Canon EOS 7D vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Comparing the Canon 7D to the Canon 5D Mark II is the focus of this article.
| Canon EOS 7D | Canon EOS 5D Mark II | |
| Resolution | 18-megapixel CMOS | 21.1-megapixel CMOS |
| Sensor | 1.6x (3/4) | 1.0x (full-frame) |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - 12,800 | ISO 50- 25,600 |
| Continuous shooting | 8 fps 15 raw/126 JPEG |
3.9 fps 14 raw/310 JPEG |
| Viewfinder |
100% coverage | 98% coverage |
| Autofocus | 19-pt AF all cross-type; center cross-type to f2.8 |
9-pt AF center cross-type |
| Metering | 63 area | 35 zone |
| Live View | Yes | Yes |
| Video Framerate Options |
1,920x1,080 at 30fps; 1,280x720 at 60fps | 1,920 x 1,080 at 30fps |
| Video Sound | 48 KHz | 44.1 KHz |
| Manual Video Settings? | Out of the box | With firmware update. |
| LCD size | 3 inches fixed 920,000 dots |
3 inches fixed 920,000 dots |
| Shutter durability | 150,000 cycles | 150,000 cycles |
| Wireless flash controller | Yes, Built In | No |
| On-camera flash | Yes | No |
| Dimensions |
5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 | 6.0 x 4.5 x 3.0 |
| Body Weight (ounces) | 30.7 | 32.9 |
| Price (body only) | $1,699 | $2,699.00 |
Conclusion
The 7D appears to be a strong contender against the 5D Mark II. It seems that Canon really listened to a lot of users on this camera. Notable advantages of the EOS 7D include -
- Higher frames per second due to TWO image processors. This will be a welcome addition for sports and wedding shooters.
- Another big deal for wedding photographers and those who like to shoot with a lot of off-camera lighting (see strobist.com) is the addition of wireless flash control - a direct response to Nikon's CLS system. This appears to negate the need for an expensive master flash($500) or ST-E2 Speedlight Transmitter(about $200) to control off-camera flashes.
- Hugely improved video framerate options. Canon has created the new king of SLR video with the 7D. The new framerate options will allow for better syncing with external sound, and the 60fps/720p mode should allow for much smoother action shots and more creativity with slow-motion, again, very handy for sports and wedding shooters that want to cross over.
- The video sound sample rate has been increased, a refinement that shows that Canon is really listening to amateur filmmakers desires for a camera that includes video as a well-sorted feature rather than an afterthought. And speaking of improving video options, the EOS 7D has Manual video control and dedicated video buttons right out of the box.
- The remaining advantages of the 5D Mark II? Well, since the 5D Mark II has a much lower pixel density, it will exhibit much smoother, noise-free images at higher ISO settings, which makes it a stand-out for low-light shooting, and the higher overall resolution helps for those really large applications.
- One of the most obvious differences though, will be the significant price difference of about $1000 less for the EOS 7D. The 7D's lower price, combined with it's higher performance in many categories make it the superior choice for all but a narrow set of high-end consumers and pros.
Check out some still samples and video samples from the Canon EOS 7D and decide for yourself.