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Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only)




  • 007 4  It depends ! If you are looking for a comparison between the 5D and the 7D , or if I would have a recommendation of one over the other , this is not for you . This is written from the perspective of someone who upgraded from the xxD series to the 7D . Before I go into a detailed review about the 7D and whether you should upgrade or not , a little background about me to help you guys compare it to your situation . I'm an amateur photographer who does the occasional paid gig , more because I enjoy it rather than for the money . I have been taking pictures for 4 years now , went through 35mm learning curve and then switched to 20D in Mar 06 . I have shot with the 40D , but never owned the 30 / 40 / 50D . Current lenses include 17 - 40mm f / 4L , 24 - 70mm f / 2.8L , Tamron 28 - 75 f / 2.8 , 70 - 200mm f / 4L IS , 50mm f / 1.4 , 85mm f / 1.8 , 135mm f / 2L & 100mm f / 2.8macro . I still have my 35mm EOS 3 which I love and use rarely . Am I happy I upgraded from the 20D ? You bet ! I believe that one should invest in lenses first and keep the camera for the last ( unless of course , if you are a pro ) . It has been a real upgrade from the 20D . The 7D feels like a slightly bigger and definitely heavier camera than the 20D and I am still getting used to carrying it ( this is a review after 24 hrs of the purchase ) . When I put the 24 - 70 2.8L on to it , it balanced just beautifully , yes , both are heavy , but they just beautifully balance each other . I could carry the 20D with battery grip in one hand . However , the 7D + 24 - 70L is definitely a two handed camera , even without the battery grip . If you are a petite lady or a guy with small hands reading this , you could get some practice lifting 5lbs dumb bells . No , I am not joking . . . add the 580EX on top of this , and you will know that I am serious . I love the way it feels in my hand and the way the camera rests firmly on my left palm while I hold it . So much for ergonomics and body feel . The neck strap has 7D written on it , which clearly is meant for bragging rights . The IQ is the biggest jump from the 20D ( duh ! ) Every clickgasm results in a beautiful image , especially when you combine it with a good repertoire of lenses . Yes , I said clickgasm , because every click is just so much sweeter like a 1000 bag pipers playing in the distant , but just for 1 / 60th of a second . Love it . I also love the sensor cleaning functionality , something that was missing in the 20D , which was more prevalent in the 40D & 50D . It provides confidence and reassurance that this is a good thing for the camera . Oh and talk about the LCD . A real leap for me , may be less so from the 50D , but I love how the menu functionality is organized . The resolution of the LCD is outstanding and almost zero glare . I constantly had that problem with the 20D , but this is a huge improvement and am very happy . In the 20D , you could'nt tell if an image was OOF , but in this , it is very obvious if there is a shake or OOF . And the color and contrast visible in the LCD itself is outstanding . Think of the jump between monochrome computer monitors to the color flat screens . . . that is what it is for me . In addition , I also like how the Quick Setting is organized , which displays about all the image settings from exposure scale , white balance , ISO , aperture , shutter speed , metering and all the happy stuff . The menu is different from the Quick Setting , and that goes into the additional details such as FEB , AEB , ISO expansion , custom functions , Highlight Tone Priority etc . Very well done Canon , I love it so far . The 8fps is really cool , but I used to have 5 fps in the 20D with the battery grip and used it only while shooting sports , the 8 will come in handy on the rare occasion that I use it for pro sports . And you get that without any additional battery pack , which is good . ISO expansion and noise reduction looks very good at the first glance . The pictures from the 20D were sub par at 800 and unusable at 1600 and above . I took a couple of pictures at 3200 with the 7D and am very impressed with the improvement in IQ . There is a substantial improvement despite the higher MP in the sensor , so very happy with it . For the thrill of it , I shot a pic at 12800 ( posted it in the gallery , the canon 77mm lens cap ) and compared it with the same pic at 3200 . I would give a 5 star to canon on this one too . OMG , the 19pt focus , I absolutely love it . Think of it this way , I learnt advanced photography in the Canon EOS 3 ( 35mm ) , which has 45 point focus . when I bought the 20D , I felt like it was a huge downgrade in focusing ability . It was not cool to loose the ECF feature of the 3 either . But I love going back to the 19point focus feature . . . I dont know , something about it is just cooler . It is most helpful in taking macro shots , which I do a lot of , and I dont have to move the focus and then move the camera ( I know , I know , pathetic way of taking macro shots ) . Again , glad that finally Canon is bringing this feature in . Two features I am yet to use and will add it to a later review after use are the wireless flash and the HD video . Should you upgrade from the 30 / 40 / 50D ? I have shot with a 40D and I have to say that the improvement in IQ from 20D to 40D was substantial and a bigger leap than the 40D to the 7D ( I have not used the 50D ) . If you have $1900 extra and would love to splurge on this , by all means . The only time I would strongly advise against buying the 7D is if you spent much of your time with your previous DSLR in the basic mode and never in the P , Av , Tv , M modes . This camera doesnt have any of those modes and is not meant for someone interesting in learning photography , it is meant for someone who knows what they are doing . If you are really interested in shooting HD video in one camera and want to make use of a good collection of lenses for the video , absolutely go for it . This provides a slightly cheaper option compared to the 5D . I never even considered the 5D as I knew it was not for me . I dont know that I will gain value for the additional $800 . So cant help you if you are trying to choose between the 5d and the 7d . The four biggest reasons I can see you going for an upgrade are 1 . HD video 2 . Wireless flash 3 . 19 pt focus 4 . Weather and Dust sealing that is a part of the xD series . If you are considering an upgrade for the sake of IQ , you may be in for a disappointment . Dont get me wrong , there is an improvement ( my POV is from 40D ) , but just that the 40D itself is so good that there is little room for Canon to improve . There are a lot more reasons to upgrade if you are using the 20D or the 30D as I have mentioned earlier in my review . Any complaints with the camera so far ? None so far , Im very happy . Of course , the price could be cheaper , but oh well . I also wish real estate in California was cheaper , but lets be realistic , Canon is in this business to make money . I noticed that one reviewer had focusing problems , I have had none and am very happy with the camera so far . I will continue posting pictures and additional review points . . . happy clickgasm ! UPDATE AFTER 7 DAYS OF USING THE CAMERA . So far , I have been extremely happy . If there is something that has consistently wowed me , it is the LCD , amazing resolution , color and clarity in that . Portraits coming out of this camera are pleasing , more so on the 85 / 1.8 makes it a great combo . ISO1600 is usable , I took one or two in ISO12800 , which was better in quality compared to my 20Ds 3200 . Not great , but useful to preserve memories . May not suit professional expectations of quality . I uploaded some of my first pictures , not sure why Amazon is not displaying them ( nothing obscene in the pictures ) . Definitely happy with my purchase and would highly recommend !
    • 006 4  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 .
    • 010 4  I take photos of birds . 90% of the time of flying birds , mostly raptors - - distant , fast-moving subjects in poor quality lighting conditions . I fitted the 7D with a Canon 300 mm F2.8 L IS USM telephoto lens . Also used both Canon Extenders EF II ( 1.4X and 2X ) , and sometimes used a light Manfrotto tripod . Shot nearly 1,000 RAW and JPEG during the first 10 days after getting the camera . Image quality is outstanding ( without the extenders incredibly so ) . Focusing speed might be even faster than with my previous camera ( 40D ) but it is still too soon to be definitive . 8 fps burst speed is notoriously faster than the 6.4 fps I was used to . Zone AF and AF point expansion focusing modes ( new to me ) are very effective for following distant flying birds ( better than Spot AF mode , that I used with the 40D ) . For closer birds Spot AF is preferable so one can improve chances of focusing the head / eye . RAW files are huge ( 20 - 24 Mb each ) so buy the fastest memory card and card reader you can . Unfortunately , neither iPhoto nor Snow Leopard read 7D's CR2 format as of 15 Dec 2009 . Photoshop CS4 ( properly updated ) does though , and so does Canon's included software , of course . The 7D uses a battery slightly different from the XXD series , so now I need to carry two battery chargers , and my batteries are not interchangeable between cameras . I also bought the Canon 28 - 135 mm F3.5 - 5.6 IS included in the kit , and however a little less sharp than my Canon 50 mm F1.8 EF II , it performs well throughout the zoom range . If you can afford only one lens this is probably a good choice for general photography , and good value for the relatively little extra money . Full HD Video is very sharp and colors well balanced . Nice to have the external mic input . Best to turn the IS off when shooting video without an external mic or a buzzing noise ( the IS drives ) will contaminate your sound track . I still need to run a series of more controlled tests to form a sounder opinion but so far I'm happy with the upgrade . The 1.6X cropping factor rules out this camera for landscape photography , but the same feature combined with the 8 fps and new AF modes probably makes this camera - dollar for dollar - the best current choice for telephoto wildlife photography . This is the camera I was waiting for ! As simple as that . 17 Dec 2009 update . I updated my software today and both Leopard ( Mac OS X 10.5.8 ) and Snow Leopard ( Mac OS X 10.6.2 ) open and process RAW images ( in Preview ) taken with the 7D . iPhoto ' 08 ( version 7.1.5 ) imported RAW images from this camera just fine this time . NOW I'm happy !
    • 012 4  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 . Pressing the ' Q ' button activates the ' Quick Control Screen ' , a menu where a number of settings can be conveniently adjusted . The joystick is used to toggle between functions , and settings are adjusted the normal way , using the Main and Quick Control dials . Once you get used to it , the ' Q Menu ' may become your preferred method for adjusting your settings . 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 a big improvement over the 40D and 50D . The 19 individual points , are also grouped into 5 multipoint zones , which can be selected using the Zone AF function . This feature is very useful for many applications , like sports or group shots . Shooting college basketball , focus lock using Zone AF was very good , much superior to single point focus . The high speed continuous shooting mode ( 8 FPS ) is smooth like butter . The shutter button quite sensitive , but keeping the camera steady in burst mode takes practice . 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 a fast card is a must , Canon recommends using a CF card with a transfer rate of 8MB / second . Shooting video is simple , though the results can be kind of spotty . Check YouTube for video reviews of the 7D , and examples of videos shot with the 7D . Picture quality can be quite good , although skin tones may not be accurate , and AF is not continuous . 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 hard 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 .
    • 020 4  The 7D is the first affordable advanced DSLR from Canon . Canon has not had an advanced camera that non-pros could afford since the film days . The 7D is the first such camera in the digital era . In terms of features and build quality , this camera is as good as it gets without paying $4000 + . Note , however , that with an advanced camera like the 7D , reading the manual is a must ! ! ! The AF system , for example , is so advanced that there's a learning curve associated with it . Don't listen to the AF ' issues ' that some early users are reporting . The 7D AF system requires experience to get used to and to get best results . As for image quality : modern DSLRs are good enough already , so it's hard to make dramatic improvements . The 7D has almost twice the number of megapixels compared to the 40D . Yet , in terms of resolution , there is a surprisingly little difference between the two in real world images . In terms of low-light capabilities - the 7D is rated to have higher ISOs than the 40D . At ISOs 100 - 1600 , however , I have not noticed any difference in image noise between the 7D and the 40D ( in fact , the 40D seems to be slightly cleaner at these ISOs ) . Don't know what to make out of this . Maybe Canon should have worked more on improving the low-light abilities of the 7D . Another great 7D feature is the pro-level light metering . Light metering is one of those features that users do not pay attention to but that greatly helps in achieving consistently good images from the camera . The light metering on the 7D is a great improvement over xxD cameras . Overall , the 7D is fantastic camera and a great addition to Canon's lineup .
    • 023 4  I own both the 7D and the 5D MkII . The 5D2 excells at high IQ and great high-ISO performance and the 7D excells at fast focus , bringing the subject closer and getting off bursts of images at high frame rates . Both are very fine all around cameras , but the 7D helps you by filling its viewfinder with a larger image , locking on focus quicker and allowing a much faster burst rate . I've been somewhat amazed at the 7D's perfomance at ISO 6400 , but find it second to the 5D2 at ISOs of 1600 and 3200 . Below ISO 800 the two perform very closely , but the difference is more noticeable in that 1600 - 3200 band . Hey , at least we're not talking about shooting birds in flight at ASA 50 ! The build quality is at the tank level . I've had it out in rain and snow and temperatures as low as - 15F . I really like that the 7D and 5D2 share the same battery , so by keeping a charged battery in each body and a spare , I'm never short of power . I often take 1000 images in a day with the 7D and always have plenty of reserves ( I hardly ever use Live View ) . The control layout is slightly improved over the 5D2 , with the video operation being much more intuitive . I'd suggest that anyone having IQ trouble with the 7D make sure that they check their micro-focus adjustment and fine tune it to their particular lenses . There is quite a range of potential adjustment , which might explain the trouble that a few seem to be having . ( Mine required no micor-adjustment ) .
    • 028 4  I upgraded from the XSi to the 7D . I used the XSi for about 10 months . Was it worth it ? YES ! It's because I USE / EXPLOIT the following features of the 7D not found on the XSi . AF System - I shoot some sports , birds-in-flight , and other moving targets and the AF performance of the 7D is AMAZING . It is FAST and ACCURATE . Not only can you select the AF point MUCH faster than the XSi , it has more modes too . AF-point expansion and Zone AF are my favorites . I find Spot AF to be really accurate especially in low light . No one should be using the full 19 - pt auto-select AF if they are using this level of camera ( in my opinion ) . 8FPS is blazin ' fast ! High-ISO - Ok , it's not a full frame but I can use ISO2500 with confidence . Luminance noise responds very well to noise reduction ( In Lightroom 3 , beta 2 ) . I cringe at the ISO1600 output on the XSi . Handling - Having two control dials , a top LCD , and a directional joystick makes shooting so much easier than having just one dial on the XSi . Button layout is very intuitive . Viewfinder - Some say that the 100% viewfinder on the 7D is overrated . I don't think so . Just look through it and notice that it is much bigger and brighter than the XSi's . Your eye will scream for joy ! OK , a bit exaggerated but you get my idea ; ) Build Quality - Not a biggie especially if you don't expose your camera to harmful elements . However , I have to say that the bigger and heavier 7D is a bit more stable and easier to hold ( bigger grip ) than the small , plasticky XSi ( get a battery grip , problem solved ) . 18MP sensor - Whenever I crop a picture , I crop it hardcore . Having a bajillion pixels saves SO MUCH detail during the process . 25MB RAW files can fill up your hard drive fast . Other - you also get video capabilities ( nice bonus ) , high-res LCD ( sweet ) , electronic level finder ( very useful on hand-held symmetrical shots ) . Also , the built-in wireless flash trigger works seamlessly with my 430EX II ( now you're ready to do some real strobist stuff ) If you don't plan on using these features , I'd say save your money and get better lens . Maybe get a T2i and have slightly better image quality but pretty much the same in all other aspects . Stay away from the 50D , not that it's a bad camera but rumors say that a 60D might come out soon . Note that I use high-quality lenses ( EF-S 17 - 55 f / 2.8 IS USM , and EF 70 - 200 f / 4 L USM ) and the 7D's jam-packed sensor can make the most out of them . Just my 2 cents . Hope this helps . Sir Adam
    • 031 4  My company bought the Canon EOS 7D for stills for a task requiring wireless remote control and remote imaging of the live view and capture to a laptop hard drive ( worked just fine for this task ) but after I played with the video and read all I could about using DSLR for video , we bought a second just for video clips of company work . Now I want my own ( so that's three ) . I see why its selling so well . Its extraordinary quality video in low light situations , its quality file format , and its low cost for a camera with the advantage of being able to use various lenses , especially fast lenses for depth of field limiting control makes it a better choice for our work than a prosumer HD video camera . Video has never been so much fun . Now there is a whole lot of artistic control possible that I am interested in exploring . I suspect there will be many other amateurs who will find fun with manual video using a DSLR like the 7D . Its total manual control makes it challenging , fun , and capable of video that you can be pleased with ( no matter how amateur ) because you had control , you had choice and you used all your skills , no matter how slight at the time . Its very addictive and many amateurs will be carried away with artistic enthusiasm , providing you have the patience to practice . If you are new to DSLR video as I was ( still am , certainly ) , expect many days of practice ( well , its been two weeks and there is still a lot of skill to master - especially in follow focus ) to get good clips . Plan your shots and use a tripod as much as possible . Also , I think its essential to have a viewer and focusing knob such as the IDC Run & Gun . Google it . I can't imagine how anyone can get good video clips without this simple but well engineered add-on . Again , I think this device is essential to getting good clips . Again , I think this device is essential to getting good clips ( get it ) . My favorite switching lenses : Canon EF 50mm f / 1 : 1.4 and Canon EF-S 17 - 55mm f / 1 : 2.8 . We , and I personally , do not have much use for the 18 - 135mm lens that came with the cameras and should have purchased just the body . I added the BeachTek DXA - 5D under the camera so I could use my two XLR shotgun mikes on a bar attached to the top shoe and I also use two Earthworks omni's there too . For less critical sound I attach the Rode stereo video mike . MORE ADDED FOR DSLR VIDEO AMATEURS : Because I suspect relative amateurs ( like me ) will be interested in this camera for its video to break into creativity not possible with fixed lens video cameras , here is some advice to avoid frustration using your fantastic video files from your new Canon 7d : Some will be frustrated that they can not play the video clips on their PC's after transferring them to their hard drive . Some will be frustrated they can not edit the H .264 codec Quicktime . MOV file format as they come off the camera in even very expensive editing software . Download and purchase CineForm Neo Scene and convert all your clip files to . AVI . This is highly recommended by many professionals . Want to get your Canon 7d clips easily and quickly to disk and view HD video using a DVD or a BluRay Player or hand them to others to view ? I highly recommend the inexpensive Sothink HD Movie Maker software from SourceTec Software Co . Its very inexpensive and its a quick download . Just add your clips to the editor with the Add button and click the Burn button . The software doesn't do much else so there is no learning curve . You can put many HD clips onto inexpensive DVD disks . And if the video clips are precious , please burn them to 300 year archival Gold disks such as those by Kodak .
    • 032 4  I am a budding professional photographer with a fairly short track record with different bodies . I have owned a Canon rebel , a hand full of film bodies from Olympus , Pentax , Yashica , Canon , misc holga , etc , and misc video cameras . I have shot with 40D and 50D bodies with various lenses often , 5DmI and 5DmII often enough to know I did not want one yet . And I was seriously contemplating jumping ship to Nikon or Sony and replacing all my glass with new stuff . Then the 7D came along . It was the perfect solution for me . I will pit it against the best from Nikon or Sony , and be more than happy with the results . I get amazing low light images , especially since I shoot a lot of f / 1.4 prime glass ( and f / 2.8 zooms when needed ) . The ISO is managable at H ( 12800 ) in lightroom 3 or with Noise Ninja or Noiseware or Nik Dfine . I have used them all and each does a great job , LR3 being my favorite . I can make stunning 16x20 and larger prints from an ISO 12800 image with little or no degradation . People who say otherwise are pixel peepers who need to be realistic . My friends who shoot D700 ' s can't even do that . At that size their 12MP images start to break down even if they had marginally better noise handling to start with . And it is marginal . We have compared side by side in print and on screen images from ISO 100 through 12800 from the 7D and D700 and D300s ( and the 5DmI up to 1600 ) and the 5DmII and the 7D , in my opinion , handily beats or matches them . Especially with the awesome NR in LR3 . Phenomenal . The 5DmII files do look better at high ISO sometimes , and it goes a stop higher , but really up to ISO 6400 it is hard to tell them apart . The D700 starts in with the noise a little later , maybe 2 / 3rd of a stop later ( ISO 400 instead of 250 on the 7D ) , but once in the noise is not worse on the 7D at any level until 12800 at which point the D700 might be a little cleaner on the noise pattern and size and can go to 25600 ( which is pretty bad ) . Though again with good NR it can easily be wiped out . I can hit 8FPS , some others can't because they don't read the manual , but if you do , and if you understand WHY it is slowing down , you can easily get 8fps . I have tested it on 300x CF cards and can get about 145 large fine jpgs before the buffer fills and it hiccups . I can easily get more than 20 raw , a good 3 seconds of shooting , before the buffer fills . a 600x card would be even better as the 7D is one of the only bodies out there that can make use of that speed ( none of the Nikon or Sony line can , nor does the 5DmI or II ) . The AF is amazing . That is the reason I did not go to the 5D I or II . Their AF was lousy . I have a little kid who I chase with this thing all the time , I need great AF . That was the other main reason I wanted a Nikon , besides the high ISO . I am glad to say that with 19 cross type AF points and the new logic and dual procs I can follow her with AI servo and never get an out of focus shot on almost any of my lenses . That said some lenses are better than others and you have to understand your gear , but for knowing which lenses work and which don't makes all the difference . I find that the 18 - 200 is not fast enough many times , especially in its mid to tele range . The 17 - 55 is always fast , the 70 - 200 is awesome quick . Even in low light it is good . Not as good as if it had a AF assist light , but a simple AF assist from a flash or a little video light , etc and there are no problems . Honestly in most of my venues I shoot at around ISO 3200 ( sometimes more sometimes less ) and yet the AF rarely hunts long . I use single focus points usually , only going to zone when it suits the scene , and I find that I get lock quickly nearly every time , and this is mostly in the dark . In daylight its so good as to be scary . From the 5D or the 50D it is noticeably faster and more accurate . From a rebel its night and day . The commander mode ( master flash ) is super handy if IR flash is your thing . I love it , but its not quite as fleshed out as Nikon . The fact that it is finally here though , thats huge . The fact that in a controlled space I can control all the other flashes with it , well that is awesome . But I have radiopoppers for that . So i rarely use it . But it still comes in handy . It is really handy to be able to take the flash physically off the camera , hold it in your other hand , and use the commander mode to fire it without having to put on triggers . How cool . Finally I would like to sum up that if you like a crop sensor this is hands down the best one yet . The dual digic IV procs make it fast and competent . The commander mode gives it a leg up on even the 1D family as no other Canon can do it . The 8fps and 19 point AF that works well in the dark will piss off all the 5D ( 1& 2 ) owners and the image quality and resolution are above any of the competition . The view finder is big and bright . Even D700 and 5D users comment on how big and bright this is , and it has better coverage too at 100% than any of those FF finders . Plus 1080 24fps video . Don't even get me started . Until a month or so ago even the 5dm2 did not do that . Videographers use the 7D , along with the 5DmII , in lieu of more expensive and less capable video cameras . Just add a great mic and learn to steady it for longer than a single frame and you are now shooting some of the best HD video available . Better than your local TV station in most cases . Phenomenal . This is just a killer camera . The only people who would hate it are non Canon folks , of which I was almost one until this came along , full frame fanatics and those who get a bad copy . Anyone who gets one that does not focus , etc needs to send it back . It happens . I got lucky but I would not settle for luck , if you get a bad one replace it . You will not regret sticking with it .
    • 033 4  I'm not much for writing reviews but for this I had to . Below are the pros and cons I have seen . Pros : Auto-focus : Fast and accurate . Distance it is not so good for ( ex . bird flying against a background in which they blend in , most cameras have issues with this ) but all normal circumstances it performs excellently . SPEED : 8 FPS , that makes my 5D2 look as slow as a snail . People turn heads when you fire this camera . EASE OF USE : You can easily customize your buttons . Easily separate shutter from AF of whatever you would like to do . Great addition by Canon . ISO SENSITIVITY : Though this is what i would expect from any DSLR with this price tag , the ISO sensitivity is awesome . 6400 will give you grainy pics but that is better than completely missing it , right ? Cons : ISO : As mentioned above 6400 is grainy , I avoid if possibly but sometimes you have to use it . The full frame of the 5D2 trumps over the 7D in low-light performance . Video : Like the 5D2 , I still think the video function is very raw . No quick auto-focus . Do NOT buy any DSLR because it has video on it . Horrible idea . Will not work unless you know 100% what you are doing . Buy this camera if the 5D2 is out of your price range . It is a great camera but realize the difference a full frame camera makes . If you can save up more money , go for the 5D2 . The 7D works great for me as a supplement to my 5D2 . For sports and wildlife opportunities , this camera is awesome . The 5D2 gets everything else .
    • 038 4  This camera is absolutely fantastic . The AF is spot on , and the IQ is sublime . Whilst I don't doubt that there are a few ' duds ' out there I also strongly believe that a vast majority of bad reviews and hate are down to total inexperience . This is a very well featured and advanced camera , but it's priced at a level that attracts a number of new DSLR users . Some people say that it's soft , or that it needs the best lenses there are to get sharp results . . . . . Total BS . I just used an old ( but good ) Vivitar 70 - 210mm f / 3.5 Series 1 zoom from the late 70 ' s , and let me tell you ; The output was TACK SHARP . I'm not doubting that L glass would provide even better results , but this camera is by no means soft . Even the 28 - 135mm kit lens produces excellent results , plus it's a joy to use . The majority of forum threads stating that the 7D is soft have ended up being one of a few things ; a ) The user's lens needed slight micro adjustment b ) The user was using the wrong AF mode / zone for the style of shot they were taking ( VERY COMMON ) c ) The user was a novice and had been using too low a shutter speed or too small an aperture ( I even saw f22 on one thread , causing massive diffraction ) The AF system on this camera is very advanced , and very precise . If you're going to leave it on 19 point AF with AI Servo then don't complain or blame the camera when it chooses a focus point other than the one you wanted ! It will choose the first point that it can lock to , this is what it is meant to do . I shot for 3 days solid with this camera . I liked it one day one , but by the end of day 3 I LOVED IT . The RAW output is very different from what I'm used to , and I had to work on my methods a little to get the most out of the 7D's CR2 files , but now I have it nailed I am extremely happy with my output . I also still get very confused when I see people viewing AN 18 MEGAPIXEL IMAGE AT 100% ! ! Why , oh why would you do that ? Do you realise how large that image is ? Of course you're going to find some sort of noise at that magnification , especially when you're sat half a metre from your screen ! It's ridiculous . Sorry that this review has been of the non technical nature , I feel that most bases have already been well covered in that respect , I just get so tired of silly reviews slating a camera that just requires a little more skill and patience to use properly . If you don't know why you might need the 7D then you probably don't . . . . . Buy a Rebel , they're great . If you know what you're doing , and you recognise the advanced features and capabilities of the 7D . . . . GO FOR IT , this camera is exceptional . And remember ; the rare cases of a bad copy get shouted about the loudest . P.S . The guy that slated it for video yet claims to be a Videographer . . . . Actually forget it , I don't even know where to start with you .
    • 042 4  I read everything I could get my hands on , and debated long and hard , when I knew I wanted to move up from my Rebel Xsi . I knew I wanted a Canon - to be able to use my existing EOS lenses - and narrowed my choice down between the 50D and the 7D . I could not be happier with my decision to go with the 7D . I am sorry to say , but shooting with this ( compared to the Rebel Xsi ) was like night and day difference . From the moment you press the shutter button , you know you are in a different league of equipment . Things I love : - - 19 - pt focussing , along with the five AF selection modes ( Single-point AF , Zone AF , Auto select 19 - pt AF , spot AF and Manual AF point expansion ) - easy to select , indispensable while shooting . - - Significant increase in accuracy in metering technology - - Easy to create customized functions ( exposure , autofocus / drive , operation , etc . ) and custom Picture Styles - - Love the Quick Control screen and ergonomics of multi-controller , Quick Control dial , and Main Dial . . . easy learning curve to quickly navigate and change settings . There are so many features and settings to this camera that I have found to be easy to access , easy to use , easy to adjust - Canon did a spectacular job in design . I have not used the Movie Mode for recording video ; just not my thing . But for still photography , I am so impressed with everything about this camera - it has made a huge difference in my results , everything from focussing and exposure accuracy to final image quality with the high megapixels . A book I would recommend highly to help anyone get acquainted with the operation and features of the 7D ( very well illustrated and written ) is the Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide by Charlotte Lowrie .
    • 047 4  First , some background . I'm currently 23 , and I've been shooting with film SLRs since the age of 6 . My dad has always been a camera nut , and thus , I became one too . While I would never say any of my old models were pro ( mostly old Minolta models ) , they were still an SLR , and as a result , they were a great lesson on photography growing up . As I got older , I became interested in filmmaking and purchased a Panasonic DVX100 video camera , which was a fantastic piece of equipment . I held on to it for about 4 years , and did many projects with it . NOW , when I first heard all the business about DSLRs and video modes , I scoffed . I instantly thought about the video mode on my crummy old point and shoot , which is , in so many words , awful . Then I saw footage . Incredible ! It took me a while to be completely sold , but eventually I was ready to sell my beloved DVX to purchase a DSLR . I finally , after much debate ( mostly between the 7d and the GH1 ) , I settled on the Canon 7d . This camera is great . I've been wanting to get back into still photography again , and this is my first DSLR , so I'm excited for that , on top of the video mode . Both have performed to my expectations , sometimes beyond . The body feels extremely rugged , and the weight makes you realize it's not some cheapy plastic . I guess the easiest way to not make this review 10 pages would be a pro and con list , so here we go : PROS : - Feels very rugged , yet comfortable . I'm not so paranoid about having it out in scenarios that would have made me nervous with my DVX - Still quality is great - Auto-focus seems good , but I've really never taken much to auto-focus , so I'm probably not the best authority to talk on this . It's very fast , but I prefer manual control in most situations . - Live view is great in still and video mode . The zoom function is something that I've found invaluable for focusing . - HD video is amazing . Moving from SD to HD was a huge bump from the DVX , and I love the quality , sharpness , and detail . Dynamic range is much nicer than the DVX as well . - Battery life is better than expected - Didn't buy the kit lens , but the Canon 50mm 1.4 works great on this body and delivers wonderful results . CONS - As I mentioned , I've used SLRs before , and tinkered with some other DSLRs before , so the learning curve for me was mostly finding what settings are where , but I can see the learning curve being fairly steep for a complete new comer . - Anyone interested in the video mode who has done even a small bit of research knows of some of the limitaons of the camera ( rolling shutter , jello effect , etc ) . These are annoyances , but something I'm willing to put up with considering the overall quality and price point - Photography , as I tend to forget from time to time , is an EXPENSIVE hobby . Lenses , battery grips , stabilization systems ( for video ) , tripods , etc . The costs DO add up , so make sure you're committed to the craft before you get started , otherwise you'll be disappointed how quickly you can pour money into this stuff ( I assume most people realize this , but always good to mention , even though it's not at all specific to the 7d ) . Well , I think that's more or less it . I love the camera so far and have no regrets about my purchase . Look forward to using it on some upcoming projects !
    • 050 4  First , for a living I produce and edit commercials for television and shoot wedding photography on the side . So I have some experience with cameras , lenses , and editing software . We got this lens because we wanted a new camera to make commercials with . We wanted to shoot in HD ( the 1080 kind , not the 720 ) , but we didn't want a $30,000 rig - no way I could convince the big boss to do that since making commercials is a secondary , even tertiary , function of the company I work for . For a cinematic look ( the 1.6x crop factor helps with depth of field ) we chose the 7D . For what we wanted , and expected , and what we got , I rate the camera 5 stars . But that's because I also know the limitations of the camera . You won't take this camera and treat it like it's a prosumer or professional HD videocamera that you would take if you where the videographer for COPS . You won't take this to capture video on a running , fast-paced , nighttime fugitive hunt . In low light settings , or settings where you can't control the light , you will get motion blur . In high lighted areas , if you don't have a rig setup with an eye piece half the time you won't be able to see the screen with enough clarity to know if you're subject is in focus or not ( if you're using a very slim depth of field , like on a f2.8 or faster lens ) . Obviously , for about the same price , we could have gotten a prosumer or low , low professional grade HD videocamera that would have had better autofocus , less motion blur on action , etc . But the trade off on that is lower low-light capacity for shooting , and lower contrast levels . I recommend this camera if you want to take HD video and make a basket of apples look sexy . If said apples grew legs , started running , and you had to run with them and capture everything on video , I'm not sure of this would be the solution for you - even with a steadycam . But maybe . We're still working the kinks out , but we love it so far .
    • 065 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) It is not a 5D MkII . It is not a 50D . It is a near-perfect compromise between the two . In the 7D is a combination of resolution ( 18MP ) and speed ( 8fps ) which makes it an extremely versatile camera . Canon improved the high ISO performance , providing a 1 to 1.5 stop improvement . So , ISO 3200 looks like 1600 . And with the ISO 6400 and 12800 you can see in the dark . However , ISO 12800 should only be used in dire emergencies . The 18MP allows for more aggressive cropping and more detailed prints at the larger sizes . The per-pixel detail is also excellent . The new AF system is both versatile , sophisticated , fast , and accurate ( even at f1.4 ) . I recommend dedicating some time to the manual and practicing with its many features because there is a little learning curve to extract the potential of the new AF . Added bonus with the new system are : ability to use any point for AI Servo , prioritizing focus over speed or visa versa , and AF point expansion . The 100% viewfinder is great and bright , enabling true WYSWYG composition and improved manual focusing . A grid , AF points , and other information can be toggled on and off to help with composition and alignment . A totally new and LONG OVERDUE feature is the ability to use the pop-up flash to control remote flashes . It works very well , especially indoors , triggering your remotes . Only situations I would resort to my 580EX II for triggering is if I'm outside in bright sun , flashes are at odd angles , or the flashes are far away . Aside from the those situations , the pop-up flash as a trigger works very well . It looks like Canon did a great job listening to its photographers and trends in photojournalism . This camera has the resolution and image quality for portraiture , but also the speed and ISO range for sports and photojournalism . Speed , resolution , and 1080p HD video makes the EOS 7D an excellent all-in-one and the best pro-sumer camera to date . . . yes , even better than the Nikon 300 and Nikon 300s . CONS : - No dual CF slots . - No 1D-level weather sealing ( I would gladly have paid extra for it ) - Incandescent WB preset still not close enough . Recommended accessories : - Sandisk Extreme 8GB UDMA CF card ( s ) - BG-E7 battery grip and extra battery - Domke GRIPPER camera strap - LaCIE Rugged 500GB External HDD
    • 066 4  It is not a 5D MkII . It is not a 50D . It is a near-perfect compromise between the two . In the 7D is a combination of resolution ( 18MP ) and speed ( 8fps ) which makes it an extremely versatile camera . Canon improved the high ISO performance , providing a 1 to 1.5 stop improvement . So , ISO 3200 looks like 1600 . And with the ISO 6400 and 12800 you can see in the dark . However , ISO 12800 should only be used in dire emergencies . The 18MP allows for more aggressive cropping and more detailed prints at the larger sizes . The per-pixel detail is also excellent . The new AF system is both versatile , sophisticated , fast , and accurate ( even at f1.4 ) . I recommend dedicating some time to the manual and practicing with its many features because there is a little learning curve to extract the potential of the new AF . Added bonus with the new system are : ability to use any point for AI Servo , prioritizing focus over speed or visa versa , and AF point expansion . The 100% viewfinder is great and bright , enabling true WYSWYG composition and improved manual focusing . A grid , AF points , and other information can be toggled on and off to help with composition and alignment . A totally new and LONG OVERDUE feature is the ability to use the pop-up flash to control remote flashes . It works very well , especially indoors , triggering your remotes . Only situations I would resort to my 580EX II for triggering is if I'm outside in bright sun , flashes are at odd angles , or the flashes are far away . Aside from the those situations , the pop-up flash as a trigger works very well . It looks like Canon did a great job listening to its photographers and trends in photojournalism . This camera has the resolution and image quality for portraiture , but also the speed and ISO range for sports and photojournalism . Speed , resolution , and 1080p HD video makes the EOS 7D an excellent all-in-one and the best pro-sumer camera to date . . . yes , even better than the Nikon 300 and Nikon 300s . CONS : - No dual CF slots . - No 1D-level weather sealing ( I would gladly have paid extra for it ) - Incandescent WB preset still not close enough . Recommended accessories : - Sandisk Extreme 8GB UDMA CF card ( s ) - BG-E7 battery grip and extra battery - Domke GRIPPER camera strap - LaCIE Rugged 500GB External HDD
    • 099 4  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 . Update ( 11 / 11 / 2009 ) : The replacement body arrived and the problems with the controls are no longer an issue . This one feels tight , and the main dial is responsive like it should be . In fact , all the controls and dials feel tighter than on my 50D . 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 . Another small change that might not matter if you don't use a battery grip ( or do use one but never take it off ) is how the battery door attaches to the body . On the 50D , the battery door has two arms that snap into flexible plastic clips . The 7D has non flexing slots and a spring loaded arm on the door itself . Why does this matter ? If you alternate between using the battery grip ( portraits , sports , etc . . ) and not using it ( for the weight advantage of walking around all day ) the idea of taking the battery door on and off is less worrisome . When plastic flexes it weakens and can break . The spring loaded arm on the 7D battery door is a great idea . Using Canon's 100mm f / 2.8 USM macro lens , I was able to capture some of the sharpest handhled images I have ever taken . I've seen one ISO 12233 chart that purports to give the sharpness advantage to the 50D , but I don't see that in practice . My initial impression is that this is the best crop sensor camera Canon has made to date . With features not ( yet ? ) found on the xD models , it's a great feature / price choice .
    • 102 4  The one I got had a squeaky CF door . I noticed it the very first time I picked it up ; it was that obvious . After doing some reading online , it appears this is a common ( but not universal ) build problem . I considered exchanging it before I'd gotten much further unpacking , but thought I might as well shoot with it for a weekend to see how it performed compared to my trusty 40D . ( For what it's worth , the 40D's door is rock solid and has absolutely no give to it . ) I shot an autocross event in light varying from full sun to mild cloud cover . Exposures were typically around 1 / 2000 at f / 2.8 ISO 100 , so there was plenty of light . I used a 70 - 200mm f / 2.8L IS ( not the new second-generation one , though ) on the 7D and a 300mm f / 4L on my 40D . Both cameras were set to record raw files and were processed in Lightroom 2.6 . Pluses : - Drastically better color rendition for certain shades . One of the cars at the autocross was a BMW M3 in Phoenix Yellow , a particularly awful shade of yellow-green . The 7D got it almost exactly right . The 40D rendered it as more of a dull dusty yellow with almost no green to it . The colors were so far apart that at first I thought they were different cars when I was going through the frames afterwards . - AF was improved over the 40D . I used the AF mode that uses one AF point plus its vertical and horizontal neighbors and that worked pretty well tracking quickly moving cars . I wouldn't call its accuracy a dramatic improvement over the 40D for this particular style of shooting , but it's definitely better . - The grip was a marginal improvement for my large hands . I think it would be more of an improvement for smaller hands . - Big , bright viewfinder . - The main LCD screen is great , even in bright sun . - The new button layout and button feel is nice . Bigger buttons are easier to work with in gloves , though that wasn't an issue on this particular day . - The electronic level seems pretty sensitive . I'm not sure how useful it will be , but there it is . I haven't had much trouble getting my horizons level without an electronic level . - 1080p video is nice , but I don't have the audio equipment to make good use of it . Don't think that getting a camera that shoots 1080p will turn you into a videographer overnight . - Aside from the squeaky door , the body feels pleasantly heavy and very solid . Minuses : - Significantly grainier images than the 40D , even at ISO 100 . I was shocked at how bad the grain was . After seeing how bad the noise was , I immediately packed up the camera to return it . The noise is simply atrocious . - Pixel for pixel , the 7D is a little softer than the 40D . This is well known ; see other online reviews of the 7D . So there you have it . It's a great camera to use as long as you never intend to look at the pictures it takes ( or don't have very high standards ) . Maybe the one I got was defective . . . who knows . I'm waiting for the next generation of bodies . Update : Take a look at a full-size shot : [ . . . ] ( Amazon censors URLs in reviews . See the comments for how to access the sample images . ) Make sure to view it at 100% . As stated above in the review , the 7D does have very good color rendition , so don't hold the muted colors in this shot against it . This shot was converted with ufraw which doesn't have good color defaults for the 7D . Lightroom 2.6 renders colors accurately with the default camera profiles ( though Lightroom's raw conversions also exhibit the same noise , so that's not just from ufraw ) . The side panels of the car are especially easy to see noise in .
    • 108 4  I received my much anticipated 7D a couple of days ago and boy , am I pissed . I am what you would consider a serious amature ( according to B & H ) . I started with the Canon Rebel XTi a couple of years ago and I decided to switch to the T1i . I was so disappointed with the T1i's performance ( soft images ) , I figure I would upgrade to the flagship of APS-C sensor body - the Canon EOS 7D . I must admit , when the camera gets the image right - it's pretty awesome . However , there in lies the problem . If I use the 19 - point zone AF , EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN ' SHOT is out of focus . If I use the single-point selection AF , then I get a decent amount of keepers ( but it's still not as sharp @ 100% ) . I'm sorry , but if I'm forking over $1700 for a camera body , it'd better focus properly . Now , I had a lot of people tell me that I should try it on tripod with remote so that it would be a proper test . I DID NOT BUY THIS CAMERA TO USE ON TRIPOD ! ! ! I don't know about you , but I like to hand hold my camera for most of my shoot ( maybe a monopod ) . I know some of you are thinking ; this guy is probably using a crappy lens . Well , I'm using 70 - 200mm f2.8L IS , 100mm f2.8L macro IS , 10 - 22mm UWA , and 50mm f1.8 mk2 - so I KNOW it's not the lens . If you are considering buying this camera , bring a CF card to your local camera shop and take some test shot , take it home and blow it up to 100% . You will see what I'm talking about . * I've uploaded my test shot so you all can judge for yourself . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - UPDATE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Okay , so I spent some more time with the 7D and after some microAF adjustment , it is now perfect . I'm getting 90 - 95% accuracy in 19 - point AF . Great camera , super ISO performance ! 5 Stars ! ! !
    • 126 4  I had high hopes for this camera , but it looks like I got a dud . The AF is broken and many ( most ? ) of the pictures are out of focus . I did the microadjustment for my lens , the 28 - 70 f / 2.8L , and got a value of - 17 . After that , the AF was still unpredictable . I'm using a single , center AF point , and there should be no question that the camera should be able to focus in that mode . Test shots after the MA show dramatic front focusing sometimes , other times not . I took a picture of a parked car , where I focused on the license plate . It focused about 10 ' forward . Other test shots show random focus , too . Shutter speeds are high in all tests shots , equal or faster than 1 / 125s . Is it the lens ? I doubt it . I have a Canon D30 and the lens works flawlessly on it . I have 30,000 + pictures from that camera and I've never had trouble with the AF there ( thought it is a good deal slower than the 7D ) . Ironically , the superior AF is why I upgraded . Is it me ? I doubt it . I mentioned my D30 already . I can hear some of you saying . . . but that's a 9 + yr old camera . Well , I borrowed a 5DmkII from a friend and shot about 60 shots outdoors at a picnic . Every single shot was sharp as a tack . And , the lens on that camera was significantly cheaper than the L glass I have . UPDATE 1 / 29 / 10 : Amazon cross-shipped me a new one . The 2nd one definitely works better , though I need to do more tests to make sure . ( It's been raining a lot here , so I haven't had a chance to really work with it . )
    • 137 4  Ordered from Amazon . Lens used is Canon EF 24 - 105mm f / 4 L . Compared to my Canon 40D , the 7D has the new 19 - point AF System , but it does NOT work . Most all my pictures are not as sharp as my 40D unless I manually focus regardless of AF mode or micro-adjustment . The images are out of focus and it is not consistent behavior one could associate with typical back / front focus issue . Most reviews heaped praises on the new AF system , perhaps I got an early production ( defective ) unit . Not worth upgrading from a 40D if the pictures are not sharp . I may try exchanging or wait for Canon to work out the issues . I did update the firmware . Video quality seems on par with other Canon HD Video . Overall , I'm disappointed in the 7D since expectations were very high . 10 - 30 - 09 - - Sent back to Amazon . Waiting on new body . 12 - 21 - 09 - - Replacement body was received a month ago and is working perfectly in every mode .
    • 140 4  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 . . .

  • 019 4  I have a 50D and jumped at the opportunity to pick up the 7D . The 50D is by no means a slouch . The simple reason for going with the 7D is that it's feature set offers a marked improvement and not just for its price point . Although the 7D is not a follow up model to the xxD line , I make some comparisons to the 50D where warranted and because that's the camera I've been using . Battery Life Battery life bests that of the 50D . So in straight photography , battery life does last longer . Where battery life is shortened comes in the use of the 7D's video function . The camera defaults to Live View for composing and shooting . This added video function will wear through a battery life at an increased pace making having an added battery pack essential . Note the 7D uses the same battery as the 5D Mark II Controls and Button Layout The control / button layout is well though out . The left rear border gives quick access to the most important features with the press of the thumb . No need to reposition the camera in the hands to review / delete images or access menus . There is also the option to customize button functions to simplify feature access just as one can do with the 50D . The 7D has a dedicated Live View button incorporated with Video switch . This eliminates menu access and make transitions while shooting almost effortless . LCD Screen The LCD screen when compared to the 50D appears a bit dimmer . To its benefit the 50d is equipped with more anti-reflective coatings whereas the 7D appears devoid of any . In bright lights or sunlight , the default luminance of the 7D can make it a task to judge images taken or evaluate / compose your shots in Live Mode . The only way to counter this is to increase the brightness in the menu system - of course the hit on battery life . AF Points Although the 19 point system is a nice added addition . Much of the options appear better used in staged / static / studio environments . However the Spot AF , Single Point AF , and AF Point Expansion offer a wider range of options for catching subjects in motion or picking subjects out from foreground / background . Autofocus Speed The AF is measurably quicker than the 50D . Having used the 7D in the same environments as the 50D , the 7D easily locks in the AF solution faster Shutter Speed Shutter speed is phenomenal . It is very welcome when taking shots in action environments wildlife / sports . When taking pictures with long lenses on the fly without a tripod , having the extra frames captured really makes the difference . Image Quality When compared to the 50D - the increase in image quality is questionable at best . This almost feels like deja-vu , when the image quality of the 50D was questioned whether it was actually better than the 40D . I've since read in reviews that the soft focus effect can be attributable to the 7D's higher quality Antialias feature . That sounds like a quite a reach for an excuse as the result is counter productive given the cameras specs . If the AA is the problem , there should be a User selectable option to kill it . It appears Canon seems to be on the road to higher megapixel counts without working on tightening up the sharpness and detail in captured images . Canon is on a campaign for increased resolution at the deference of detail and definition which defeats the purpose of increased MP . Using the 100 - 400mm L f4.5 - 5.6 Lens , images are no sharper than those taken with a 50D at any given setting . Given the 3MP count advantage to the 7D there is virtually no visible gain . One could upscale the image size from a 50D camera in Photoshop to compensate the additional MP . In doing so you wont see much if any quality difference between the 50D and 7D . Using the EF 16 - 35mm L f2.8 in low light scenarios , the camera performs admirably . Very sharp vibrant color pictures . Used for both pictures and video the 7D and this lens were well suited for the task . As with the 50D , it is advisable to go with higher quality glass ( L lenses ) to make up for diminished returns in the megapixel increase . If there are any similarities with the 50D and 7D it is on the marked lapse of gains with increased megapixels . If high ISO settings are your target , the 7D offers a bit better performance @ 2400 and above . HD Video The added benefit of high quality video is very welcome option . Being that it's less than elegant to operate various function on a DSLR is almost a given . The video output from the 7D is very solid . Very sharp , color depth , and great contrast at various ISO ranges . In real low light anything above 3200 will result in grainy and other unwanted artifacts . In Manual mode having access to Shutter , Aperture , and ISO really give the user allot of control over the subject . No frames dropped means nice content from which to edit . The downside of doing video with the 7D or possibly any DSLR is the awkward control placement . Any adjustments after the start of video taping means pressing and rotating of dials or adjusting zoom or focus . All this means is the camera will jostle about . Adjusting the shutter or ISO via the dial and you will hear the click of the dial in the video which is not subtle in the least . Also composing and manual focusing through live view will present its own challenges . Holding the camera at a distance to see Live View and making adjustments isn't practical . Video on the 7D lends itself better to planned shots or minimal variance from the primary subject . Getting zoom , focus , and other essential settings in place is almost imperative before beginning to shoot . In Summary Many of the 7D's features really are nice advancements for any Canon line . Given the price point and the Nikon 300 market it's designed to compete with , it's a competent build . The features aren't just bullet points and most work well in practice . Where the 7D fumbles is overall image quality . The bump to 18MP really feels much less justified . It really is disappointing to have so much going for it just to come short on something as critical as image quality .
    • 014 4  added : In response to the reviewers complaining about soft 7D images . . . . If this is soft , I don't need sharp ! [ . . . ] = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = I don't usually post reviews but given the two one star ratings , I was compelled to do so . I've had my 7D for about a week ; only found time for a few , non-rigorous test shots . Preliminary results : I prefer the new button arrangement and system of menus to those of my 40D . Auto-focus seems faster and more accurate than that of my 40D . Auto white-balance under incandescent light seems better ( less warm ) than that of my 40D . With a stopped down lens , the detail available from the 18 megapixel images . . . makes me SMILE / LAUGH . On a per-pixel basis , noise appears similar to that of my 40D - BUT , it's spread across 18 megapixels , not 10 . And , to quote Neil Diamond , It's a beautiful noise - very random in character . In my humble opinion , for any given picture size , I've gained about half a stop in low ISO performance and about a stop at high ISOs ( 1600 plus ) .
    • 052 4  I've had the Canon 7D for about two weeks now and after about a thousand shots : Introduction . A very impressive high megapixel count for Canon's new professional / consumer digital SLR , but keep in mind that , as you approach higher resolutions , you need to ensure the lens on the SLR can resolve that much detail . Being that I only purchased the body , I'll be anxious to see how the lens kit fairs with this new camera . The shots I've seen so far across the internet are impressive , however . The lens I've used with this camera so far is my Canon 24 - 70 f / 2.8L . A huge jump in ISO performance over my XSi , but that's to be expected . I'm having troubles with focusing , but I'll touch on that in a minute . Image Quality . Outstanding . Perfect Colors in comparison to my Canon G10 and XSi . No color banding , excellent sharpness . ISO . Canon 7D's ISO performance is great for the amateur photographer attempting to get great photos ( and the semi-pros who know what their doing . . . I'm the former ) . As I said previously , I had the opportunity to take photos in a restaurant at about the same time using the same lens with both the XSi and the 7D ( different days ) . The difference in quality and keeper rate was amazing ! I am one that will stop shooting at a higher ISO once the grain starts showing more predominantly , but at an ISO3200 , I found pretty nice photos in a barely lit restaurant . The LCD screen is the same as the Canon 5D Mark II ( 3 , 920K Pixels ) , clear and fully visible even in bright sunlight . In comparison , the Canon XSi SLR also has a 3 LCD , but with 230,000 pixels . Size / Build . This build of the camera is substantially well made . It's supposed to be made of a magnesium body and weather proof . Either way , I have no fears of taking this camera out in the elements . It's more substantial than the XSi , and after only a few hours of shooting with the 7D , picking up the XSi felt like a children's toy . I have small hands ( ms_ladi hands ) , but still have no problems carrying the 7D body with the 24 - 70 lens . Video . I am not interested whatsoever in the video aspect of SLR cameras and can never understand why this feature is included . Well , yes I can understand . I tried out the video for a few minutes and here are a couple of things I did not like . I also searched a few forums and found a couple of the same opinions . When I start shooting , I have to focus prior to shooting , but if I pan somewhere else , the camera won't autofocus again - - just manual . Also , while I was taking snapshots during shooting , the video paused and the sound of the picture taking was heard . Since I'm not a fan of shooting on cameras , I'm not sure this is normal . The playback , however , is pretty amazing . . . lifelike , very realistic colors . Autofocusing . Canon's new 7D packs 19 AF points . It looks like Canon will be releasing a new firmware that might update their AF feature , however mine works fine . I was able to confer with a Canon rep who referred me to various other features on the camera that lets Autofocus really shine through . All points are covered . Conclusion . For the price , the new Canon 7D is the most excellent camera that Canon has released . For the amateur like myself , by itself or coupled with a Canon G10 for the low-pro times , one has a one-two power combination . For the semi-pro , this is the probably the best crop to date . The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily , yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs .
    • 054 4  I purchased the Canon EOS 7D to use exclusively for short film and music video work . Prior to buying , I spent a fair amount of time researching the pros and cons of shooting video with DSLRs in general , and specifically as it relates to the 7D . Initially what I had read about the rolling shutter issue with DSLRs had me concerned . Essentially the shutter is held open and the image from the lens is recorded off the sensor in a vertical linear fasion . ( ie . in rows ) In fast-moving subjects , or if the camera is panned too quickly , this can yield a jello effect . For instance , a fast pan of a tall building could cause the building to appear more diagonal than vertical . Thus far , I've had no noticeable issues with rolling shutter . The nature of careful shooting at 24fps ( ie . being mindful of panning speeds to avoid jarring / judder , etc . ) helps greatly here . Prior to the 7D , I was using a Canon VIXIA HF100 as my main camera , attached to a 35mm depth-of-field adapter . We still use the Vixia as our handy home movie camera ( It is , afterall , a nice camera ! ) . However , after using the Canon EOS 7D , I don't think I could ever go back to a standard video camera - or any camera that involves a depth-of-field adapter - for short film shooting . Here are the reasons : - No need to flip the video ( in the case of 35mm DOF adapters ) - Wide array of lenses to choose from . ( I use my old M42 / Pentax lenses + $12 EOS adapter . ) - Convenient video codec ( H .264 . MOV file . . . drops right into most any NLE ) - Extreme low-light capability ( Wide ISO range can be adjusted quickly ) . . . great for natural or available-light shooting . - Totally customizable ( more below ) Starting with my older Canon GL2 , I've had a habit with every camera I've owned . . . that is , I dial the sharpness all the way down ( no electronic enhancing ) and also knock the saturation down a bit . This tends to give a bit more lattitude in post for color correcting . While the Canon EOS 7D has a LOT of menu options , I was able to figure this out after spending 15 minutes or so flipping through the menus . I now have C1 on my dial set for 1920x1080 24p , 1 / 50 shutter , no sharpening , low contrast , and a few other features either enabled or disabled . I also have the ISO defaulted to around 200 , but this can be quickly changed while shooting , via a button on the top-right and selecting the ISO from the list . Audio recording is an area I read as a drawback to the camera , but I capture all sound wild so it wasn't a big deal in my case . For those requiring quality audio on-camera a quality shotgun mic could help . Being so small . . . you'll definitely want to add something to this camera to get a bigger form-factor . I've read great things about the Z-Finders but I don't have one yet as they are quite expensive . They can greatly aid in focusing , particularly in bright outdoor shoots , and they give that extra point of contact against your eye for stability . I'm using the IndiFocus setup I'd used previously with the Vixia . Generally speaking , bulking the camera up really improves shots and prevents the jittery look you may get when shooting with a DSLR alone . I find the camera's LCD display to be sufficient for focusing . ( One other nice feature : Just prior to shooting , you can hit the zoom / magnifier to ensure your subject is in tack-focus before pressing record . ) I'm researching variable ND ( neutral density ) filters , as one of those is a must for bright outdoor shooting , in cases where you want to maintain the shallow depth of field but not crank up the shutter speed and get that stacatto freeze-frame appearance . Standard NDs can be used as well , but it would likely require a set of them to stack on and remove as needed , which in my opinion wouldn't be as preferable as a single adjustable filter . At any rate , the camera itself is just fantastic . I really can't say enough good things about it for its video capability . It's a pleasure to use , gives total control over the look , and captures stunning HD footage !
    • 079 4  I've been looking to replace my 1D MkIII and expected to buy a 1D MkIV . I held off , waiting to see actual photographic results and was somewhat disappointed when they finally hit the web . $5k is a lot for what looks like an incremental improvement - - especially when the 7D , while not quite up to 1D MkIV quality , has such an exceptional price point . After seeing the results and working with a friend's 7D I was sold . At 8 fps , the 7D is only 2 fps slower than the 1D when it comes to shooting wildlife and sports . At 18 mpx , it's even better than the 1D MkIV although the MkIV has a somewhat larger sensor ( 1.3 vs . 1.6 , which should produce lower noise ) . Still , when you can buy three 7D's for the cost of a 1D MkIV , what's not to like ? Image noise is excellent up to ISO 800 - and beyond in a pinch . New interface features such as the Q quick setup are exceptional . I added a vertical grip to give me extra battery capacity in the field . The only reason I give it 4 stars is because compared to both my old 1D MkIII and my old 5D , the function switch on the camera back has a cheap feel to it . It's certainly not the rugged build quality of the 1D series . Overall , I couldn't be happier with my 7D and I would recommend it to anyone , amateur or professional . In the end , I also bought a 5D MkII to go with my new 7D . This gives me the absolute best of both worlds - the 7D's 1.6X sensor extends my telephotos for wildlife shooting and the full frame 5D gives me great wide angle landscapes . And the total cost for both was still 15% cheaper than a 1D MkIV .
    • 082 4  Autofocus choices are various but yet accuracy has a way to go even when using center point autofocus . With my previous Canons , I had an 80% rate of autofocus failures for flying birds . With my 7D the autofocus failure rate has been reduced to about 60% . Image quality quite superior to that of the 40D and the 50D at ISO 400 . The 8 frames speed is great . The menu is easy to use and allows for lots of choices , yet , no single push button for mirror lock-up and autofocus point selection now requires to push two buttons rather than one in the previous cameras . A smart choice for nature photography due to its 1.6X sensor , weight and size .
    • 129 4  I was thinking of buying a 7D so I did my usually comparison between all the Canon cameras up to the latest models and here is what I found . . . Unless you are going to make very large prints ( above 11x14 ) then the extra resolution doesn't matter . What I didn't expect though was just how close the 20D still is to these cameras . The only one that really stood out , interestingly enough , was the original 5D . The 5D is the sharpest camera Canon has made to date . ( The original 5D looks better than anything Canon has to date . ) The bottom line when it comes to pure image quality , the lens make a much bigger difference . Using the same lens the 20D can be made to look almost exactly like the 7D with a little post processing . So what would I gain by buying a 7D . . . 1 . A bigger better LCD screen . 2 . Better auto focus . 3 . Video . Image quality now is more a function of taking a good photo to begin with and then processing it properly rather than the camera itself . Canon has not been able to make any significant improvements from the 20D in this regard so far . . . IF you are really serious about taking great photographs get a used 20D or 40D and some good lens then focus on taking photographs instead of all of this technical BS ; ) PS This review was based on a friend's 7D and as you will note I did give it 5 stars . There are two types of photographers I have come to find . Those that focus on the means and those that focus on results . I use to be one of the former . . . Its far easier to buy expensive equipment than to learn how to really use it . This camera is more camera than 90% of people will ever need , including myself . But hey , if you have the money . . . knock yourself out . But get some good glass too , I can highly recommend the 17 - 55 f2.8 lens .
    • 135 4  Hey everyone , I pre-ordered this Camera a few weeks ago , they kept moving back the estimated stock date . Then I checked it today and it says estimated delivery tomorrow . They've since started selling from an alternate Amazon vendor at $200 more than MSRP . I thought that a bit strange , seeing as how I had not received a shipping notice , and they were already selling it from an alternate source . I contacted Amazon customer service directly and was told Their vendor had not filled amazons order yet , and they had not had the chance to update the availability listed on the item's page . Might have been nice if they had alerted me to this minor fact instead of BSing me so they could keep their high ticket sale . Do your selves a favor ; If you live in any state besides NY order from B and H photo . No sales tax , they have great customer service , and reasonable prices . ( In this case : MSRP . Imagine that . ) I use Amazon constantly , and rarely have problems but this is a pretty screw up . If I had not looked into this issue , It could have cost my company thousands of dollars in lost revenue as I needed this Camera today . I figured others may find this information useful . I rated 5 Stars with the intention of revising it in the future , because I have no doubts about the performance vs price ratio on this Camera . It gives Prosumer a whole new meaning . I will update my review in a few weeks if I'm wrong . Take care everyone . _ Brad

  • 060 4  When I first started reading about this camera I started to get excited , the only thing that bothered me was that it is not a full frame camera . Well I have had it for about 3 weeks and have been putting it through my own test . The picture quality has been fantastic , I don't miss the full frame sensor . The raw files do come out somewhat soft but as soon as you run them through photoshop you get a sharp photo . I edit all my photos in photoshop raw or jpeg , I think if your a serious photographer , you do everything you can to maximize the quality of your images . Some people complain about the file size , yea I hate having more resolution to work with . Kidding of course and anyway you can adjust the size of the files by adjusting the quality of the jpeg or raw file . The jpeg has a 18mp , 8mp , and 4.5mp size the raw has a 18mp , 10mp , and 4.5mp size . So you don't have to shoot at full resolution if you don't need to , I know I don't . I own a 1D Mark3 and have really loved that camera but I like this camera more . The camera is built well it is very nice to hold it in your hands , its lighter than the 1D too . When you pick up the 7D you know your holding something of quality . It is feature rich and has a bit of a learning curve , but I love playing with a new camera so that doesn't bother me . The auto focus and exposure system have both worked well for me , of course I don't expect the camera to do all the work . There are some circumstances where you have to know how to get a right exposure , because all cameras will be fooled in certain situations . As for noise at high ISO I get that with my 1D and every other digital camera I have ever owned . I either use flash or use photoshop to help me live with it . I need to address the 2 Star reviewer who is comparing the 7D's cost with the $900 cheaper canon rebel T2i and ask the question is it worth that much more . I say yes and these are my reasons . First there is no comparison between the build quality of the two . The rebel is made out of plastic and has no weather sealing . Yes the rebel is smaller and lighter that is a plus for him a minus for me . I like something I can hold on to and has a rugged build which the titanium body and weather sealing makes the 7D such a camera . I have shot with it in wet falling snow and rain and had no problems . The 7D shoots at 8fps the rebel at 3.5fps . The 7D has a 19 point autofocus system which has worked very well for me , the rebel has a 9 point autofocus system . The 7D has 27 cudtom functions the rebel has 12 The 7D has an electronic level the rebel doesn't The 7D has a special macro servo AF mode when you attach a macro lens the rebel doesn't The 7D can fire remote flash the rebel needs a remote fireing device to do this . The 7D has duel processors which jumps it to a pro level camera by itself , the rebel has one . The 7D has five different autofocus point , settings the rebel has two . The 7D has a 100% view finder the rebel has 95% . The 7D is rated at 150,000 cycles the rebel is not rated . There are many more features the 7D has , that the rebel doesn't . The 7D is a professional level camera the rebel is not . Is the 7D worth $900 more than the rebel I would say definitely . I would say if you want a very nice entry level camera just above a point and shoot buy the rebel . If you want a professional level camera at a very good price buy the 7D . I think my fellow photographer that wrote that review didn't realize what he had in his hand when he made those comments . For me I am amazed the 7D is only $900 more than the rebel . Well I have had enough of being a photo geek for one day I'm going to go out and make some photographs with my 7D . I have had my 7D for almost 3 months and am still loving it .
    • 037 4  I intentionally waited before reviewing this camera . When it first came out , I was a little dissapointed . Not so much with the camera , but with the typical industry adoption rate . Lack of Adobe Lightroom support on Day 1 , was a very painful price of being an early adopter . Having had this camera now for several months , I have to say it's got everything I need it for and more . I use it for weddings , portraits , wildlife , sports and video , and it doesn't skip a beat . This is by far the most versatile camera out there . True , the 5DMk2 may take better images when you zero in on the pixels , but this is VERY close behind that . And , the 5dMK2 won't give me the high FPS that I need for sports and wildlife photography , not to mention how amazing the focus is on this camera . I think the only thing wrong with this camera is the price . Canon easily could have charged more for it !

  • 088 4  I bought the 7d to upgrade from a Rebel Xt.I am not a pro i just love to take pictures , and i want quality pictures.I really have no complaints so far.I selected the 7d over the 50d for the video option , but i almost never use it.Its nice to have but i know now i did not need it.Great Camera !
    • 071 4  This camera is a little difficult to learn at first , but you grow on it and that's what makes it an amazing product . The features all work correctly , and I have had no problems with the camera at all . I do not recommend this for amateurs as you'll waste more time figuring out the functions then shooting . All in all , I love it : )
    • 110 4  I had the 40d , its a great entry dlsr . The 7d is way better in every way-better iso value-better color balance , sharp pics with 70 - 200L is.I dont care about the movie option , but it works great too-buy this camera now .
    • 115 4  Does all what it says , absolutely great camera . Price tag is a bit high also considering the internal competition from the new 550d .

  • 089 4  I just bought this camera from AAFES ( no tax is the only reason i didn't buy from amazon ) and i love it . Every feature of this camera is spot on but it does require a few default settings to be changed to dead on accurate . The 19 point auto focus is amazing but if not careful you may miss your focus , this can be easily fixed by manually selecting the focus . The video quality is amazing coming from an SLR , the auto focus isn't the best so manual focus is a must for the best possible picture . The camera is a tad bit heavy but i didn't notice it until this evening after i had been shooting for almost 5 hours with it , thumbs up to that . I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get serious about photography . If you're just the sometimes shooter then you may want to buy a cheaper body and great glass but for anyone ready to jump to the next level , this is for you
    • 080 4  I have to say I love this camera . More then a camera I use it to shoot very short films and for the price it is real good compared to my red camera which cost over 20,000 . This is perfect for on the go shots where you do not to set anything up and with all the features I don't need to add any other components to it to get the perfect looking shot . Recommend this highly if you can afford it .
    • 094 4  I've upgraded from canon eos 50 d to the canon 7 d really amazing thing that is very fast auto focus , a genuine high precision , I feel I am used canon 1 d
    • 097 4  Love everything about it . The sheer volume of functions and capabilities is a little overwhelming at first but after spending some time with the camera and a good book about it , you'll be taking great pictures in no time . It makes great movies too ! Just beware that the internal mic will record the sounds of the focus and zoom so you'll want to invest in an external mic . Also , the autofocus really doesn't work in movie mode but I haven't found using the manual focus in movie mode to be an issue . Buy it , you'll love it .
    • 130 4  There are so many excellent reviews here that I won't rehash why I love my 7d , but I have some advice : If you've been going back and forth on whether or not to get one for at least a week , just go ahead and get one . I'm pretty sure you'll be happy you did .

  • 090 4  I love this camera ! The all new focusing system works like a charm , and you have the built in wireless flash functions . All the good and bad things about this camera has already been mentioned ; although I will say that coming from a Rebel XSi , it takes quite a bit of time to get use to the focusing / metering system . 7D is a much larger camera than the XSi , so you might want to invest in a good camera backpack .
    • 084 4  I upgraded from the 40D which I also love , but this blows it away . I love the level , no more crooked landscapes . I like that this has water resistant body since I like birds , landscape and wildlife . It's a little bigger than the 40D . I love the new AF system and the ability to customize button to your liking . A great camera .
    • 107 4  An amazing camera with very fast auto focus . It works great in low light high ISO . The build quality is very good . The video quality is ok . I have an HD camcorder and the 7D's video quality is in line with it . The ability to reuse my L series lens will give me more video options . Very Fast !

  • Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) 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 .
    • 004 4  The Canon EOS 7D is Canon's new semi-pro / enthusiast digital SLR and competes primarily with Nikon's recently updated D300s . It's a terrific SLR that shines in photo quality , control placement , speed , and viewfinder size and coverage . First , let me tell you a little about myself so you can gauge what my expectations for the camera are . I'm strictly a hobbyist photographer and use my camera a couple of times a month at museums , outdoor parks , and vacations . Besides photos of my dog , my photography consists primarily of static subjects . This is my second SLR . Enough of me , onto the camera . The 7D is a fairly bulky SLR and dwarfs entry level models such as the Olympus E - 510 ( see my photos ) , though it's no bigger than Nikon's D300s . With that said , it's not uncomfortably large and is easy enough to carry around all day . Build quality is terrific and the camera has a solid , luxury feel to it . The 7D fits very well into my average sized hands and , with the kit 28 - 135 lens , is nicely balanced . All the buttons are easy to reach and , if you've used a Canon camera before , easy to figure out . The magnesium body is sealed against moisture and dust . The shutter button is well placed and has a nicely defined halfway point . A control dial is on the back of the camera and behind the shutter button too . There is also a joystick-like toggle on the back of the camera as well . A large ( 3 ) and high-resolution ( 920,000 pixel ) screen is on the camera back with a secondary status LCD display on the top ( with backlight ) . The screen is a pleasure to use when reviewing images for focus , and when manually focusing in magnified live view mode . Compared to the 3 - inch 420,000 - pixel screen on my Panasonic LX3 it's a definite upgrade , and makes a noticeable difference . The viewfinder is huge and bright and has 100% coverage . Coming from the Olympus , which has a very cramped and tunnel-like viewfinder , it was a revelation , and was one of the reasons I decided to step up to the 7D . Also , by using a transmissive LCD on the viewfinder the only markings you see until you confirm focus are for the selected focus method ( for instance , a single box when using one focus point , or brackets when using the auto select autofocus method ) . Moreover , a composition grid can be imposed on the viewfinder . The information display on the bottom of the viewfinder is large and bright and contains lots of shooting and camera information . The camera is very responsive and turns on almost instantly . The sensor cleaning occurs when you turn the camera on or off but can be interrupted during power up . Focus speeds with the kit lens are very speedy , even in dim light ( two 40 watt lamps and a television as the only light sources in a 17 ' x 11 ' room ) . The 19 - point all cross type autofocus is uncanny at picking the correct subject . If it doesn't get it right the first time it will the second . I usually set all my cameras to center point autofocus , but the 7D does a great job picking out the subject , so I leave it on fully automatic mode . Live view focusing is not a quick , especially in low light , and I only use live view when I need to shoot at a weird angle and I can't shoot looking through the viewfinder . Live view can be used with a mirror flip or contrast detection . The contrast detection mode is fairly pokey , while the mirror flip mode is quicker , but introduces a brief break in the view . Continuous shooting is available in both a high and a low setting . High is 8 FPS , while the low speed is 3 FPS . The shutter sound is nicely subdued and not nearly as noisy as the Olympus ' is . Photo quality is terrific . There are various Picture Styles you can choose to alter the contrast , sharpness , color tone , and saturation of the photos . At any rate , 99% of the time , colors are natural , exposure is accurate , and dynamic range is great . At this level of camera , that's expected though . What I really love about the 7D is the high ISO noise , or lack thereof . The luxury of feeling confident while shooting at high ISO is priceless . I've taken a good number of shots as high as ISO 3200 and have no complaints . Of course there is a bit of noise , and the mushiness that noise reduction brings , but for an 18 MP image at ISO 3200 , I have no complaints . The ISO speeds above 3200 are OK as well , but I'll reserve those for emergency use only , they get fairly processed looking . The relatively large APS-C sensor not only allows for low noise , but also allows me to produce nicely blurred backgrounds and great depth of field . I couldn't achieve the same degree of that effect with the smaller 4 / 3 sensor in the Olympus , and I certainly couldn't do it with my point and shoot cameras unless I was in macro mode . There is an Auto Lighting Optimizer feature that attempts to correct photos that are not correctly exposed ( e.g . subjects are too dark or highlights are lost ) . It works well for the most part , but , depending on the subject , the differences are very subtle . The HD movie mode is nicely done as well . You set your focus , either automatically or manually , before you start recording . You can refocus during recording but you'll definitely notice it . You can adjust shutter speed , aperture , and ISO in manual movie mode as well . There is a monaural microphone on the front of the camera , or you can plug in a stereo microphone . By pressing the shutter button , you can interrupt the movie briefly to take a still photo , similar to Canon's S series super zoom cameras . The kit lens is nicely constructed and fairly sharp from corner to corner . Purple fringing is not much of a problem in my photos . The field of view is kind of narrow though . The lens starts at 44.8mm with the 7D's 1.6x field of view crop factor taken into account . Without a wide angle it's not an ideal all around lens , but I do feel it's worth the extra money for the kit with this lens . You end up getting a nice , ultrasonic motor , image stabilized , 4.8x lens for a minimal cost . The only things I don't like about the camera so far are that in auto ISO you can't limit how high it goes . I find the 7D wants to jump up to ISO 3200 fairly quickly in low light when it doesn't need to go nearly that high . When it jumps to ISO 3200 I find I can dial it down to ISO 1600 manually and still get an acceptable shutter speed , so the Canon is being very cautious jumping up so high . The other thing I'm not fond of is the fact that when you're in playback mode the most you can zoom out is a 9 - image grid . With such a large high-resolution screen I would appreciate an index grid playback mode that showed more photos . Lastly , I find the process for setting the custom white balance a bit long winded . You have to take a photo of a white reference object then go into the menus to choose that photo as the reference photo . On other cameras , even Canon's point and shoots , the process is much faster , and it doesn't save the reference photo to your memory card . It's not the worst system , and I have become very quick at it , but it could be better . All in all . . . a phenomenal semi-pro SLR . The Canon 7D covers all the bases . 12 / 17 / 2009 Update : I found a nice case for the 7D which fits the camera with kit lens quite well . It doesn't fit much more than that , but it's a good case if you don't carry too many accessories with you . It's the Lowepro Topload Zoom case . Lowepro Topload Zoom 1 Camera Bag ( Black ) 12 / 19 / 2009 Update : You can change the depth of field preview button to switch to another autofocus mode when you hold it down , instead of doing a depth of field preview . I find this very useful since I hardly ever use depth of field preview . Now if I find that the autofocus is consistently not picking the right subject for a shot , I simply hold down the depth of field preview button to have it temporarily switch from auto select mode to spot focus mode . Very convenient . 01 / 04 / 2010 Update : Just got back from a trip to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City . The 7D was a joy to use . I took about 160 photographs . Of those only 4 or 5 are out of focus due to camera error . The low light performance continues to impress me . I took many photos at ISO 1600 through 3200 and all of the photos are completely usable . In the large Sea Life and African Mammals rooms I was able to take sharp pictures of these very dim rooms while shooting handheld at ISO 3200 and no flash ( see pictures ) . Anyone who has visited these exhibits knows how challenging they can be to shoot . P.S . : Sorry for the long review . There is a lot to cover , and even so I may not have gotten everything . If you'd like to know something I didn't cover , feel free to leave a comment and I'll answer it as quickly as I can . Also , I will update this review as needed based on any new experiences I have with the 7D .
    • 005 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) 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 .
    • 009 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) I take photos of birds . 90% of the time of flying birds , mostly raptors - - distant , fast-moving subjects in poor quality lighting conditions . I fitted the 7D with a Canon 300 mm F2.8 L IS USM telephoto lens . Also used both Canon Extenders EF II ( 1.4X and 2X ) , and sometimes used a light Manfrotto tripod . Shot nearly 1,000 RAW and JPEG during the first 10 days after getting the camera . Image quality is outstanding ( without the extenders incredibly so ) . Focusing speed might be even faster than with my previous camera ( 40D ) but it is still too soon to be definitive . 8 fps burst speed is notoriously faster than the 6.4 fps I was used to . Zone AF and AF point expansion focusing modes ( new to me ) are very effective for following distant flying birds ( better than Spot AF mode , that I used with the 40D ) . For closer birds Spot AF is preferable so one can improve chances of focusing the head / eye . RAW files are huge ( 20 - 24 Mb each ) so buy the fastest memory card and card reader you can . Unfortunately , neither iPhoto nor Snow Leopard read 7D's CR2 format as of 15 Dec 2009 . Photoshop CS4 ( properly updated ) does though , and so does Canon's included software , of course . The 7D uses a battery slightly different from the XXD series , so now I need to carry two battery chargers , and my batteries are not interchangeable between cameras . I also bought the Canon 28 - 135 mm F3.5 - 5.6 IS included in the kit , and however a little less sharp than my Canon 50 mm F1.8 EF II , it performs well throughout the zoom range . If you can afford only one lens this is probably a good choice for general photography , and good value for the relatively little extra money . Full HD Video is very sharp and colors well balanced . Nice to have the external mic input . Best to turn the IS off when shooting video without an external mic or a buzzing noise ( the IS drives ) will contaminate your sound track . I still need to run a series of more controlled tests to form a sounder opinion but so far I'm happy with the upgrade . The 1.6X cropping factor rules out this camera for landscape photography , but the same feature combined with the 8 fps and new AF modes probably makes this camera - dollar for dollar - the best current choice for telephoto wildlife photography . This is the camera I was waiting for ! As simple as that . 17 Dec 2009 update . I updated my software today and both Leopard ( Mac OS X 10.5.8 ) and Snow Leopard ( Mac OS X 10.6.2 ) open and process RAW images ( in Preview ) taken with the 7D . iPhoto ' 08 ( version 7.1.5 ) imported RAW images from this camera just fine this time . NOW I'm happy !
    • 015 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) By now you've probably read a ton of reviews . . . here or elsewhere on the internet about this camera . I've had it for a few months , upgrading from a Canon Rebel Xsi and finally decided to do a review , now that I have experience with it and really have had a chance to put it through it's paces . I'll try to keep my review based TOTALLY on my own personal experiences , and not just regurgitate the words everybody else has already said about this camera . I'm going to spread this review out into a couple of lists , then a short question and answer section . . . so here goes ! What's hot ? * Large , 18 megapixel images * Great low-light performance at high iso's * Fast * Automatic White Balance does a much better job than my Xsi ever did . * Rugged / Solid * Feels very significant in your hands and comfortable to hold * Automatic Focus is highly configurable to your situational needs and performs VERY well ( in comparison to any previous camera I've owned ) * Remote flash triggering * Movie modes are neat ( I don't play with them much however . . . I'm more a photographer than videographer ) * Most professional ASP-C sensor camera yet . * Shares batteries with the 5Dmark ii . * Penti-prism 100% view is amazing . Much brighter and more useful , to me , in framing a shot than the penti-mirror design of the Rebel series . * Micro-adjustment for individual lenses is awesome . What's not ? * Rebel T2i has it's sensor , iso range , movie modes , a bigger and more detailed screen , and a dumbed-down version of the 7D's auto-focus . . . at about $1000 less . * If you're used to a Rebel camera ( or point-and-shoot ) , the weight will be very noticeable after a while . * Expensive Questions and answers : Q : Would this be a good camera for me to buy as my first step into the DSLR realm ? A : No . More accurately . . . probably not . This camera is complex , and it should be . It's as professional as the ASP-C camera's get . . . and it's in the xD lineup . If you aren't familiar with basic camera functions . . . something that takes this many steps beyond basic will either be frustrating , or wasted by always sitting in the automatic setting on the dial . I would , instead , recommend you look at the Canon Rebel T2i ! It's got many of the specs of this camera , at a much cheaper price point . It's lighter , smaller , and more beginner / intermediate friendly . Q : Should I get this camera over the Rebel T2i ? A : Depends totally on your use of a camera . Need something light , friendly , very capable , and a great value ? Rebel all the way . Need something with a super-fast shutter , rugged build quality , and a few very advanced features ? Go with the 7D . Q : Which lens should I get with the 7D ? A : Totally depends on what you want to do and what you need it for . I chose the 28 - 135mm . So far , it's not a bad little piece of glass . That seems to be about the standard idea on all the kit lens options . Looking back , I probably could have saved myself some cash by buying the body only and used it to buy some REALLY GOOD glass . The sensor on this camera has an nearly un-satiable hunger for sharpness . You won't see it's true potential without amazing optics . Final word : If you need a blazing fast , rugged , Canon camera and you're willing to really go through it's complexities and wring every last ounce of Awesome out of it . . . in the ASP-C format . . . this is it . If you want to save some money and / or are just getting into the world of DSLR's . . . I'd pass this one by . I made my choice , and I don't regret it .
    • 018 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I have a 50D and jumped at the opportunity to pick up the 7D . The 50D is by no means a slouch . The simple reason for going with the 7D is that it's feature set offers a marked improvement and not just for its price point . Although the 7D is not a follow up model to the xxD line , I make some comparisons to the 50D where warranted and because that's the camera I've been using . Battery Life Battery life bests that of the 50D . So in straight photography , battery life does last longer . Where battery life is shortened comes in the use of the 7D's video function . The camera defaults to Live View for composing and shooting . This added video function will wear through a battery life at an increased pace making having an added battery pack essential . Note the 7D uses the same battery as the 5D Mark II Controls and Button Layout The control / button layout is well though out . The left rear border gives quick access to the most important features with the press of the thumb . No need to reposition the camera in the hands to review / delete images or access menus . There is also the option to customize button functions to simplify feature access just as one can do with the 50D . The 7D has a dedicated Live View button incorporated with Video switch . This eliminates menu access and make transitions while shooting almost effortless . LCD Screen The LCD screen when compared to the 50D appears a bit dimmer . To its benefit the 50d is equipped with more anti-reflective coatings whereas the 7D appears devoid of any . In bright lights or sunlight , the default luminance of the 7D can make it a task to judge images taken or evaluate / compose your shots in Live Mode . The only way to counter this is to increase the brightness in the menu system - of course the hit on battery life . AF Points Although the 19 point system is a nice added addition . Much of the options appear better used in staged / static / studio environments . However the Spot AF , Single Point AF , and AF Point Expansion offer a wider range of options for catching subjects in motion or picking subjects out from foreground / background . Autofocus Speed The AF is measurably quicker than the 50D . Having used the 7D in the same environments as the 50D , the 7D easily locks in the AF solution faster Shutter Speed Shutter speed is phenomenal . It is very welcome when taking shots in action environments wildlife / sports . When taking pictures with long lenses on the fly without a tripod , having the extra frames captured really makes the difference . Image Quality When compared to the 50D - the increase in image quality is questionable at best . This almost feels like deja-vu , when the image quality of the 50D was questioned whether it was actually better than the 40D . I've since read in reviews that the soft focus effect can be attributable to the 7D's higher quality Antialias feature . That sounds like a quite a reach for an excuse as the result is counter productive given the cameras specs . If the AA is the problem , there should be a User selectable option to kill it . It appears Canon seems to be on the road to higher megapixel counts without working on tightening up the sharpness and detail in captured images . Canon is on a campaign for increased resolution at the deference of detail and definition which defeats the purpose of increased MP . Using the 100 - 400mm L f4.5 - 5.6 Lens , images are no sharper than those taken with a 50D at any given setting . Given the 3MP count advantage to the 7D there is virtually no visible gain . One could upscale the image size from a 50D camera in Photoshop to compensate the additional MP . In doing so you wont see much if any quality difference between the 50D and 7D . Using the EF 16 - 35mm L f2.8 in low light scenarios , the camera performs admirably . Very sharp vibrant color pictures . Used for both pictures and video the 7D and this lens were well suited for the task . As with the 50D , it is advisable to go with higher quality glass ( L lenses ) to make up for diminished returns in the megapixel increase . If there are any similarities with the 50D and 7D it is on the marked lapse of gains with increased megapixels . If high ISO settings are your target , the 7D offers a bit better performance @ 2400 and above . HD Video The added benefit of high quality video is very welcome option . Being that it's less than elegant to operate various function on a DSLR is almost a given . The video output from the 7D is very solid . Very sharp , color depth , and great contrast at various ISO ranges . In real low light anything above 3200 will result in grainy and other unwanted artifacts . In Manual mode having access to Shutter , Aperture , and ISO really give the user allot of control over the subject . No frames dropped means nice content from which to edit . The downside of doing video with the 7D or possibly any DSLR is the awkward control placement . Any adjustments after the start of video taping means pressing and rotating of dials or adjusting zoom or focus . All this means is the camera will jostle about . Adjusting the shutter or ISO via the dial and you will hear the click of the dial in the video which is not subtle in the least . Also composing and manual focusing through live view will present its own challenges . Holding the camera at a distance to see Live View and making adjustments isn't practical . Video on the 7D lends itself better to planned shots or minimal variance from the primary subject . Getting zoom , focus , and other essential settings in place is almost imperative before beginning to shoot . In Summary Many of the 7D's features really are nice advancements for any Canon line . Given the price point and the Nikon 300 market it's designed to compete with , it's a competent build . The features aren't just bullet points and most work well in practice . Where the 7D fumbles is overall image quality . The bump to 18MP really feels much less justified . It really is disappointing to have so much going for it just to come short on something as critical as image quality .
    • 021 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I bought this camera as a complete newbie to photography . My sum total of knowledge about photography was : keep extraneous junk out of the shot , fill the frame with your subject , and . . . that's it . I took pictures with my Olympus C740 UZ in full auto mode , and could not tell you the difference between an f-stop and a flame thrower . However , my plan was to become an accomplished amateur photographer ASAP . Once the camera was on order I got Bryan Peterson's book , Understanding Exposure and read it cover to cover . Wow ! If you consider yourself a beginner , get this book today . Read its ' reviews here on Amazon , this is what you need to understand a tremendous amount about photography in , literally , the first half an hour of reading . So , because of that book , I was not the least bit intimidated by the EOS 7D , and was up and running taking pictures immediately . And , by the way , the mode dial has been in aperture priority , shutter priority , or manual since day one . As far as I'm concerned , auto and creative auto don't exist . I went from knowing absolutely nothing about photography to having a firm grasp of the essentials in a week , with this camera and Bryan Peterson's book . As a complement to the camera I also got at the same time Doug Sahlin's book , Canon EOS 7D for Dummies . It is an excellent accompaniment to the camera manual , and , like Peterson's book , full of good general photography basics . If you have anything on the ball at all , you can become a photographer with this camera and those two books . From this base , you can then continue to hone your skills and learn forever . So my point is not to talk about the camera , but to tell any beginner they can use THIS camera starting from a base of no knowledge and with diligent study learn very quickly . If it is in your budget , you don't need to go from a point and shoot to a bridge camera to a DSLR . If you are serious , want to learn , and have the scratch , you can start right here . I have had this camera for eight days and learned and practiced the following things I never knew in that time : What f-stop is and how it affects depth of field ; how to use shutter speed to stop or imply motion ; what ISO is and how it can affect picture quality ; how white balance works and when and how to modify it ; using exposure compensation and exposure bracketing , and how to combine those with filters in unusual lighting situations ; when and why to use a tripod with slow shutter speeds ; how to take great macros without a macro lens using a 50 mm prime lens and an extension tube ; how to use direct flash , bounce flash , fill flash , ring flash , and off camera flash for macros , portraits etc . to eliminate shadows and balance exposures . Why you don't use a wide angle lens for portraits ! The list goes on but the point is you can do it too . So don't be afraid to buy a scary camera , just roll up your sleeves and learn . Also , get a Cotton Carrier to carry the camera around , you don't want this thing hanging on your neck ! Cotton Carrier is a vest that securely clips the camera to your chest , it is a necessity in my opinion , put Cotton Carrier in a search engine and peruse his website . I took a Macro Walk yesterday with it and it is the best ! No sore neck . Anyway if you want to know more about the camera itself there is plenty of info here , but I just want beginners to know you can succeed with this awesome machine .
    • 024 4  This is my first time writing a product review in Amazon . I want to write this review because the EOS 7D is a big step forward by Canon to address the advanced amateur market not to mention having at last a compelling product to compete head-to-head with Nikon D300 and its more advanced D300s sibling . For more than two years , Nikon has enjoyed such a technical lead that I was constantly yearning for a D300 equivalent body that I could upgrade from my trusty EOS 20D , which I am still using today as a backup body to avoid the hassle of changing lenses . In retrospect , the EOS 20D seems to make me a better photographer as I need to anticipate for the next shot by pre-adjusting all the knobs for proper metering , focus points , and exposure compensation . The substantial improvement in these aspects of the EOS 7D over the 20D gives me the confidence to let my wife use the EOS 7D while I continued to use the old EOS 20D in our recent vacation trip to the Yucatan Peninsula . My wife doesn't like to fiddle with various controls , and she rarely misses any shot because of improper exposure or focusing . In other words , the image results are very consistent . On the other hand , the new focusing system of the EOS 7D requires a little time to get used to . I think I was a little lucky to get a good copy as I have seen some other online user reviews that it did not work for them . At least it works marvelously for me with my EF100 - 400 F4.5 - 5.6L IS big gun in birding events . When I purchased the EOS 7D body , I also purchased the EF24 - 70mm F2.8L lens as a walk around combo . It ' s heavy as a dumb bell once I add the 580EX speedlight on top . But that ' s the price you pay for big quality glasses and good weather sealing . Especially with the 7D's 18Mpixel sensor , I figured I would need a good lens with high resolving power . I also tried out my EF28 - 135mm F3.5 - 5.6 IS lens , I can see quite bit of difference in high resolution IQ particularly at wide open apertures . Other than that my EFS 10 - 22mm , EFS 55 - 250mm , EF50mm F1.4 , and EFS 60mm Macro lenses seem to work well with the high pixel count sensor . And don't be surprise that the cheap plastic kit lens EFS 18 - 55mm IS would also produce decent resolution as well given its nice MTF curves . The video capability of the EOS 7D is not its strength . However , don't discount the usefulness of this feature as the camera is quite capable of capturing high quality HD video if it's used properly and most importantly with patience . First of all , forget about auto mode , it is most desirable to capture video in manual mode to avoid the camera automatically increasing its ISO sensitivity when it points at low light areas . In manual mode , you have full control of shutter speed , aperture , and exposure compensation and it's not as hard as it seems . Ideally , you want to set the shutter speed to 1 / 60 seconds for silky motion of the subjects and in some cases , you want to set the aperture small enough that you don't have to refocus for any background objects . Otherwise , the background blur resulted from narrow depth of field would seem to introduce compression artifacts when there is lot of motion in the background objects . Hence , good lighting is important to shoot video at smaller aperture to give you more depth of field and clearer background objects . You also may want to turn off IS in your lens to avoid the hunting noise that the built-in microphone would pick up . I ' ve found that a monopod is necessary if you are shooting video at 50mm or longer focal length . Secondly , I would suggest manual focusing after you let the lens autofocus before you press the video record button . Autofocusing during recording often results in noisy hunting . You may want to invest in an external microphone , but that could make you very standout in the crowd . I was surprised to find that face detection is also possible in video capture mode using the Live View display . I have yet validated the camera actually re-focus accordingly with the faces it detects . But at least I can see the yellow brackets show up on the faces . All in all , I love this camera and enjoy it very much . Hopefully it would last for me for another 5 years . The way I look at it , the camera body is not as important as lenses in terms of investment . My 20D still can produce some amazing pictures with a good lens attached to it . In the past , I have passed up on the EOS 40D , EOS 50D , and EOS 5D MK2 . And I can see most EOS 5D MK2 users are now envy with the new focusing system and high frame rate of the EOS 7D . I am not a pro , so the relatively higher ISO noise on the EOS 7D compared with any full frame camera is not an issue for me . The most important thing is that the ISO noise performance of the 7D is much better than my EOS 20D , although I have to say that Canon still has troubles with red color even in low ISO . I did look at the Nikon . During my recent vacation , I had a chance to play with my friend's Nikon D300s . I can tell you that I love my EOS 7D better despite the fact that the Nikon has 51 focus points and a 2nd SD slot . I didn't see any difference in IQ except that my friend's camera seems to overexpose with normal default settings . He's a die-hard Nikon fanboy . And to this day , he is still trying to figure out the D300s menu and why it overexposes . Hopefully this little episode would satisfy you Canon EOS fanboys out there .
    • 027 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I upgraded from the XSi to the 7D . I used the XSi for about 10 months . Was it worth it ? YES ! It's because I USE / EXPLOIT the following features of the 7D not found on the XSi . AF System - I shoot some sports , birds-in-flight , and other moving targets and the AF performance of the 7D is AMAZING . It is FAST and ACCURATE . Not only can you select the AF point MUCH faster than the XSi , it has more modes too . AF-point expansion and Zone AF are my favorites . I find Spot AF to be really accurate especially in low light . No one should be using the full 19 - pt auto-select AF if they are using this level of camera ( in my opinion ) . 8FPS is blazin ' fast ! High-ISO - Ok , it's not a full frame but I can use ISO2500 with confidence . Luminance noise responds very well to noise reduction ( In Lightroom 3 , beta 2 ) . I cringe at the ISO1600 output on the XSi . Handling - Having two control dials , a top LCD , and a directional joystick makes shooting so much easier than having just one dial on the XSi . Button layout is very intuitive . Viewfinder - Some say that the 100% viewfinder on the 7D is overrated . I don't think so . Just look through it and notice that it is much bigger and brighter than the XSi's . Your eye will scream for joy ! OK , a bit exaggerated but you get my idea ; ) Build Quality - Not a biggie especially if you don't expose your camera to harmful elements . However , I have to say that the bigger and heavier 7D is a bit more stable and easier to hold ( bigger grip ) than the small , plasticky XSi ( get a battery grip , problem solved ) . 18MP sensor - Whenever I crop a picture , I crop it hardcore . Having a bajillion pixels saves SO MUCH detail during the process . 25MB RAW files can fill up your hard drive fast . Other - you also get video capabilities ( nice bonus ) , high-res LCD ( sweet ) , electronic level finder ( very useful on hand-held symmetrical shots ) . Also , the built-in wireless flash trigger works seamlessly with my 430EX II ( now you're ready to do some real strobist stuff ) If you don't plan on using these features , I'd say save your money and get better lens . Maybe get a T2i and have slightly better image quality but pretty much the same in all other aspects . Stay away from the 50D , not that it's a bad camera but rumors say that a 60D might come out soon . Note that I use high-quality lenses ( EF-S 17 - 55 f / 2.8 IS USM , and EF 70 - 200 f / 4 L USM ) and the 7D's jam-packed sensor can make the most out of them . Just my 2 cents . Hope this helps . Sir Adam
    • 029 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Alright , so I'm not going to go into great detail to why I love this camera . I'll keep it true and short . My previous camera was the Canon XTi , I loved ( and still do love ) that camera . As soon as I turned on the LCD to my 7D I was in shock ! It's so clear , and the colors from it are incredible . The 7D's LCD is beautiful ! 3 It's also built like a tank . I feel secure when little kids ask me if they can take a picture with it now ! XD I just tell them to make sure the wear the strap . ; ) lol Battery life is WAY better . The 8 FPS is really useful . More useful than I had originally thought . ( I do a lot of sports . ) Video is great ! The built in speaker is . . . okay , buy the Rode directional mic ( $150 bucks , i think ) If you'll be doing a lot of video , like me . Okay so now the ISO . It's better than the XTi that's for sure . But , one thing you should know about the this camera is it has a noise reduction feature built into the camera . So It's really not a problem . I take photos in ISO 1000 - 1600 regularly . You don't really notice the noise until you blowup the image to about 150% It's really not a problem . Just make sure you have the High ISO noise reduction feature enabled . And really , if the picture that you took is that bad that all you notice is the noise , you should really should try to hone your photography skills before buying this camera . The only thing I don't like about the camera is the 18mp . It's really too much on a little 1.6 crop factor camera . 10 . mp is perfect for a DSLR . But that's really it . I will never print a picture that big . The biggest I've ever gotten is 8X10 . And that's still kinda small . Okay , that's my review . I suggest this camera to everyone that asks me what camera they should get . So buy it now ! . . . no really , you'll be glad you did .
    • 034 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Three Positives : 1 . Live View - allows you to see exposure and depth of field ( no darkening ) in real time on a sharp and bright preview screen . You can then press the * button ( AEL ) and lock that exposure in . 2 . Critical Focusing - allows two stages of magnification in live view for critical focusing . I use it for macro photography with a EF 70 - 300mm lens . No stooping ! 3 . Spot Metering - I know this has been on previous models but extremely useful when using in live mode . Really can get pinpoint exposure control without bracketing after some practice . Two other notables are low noise at high ISO and self cleaning sensor that really works . It also doesn't hurt to have the added pixel headroom . Two Negatives : 1 . Spare Battery - is overpriced on Amazon ( sorry guys , I love ya but you need to bring your price in line with everyone else ) . If you use Live View a lot you will need a spare battery . 2 . Error Message 01 - communications between the camera and lens is faulty appeared at slower shutter speeds with my older EF-S 17 - 85MM . My two other lenses don't give this message . I just sent the lens to Canon to have it checked out - update to come . I think the 7D may be a bit less forgiving with well worn lenses than the 20D . Conclusion - If you can afford it , buy it . All the things you've been struggling to do with your 20D can be accomplished with the 7D in spades . There are new features that you need to learn by studying the manual but there is also a lot of familiar territory . If you thought you were a photo enthusiast before , you ain't seen nothing yet ! Update 5 / 5 / 10 - Canon repaired EF-S 17 - 85mm replacing quite a few parts for $95 plus shipping . Bottom line - camera and lens now work with no error codes .
    • 036 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I intentionally waited before reviewing this camera . When it first came out , I was a little dissapointed . Not so much with the camera , but with the typical industry adoption rate . Lack of Adobe Lightroom support on Day 1 , was a very painful price of being an early adopter . Having had this camera now for several months , I have to say it's got everything I need it for and more . I use it for weddings , portraits , wildlife , sports and video , and it doesn't skip a beat . This is by far the most versatile camera out there . True , the 5DMk2 may take better images when you zero in on the pixels , but this is VERY close behind that . And , the 5dMK2 won't give me the high FPS that I need for sports and wildlife photography , not to mention how amazing the focus is on this camera . I think the only thing wrong with this camera is the price . Canon easily could have charged more for it !
    • 041 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I read everything I could get my hands on , and debated long and hard , when I knew I wanted to move up from my Rebel Xsi . I knew I wanted a Canon - to be able to use my existing EOS lenses - and narrowed my choice down between the 50D and the 7D . I could not be happier with my decision to go with the 7D . I am sorry to say , but shooting with this ( compared to the Rebel Xsi ) was like night and day difference . From the moment you press the shutter button , you know you are in a different league of equipment . Things I love : - - 19 - pt focussing , along with the five AF selection modes ( Single-point AF , Zone AF , Auto select 19 - pt AF , spot AF and Manual AF point expansion ) - easy to select , indispensable while shooting . - - Significant increase in accuracy in metering technology - - Easy to create customized functions ( exposure , autofocus / drive , operation , etc . ) and custom Picture Styles - - Love the Quick Control screen and ergonomics of multi-controller , Quick Control dial , and Main Dial . . . easy learning curve to quickly navigate and change settings . There are so many features and settings to this camera that I have found to be easy to access , easy to use , easy to adjust - Canon did a spectacular job in design . I have not used the Movie Mode for recording video ; just not my thing . But for still photography , I am so impressed with everything about this camera - it has made a huge difference in my results , everything from focussing and exposure accuracy to final image quality with the high megapixels . A book I would recommend highly to help anyone get acquainted with the operation and features of the 7D ( very well illustrated and written ) is the Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide by Charlotte Lowrie .
    • 043 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I recently upgraded from the Canon 40D to the new 7D . I love love love this camera ! The focus is fast and colors are true . Good IQ , improved live view , wireless flash support is all greatness ! If I had to write a negative thing , I'd say is the learning curve . Not much mind you . If you're used to the EOS cameras then you'll want to read the manual as some things have changed and you'll get frustrated trying to figure it out on your own . If you're new to the EOS systems , then you're in for a real treat but do yourself a favor and read the manual . This body is a bit heavier than the 40D but the build quality and feel makes up for it . When you hold it , you know you're holding a solid camera and gives you a sense of confidence . I'd recommend this camera to my friends and family .
    • 045 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I've had the Rebel XT ( 350D ) for three going four years , and yes it is a awesome camera ! when I was looking for an upgrade to my rebel XT the T1i look really great , but then came the 7D and all of the new AF features and video . I think that the rebel body is lean and small even more now having a XD body . If your on a budget the rebel T1i is a great upgrade with more MP ( al dough with 8MP is more than enough ) good video Q , live view and better high ISO performance than the XXXD and if you like the rebel series bodies then you should go for it , now if you don't mind the video The 50D offers higher ISO and FPS than the rebel series and better IQ overall . 7D ! ! ! : I do recommend the upgrade to any one moving in that direction . The size is no issue when you get all that features , and it feels really good solid and hefty in your hands . The FPS & AF Are Fast . The high ISO performance is amazing comparing it to the XT , the low light focus and results are simply great . The AF points and versatile setup is so much better than the XT there is no comparing it . The view finder and the LCD screen are just awesome . . . you cannot compare it to the Rebel 350D its on another league . The battery life is longer , you can record RAW a JPG on at the same time or choose to do it with a press of a button . And the list of features goes on . I Think that there is still much potential on the 7D via firmware cos it's a awesome piece of hardware , no matter what they say . 18 - 270mm Tamron VC ( got it last year to upgrade the Rebel and now use with the 7D ) 50D : I think ( money wise ) that a Canon 50D is a good upgrade ( IQ compared to the 7D ) and don't care for the video or faster AF . If you are looking for the most IQ available today , it's no brainer that the 5DMII is the choice ( and don't mind the extra money ) performs better in low light than the 7D . Now the 7D is faster on Focus and in FPS , so if youre a sports shooter or wildlife photographer the 7D will suit you more . Hope it helps you decide The AF is not 100% accurate all the time ( got in touch with Canon Tech and they say maybe its because of the Tamron Lens ? ) I get a bit soft images that you can improve with PP but overall you get very good IQ ( if want excellent IQ get the 5DMKII ) Highly Recommended !
    • 051 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I've had the Canon 7D for about two weeks now and after about a thousand shots : Introduction . A very impressive high megapixel count for Canon's new professional / consumer digital SLR , but keep in mind that , as you approach higher resolutions , you need to ensure the lens on the SLR can resolve that much detail . Being that I only purchased the body , I'll be anxious to see how the lens kit fairs with this new camera . The shots I've seen so far across the internet are impressive , however . The lens I've used with this camera so far is my Canon 24 - 70 f / 2.8L . A huge jump in ISO performance over my XSi , but that's to be expected . I'm having troubles with focusing , but I'll touch on that in a minute . Image Quality . Outstanding . Perfect Colors in comparison to my Canon G10 and XSi . No color banding , excellent sharpness . ISO . Canon 7D's ISO performance is great for the amateur photographer attempting to get great photos ( and the semi-pros who know what their doing . . . I'm the former ) . As I said previously , I had the opportunity to take photos in a restaurant at about the same time using the same lens with both the XSi and the 7D ( different days ) . The difference in quality and keeper rate was amazing ! I am one that will stop shooting at a higher ISO once the grain starts showing more predominantly , but at an ISO3200 , I found pretty nice photos in a barely lit restaurant . The LCD screen is the same as the Canon 5D Mark II ( 3 , 920K Pixels ) , clear and fully visible even in bright sunlight . In comparison , the Canon XSi SLR also has a 3 LCD , but with 230,000 pixels . Size / Build . This build of the camera is substantially well made . It's supposed to be made of a magnesium body and weather proof . Either way , I have no fears of taking this camera out in the elements . It's more substantial than the XSi , and after only a few hours of shooting with the 7D , picking up the XSi felt like a children's toy . I have small hands ( ms_ladi hands ) , but still have no problems carrying the 7D body with the 24 - 70 lens . Video . I am not interested whatsoever in the video aspect of SLR cameras and can never understand why this feature is included . Well , yes I can understand . I tried out the video for a few minutes and here are a couple of things I did not like . I also searched a few forums and found a couple of the same opinions . When I start shooting , I have to focus prior to shooting , but if I pan somewhere else , the camera won't autofocus again - - just manual . Also , while I was taking snapshots during shooting , the video paused and the sound of the picture taking was heard . Since I'm not a fan of shooting on cameras , I'm not sure this is normal . The playback , however , is pretty amazing . . . lifelike , very realistic colors . Autofocusing . Canon's new 7D packs 19 AF points . It looks like Canon will be releasing a new firmware that might update their AF feature , however mine works fine . I was able to confer with a Canon rep who referred me to various other features on the camera that lets Autofocus really shine through . All points are covered . Conclusion . For the price , the new Canon 7D is the most excellent camera that Canon has released . For the amateur like myself , by itself or coupled with a Canon G10 for the low-pro times , one has a one-two power combination . For the semi-pro , this is the probably the best crop to date . The camera is intuitive enough for those new to photography to pick and learn easily , yet configurable enough for advanced amateurs .
    • 053 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I purchased the Canon EOS 7D to use exclusively for short film and music video work . Prior to buying , I spent a fair amount of time researching the pros and cons of shooting video with DSLRs in general , and specifically as it relates to the 7D . Initially what I had read about the rolling shutter issue with DSLRs had me concerned . Essentially the shutter is held open and the image from the lens is recorded off the sensor in a vertical linear fasion . ( ie . in rows ) In fast-moving subjects , or if the camera is panned too quickly , this can yield a jello effect . For instance , a fast pan of a tall building could cause the building to appear more diagonal than vertical . Thus far , I've had no noticeable issues with rolling shutter . The nature of careful shooting at 24fps ( ie . being mindful of panning speeds to avoid jarring / judder , etc . ) helps greatly here . Prior to the 7D , I was using a Canon VIXIA HF100 as my main camera , attached to a 35mm depth-of-field adapter . We still use the Vixia as our handy home movie camera ( It is , afterall , a nice camera ! ) . However , after using the Canon EOS 7D , I don't think I could ever go back to a standard video camera - or any camera that involves a depth-of-field adapter - for short film shooting . Here are the reasons : - No need to flip the video ( in the case of 35mm DOF adapters ) - Wide array of lenses to choose from . ( I use my old M42 / Pentax lenses + $12 EOS adapter . ) - Convenient video codec ( H .264 . MOV file . . . drops right into most any NLE ) - Extreme low-light capability ( Wide ISO range can be adjusted quickly ) . . . great for natural or available-light shooting . - Totally customizable ( more below ) Starting with my older Canon GL2 , I've had a habit with every camera I've owned . . . that is , I dial the sharpness all the way down ( no electronic enhancing ) and also knock the saturation down a bit . This tends to give a bit more lattitude in post for color correcting . While the Canon EOS 7D has a LOT of menu options , I was able to figure this out after spending 15 minutes or so flipping through the menus . I now have C1 on my dial set for 1920x1080 24p , 1 / 50 shutter , no sharpening , low contrast , and a few other features either enabled or disabled . I also have the ISO defaulted to around 200 , but this can be quickly changed while shooting , via a button on the top-right and selecting the ISO from the list . Audio recording is an area I read as a drawback to the camera , but I capture all sound wild so it wasn't a big deal in my case . For those requiring quality audio on-camera a quality shotgun mic could help . Being so small . . . you'll definitely want to add something to this camera to get a bigger form-factor . I've read great things about the Z-Finders but I don't have one yet as they are quite expensive . They can greatly aid in focusing , particularly in bright outdoor shoots , and they give that extra point of contact against your eye for stability . I'm using the IndiFocus setup I'd used previously with the Vixia . Generally speaking , bulking the camera up really improves shots and prevents the jittery look you may get when shooting with a DSLR alone . I find the camera's LCD display to be sufficient for focusing . ( One other nice feature : Just prior to shooting , you can hit the zoom / magnifier to ensure your subject is in tack-focus before pressing record . ) I'm researching variable ND ( neutral density ) filters , as one of those is a must for bright outdoor shooting , in cases where you want to maintain the shallow depth of field but not crank up the shutter speed and get that stacatto freeze-frame appearance . Standard NDs can be used as well , but it would likely require a set of them to stack on and remove as needed , which in my opinion wouldn't be as preferable as a single adjustable filter . At any rate , the camera itself is just fantastic . I really can't say enough good things about it for its video capability . It's a pleasure to use , gives total control over the look , and captures stunning HD footage !
    • 055 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) The 7D is easy to use ( if you know your way around SLRs ) and the photos it takes are gorgeous - even in low light . I debated going with the 5D , but I'm glad I saved the money because the image quality meets my needs and the built-in flash has come in handy several times . The only thing that hasn't been easy to figure out is the video function . It isn't at all like shooting video with a point-and-shoot , and focusing is a problem because it's a difficult to tell if the focus is spot-on using the small display on the back , and once you start recording the auto focus stops working .
    • 057 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) Hi - I'm about the least experienced photographer reviewing this - more to the point - I'm NOT a photographer . . . I'm a music video director who bought this camera for its video capabilities . the quality of the video is superb . I read that many directors were foregoing using the Red to use the 7D , and this makes sense to me . I'm very happy with the quality HOWEVER . . . I took the 7d as my sole video camera down to Costa Rica to shoot a little documentary there , and found it to be very clunky to use in this sort of ' run and gun ' capacity . When shooting video with it , you really need to have the camera support by a tripod , or shoulder mount or steady cam or something . Using it on its own is really clunky , and shaky . If i had it to do again , I certainly would have brought my canon hf 10 instead . Outstanding camera , though . No doubt . Just wanted to share what I consider to be that one concern or limitation . . .
    • 059 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) When I first started reading about this camera I started to get excited , the only thing that bothered me was that it is not a full frame camera . Well I have had it for about 3 weeks and have been putting it through my own test . The picture quality has been fantastic , I don't miss the full frame sensor . The raw files do come out somewhat soft but as soon as you run them through photoshop you get a sharp photo . I edit all my photos in photoshop raw or jpeg , I think if your a serious photographer , you do everything you can to maximize the quality of your images . Some people complain about the file size , yea I hate having more resolution to work with . Kidding of course and anyway you can adjust the size of the files by adjusting the quality of the jpeg or raw file . The jpeg has a 18mp , 8mp , and 4.5mp size the raw has a 18mp , 10mp , and 4.5mp size . So you don't have to shoot at full resolution if you don't need to , I know I don't . I own a 1D Mark3 and have really loved that camera but I like this camera more . The camera is built well it is very nice to hold it in your hands , its lighter than the 1D too . When you pick up the 7D you know your holding something of quality . It is feature rich and has a bit of a learning curve , but I love playing with a new camera so that doesn't bother me . The auto focus and exposure system have both worked well for me , of course I don't expect the camera to do all the work . There are some circumstances where you have to know how to get a right exposure , because all cameras will be fooled in certain situations . As for noise at high ISO I get that with my 1D and every other digital camera I have ever owned . I either use flash or use photoshop to help me live with it . I need to address the 2 Star reviewer who is comparing the 7D's cost with the $900 cheaper canon rebel T2i and ask the question is it worth that much more . I say yes and these are my reasons . First there is no comparison between the build quality of the two . The rebel is made out of plastic and has no weather sealing . Yes the rebel is smaller and lighter that is a plus for him a minus for me . I like something I can hold on to and has a rugged build which the titanium body and weather sealing makes the 7D such a camera . I have shot with it in wet falling snow and rain and had no problems . The 7D shoots at 8fps the rebel at 3.5fps . The 7D has a 19 point autofocus system which has worked very well for me , the rebel has a 9 point autofocus system . The 7D has 27 cudtom functions the rebel has 12 The 7D has an electronic level the rebel doesn't The 7D has a special macro servo AF mode when you attach a macro lens the rebel doesn't The 7D can fire remote flash the rebel needs a remote fireing device to do this . The 7D has duel processors which jumps it to a pro level camera by itself , the rebel has one . The 7D has five different autofocus point , settings the rebel has two . The 7D has a 100% view finder the rebel has 95% . The 7D is rated at 150,000 cycles the rebel is not rated . There are many more features the 7D has , that the rebel doesn't . The 7D is a professional level camera the rebel is not . Is the 7D worth $900 more than the rebel I would say definitely . I would say if you want a very nice entry level camera just above a point and shoot buy the rebel . If you want a professional level camera at a very good price buy the 7D . I think my fellow photographer that wrote that review didn't realize what he had in his hand when he made those comments . For me I am amazed the 7D is only $900 more than the rebel . Well I have had enough of being a photo geek for one day I'm going to go out and make some photographs with my 7D . I have had my 7D for almost 3 months and am still loving it .
    • 062 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I like my 7D and its pro-features but when comparing with the 50D Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera ( Body Only ) I have second thoughts about the price difference . Here's a quick comparison between the 7D and the 50D : - Both cameras share the same APS-C-sized sensor and are compatible with EF and EF-S lenses - ISO 100 - 6400 ( expandable to 12800 ) - beyond 1600 ISO you get the same noise - AF point coverage area is the same - Same sensor self-cleaning system - Same 3 inches LCD monitor ( 0.92 million dots ) - The 50 D is lighter than the 7D ( 25.7 oz / 730g versus 28.9 oz . / 820g ) - Nineteen-point AF system versus nine-point in the 50D ( I own the two cameras and it's very hard to tell if the 10 extra AF points make a difference ) - 100% viewfinder in the 7D versus 95% in the 50D - 8 frames per second versus 6.5 frames per second in the 50D ( unless you shoot car racing or rocket launching you can't tell what the value of this is ) - The 7D provides 2.9 more megapixels than the 50D . But when comparing pictures ( 18 versus 15.1 megapixels ) there are not substantial quality differences - also the cropping factor is nominal . On the other hand , storing 2.9 extra megapixels per picture require LOTS and LOTS more memory . This is a little gain that may not justify the additional $ torage capacity one will need to deal with it . I think this equation may explain why Nikon DSLR line hasn't jumped beyond the 12 megapix yet . Now , does one need to pay $700 - 800 bucks more for these five extra-features in the 7D ? 1 ) Built-in Speedlite Transmitter ( useful if you planning to shoot with additional Canon 580 or 430 series flashes remotely . Note this is NOT a transmitter that will work with studio lighting ) Canon STE2 Speedlite Transmitter for Canon 580EX II , 430EX , 430EX II Speedlites 2 ) Dust / weather-resistant body versus the 50D partial dust / weather sealing 3 ) Dual-Axis Electronic Level 4 ) HD movie capability - not available in the 50D . However , note that filming with a DSRL has many limitations such as : heavy vibration , editing compatibility issues , poor sound quality , image blurriness ( AF lenses don't work when movie is on ) 5 ) Shutter durability . The 7D has 150,000 versus the 50D 100,000 . But how many shots would you take in a year ? I take about 25,000 a year which is a lot . That means that I'd have shutter for about 4 years in the 50D and 5 years in the 7D . The question here is how many years until this camera is dated ? Canon lifecycle is about 2 to 3 years . For example , the 50D was released on October 2008 and there is a new 60D expected for May 2010 . In conclusion , I'm not convinced that the 7D is worth the $700 - 800 hundred extra bucks but it's really your call , and if $ $ $ is no object for you , invest the money in classes before investing in expensive gear like this one . I'd have given four stars to the 7D - but because its value for the money I'm giving just two stars . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - One more thing about what you get for your dinero . The new 2010 Rebel Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0 - Inch LCD ( Body Only ) borrows many of the 7D pro-features as follow : - 18.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor - ISO 100 - 6400 ( expandable to 12800 ) - 63 - zone , Dual-layer metering system - Full HD movie capabilities I have to acknowledge that the Rebel is a prosumer camera , with a plastic surface that feels cheap and looks cheap . But I don't get it why Canon cannibalizes the 7D market by borrowing its pro-features to the Rebel ?
    • 063 4  I like my 7D and its pro-features but when comparing with the 50D Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera ( Body Only ) I have second thoughts about the price difference . Here's a quick comparison between the 7D and the 50D : - Both cameras share the same APS-C-sized sensor and are compatible with EF and EF-S lenses - ISO 100 - 6400 ( expandable to 12800 ) - beyond 1600 ISO you get the same noise - AF point coverage area is the same - Same sensor self-cleaning system - Same 3 inches LCD monitor ( 0.92 million dots ) - The 50 D is lighter than the 7D ( 25.7 oz / 730g versus 28.9 oz . / 820g ) - Nineteen-point AF system versus nine-point in the 50D ( I own the two cameras and it's very hard to tell if the 10 extra AF points make a difference ) - 100% viewfinder in the 7D versus 95% in the 50D - 8 frames per second versus 6.5 frames per second in the 50D ( unless you shoot car racing or rocket launching you can't tell what the value of this is ) - The 7D provides 2.9 more megapixels than the 50D . But when comparing pictures ( 18 versus 15.1 megapixels ) there are not substantial quality differences - also the cropping factor is nominal . On the other hand , storing 2.9 extra megapixels per picture require LOTS and LOTS more memory . This is a little gain that may not justify the additional $ torage capacity one will need to deal with it . I think this equation may explain why Nikon DSLR line hasn't jumped beyond the 12 megapix yet . Now , does one need to pay $700 - 800 bucks more for these five extra-features in the 7D ? 1 ) Built-in Speedlite Transmitter ( useful if you planning to shoot with additional Canon 580 or 430 series flashes remotely . Note this is NOT a transmitter that will work with studio lighting ) Canon STE2 Speedlite Transmitter for Canon 580EX II , 430EX , 430EX II Speedlites 2 ) Dust / weather-resistant body versus the 50D partial dust / weather sealing 3 ) Dual-Axis Electronic Level 4 ) HD movie capability - not available in the 50D . However , note that filming with a DSRL has many limitations such as : heavy vibration , editing compatibility issues , poor sound quality , image blurriness ( AF lenses don't work when movie is on ) 5 ) Shutter durability . The 7D has 150,000 versus the 50D 100,000 . But how many shots would you take in a year ? I take about 25,000 a year which is a lot . That means that I'd have shutter for about 4 years in the 50D and 5 years in the 7D . The question here is how many years until this camera is dated ? Canon lifecycle is about 2 to 3 years . For example , the 50D was released on October 2008 and there is a new 60D expected for May 2010 . In conclusion , I'm not convinced that the 7D is worth the $700 - 800 hundred extra bucks but it's really your call , and if $ $ $ is no object for you , invest the money in classes before investing in expensive gear like this one . I'd have given four stars to the 7D - but because its value for the money I'm giving just two stars . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - One more thing about what you get for your dinero . The new 2010 Rebel Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0 - Inch LCD ( Body Only ) borrows many of the 7D pro-features as follow : - 18.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor - ISO 100 - 6400 ( expandable to 12800 ) - 63 - zone , Dual-layer metering system - Full HD movie capabilities I have to acknowledge that the Rebel is a prosumer camera , with a plastic surface that feels cheap and looks cheap . But I don't get it why Canon cannibalizes the 7D market by borrowing its pro-features to the Rebel ?
    • 067 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Enthusiast-Amateur Photographer . Decided to upgrade from a XTi and never imagine that the difference would be so GREAT ! Yes , you'll need to have some previous knowledge and experience to really get the most out of this camera . L Lenses recommended . Low ligth capability , speed ( 8fps ) , sharpness and color will amaze you . Overall great camera . Amazon processing and delivery also gets 5 stars .
    • 070 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) This camera is a little difficult to learn at first , but you grow on it and that's what makes it an amazing product . The features all work correctly , and I have had no problems with the camera at all . I do not recommend this for amateurs as you'll waste more time figuring out the functions then shooting . All in all , I love it : )
    • 074 4  This is the sixth Canon DSLR we've bought ( and just got the seventh , a T2i , two weeks ago ) . Other reviewers have hit every high spot of the 7D ; I don't concur with most of the complaints . Excellent camera , a significant improvement over the prior 1.6x-sensor Canon DSLRs . Recently ( May ) took over 6000 frames during a three-week birding trip . I rated portability as four-stars because it is somewhat heavy to carry for hours with 100 - 400 IS USM and battery grip ( but two weeks ago gave the 100 - 400 to my wife for her T2I and got a Sigma 50 - 500 OS HSM for the 7D - which is even heavier ! ) . Otherwise I am 100% happy with this camera and have zero complaints .
    • 075 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) That hasn't been said already about this camera ! Love it . I'm a canon fan and took about 3 months deciding to buy it , and glad I did . I won't go into detail because everyone else has said so much , just saying it's probably the best Camera around for this money . Took it to Gettysburg civil war cemetary and the pictures are stunning . I used the Rebel series for about a year and stepped up to this . You'll be very pleased with this product .
    • 078 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I've been looking to replace my 1D MkIII and expected to buy a 1D MkIV . I held off , waiting to see actual photographic results and was somewhat disappointed when they finally hit the web . $5k is a lot for what looks like an incremental improvement - - especially when the 7D , while not quite up to 1D MkIV quality , has such an exceptional price point . After seeing the results and working with a friend's 7D I was sold . At 8 fps , the 7D is only 2 fps slower than the 1D when it comes to shooting wildlife and sports . At 18 mpx , it's even better than the 1D MkIV although the MkIV has a somewhat larger sensor ( 1.3 vs . 1.6 , which should produce lower noise ) . Still , when you can buy three 7D's for the cost of a 1D MkIV , what's not to like ? Image noise is excellent up to ISO 800 - and beyond in a pinch . New interface features such as the Q quick setup are exceptional . I added a vertical grip to give me extra battery capacity in the field . The only reason I give it 4 stars is because compared to both my old 1D MkIII and my old 5D , the function switch on the camera back has a cheap feel to it . It's certainly not the rugged build quality of the 1D series . Overall , I couldn't be happier with my 7D and I would recommend it to anyone , amateur or professional . In the end , I also bought a 5D MkII to go with my new 7D . This gives me the absolute best of both worlds - the 7D's 1.6X sensor extends my telephotos for wildlife shooting and the full frame 5D gives me great wide angle landscapes . And the total cost for both was still 15% cheaper than a 1D MkIV .
    • 081 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Autofocus choices are various but yet accuracy has a way to go even when using center point autofocus . With my previous Canons , I had an 80% rate of autofocus failures for flying birds . With my 7D the autofocus failure rate has been reduced to about 60% . Image quality quite superior to that of the 40D and the 50D at ISO 400 . The 8 frames speed is great . The menu is easy to use and allows for lots of choices , yet , no single push button for mirror lock-up and autofocus point selection now requires to push two buttons rather than one in the previous cameras . A smart choice for nature photography due to its 1.6X sensor , weight and size .
    • 087 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I bought the 7d to upgrade from a Rebel Xt.I am not a pro i just love to take pictures , and i want quality pictures.I really have no complaints so far.I selected the 7d over the 50d for the video option , but i almost never use it.Its nice to have but i know now i did not need it.Great Camera !
    • 092 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) This camera is awesome . I'm just a serious hobbyist with big ideas . Like most people I buy what I can afford . When I bought this camera I was seriously looking at the newest Rebel but it was not yet out . I had a vacation scheduled which made me wonder if I would get it in time . That's when I looked a little further afield at the 7D . This camera does it all , except full frame , and does it quite well . This camera is GOOD enough to do any level of photography coupled with good quality lenses . My last camera was the 30D which I really liked but sometimes needed faster frame burst to capture my grandchildren at play , now I have no problems and the resolution will blow your mind . Lots of room to crop when needed and still have a nice size high resolution shot . Of course I would love to have the best there is but I really think that this camera was a great investment and will keep me happy for a long time . Also the video part of this camera does a very good job also . I haven't used it a lot but I can tell you you will most likely need a tripod to use it well . I used my 70 - 200 2.8 with IS lens and trying to handhold it just did not work for me , but upon the tripod it made a very nice video with super HD resolution that looked great on my computer and wide screen HD television .
    • 096 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Love everything about it . The sheer volume of functions and capabilities is a little overwhelming at first but after spending some time with the camera and a good book about it , you'll be taking great pictures in no time . It makes great movies too ! Just beware that the internal mic will record the sounds of the focus and zoom so you'll want to invest in an external mic . Also , the autofocus really doesn't work in movie mode but I haven't found using the manual focus in movie mode to be an issue . Buy it , you'll love it .
    • 098 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) 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 . Update ( 11 / 11 / 2009 ) : The replacement body arrived and the problems with the controls are no longer an issue . This one feels tight , and the main dial is responsive like it should be . In fact , all the controls and dials feel tighter than on my 50D . 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 . Another small change that might not matter if you don't use a battery grip ( or do use one but never take it off ) is how the battery door attaches to the body . On the 50D , the battery door has two arms that snap into flexible plastic clips . The 7D has non flexing slots and a spring loaded arm on the door itself . Why does this matter ? If you alternate between using the battery grip ( portraits , sports , etc . . ) and not using it ( for the weight advantage of walking around all day ) the idea of taking the battery door on and off is less worrisome . When plastic flexes it weakens and can break . The spring loaded arm on the 7D battery door is a great idea . Using Canon's 100mm f / 2.8 USM macro lens , I was able to capture some of the sharpest handhled images I have ever taken . I've seen one ISO 12233 chart that purports to give the sharpness advantage to the 50D , but I don't see that in practice . My initial impression is that this is the best crop sensor camera Canon has made to date . With features not ( yet ? ) found on the xD models , it's a great feature / price choice .
    • 101 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) The one I got had a squeaky CF door . I noticed it the very first time I picked it up ; it was that obvious . After doing some reading online , it appears this is a common ( but not universal ) build problem . I considered exchanging it before I'd gotten much further unpacking , but thought I might as well shoot with it for a weekend to see how it performed compared to my trusty 40D . ( For what it's worth , the 40D's door is rock solid and has absolutely no give to it . ) I shot an autocross event in light varying from full sun to mild cloud cover . Exposures were typically around 1 / 2000 at f / 2.8 ISO 100 , so there was plenty of light . I used a 70 - 200mm f / 2.8L IS ( not the new second-generation one , though ) on the 7D and a 300mm f / 4L on my 40D . Both cameras were set to record raw files and were processed in Lightroom 2.6 . Pluses : - Drastically better color rendition for certain shades . One of the cars at the autocross was a BMW M3 in Phoenix Yellow , a particularly awful shade of yellow-green . The 7D got it almost exactly right . The 40D rendered it as more of a dull dusty yellow with almost no green to it . The colors were so far apart that at first I thought they were different cars when I was going through the frames afterwards . - AF was improved over the 40D . I used the AF mode that uses one AF point plus its vertical and horizontal neighbors and that worked pretty well tracking quickly moving cars . I wouldn't call its accuracy a dramatic improvement over the 40D for this particular style of shooting , but it's definitely better . - The grip was a marginal improvement for my large hands . I think it would be more of an improvement for smaller hands . - Big , bright viewfinder . - The main LCD screen is great , even in bright sun . - The new button layout and button feel is nice . Bigger buttons are easier to work with in gloves , though that wasn't an issue on this particular day . - The electronic level seems pretty sensitive . I'm not sure how useful it will be , but there it is . I haven't had much trouble getting my horizons level without an electronic level . - 1080p video is nice , but I don't have the audio equipment to make good use of it . Don't think that getting a camera that shoots 1080p will turn you into a videographer overnight . - Aside from the squeaky door , the body feels pleasantly heavy and very solid . Minuses : - Significantly grainier images than the 40D , even at ISO 100 . I was shocked at how bad the grain was . After seeing how bad the noise was , I immediately packed up the camera to return it . The noise is simply atrocious . - Pixel for pixel , the 7D is a little softer than the 40D . This is well known ; see other online reviews of the 7D . So there you have it . It's a great camera to use as long as you never intend to look at the pictures it takes ( or don't have very high standards ) . Maybe the one I got was defective . . . who knows . I'm waiting for the next generation of bodies . Update : Take a look at a full-size shot : [ . . . ] ( Amazon censors URLs in reviews . See the comments for how to access the sample images . ) Make sure to view it at 100% . As stated above in the review , the 7D does have very good color rendition , so don't hold the muted colors in this shot against it . This shot was converted with ufraw which doesn't have good color defaults for the 7D . Lightroom 2.6 renders colors accurately with the default camera profiles ( though Lightroom's raw conversions also exhibit the same noise , so that's not just from ufraw ) . The side panels of the car are especially easy to see noise in .
    • 103 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Video Master flash controller 18MP Great pics on hish ISO shots The quick menu for easy access These are the main things that sold me on the upgrade . I have had a Rebel XT , 30D , 50D , and now the 7D so it is very easy for me to use as the controls are very similar . This is definitely heavier than the 50D . Especially when you add a 28 - 70 2.8 L lens , Dual battery pack , and a flash . Very excited to learn every bit of this camera .
    • 104 4  Video Master flash controller 18MP Great pics on hish ISO shots The quick menu for easy access These are the main things that sold me on the upgrade . I have had a Rebel XT , 30D , 50D , and now the 7D so it is very easy for me to use as the controls are very similar . This is definitely heavier than the 50D . Especially when you add a 28 - 70 2.8 L lens , Dual battery pack , and a flash . Very excited to learn every bit of this camera .
    • 105 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) Heavier than my old Canon Digital Rebal but packs a lot more punch . I have to hunt for some of the menu options but I'm getting used to it . I shot an HD video of a rental condo I own and the video feature worked very well . I really appreciate the feature to shoot in JPG but to switch to JPG and RAW with the touch of one nicely placed button . Easy to switch from photo to video . The lens that comes with the camera ( if you buy the basic lens and body option ) has a much nicer range than my original rebal lens . This is a fantastic camera , in regards to options , for an intermediate level photographer . There are lighter , smaller cameras that are easier to use but this camera has far more features and the ability to shoot in 1080p HD video .
    • 112 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) I upgraded to this from a Canon XTi . This camera is much heavier , but the burst rate is almost scary fast ! Downsides : This is much heavier than the XTi Upsides : 18 MP Super fast shooting rate Quiet ( doesn't sound mechanical like the lower end EOS cameras do ) Feature rich !
    • 114 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Does all what it says , absolutely great camera . Price tag is a bit high also considering the internal competition from the new 550d .
    • 116 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I am an avid Canon SLR supporter and have owned the 20D , 30D & 40D . I am not a professional photographer per say , but I do wedding and event photography by word of mouth customers , So I do know something about the canon D-SLR line . I had been contemplating upgrading to the 50D , but experiencing a lack of significant changes from the 20D on up I held off . Then the 7D came out with its claim to fame of its HD capability . I had been trying to decide to add video to photo lineup and when Canon offered the 7D with HD , it appeared both of my needs had been answered . I am disappointed to say , that the video option of the 7D is not much to write home about . There is no auto-focus or exposure capability . You basically are entering live vue , press the half shutter to get the initial focus and exposure and then video from there . If your distance or exposure changes , your only option is to hit the auto-focus button , which has limited succes and travels in and out several times to find a setting . This is also very noisey depending on the lens you are using and is picked up very loudly on the audio recording . Yes , you can use remote mics , but again more money more set up for a one stop product . Please note , this is not just a low light issue either . It had similar problems outdoors in day light . Its amazing that canon makes other low end cameras like the Rebel and the SX1IS that do this dual mode with all the bells and whistles , but ther professional level SLRs do not . . If you want great sharp video and stills get the SX1IS for the everyday vaca shooting its great . As far as an improved SLR , to many improvements to list . New sealed body for outdoor stuff , fast focus and focusing selections , with new info screen for ease of reading and changes . Again many many improvements , and definately several steps above the 40D . If your buying because of the HD , stick with you 40 or 50D and get a camcorder or the SX1IS . . .
    • 120 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) I researched for a couple of months about this type of camera . There are tonns of information on this type of camera and it is hard to sort out the BS . Finally bit the bullet and have no regrets other than how to pack it . The extra lens is great , a 70 - 300mm that gets me there without having to danger myself climbing close enough to my target . I really like the photos this camera produces and I am sure that the camera is built to last . I only dislike the size and I must figure out how to pack it in with laptop sony aw series 18.4 and my other gear into a carry on bag . It will be interesting .
    • 123 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I was hoping this would work as good as a D series camera but it does not.I do a lot of bird in flight shot and this does a good job but not as good as a D series . Well worth the money
    • 125 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I had high hopes for this camera , but it looks like I got a dud . The AF is broken and many ( most ? ) of the pictures are out of focus . I did the microadjustment for my lens , the 28 - 70 f / 2.8L , and got a value of - 17 . After that , the AF was still unpredictable . I'm using a single , center AF point , and there should be no question that the camera should be able to focus in that mode . Test shots after the MA show dramatic front focusing sometimes , other times not . I took a picture of a parked car , where I focused on the license plate . It focused about 10 ' forward . Other test shots show random focus , too . Shutter speeds are high in all tests shots , equal or faster than 1 / 125s . Is it the lens ? I doubt it . I have a Canon D30 and the lens works flawlessly on it . I have 30,000 + pictures from that camera and I've never had trouble with the AF there ( thought it is a good deal slower than the 7D ) . Ironically , the superior AF is why I upgraded . Is it me ? I doubt it . I mentioned my D30 already . I can hear some of you saying . . . but that's a 9 + yr old camera . Well , I borrowed a 5DmkII from a friend and shot about 60 shots outdoors at a picnic . Every single shot was sharp as a tack . And , the lens on that camera was significantly cheaper than the L glass I have . UPDATE 1 / 29 / 10 : Amazon cross-shipped me a new one . The 2nd one definitely works better , though I need to do more tests to make sure . ( It's been raining a lot here , so I haven't had a chance to really work with it . )
    • 127 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Every thing is working great for with cam fast AF , weather sealed , 8 fps with stunning image quality , i simply love it .
    • 133 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) I've recently buyed a EOS 7D . I'm delighted with the purchase . It has a impressive technology . It takes wonderful photographs . The bestbuy for an amateur , on the verge of a professional machine .
    • 136 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Ordered from Amazon . Lens used is Canon EF 24 - 105mm f / 4 L . Compared to my Canon 40D , the 7D has the new 19 - point AF System , but it does NOT work . Most all my pictures are not as sharp as my 40D unless I manually focus regardless of AF mode or micro-adjustment . The images are out of focus and it is not consistent behavior one could associate with typical back / front focus issue . Most reviews heaped praises on the new AF system , perhaps I got an early production ( defective ) unit . Not worth upgrading from a 40D if the pictures are not sharp . I may try exchanging or wait for Canon to work out the issues . I did update the firmware . Video quality seems on par with other Canon HD Video . Overall , I'm disappointed in the 7D since expectations were very high . 10 - 30 - 09 - - Sent back to Amazon . Waiting on new body . 12 - 21 - 09 - - Replacement body was received a month ago and is working perfectly in every mode .
    • 138 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) About me : Pro videographer semi pro photographer 15 + years . I spend over $25k a year on photography gear . This has been the worst purchase of my entire career . Out of the box my 7D was shooting stills with only 6 stops of latitude on the super flat setting , even less on neutral with contrast all the way down . The RAW images look nothing like the LCD and are completely different than represented in the histogram . I have to boost the RAW files 100% in photoshop to get them to look like they look on the LCD / histogram . I shot a comprehensive test side by side with my assistants 7d with the following parameters : Controlled flat / soft lighting . All exact same settings ( superflat mode , all image enhancements off ect ) 17 - 55mm 2.8 lense Tiffen 20 step greyscale chart Monitor properly calibrated and tweeked ever so slightly for a flatter look . Test result here : Flickr search Nomadtv ( DPP raw files opened on same monitor + mac book ) The results are easily apparent to an untrained eye let alone a client , the control camera shoots well over the 10 stops latitude represented on the greyscale chart . I would dare to say its 11 stops or more . My camera could not hold detail in the first 5 to 6 bands and started to loose detail on the upper 2 bands . . . minimum of 4 to 5 stops less latitude than the control camera . There is obviously a massive difference between the two units . Support ( lack there of ) : Sent to canon with detailed description and a print out of the 2 test images side by side in DPP , camera was gone over 2 weeks and I had to rent ( almost $1k lost ) Camera came back saying it was within specification and nothing was done to it . Took it out of the box and it is still shooting super contrasty . I again called canon , asked for a manager - Got Marvin I explained everything that happened and he was unsympathetic . Said he'd call me back . Never did . I called him back next day and was asked to send the RAW files over . The email he gave me was wrong . He never called me back . Called again the next day and found him , he immediately put me on the phone with Randy who is apparently a photographer . Randy had me send him the RAW files and despite trying to get off the phone with me several times right away , I insisted that he stay with me while he looked at these test shots . He immediately noted that there was a difference between the two . We went through the metadata . The only thing that was different was a slight difference in focal length . Randy proceeded to try to convince me that a slight focal difference could account for the vast difference in image quaility . Are you kidding me on a $1100 Lens , It better not ! Randy said he would send this back to Marvin right away . Marvin never called me back ( no suprise ) . Next day I called marvin again in the afternoon and was told that they couldn't see much difference between the 2 cameras and that they would not be servicing the camera . I asked him point blank So you're telling me that I'm on my own ? to which he replied Basically , but you can call the 800 customer support number , thank you for calling canon support , have a good day So I now have a $1600 paper weight with $3500 in lenses and other add ons that are useless to me . Moral of the story ? BEWARE CANON ! You are on your own if you buy from them .
    • 141 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD and 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens ( Electronics ) This truly an incredible camera . The color is remarkable ( of course ) and auto focus WITH SINGLE SPOT is reliable as the day is long ( just be sure to get that spot on what you want to see ) . I am using only Canon lenses ( 17 - 40 , 28 - 135 , 50mm f1.8 ) . the kit lens works fine but you can tell it is light on build . I am at a loss to explain Canon's bluster about 17 - point auto-focus though . IT seems utterly useless under normal circumstances and I have not found any that call for it ? ? ? ? thow in a 580EX and set flash for 2nd curtain and a diffuser of your choice and this is a real package . No experience with video yet but there is a whole community doing incredible stuff with this camera ( [ . . . ] ) . I have waited 4 years for Canon to cross another threshold . This camera is it .
    • 144 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Having moved from a Canon 30D to a 40D , and even thought about the 50D , my decision to go with the new 7D was based on the rationale that I'd buy it sooner or later so why not now and get the use and enjoyment sooner and longer . The price was not insignificant but since I have a number of L lenses it all came together . One of the features I was looking for was the increased ISO performance since I shoot youth basketball pictures in dimly-lit gymnasiums . I was shooting at 800 ISO and occasionally bumped it to 1600 . Now I'm shooting 1600 and 3200 with much better results . I wasn't sure about the video feature since my results with video from a Canon SD 970 have been quite unprofessional ( not a camera problem ) , but as I'm gradually learning to shoot video properly I'm really glad I didn't settle for the 50D ( which I think is a great camera ) . The Canon video tutorials for the 7D are great ! Go to [ . . ] to check them out , whether you've purchased the 7D or are thinking about it .

  • 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 11x14 . 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 . * Update * First of all , I've been using the wireless flash with a 430ex II for some portrait photography , it works fine and comes in very handy . Secondly , I've finally had a chance to customize all the settings of my camera , READ THE MANUAL ! It's about 250 pages but you'll need to in order to make the most of your camera . Most of it is the usual , but because this camera offers so many different options , reading the latter pages is a must . Firmware release 1.0.9 is out so dont forget to update if you still have 1.0.7 . For those of you still wondering if the 7D is worth the upgrade or worth buying over a full frame , keep in mind that Canon just release rebates for some EF and EF-S lenses including the 10 - 22 and 17 - 55 2.8 ; as well as some very popular L lenses . So for those of you debating between a 7D and Mark II , getting a kit and using the money saved for a wide angle will pretty much cover all the focal lengths you will really need .
    • 002 4  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 11x14 . 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 . * Update * First of all , I've been using the wireless flash with a 430ex II for some portrait photography , it works fine and comes in very handy . Secondly , I've finally had a chance to customize all the settings of my camera , READ THE MANUAL ! It's about 250 pages but you'll need to in order to make the most of your camera . Most of it is the usual , but because this camera offers so many different options , reading the latter pages is a must . Firmware release 1.0.9 is out so dont forget to update if you still have 1.0.7 . For those of you still wondering if the 7D is worth the upgrade or worth buying over a full frame , keep in mind that Canon just release rebates for some EF and EF-S lenses including the 10 - 22 and 17 - 55 2.8 ; as well as some very popular L lenses . So for those of you debating between a 7D and Mark II , getting a kit and using the money saved for a wide angle will pretty much cover all the focal lengths you will really need .

  • the 7D packs lots of pro features you'll love , like a big and bright viewfinder and LCD screen , weather seals , a dampened mirror box so that the noise from the slap doesn't startle wildlife , automatic sensor cleaning on startup and shut down , micro adjustment for optimizing the performance of lenses , minimal shutter lag and fast AF . I bought my 7D with the incomparable Canon 70 - 200mm F / 4L IS and the combined responsiveness is amazing . The bad news : my sample constantly over exposes and blows highlights when used outdoors in bright light , the auto white balance is the least reliable of any digital camera that I have ever used ( sometimes the color rendition is downright odd # , and images above ISO 800 are dotted with little white speckles that standard noise reduction software settings don't eliminate . My 7D delivers such inconsistent image quality that shooting in the RAW file format is essential . To top it off , the 18MP sensor creates large , memory intensive files , but delivers only slightly more visible resolution than the 12MP sensors of my Nikon D90 & D700 . If you are camera shopping because you want to boost detail and overall IQ beyond the output of your Canon T1i or Nikon D90 , you might get better results by spending $1700 on a high-grade lens instead of this camera . There are also some design glitches that may or may not matter to you : mirror-lockup is buried in a custom menu folder , the IR remote shutter release can only be used with a delay which makes it useless for wildlife and portraiture , the tiny buttons around the shutter release button are difficult to use when you are in a hurry or are wearing gloves , the toggle control is temperamental and will frequently dump you into the wrong menu folder , and the focus controls are needlessly complicated . A camera that is being marketed for shooting sports should make it easy to change settings and operate quickly , buy I frequently find that I have to stop and fiddle with both hands in order to make a simple adjustment . Furthermore , it is not possible to set a ceiling when using auto ISO , and Highlight Tone Priority helps to reduce blown highlights but changes the base ISO from 100 to 200 , so noise also increases . In order to produce usable results in direct sun , I have settled on - 2 / 3rds EV as a standard setting with Highlight Tone Priority enabled and contrast at the default ( zero ) point . Whenever possible I stop down and always use a super multi-coated polarizer on the lens . I also turned off the automatic LCD brightness feature , which made it impossible to correctly judge exposures by checking images in playback . Editing outdoor shots taken with the 7D almost always involves a levels adjustment to reclaim highlight detail : Adobe Elements and Photoshop do a much better job of this than the supplied Canon Digital Photo Professional software . BTW , the default Adobe settings produce brighter , more saturated colors than Canon's software ( see page 14 of the 7D write up at [ . . . ] for a demonstration of the differences ) . Whether or not this is preferable is a matter of taste , but it is something to watch out for if you are switching from Adobe Camera RAW to DPP . Also , I had consistently poor quality output from DPP RAW conversion : fine detail was obliterated and images were overlaid with a sprinkling of pixel-size artifacts . Open the same file in Adobe Camera RAW and you will see all of the detail and micro contrast that the 18MP sensor can deliver . Is the 7D worth the price tag and considerable heft ? Only if you need the rich feature set , shooting speed and durable build , and want to be able to use outstanding Canon lenses like the 70 - 200mm f / 4L IS on a small sensor , cropped view dSLR . Canon should be able to improve the 7D's IQ with firmware updates . Until then , the bottom line is this : you can produce great images with this camera , but expect to do a lot of extra exposure bracketing and post processing .
    • 001 4  No , but it's so good that one starts to contemplate this question , which was never the case before the 7D was introduced . Both systems , crop and full frame , have their pros and cons and place in photography . But before I get into that let me say I have not been as excited about a camera since the introduction of the 5D MK I four years ago . That's because the 7D raises the crop camera bar to the point where crop users will not feel at a disadvantage to full frame camera users , especially if coupled with awesome ef-s lenses such as the 17 - 55 f2.8 . How so ? The 7D sets a new standard in four major ways . 1 . It produces whopping 18MP pictures , which are just 3MP shy of the current top of the line full frame Canon cameras . Just few years ago most pros were producing stellar results using the 1Ds MKII 16MP camera . Now you have more MPs in a crop sensor , that's a major achievement . This achievement translates into bigger prints and , perhaps more importantly , cropping power . Out shooting wildlife with a 300mm instead of 400mm ? You can crop the 7D files down to 50% of their original file size and still obtain sharp pictures . It's just not that easy with the 1D MK III 10MP files . 2 . Many worried that extra MPs in small crop sensors would translate into nosier pictures , but the amazing thing is that this camera produces images with what seems to be less noise than the 1Ds MKII . The noise level is very good . At ISO 1600 I still prefer pictures coming from my 5D MKII , but below ISO1600 they are very close . Frankly , I can go with either camera because most of my professionally shot portraits and product pictures are shot at ISO100 . At ISO100 both produce very clean files and are practically indistinguishable . 3 . Focus is the one area that was lacking on the previous 1.6 crop Canon cameras and this camera changes that . It's not a 1D in focus speed and accuracy , but it's the next best thing compared to them . It's faster than the Canon 5D MKII , which is known to be slightly faster or around the focus performance range of the 50D and 40D . 4 . The drive chain is fast , so fast it's beyond anything I needed in my professional work in portrait , commercial , and product photography . Going through pictures taken at 8fps produces very little difference from frame to frame . One probably has to shoot a very fast moving subject / object to see the advantage of such fast drive system . There are obviously many other things that I have not covered in this review . But based on the above , all I can say is that this camera has really raised the bar for all cameras and made it much more affordable to obtain a professional level camera for all types of photography . If you were considering buying the 5D MKII as an upgrade give this camera a test because it might be all you need . As for the advantages of crop cameras I always find it odd that casual users who shoot many things but focus on landscape think they need a full frame to realize their potential . Crop cameras such as the 7D and 50D are fine for most users and offer many advantages including : 1 . greater depth of field at lower aperture for landscape photography 2 . greater tilt and shift effect because of sensor size relative to effect ( 8mm in shift is greater in effect relative to a 22mm sensor compared to a 35mm sensor ) 3 . greater magnification with micro lenses and extension tubes because of smaller sensor ( 1 : 1 in full frame equals 35mm , 1 : 1 in crop equals 22mm ) 4 . smaller lighter lenses with wider aperture that achieve greater reach ( such as the 17 - 55 2.8 vs the 24 - 70 2.8 similar reach but much lighter and smaller ) Traditionally the three areas full frame cameras outshine crop cameras are a bigger brighter viewfinder , shallower depth of field for portrait photography , and better ISO performance , which on the last point the 7D has proven not be an issue anymore . And for the second point really , most beautiful low depth of field portraits are done around f2.8 - 2.0 in full frame ( going wider will make depth of field too narrow to place two eyes in focus ) . Hence , if one is using a wide prime , a crop sensor will produce the same depth of field at 2.0 - 1.4 . Considering an affordable 50mm f1.4 lens on crop has the same field of view as 85mm lens on full frame there is really no reason to discount a crop camera any more as the 7D levels the playing field .
    • 003 4  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 .
    • 008 4  I upgraded from the Rebel XSi and boy what an upgrade it was ! I'm mainly a hobbyist photographer even though my friends all say I should quit my day job ( they just suck up because I will shoot their events for free ! ) . I upgraded from the XSi because I kept finding myself arguing with the XSi over it's light metering , focus points and choice of shutter speeds in Aperture Priority mode . I can say without a doubt that the 7D out performs the XSi in every way ( and it should since it's a semi pro camera while the XSi is a consumer camera ! ) . When I bought the 7D I slapped the 28 - 135 lens on it ( already had it for the XSi ) and started shooting , quickly noticing it's much improved light meter . It blew me away at how perfectly it would calibrate the white balance for every picture and what it was metering the light from . I was blown away just by that ! After about a week of usage I decided to upgrade to an L lens for both the moisture / dust protection all around and also it give this camera a proper lens . It was worth every penny ! Matched with an L lens , this camera far exceeds what I was expecting out of it . I took it to a friends 1st birthday party and shoot the 1 year old using the L lens ( 17 - 40 UWA ) on full manual at 100ISO , 50 shutter , aperture 4.0 with the 430EX flash and my god , the pictures are gorgeous ! The camera's ability to track faces is spot on , the kid's eyes are sharp , crisp , colorful and full of life . They just make your heart melt ! I'm sure it helps that this camera has special settings this lens in it's memory and it shows . I have not played around with the video much , not my cup of tea . However my brother-in-law , who is a video editor , says the ability to capture video at such a short focal length requires thousands upon thousands of dollars in the video world and says that the 7D ( and the 5Dmii for that matter ) can do what a 10k camera can for a fraction of the price . Another feature which was a welcome upgrade was the weather sealing . Not that I plan to go into the trenches with my camera but going out to a dusty , muddy farm and taking fall pictures is less worrisome now since I don't have to bother trying to keep my camera away from all the floating dust . This is a phenomenal camera and I highly recommend it to anyone who is into photography as a hobby or a casual professional . I'm sure a real pro who lives their life on photography would welcome a full frame body more than the 1.6 crop but for me , I don't care , this camera does everything I want and more ! It's a perfect addition to my ever growing camera bag and has become my one and only camera for which to shoot with . My poor XSi has been booted from my day bag and sits idle on my shelf collecting dust with it's non-dust protected body . I wonder if I should sell it before it's too late !
    • 011 4  This camera looks great on paper , but . . . . The good news : the 7D packs lots of pro features you'll love , like a big and bright viewfinder and LCD screen , weather seals , a dampened mirror box so that the noise from the slap doesn't startle wildlife , automatic sensor cleaning on startup and shut down , micro adjustment for optimizing the performance of lenses , minimal shutter lag and fast AF . I bought my 7D with the incomparable Canon 70 - 200mm F / 4L IS and the combined responsiveness is amazing . The bad news : my sample constantly over exposes and blows highlights when used outdoors in bright light , the auto white balance is the least reliable of any digital camera that I have ever used ( sometimes the color rendition is downright odd # , and images above ISO 800 are dotted with little white speckles that standard noise reduction software settings don't eliminate . My 7D delivers such inconsistent image quality that shooting in the RAW file format is essential . To top it off , the 18MP sensor creates large , memory intensive files , but delivers only slightly more visible resolution than the 12MP sensors of my Nikon D90 & D700 . If you are camera shopping because you want to boost detail and overall IQ beyond the output of your Canon T1i or Nikon D90 , you might get better results by spending $1700 on a high-grade lens instead of this camera . There are also some design glitches that may or may not matter to you : mirror-lockup is buried in a custom menu folder , the IR remote shutter release can only be used with a delay which makes it useless for wildlife and portraiture , the tiny buttons around the shutter release button are difficult to use when you are in a hurry or are wearing gloves , the toggle control is temperamental and will frequently dump you into the wrong menu folder , and the focus controls are needlessly complicated . A camera that is being marketed for shooting sports should make it easy to change settings and operate quickly , buy I frequently find that I have to stop and fiddle with both hands in order to make a simple adjustment . Furthermore , it is not possible to set a ceiling when using auto ISO , and Highlight Tone Priority helps to reduce blown highlights but changes the base ISO from 100 to 200 , so noise also increases . In order to produce usable results in direct sun , I have settled on - 2 / 3rds EV as a standard setting with Highlight Tone Priority enabled and contrast at the default ( zero ) point . Whenever possible I stop down and always use a super multi-coated polarizer on the lens . I also turned off the automatic LCD brightness feature , which made it impossible to correctly judge exposures by checking images in playback . Editing outdoor shots taken with the 7D almost always involves a levels adjustment to reclaim highlight detail : Adobe Elements and Photoshop do a much better job of this than the supplied Canon Digital Photo Professional software . BTW , the default Adobe settings produce brighter , more saturated colors than Canon's software ( see page 14 of the 7D write up at [ . . . ] for a demonstration of the differences ) . Whether or not this is preferable is a matter of taste , but it is something to watch out for if you are switching from Adobe Camera RAW to DPP . Also , I had consistently poor quality output from DPP RAW conversion : fine detail was obliterated and images were overlaid with a sprinkling of pixel-size artifacts . Open the same file in Adobe Camera RAW and you will see all of the detail and micro contrast that the 18MP sensor can deliver . Is the 7D worth the price tag and considerable heft ? Only if you need the rich feature set , shooting speed and durable build , and want to be able to use outstanding Canon lenses like the 70 - 200mm f / 4L IS on a small sensor , cropped view dSLR . Canon should be able to improve the 7D's IQ with firmware updates . Until then , the bottom line is this : you can produce great images with this camera , but expect to do a lot of extra exposure bracketing and post processing .
    • 013 4  I've shot film and digital EOS series cameras for quite a while . The 7D is a huge step up from my 30D . Here's what I like after a long weekend : The 100% 1x viewfinder is a nice change , once I stopped compensating as I did with my 30D . Also , the overlay screens , like the grid , is helpful in keeping the horizons and verticals aligned without being obtrusive . Although there's been a few rumbles about the on / off switch being moved to the top left , once you get used to it , it is easier to use - I like it . The lock for the quick control wheel is in approximately the same place . The 3 LCD screen is big , bright and beautiful . There's a big difference , even in brightness . Less glare , too - noticeably less . The 7D has a level function which lets you judge if your camera is leaning to one side or tilting forward or back . Anyone who's peered over a bubble mounted on a hot shoe will appreciate this luxury . And the LCD is bright enough to make this feature useful in daylight . Another nice feature is that the menu structure is changed . There are more tabs , but all the menu items available on that tab are visible at once . No more scrolling off the screen to get to format or other functions . The 7D lets you shoot 3 different sized RAWs in addition to the usual slew of JPEG sizes . I like shooting the highest quality RAW + highest quality JPEG ( so you get two files for each picture ) . These files sizes are HUGE ! I found JPEGs to range from 4.73M to 11.1M and CR2 files range from 20.7M to 30.4M . My 8G Sandisk Extreme IV held 237 shots ( 474 files ) . Rather than give you my subjective opinion on picture quality ( I am totally satisfied with the quality of the photos ) , I point you to the best technical reviews of cameras that I know of - dpreview . ( Google it and you'll easily find it , I can't post the entire URL ) . As of now they just have a preview of the 7D . I'll post a few shots from Vermont w / exposure info . Oct 31 , 2009 Update : Canon has recently posted a service announcement which reads : In images captured by continuous shooting , and under certain conditions , barely noticeable traces of the immediately preceding frame may be visible . This phenomenon is not noticeable in an image with optimal exposure . The phenomenon may become more noticeable if a retouching process such as level compensation is applied to emphasize the image . Keep your eyes open for a firmware update ! Nov . Update : The firmware update is now available on Canon's website .
    • 016 4  By now you've probably read a ton of reviews . . . here or elsewhere on the internet about this camera . I've had it for a few months , upgrading from a Canon Rebel Xsi and finally decided to do a review , now that I have experience with it and really have had a chance to put it through it's paces . I'll try to keep my review based TOTALLY on my own personal experiences , and not just regurgitate the words everybody else has already said about this camera . I'm going to spread this review out into a couple of lists , then a short question and answer section . . . so here goes ! What's hot ? * Large , 18 megapixel images * Great low-light performance at high iso's * Fast * Automatic White Balance does a much better job than my Xsi ever did . * Rugged / Solid * Feels very significant in your hands and comfortable to hold * Automatic Focus is highly configurable to your situational needs and performs VERY well ( in comparison to any previous camera I've owned ) * Remote flash triggering * Movie modes are neat ( I don't play with them much however . . . I'm more a photographer than videographer ) * Most professional ASP-C sensor camera yet . * Shares batteries with the 5Dmark ii . * Penti-prism 100% view is amazing . Much brighter and more useful , to me , in framing a shot than the penti-mirror design of the Rebel series . * Micro-adjustment for individual lenses is awesome . What's not ? * Rebel T2i has it's sensor , iso range , movie modes , a bigger and more detailed screen , and a dumbed-down version of the 7D's auto-focus . . . at about $1000 less . * If you're used to a Rebel camera ( or point-and-shoot ) , the weight will be very noticeable after a while . * Expensive Questions and answers : Q : Would this be a good camera for me to buy as my first step into the DSLR realm ? A : No . More accurately . . . probably not . This camera is complex , and it should be . It's as professional as the ASP-C camera's get . . . and it's in the xD lineup . If you aren't familiar with basic camera functions . . . something that takes this many steps beyond basic will either be frustrating , or wasted by always sitting in the automatic setting on the dial . I would , instead , recommend you look at the Canon Rebel T2i ! It's got many of the specs of this camera , at a much cheaper price point . It's lighter , smaller , and more beginner / intermediate friendly . Q : Should I get this camera over the Rebel T2i ? A : Depends totally on your use of a camera . Need something light , friendly , very capable , and a great value ? Rebel all the way . Need something with a super-fast shutter , rugged build quality , and a few very advanced features ? Go with the 7D . Q : Which lens should I get with the 7D ? A : Totally depends on what you want to do and what you need it for . I chose the 28 - 135mm . So far , it's not a bad little piece of glass . That seems to be about the standard idea on all the kit lens options . Looking back , I probably could have saved myself some cash by buying the body only and used it to buy some REALLY GOOD glass . The sensor on this camera has an nearly un-satiable hunger for sharpness . You won't see it's true potential without amazing optics . Final word : If you need a blazing fast , rugged , Canon camera and you're willing to really go through it's complexities and wring every last ounce of Awesome out of it . . . in the ASP-C format . . . this is it . If you want to save some money and / or are just getting into the world of DSLR's . . . I'd pass this one by . I made my choice , and I don't regret it .
    • 017 4  I've had this camera for a month now after having the 30D for the past 3 years and using a 5DMk2 for a few months . This camera is a perfect blend of the x0D series and xD series of cameras . If it were a full frame camera , it would definitely be a pro grade camera . It is easy to use , the buttons are in the right places and you can customize most of the buttons to suit your working style . The 8 frames per second is amazing and the picture and video quality are top notch . The biggest concern on putting 18 megapixels in an APS-C sized sensor is noise , as has happened in the 50D camera . However , rest assured that the new sensor provide great images up to ISO 800 , some noise ( which can be further reduced in post-production ) up to 1600 , then above 1600 you have to be careful about quality loss . They have only continued 2 features that I find annoying in their cameras : 1 ) the location of the depth-of-field preview button at the base of the lens is hard to reach since my hand is generally holding the lens , not the base of the camera , and 2 ) the 6 second timeout on seeing the displayed information inside the viewfinder after you press a button . I wish it were longer . A third thing I could add is for auto-focus during video shooting . The bottom line is that Canon has produced a camera which is a joy to shoot with . It feels great in the hand , the features are rich , and the interface is clean ( especially when you configure the ' My Menu ' to show the 5 most important menu items that you regularly use ) . Most importantly , the photo quality is superb .
    • 022 4  I bought this camera as a complete newbie to photography . My sum total of knowledge about photography was : keep extraneous junk out of the shot , fill the frame with your subject , and . . . that's it . I took pictures with my Olympus C740 UZ in full auto mode , and could not tell you the difference between an f-stop and a flame thrower . However , my plan was to become an accomplished amateur photographer ASAP . Once the camera was on order I got Bryan Peterson's book , Understanding Exposure and read it cover to cover . Wow ! If you consider yourself a beginner , get this book today . Read its ' reviews here on Amazon , this is what you need to understand a tremendous amount about photography in , literally , the first half an hour of reading . So , because of that book , I was not the least bit intimidated by the EOS 7D , and was up and running taking pictures immediately . And , by the way , the mode dial has been in aperture priority , shutter priority , or manual since day one . As far as I'm concerned , auto and creative auto don't exist . I went from knowing absolutely nothing about photography to having a firm grasp of the essentials in a week , with this camera and Bryan Peterson's book . As a complement to the camera I also got at the same time Doug Sahlin's book , Canon EOS 7D for Dummies . It is an excellent accompaniment to the camera manual , and , like Peterson's book , full of good general photography basics . If you have anything on the ball at all , you can become a photographer with this camera and those two books . From this base , you can then continue to hone your skills and learn forever . So my point is not to talk about the camera , but to tell any beginner they can use THIS camera starting from a base of no knowledge and with diligent study learn very quickly . If it is in your budget , you don't need to go from a point and shoot to a bridge camera to a DSLR . If you are serious , want to learn , and have the scratch , you can start right here . I have had this camera for eight days and learned and practiced the following things I never knew in that time : What f-stop is and how it affects depth of field ; how to use shutter speed to stop or imply motion ; what ISO is and how it can affect picture quality ; how white balance works and when and how to modify it ; using exposure compensation and exposure bracketing , and how to combine those with filters in unusual lighting situations ; when and why to use a tripod with slow shutter speeds ; how to take great macros without a macro lens using a 50 mm prime lens and an extension tube ; how to use direct flash , bounce flash , fill flash , ring flash , and off camera flash for macros , portraits etc . to eliminate shadows and balance exposures . Why you don't use a wide angle lens for portraits ! The list goes on but the point is you can do it too . So don't be afraid to buy a scary camera , just roll up your sleeves and learn . Also , get a Cotton Carrier to carry the camera around , you don't want this thing hanging on your neck ! Cotton Carrier is a vest that securely clips the camera to your chest , it is a necessity in my opinion , put Cotton Carrier in a search engine and peruse his website . I took a Macro Walk yesterday with it and it is the best ! No sore neck . Anyway if you want to know more about the camera itself there is plenty of info here , but I just want beginners to know you can succeed with this awesome machine .
    • 026 4  After using the Canon 10D since its release , I finally decided that this camera seemed to have sufficient improvements to be worth buying a new DSLR body . I have to say this is a revolutionary improvement from the early model DSLRs . Not that I had any problems with my 10D . It has served me well for the better part of a decade and has traveled with me on four continents . But the features and performance of this camera are simply superb . I won't bore with a full review of all features , as those have already been well covered here and on the many photography review sites . Some key improvements though from the earlier models : 100% viewfinder - definitely cut down on postprocessing with the full view LiveView - finally , can shoot from awkward angles without having to just guess Video - Haven't used extensively , but like what I'm seeing so far Menu System - Very easy to navigate and the My Menu feature is very nice for combining those features you use the most Burst - No worries about missing a shot . Go large jpeg and you can shoot almost indefinitely ( or until your card runs out ) Picture Quality - Um , wow . With this sensor , you can get some really nice crops About the only ( mild ) annoyance is the introduction of a new battery pack . Canon switched to the same higher-cap battery as the 5D Mark II . Form factor very close to the 511 battery used on all prior xxD cameras . Would have been nice if the old batteries were compatible , with the caveat that they wouldn't last as long . But you can't have everything . Regardless , you won't regret this purchase . Although a tad pricey , this is a great camera .
    • 030 4  Alright , so I'm not going to go into great detail to why I love this camera . I'll keep it true and short . My previous camera was the Canon XTi , I loved ( and still do love ) that camera . As soon as I turned on the LCD to my 7D I was in shock ! It's so clear , and the colors from it are incredible . The 7D's LCD is beautiful ! 3 It's also built like a tank . I feel secure when little kids ask me if they can take a picture with it now ! XD I just tell them to make sure the wear the strap . ; ) lol Battery life is WAY better . The 8 FPS is really useful . More useful than I had originally thought . ( I do a lot of sports . ) Video is great ! The built in speaker is . . . okay , buy the Rode directional mic ( $150 bucks , i think ) If you'll be doing a lot of video , like me . Okay so now the ISO . It's better than the XTi that's for sure . But , one thing you should know about the this camera is it has a noise reduction feature built into the camera . So It's really not a problem . I take photos in ISO 1000 - 1600 regularly . You don't really notice the noise until you blowup the image to about 150% It's really not a problem . Just make sure you have the High ISO noise reduction feature enabled . And really , if the picture that you took is that bad that all you notice is the noise , you should really should try to hone your photography skills before buying this camera . The only thing I don't like about the camera is the 18mp . It's really too much on a little 1.6 crop factor camera . 10 . mp is perfect for a DSLR . But that's really it . I will never print a picture that big . The biggest I've ever gotten is 8X10 . And that's still kinda small . Okay , that's my review . I suggest this camera to everyone that asks me what camera they should get . So buy it now ! . . . no really , you'll be glad you did .
    • 035 4  Three Positives : 1 . Live View - allows you to see exposure and depth of field ( no darkening ) in real time on a sharp and bright preview screen . You can then press the * button ( AEL ) and lock that exposure in . 2 . Critical Focusing - allows two stages of magnification in live view for critical focusing . I use it for macro photography with a EF 70 - 300mm lens . No stooping ! 3 . Spot Metering - I know this has been on previous models but extremely useful when using in live mode . Really can get pinpoint exposure control without bracketing after some practice . Two other notables are low noise at high ISO and self cleaning sensor that really works . It also doesn't hurt to have the added pixel headroom . Two Negatives : 1 . Spare Battery - is overpriced on Amazon ( sorry guys , I love ya but you need to bring your price in line with everyone else ) . If you use Live View a lot you will need a spare battery . 2 . Error Message 01 - communications between the camera and lens is faulty appeared at slower shutter speeds with my older EF-S 17 - 85MM . My two other lenses don't give this message . I just sent the lens to Canon to have it checked out - update to come . I think the 7D may be a bit less forgiving with well worn lenses than the 20D . Conclusion - If you can afford it , buy it . All the things you've been struggling to do with your 20D can be accomplished with the 7D in spades . There are new features that you need to learn by studying the manual but there is also a lot of familiar territory . If you thought you were a photo enthusiast before , you ain't seen nothing yet ! Update 5 / 5 / 10 - Canon repaired EF-S 17 - 85mm replacing quite a few parts for $95 plus shipping . Bottom line - camera and lens now work with no error codes .
    • 040 4  I am an advanced amateur who purchased the 7D as an upgrade to my XSi primarily to shoot sports . To date , I have not been disappointed . The 19 - point cross type auto focusing system coupled with its dual Digic 4 processors & L glass produces some really amazing photos . In all honestly , this camera is a steal at $1,800 . Sure it's not perfect , but it's many attributes far outweighs it's nominal shortcomings . While the movie mode is not important to me , having the weather sealing & 8fps makes this body extremely capable for my current shooting style . My XSi is a great camera but I was very uncomfortable shooting in moist conditions ( even protected with rain shields ) . I've found the high ISO performance to be very respectable . I shot a high school basketball game a few months using ISO speeds of 3200 & 4000 & was quite impressed . Sure there was noticeable noise , but the photos were very usable & maintained a considerable amount of detail . * * * Capturing a photo that has noise & detail is much better than not capturing the photo at all * * * With RAW files exceeding 20mb , the 7D allows users to significantly crop photos when your subject is outside of normal range . The 7D is a joy to shoot with & produces superb photos ( I have uploaded a few photos here on Amazon ) . I commend Canon for bringing the Beast to market & the 7D receives my highest recommendation !
    • 046 4  I've had the Rebel XT ( 350D ) for three going four years , and yes it is a awesome camera ! when I was looking for an upgrade to my rebel XT the T1i look really great , but then came the 7D and all of the new AF features and video . I think that the rebel body is lean and small even more now having a XD body . If your on a budget the rebel T1i is a great upgrade with more MP ( al dough with 8MP is more than enough ) good video Q , live view and better high ISO performance than the XXXD and if you like the rebel series bodies then you should go for it , now if you don't mind the video The 50D offers higher ISO and FPS than the rebel series and better IQ overall . 7D ! ! ! : I do recommend the upgrade to any one moving in that direction . The size is no issue when you get all that features , and it feels really good solid and hefty in your hands . The FPS & AF Are Fast . The high ISO performance is amazing comparing it to the XT , the low light focus and results are simply great . The AF points and versatile setup is so much better than the XT there is no comparing it . The view finder and the LCD screen are just awesome . . . you cannot compare it to the Rebel 350D its on another league . The battery life is longer , you can record RAW a JPG on at the same time or choose to do it with a press of a button . And the list of features goes on . I Think that there is still much potential on the 7D via firmware cos it's a awesome piece of hardware , no matter what they say . 18 - 270mm Tamron VC ( got it last year to upgrade the Rebel and now use with the 7D ) 50D : I think ( money wise ) that a Canon 50D is a good upgrade ( IQ compared to the 7D ) and don't care for the video or faster AF . If you are looking for the most IQ available today , it's no brainer that the 5DMII is the choice ( and don't mind the extra money ) performs better in low light than the 7D . Now the 7D is faster on Focus and in FPS , so if youre a sports shooter or wildlife photographer the 7D will suit you more . Hope it helps you decide The AF is not 100% accurate all the time ( got in touch with Canon Tech and they say maybe its because of the Tamron Lens ? ) I get a bit soft images that you can improve with PP but overall you get very good IQ ( if want excellent IQ get the 5DMKII ) Highly Recommended !
    • 048 4  I had reached the limitations of my beloved Pentax K20 for the type of picture shooting I do , and I didn't find what I was looking for in the new Pentax K - 7 . I needed fast and accurate auto focus performance in all lighting conditions and exceptional low-light , high ISO performance . The 7D came out at just the right time . I had considered the Nikon D300 , but I preferred Canon L lens choices and the lesser relative cost for the ones I was interested in . It was costly to switch to Canon and buy all new lenses , but with the 7D it was certainly worth it ! All the positives have been repeated over and over . I can't add anything new . My point of reference for the performance of the 7D was the Pentax K20 and K - 7 ( briefly ) . In comparison , the 7D is at least twice as fast in acquiring focus lock in medium to low light situations . Focus accuracy has been excellent once you master how to properly use the various focus modes . I am getting shots now I could never possibly get before with the Pentax in those situations of immediate-shot , candid pictures and moving subjects . Additionally , the excellent high-ISO performance allows me to shoot at ISO 3200 to 5000 + without issue , giving me more flexibility with higher f-stops and shutter speeds , helpful in low-light situations and with lenses that don't have image stabilization ( 17 - 40 f4L , 24 - 70 f2.8L , 70 - 200 f4L ) . While exposure control has worked very well , I have noticed a tendency to slightly overexpose most of the time . Some have commented on the shutter sound . I recall the Pentax K - 7 has a quiet shutter sound which I found a BIG plus for shooting inconspicuous candids . The 7D also has a very quiet shutter but with an unusual sound - sort of like a coil spring snapping on what would be an extremely expensive toy dart gun . I got used to it and at times depend on the stealth qualities to shoot unnoticed . However , there are few must-haves in my mind , essential for the next upgrade of the camera . Cons : The biggest issue I have with the 7D is the fact that the mode dial is constantly changing setting from what I last left it . Part of the problem is that the power switch is now located right next to it . Quickly turning the power on or off may cause the mode dial to be changed . Since I often shoot spontaneously from the hip while the camera strap is slung over my shoulder , I recently found out that the strap itself can rub across the mode dial and move it to another setting . Not good if you are doing sudden , get the shot now ! shooting . The cure is simple : do like the Pentax K - 7 and use a lock button in the middle of the dial . Problem solved . Of course , any photographer on top of their game knows what the camera settings are every time they press the shutter button ( note to self ) . The other irritant I have is with the CF card door . It's large and slides backwards to open , thereby having the back end of it along the side of the body right where you put the most pressure from the palm of you hand . Mount a heavy lens on this camera like the 24 - 70 f2.8L or the 70 - 200 f2.8L , and the pressure placed by your hand on the edge of the CF door causes it to flex and squeak . I heard the 5D has the same issue . Mine started solid but now is flexing and getting noisy . I also doubt the integrity of the weather sealing of this cover , referencing back to Pentax for what seemed like better sealing on their high-end bodies . Conclusion : The two issues I mention are hardly deal-breakers . They can be resolved easily if Canon chooses to do so and can be accounted for by the user's handling / acceptance . I still have a long way to go to get to the point of fully mastering the potential of this camera , but for what I've experienced so far , this is an excellent buy and concedes little if you need an APS-C format camera to shoot professionally . Overall , this is an exceptional camera that has taken my photography to a higher level . Update ( 4 / 11 / 10 ) : Still love the camera . The problem I was having with the mode dial being turned by the camera strap when slung over the shoulder has been resolved by going to a special strap that connects to the tripod mount at the bottom of the camera and crosses the upper body so that the camera can be quickly drawn upward into shooting position from your side . However , the other issue I have with the camera is getting worse - the loose and squeaking CF door . I remove the CF card to load pictures on my computer , and I do this once a day for the last 4 1 / 2 months now . Perhaps I open and close this door more than others which has contributed to the apparent wear . While Canon should repair this issue under warranty , I hate to be without the camera for the several weeks required to send it off and have the work done . It's unfortunate that this little piece of plastic can so undermine the structural integrity of what is otherwise a very solid camera .
    • 061 4  I've had this camera for about a week , and I'm still learning how to get the most out of it . I went from a 40D up to this one , and all I can say is that I really like it . If you are accustomed to a less complex camera , it will take you a bit of adjustment . Some of the things that are missing from the 7D are the beginner settings such as sports , close-up , portrait , landscape , etc . By the time you get to the point that you are using a camera of this quality , you should be able to figure out these settings on your own . You do have the option of replicating these functions in the custom settings area , so you shouldn't have any trouble working these things out . If you purchased one of these before October 20 , 2009 , be sure to download the firmware upgrade . It's worth the trouble , which is actually negligible . My lens of choice with this camera is the 24mm - 70mm L series lens . It's an excellent match and combination .
    • 069 4  I have just up-graded from the SXi to the 7D and well worth the $ $ body only ( the kit lens could have been a better pick ) , but I own L glass anyway so not a big deal . Although the SXi is an outstanding entry level camera it does ( for me ) have a few issues . I can see now compared to the 7D . color / dynamic range ( blues ) I have shot many landscape or images with blue skis and the blues just are not there without processing . The same shots with the same ski using the 7D are superior in every way . I have only just begun to use the 7D , but I would not go back to the rebel ever again . ( good qual alternative to a point and shoot ) The 18meg pix is a pluse , but as most have already stated the IQ isn't dependant on mpix unless you crop to the extreme . This camera with a few L glass lenses will satisfy any advanced novice and even the less demanding pros . The in camera manipulation of the scene / settings ( whatever it may be ) is without a doubt the best for the $ $ and no comparison to the lesser cameras . I am and have been an avider photographer since the early 80 ' s ( not a working pro ) though I have won some contests and sold my share of images . Film is still my first love , but this camera is the best digital semi / pro I have seen to date . I would recommend this camera to anyone asking with a small discussion on what their needs are . i.e . the shooter who just wants a record of the moment could do well with any of the canon rebels or even the G series P & S cameras . con's : little over priced compared to the 50D and 5D marks ( but still within reason ) , heavy for the older shooter , nothing a mono pod and side strap wont fix .
    • 077 4  I have been shooting ( and selling ) many photos with my old Canon 450D , but was looking to upgrade . Like many people out there , the comparison between going with the 5D ( full frame ) and the 7D , was a big debate in my mind . Did the full frame offer enough advantage to justify the additional $1000 price tag ? In my exhaustive research of reviews , and talking with those who own the 7D , the only complaint that I ever heard was that it is not Full Frame . The resultant image quality , advantages , etc . seemed to vary among each person that was questioned , buy never a bad word about the 7D . Only praise ! In talking with a few high end photographer friends of mine , several had opted to go with the 7D over upgrading to the new 1D Mk IV . That says a lot ! ! I even saw a review comparing a high end Hasselblad , the 1D MkIV , and the 7D . The writer , as much as he wanted to justify the expense of the Hasselblad , could see virtually no difference between all three images . That was enough to tell me that this was the right camera for me ! You won't regret the purchase ! !
    • 083 4  Ever had a problem with a camera ? Ever missed the e-tailers 30 day return policy ? Ever had to return the camera to the manufactor for repairs ? Well , I have . To shorten this story I would like to say Canon stands behind their products . My 7d's problem was an unidentifed error message ( no number ) . This error occured whenever I made any adjustments or control changes . I returned the camera to Jamesburg , NJ with a full explaination and believe or not got the camera back in eight days . Alas , it had the same problem . I then called the factory tech and explained the problems . She transfered me to the Customer Relations Dept . where they did not fiddle around with excuses , they replaced the camera with a new copy . They also paid all shipping . My past expericences have not been close to this gradifing . I have not read the Canon warranty , but I feel they could have thrown me into the cycle of shipping and reshipping only to return to the fact that I would have had no confidence in the $1,700.00 repaired / unrepaired camera . I was able to take about 280 exposures with the camera before the onious errors occured and found the 7d is a delight to use . Most exposures were clean and crisp , some where perhaps a little soft on the edges . As I only shot in RAW with little post processing I was very happy with my results .
    • 085 4  First off , I'm a casual user - - I upgraded from a 20D and just want to capture those fleeting smiles and pouts on my babies and sports shot of my older son . I have owned tons of digital cameras point and shoots and that 20D and used my brother's digital rebels etc - - there is no comparison . This gives you pro results on auto mode . no need to put in hours to learn anything . just grab a good basic lens and you are good to go . My favorites are the approx $300 canon 50mm and the 17 - 40 L lens for everyday use . And the video is absolutely fantastic . I have used 3 or 4 canon and sony miniDV camcorders in the same to rebel price range and those did worse in low light and with image stabilization . In terms of HD i have used an xacti and flip and both suck ! I used a tripod since this thing weighs a bit more than a flip , and it did a pro job at taking a movie of my sons spring concert - - got a better than my naked eye view from the 3rd row . To compare to the 20D - - the flash actually works ! no more weirdly dark pics without an external flash . I love that it feels easier to hold and more balanced with the same lenses on it somehow with a sturdier area to grip , and the viewfinder is simply awesome . So just wanted to say - - don't regret this upgrade at all !
    • 095 4  I am very , very new in photography . I just started to take pictures with my first DSLR , the Canon 7D , as a hobby about a month ago . . . and I'm loving it . Maybe the 7D is not the best camera for a beginner like me , but you tend to get considerably good results quickly if you don't mind looking for tips online and also carrying the manual for any quick checks . Personally , I think image quality is excellent . Shooting stills is really enjoyable and video is equally awesome . It is quite astonishing to see what the 7D can do when shooting on HD . I only have two problems with this camera : 1 - I can't record more than 12 minutes a time on full HD , and my second problems is that , as any DSLR , the 7D is not really a camera meant for handheld video recording . Video is too shaky without a firm and stable support . That's it ! After that , I have no other issues . The rugged look and feel of the 7D is one of the characteristic that I like the most . I went out to the New Jersey country side with all the snow that fell during the weekend ( 12 / 05 / 09 ) , and I never felt worry shooting in some very cold and wet conditions in the woods . Of course , it wasn't Antarctica but to me - - a dude from a Caribbean island - - that was a little extreme . The sealing is very good and the buttons on the 7D are big enough that I did not need to take my gloves off to shoot or to play around with the settings . I can't wait to January to take Dallas ( yes , I named my 7D Dallas ) into a more familiar but also very demanding weather environment such as the one found in the Caribbean beaches in the northern cost of the Dominican Republic . Oh , yes ! Let the heat of the sun , the salt of the Caribbean Sea , the sudden tropical downpour and the tiny white sand of those beautiful beaches come . . . we will be prepared ! / AR /
    • 100 4  Let me start by saying , I love my 7D . It's the most athletic camera I own - 8 FPS , killer autofocus system , ISO expandable to 12,800 , all of the canon lenses - and 3rd party lenses , almost any accessory out there has a canon version . Some of the best photo's I've taken have been with the 7D . Not to mention , the cinematic quality of the 1080p video capability in conjunction with all of those said lenses . So why am I a bit let down in the image quality department ? Its very simple , even though the 7D has high ISO capability , I find that cramming 18 MPs on to an APS-C sensor is MP overkill . I've found that noise levels are more acceptable on my Rebel XSi than my 7D . At ISO 100 , the 7D is awesome , its awesome all the way to 1,000 . However , when I set ( and I don't that often ) the ISO to auto - the 7D constantly bumps the ISO to 3,200 - the results are some really noisy images . Granted - Noise Ninja does a great job in post production in reducing noise , but the fact is the 7D is sold as a low light camera - implying excellent low light performance - and the performance IS good ( focus , metering , etc ) but the resulting images are ( in my mind ) somewhat disappointing . So I switch to full manual mode and work with ISO 100 and pretend there's not any other ISO setting and I've been much happier . I also use f / 2.8 and low light primes ( 85 1.8 , 50 1.4 , etc . ) to take advantage of the 7D's low light capabilities . On the plus side the 7D is simply loaded with features - video , 8FPS , custom settings , doesn't need an additional transmitter to trigger remote speed lites , killer auto focus system , etc , etc , etc . But if your goal is just great image quality , you might consider spending your money on a used first generation 5D . It takes better pictures . If you need a more capable camera ( with really good image quality ) like for sporting events then The 7D is best suited for you . If you take portraits or families on the beach then get the 5D , and use the left over money to put toward a high quality prime lens . Think of the 7D as an ' athlete ' - think if the 5D as an ' artist ' - depending on your needs , that's the one to go with . . .
    • 106 4  Heavier than my old Canon Digital Rebal but packs a lot more punch . I have to hunt for some of the menu options but I'm getting used to it . I shot an HD video of a rental condo I own and the video feature worked very well . I really appreciate the feature to shoot in JPG but to switch to JPG and RAW with the touch of one nicely placed button . Easy to switch from photo to video . The lens that comes with the camera ( if you buy the basic lens and body option ) has a much nicer range than my original rebal lens . This is a fantastic camera , in regards to options , for an intermediate level photographer . There are lighter , smaller cameras that are easier to use but this camera has far more features and the ability to shoot in 1080p HD video .
    • 109 4  I have owned all of the rebels , and when I heard about the 7D I waited in anticipation . I'm an amature , sort of ( I use manual ) and found this camera to be the best for what I shoot . My shots come out crisp and this is the first camera I have used that has taken excellent sports photos . If you are on the market for a new camera and are considering the 5DmkII , or the 7D , I would go with the 7D because of the dual processors and the quality . While it's not full frame like the 5D , the pictures are still up to par with the 5D and there are only minor differences based on all of the reviews I have read on photo websites . I suggest getting the body and the 18 - 135 lens as the kit lens that comes with the 7D is not as good as the newer lens .
    • 111 4  I love the 7D and the features that it has . I use a 1D MKIII that I have just received back from Canon after the third repair for Autofocus - fixed this time . I purchased the 7D not as a backup but to replace my 1D MKIII due to the Autofocus issues I was having - I would go to the MK IV later if everything was kosher with it , but now that my 1D MKIII was fixed to my satisfaction I will keep it . But back to the 7D . Love the Camera , great LCD , great speed , AI servo autofocus is spot on , flash control from the pop up flash , cheap wireless remote can be used , great pictures . The 1D does not have a great LCD , no flash control from the camera itself , and a dedicated expensive wireless remote is needed , Better speed and better pictures from the 1D MK III though . I am sending my 7D back , for just couple of reasons that are biggies for me . 1 . File size is tremendous - my computer struggles under the weight of these files . Just too slow for me and having to store these files is a burden . If the picture quality were better it might be a consideration . But the 1D MKIII takes sharper , cleaner pictures at 10mp compared to 18mp . With the 7D you have to purchase large memory cards and only have space for 1 on the camera . The 1D MKIII has 2 slots and can store thousands of 10mp pics , big advantage for me . 2 . I find myself tilting the 7D during sports shots , not all shots but too many for me . I guess it is the size , I never do this with the 1D MKIII . Again I love the 7D - if I didnt take 1200 shots every game I shoot - file size probably wouldnt matter - but for what I do - it is a biggie . The prices for 1D MKIII's are falling due to the MKIV being released and if you can get a good one , this is your best bet if you do sports or wildlife - just great pictures , great controls , great speed . No movies , Bad LCD and proprietary flash and wireless controls . The 1D MKIII is a workhorse and just plain works - very well . ( Very large - but comfortable ) I give the 7D a 4 star due to the file size , In my opinion canon should have used a 10 - 12 megapixel sensor . Also , I saw some softness and noise in my pics that I was not accustomed to . Great overall though .
    • 113 4  I upgraded to this from a Canon XTi . This camera is much heavier , but the burst rate is almost scary fast ! Downsides : This is much heavier than the XTi Upsides : 18 MP Super fast shooting rate Quiet ( doesn't sound mechanical like the lower end EOS cameras do ) Feature rich !
    • 119 4  Absolutely love this camera . My next camera would be 5d Mark III : ) with all the features of 7D + full frame + more : )
    • 131 4  Personally , I like this camera , but I don't love it . I think for the price , you're getting alot for the money . Canon could have make this better if it's a 1.3x crop rather than a 1.6x crop , which it should because 7D is halfway b / w the 5D and the 50D . The new auto-focus and the added focusing points are awesome . It seems like the images tend to be warmer or more orange ( compare to my 5D and 450D ) , which bother me somewhat . If you have the money , go for the 5DMKII . It's $1000 more for a reason ( even not for the full frame ) . However , the 7D image quality is pretty good too . Also , if you retouch or photoshop photos , it won't make a huge difference .
    • 139 4  About me : Pro videographer semi pro photographer 15 + years . I spend over $25k a year on photography gear . This has been the worst purchase of my entire career . Out of the box my 7D was shooting stills with only 6 stops of latitude on the super flat setting , even less on neutral with contrast all the way down . The RAW images look nothing like the LCD and are completely different than represented in the histogram . I have to boost the RAW files 100% in photoshop to get them to look like they look on the LCD / histogram . I shot a comprehensive test side by side with my assistants 7d with the following parameters : Controlled flat / soft lighting . All exact same settings ( superflat mode , all image enhancements off ect ) 17 - 55mm 2.8 lense Tiffen 20 step greyscale chart Monitor properly calibrated and tweeked ever so slightly for a flatter look . Test result here : Flickr search Nomadtv ( DPP raw files opened on same monitor + mac book ) The results are easily apparent to an untrained eye let alone a client , the control camera shoots well over the 10 stops latitude represented on the greyscale chart . I would dare to say its 11 stops or more . My camera could not hold detail in the first 5 to 6 bands and started to loose detail on the upper 2 bands . . . minimum of 4 to 5 stops less latitude than the control camera . There is obviously a massive difference between the two units . Support ( lack there of ) : Sent to canon with detailed description and a print out of the 2 test images side by side in DPP , camera was gone over 2 weeks and I had to rent ( almost $1k lost ) Camera came back saying it was within specification and nothing was done to it . Took it out of the box and it is still shooting super contrasty . I again called canon , asked for a manager - Got Marvin I explained everything that happened and he was unsympathetic . Said he'd call me back . Never did . I called him back next day and was asked to send the RAW files over . The email he gave me was wrong . He never called me back . Called again the next day and found him , he immediately put me on the phone with Randy who is apparently a photographer . Randy had me send him the RAW files and despite trying to get off the phone with me several times right away , I insisted that he stay with me while he looked at these test shots . He immediately noted that there was a difference between the two . We went through the metadata . The only thing that was different was a slight difference in focal length . Randy proceeded to try to convince me that a slight focal difference could account for the vast difference in image quaility . Are you kidding me on a $1100 Lens , It better not ! Randy said he would send this back to Marvin right away . Marvin never called me back ( no suprise ) . Next day I called marvin again in the afternoon and was told that they couldn't see much difference between the 2 cameras and that they would not be servicing the camera . I asked him point blank So you're telling me that I'm on my own ? to which he replied Basically , but you can call the 800 customer support number , thank you for calling canon support , have a good day So I now have a $1600 paper weight with $3500 in lenses and other add ons that are useless to me . Moral of the story ? BEWARE CANON ! You are on your own if you buy from them .

  • The camera overheats far too easily . I purchased the Canon 7D in December 2009 , using it to successfully capture some soccer games . During the games the camera was stopped - - not shutdown - - quite frequently whenever there was a pause in the action , which was quite often due to the age of the players . At half-time the camera was turned off . For the first couple of months I experienced no problems . But that is no longer the case . Spring has sprung and with it comes warmer temperatures . This past weekend the camera's overheating icon came on after being on for about fifteen minutes of stopping and starting . Temperature : 60 degrees outside . I stopped the camera . I shut the camera down for a couple of minutes . I turned the camera back on and it worked for a minute or two before flashing the overheating icon again . I put my jacket on top to keep the sun off the camera body . No luck . I was unable to capture the last fifteen minutes of the game . Page 159 of the English EOS 7D manual indicates that the camera will experience overheating issues when used for a prolonged time or under direct sunlight . What it doesn't tell you is how long prolonged is and under what external temperature conditions this applies too . Based on my results you will have approximately twenty minutes or so when shooting in 60 degrees before the overheating icon flashes . Had I known this I would not have purchased this camera . Given that I'm a long-time Canon customer I can only say that I'm extremely disappointed that the camera overheats so quickly in fair conditions . I'm quite certain Canon is aware of this issue but has chosen to bury it in the operators manual in a loosely-worded description meant to cover their butts . You won't find anything on the Canon 7D product that warns you about prolonged use . Try searching the 7D's support section . Nothing with the words heat , heating , overheat , overheating . A search of the internet tells a completely different story . It's a camera trying to be a video camera and under certain conditions it works great . Know your intended shooting conditions before deciding to buy the 7D for its video capabilities . Get real , in the field reviews from people who tell it like it is without wrapping it in sugar-coated wording designed to keep their revenue streams flowing . Despite years of buying Canon products my next video camera purchase will be from another manufacturer . March 6 , 2010 Update : I have amended my rating from a 1 to a 4 . Picture taking : 5 , Video Recording : 3 . Canon Information on Overheating : 1 . This review has always been about the 7D's low overheating threshold and Canon's scant information regarding the matter . I am quite happy with the 7D's picture taking abilities - - when combined with a great lens - - but at this time I only intend on addressing the heating issue . Why is it that on the Canon 7D website , under Power Source Specifications for the battery , that Canon provides an estimated number of shots table which takes into account the temperature , AE , AF , and Live View Shooting , but doesn't provide something similar for video recording time based on temperature and wind factors ? The power source table is there to help people manage their expectations . Something similar should be done for video recording times . Did I expect the camera to be a feature-rich full-time video recorder ? Hell no ! Am I happy with the video quality ? Extremely ! Am I please with the sound quality ? It's okay . If capturing ambient noise or sound in a closed atmosphere is the goal , then it will get you by . Invest in a good microphone built for your intended use . Did I expect the camera to overheat ? Yes , I read about it . Did I expect the overheating problem to occur so quickly when the temperature went from 50 degrees to 60 degrees ? No . I thought it would only be a problem when recording for extended periods of time at higher temperatures . Twenty minutes of on and off recording didn't seem like an extended amount of time to me . Knowing what to expect from the camera based on ambient temperature and conditions will better prepare the operator . Based on my experience , once the temperature hits 60 degrees without any breeze , shooting times will drop . As the temperature rises beyond 60 degrees you can expect even less recording time before the temperature warning comes on . You will have to find alternative ways to keep the camera cool . Try an umbrella , a fan , a white cloth draped over the body , or you could even buy a second camera to have on hand when the first one gets too hot . Turn the camera off and get it out of the sun when not in use . Lower your expectations and find creative ways to deal with the problem .
    • 044 4  I recently upgraded from the Canon 40D to the new 7D . I love love love this camera ! The focus is fast and colors are true . Good IQ , improved live view , wireless flash support is all greatness ! If I had to write a negative thing , I'd say is the learning curve . Not much mind you . If you're used to the EOS cameras then you'll want to read the manual as some things have changed and you'll get frustrated trying to figure it out on your own . If you're new to the EOS systems , then you're in for a real treat but do yourself a favor and read the manual . This body is a bit heavier than the 40D but the build quality and feel makes up for it . When you hold it , you know you're holding a solid camera and gives you a sense of confidence . I'd recommend this camera to my friends and family .
    • 049 4  This review is from : Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3 - inch LCD ( Body Only ) ( Electronics ) First , for a living I produce and edit commercials for television and shoot wedding photography on the side . So I have some experience with cameras , lenses , and editing software . We got this lens because we wanted a new camera to make commercials with . We wanted to shoot in HD ( the 1080 kind , not the 720 ) , but we didn't want a $30,000 rig - no way I could convince the big boss to do that since making commercials is a secondary , even tertiary , function of the company I work for . For a cinematic look ( the 1.6x crop factor helps with depth of field ) we chose the 7D . For what we wanted , and expected , and what we got , I rate the camera 5 stars . But that's because I also know the limitations of the camera . You won't take this camera and treat it like it's a prosumer or professional HD videocamera that you would take if you where the videographer for COPS . You won't take this to capture video on a running , fast-paced , nighttime fugitive hunt . In low light settings , or settings where you can't control the light , you will get motion blur . In high lighted areas , if you don't have a rig setup with an eye piece half the time you won't be able to see the screen with enough clarity to know if you're subject is in focus or not ( if you're using a very slim depth of field , like on a f2.8 or faster lens ) . Obviously , for about the same price , we could have gotten a prosumer or low , low professional grade HD videocamera that would have had better autofocus , less motion blur on action , etc . But the trade off on that is lower low-light capacity for shooting , and lower contrast levels . I recommend this camera if you want to take HD video and make a basket of apples look sexy . If said apples grew legs , started running , and you had to run with them and capture everything on video , I'm not sure of this would be the solution for you - even with a steadycam . But maybe . We're still working the kinks out , but we love it so far .
    • 056 4  The 7D is easy to use ( if you know your way around SLRs ) and the photos it takes are gorgeous - even in low light . I debated going with the 5D , but I'm glad I saved the money because the image quality meets my needs and the built-in flash has come in handy several times . The only thing that hasn't been easy to figure out is the video function . It isn't at all like shooting video with a point-and-shoot , and focusing is a problem because it's a difficult to tell if the focus is spot-on using the small display on the back , and once you start recording the auto focus stops working .
    • 064 4  Having read the occasional horror story about the 7D's autofocus system , I waited many months before taking the plunge with this camera . I need not have waited . The autofocus system is sophisticated and complicated , but spot on - - when used correctly . I've had out-of-focus pictures during my first weeks with the 7D , but the fault lies with the operator , not the camera . Do NOT buy this camera if you don't enjoy pushing buttons and turning dials and reading manuals or on-line tutorials . Do NOT buy it if you don't enjoy the challenge of learning the subtleties of a complicated computer . Do NOT buy it if your photography consists of snapshots of Uncle Charley grilling burgers or of little Johnny making strange faces . Do NOT buy it if you're like my friend who bought another camera with lots of settings on it , who was having trouble getting good photos , and who who responded to my question , What settings are you using ? with these words : I don't know ; we just use it with the settings it had when we took it out of the box . I'm enjoying the process of trying to grow into the 7D as I make the big leap from my old Digital Rebel . The learning process is satisfying , and the results - - though still inconsistent - - are often amazing .
    • 076 4  That hasn't been said already about this camera ! Love it . I'm a canon fan and took about 3 months deciding to buy it , and glad I did . I won't go into detail because everyone else has said so much , just saying it's probably the best Camera around for this money . Took it to Gettysburg civil war cemetary and the pictures are stunning . I used the Rebel series for about a year and stepped up to this . You'll be very pleased with this product .
    • 117 4  I am an avid Canon SLR supporter and have owned the 20D , 30D & 40D . I am not a professional photographer per say , but I do wedding and event photography by word of mouth customers , So I do know something about the canon D-SLR line . I had been contemplating upgrading to the 50D , but experiencing a lack of significant changes from the 20D on up I held off . Then the 7D came out with its claim to fame of its HD capability . I had been trying to decide to add video to photo lineup and when Canon offered the 7D with HD , it appeared both of my needs had been answered . I am disappointed to say , that the video option of the 7D is not much to write home about . There is no auto-focus or exposure capability . You basically are entering live vue , press the half shutter to get the initial focus and exposure and then video from there . If your distance or exposure changes , your only option is to hit the auto-focus button , which has limited succes and travels in and out several times to find a setting . This is also very noisey depending on the lens you are using and is picked up very loudly on the audio recording . Yes , you can use remote mics , but again more money more set up for a one stop product . Please note , this is not just a low light issue either . It had similar problems outdoors in day light . Its amazing that canon makes other low end cameras like the Rebel and the SX1IS that do this dual mode with all the bells and whistles , but ther professional level SLRs do not . . If you want great sharp video and stills get the SX1IS for the everyday vaca shooting its great . As far as an improved SLR , to many improvements to list . New sealed body for outdoor stuff , fast focus and focusing selections , with new info screen for ease of reading and changes . Again many many improvements , and definately several steps above the 40D . If your buying because of the HD , stick with you 40 or 50D and get a camcorder or the SX1IS . . .
    • 118 4  Sweet camera . The ergonomics alone are grounds for buying this camera . It just feels so right in your hands . This camera is fast , fun , and functional . The HD video is so cool , I just wish that I had 24P options and multiple resolutions . If you are in the market for a high end , but not completely out of price range , DSLR . . . wait no longer . This camera is sweet .
    • 122 4  If you are intending on buying the 7D because of its video capabilities then be forewarned : The camera overheats far too easily . I purchased the Canon 7D in December 2009 , using it to successfully capture some soccer games . During the games the camera was stopped - - not shutdown - - quite frequently whenever there was a pause in the action , which was quite often due to the age of the players . At half-time the camera was turned off . For the first couple of months I experienced no problems . But that is no longer the case . Spring has sprung and with it comes warmer temperatures . This past weekend the camera's overheating icon came on after being on for about fifteen minutes of stopping and starting . Temperature : 60 degrees outside . I stopped the camera . I shut the camera down for a couple of minutes . I turned the camera back on and it worked for a minute or two before flashing the overheating icon again . I put my jacket on top to keep the sun off the camera body . No luck . I was unable to capture the last fifteen minutes of the game . Page 159 of the English EOS 7D manual indicates that the camera will experience overheating issues when used for a prolonged time or under direct sunlight . What it doesn't tell you is how long prolonged is and under what external temperature conditions this applies too . Based on my results you will have approximately twenty minutes or so when shooting in 60 degrees before the overheating icon flashes . Had I known this I would not have purchased this camera . Given that I'm a long-time Canon customer I can only say that I'm extremely disappointed that the camera overheats so quickly in fair conditions . I'm quite certain Canon is aware of this issue but has chosen to bury it in the operators manual in a loosely-worded description meant to cover their butts . You won't find anything on the Canon 7D product that warns you about prolonged use . Try searching the 7D's support section . Nothing with the words heat , heating , overheat , overheating . A search of the internet tells a completely different story . It's a camera trying to be a video camera and under certain conditions it works great . Know your intended shooting conditions before deciding to buy the 7D for its video capabilities . Get real , in the field reviews from people who tell it like it is without wrapping it in sugar-coated wording designed to keep their revenue streams flowing . Despite years of buying Canon products my next video camera purchase will be from another manufacturer . March 6 , 2010 Update : I have amended my rating from a 1 to a 4 . Picture taking : 5 , Video Recording : 3 . Canon Information on Overheating : 1 . This review has always been about the 7D's low overheating threshold and Canon's scant information regarding the matter . I am quite happy with the 7D's picture taking abilities - - when combined with a great lens - - but at this time I only intend on addressing the heating issue . Why is it that on the Canon 7D website , under Power Source Specifications for the battery , that Canon provides an estimated number of shots table which takes into account the temperature , AE , AF , and Live View Shooting , but doesn't provide something similar for video recording time based on temperature and wind factors ? The power source table is there to help people manage their expectations . Something similar should be done for video recording times . Did I expect the camera to be a feature-rich full-time video recorder ? Hell no ! Am I happy with the video quality ? Extremely ! Am I please with the sound quality ? It's okay . If capturing ambient noise or sound in a closed atmosphere is the goal , then it will get you by . Invest in a good microphone built for your intended use . Did I expect the camera to overheat ? Yes , I read about it . Did I expect the overheating problem to occur so quickly when the temperature went from 50 degrees to 60 degrees ? No . I thought it would only be a problem when recording for extended periods of time at higher temperatures . Twenty minutes of on and off recording didn't seem like an extended amount of time to me . Knowing what to expect from the camera based on ambient temperature and conditions will better prepare the operator . Based on my experience , once the temperature hits 60 degrees without any breeze , shooting times will drop . As the temperature rises beyond 60 degrees you can expect even less recording time before the temperature warning comes on . You will have to find alternative ways to keep the camera cool . Try an umbrella , a fan , a white cloth draped over the body , or you could even buy a second camera to have on hand when the first one gets too hot . Turn the camera off and get it out of the sun when not in use . Lower your expectations and find creative ways to deal with the problem .
    • 124 4  I was hoping this would work as good as a D series camera but it does not.I do a lot of bird in flight shot and this does a good job but not as good as a D series . Well worth the money
    • 134 4  I've recently buyed a EOS 7D . I'm delighted with the purchase . It has a impressive technology . It takes wonderful photographs . The bestbuy for an amateur , on the verge of a professional machine .
    • 143 4  This Price is jumping all over the place . . . at least it is back down to 1900 now . Buy quick . Actually , with this price war it might go down further . I assume this post will be deleted as it is not really a review . . . .
    • 145 4  Having moved from a Canon 30D to a 40D , and even thought about the 50D , my decision to go with the new 7D was based on the rationale that I'd buy it sooner or later so why not now and get the use and enjoyment sooner and longer . The price was not insignificant but since I have a number of L lenses it all came together . One of the features I was looking for was the increased ISO performance since I shoot youth basketball pictures in dimly-lit gymnasiums . I was shooting at 800 ISO and occasionally bumped it to 1600 . Now I'm shooting 1600 and 3200 with much better results . I wasn't sure about the video feature since my results with video from a Canon SD 970 have been quite unprofessional ( not a camera problem ) , but as I'm gradually learning to shoot video properly I'm really glad I didn't settle for the 50D ( which I think is a great camera ) . The Canon video tutorials for the 7D are great ! Go to [ . . ] to check them out , whether you've purchased the 7D or are thinking about it .

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