| The Good |
|---|
| 18 Megapixels, 8FPS Snapshot/continuous shooting, 3” LCD, 1080p Video, 19 Point Cross-Type Autofocus. |
| The Bad |
| Price, Complicated Controls, Heavy/Bulky, Noisy. |
| Yay or Nay |
| With a price tag of over $1,500, there is not a compelling enough reason to buy this camera. Though it is marketed as a camera to fill the gap between family photographer and professional, there are many less expensive cameras with the same or nearly the same features. |
Overview
For the most part, this camera is just an upgraded 50D. The biggest differences that you will likely notice are the higher resolution sensor (18MP) and the higher quality LCD screen. These two upgrades alone are a great improvement on an already very solid camera platform. Nevertheless, the 7D has its flaws, and they are noticeable. Most noticeably is the fact that this camera is quite bulky, and that it makes a good deal of noise for an all digital item.
Snapshots
Along with the noticeable extras, there have been some internal upgrades as well. With dual DIGIC4 image processors working in tandem, as well as a CMOS capable of 12800, the camera is a demon at high speed photography and capable of continuous shooting at eight frames per second. When you combine this with the 18 MP camera, you get excellent quality in a camera that can be used to take beautiful still shots but also catch all of those important sports moments as well. This is great for the hobby photographer who wants to capture all of those moments in little league or pee-wee football that mean the most later in life, and also wants a more affordable camera for events in a more professional venue.
Video
With the ability to shoot at 1080P, the video on this camera is high quality. However, there are other cameras that are much more affordable than this one and can take the same quality video. For this reason, the 7D has belly-flopped in this department and has left a lot to be desired, especially with regards to sound quality where an external microphone may be needed (this problem has been solved on the 550D).
Photo Quality and Extras
According to some people’s opinions, the quality of photographs that this camera is capable of producing are a little low for the overall cost of the camera. Despite the 18 megapixel camera and the ISO speed of 12800, it doesn’t produce the quality that many Canon customers have come to demand of their high end cameras. However, because this is a gap filler (from family photographer to professional), this seems to be about on par with the rest of the camera.
Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the still and in-motion pictures that are produced from the CMOS and DIGIC4 processors are more than most anyone will need. When working in tandem, there isn’t a moment that can’t be captured. The camera that is both acceptably fast in a professional setting, and reliable enough for anyone to use daily.
Downside
The major downsides to this camera are that it is quite expensive, and that the controls and features are hard to understand for someone who is just beginning. Overall, this camera is about a half step above the 550D, but in terms of usability, it falls flat as anyone other than professionals will be lost in the array of buttons and selections possible. Because of the lack of usability and unique features on this camera, it seems that the price is higher than one would expect.
Conclusion
Overall, this camera may be a good buy for the semi-professional or beginning professional, as it is better than the 550D in a few areas. However, with the money that you can save by buying the 550D, you can easily upgrade it to create a more professional look and usable camera. Unless you need the 8FPS continuous shooting capabilities, you can be satiated with something that will cost at least $600 less, or save up the same amount and buy the next level up.
