Canon 7D is shooting for the stars
By Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson
The Courier-Mail
November 02, 2009 12:00pm
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CANs newest digital SLR shoots for advanced amateur photographers, writes Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

DIGITAL SLR cameras were once the chunky, ugly ducklings of the modern photographic market.

Consumers were too busy being seduced by their slender, snappy, compact siblings to pay much attention to these creatures or their superior image quality.

But something happened to change their reputation this year. Blame better technology, higher expectations or a desire to preserve family moments during tough times, but sales of digital SLR cameras have skyrocketed.

Canon, which last week celebrated the 50th anniversary of its EOS SLR brand, is seeking to fuel this demand with the introduction of a new DSLR all-rounder, the EOS 7D.

This rugged, 18-megapixel shooter is not designed for beginners, but for enthusiasts looking to take a step up from an entry-level DSLR into something more serious and feature-packed.


Essentially, the 7D is a semi-professional camera with enough modes, customisable settings and extras to make you look like a thorough professional.

Holding the 7D is not a chore, but this is not a lightweight camera either. While well-weighted, its stainless steel and polycarbonate body weighs 820g without a lens, so you'll need to carry it in a sturdy bag.

Its body looks similar to that of its little brother, the 50D, with a thick handgrip, padded viewfinder and 3" LCD screen.

Appearances aside, this camera is a thoroughly modern machine. The 7D is the first Canon camera to feature two D!GIC 4 image processors which give the camera a speed boost.

Using this technology, the 7D can fire off JPEG images at the rate of eight every second for up to 90 photos. If you can't capture a moment at that speed you're not pointing the camera in the right direction.

The dual processors also speed up Live View, the mode that lets photographers use a DSLR's screen as a viewfinder. This mode is also boosted by the addition of Live Face Detection AF.

Savvy photographers should appreciate other tweaks on this camera, too. Though the 7D does not feature a full-frame sensor, rather an APS-C CMOS sensor, its viewfinder does boast 100 per cent coverage, so what you see through the viewfinder is what you'll capture.

Also impressive is the 7D's 19 cross-type points of autofocus and the boost to its light sensitivity, which now ranges from 100 to 6400 ISO, and can be pushed to 12,800 ISO if desired. Image noise is also improved in this camera, with little noise evident even in photos taken at 1600 ISO.

But the show-stopping feature of the 7D does not involve still photography. Canon has added full high-definition video shooting to this camera and this DSLR handles the addition admirably.

Users can enter video mode by flicking a switch at the top of the camera. Video can be recorded at a full HD rate of 1080p and, unlike its 5D big brother, at 30, 25 or 24 frames per second for smooth results.

Recording video with a DSLR can be challenging. It's not easy to hold such a large device still and focusing must be done manually, lest you record the sound of the autofocus. While this camera's microphone is adequate, professionals will want to plug in an external mic.

If well-executed the EOS 7D is capable of gorgeous video. Users can employ any of the camera's modes while taking video, and can pull focus, change light sensitivity and alter the aperture to achieve film-like results.

But while these headline features are bound to draw in the crowds, the additions that impressed us were more subtle. Canon has added a Creative Auto mode to the dial which should suit beginners, as well as three customisable modes that you can turn to in a hurry.

A Picture Style button on the back of the camera lets you switch between nine colour styles quickly, a Q button shows your current settings on the screen, press the RAW/JPEG button and the camera will take the following photo in both formats, and if you press the Info button twice a digital level will appear on screen to ensure the horizon appears as it should in your landscape photos.

To nitpick at the 7D, some enthusiasts might be thrown off by its 18-135mm kit lens that feels plasticky compared to the camera's tough body.

Others might baulk at paying $2699 for a camera without a full-frame sensor, while beginners might find its large array of buttons and dials too confronting or confusing. Holding down one or two buttons while moving a dial can also be tricky to master.

Those who press buttons first and ask questions later will master this camera quickly, though, and find that there is plenty to love in this full-featured, fast-shooting, HD movie-capturing machine.

Any photographer looking for the next best thing to a professional rig, with a price below $5000, would be well-advised to shoot for this camera.