| Customer Reviews Collected from usa.canon.com |
Canon - EOS 7D DSLR Camera (Body Only) - Black
Average Customer Rating:
4.6
Rating breakdown 413 reviews
5 Stars
318
4 Stars
49
3 Stars
18
2 Stars
15
1 Star
13
89%of customers recommend this product.
(
358 out of
403)
Customer Reviews for Canon - EOS 7D DSLR Camera (Body Only) - Black
Customer Rating
5
Fantastic, no regrets at all
on December 17, 2009
Posted by: RRG
I took the 7D to Tanzania for three weeks to shoot wildlife. I had to replace a 1D2 and could not wait for the release of the 1D4. I have no regrets at all about buying this camera. I have not seen any trace of the "softness" others are complaining about. On the contrary. In combination with long L-lenses it focusses lightning fast and very accurate, even under less than ideal light and even when combined with a 1.4 TC.
The JPEG's it produces right out of the box are excellent, RAW files are superb. Colors look very natural and require very little tweaking, if any.
The Quick Menu is a real asset and makes adjusting many settings a whole lot easier than before.
Let's get one thing straight. The 7D is not a Red One, but the HD video function is very, very usable. Again, even under very tricky light. Use an external mic though, especially when using IS lenses. Better still, use a small seperate recorder like the Zoom H2 and add surround sound when editing your footage.
I can assure you thet eight frames/s is really fast enough to follow a hunting cheetah.
Pair the 7D with a WFT-E5 and a Garmin GPSmap for instant geo-tagging that works all the time. (The Garmin keeps running when the 7D goes into sleep-mode, so you always have a GPS location.)
All in all I was very pleasantly surprised by the 7D and I don't think I am going to buy a 1D4 for the time being. The build quality is excellent. Dust was not a issue in the very dry and dusty Serengeti, as was water when it finally started raining. It got a thorough beating bouncing around for a few weeks in an open LandCruiser and the 7D didn't even wince. I'm a very happy camper.
The JPEG's it produces right out of the box are excellent, RAW files are superb. Colors look very natural and require very little tweaking, if any.
The Quick Menu is a real asset and makes adjusting many settings a whole lot easier than before.
Let's get one thing straight. The 7D is not a Red One, but the HD video function is very, very usable. Again, even under very tricky light. Use an external mic though, especially when using IS lenses. Better still, use a small seperate recorder like the Zoom H2 and add surround sound when editing your footage.
I can assure you thet eight frames/s is really fast enough to follow a hunting cheetah.
Pair the 7D with a WFT-E5 and a Garmin GPSmap for instant geo-tagging that works all the time. (The Garmin keeps running when the 7D goes into sleep-mode, so you always have a GPS location.)
All in all I was very pleasantly surprised by the 7D and I don't think I am going to buy a 1D4 for the time being. The build quality is excellent. Dust was not a issue in the very dry and dusty Serengeti, as was water when it finally started raining. It got a thorough beating bouncing around for a few weeks in an open LandCruiser and the 7D didn't even wince. I'm a very happy camper.
Pros: good battery life, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Solid Operation, Simple controls/menu, easy to use, superb focussing, excellent environmental sealing
Cons: video sound not very usable (use external mic)
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
First impressions
on October 28, 2009
Posted by: AMfoto1
from San Jose, California
I've had a 7D for about a week now, used it a bit as practice and shot two events with it over the weekend: 1500+ images to date.
Finally! It's about time that Canon produced a pro-oriented 1.6X camera! The 7D is several years overdue and shows what Canon can do when they put their minds to it.
There's a lot to like about the camera. I'll ding it in a few ways later, but let me state up front that it's a solid tool I'm going to enjoy using, with a great feature set and high quality. Perfect? No. Just very good, especially at this price point.
I've used EOS-3, EOS-1V, A2, Elan 7E, 10D, 30D, 50D, 1D MkIIN, 1Ds MkII and 5D MkII. I've also shot with a variety of other manufacturers' cameras over the past 30 years.
I like the solidity of the 7D. It feels rugged, a little more-so than the 50D or even the 5D MkII. It's also heavier than the 50D, slightly heavier even than the 5D2, which will mean my right arm will be aching more at the end of a long day of shooting. I'm using the BG-E7 on it (and have used grips, power boosters, winders or motor drives on all my cameras for many years). I do not use the Canon strap. I was having neck and back problems so switched to Op/Tech (or UpStrap) and have seen marked improvements.
The Auto Focus system of the 7D is the most noticeable upgrade. 19 points compared to 9 in the 50D and 5D2 (5D2 has those hidden assist/expansion points though, which I use). It's highly customizable, but I haven't really delved into that yet. So far I have just been using the center point with expansion/assist. I am sure I'll use several of the AF configurations over time, as needed.
Shooting a lot of sports/events, I tend to use AI Servo 90% of the time or more. Especially with a crop sensor camera. This works well in the 7D, with one ommission. There's often no indication that AF is working! If the lens is racked well out of focus, sure you can see it function. But if it's close to within focus, or you are using a wide lens with a lot of depth of field, you can't really see any change as the camera focuses. The 50Ds and 5D2 I'm also using all briefly blink the active AF point(s) red and that reassures me focus is working.
Now, I understand why the 7D doesn't do this, too. The overlay that projects the various AF configurations and the "grid(s) on demand" make it impossible to blink individual AF points in the manner the earlier cameras did. What it means in use is that you have to really, reallly trust that the camera is doing what it's supposed to do and that the AF system hasn't failed for some reason!
Now here's where it gets a little weirder. If you have accidentally turned off AF on the lens, you will get a warning flash of red in the viewfinder, when using AI Servo. This flash is identical to the confirmation of focus lock, when in One Shot. So, in one AF mode the flash of red a warning of failure, in the other it's a confirmation of success (the latter can be disabled, leaving just the green LED and "beep" as confirmation). Be careful!
Especially with one of the grids-on-demand enabled, the flash of red One Shot confirmation (if enabled) lights everything up. It's a bit of fireworks show in the viewfinder when shooting in low light situatons. It's fine when shooting in brighter conditions. I'll be disabling it and just rely upon the green LED and "beep".
It would be nice if the green LED would flash momentarily when AI Servo starts. That would be enough to let one know AF has come to life.
The shutter button on the 7D is a hair trigger! It has very little movement to the half-press position, compared to 50D and 5D2. I got more than a few accidental shots first couple times out with it. I'll get used to it.
The 7D is quieter in action than the 50D and 5D2. That can sometimes be important, I shoot around a lot of animals that might be startled by a noisy camera.
I think the 7D gives me about one more stop of high ISO usability. In other words, where I might try to avoid using 30D at ISO 1600, but would use my 50Ds at that ISO, I think ISO 3200 is at least as usable on the 7D. Part of it is noise handling, but I shoot RAW most of the time and will have to see how well images clean up in various softwares ( mostly CS4, Lightroom2.5, and Canon DPP).
It's not so much that there is less noise, but that the chroma noise that's generated in higher ISO images appears "nicer" than in 50D. I think it might be more random, so less objectionable. I can state that 5D2 (which I was using alongside the 7D at both events last weekend) offers even lower noise at high ISOs and still produces more fine detail. No surprise, really. It's a bit unfair to compare a 1.6X sensor with a FF.
Err on the side of slight over-exposure to keep high ISO noise to a minimum... +1/3 to +2/3 is safe. Again, no surprise, nothing new here. Underexposure increases high ISO noise in any camera, the 7D is no exception.
The 7D has more buttons than the 5D2, but placement is the same and so the two work well alongside each other. It's also great that they share batteries.
The additional controls on the 7D (as compared to the 5D2) are related to quick access to the AF configurations, using video and Live View, and quick access to other camera setup. As mentioned, some are reassignable.
I do wish for several things the 7D doesn't include: The mode dial has slightly stronger detents (and no Picture Styles on it... Hooray!) that help, but it's still too easy to accidentally change when shooting fast and furious, switching cameras and such. I wish that there were a locking button in the middle of the dial, that needed to be pressed before the mode could be changes. That would be great.
I don't really need a button dedicated to Direct Print or switching from RAW to JPEG. I'd much rather have a mirror lockup button. I'd also love to have an instant switch from single shot to 8 fps mode via a big old button, sort of like the Motor Drive MA had back in the days of the Canon A-1/AE-1P (early 1980s).
19 AF points is plenty! It's great they are all the more sensitive cross-type, too. The AF zones appear interesting, but I really haven't given them a workout yet. Precision AF points are also interesting, I'll try it the next time I"m shooting macro (which I usually just do with manual focus). One thing I miss is linking spot metering to the active AF point (EOS-3 and 1 Series cameras).
An articulated LCD screen would be very useful with Live View, and probably in video mode as well.
I didn't need video at all. I shoot stills. I know, the market demands it. Oh well.
I didn't need the built-in flash. Never use them on any camera. Yeah, I know the 7D provides wireless control of off-camera flashes with it. More market demands. I'm happy using an ST-E2.
Overall, there's a lot to like about this camera. It will be popular I'm sure. I can still see a strong need for a 50D in the line-up and predict that the 7D won't replace it, although it might erode some of the 50D's sales. (Better they upgrade to another Canon than jump to another manufacturer, eh?)
Pros: Superior build quality, excellent image quality, Bright LCD, Nice features/settings, quiet, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, good battery life, superior af speed & precision, excellent metering, finer spot meter than most (2.3%), higher rated shutter/durability, additional weather/dust sealing, big bright viewfinder (best on an aps-c), very happy it's a pro-quality 1.6x camera!, more assignable controls, grid-on-demand very cool!, built-in level nice!
Cons: Heavy/Bulky, still no mlu button, does anyone actually use direct print?, mode dial is easily bumped, no af indication in ai servo, don't need a built-in flash or wireless, don't need video, would be ideal if the lcd were articulated
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great features
on August 12, 2017
Posted by: Mohdbiggy3
from Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
I love this camera it's just too too awesome it's the best camera so far
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Way More Than I Expected
on February 25, 2010
Posted by: Urban Naturalist
from Detroit MI
I decided to buy this camera because aside from its IQ, my 5D kept sending me back to my D200 for a shooter's camera. The 7D arrived propitiously in time for a week off work and a snowstorm - perfect for the kind of work I like to do most. I got to follow some cardinals and a pheasant through snowy inner-city backyards around me to test the mettle of this 7D with my beloved lightweight and nasty-sharp 300mm f/4L IS and a 430EX.
Canon finally gets it, IMHO. Without paying megabucks for a camera the size and weight of a patio stone to hang on me as I climb fences wearing boots, I do need a fast, intuitive and responsive camera. This is it. The controls are placed so they don't slow me down. The camera is sized and shaped for moving. AF to die for. Muffled shutter noise. Good with gloves.
Pros: good battery life, quiet, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, excellent image quality, Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Solid Operation, Simple controls/menu, excellent vf
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Superior Camera
on January 13, 2010
Posted by: Muddyman
from Wichita Falls, Texas
I've owned a 20D for about 5 years and I've waited for major improvements before upgrading. When I saw the spec sheet for the 7D I knew this would be the one. Now that I've owned it since October, I've been able to put it through the paces and I am very pleased with this camera. I do mostly portrait photography and I can't believe how beautiful this camera performs. The picture detail is amazing. I simply love this camera and expect it to last me for a long time.
Pros: good battery life, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, excellent image quality, Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Solid Operation, Simple controls/menu, easy to use
Cons: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Great overall quality - bad audio.
on November 19, 2010
Posted by: Palegolas
from Oslo
The 7D takes great pictures and shoots great movies.
The in-camera software is efficient, and it all performs great.
The different RAW resolutions is a great option. Shooting RAW produces images so much better than JPEG so I've stopped shooting JPG all together and settled for M-RAW resolution and format.
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The in-camera software is efficient, and it all performs great.
The different RAW resolutions is a great option. Shooting RAW produces images so much better than JPEG so I've stopped shooting JPG all together and settled for M-RAW resolution and format.
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I noticed that when using the bundled Digital Photo Professional there is almost always a good thing to bringing down the contrast on a RAW picture. The RAW footage contains a lot of light, and bringing down the contrasts often takes the footage to something more reminiscent of what your eyes see, and of what traditional film photographs looks like. Canon, why don't you optimize this a little already in the camera to avoid post production needs?
Bringing down contrasts traditionally makes images grayish and boring, and high contrasts has since the introduction of digital photography become a very common way to make images stand out. However Digital Photo Professional does a great job with treating low contrast RAW images. Give it a shot. It's beautiful!
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Bringing down contrasts traditionally makes images grayish and boring, and high contrasts has since the introduction of digital photography become a very common way to make images stand out. However Digital Photo Professional does a great job with treating low contrast RAW images. Give it a shot. It's beautiful!
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The video is overall of great quality.
The full HD mode is truly stunning. The roller shutter problem (image stretching when moving camera/ subjects) is not that bad! Hand held footage will suffer the most, but mostly because the dSLR form factor: sensor being in the center of the device, amplifies even the tiniest shake many times over. Add a tripod to your hand held footage to add some off centered weight and most shakiness is gone.
While the 720p mode looks great in most situations, it clearly bears a mark of lower capture resolution probably being interpolated. This can sometimes produce visible moiré or just jagginess on horizontal lines or details.
But the good thing with this is that the sensor seems to capture the data much faster and the roller shutter problem is even smaller in 720p mode.
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The full HD mode is truly stunning. The roller shutter problem (image stretching when moving camera/ subjects) is not that bad! Hand held footage will suffer the most, but mostly because the dSLR form factor: sensor being in the center of the device, amplifies even the tiniest shake many times over. Add a tripod to your hand held footage to add some off centered weight and most shakiness is gone.
While the 720p mode looks great in most situations, it clearly bears a mark of lower capture resolution probably being interpolated. This can sometimes produce visible moiré or just jagginess on horizontal lines or details.
But the good thing with this is that the sensor seems to capture the data much faster and the roller shutter problem is even smaller in 720p mode.
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Mostly the compression looks really good. However in blurry mid grays there is apparent banding and compression artifacts going on. And looking at the bitrate, it's very high, makes me wonder if there could be some serious work on the h.264 encoder, making higher quality on a somewhat lower bitrate. Canon, what say you?
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The audio however, is another story. The built-in microphone captures the sound in mono through four tiny little needle sized holes in the shell. It sounds like you can imagine. Very simple, not very atmospheric.
Connecting an external microphone you can achieve much better results, and in stereo as well. However, even the most untrained ear will spot the weakness straight away. NOISE! This is especially apparent when using high quality external microphones. The built-in automatic gain controllers are constantly at work, and you cannot switch them off. It appears the pre-amp in the 7D is very noisy. And the automatic gain isn't always something you want when you're shooting something other than just hobby footage. And should you be using external gear to treat the sound before it goes into the camera - the in-camera automatic gain control and noisy preamp is destroying your fine audio work.
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Connecting an external microphone you can achieve much better results, and in stereo as well. However, even the most untrained ear will spot the weakness straight away. NOISE! This is especially apparent when using high quality external microphones. The built-in automatic gain controllers are constantly at work, and you cannot switch them off. It appears the pre-amp in the 7D is very noisy. And the automatic gain isn't always something you want when you're shooting something other than just hobby footage. And should you be using external gear to treat the sound before it goes into the camera - the in-camera automatic gain control and noisy preamp is destroying your fine audio work.
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Planning to use the 7D for live-footage with streaming footage to video cards/ devices? Not a great idea, since the big, fat, white focus/zoom-square covers the middle of the screen - and even sends that out on all video signals as well. Please Canon - make an option to remove the white focus/zoom square! It drives me mad! The camera supports Live-View over USB, so theoretically developers could write a bridge between the live-view stream to a computer operating system's video architecture and live streaming could be possible! However at this time - I haven't found any software for Mac OS X doing this. I found a solution for Windows but I haven't been able to test it since I'm on a Mac. I think this is something Canon themselves should provide.
Live View is streaming in a resolution somewhere between SD and HD, it looks pretty good - and would be extremely useful should Canon provide a solution for live-view to QuickTime video-in for example.
Keeping in mind that any dirty 10 years old holiday DV-camera supports this through firewire it's a big step back for live-video these days when flash cards, h.264 and USB are pro. Live streaming cameras are hard to come by.
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Live View is streaming in a resolution somewhere between SD and HD, it looks pretty good - and would be extremely useful should Canon provide a solution for live-view to QuickTime video-in for example.
Keeping in mind that any dirty 10 years old holiday DV-camera supports this through firewire it's a big step back for live-video these days when flash cards, h.264 and USB are pro. Live streaming cameras are hard to come by.
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Overall I think it's a great camera. High quality build, photos and movies. It's fantastic to see how far dSRL cameras has come in just the last couple of years.
The shortcomings on the audio may be an issue to virtually everybody. The shortcomings on using it for live-video purposes may be an issue to users with more professional interests.
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The shortcomings on the audio may be an issue to virtually everybody. The shortcomings on using it for live-video purposes may be an issue to users with more professional interests.
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Thank you.
/Palegolas
/Palegolas
Pros: multiple raw resolutions, high quality hd video, high quality raw footage, high quality bundled photo software
Cons: noisy audio, automatic audio gain always on, compression artifacts issues in blurry mid grays, unsuitable for live video use
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great new features!
on October 23, 2009
Posted by: MW
from Fairfax, VA
OK -- here's the deal... This is a great camera! The new features (particularly the new AF system) make this camera a real leader in class... Not too surprisingly, at higher ISOs, noise is very much an issue, but the high ISO noise settings in the custom settings helps - - and with a little post processing it's not a problem..
The viewfinder is VERY bright and full of nice features due to the LCD overlay. I find the grid and electronic level to be very valuable for outdoor / landscape photography, where (at least for me) often requires some post for cropping and leveling...
The viewfinder offers a "virtually 100% view, which appears to be pretty accurate. All in all, this is a SIGNIFICANT improvement over the previous 1.6x sensor Canon bodies. Highly recommend...
The viewfinder is VERY bright and full of nice features due to the LCD overlay. I find the grid and electronic level to be very valuable for outdoor / landscape photography, where (at least for me) often requires some post for cropping and leveling...
The viewfinder offers a "virtually 100% view, which appears to be pretty accurate. All in all, this is a SIGNIFICANT improvement over the previous 1.6x sensor Canon bodies. Highly recommend...
Pros: Superior build quality, Bright LCD, Nice features/settings, Quick Start-up time, Solid Operation, easy to use, good battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great 2nd Hand present
on December 22, 2016
Posted by: BigDan
from Ohio, United States
This camera was given to me while working in the Philippines. My sister-in-law had just been given a very nice present of a 7D Mark II and decided that I needed an upgrade from my Rebel XTi. I was blown away by the clarity differences between my old to new camera.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com