The $1,699 (list, body only) 18-megapixel Canon EOS 7D takes beautiful pictures—in a wide variety of lighting situations. But the true lure of the Canon 7D is that it's the only sub-$2,000 D-SLR that offers a multitude of high-definition video-capture options. If versatile HD video isn't a priority for you, however, you can get the same still-image results from other Canon and Nikon D-SLRs that are much less expensive, like the $800 (with lens) Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i or the $900 (body only) Nikon D90.
In Canon's D-SLR family, the 7D is the priciest camera to offer an APS-C size CMOS image sensor—the smallest of the three sensors used in the company's current lineup of D-SLRs. The 7D differentiates itself from less-expensive models by improving the sensor's ability to capture light, offering multiple HD video-capture resolutions and frame rates, quick 8 fps captures, a high-resolution LCD, and a large 19-point autofocus system. Though its body is slightly smaller than those of higher-end Canon D-SLRs (which use larger sensors), the 7D's build and feel are appealing. The camera weighs 2.06 pounds without a lens and is comfortable to hold. The controls are easy to use: Buttons are well-placed and a large scroll wheel helps you cruise through Canon's simple, intuitive menus.
Keep in mind that the $1,699 list price is for the camera body only. Like all Canon D-SLRs, the 7D uses a Canon EF lens mount, which means if you currently own Canon lenses, they'll be compatible with this body. For testing I used a $599.99 (list) Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS, though pricing for Canon lenses starts at $99.
The 7D features a large 3-inch, 920K-dot (VGA) Live View LCD—that's twice as sharp as the display on the Apple iPhone 3GS. If you choose to frame your shots through the viewfinder, you'll find that the autofocus system is extremely fast and accurate, since it offers 19 autofocus points throughout the frame. The 7D offers a variety of autofocus configurations, allowing you to select an individual focus point, or you can leave selecting a focus point up to the camera. It works well, but the $1,700 Nikon D300s features an even-better AF system with 51 focus points.
Performance Tests
When shooting through the viewfinder, Shooting Digital's Shutter Lag test showed that the 7D could focus and snap a picture in a quick .47 seconds. This number drops to an average of 2.17 seconds when shooting in Live View mode, using the LCD to frame shots. The 7D also offers a Quick Mode with Live View support—it deactivates the display briefly to focus, restoring the image after focusing is complete. In my tests, shutter lag dropped down to 1.47 seconds in Quick Mode.
Two other manufacturers offer a better alternative to combat slow focusing speeds associated with Live-View shooting: Select Sony Alpha D-SLRs add an additional autofocus sensor that's only active in Live View mode, while Panasonic implements a new focusing technology in its Micro Four Thirds cameras, which can achieve speeds close to what you'd get focusing through the viewfinder of a D-SLR. This technology is implemented on the $900 Lumix DMC-GF1 and the $1,500 Lumix DMC-GH1.
Shot-to-shot times are lightning fast. At its highest resolution (18 megapixels), the 7D can capture images at 8 frames per second (fps). The Nikon D300s comes in just behind, capturing 7fps (though captured images are 12.3 megapixels).
Using Imatest to objectively measure image quality, the 7D produced spectacular, virtually noise-free images in my tests. Other cameras with APS-C sensors offer similar performance, like the Canon Rebel T1i and $680 (body only) Nikon D5000, though you won't get 18-megapixel images.
At its sharpest f-stop (f/8), the Canon 7D averaged 1,999, 1,975 and 1,882 lines per picture height at ISO 100, 200 and 400 (respectively)—this is extremely sharp. Curiously, the Canon T1i fared slightly better averaging 2,102, 2,079, and 2,035 lines. In terms of noise, the Canon 7D can shoot at up to and including ISO 3200 without noticeable noise (below 1.5 percent). Higher ISO sensitivities let you capture images without a flash in settings where light is scarce—in a dark bar, or a night street scene, for example. Many APS-C cameras have trouble capturing clean images at ISO 1600—I've only reviewed a handful of models that can shoot at ISO 3200 with no noticeable noise, including the $1,100 (body only) Canon EOS 50D, the Rebel T1i, the Nikon D5000, D300s, and D90.
HD Video Capture
Thanks to the camera's large APS-C sensor, video shot with the 7D is of much higher quality than footage captured with a consumer-grade HD camcorder. Even television broadcasting professionals have found its image quality acceptable for certain tasks—NBC used the camera to shoot portions of Saturday Night Live's opening title sequence.
The 7D is popular with video professionals and enthusiasts not only because it produces fantastic-looking video, but because it offers a wide variety of resolutions and frame rates. 1920-by-1080 (1080p) video can be captured at 24, 25 or 30 progressive frames per second. And if you dial the resolution down to 1280-by-720 (720p), you can capture at either 60 or 50 frames per second. Currently, Canon D-SLRs have a leg up on Nikon when it comes to HD video capture. Nikon cameras, including the D300s, are limited to 720p24.
While video looks phenomenal, capturing it isn't as easy as it is with a traditional camcorder. If you choose to change focus or zoom while recording, the camera will pick up the noise of the autofocus motor and the lens as it changes focal lengths. The camera is also unable to continuously autofocus while recording, so if your subjects move out of focus, you'll have to refocus manually or hit the autofocus button. Refocusing while recording is very slow too. The Panasonic GF1 and GH1 offer the most seamless video capture experience, thanks to their advanced focusing systems.
Connections on the 7D include mini-USB and mini-HDMI, so connecting the camera to your computer or HDTV is a breeze, and there are no proprietary cables to worry about replacing.
With its beautiful images and flexible HD video options, there's no denying that the Canon EOS 7D is a talented D-SLR—but at $1,700 without a lens, it's not cheap. Unless you need the versatile HD video options, 18 megapixels, or the speedy still-image capture that the 7D provides, you can get similar image quality from the $800 (with lens) Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i. The $680 (body only) Nikon D5000 and $900 (body only) Nikon D90 are also excellent options that produce very solid images, if you haven't already invested in Canon lenses and accessories. And if size matters, consider the compact, but full-featured $900 Lumix DMC-GF1 or the $1,500 Lumix DMC-GH1.
BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS: Check out the test scores for the Canon EOS 7D
Compare the digital cameras mentioned above side by side.
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The Canon EOS 7D is one of the best midrange D-SLRs money can buy. But if you don't need comprehensive video recording features or ultra-high-resolution images, there are a handful of competing D-SLRs that produce comparable image quality for half the price.
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