Looking through the viewfinder, you’ll also notice an upgrade from Canon’s usual 9-point AF system to a brand new one with 19-points. Canon has also finally implemented on-demand LCD graphics in its viewfinder, allowing it to display a grid without the need for an optional focusing screen. There’s also a stereo mini-jack for connecting an external microphone.Ĭanon’s also made some key improvements to its viewfinder experience, with the new EOS 7D boasting 100% coverage with 1.0x magnification. The inclusion of a 24fps option at 1920×1080 pixels will delight independent film makers who were frustrated with the fixed 30fps speed of the EOS 5D Mark II, while owners in PAL regions will be pleased to find a 25fps option which matches their video standards. The Full HD 1080 mode can be set to record at 30, 25 or 24fps, while the 720 and VGA modes can record at 60 or 50fps. As such the EOS 7D enjoys full manual control over exposures, along with the choice of filming resolutions and, for the first time, a choice of frame rates too. The EOS 7D also becomes Canon’s third DSLR to offer HD video recording, and the company has clearly been listening to customer feedback. The earlier EOS 50D was already a quick operator with a continuous shooting speed of 6.3fps, but the EOS 7D improves on this with a top speed of 8fps. As such there’s understandably concerns over noise levels on the EOS 7D, and you can see for yourself how it compares directly against the EOS 50D, 5D Mark II and Nikon D300s in our results pages. This makes it the highest pixel density of any Canon DSLR to date, because even though the 5D Mark II has a slightly higher pixel-count, it’s more than compensated by its physically larger full-frame sensor. Starting with the headline specification, the EOS 7D is equipped with a brand new 18 Megapixel CMOS sensor, compared to 12.3 on the D300 and 15.1 on the EOS 50D. As such it’s Canon’s best-featured APS-C DSLR to date, and pitched directly against Nikon’s D300s. Instead it sticks with the smaller APS-C sized sensor of the consumer DSLR ranges, but complements it with a wealth of professional features that go beyond the existing EOS 50D and in some respects even the EOS 5D Mark II. As such it doesn’t replace an existing model and the EOS 50D will continue to be available.ĭespite having a single digit name, the 7D does not feature a full-frame sensor. Announced in September 2009, it represents a new product category for Canon, positioned between the existing EOS 50D and EOS 5D Mark II models. Canon’s EOS 7D is the company’s latest semi-pro DSLR, featuring 18 Megapixels, HD video and 8fps continuous shooting.

Canon 7d review video