EOS 7D – CANON U.S.A. Unveils Monstrous New Mid-Range DSLR with Full HD Video

After much back and forth discussion about the Canon 5D MK II vs. the Nikon D90 ( battle which Canon seems to have won in terms of the popular vote), much hacking and many workarounds to compensate for the 5D’s limitations and many feature requests, Canon U.S.A. leapfrogged over the ongoing firmware updates and, in typical Canon fashion, unloads a monster product with little advance notice in the form of its new mid-range DSLR camera.

The highly anticipated successor to the much-hyped and loved Canon 5D MK II has arrived in the form of the EOS 7D featuring fast 8 fps continuous shooting, 18-Megapixel resolution and full HD video recording with variable frame rates and manual exposure control.

Eugenia Loli-Queru and Stu Maschwitz, two of Canon’s “word on the street” champions and fidgety tech snobs both (I mean that in the kindest way) seem to have good things to say about the new mid-range “DSLR” – if you can call it that anymore as these new HD video shooting cameras are being used more and more as just that – HD “film” cameras.

Eugenia states (via Twitter):

“The 7D is a revolution, similar to HV20′s. I now hear people selling their 5D/GH1s to get one, and these who were waiting for Scarlet, won’t”

I have not had the opportunity to hold or even see one in person, but I wanted to present a list of the camera’s exciting new features and some notes on why this is such a substantial update on this particular approach to both still photography and videography.

Seemingly far more than a slight improvement from a previous model, the EOS 7D DSLR is a brand new kind of product in its own right, boasting new features never before seen in any Canon camera. Whether it’s shooting at eight frames per second (fps), focusing with the new Zone AF mode or recording 24p Full HD video.

Improvements over its predecessor include:

• a completely new 19-point Autofocus system
• a new Canon iFCL Metering System (Intelligent Focus, Color, Luminance)
• a new Intelligent Viewfinder
• 18-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor
• Dual DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors
• 14-bit A/D data conversion
• ability to freeze fast motion in high-resolution with eight fps continuous shooting up to 126 Large JPEGS using a UDMA CF card

The camera improves on Canon typically less than stell low-light shooting with an incredibly wide range of ISO speed settings from 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800!)

In the area of video the EOS 7D features full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p and the ability to shoot in native 24p empowers videographers and cinematographers (are they mutually exclusive at this point?) alike to achieve a film look without the need for extensive post-processing.

Powerful Video Features

Another eyebrow-raising feature is the selectable cinematic frame rates for both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards – wow. No more scouring ebay for the PAL version (which shoots 25P and is often preferred by those who hate having to deal with the technical issues of reverse pulldown and other inherent NTSC challenges).

The EOS 7D features a new dedicated button to initiate live view for both video and still shooting. Once engaged, the same dedicated button will start and stop video recording. Like the EOS 5D Mark II, the Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera provides users with the capability to use an external stereo microphone for professional audio effects or a built-in monaural microphone for convenience.

Full HD and HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio and Standard Definition (SD) in a 4:3 aspect ratio, all at selectable frame rates are supported.

The EOS 7D’s New Autofocus System

The Canon EOS 7D introduced what they call the most advanced AF system ever seen in an EOS SLR. The completely re-designed system includes a new multi-axis cross-type 19-point AF grid, where the focusing points are evenly spread out across the image plane and clearly displayed through Canon’s new Intelligent Viewfinder. All 19 points are f/5.6-sensitive for both horizontal and vertical cross-type focusing, while the center AF point adds high-precision diagonal cross-type sensitivity for f/2.8 and larger aperture lenses. The Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera is the first EOS SLR to feature 19 cross-type focusing points that remain fully functional with maximum apertures as small as f/5.6, which brings the performance of the AF system to unprecedented levels for assignments as varied as fast-moving sports action or low-light shooting situations.

Some of the innovative new modes introduced include:

• Spot AF mode reduces the size of a single AF point to focus on small subjects like an animal in a cage.
• AF Point Expansion mode uses a cluster of AF points adjacent to the selected AF point to automatically assist focusing on moving subjects, such as an athlete on the run.
• Zone AF divides the 19 AF points into five selectable focusing zones and makes it easier to achieve focus with subjects that are difficult to track with Single Point AF or AF point expansion, such as birds in flight.

“Additional AF improvements include a revised Automatic AF point selection sequence that allows a user to pick any one of the 19 AF points as a starting point for tracking moving subjects in AI Servo mode. (Previous EOS models required the subject to first be acquired by the center focusing point.) If the subject moves away, the camera will continue to track the movement with the remaining points and display the active focusing point in the viewfinder. Also, a time-saving feature is AF Point Switching, which allows photographers to select and register one AF point for horizontal compositions and a second AF point for vertical shooting, ideal for studio and portrait photographers.”

Working hand-in-hand with the new AF system, the exposure metering system for the EOS 7D has been completely re-designed to take color information into account, another first for an EOS system. Canon’s iFCL metering includes a 63-zone dual-layer metering sensor that reads both illumination and color for consistent results in all lighting conditions, keeping exposure levels stable from shot to shot, even as the light source changes.

Improvements To The Viewfinder

A new “Intelligent Viewfinder” – a 3.0-inch solid structure Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dot/VGA resolution – uses a liquid crystal overlay to provide precise displays of focusing points and zones, on-demand grid lines and a spot metering circle. The LCD overlay can also be illuminated in extreme low-light situations or turned off completely. The EOS 7D camera’s viewfinder includes a large all-glass pentaprism with an antireflective coating to maximize clarity and provide a brighter display. The EOS 7D’s Intelligent Viewfinder features 1.0x magnification with 100 percent coverage for accurate composition and checking of detail.

Additionally, Canon’s new built-in Dual Axis Electronic Level, offers an artificial horizon over the image on the rear LCD screen in Live View or in the viewfinder using illuminated AF points for easy leveling while shooting. The dual axis electronic level shows both horizontal roll and vertical pitch, to help identify when the camera is in a fixed level shooting position.

Even More Features

• A pop-up flash with built-in Integrated Speedlite Transmitter controls multiple off-camera EOS Speedlites without the need for an external transmitter. This built-in wireless option is a compact and economical solution for studio and wedding photography with multiple flash set-ups.
• A new Intelligent Macro Tracking function to reduce blur during macro shooting by recognizing when a macro lens is attached and automatically adjusting the AI Servo sampling frequency. This AI Servo adjustment accounts for camera movement forward and back, a typical occurrence when moving in close for a macro shot as photographers rock back and forth.
• A new “fluid” body design with continuous curves outlining the top of the camera and a revised grip for an improved fit with your hand.
• A new Quick Control Button, which opens an easy-to-navigate menu on the camera’s LCD screen where you can adjust all camera settings including AF modes or set custom button functions,
• A RAW/JPEG toggle button providing quick dual-format shooting, allowing photographers to quickly add large JPEG or RAW file formats to their already selected shooting mode at the touch of a button.
• Nine internal seals enhance weather resistance
• 150,000-cycle shutter durability positions

New Wireless Connectivity

Canon is announcing the availability of the new WFT-E5A wireless file transmitter (WFT) exclusively for the EOS 7D Digital SLR camera. The WFT-E5A wireless transmitter offers professional photographers a wide range of digital connectivity options including IEEE802.11a/b/g and Ethernet, ideal for commercial and studio work. The WFT-E5A wireless file transmitter opens the door to new possibilities in remote and Geotagged shooting applications.

Photographers can fire up to 10 cameras simultaneously from across the room or across the country while maintaining control over camera settings and remote live view on a laptop or smart phone.[i] The WFT-E5A wireless transmitter can also transfer and display images on DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible televisions and photo frames. Geotagging is now possible via Bluetooth, using compatible GPS devices to append coordinate data to the images.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers at the end of September, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $1,699.00 (MSRP). It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $1,899.00. The Canon WFT-E5A wireless file transmitter is scheduled to be available in early November and sell at an estimated retail price of $699.99.

Additional Resources:

• A great write-up featuring some video demonstrations and analysis at The Imaging Resource
• Sample Images and Video from the EOS 7D at Digital Photography Review
• For much more run a Twitter search for #7D, #dslrvideo and #Canon