The Canon EOS 7D is a semi-professional cropped sensor digital single-lens reflex camera made by Canon. It was announced on 1 September 2009 with a suggested retail price of US$1,699. Among its features are an 18.0 effective megapixel CMOS sensor, HD video recording, its 8.0 frames per second continuous shooting, new viewfinder which offers 1.0X magnification and 100% coverage, 19-point auto-focus system, movie mode, and built-in Speedlite transmitter.
The 7D remained in Canon's model lineup without replacement for slightly more than five yearsâ€"the longest product cycle for any EOS camera. Its successor was the Canon EOS 7D Mark II, announced on 15 September 2014.
Features
- 18.0 effective megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- Dual DIGIC 4 image processors with 14-bit processing
- Liveview mode
- 100% viewfinder frame coverage with 1.0× magnification
- 1080p HD video recording at 24p, 25p and 30p with drop frame timing
- 720p HD video recording at 50p (50 Hz) and 60p (59.94Â Hz)
- 480p ED video recording at 50p (50Â Hz) and 60p (59.94Â Hz)
- 8.0 frames per second continuous shooting
- ISO sensitivity 100â€"6400 (expandable to 12,800)
- 3.0-inch Clear View II LCD screen with 640 × 480 (921,600 dots) resolution
- 19 point auto-focus system, all cross-type. Center point is high precision, double cross-type at f/2.8 or faster
- 63 zone color sensitive metering system
- built-in Speedlite transmitter
- Magnesium alloy body
- Popup flash
- Weather sealing (light resistance to water and dust)
Autofocus and metering
The 7D has 19 autofocus points arranged in a horizontal diamond pattern. The AF system is a new design which uses a translucent LCD display in the viewfinder. The camera uses TTL 63 zone color sensitive metering system with four variations (evaluative, center-weighted, partial, spot) and exposure compensation of âˆ'5 EV to +5 EV in steps of 1/3 EV (±3 EV visible in the viewfinder and top screen, ±5 EV visible on the back screen). E-TTL II flash metering is provided. The translucent LCD can also display guide lines and the spot metering area circle. As with most other video-capable DSLRs, the Canon EOS 7D’s autofocusing function does not work while recording video. Instead, users can only trigger a contrast-detect AF cycle before recording process by hitting the AF button on the camera's rear panel. Users can manually focus the lens during a recording.
Shutter
The shutter is rated to 150,000 shots, and is capable of speeds up to 1/8000 sec, with a flash sync speed of 1/250 sec.
Ergonomics
The 7D has roughly the same dimension as the older 5D Mark II with an updated button layout. It also features a 100% viewfinder with 1x magnification.
The 7D was the first Canon camera with a dedicated movie mode switch, instead of movie recording being done in live view as with the 5D Mark II and 500D.
Speed
The 7D has dual Digic IV processors and can reach 8 frames per second continuous shooting. When the camera was first released, the buffer throughput allowed up to 94 frames in large fine JPEG mode, and up to 15 frames in RAW. Firmware upgrades, most recently in August 2012 (see immediately below), have increased the maximum buffer size to 130 large fine JPEGs and 25 RAW files.
Firmware updates
On 6 August 2012, new firmware v2.0 was released with the following enhancements:
- Improved maximum burst for RAW images (up to 25)
- In-camera RAW image editing
- In-camera Image Rating
- In-camera JPEG resizing
- Maximum Auto ISO setting (ISO 400-6400)
- Manual audio level adjustment in movie recording
- Support for the Canon GP-E2 GPS unit
- File name customisation
- Time zone settings
- Faster scrolling of magnified images
- Quick control screen during playback
On 12 September 2012, Canon introduced the v2.0.3 firmware update with the following changes:
- Fix for a phenomenon in which the camera stops working when the auto power off setting takes effect
- Fix a phenomenon in which the maximum number of images that can be captured in a burst may be less than the actual number displayed in the viewfinder
- Corrections for some errors in the message displayed when saving RAW images developed in the camera
Accessories
According to Canon's website, the EOS 7D model comes equipped with:
- EOS 7D Digital SLR Body
- Eyecup
- Camera Cover R-F-3
- Wide Strap EW-EOS7D
- Battery Charger LC-E6
- Battery Pack LP-E6
- Stereo AV Cable AV-DC400ST
- Interface Cable IFC-200U
Awards
The Canon EOS 7D won the 2010â€"2011 European Advanced SLR Camera and the Technical Image Press Association Best DSLR Expert awards.
Video
The Canon EOS 7D offers the ability to record audio from an external source. Both shutter and aperture are available for manual control, and the 7D also provides multiple frame rate options, including three that match the HD television timing specs. Like most DSLR modes, the Canon 7D neglects endless autofocus during video recording, which is a great concern for advanced amateurs with pros likely to focus manually nonetheless. Separate movie clips that are captured by the Canon EOS 7D are limited to twelve minutes in the high definition 1080p and 720p modes, or 24 minutes in the standard definition VGA mode, depending on what Compact Flash Card is being used. Larger memory cards make for longer video lengths and are available in multiple sizes for the camera.
The Canon 7D has acquired significance in the independent filmmaking world as an affordable alternative to digital cinema cameras. The camera was used on the feature films Stanley Ka Dabba and Vazhakku Enn 18/9.
List of productions using the Canon EOS 7D
Film
- Tiny Furniture
- Much Ado About Nothing
- The Avengers
- Sound of My Voice
- Black Swan
- Vazhakku Enn 18/9
- Stanley Ka Dabba
- Not a Love Story
- Chaappa Kurish
- Like Crazy
- World of the Dead: The Zombie Diaries
- Department
- Sanikizhamai_Saayangalam_5_Mani
Television
- Saturday Night Live portions of the opening title sequence of the 2009 season
- Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
- Wilfred
References
External links
- Product Page
- Firmware update cures residual image phenomenon (Engadget)