photo - Ken Gilbert

lab * DSLR teSt
from the 7D and even recompose
while panning with a moving
subject. Yet we ended up with a
higher percentage of usable photos
when using AF tracking with
the D300s. For professional sports
shooters this may be critical, but
they’ll probably be using higherend
models. Amateur action
enthusiasts should be pleased.
They’ll also like its burst rate.
The first EOS outside Canon’s 1D
and 1Ds lines to use dual Digic
processors, the 7D delivers on its
promise of 8 frames per second,
up to 126 Large Fine JPEGs, 15
RAW, or 6 RAW + JPEG when using
a UDMA card. With one of SanDisk’s
new Extreme Pro or Lexar’s
new 600X Professional CF cards,
you may be able to eke out a few
more shots in a burst, since the
camera’s buffer will clear faster.
However, as Lexar photographer
Jeff Cable demonstrated at a
recent event—and we duplicated
in our field testing—a better
strategy might be to shoot shorter
bursts. For example, if you keep
a single burst to about 40 shots
with one of these new cards, and
pause about a second between
each burst, you’ll maintain that
8-fps speed much longer and
capture more of the decisive
moments you ultimately want.
Video builds on what Canon
put into the EOS 5D Mark II, with
a wider choice of frame rates
for the various pixel resolutions
(see the Specifications sidebar
for a full list). Nikon still hasn’t
included full 1920x1080-pixel
capture in any of its DSLRs, so
Canon wins here—and this resolution
at a frame rate of 30 fps
matches the rate of most HDTVs.
form and functions
The camera has the most solid
APS-C body Canon has made yet,
with magnesium-alloy body panels
and more weathersealing than
CAnOn eOS 7D
the EOS 50D, though not quite the
same level as the 5D Mark II.
The control layout is similar
to the 50D’s, though most buttons
are to the left of the 3-inch
920,000-dot LCD. The on/off
switch also moved up to behind
the mode dial, and a useful new
switch moves between still and
video capture. The new RAW +
JPEG button lets you grab a RAW
shot even in JPEG-only mode.
Custom functions let you
change the role of some buttons,
and a new interface makes it
easier to do so, showing where on
the body you’ll find the buttons
being assigned. The new Q (Quick
Control) button brings up a screen
that shows you the most essential
settings and lets you navigate
through them with the small joystick
on the camera back.
neck-and-neck Race
All of these new features and
design approaches are great,
but it feels as though Canon is
playing catch-up. Nikon was first
to couple its AF and metering
systems for tracking purposes,
and Olympus and Sony offered
navigable quick menus many
models ago. Likewise, Nikon was
the first to offer a rock-solid
APS-C format camera.
That said, Canon has indeed
caught up, if not with a definitive
lead over Nikon in this category.
The 7D wins on resolution,
but loses on low-light AF speed.
It wins on low noise at high
ISOs, but can’t match the 3D AF
tracking on the D300s.
Canon’s main edge comes
in burst rates. The 7D can grab
14-bit RAW images at 8 fps, while
the D300s slows to 2.5 fps and
must be dialed down to 12-bit to
reach its native 7 fps rate.
The DSLRs wars continue, but
Canon has served this category
of camera well. —Philip Ryan
even though
it’s the first
canon with
wireless
flash control
via the
pop-up flash,
the 7d’s
implementation
is solid.
You have a
choice of
four channels
and control
of up to
three groups
of off-camera
units,
with flash
compensation
and the
ability to
set lighting
ratios.
for info
on how we
test dsLrs,
go to
PopPhoto.
com/reviews.
sPecIfIcatIons
iMaGinG: 18MP effective, aPS-C
sized CMOS sensor captures images
at 5184x3456 pixels with 14 bits/
color in raW mode.
storaGe: CompactFlash stores JPeg, Cr2
raW, and raW + JPeg files.
BUrst rate: Full-sized JPegs (Fine mode),
up to 126 shots at 8 fps using a uDMa card;
raW, up to 15 shots at 8 fps; raW + JPeg,
up to 6 shots at 8 fps.
af sYsteM: TTl phase detection
with 19 illuminated focus points
(all cross-type); single-shot and continuous
aF with Predictive ai Servo focus tracking.
Tested sensitivity down to eV –2
(at iSO 100, f/1.4).
LiVe View: TTl phase detection
or contrast detection autofocus.
shUtter sPeeds: 1/8000 to 30 sec,
plus B (1/3-, 1/2-, or 1-eV increments);
150,000-cycle rating.
MeterinG: 63-zone TTl metering,
evaluative, centerweighted, partial (approx.
9.4% of viewfinder), and spot (approx. 2.3%
of viewfinder). eV 1–20 (iSO 100).
iso ranGe: normal, iSO 100–6400
(in 1/3-eV increments);
expanded, iSO 12,800.
Video: records at 1920x1080 at
30/25/24 fps; 1280x720 at 60/50 fps;
640x480 at 60/50 fps in MPeg-4 aVC MOV
format; built-in mono microphone; stereo
minijack input.
fLash: Built-in pop-up with e-TTl ii
autoflash and wireless control of optional
flash units, gn 39 (iSO 100, feet); flash sync
to 1/250 sec; dedicated Canon hot-shoe.
Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism.
Lcd: 3-in. TFT with 920,000-dot resolution.
oUtPUt: Hi-speed uSB 2.0, mini HDMi
video, composite video and analog audio,
n3-type remote control.
BatterY: rechargeable lP-e6 li-ion, CiPa
rating 800 shots (with optical viewfinder) or
220 shots (live-view).
siZe/weiGht: 5.8x4.4x2.9 in., 1.81 lb
with a card and battery.
street Price: $1,700, body only; $1,900
with 28–135mm f/3.5–5.6 iS uSM lens.
info: www.canoneos.com
Viewfinder test: accuracy, 100%
(excellent); Magnification, 1.0X (excellent).
86 popular photography January 2010 POPPHOTO.COM
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