one (i can't find any difference to new so far) with a 18-200mm IS USM lens for about 1700AUD!
can't wait to try it out on gameday, also for its full HD recording! in the meantime i'm sorting through my tokyo and singapore photos!
bit of an upgrade from my 300D
I have been holding back on buying a 7D.
I do a lot of long exposure night shots and the 5D would be better suited to these shots. But I am also off to the Australian Airshow in a few weeks and the extra reach and speed of the 7D is a significant advantage in those circumstances.
I think I will own a 7D before the week is out!
Re: Canon 7D
for high speed stuff the 7D wins hands down - 8fps! but i hear 5DM2 wins for low light, handles high iso much better.
i'll see how i go, might take it down to the internal trials at iggies on the weekend. still sorting out through my singapore zoo photos!
i'll see how i go, might take it down to the internal trials at iggies on the weekend. still sorting out through my singapore zoo photos!
Re: Canon 7D
You guys have way too much spare money 
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Re: Canon 7D
There ar more Canons in here than the Holy City...
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