Canon EOS 7D Review

Design

Canon EOS 7D review - Design

On first inspection of the Canon EOS 7D you may not notice much physical change from previous models to justify this ‘reinvention' tag - but once you start to use it you realise that there are significant changes in both handling and functionality. The body is made from a rugged magnesium alloy structure and weather sealing on a par with the professional EOS 1n film SLR, making it feel very sturdy. Buttons are plentiful but useful and well spaced to avoid accidental presses, with the large rotating dial featuring a lock function. The most significant changes to the rear are the positioning of the power switch and the addition of a dedicated live view/movie button. The power switch has moved up to the top left, which seems sensible if not slightly alien to existing Canon users.

The new live view button sits just neatly to the left of the thumb's natural position, with a start/stop button and a switch between the two modes. Other additions include a Quick button for access to the main feature set and a Raw/JPEG button, which adds dual format to the next shot, no matter which you are currently shooting in. The rest is reminiscent of the 5D Mk II and therefore already a proven success. The menu is divided into colour-coded icon-based sections, which can be scrolled through using the mini joystick control or the finger dial and large rear dial. A large number of buttons can be customised from the Custom Controls menu, from the lenses AF/Manual selection to the shutter button half press. In fact, the camera seems designed to be fine-tuned and customised to your own style of shooting. At first this can seem a little like overkill, but for extended use and those used to working in set ways, does make a great deal of sense.

The one criticism is that, with so many menus and option screens, finding the function you're looking for can be tricky, and until you get to know how it works you may find yourself experimenting with button combinations and having to scour sub-menus. Buy this camera now !

Canon EOS 7D Review sample image - click for full size image.

The AF servo system allows rapid subject tracking, which made capturing these jumping skiers and snowboarders a much simpler task. Also, thanks to the eight frames per second burst rate, I could fire the shutter as they took off and pick out the best shot after. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8, 200mm, f/2.8, 1/320sec, ISO 500, AWB

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Latest comments

November 18 12:44

Michael

One issue that has been raised by a number of users and non-commercial/enthusiast reviews of the EOS 7D is of image sharpness - with some suggestions that even RAW images are very soft. To my eye, all of the sample images in this review do appear soft (admittedly viewed on a non-colour balanced monitor). What is What Digital Camera's opinion on this question? Or other users'?

November 18 16:32

Mat Gallagher

Raw images often appear soft when compared to JPEG images as they contain no sharpening and the Raw images outputted for this test have not had any sharpening added. Slight image softness is fairly common - particularly as you reach mid to advanced models - as it allows you to control your own levels of sharpening and often leads to a better result. However, the JPEG images from this camera are pin sharp - even at higher ISO values.

November 28 08:19

colin davis

Yet another stunning piece of equipment from one of the big boys. Is this inclusion of video going to become a standard in all top middle to top end products? I am considering an upgrade from another platform to get into the canon system but am reluctant to pay for video which is something I wouldn't use.Can't these camera's be offered in 2 flavours, 1 with video and one without?

December 08 11:16

Ezine

Here's a review from an extremely seasoned & competent photographer, all his tests are right "out of the box" (7D, D300s, etc), no processing. The results are softness in every 7D shots, but not found on the other cameras, including much cheaper cameras! Canon has been making cameras long enough not to let such a product out of their factory, and they have harmed themselves with the megapixel war. http://darwinwiggett.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/the-canon-7d/

December 17 05:06

Richard

Before Canon Release 7D, the web was flooded with a large number of samples pictures shot with the 7DBeta...since then nobody shot sharp picture with 7D....so those original pictures was shot on the same camera? or perhaps Beta was better. Where I can buy 7D Beta ?

January 10 15:50

Adam

Wanting full-frame, I was on the point of buying a 5D II but the 7D's arrival shows how much is missing from the 5D II. Top of my wishlist would be the 7D's AF system, though the improved movie functionality / controls would be nice. I doubt the next 5D will get the 7D's 8fps speed, since that would make the 1D almost pointless. All the same, I'll wait for the 5D III - the 5D II already looks deficient in so many ways.

January 14 06:40

Kevin

Obviously ones idea of a sharp image will be different than anothers. I for one can see the soft appearance of the sample photo of the girl. View the larger version and it becomes even more apparent. Now Im not saying its not a good capture but definitely not what I consider sharp.

January 21 17:55

JoelKhaw

Excellent camera with great features. http://www.joelkhaw.tumblr.com

August 29 09:26

Jetinder Sira

I use a Canon EOS 3 35mm film camera and I really adore it. But if they stop making film the 7D is the camera I would buy as (from this review) its good value for money. Apart from lack of full frame and 45 AF points, the 7D has all the features of the much more expensive 1D IV but at half the price.

October 17 17:35

Garrick Maguire

The 7D does not target genuine 5D MK II users, who need or just want clean very large photos. the low light performance and all round quality of the 5D MK II, for e.g. coupled with a 135 f/2, is surely on a par with medium format. Meanwhile the 7D is going to give fabulous results up to a lower ISO threshold but do it all a bit faster. If fps is the killer need then there is no discussion, otherwise quality simply underlines the 5D MK II. But in then end, who's going to know if the photo is well done? Regards, Garrick, Rome

January 02 20:58

Rawan

I have a canon eos 1000D I bought it almost 4 years ago but I was looking at the sample photographs for the eos 7D and The pictures that I take on my old camera look better and of a better quality!! I wan a camera that has a crispy and sharp effect, Would you recommend one?

April 26 22:50

Nigel Hunter

I have been using a Canon 7d for a while now and I have to say it is brilliant. I upgraded from a Canon 400d and wanted a camera that would take the lenses I already had with the 400d. The 7d fitted the bill and doesn't dissapoint. The controls are easy to use and the picture quality is excellent. I take a lot of landsacpe photos so it compliments my Canon 10-22 USM lens perfectly. I would definitely recomend this.