Canon EOS 7D
|
|||||
| Great electronics, poor ergonomics 24/08/2010 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. By A. K. Johnston LEATHERHEAD United Kingdom | |||||
| total package for the semi pro market 28/07/2010 I bought this camera while at the airport and benefited from a lower price, I am a canon 1d user but wanted the video and the extra pixels for some of my fashion work, I am very surprised and happy with the build quality of this camera, being a 1d user I had my doubts on the quality of previous lower end camera's for professional work, The Video from what I have shot is super quality, I only wish my skills match what the 7D can do, (hopefully in Time is will get their) many option are available so it should keep amateurs and professionals very happy, Canon have upped their game on this camera, weather sealed, the menu functions great with lots of quick select buttons, shooting at higher ISO doesn't seem to damage the quality too much plus the auto ISO function comes in handy when shooting video and stills when light drops. The camera handles very well with much less button pushing than other models, the screen looks great also as does the bright viewfinder, there are so many functions on the camera it really pays to have the manual to experiment, though straight out of the box and on Program mode it gives very good results with excellent auto focus and metering, the file size is huge and when shooting raw can fill up a card very quickly though canon have give you the a choice of shooting at 3 different raw size settings, (I still have to try out the lower settings. I used it in the studio and was very happy with the results, I shot over 800 images and 5 minutes of video and the battery was still going strong. Having hands like buckets I was surprised at how comfortable it was to us in holiday but as I shoot mostly in vertical (portrait mode) I bought the BG-E7 Battery Grip, this really helps if you shoot portraits and adds weight and balance to the camera when using L series lens, with the added grip you can add another battery which doubles the frames you can shoot, the shutter release button on my grip works great and doesn't feel any different than the on on the camera body (some reviews of the battery grip have noted that its like a hair trigger) I haven't noticed this. So overall a very fine camera, lots of functions, great image, fast focusing and capture rates of up to 8 frames a sec more or less, It will definately have a place in my camera bag and be used often. By timbo | |||||
| Great camera - at small cost 18/06/2010 Bought this camera as having a 1.6 magnification of lens length at no loss of F-stop , its ideal for nature photography , with the added advantage of 18 megapixel file size at capture. Also like the focusing point options which are well thought out , especially Spot focus option . All in all a excellent valued camera that fits well with my other Canon Camera's . By I. Stewart UK | |||||
| Blown away... after some practice 09/06/2010 Upgraded from XTi (400D) as it apparently blew a fuse after 2 1/2yrs of heavy use. Hopefully this one will last longer. Took some getting used to, and I feel like I need a higher iso for the same aperture with this camera, especially if auto light optimiser is on (so it is not). That being said, within a couple of days of learning all the AMAZING new features, I'm taking pictures my XTi never dreamed of. Birds that take up a small amount of the frame can be blown up to full frame in near-perfect detail. Now its just a matter of balancing aperture to shutter speed to get the right depth without blurring. Thank you so much Canon. Pleasure doing business. By Allen F. Putzig Edinburgh, UK | |||||
| Replacement camera in a different league 03/06/2010 Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Camera build quality and features are 2nd to none, but i'm awaiting a replacement as the IQ on this is terrible. The noise at 100 ISO is way worse than my 40D! and there is severe vertical banding which will only magnify if printed large, like a cheap phone camera or misaligned inkjet printer. Yes its possible to remove artifacts like this with post processing but you don't expect to have to do this with every shot! not what you expect from a camera in this price range. After doing further research I have found out that quite a few 7D's have had image quality and banding problems. Especially earlier models. Ive have seen outstanding images from this camera and that's the reason I bought. If the next one is as bad I will be returning for a refund and sticking with the 40D! EDIT... rating now upgraded from 2 Stars! to 5 Stars Now got replacement and soooo glad I didn't just accept the flaws of first one.. this one is in a different league! vertical lines are not visible under normal shooting conditions and pics really have to been blown out to show any lines. Noise levels are approx 1/3 - 1/4 of faulty camera at same ISO's Happy customer now! This 7D can finally live upto the other 5 Star reviews! Amazon customer service couldnt have been better. Got a phone call within 10 mins of reporting issue, and always helpful and polite on phone. However, it did take 2 phone calls to chase up replacement and got delivered day later than promised. By NYCreate UK | |||||
