Canon EOS 7D Mark II Overview

Introduction

Canon EOS 7D Mark II – At a Look

• 20.2-million-pixel, APS-C sensor
• 65-point autofocus system
• 10fps steady capturing
• Twin Pixel AF in stay view and video
• ISO 100-51,200 (prolonged)
• 3in, 1.04-million-dot LCD display
• Unique new information worth £1,599 (physique solely)
• $467-580 used, physique solely
• £265-469 used, physique solely

The EOS 7D sequence provided options that wouldn’t look misplaced on Canon’s household of pro-level EOS-1 DSLRs together with speedy steady capturing and superior AF. The EOS 7D Mark II may rattle via frames at 10fps at its full 20.2MP decision and it employed a very responsive 65-point, all cross-type sensor AF system, making it a wanted machine amongst motion shooters. As well as, as an APS-C format digital camera, motion and nature shooters appreciated the advantage of the 1.6x crop issue, the place a 300mm focal size lens gave the equal view of a 480mm lens.

Bundling all this collectively right into a sturdy, weather-sealed physique makes a really thrilling prospect for any fanatic motion photographer who can not justify the expense of sports activities and wildlife monsters such because the Nikon D4S or the Canon EOS-1D X.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Overview – Options

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II incorporates a 20.2-million-pixel CMOS sensor, which Canon describes as new however might be carefully associated to the sensor within the EOS 70D. It’s an APS-C-sized unit with a 1.6x focal size magnification, that means a 100mm lens will act as a 160mm equal. For customers who depend on lengthy focal size lenses it is a large benefit, because it offers extra attain.

The development to steady capturing additional will increase the digital camera’s enchantment to wildlife and sports activities photographers. In addition to growing the frames per second from the 8fps of the 7D to 10fps, the 7D Mark II has an enormous buffer. Offering the cardboard is quick sufficient, the digital camera can shoot full-resolution JPEG photographs till the cardboard is full, and it’s additionally potential to shoot and write a burst of 31 uncooked photographs in a single go.

Two separate Digic 6 processors work collectively to ship this very spectacular efficiency. Along with the velocity enhance, they need to additionally enhance the in-camera JPEG picture processing.

A powerful leap ahead has been made with regards to the ISO sensitivity vary. The 7D had a somewhat restricted native vary of ISO 100-6400 (prolonged to ISO 12,800), whereas the 7D Mark II has an ISO sensitivity of 100-16,000, with two prolonged choices of ISO 25600 (H1) and ISO 51,200 (H2).

It’s stunning that there isn’t a Wi-Fi connectivity included on the 7D Mark II. Nevertheless, it’s appropriate with Eye-Fi SD playing cards, which may simply switch information wirelessly to a cellular machine.

On the highest of the digital camera, in entrance of the hotshoe, is a small GPS module. This could report the latitude and longitude of the place a picture was taken, together with the route by which the digital camera was pointing. There’s additionally an possibility to trace the photographer’s location even when they’re not capturing. Each features may be disabled.

Canon says the 7D Mark II is more likely to be purchased not solely by photographers trying to improve from an entry-level digital camera, but additionally present 7D and pro-level digital camera homeowners. Because of this, two card slots, for SD and Compact Flash, have been included.

Full HD 1920 x 1080-resolution video may be recorded at as much as 60fps in NTSC and 50fps in PAL. There are additionally choices for 30fps, 25fps and 24fps. Utilizing the HDMI port, it’s potential to output uncompressed (4:2:2) video to an exterior recorder. One helpful function is an improved bulb mode. As a substitute of needing a cable launch to shoot exposures longer than 30secs, now you can specify a time within the menu.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Overview – Construct and Dealing with

The kind of photographer who will use the 7D Mark II is more likely to topic it to fairly difficult situations. It’s reassuring, then, to see that Canon has not scrimped on the construct high quality. The digital camera physique is product of sturdy magnesium alloy, and climate sealing has been improved over its predecessor, making the 7D Mark II the second-best weather-sealed DSLR in Canon’s line-up behind the flagship EOS-1D X.

Throughout my check of the 7D Mark II I subjected it to some brutal climate situations that gave it a radical soaking, and it got here via with out harm. I can affirm first-hand which you can take the digital camera out within the rain with nothing to concern!

Received to offer that climate sealing a great testing! Full Canon 7D Mark II evaluation coming quickly… pic.twitter.com/k0VhiI0nMg

— Callum Mcinerney (@CMRileyPhoto) November 3, 2014

The 7D Mark II’s physique form is nearly an identical to that of the 7D, however the button structure is rather more just like the EOS 5D Mark III. The Q menu has been moved to the fitting facet of the LCD, and different buttons have been shifted round to accommodate a charge button. That is notably helpful for highlighting one of the best pictures from a burst sequence. The rear dial features inset contact buttons for altering settings silently throughout video recording. Additionally, Canon has opted for a locking mode dial, to assist stop unintended adjustments.

Making its debut on this digital camera is a thumb-operated sprung lever, which is centred across the joystick on the rear of the digital camera. This may be assigned to hold out a number of features. I discovered setting it as much as toggle via AF space choice choices was nice when capturing with an extended lens. Nevertheless, after I wasn’t capturing on this method, I assigned the lever to be pulled down to offer me the choice of utilizing the entrance dial to alter ISO sensitivities. It’s some of the helpful features I’ve seen on a digital camera. With out taking my eye from the viewfinder, all the things was out there for me.

Tapping the Q button brings up the short menu on the LCD display. From right here, there are quite a few customized controls and button reassignment choices. As normal, the 7D Mark II comes with a brand new, longer-lasting LP-E6N battery, though it’s going to nonetheless work with older LP-E6 batteries.

LCD/viewfinder

The 7D Mark II’s TFT Clear View II LCD has an ample 1.04-million-dot decision. It’s very simple to see and has correct color rendition, however I’m upset by the omission of each contact sensitivity and LCD articulation. These are each actually helpful on the EOS 70D, particularly for video work.

A transmissive LCD panel is situated above the focusing display, which permits info to be seen via the viewfinder. This may be turned on/off or set as much as swimsuit the photographer’s wants. I discovered the dual-axis digital degree to be very helpful. Gridlines can be found to help with composition, and varied settings, akin to focus, drive and metering modes, may be displayed within the viewfinder too.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Overview – Efficiency

See extra photographs taken with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II in our pattern gallery

Autofocus

The place the 7D Mark II reveals probably the most dramatic enhancements is in autofocusing, with a outstanding 65 focus factors masking a big portion of the body. What’s extra, all are cross-type, to allow them to deal with each horizontal and vertical element. The centre level even focuses at -3EV, which is actually moonlight.

The centre level is delicate to f/2.8, which improves accuracy with quick lenses. Additionally, for the primary time, it really works right down to f/8. This implies it’s potential to make use of a telephoto lens with a teleconverter and nonetheless have autofocus, offering the efficient most aperture is f/8 or bigger.

Superior iTR AF monitoring makes use of picture info offered by Canon’s new 150,000-pixel metering sensor to trace topics throughout a body. Just like the EOS-1D X and the EOS 5D Mark III, the 7D Mark II has a sophisticated focusing menu that permits customers to configure the AF system for what kind of topic they’re capturing. In use, I discovered the continual focusing labored very effectively, and the completely different settings do assist to attain higher outcomes.

My first outing with the digital camera was to shoot an occasion within the Lightbox membership in London. The lighting situations offered an actual problem for any autofocusing system, however the 7D Mark II carried out brilliantly. Utilizing all 65 factors, the digital camera shortly discovered the fitting level of focus and the hit charge of sharp pictures was very excessive.

When capturing deer in dense woodland, I opted to shoot with a small cluster of AF factors and transfer it throughout the body utilizing the joystick management on the rear of the digital camera. It made focusing very quick in operation and I obtained the pictures I needed with out fault.

Just like the 70D, the 7D Mark II has Twin Pixel CMOS AF, which supplies higher focusing in video. One enchancment over the 70D, although, is its means to alter the AF drive velocity for smoother focus pulls. Nevertheless, the focusing in stay view nonetheless isn’t as quick or decisive as utilizing the viewfinder.

Metering

A brand new 150,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor supplies 4 choices for metering, partial, spot, evaluative and centreweighted common. All these settings give correct outcomes, placing a great stability between shadow and spotlight element. Evaluative metering is linked to all 65 AF factors and I discovered there have been no points with inaccurate metering when this setting was utilized in the fitting state of affairs. For many of my capturing, I hardly ever wanted to modify metering from that setting.

See extra photographs taken with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II in our pattern picture gallery

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Overview – Picture High quality

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II performs commendably in our Utilized Imaging assessments, giving good decision for its 20.2-million-pixel sensor and low noise at ISO 100-1600. As you’d anticipate, picture high quality deteriorates at increased sensitivities, however the JPEG output continues to be fairly good at ISO 6400, though with apparent lack of shadow element. ISO 12,800 loses most advantageous element, and the highest settings are greatest used solely when there’s no various.

Processed uncooked photographs give related outcomes, delivering usable outcomes as much as about ISO 6400. As regular, although, the best ISOs settings are very noisy certainly, and will actually solely be used when completely needed.

The 7D Mark II performs effectively on the subject of dynamic vary, and like different Canon SLRs its spotlight tone precedence setting can be utilized to assist benefit from this, by increasing the vary of tones recorded within the highlights by 1 cease, earlier than they clip to white.

The default color rendition is completely enticing, and Canon gives a spread of image types for various topics. These may be adjusted in-camera, and might even be adjusted by the person to swimsuit their private preferences.

Our digital camera graphs defined

Decision

The EOS 7D Mark II resolved round 3000l/ph at ISO 100, with clean blurring of traces past this level and no issues with aliasing or false color. This holds as much as ISO 800, past which decision progressively decreases because of the results of noise and noise discount. A studying of 2800l/ph is maintained as much as about ISO 3200, and 2600 l/ph to ISO 12,800, however this drops dramatically on the high two settings, to 2000l/ph at ISO 51,200.

Dynamic vary

Base ISO DR is a fairly spectacular 12.7EV, in response to our Utilized Imaging assessments. However in real-world use the sensor doesn’t carry out fairly in addition to these numbers counsel, giving extra noise within the shadows at low ISOs than its rivals. The DR initially drops fairly progressively because the sensitivity is elevated, and the 7D Mark II maintains a creditable efficiency as much as about ISO 1600. Past this it falls off extra quickly, with a worth of 8.6EV at ISO 6400, and the highest two settings give distinctly poor outcomes.

Color

This 3D graph compares the color shift from the reference color to the photographed chart: the upper the height, the higher the shift from the unique. Within the default JPEG color setting, Canon gives a reasonably contrasty and saturated rendition, with some emphasis on the blues, and to a lesser extent the reds.

In real-world capturing, pores and skin tones in portraits are rendered very effectively and seem wealthy and effectively saturated. There have been pleasing, punchy and vibrant colors to be seen within the autumnal leaves within the forest, too.

Noise

The photographs above have a decision of 300ppi, reflecting a high-resolution print. The 7D Mark II offers clear, detailed photographs at low ISOs, with a touch of luminance noise creeping in at ISO 1600. Shadow element begins to deteriorate noticeably at ISO3200, and most advantageous low distinction element is being misplaced to noise discount by ISO 12,800.The highest two settings give very murky information, notably within the darker tones, and are greatest saved for emergencies solely.

Adobe Digital camera Uncooked wasn’t able to studying the EOS 7D Mark II’s uncooked information, so we examined them utilizing the Digital Picture Professional software program provided with the digital camera. This offers broadly related photographs to the in-camera JPEG processing, with very usable outcomes as much as ISO 3200 and solely critically deteriorating at ISO 12800. Once more ISOs 25,600 and 51,200 actually aren’t nice.

The grey-card photographs above are JPEG information shot with the 7D Mark II’s default noise discount and color settings utilized. The photographs are printed at 300ppi to replicate the noise that may be skilled in a high-resolution print. The 7D Mark II delivers clear photographs at low ISOs, and luminance noise solely begins to turn into seen at ISO 800. This will increase monotonously because the sensitivity is elevated, however in these pictures it doesn’t actually present very a lot till the highest two settings are reached. Uncooked information processed utilizing Digital Picture Professional inform an identical story, being usable to ISO 6400 at the very least.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II Overview – Verdict

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II provides some class-leading specification to its already in style digital camera. The 20.2-million-pixel sensor offers improved picture high quality in comparison with the 7D, with higher efficiency at excessive ISO settings, though we’d in all probability keep away from utilizing settings north of ISO 6400. Nevertheless at low ISOs it could actually’t match the power to recuperate shadow element that we see from lots of its opponents.

My principal gripes in regards to the digital camera concern what’s been unnoticed. There isn’t any touchscreen, no articulation of the LCD and no Wi-Fi connectivity, which is disappointing. Nevertheless, for the target market of the wildlife and sports activities photographer, these options might not be a precedence.

The place it really excels is in its construct, dealing with and autofocusing system. The physique is stable, it feels good within the hand and the button placement is smart. The brand new addition of the thumb lever coupled with the extra viewfinder info shows makes settings simple to alter with out even needing to take the attention from the digital camera.

The brand new 65-point autofocus system is unbelievable, locking on and monitoring topics in a short time, even in difficult situations. It’s nice to see a professional-grade autofocusing system inside an fanatic digital camera. Likewise, the power to shoot at 10 frames per seconds, with a really respectable buffer, was as soon as the protect of solely top-end SLRs costing hundreds of kilos. The addition of Canon’s Twin Pixel AF supplies improved autofocus in video, too.

In all, Canon has made a really succesful motion digital camera for the fanatic photographer. Its authentic new physique worth was £1,600 so it was some of the costly APS-C cameras available on the market on the time, but it surely was additionally among the finest, which makes it value choosing up as a secondhand discount. Its used physique worth is round $467-580 or £265-469. Given the out of doors nature of its homeowners, one of the best recommendation is to put money into a greater situation pattern that has seen much less motion.

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