Canon EOS 7D In Depth Review

Camera Design

Out of the box and in the hands, the Canon EOS 7D has the appearance and heft of a pro-caliber camera. Largely identical in shape and form to the EOS 5D Mark II, the EOS 7D is actually a pinch heavier than its cousin, but otherwise will feel quite familiar to both EOS 50D and EOS 5D Mark II owners. Build quality is quite high, with plenty of grip material to be found on the front and rear of the camera. The EOS 7D has some degree of weather sealing, with Canon claiming it matches that of their film camera, the EOS 1-n, which means it as likely to hold up (or not) in bad weather as the EOS 5D Mark II.

A look at the Canon EOS 7D with attached kit lens, the 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.	EOS 7D, as seen from the other side.

As we mentioned, the EOS 7D is largely similar to the EOS 5D Mark II, in fact it seems more like the successor to the EOS 5D Mark II than the EOS 50D, at least in body shape (to be clear, Canon claims the EOS 7D is not intended to replace any current EOS offering). A number of subtle shifts and changes have occurred though with the EOS 7D that make it a better camera ergonomically than either camera. The first noticeable change has been the re-sculpting of the camera grip. It adds a recessed area on the inside of the grip for the fingertips to rest in, substantially improving grip and security over the EOS 5D Mark II. On the back side, the groove for the thumb has also been refined, now fitting the entire length of the thumb. Together the two improvements make the EOS 7D feel much more comfortable and balanced in the hands. Further aiding usability are the addition or movement of a couple camera buttons. The on/off switch has been moved up to the mode dial, which makes room for a Quick Control Dial Switch. A “Quick Control” button has been added, as well as a “RAW/JPEG” button, the first provides an interactive info display of current camera settings, and the latter provides instant RAW/JPEG shooting if currently in one mode or the other. The other addition on the backside of the camera is a Live View/Movie Shooting switch with inset start/stop button. This allows for one touch movie recording, without having to access additional camera menus.

The EOS 7D is even easier to turn on or off (deliberately) with the new location for the on/off switch	The new "Quick Control" button provides an interactive info display. Also note the dedicated RAW/JPEG button and speaker holes.
The top deck gets an added "M-fn" (multi function) button that can be programmed as desired. We had it set at the default which implements the dual axis electronic level.	This new live view/movie shooting switch makes choosing between the two easier, and makes recording easier with the inset start/stop button.
Not found on the EOS 50D for obvious reasons, the EOS 7D has an included mono microphone, with a stereo jack for external microphone connection.	The EOS 7D accepts CF cards only, and does benefit from the fastest cards available, like the PhotoFast GMonster 533x Professional we're using here. Canon claims 15 continuous RAW files, but we were able to get 20+.

On the negative side, we still don’t like the CF card slot cover, which is similar to that found on the EOS 5D Mark II. On both models the cover extends all the way down to the heel of the camera which means a moving part has the potential to flex in your grip hand. I’ll add that on our review unit this never occurred, but I’d still prefer a design that didn’t extend all the way down.

Overall the EOS 7D is a subtle but welcome evolution in camera design over its “predecessors”. Prior to using the EOS 7D, I routinely have thought that Nikon has had an edge in camera “feel” and ergonomics. On one of those counts the EOS 7D now has the lead, and that’s ergonomics. Holding the EOS 7D is a real treat, and as an EOS 5D Mark II owner, I’ll admit this aspect (amongst others) of the EOS 7D has me a little envious. Nikon still wins hands down in the camera “feel” department. The Nikon D300s seems slightly better built, and the grip material is thick and cushioned while the EOS 7D offers only a thin texture for camera grip.

Canon EOS 7D SLR Digital Camera at B&H Photo Get your Canon EOS 7D and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the following links at B&H Photo Video. They offer the best selection and service, and your purchases there help us continue to provide you with more and more great content. Camera Body (only) Camera Body with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

Continue Reading This Review:

1. Introduction
2. Specifications
3. Camera Design
4. Camera Interface
5. Performance
6. Image Quality
7. Playback and Video Options
8. Verdict
9. Image Samples

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• Canon EOS 7D Review at PDN Gear Guide
• Canon EOS 7D vs. Canon EOS 5D Mark II: ISO Comparison
• Pentax K-7 Review at Let’s Go Digital: “A Joy to Work…

1. 

   Eric says:

   February 22, 2010 at 12:20 am

   Hi,

   Just read this review. Great info! What really intrigued me though were the photos of the horse track (toteboard, etc.). Where were these photos taken? They’re awesome!

   reply
2. 

   dylan salt says:

   March 10, 2010 at 7:11 am

   Too be quite honest the pics published (and the originals downloaded) here do zero for the 7D with regards its pedigree & wouldn’t even hold up to my workhorse, a Pentax K10D even at ISO 640

   I’m sure you would admit that the shadow noise in the “sun” landscape is simply ghastly for ISO 200.

   What gives?

   The review was great but the pics presented here certainly did not make me want to rush off and by the 7D

   reply