Official: Canon EOS 7D Mark II

[M-dash]

As a sports shooter I was hoping the 7D2 was going to be an APS-C equivalent of the 1Dx which it appears to be (would love 1Dx but can't justify the cost or weight). It would reduce the weight of my sports outfit.

The one thing I need to know is how good the noise is. I am not satisfied with my 1Ds3 even for sport use above ISO800, my Fuji X-T1 (my travel camera, no good for sport) is much cleaner and usable at all ISO (at least up to 3200). If 7D2 is the same as the 70D I will have doubts until I can borrow one and run my own tests. Unfortunately the DPReview tests do not include any 1D noise samples for comparison

 

[Quest for Light]

Aside from the "new" sensor that can be the same as 70D. :

Good - it's an excellent sensor!

It´s far from excellent.

Please explain, and be specific. We already know the Sonikon sensors are better at low ISO.

sonys sensor are better as you say yourself.
it "excels" canon sensors... therefor the sony sensor is "excellent".

For sports this is not an issue, and this is a sports camera.

a better sensor does not care what you shoot.
you may only shoot 500pixel images for facebook then all sensors are good enough.

 

[Orangutan]

We already know the Sonikon sensors are better at low ISO.

a better sensor does not care what you shoot.

Yes, actually it does matter. The measurable advantages of Sonikon sensors disappear around ISO800-1600, and Canon sensors take a slight lead after that. Sports are typically shot at higher ISOs.

 

[eLroberto]

Where is the AF capability at f/8, all the specs and preview pages I have read so far have not mentioned this.

I don't see the f/8 AF anywhere, but it has the rest of the rumoured AF bits, including the metering system. Really want to play with this!

The Canon 7D Mark II introduces a brand new autofocus (AF) module inspired by the professional level AF system in the Canon 1 DX. It features 65 AF points spread across a significant portion of the frame, with especially wide horizontal coverage. All of these AF points are cross-type (when using lenses with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster), with the center AF point capable of high-precision, dual cross-type focusing with wider aperture (f/2.8 and faster) lenses. Additionally, the center point is capable of focusing with lenses (or lens/teleconverter combinations) as slow as f/8, as well as down to EV -3. This gives that center point a 1 EV advantage in low light compared to the 1D X and 5D Mark III.

Source: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-7d-mark-ii/6

 

[Ruined]

Woohoo interchangeable focusing screens, Canon is listening!

 

[Quest for Light]

We already know the Sonikon sensors are better at low ISO.

a better sensor does not care what you shoot.

Yes, actually it does matter. The measurable advantages of Sonikon sensors disappear around ISO800-1600, and Canon sensors take a slight lead after that. Sports are typically shot at higher ISOs.

from what i have read the sony or nikon aps-c sensors are better at high iso too.

This is a good result for the D7100. With four extra Megapixels packed into essentially the same sensor area you'd think it would fall behind a little in high ISO noise, but in my tests here the opposite is true. That said, we are talking about pixel peeping at 100% here, and under pretty extreme circumstances too - after all, there's few people who'd turn off all noise reduction before applying a high level of sharpening to their RAW files. If you processed the files from both cameras with more normal settings, the results would actually be pretty similar. But it is interesting none-the-less to see what's happening under the hood.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_70D/RAW_noise.shtml

and it´s still better when it´s better at low iso and equal at high iso.
you deny that?

 

[raptor3x]

my Fuji X-T1 (my travel camera, no good for sport) is much cleaner and usable at all ISO (at least up to 3200).

I thought the same thing until I noticed some strange differences with the X-T1 during my DualISO test. Basically, the ISO number Fuji shows are complete BS. Try taking a shot of a grey card or something similar at ISO 3200 for the X-T1 and a Canon or Nikon camera and try to match the histograms. See how the shutter speeds compare. I've found that the Fuji pretty consistently requires 2/3-1 stop more shutter speed to get the same exposure. Also, I'm pretty sure Fuji's doing some pretty heavy handed chroma noise reduction in camera on the RAW files.

 

[DominoDude]

Neuro was right in his ideas about the "jogging" lever around the base of the joystick.

I missed what Neuro said, and haven't seen anything else in this release material. Anyone care to link / explain it? Thanks in advance!

That switch at the joystick is made to toggle through different AF area modes. I asked about this in two other threads and he was presuming this.

Thanks! I guess I never really had a problem with AF-point button, then MFn to cycle through area modes... but at least there's an answer!

It has been quite ok for me as well, but I always needed to change my gripping a little before I could engage my thumb followed by the index finger. This could be a more smooth and instinctive way at least for those using BBF - thumb only.

 

[Bob Howland]

I have a Canon 5D Mark III and I'm wondering besides the "full frame" sensor, just why would anyone spend more money on the 5dm3 and not buy the 7dm2? the 7DM2 seems like a great camera in every way...

I have a 5D3 and 7D and find them a great pairing. The 5D3 is the indoor/winter camera and the 7D is the outdoor/summer camera. As good as the 7D2 is, I can't imagine it being as good as the 5D3 at ISO 6400 or even ISO 1600. I just hope the 7D2 has a proper auto ISO implementation in Manual mode.

I'm actually more excited about the new Sigma 150-600 S lens.

 

[Eldar]

Re: Didn't see "Cello video" having front-to-back follow focus.

Cello
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/eos_7dmkii_feature_hd

Thanks for the link.

I'm mostly ignorant about video, but in that sample video, I didn't see what I consider to be a real challenge to follow focus ... a person running diagonally through the scene towards the camera, from upper left in the viewfinder to directly in front of the camera, and then running away from the camera to the upper right.

The movement of the dancers seemed mostly side to side, rather than front to back.

That challenge would be like a baseball video from a seat just behind first base, and the batter running to beat out a bunt from home plate to first base.

I wonder how the 70d does on such a challenge, and how the 7d2 will do.

Perhaps even more challenging ... tracking a single runner among multiple runners, like at an outdoor soccer game?

And more challenging? Indoor sports with multiple players running around, like basketball action?

Then you can have a look at this: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152698112494763

 

[l_d_allan]

The original 7D was an amazing camera with a mediocre sensor

Mediocre by 2014 standards?

IIRC, the 2009 18 mpix 7d sensor was considered excellent, and exceeded expectations. I recall the DPR article about the 50d being underwhelming because the per-pixel IQ was less than the 10 mpx of the 40d. DPR declared the "end of the DSLR megapixel war" since the 15 mpix of the 50d wasn't really that much better, if any, from the 40d.

And then the 7d was released, with better per-pixel IQ than the 40d or 50d ... I really don't think people in 2009 considered the 7d's sensor to be "mediocre", except compared to the full frame 5d.

And then the Sony Exmor sensor started showing up in Nikons, like their excellent D7000.

...the 5DII was a mediocre camera with an amazing sensor

I'll agree that the AF of the 5d2 was underwhelming.

However, I haven't noticed the kind of "feeding frenzy" to pre-order a 5d2 on any other camera announcement. People were paying significantly over MSRP to get a NIB 5d2 on eBay.

 

[Orangutan]

We already know the Sonikon sensors are better at low ISO.

a better sensor does not care what you shoot.

Yes, actually it does matter. The measurable advantages of Sonikon sensors disappear around ISO800-1600, and Canon sensors take a slight lead after that. Sports are typically shot at higher ISOs.

Correction: I just took a quick look at DxO, and what I said is true for FF, but Sonikon crops do maintain an advantage at higher ISOs. The basic point holds, though: for a sports camera, the 70D sensor will not be a hindrance. I'd rather have well-focused shots from a 70D sensor than miss the moment with a D7100 sensor.

 

[Besisika]

Many of the video guys will properly complain that they didn't get the 4k beast they hoped for.
As a videographer I am actually excited about this camera. It doesn't matter much to me, that I can shoot video in a pitch black room at 200000 iso. If this can deliver good video at 3200 iso, then they have my attention.
It is also nice to see that they have done something with the file formats and frame rates.

That is right, I am one of them. I need 4K. It simply depends on your need.
In general though, I am not complaining about this camera at all. Looking at what it can do and the price, it is hard to complain.
Winter is coming in Canada, and my outdoor activities are limited. I can wait for further news about full frame with similar capabilities + 4K. The waiting allows to save.

 

[Lee Jay]

So, umm... what's special about this upgrade?

This is *exactly* the baby 1DX people have been asking for - fast, great focusing, but at a low price, in a small size, and with a high pixel density. Call it a 1DX with built-in non-removable optically-perfect 1.6x teleconverter for 1/4 the price of a 1DX.

 

[aj1575]

The thread is already exploding!

The camera looks great. Not much that has been left out by Canon; there is only one question, how "new" is the sensor? But anyway, for those who don't care about dxomark scores, the sensor will be good enough.

 

[Loswr]

In the text there are bits like this:

65-point* all cross-type AF system for high-performance, accurate subject tracking with EV -3 sensitivity (center point) for focusing in extreme low-light conditions

I haven't seen anything indicating what the *'s are for?

Me, either. But I suspect it's a footnote that you don't get 65 points with all lenses. Similarly, with the 1D X/5DIII's 61 AF points, you get only 47 points with the 800/5.6L and only 33 points with the 180L Macro.

 

[icassell]

Woohoo! Just confirmed, AF at f/8 at the center point and interchangeable focusing screens even with the transparent LCD overlay!!! Infinite JPEG frames with UDMA7 CF cards!

That clinched it! Pre-ordered!

 

[Renzokuken]

In the text there are bits like this:

65-point* all cross-type AF system for high-performance, accurate subject tracking with EV -3 sensitivity (center point) for focusing in extreme low-light conditions

I haven't seen anything indicating what the *'s are for?

Me, either. But I suspect it's a footnote that you don't get 65 points with all lenses. Similarly, with the 1D X/5DIII's 61 AF points, you get only 47 points with the 800/5.6L and only 33 points with the 180L Macro.

"

May I ask? What's the science and logic behind this??

If the DSLR have 65 points hardware wise, what physical limitations contributed to the reduction of working AF points?

 

[Dylan777]

Solid body

 

[Mark D5 TEAM II]

The asterisk/¹ is: Number of available AF points, cross-type points and Dual Cross-type AF points vary depending on the lens.

Another thing I noticed is the digital compass:

Built-in GPS and digital compass
The camera incorporates a range of GPS functions, similar to Canon’s external GPS Receiver GP-E2. Images and movie clips can be geotagged with the exact global position of capture, and thanks to a new time setting, also logged with co-ordinated universal time.
The EOS 7D Mark II is also the first EOS camera to feature a built-in digital compass which features a triple-axes geomagnetic and acceleration sensor, enabling photographers to record longitude, latitude, elevation and compass direction.