Review Detail

UPDATE: I bought this camera one year ago, and since that time, Canon has released two other cameras that are less expensive, but that have somewhat comparable features -- the 60D and the T2i. Do I have any buyer's remorse? Short answer, no.

I've used the T21 a little and it is a great camera. And I checked out a 60D at Best Buy. The swiveling screen on that one is nice - It's a feature I've liked on my other camera, a Powershot S5 IS. But, neither the T2i nor the 60D have the solidity of the 7D. While both of the other two are nice cameras, you can tell they lack the magnesium alloy framework of the 7D. The other feature I like about the 7D is its speed. It is much faster for action photography than the other two. On more than one occasion I've found I needed that speed.

In short, Canon has released some good cameras since I purchased the 7D, but no buyer's remorse here.

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For now, Canon reigns supreme with the new EOS 7D DSLR. We purchased one of these cameras the moment it became available at retail, with price paid, sans lens, coming to $1799. We also purchased a 75-300mm Canon lens, and a 50mm F/1.8 Canonn lens at the time of purchase. Neither lens is image stabilized. Nonetheless, both lenses have performed very well, with the longer lens seeing duty when the camera is on a tripod. The 50mm lens has been sharp throughout testing, and has performed well during video tests. See the sample we shot above.

So far the camera seems very well designed. All the buttons and dials have a firm, well-designed feel about them. The camera is strongly built, and somewhat heavy, but this gives you confidence in the build quality, as well as allows easy shooting when hand held.

Like many, we wanted the Canon 5D mkII, but waited due to the high price of that full-frame camera. The APS-C sized sensor in the 7D has worried some because of its high pixel count. Would the camera perform well in low light as a result? In our experience, the answer is yes. It is not likely to be quite a match for its full-frame sibling in the lineup, but its performance is far from poor.

And it should be said that HD video capability in this DSLR is the best currently available. Independent film makers should find this a great tool, as should photojournalists needing a fast reliable camera, that can grab video as well.

With this camera, in our opinion, Canon has redefined what a DSLR should be expected to do. We highly recommend this camera -- Splashrate