Canon EOS 7D Review

Image Quality & Value For Money

Canon EOS 7D review - Image Quality

Canon 7D review - Tone and Exposure

The metering system ensures an extensive tonal range but manages to keep both highlight and shadow details with little problem. For trickier scenes the 7D features a Highlight Tone Priority function to avoid losing highlights by altering the metering before taking the shot, and an Auto Lighting optimiser that can be set to Low, Standard, or Strong and uses processing after the shot to adjust the brightness and contrast

Canon 7D review - White Balance and Colour

The auto white balance is as reliable as you could ask for, whether shooting indoors, outdoors, in daylight or low light. It was consistently accurate no matter what light source was thrown at it. If anything, tones did verge onto the cool side but this was often against skin tones, which were perfectly balanced. Colours didn't feel as muted as with some EOS models, especially when the Auto Lighting optimiser was used or Raw images were opened into Adobe Lightroom.

Canon 7D review - RAW/JPEG

JPEG images show definite signs of noise processing, which manages to make even ultra-high ISO values appear usable by removing the nasty colour noise with very little loss in image detail. The unprocessed Raw files show some fairly heavy colour noise above ISO 3200 but in turn retain a little more detail, so by using the Raw file, and adding your own noise reduction, it is possible to get the best of both worlds.

Canon 7D review - Image Noise and ISO

When examining the Raw files, noise is visible in images above ISO 800. However, this is minor and only shows sign of the more abrasive colour noise above ISO 1600. If you allow the camera to perform noise reduction, however, noise is very minimal in appearance even at ISO 6400, and even the High-1 ISO 12,800 is not beyond use. With this level of quality on output almost no scene is beyond the camera, though for optimum results you should try to stay below ISO 800.

Canon 7D review - Sharpness and Detail

For most of the testing I used pro L series lenses to ensure the maximum quality from the 7D and I wasn't disappointed. Images were extremely well detailed throughout, and blisteringly sharp even on some of the moving subjects.

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

Even under difficult lighting the Auto White Balance produced great skin tones. Canon EF 24-70mm, f/2.8, 1/320sec, ISO 100

Canon EOS 7D review - Value for Money

With the recent spate of camera price increases, value has to be readdressed. The price gap between older models and their new counterparts remains vast, making it more difficult to recommend any new model. The Nikon D300s can now be found for as little as £1,250, while the 7D's lowest current offering is around £1,500. Canon's well-established 5D Mk II is still fetching more than £1,800, and in many respects the 7D is just as good - though the 5D mk II's full frame sensor demands a premium price tag. With a little time to bed in, the 7D is likely follow the Nikon D300s price closely, and at that point the marks for value may even rise. For now, though, it would be fair to say that it's a premium product worth paying for.

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Current Rating 3.5 (34 others voted)

Have your say!

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.