Well its official. Canon has confirmed the existence and rumored specs of the controversial 7D camera. First things first, the official statement from the Canon website, www.usa.canon.com:
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.
Pretty impressive. Let’s take a look at the listed specs on this hot little item:
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Specifications
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| Type | |
| Type | Digital, AF/AE single-lens reflex camera with built-in flash |
| Recording Media | CF Card Type I and II, UDMA-compliant CF cards, via external media (USB v.2.0 hard drive, via optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E5A) |
| Image Sensor Size | 22.3 x 14.9 mm (APS-C size) |
| Compatible Lenses | Canon EF lenses including EF-S lenses (35mm-equivalent focal length is approx. 1.6x the lens focal length) |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF mount |
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| Image Sensor | |
| Type | High-sensitivity, high-resolution, large single-plate CMOS sensor |
| Pixels | Effective pixels: Approx. 18.0 megapixels |
| Total Pixels | Approx. 19.0 megapixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2 (Horizontal: Vertical) |
| Color Filter System | RGB primary color filters |
| Low-pass Filter | Fixed position in front of the CMOS sensor |
| Dust Deletion feature | (1) Automatic Sensor Cleaning
(2) Dust Delete Data appended to the captured image
(3) Manual cleaning of sensor |
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| Recording System | |
| Recording Format | Design rule for Camera File System 2.0 and Exif 2.21 |
| Image Type | Still: JPEG, RAW (14-bit, Canon original), sRAW, mRAW, RAW+JPEG Video: MOV (Image data: H.264, Audio: Linear PCM) |
| File Size | (1) Large: Approx. 17.90 Megapixels (5,184 x 3,456) (2) Medium: Approx. 8.00 Megapixels (3,456 x 2,304) (3) Small: Approx. 4.50 Megapixels (2,592 x 1,728) (4) RAW: Approx. 17.90 Megapixels (5,184 x 3,456) (5) M-RAW: Approx. 10.10 Megapixels (3,888 x 2,592) (6) S-RAW: Approx. 4.50 Megapixels (2,592 x 1,728) Exact file sizes depend on the subject, ISO speed, Picture Style, etc. |
| Recording Functions | Images record directly to the CF card. With the WFT-E5A attached, image recording to the CF card and to the USB external media connected to the WFT-E5A will be possible as follows:(1) Standard
(2) Automatic switching of recording media
(3) Separate recording
(4) Recording of identical images
(5) Backup to external recording media
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| Backup Recording | Enabled with WFT-E5A attached |
| File Numbering | Consecutive numbering, auto reset, manual reset. Possible to create new folders and select folders in the CF card. |
| Color Space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Picture Style | Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined 1-3 |
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| Image Processing | |
| Type | Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature setting |
| Auto White Balance | Auto white balance with the image sensor |
| Color Temperature Compensation | White balance correction: ±9 mireds in 5 step increments White balance bracketing: ±3 mireds in full-step increments Blue/amber direction or magenta/green direction possible |
| Color Temperature Information Transmission | Provided |
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| Viewfinder | |
| Type | Eye-level pentaprism |
| Coverage | Vertical/Horizontal approx. 100% |
| Magnification | Approx. 1.0x (-1m-1 with 50mm lens at infinity)/29.4° angle of view |
| Eyepoint | Approx. 22mm (from eyepiece lens center) |
| Built-in Dioptric Adjustment | -3.0 to +1.0m-1 (diopter) |
| Focusing Screen | Fixed |
| Mirror | Quick-return half mirror (transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60) with EF600mm f/4L IS USM or shorter lenses) |
| Viewfinder Information | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), Exposure information (Shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed, AE lock, exposure level, spot metering circle, exposure warning), Flash information (Flash-ready, flash exposure compensation, high-speed sync, FE lock, red-eye reduction light), Image information (Highlight tone priority, Monochrome shooting, maximum burst, white balance correction, CF card information), Composition information (Grid, electronic level), Battery check |
| Depth-of-Field Preview | Enabled with depth-of-field preview button |
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| Autofocus | |
| Type | TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor |
| AF Points | 19-point all cross-type AF (f/2.8 at center: Dual Cross Sensor) |
| Metering Range | EV -0.5-18 (at 73°F/23°C, ISO 100) |
| Focusing Modes | (1) Autofocus - One-Shot AF - Predictive AI Servo AF * For automatic AF point selection, the AF point to start the AI Servo AF operation can be selected. * For automatic AF point selection, the active AF point can be displayed. - AI Focus AF (Switches between One-Shot AF and AI SERVO AF automatically) (2) Manual focus (MF) |
| AF Point Selection | (1) Manual selection: Single point AF (2) Manual selection: Spot AF (3) Manual selection: AF point expansion (4) Manual selection: Zone AF (5) Automatic selection: 19 point AF |
| Selected AF Point Display | Indicated by transmissive LCD display in the viewfinder and on the LCD panel |
| AF-assist Beam | When an external EOS-dedicated Speedlite is attached to the camera, the AF-assist beam from the Speedlite will be emitted when necessary. |
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| Exposure Control | |
| Metering Modes | 63-zone SPC TTL metering with selectable modes
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| Metering Range | EV 1-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100) |
| Exposure Control | Program AE (Shiftable), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Creative Auto, Full auto, Manual exposure, E-TTL II autoflash program AE |
| ISO Speed (Recommended Exposure Index) | Automatically set, ISO 100-6400 (in 1/3-stop or 1-stop increments) Basic Zone modes: ISO 100-3200 set automatically Extension settable (with C.Fn.I 3-1): ISO 12800 High Tone Priority settable: ISO 200-6400 |
| Exposure Compensation | Manual: ±5 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments (AEB ±3 stops) * Indicated up to ±3 stops on the LCD panel and in the viewfinder. |
| AE Lock | Auto: Applied in One-Shot AF mode with evaluative metering when focus is achieved Manual: By AE lock button |
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| Shutter | |
| Type | Vertical-travel, mechanical, Electronically-controlled, focal-plane shutter |
| Shutter Speeds | 1/8000 to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/250 sec. 1/8000 to 30 sec., bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode) |
| Shutter Release | Soft-touch electromagnetic release |
| Self-timer | 10-sec. or 2-sec. delay |
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| Built-in Flash | |
| Type | Retractable, auto pop-up flash |
| Flash Metering | E-TTL II autoflash |
| Guide Number | 12/39 (ISO 100, in meters/feet) |
| Recycling Time | Approx. 3 sec. |
| Flash-ready Indicator | Flash-ready icon lights in viewfinder |
| Flash Coverage | 15mm lens angle of view (equivalent to approx. 24mm in 135 format) |
| FE Lock | Provided |
| Flash Exposure Compensation | ±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments |
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| External Speedlite | |
| Zooming to Match Focal Length | Provided |
| Compatible Flash | EX-series Speedlites |
| Flash Metering | E-TTL II autoflash |
| Flash Exposure Compensation | ±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments |
| FE Lock | Provided |
| External Flash Settings | Flash function settings, Flash C.Fn settings |
| PC Terminal | Provided |
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| Drive System | |
| Drive Modes | Single, High-speed continuous, Low-speed continuous, and Self-timer (10 sec. self-timer/remote control, or 2-sec. self-timer/remote control) |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | High-speed: Max. 8.0 shots/sec. Low-speed: Max. 3.0 shots/sec. |
| Maximum Burst | JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 94 (CF)/approx. 126 (UDMA CF) RAW: approx. 15/approx. 15 (UDMA CF) RAW+JPEG (Large/Fine): approx. 6 (CF/UDMA CF) Based on Canon’s testing standards with a 2GB CF card, high-speed continuous shooting, ISO 100 and Standard Picture Style. Varies depending on the subject, CF card brand, image-recording quality, ISO speed, drive mode, Picture Style, etc. |
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| Live View Functions | |
| Shooting Modes | Still photo shooting and video shooting |
| Focusing | Quick mode (Phase-difference detection) Live mode/Face detection Live mode (Contrast detection) Face detection Live mode Manual focusing (5x/10x magnification possible) |
| Metering Modes | Evaluative metering with the image sensor (still photos) Center-weighted average metering (video) |
| Metering Range | EV 1-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100) |
| Grid Display | Provided (Two-type grid displays) |
| Exposure Simulation | Provided |
| Silent Shooting | Provided (Mode 1 and 2) |
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| LCD Monitor | |
| Type | TFT color, liquid-crystal monitor |
| Monitor Size | 3.0 in. |
| Dots | Approx. 920,000 dots (VGA) |
| Coverage | Approx. 100% Viewing angle: 170° |
| Brightness Adjustment | Auto: Brightness adjusted automatically by the light sensor, Manual: 7 levels provided |
| Interface Languages | 25 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukraine, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese) |
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| Image Playback | |
| Display Format | Single image, Single image + Image-recording quality/shooting information, histogram, 4- or 9-image index, magnified view (approx. 1.5x-10x), rotated image (auto/manual), image jump (by 10/100 images, index screen, by shooting date, by folder), slide show (all images/selected by date/folder) |
| Highlight Warning | Provided (Overexposed highlights blink) |
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| Image Protection and Erase | |
| Protect | Single images can be erase-protected or not |
| Erase | Single image, check-marked images or all images in the CF card can be erased (except protected images) |
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| Direct Printing | |
| Compatible Printers | PictBridge-compatible printers |
| Printable Images | JPEG images compliant to Design rule for Camera File System (DPOF printing possible) and RAW/sRAW images captured with the EOS 7D |
| Easy Print feature | Provided |
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| DPOF: Digital Print Order Format | |
| DPOF | Version 1.1 compatible |
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| Direct Image Transfer | |
| Compatible Images | JPEG and RAW images *Only JPEG images can be transferred as wallpaper on the personal computer screen |
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| Customization | |
| Custom Functions | Total 27 |
| Camera User Settings | Register under Mode Dial’s C1, C2 and C3 positions |
| My Menu Registration | Provided |
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| Interface | |
| USB Terminal | For personal computer communication and direct printing (USB 2.0 Hi-Speed) |
| Video Out Terminal | (1) Video OUT terminal: NTSC/PAL selectable (2) mini-HDMI OUT terminal |
| Extension System Terminal | For connection to WFT-E5A |
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| Power Source | ||||||||||||||||||
| Battery | One Battery Pack LP-E6 AC power can be supplied via AC Adapter Kit ACK-E6 With Battery Grip BG-E7 attached. |
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| Number of Shots |
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| Battery Life | The above figures apply with a fully-charged Battery Pack LP-E6 without a Battery Grip The figures above are based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) testing standards |
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| Battery Check | Auto | |||||||||||||||||
| Power Saving | Provided. Power turns off after 1, 2, 4, 8, 15 or 30 min. | |||||||||||||||||
| Date/Time Battery | One CR1616 lithium-ion battery | |||||||||||||||||
| Start-up Time | Approx. 0.1 sec. (based on CIPA testing standards) | |||||||||||||||||
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| Dimensions and Weight | |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | Approx. 5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in./148.2 x 110.7 x 73.5mm |
| Weight | Approx. 28.9 oz./820g (body only) |
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| Operating Environment | |
| Working Temperature Range | 32-104°F/0-40°C |
| Working Humidity Range | 85% or less |
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| Note: All data are based on Canon’s Standard Test Method. Subject to change without notice.If a problem occurs with a non-Canon lens attached to the camera, consult the lens maker.Canon, DIGIC and EOS are registered trademarks of Canon Inc. in the United States and may also be registered trademarks or trademarks in other countries. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Mac is a trademark of Apple, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are registered trademarks or trademarks of HDMI Licensing, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other products and brand names are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of their respective owners in the United States and/or other countries. |
Wow, quite a lot to absorb there. Let’s hit the highlights. The 7D features an unrivaled (at least among its peers) 8 frames per second burst rate. The 7D has new 19 point AF system which should serve to quiet many of Canon’s critics regarding the outdated model appearing in many of its other models. The 7D also sports an impressive array of weather sealing making it an attractive option to those who like to, “Boldy Go!” According to the published specs the Canon 7D as a fundamental ISO range of 100 to 6400 with an expanded software-driven push to ISO 12800. That’s pretty impressive for an APS-C camera. In fact I’ll be very interested to seeing how this camera performs in real life use at its range of 6400. If it delivers, it will be the first APS-C camera with a native range stretching into the 6400 range (Nikon D90 and the Canon 50D both have a 6400 equivalent option). At 18 megapixels the 7D delivers another “first” for the APS-C sensor size. Let’s face it, this Canon is putting the emphasis on breaking barriers with this camera.
At $1699.99 MSRP Base, the 7D isn’t exactly targetted toward your amateur consumer. Its naming convention, “7D” seems to imply that at least from Canon’s perspective, this camera is in a different class or league than its xxD siblings (i.e. 40D, 50D). But does it belong among the single digit D series? That’s a good question, I believe it does and I’ll explain why in the next few paragraphs.
First, who is this camera exactly aimed at anyway? Well after pouring over the specs and some thoughtful musing, I’ve concluded that this camera is aimed specifically at the professional/semi-professional consumer market. The 7D is designed to the be the “king” of the APS-C market. This is not a camera for someone who is looking for that in between step from APS-C to Full Frame. This camera is not a competitor (at least not directly) to the Canon 5D MK II. Why? Clearly their roles are dramatically different from each other. The new 7D is designed to be a blistering fast high speed camera with clearly an intended nod towards Sports and Wildlife use. The AF system and the incredible 8fps clearly show the 7D is intended for the photographer who values speed. This would fit the nature/wildlife and sports/action photography crowd quite well. Simply put, the 7D is designed to the be the Canon 1D MK III of APS-C. Its the most professional camera you can buy with an APS-C sensor in it. There are no compromises here. Consumers who purchase this camera should be asking themselves, “Do I want an APS-C camera or do I want a Full Frame camera?” Depending on their anticipated use the answer will vary. There are clear reasons why a photographer would willing choose the APS-C format, when they specifically want and need the extra reach that the 1.6 crop of the APS-C gives them.
I mentioned the controversy around whether this camera should be listed as xD series camera and that I personally felt it should. Here’s why, the single digit D series of cameras from Canon has been always regarded as their professional level cameras. The 1D series was Canon’s professional sports camera, the 5D series was its professional Full Frame camera, the 7D will be its professional sports APS-C camera.
Its clear that Canon intends to challenge the Nikon D300 (and upcoming D300s) with this 7D. On the face of the paper specs I would say the 7D trounces the D300 in at least some areas. However I would caution that paper stats mean nothing and the proof is in the actual use of the cameras. Still, if your Nikon you’ve got to be looking at your camera line up and wondering what selling points you’ve got to offer. Ergonomics only go so far…
I’ll be anxiously anticipating the 7D’s official release along with the rest of the digital camera community, will it be the game changer that everyone is saying it will be? Only time will tell.
