Description

A Whole New Class of EOS. With a host of brand new features designed to enhance every facet of the photographic process, from still images to video, the new EOS 7D represents a whole new class of camera. Made to be the tool of choice for serious photographers and semi-professionals, the EOS 7D features an all-new 18.0 Megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors, capturing tremendous images at up to ISO 12800 and speeds of up to 8 fps. The EOS 7D has a new all cross-type 19-point AF system with improved AI Servo AF subject tracking and user-selectable AF area selection modes for sharp focus no matter the situation. The EOS 7D's Intelligent Viewfinder, an entirely newly-designed technology, provides 100% coverage and displays user-selected AF modes as well as a spot metering circle and on demand grid lines. New iFCL Metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system uses both focus and color information to provide accurate exposure even in difficult lighting. The EOS 7D also captures Full HD video at 30p (29.97 fps), 24p (23.976 fps) and 25p with an array of manual controls, including manual exposure during movie shooting and ISO speed selection. The EOS 7D features a magnesium alloy body that is dust- and weather-resistant and shutter durability of up to 150,000 cycles. Compatible with over 60 EF and EF-S lenses as well as with EOS System accessories, the creative opportunities - not just with stills but also with video - are beyond amazement.

Customer Reviews

 Great for EXPERIENCED photographers who can take advantage of extensive features. - Sep 02, 2010

Previous to buying the Canon EOS 7D, I had the 10D (since 2003) and did a lot of work with the 40D so I've got about 7 years of experience with Canon DSLRs. I can't say that I was overwhelmed by the quality of the images on the 7D but they are outstanding. If your primary concern is image quality, it seems to me you could buy a 50D or 60D and spend the extra money on quality Canon lenses and your images would rival the 7D. The features that sold me on the 7D however were the wireless flash control (finally!); the weather sealing; shutter durability; large, crystal clear LCD; and 8 fps. Professional grade stuff for a "prosumer" camera. Also great is the RAW/JPG button and the Q button which is great for changing settings FAST without scrolling through tons of menus (which all pro photogs can appreciate). At ISO 1600, images are still acceptable in my opinion. If you shoot mostly still photos like I do, the HD video was not that important but it is very impressive what cinematographers are doing with this DSLR. There's plenty of sample videos to watch and I'm excited to try this camera out on my occasional film projects that I produce for weddings and other special events. I wish they included the NTSC DV resolution (720x480) so the footage would match my miniDV camera, especially because the HD video takes enormous amounts of hard drive space. As most reviewers already noted, the reading the manual is very helpful. There are only 2 automatic settings on the camera (which work quite well) but 3 custom settings so you need to be familiar with how the camera operates. My only problem was with the autofocus. I couldn't seem to get a sharp picture when I left all the AF points on when indoors but it was VERY sharp when using just the center point only (the highest sensitivity when used with an f2.8 or faster lens). So far, I've been using the 7D for 6 months and it is working great, even up to now I'm still finding things it can do that I didn't know before.

 Fantastic! - Aug 30, 2010

This is one nice camera!!!

I compared to the Nikon 300S and the only a couple of features were better on the Nikon. The Nikon has a better exposure lock. Canon's exposure lock times out after a few seconds where as Nikon's will stay locked until released. For what it is worth, the Olympus E-30 exposure lock can be toggled on/off with a button press. Some will say HDR is more difficult with the 7D than the Nikon 300S, but there is a work around using the Mode Dial that is pretty easy.

 I should have bought this a long time ago instead of waiting for the 60D announcement - I couldn't be more pleased with it. - Aug 29, 2010

I have been wanting to upgrade my T1i for a while now, but decided to wait until the 60D was announced to do anything, and then ended up buying a 7D soon after the announcement. I was waiting/hoping to see if the 60D would have features that I wanted for cheaper but.... no such luck. I will probably still try to get my hands on a 60D when it comes out to see how I like it and to give it a review also, but for now I just wanted to express my extreme delight in the 7D. If I knew this camera would be this good, I would have bought it a long time ago.

I say that I'm delighted with the camera for one very big reason: the auto-focus system. It's astounding and better than any camera I have tried yet. I shoot a lot of action shots and wanted a camera that I could quickly attain focus on fast moving subjects. Someone who shoots mainly still/landscape shots or who has no use for the quick autofocus might be satisfied with the T2i or 60D for less money or much happier with the full frame 5D mkII. For me, my decision between the 60D and 7D was made up as soon as I heard the 60D had the same autofocus system of the 50D - a decent 9 point all cross-type autofocus system, but one that can't touch the 19 point all cross-type 7D system. I would have really liked to see at least a slight improvement in the 60D over its predecessor.

The autofocus system on the 7D is nothing short of brilliant and I am attaining close to 10x the number of usable shots than what I was with my T1i before. it allows you to choose several different modes of using it's 19 points. The 19 points on the 7D's system cover the same area that the 50D and 60D's systems do, but they offer more density in that area, which allows you to use modes like point expansion and zone auto-focus. In the point expansion, it uses one point to monitor for focus, but it if can't attain focus based on that one point, it will look in the four surrounding points also. The zone system uses set zones of points to look for focus in. These 2 features have helped me a great deal where before I would be using a single point and hoping to attain focus with it, or use a general all point autofocus, which was not anywhere near as quick. In addition, the 7D has a new spot autofocus feature that will hone in one a particular point that is much smaller than the normal single point autofocus. This helps a great deal in still photos or in action shots where you know where the action will be.

The brilliant autofocus system of the 7D sold me almost immediately, but it also has a wide variety of great features like wireless flash control, a magnesium alloy body (60D is plastic), a horizontal and vertical level (the 60D only has horizontal), and above everything else except for the AF system: a fantastic viewfinder. It offers 100% coverage and 1.0x magnification with a transmissive LCD screen. What this means is that what you see in the viewfinder is what you take a picture of - unlike several other cameras that cut off the edges in the view finder. The transmissive LCD allows you to overlay autofocus zones/spots and grids when you are looking through - very useful.

Now, my one negative aspect about the 7D might actually be a plus for many people: the size and weight. It's pretty hefty and for a person with small hands like me, the camera feels pretty big. A lot of people like the feeling of a large, solid camera though.

There are numerous features and aspects about this camera that I could touch on, but for the sake of brevity, I will just say that I am very pleased with the ISO sensitivity/noise ratio - although I probably won't take too many shots above 1600 and try to stay below 800. The burst rate of 8 shots/sec is fantastic, but for both that and the high def video, I recommend a compact flash card above 133x. I have been using a 133x with okay results, but have overloaded the buffer a couple of times. I will invest in a faster card soon.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the 7D and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants to take nice action shots.

 the IQ can be improved - Aug 28, 2010

I love the speed shots and quick focus which are much better than my 5d2
however, this camera suffers from pretty poor image qualities when ISO goes above 800

even at low ISOs, it is not that great

I still love this camera for its amazing features
but just wish IQ can be improved

 Poor Build Quality - Aug 26, 2010

My 7D stopped working after 6 months. The Canon repair facility claims they found corrosion. I told them I have not dropped it in water, exposed it to salt spray or rain. I mainly used the camera in the mountains of North Carolina. They still refused to repair it under warranty. Canon is trying to charge $1350. Be careful. The build quality is very poor.

 Amazing Camera - Aug 25, 2010

Takes amateur photography to a new level. I used to have a Canon SLR 10 years ago....then switched to digital point and shoot camera - primarily because of convenience and portability and also because wasn't really impressed either with the quality OR the price points of DSLR's at that time. This camera addresses everything. I shoot mostly personal family pictures, kids, functions at home and landscapes when traveling. Have it paired with an EFS 17-55mm f/2.8 (my only lens so far!) and image quality is mind-blowing. Great bokeh and low light performance. I rarely use the flash. Rich, true and vivid colors even in low light with no flash. Would have preferred to get the Full frame 5D - but body and good lens combined were beyond what I wanted to spend on my first DSLR. Plan on using this as my first DSLR to get aquatinted before thinking of upgrading to a full frame.
Have a friend with the EOS 5D and I confess that the picture quality of 5D with a 24-85mm f/2.8 is quite better and its the must have camera for anybody with serious ambitions in photography or spare change. In features and options though 7D is equal to the 5D if not better. But for starters - the EOS 7D is great - in fact exceptional. To realize its best potential pair it with a good and fast lens and NOT with one of the lenses that come packaged with it.

 Great electronics, poor ergonomics - Aug 24, 2010

I've just replaced my trusty Canon 40D. The choice wasn't easy, as Canon have not continued the XXD series directly. The 50D is now two years old. Instead of a 60D, last year Canon introduced the 7D. This is more like a cross between the 40D and the 5D MkII, and is rather more expensive, but at least it's compatible with my ES-F lenses, so after some umming and ahhing that's what I decided upon.

Now before I get to the negative bit, let's acknowledge that the 7D is a very good camera. It does well all the things that other Canons do well, and I have great hopes for the advanced auto-focus, although I haven't yet found anything to really test that. I also really like the built-in level and composition grid, and the much-improved live view features.

Low light performance of the new cameras is very good, although the improvement is marginal over the 40D in the crucial (for me) 1600-3200 ISO range. If you want to see what I mean, have a look at the full version of this review on my website.

ISO 1600 shots will clean up well, and should make a decent print, the ISO 3200 shot is marginal, and will take some juggling to get a good balance between noise and sharpness. 7D shots at ISOs 6400 and 12800 will never be portfolio quality.

The 7D produces good pictures. Its offences are against ergonomics and design purity.

First up, weight. The dimensions of the 40D and 7D are almost identical. However, it weighs a whopping 80g more. That's all but 3oz in old money, or a more than 10% increase. Obviously my previous entreaties to Canon to "just add lightness" haven't yet borne fruit. There's no good explanation for the increase. Weather sealing has allegedly been improved, but rubber isn't very heavy. Maybe there's a lead weight (or, marginally more realistically, a tube of mercury) swinging around for the level? Whatever the cause, I predict a number of 7D owners becoming tired either directly of the weight, or the blurry images to which it may well lead.

Then there are several completely superflous controls, most of which just get in the way. My bète noir is the rear control dial lock switch. What's the point of this? If you're such a klutz you can't pick up a camera without randomly twiddling the controls then maybe a high-end Canon isn't for you. And why just lock the RCD and no other controls? It doesn't even lock the RCD fully - the latter can still be used in the menus. Instead it's a needless point of failure - my first 7D had to be returned because this switch had failed, and I have seen several similar cases on the web.

Next, the "multi-function button", and auto-focus control. Functions carried across from the XXD series have a delightfully consistent logic: press a single button, and then the front control dial sets one aspect, while the RCD sets the other. For example, exposure compensation and bracketing. In most other Canons, AF is similar. Not the 7D. First you press the AF select button as before, then you have to press this fiddly new button next to the shutter release to cycle through the AF modes, and finally you can select an AF zone or point with the RCD. Why not just cycle the AF mode with the front dial, and the detail with the RCD?

The "multi-function button" isn't well named, as by default it only perform this function and flash exposure lock. However you can, if you ferret around in the custom function menus, assign a much more useful function - triggering the viewfinder display of the level and composition grid. This excellent capability really needs to be enabled by default - why not on the wastebasket button, which falls naturally under the left thumb and otherwise has no function when shooting?

The idea of being able to re-assign some buttons is a good one, but very strangely and half-heartedly implemented. For example, I'm never going to use RAW+JPEG button, because I always shoot with that combination anyway. Why can't I assign this to something useful, like mirror lock-up? Yet I can re-assign the shutter half-press to another function (from the absolute SLR standard of "focus and meter"), which would be a remarkably contrary thing to do.

Finally, what's with the "reprofiled grip"? I don't know who Canon reprofiled it for, but it's certainly not men with average sized hands, who now find a painful ridge under the thumb pad where the 40D was fine. At least one 7D is going to have to be modified with rubber tape, and that's not good.

So sorry Canon, I can only give the 7D 7/10, and I wanted to love it like its predecessor. You've got the electronics right, now focus on a more consistent, streamlined and comfortable user experience. You know how to do this - just look at the 40D.

 Got everything I wanted in a camera - Aug 23, 2010

I started with Canon film SLR. The 7D was a replacement for my Rebel XSi. I needed better indoor pictures without flash. I like the higher and auto ISO, full and brighter view finder, easy to use Live View, and built in wireless flash control. Given all these features, I don't mind the bigger body. The only other thing thing that I wanted is to use the wireless flash without firing the camera's flash.

 More than I expected 7D vs D300s - Aug 23, 2010

More than I expected 7D vs D300s

Before the 7D I was a Nikon user, I decided to shift to Canon because I was looking for a new camera and the D300s wasn't good enough and I could easily sell my Nikkor lenses to buy Canon lenses, the best thinks about the 7D are:

1) Up to ISO 1.600 you have color fidelity and low noise, you can print in color with no problem, the D300s only have color fidelity and low noise up to ISO 800

2) The 7D body is environmental sealing as the D300s but in ergonomics the 7D is much better.

3) The 7D can take photos in 18Mpx, 10Mpx and 4.5Mpx, the D300s only in 12Mpx

4) You can take Full HD videos in a 7D but not in a D300s

5) The 7D has 2 processors and the D300s and the D700 only have 1

 nice - Aug 14, 2010

I am upgrading from a 40d. I am considered a amature but I'm doing Weddings, Portraits, Senior pics, and Photo Art. Pictures of mine sell in galleries and I have been in retail for over 10 years selling cameras as well as other things. I can tell you that the extra fps are great when shooting sports and the iso performance compared to the 40d is great. I just shot a wedding with a 2.8is 70-200 L lens at 1000iso with no flash and the pictures look like 640 or 800 iso pictures from the 40d with better clarity. I sat down to do my regular adjustments in my programs and to tell the truth all I'm doing now is a little noise reduction and cropping.Sports are awesome also, I'm able to keep my shutter speed and iso high without loss of quality. The wirerless flash features are pretty good also. You can adjust each of your flashes from the camera and even use the built in flash along with other wireless flashes. The only down side is that the flashes have to be within 80 degrees of sight of the camera. Because of this I will still use pocket wizards but its still good to know that you have a solid backup if your pocket wizards fail or you dont have another choice. Figure out how to use the picture stlye software also. This can save a lot of time editing colors and sharpness in photoshop or lightroom. With picture stlye you can create setting, load them on your camera and, shoot away. They can be changed with a click of a mouse in photo professional if you ever need to change a setting. Raw files are very large so I recomend at min 8gb cards that are at least 30mb/s, however the faster mb/s the better and smoother your picture taking will become. I still plan on buying the 5d because the iso is even better than the 7d how ever I still plan on using both because they are great cameras. You can check out some of my pics from sporting events at [...]

 excellent Pro Am Camera - Aug 10, 2010

I am a professional photographer ([...]). I was using the 5D for years and invested in this as a replacement camera. I love it.
Pros: Amazing quality
-excellent focus system
-Superior jpegs -I used to shoot raw mode the whole time on the 5d because I was unhappy with the jpeg exposures and quality. This has changed.
-excellent inbuilt metering system
-excellent exposures when using a speedlight flash
-incredible high speed mode.

Cons- it has a magnification factor of 1.6 (I believe). This means it is difficult to do wide angle shots
-not a full-frame sensor (however the quality looks amazing to me)

 Great camera, poor quality control! - Aug 09, 2010

Although the camera deserves many stars (see the positive ratings here), I rated it as 1 star in order to draw attention of potential buyers to the quality control issues. I wanted something faster focusing than my Pentax K-x with better low light performance. After a lot of reading I decided on 7D with 70-200mm F4 IS lens (yes, F2.8 is faster but much less portable and more expensive).

Unpacked, read through the manual (extremely well written and controls are pretty intuitive), took some pics inside with artificial lighting at ISO 200 and got a strange feeling. The shutter sounded like a slamming door, there was a "visible" lag between the lens focus and shutter release and the shutter speed was around 1/8! Took it outside, the same impression, the exposure WAS WRONG (either went to ISO 3200 in broad daylight or stayed at 100-200 with slow shutter speed. The pics were bleak and mostly out of focus. Tried spot focusing, IS off, different metering modes, Tv, Av etc. Nothing worked. Thought that I might have screwed up some setting when getting used to the camera, reset to defaults, the same story. Tried to find a local dealer to see, if the problems was in the camera or the lens. Not many of them carry 7D and those who do weren't eager to open a new box just for the sake of experimentation. Finally put the lens on T1i, worked flawlessly. Started Googling and discovered that $1700 top of the line semi-pro camera has a known autofocus issues!!!

The suggested "hard reset" - taking out the camera Li-battery and the `watch' battery that keeps the date/time stored (You'll lose your date/time setting as well as your image numbering, all your custom settings including your custom menu are not lost) for an hour alleviated the problem, need more time for testing. WORD OF CAUTION: according to Google defective cameras that do not respond to the reset cannot be fixed by Canon (they keep sending it back and forth), do your own reading! Even if the reset had worked, I will either exchange the camera for a good copy or get Nikon 300s instead. Would be too risky to take chances after the warranty expires...

Very disappointing, lemons do happen but that's what the quality control is for, especially with this price tag.
Make sure that you buy 7D from a local store or Amazon, don't go for cheaper shady sellers!!!

P.S. If you have problems, make sure it's the camera and not the wrong setting. Here is a very useful quotation form comments of Electric Boogaloo to another 1 star rating:

Before giving it a 1-star you need to verify the AF in aperture priority and shutter priority using a single AF point and multiple AF points. It is also important to remember to set the proper Custom Function III.
The AF on the 7D is better than what most people who shoot casually need and it has a learning curve. Shooting in full auto may also give you bad results.

C.Fn III-1 (Tracking Sensitivity): slow (this is on fast by default)
C.Fn III-2 (1st/2nd image priority): 0 (AF priority/Tracking priority)
C.Fn III-3 (Tracking Method): 1
C.Fn III-4 (Lens drive when AF impossible): 1 (focus search off)
C.Fn III-5 (AF microadjust): 0 (disable)
C.Fn III-6 (AF area selection mode): Single point, Expansion, Spot
C.Fn III-7 (Manual AF point selection): 0 (stop)
C.Fn III-8 (VF illumination): 0 (auto)
C.Fn III-9 (Display all AF points): 0 (disable)
C.Fn III-10 (Focus display in AI servo/MF): 0 (enable)
C.Fn III-11 (AF assist beam firing): 1 (Disable)
C.Fn III-12 (orientation link): 1 (Different)
C.Fn III-13 (mirror lockup): 0 (disable)

In Comparison, the Nikon D300s does not have a full auto mode. I would not recommend this camera to anyone who shoots full auto, it was a mistake by Canon to put the "green box" on the dial.
*****
Happy owners of good copies of 7D started bushing me for 1*. I repeat, this comment is aimed as a warning to the potential buyers who usually read carefully all positive (that are plenty and rightfully so) and all negative reviews and spend less time on in-between reading. If I rated it 4-2*, it would have been lost.

 7D from 30D - Aug 06, 2010

After a lot of thought and going over things on many sites, I chose the 7D. I went on a week long trip to Italy. The camera performed as would be expected--great. The video part of the camera does take a lot of practice. Editing it is another matter. But since I am not a pro, I do it for therapy!! I just never realized the possibilities of combining modalities till this camera.

PROS:
--ease of use. Since I am familiar with the 30D, the 7D is intuitive. If you are coming from a REBEL series, then you will have to read the manual or play with it a lot to understand what this camera is capable of.
--it will accomodate your shortcomings, to an extent. During a walk along Cinque Terre, the lighting was harsh. But with auto ISO, it really helped the picture quality. Needless to say, the camera is only a tool and you will need to understand how to use it.
--versatility. I cannot express how handy the video feature is. It opens up possibilities that simply did not exist. I was not going to lug around more equipment than needed.
--battery use is as expected. I did shoot for 8 hours straight without any issues. A lot of looking back at pictures and adjusting things with menus.

CONS:
--weight. But there is no way around this.
--price. Once again, you get what you pay for. This is simply a great camera.
--menu functions are not as easy as before.
--maybe it is because I am still learning, but the creative settings are just not that easy to use.
--manual is okay, but it may be worthwhile to add a DVD that shows options etc. A lot of what I learned were trial and error.

CONCLUSIONS:
I moved up to 7D because of sensor issues with my 30D.
I opted for the 7D over the 5D for cost and the 5D is not going to do things more efficiently than the 7D. I did borrow a buddy's 5D recently, and it is a great camera, but not mush better than the 7D. Ultimately, one has to know what you are going to do with the equipment.
If you are on the fence, upgrade if you do not have a camera with video features. It is amazing how much you can do till you have the tools readily. Second, unless you have specific needs, the 7D will suffice for >90% of non-pro needs. The snob factor it will not cure. Third, it will make you a better photographer because you will be more critical of your shots and you will shoot more--thus, you should improve.
So, why not 5 stars--namely, the menu issues and the manual is not ideal.

 Very disappointed. - Aug 02, 2010

I have several digital cameras: D700, D70, Canon SX20IS. I have owned a number of professional cameras: Linhof 4x5 studio camera, a Pentax 6x7, Nikon F2, and a Kodak DSC something with a 1.1 MP sensor. The 7D I returned produces the noisiest images I've ever seen. I do not recommend it. It has the best software and interface by far. The ergonomics are superb, beautiful LCD. But nothing makes up for all ISO noise images, nothing. Started shooting weddings in 1970.

 Wow! - Jul 31, 2010

If you're a photo enthusiast this camera you want to get in addition to the HD camcorder. In one: word amazing!

 Incredibly versalite camera - Jul 30, 2010

Right off the bat, I don't own this camera (have you seen the price???). But I do work with a guy who owns one, and I'm motivated to comment on it.

I'm working with a new camera guy on a small, indie film that was shot in the Sacramento area. I'm doing the behind-the-scenes still photography. He was shooting that day using a Steadicam, which is a very expensive item. I'm looking for the pro-sumer camcorder like I've seen many times before. Instead, he's there with the Canon 7d. I'm thinking, what is going on? Why has he popped a still camera on a Steadicam? But he's shooting the entire film on this!

He's been hired to shoot this film, and the deal is is that he brings his own equipment to the shoot. He told me his still has a few professional camcorders, but the Canon 7d does HD, the quality is excellent, and the camera is inexpensive for what it does. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to get this camera.

The quality of the photographs he's taken is excellent. Strikingly good, as a matter of fact. And the film quality is excellent as well.

Now I have nice equipment, both film and digital Nikons, and a Canon camcorder miniDV . But my Nikon does not shoot HD video. I don't really shoot video that needs to be superb quality (I mean my cat is cute and all, but...). So I don't need this camera, since I already have a nice camcorder. In general, I have too many cameras, period.

I will say that if I were in the market for a pro-sumer camera that did two things, and two things very well, I'd definitely by this Canon 7d. There would be no need to by a separate camcorder. That saves money, potentially a lot of money.

For the quality of the photos and the video, the price is extremely reasonable. My Nikon that shoots pretty much only stills cost me about the same.

Very highly recommended. If you are even thinking about this camera, go out an buy it! I'd love to purchase this camera. It kills two birds with one stone, so to say. I assume this is the direction that many high-end and even medium-range cameras are going in. Less money in the long run, fewer cameras to lug around, fewer tapes and cards to carry. This is also a lot smaller than a huge camcorder, it is lighter, easier to store, and handier to carry all around.

Canon has a real winner here. Five +++ stars for the Canon 7d.

 Honest Review of the 7D - Jul 26, 2010

I bought my 7D in January of 2010.

I've used this camera for a quite a bit, both in still and video capacities. I'll review both separately to explain the pros and cons of each side of the camera.

Stills:

Pros:
-Awesome ISO range and low noise
-Great autofocus (really, really fast)
-Frame rate is ridiculous
-18mp is wonderful. Great detail.
-Custom Picture Styles are extremely satisfying.

Considering I'm more of a video person than a photographer, I've really come to appreciate the stills this camera produces. They are clear, even in horrible lighting conditions. Even photos taken in ISO 3200 have very little noise.

I shoot in Manual mode, but when I need to get photos taken in a quick second, I find myself flipping it to Green Box mode and clicking on auto focus and firing off a few frames within a few seconds. The photos are awesome. Considering I photograph events, this has saved me a few times.

I bought the camera body only so I can use the extra money for a 3rd party lens, the Tamron 17-50 F/2.8. Its a great lens, but the range is clearly designed for "walking around" which I do, but when I am a good distance away, the 50mm end of the range is usually not close enough, and not sharp enough.

I do have to say, for a semi-pro camera, the still side of the camera is the highlight. There are very little things to complain about. If you have the lenses you need, this camera will make those lenses create wonderful images.

Now for the cons: Video.

Video:

Pros:
-1080p resolution/ 720p at 60fps.
-Manual controls during shooting.
-Compact body and weather sealed

Cons:
-Rolling shutter

Rolling shutter is when the camera takes a frame by "rolling" the scan lines of the CMOS sensor downwards instead of exposing the sensor all at once (called "global exposure"). This is especially obvious in high action scenes and flashing lights. Shooting at 720 at 60fps, it is reduced, but it is still evident, especially in a moving car and looking at tall objects like trees and poles (they appear to lean). This camera is best used in low action scenes with a stabilizer like a tripod or shoulder mount (which kind of defeats the purpose of having a portable camera).

-Chroma sampling

I understand that some of the readers wont know what this is. But for the film people who are considering buying this camera, this is for you.

The sampling ratio is 4:2:0. Which isnt prime for green screen. But another side effect is color grading is affected by this. It creates unsightly artifacts in the footage. There are tutorials online on how to upload custom picture styles to greatly increase the dynamic range of the camera (and custom Picture Styles to create amazing colors in the camera), but there is one more thing that affects the footage: Noise.

-Noise Reduction

The noise reduction in video is no where near as good as the picture side of the camera. Considering that some might not have the best light available, they'll have to boost the ISO, and once it peaks past 1000iso, the noise becomes more evident. Canon markets this camera as a monster in low light situations (which it is), but the noise is very painful to see, especially when the footage is mixed with HVX-200 footage. The difference is obvious.

So, since a good portion of buyers will not really care for the video, most of my cons are irrelevant. It'll be a wonderful camera for the birthday clips and holidays. But for people who want to buy this (or the 5D) for film production (as I did), the limitations should be considered.

It is a good camera for dramatic films with little to no action. But, action is a difficult thing to capture on this camera without it looking gelatinous.

Overall, its a great camera. Actually, this is a wonderful camera. It is limited in the video side, but for a $1700, it offers a relatively inexpensive high definition capability (most film quality HD camcorders are $3000+ and they have inadequate lenses) and a great "equalizer" for film students or indie film productions.

For an example as to how the camera deals with concert areas, I have this video I made. Look at the strange lines created in the flashing lights. Also, be warned, this camera will be destroyed if lasers hit the sensor (as shown is certain videos online).

[...].

 I can not stop enjoying it - Jul 26, 2010

What I like about it:
- Has all the traditional features.
- Has a live shooting feature (for movies) - the thing I was positively shocked about. It is possible to take a picture with the help of LCD screen despite that it is made for camcorder. Yes, no more looking through the "eye-hole" and besides that it is possible to use a special zooming while using live shooting feature to make the picture as sharp as possible in the manual mode (perfect for Lensbaby).
- Sits good in the hand.
Well, if you will buy it, you will not be disappointed.

 Canon EOS 7D with Kit lens 28-135mm - Jul 13, 2010

This is a hefty camera. I like the Kit lens, Macro shots are impressive. This lens is a $200 premium over body only, well worth it. The lens sells alone (depending on seller) for $377 to $409. I own it for action shots that my 5Dll is not the best at.

 Beautiful tough camera. Low light/high ISO noise ruins it.. - Jul 12, 2010

I received the 7D as payment for shooting my buddy's wedding. I had an XSi and loved it, but wanted an upgrade (as a T2i would have been a lateral move). When I got it home and unpacked it, I loved the feel and look. It is a super solid, tough, very nice looking camera. I was stoked. I started taking some random neutral light photos around my house and yard (with a 50mm f/1.4 USM @ ISO 100). I uploaded the photos to my Mac. The photos looked awesome. crisp, and bright. After a while I wanted to take some low light shots, mainly because I knew the wedding reception would be held in a dark area with minimal light. I bumped the ISO to 250 then 320, then 500. Shooting random pics of my kids in my darker living room at night. Holy noise!!! Even at 250 ISO with my 50mm f1.4 it's unacceptable. I was mortified but I had the wedding coming up in a few days. In a nutshell, my reception photos were complete crap! grainy and noisy. I was able to fix a few using Lightroom 3's improved noise reduction but even then they looked like paintings because it over compensates. I talked to the camera store I purchased it from and they said they have never heard of the noise problems, and that I should bring in some examples. forget about even shooting at 800 ISO let alone 1600 and higher. If anybody who owns a 7D and has experienced the poor low light quality, please leave a comment. I just might sell this bad boy and end up buying a T2i after all...

 Great Small Sensor DSLR for Indoor Sports! - Jul 12, 2010

I have been shooting for a couple of years with the Rebel XSI. I purchased some nice lenses (50mm 1.4, 70-200 L IS 2.8) and was getting good results, but sometimes missed on great shots because of poor focus. I was saving up for the Canon 5d Mk2 when this camera came out. I went to the local camera shop and tried it side by side with the 5d Mk 2 with my own lenses and was sold on it immediately. The speed and accuracy of focus combined with the high frame rate were great, but more than that, the camera just was so responsive in every aspect. I would compare it to driving a sports car after driving the family minivan. All DSLRs are quick, but this camera was amazingly fast with low light, high ISO situations, locking on focus and taking the picture noticeably faster than the 5d.

The one major concern I had was image quality. There were some negative reviews online, and I know the full frame cameras are the best at high ISO, low-light situations. After shooting more than 3,000 photos and 2 dozen videos over two months, however, I can tell you the image quality is spectacular for both photos and HD video. Not every photo is a masterpiece, but the "hit" rate of perfect focus and exposure is easily 3-4 times as high as for the Rebel XSI. The only trouble is, with the high frame rate, sorting through all of the photos to decide which one captures the moment the best. Considering this camera is almost $1000 less than the Canon 5d Mk 2, it is hard to imagine better performance.

There are two negative to consider, mainly for the high-end consumer. First, the camera is significantly heavier than the entry level Rebel. Second, there are no "Scene" modes, like portrait or sports. This camera is more advanced and you need to have a pretty good idea of how to change aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to get good pictures. If you leave your current camera on the auto setting or scene settings most of the time, or you are trying to upgrade from a point-and-shoot to a DSLR, you will not be able to utilize this camera to its full potential without a significant amount of time invested in learning about photography.

One final tip - I was able to record video and high frame rate photos using a 133x compact flash card without any problems.

 Great for Sports Photography - Jul 11, 2010

I am a mom of two boys and focus mostly on sports photography. A spend the better part of my days watching and photographing baseball, soccer and martial arts. I was the historian at sons schools for two years. Prior to the 7D I used the Canon 20D. There are many review that give you all the detail technical information about this camera. My general note is it is a great camera from a great vendor. I big step up from the previous D series cameras.

I purchased the 7D because of the eight frames per second and increased MP. The new view finder is impressive and has 1.0X magnification and 100% coverage. I had considered the 50D when it came out, but I did not feel it was a big enough advantage to shelve my 20D. I feel it is not just another D series camera or a small step like the 30D to 40D to 50D, but a significant jump for people who need the shutter speed and are looking for the big brother of the 50D, not the replacement.

Overall I have been very happy with the purchase.

Key features
*18MP APS-C CMOS sensor
*8 frames per second continuous shooting
*1080p HD video recording with manual controls
*3.0 inch Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dots
*19-point AF system (all cross-type)
*1.0x magnification and 100% coverage viewfinder
*Wireless flash control
*Environmental sealing

 A master of many trades - Jul 07, 2010

Before my purchase I possessed a limited knowledge of DSLR's. I own and operate a local video documentary company and I use video camera's. Until recently, I had never heard of using a digital photo camera to film an event, spot, or feature. I read many articles about the 7D and 5D mark II praising their versatility for film work. I also watched a lot of youtube and other web broadcasting video's showcasing the quality these camera's capture and produce.
After talking to a few photographers and reading the plethora of articles I decided to purchase the 7D. I have not regretted the purchase at all. This camera is versatile. I highly recommend reading the camera manual. It has helped me to understand all the capabilities of the camera. Each setting is described it simple and direct detail. The manual really helps to understand how to take better pictures and why. It really helped my wife, who has really enjoyed using the camera to. The auto function is a great feature to use when you need a friend or family member to take a picture and don't have the time or patience to explain what shutter speed, f stop, and ISO to set and use.
The HD video is incredible. You have a lot of choices: 1080 @ 30,24, 720 @ 60, or 480 @ 60. One of the major reasons to use this camera for video is the abundance of lenses you can use. The slow motion capabilities are extremely good with this camera. The clarity is amazing in every way. I have noticed some noise but, as with any DSLR, if you keep your ISO below 800 it's nonexistent. All my customers are surprised at first when they see me shooting with what appears to be a photo camera. However, when they receive the final product they are very impressed with the detail, dynamic clarity, and vibrant colors this camera captures. Every customer has explained that the production went beyond their expectations. I highly recommend this camera to anyone considering it. It's worth every penny.

 I am in love with my 7D - Jul 07, 2010

I don't think I have much more to say that hasn't already been said about this camera.

I love everything about my 7D - The quality, the focusing features, the feel, the controls and most of all, the durability.

It is absolutely worth the money if you cannot afford to buy a full frame sensor.

 Struggled with the decision with the upgrade from a 40D - What was I thinking? - Jul 05, 2010

After reading all the reviews (thanks to Amazon for this feature) on the 7D and the 5D I struggled for months with a decision to upgrade my 40D. Loved my 40D but I wanted higher ISO and faster FPS. Do I go with the 7D? 5D? or stay where I am? People seem to love the 5D but I really wanted the higher burst rate. Was the 7D really worth saving the $$ versus the 5D? Was it worth the spending the $$ over my 40D?

After sending my 40D in for service I called Canon Service and spoke to a technician about my 40D and in passing asked him about the 7D vs. 5D vs. 40D. He was extremely helpful and asked a lot of questions about what type of photos I took (sports - hockey, family stills, vacation) and what lenses I used (70-200 2.8 IS L & 20-70m 2.8 L) and suggested the 7D due to the burst rate and other features (ISO, etc.). Saw a pro photographer at a concert using a 7D and a 5D and he gave the thumbs up on the 7D and the burst rate. Those two conversations made my decision. I bought it for my vacation.

Got the 7D and all I can say is WOW! Can't believe I waited or struggled with the decision. Great detail and color. Was very easy to learn - very similar to the 40D. Love the ability to get JPEG & RAW at the same time. The burst rate is awesome. Worried about catching people with their eyes closed? No problem when you have 6+ FPS burst rate. The pictures are AMAZING - what clarity. There is a difference between RAW output and JPEG - obviously raw is much better - but getting raw & JPEGs (I always shot in raw and had to convert) are the best of both worlds - great for the quick and instant viewing on any computer and still have the RAW for post processing. Yep, you need a lot of memory on your CF card but that's no surprise. I'm getting 400+ pictures on a 16GB card using RAW and extra fine JPEG. Was worried about the autofocus issues some people wrote about but I have had no issues. The autofocus is way faster than the 40D and different in a good way. High ISO is great. Took pictures in near dark at 1600+ ISO and the graininess is not noticeable to me until past 2K. The 3 inch display is awesome as well - really helps. Battery life? Haven't had an issue but bought another one for back-up purposes. I was a bit ticked at having to buy another baterry at $80 since I already have two with my 40D and it seems like a waste - but I'm sure there's a reason. Right Canon? You probably want to get at least a 16 GB card with 60 MB/s. I've used my old 4GB and 8GB without issues but it nice to have the extra space and speed to shoot JPEG and RAW at a high FPS.

Haven't tried HD Video but I didn't buy it for that reason.

All in all, I couldn't be happier with the 7D. I know it's not a full frame (I'm not sure I miss the difference) but I'm happy for now - until Canon comes out with a 5D with a better burst rate and some other great features - then I'll probably start the process all over. But for now - very happy with the camera and my investment. I've taken about 1,000 pictures so far and am constantly amazed at how life like they are - a noticable improvement in Image Quality versus the 40D.

Saved the $1K versus the 5D and very thankful to the Canon tech. Probably buy another lens. I'm sure some of the early adoptors of the 7D had some issues but I have none to report.

So if you're struggling with the decision like I did, I hope this review helps - I'm a big fan of the 7D. Can't wait for my son's hockey season. Thanks to Canon for another great product! Bought on Amazon because of past experiences and they use reputable dealers.