I found a new unit for $1200. Would you spend that on one today? Or would you go with something “newer”? I photograph birds and landscape. I have a $1500 budget
KTR
May 15, 2021 4:10 am
If you had really been using this camera you wolud know that the published figure of 670 shots per charge is nonsense. If you do not use the built-in flash then you’ll get well over 1,000 shots.
As for its poor handling of under and over exposure due to its 2-stop, low-ISO “disadvantage” compared to NIkons, perhaps exposing correctly is the answer.
Finally, 12 stops of dynamic range is a luxury to anyone brought up on Fuji Velvia (6 stops if you are lucky).
Too much faith in Spec sheets and DxOmark BS.
Tom
October 29, 2019 1:50 am
“The thing is, the 7D Mark II is not an everyday camera”
It is for me!!
Anirban M
August 21, 2018 3:36 am
I want to upgrade from Canon Rebel T3i. I am trying my hands at bird photography and already own 400mm f5.6 lens. I got very sharp shots of stationary birds but T3i is too slow and servo focus is very poor and I’m missing most of my flight shots. Does it make sense to wait for 7D M3 or just simply go for 7D M2? How relevant 7D M2 is in 2018? Thanks for any suggestion.
Unfortunately there is not going to be a 7D mark III. The industry is moving to MILC s .. cheaper to make but they can charge as much or more than for a similar DSLR, and lots of flashy software-enabled “features” (that we do not need!) for the marketing people to seduce us with.
They are also hoping that those of us with DSLRs that are good enough for many years to come might be inveigled into buying something different.
runbei
November 24, 2017 9:36 pm
Dave – enjoyed your comment. Yes, camera technology has exceeded our needs and is pressing our abilities but not our ability to think it to death, which is infinitely expanding. Cheers from a 75-year-old with a dented left index finger.
JoeT
November 29, 2016 3:46 pm
Hi Nasim,,
First time to your website and really learning a lot. Thank you for the detailed review.
Most likely Sony CMOS sensors (used by many camera manufacturers including Nikon) is ahead of Canon’s sensors with respect to the dynamic range. Aside from that it is equally as important that the pictures are exposed the right of the histogram so that when the RAW files are processed, there is much less noise being introduced. This practice remains true irregular one shots RAW or jpeg. Bird photographers, David Cadieux often obtained clean images at ISO 800-1,600.
JoeT
November 29, 2016 3:37 pm
Hi Nasim,,
First time to your website and really learning a lot. Thank you for the detailed review. You mentioned the lower dynamic range issue common found in Canon sensors. It is important that the user to expose the pictures to the right of the histogram so that when the RAW files are processed, there is much less noise being introduced in the post-processing. Bird photographers, David Cadieux often obtained clean images at ISO 800-1,600.
Hali Sowle
August 29, 2015 9:43 pm
I bought a 7D MII and for the most part love the camera. Your review was really helpful! One thing I’ve noticed after just shooting a few days is that the battery life is terrible! I shot 172 images and I’m down to 34% battery. GPS is OFF, no image review, using only Canon lenses, this is the LP-E6N battery that came with the camera. I’ve read on other forums where this has been a problem for some people – have you noticed anything like this and do you have any suggestions other than buy more batteries?
With any of my Canon lenses (10-18 f/4.5-5.6, 50 f/1.8, 24-70 f/4 L 135 f/2 L) or the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 my battery is still showing half full after more than 1,000 shots. EIther you are doing a lot of AF and chimping or something (battery, camera, lens, charger?) is faulty.
Berni
August 9, 2015 3:10 pm
Hi Nasim,
I have just purchased A canon 7D MARK II, and when i switch to manual mode, the aperture indicator (needle in the middle) in the viewfinder, and top LCD screen, disappears. It re-appears when iso is set to auto, but can not be adjusted. I am not used to the settings in this new camera, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Regards.
A bit late on that, you probably figured it out a long time ago. The horizontal indicator in the viewfinder is not related to aperture, but to exposure compensation. That’s why it disappears, exposure compensation is meaningless in M mode. However, with Auto ISO on, it starts to make sense again and the indicator reappears.
j Russell
July 23, 2015 2:23 pm
Nasim, as always a very good review! Very much appreciated the summary!! Nice to see NO biased review! Very good pictures to post!
How much of difference is there between 10fps at 14 bits and the Samsung NX1 15fps at 12 bits?
Does this order make sense for photography? 1) learn your camera and go take photos 2) get good lenses 3) learn a how to use light room and photoshop very good 4) buy a high quality camera
I found a new unit for $1200. Would you spend that on one today? Or would you go with something “newer”? I photograph birds and landscape. I have a $1500 budget
If you had really been using this camera you wolud know that the published figure of 670 shots per charge is nonsense. If you do not use the built-in flash then you’ll get well over 1,000 shots.
As for its poor handling of under and over exposure due to its 2-stop, low-ISO “disadvantage” compared to NIkons, perhaps exposing correctly is the answer.
Finally, 12 stops of dynamic range is a luxury to anyone brought up on Fuji Velvia (6 stops if you are lucky).
Too much faith in Spec sheets and DxOmark BS.
“The thing is, the 7D Mark II is not an everyday camera”
It is for me!!
I want to upgrade from Canon Rebel T3i. I am trying my hands at bird photography and already own 400mm f5.6 lens. I got very sharp shots of stationary birds but T3i is too slow and servo focus is very poor and I’m missing most of my flight shots.
Does it make sense to wait for 7D M3 or just simply go for 7D M2? How relevant 7D M2 is in 2018? Thanks for any suggestion.
Unfortunately there is not going to be a 7D mark III. The industry is moving to MILC s .. cheaper to make but they can charge as much or more than for a similar DSLR, and lots of flashy software-enabled “features” (that we do not need!) for the marketing people to seduce us with.
They are also hoping that those of us with DSLRs that are good enough for many years to come might be inveigled into buying something different.
Dave – enjoyed your comment. Yes, camera technology has exceeded our needs and is pressing our abilities but not our ability to think it to death, which is infinitely expanding. Cheers from a 75-year-old with a dented left index finger.
Hi Nasim,,
First time to your website and really learning a lot. Thank you for the detailed review.
Most likely Sony CMOS sensors (used by many camera manufacturers including Nikon) is ahead of Canon’s sensors with respect to the dynamic range. Aside from that it is equally as important that the pictures are exposed the right of the histogram so that when the RAW files are processed, there is much less noise being introduced. This practice remains true irregular one shots RAW or jpeg. Bird photographers, David Cadieux often obtained clean images at ISO 800-1,600.
Hi Nasim,,
First time to your website and really learning a lot. Thank you for the detailed review. You mentioned the lower dynamic range issue common found in Canon sensors. It is important that the user to expose the pictures to the right of the histogram so that when the RAW files are processed, there is much less noise being introduced in the post-processing. Bird photographers, David Cadieux often obtained clean images at ISO 800-1,600.
I bought a 7D MII and for the most part love the camera. Your review was really helpful! One thing I’ve noticed after just shooting a few days is that the battery life is terrible! I shot 172 images and I’m down to 34% battery. GPS is OFF, no image review, using only Canon lenses, this is the LP-E6N battery that came with the camera. I’ve read on other forums where this has been a problem for some people – have you noticed anything like this and do you have any suggestions other than buy more batteries?
Something seems to be way off in your equipment chain. Tried another lens? Another battery? Another charger?
With any of my Canon lenses (10-18 f/4.5-5.6, 50 f/1.8, 24-70 f/4 L 135 f/2 L) or the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8 my battery is still showing half full after more than 1,000 shots. EIther you are doing a lot of AF and chimping or something (battery, camera, lens, charger?) is faulty.
Hi Nasim,
I have just purchased A canon 7D MARK II, and when i switch to manual mode, the aperture indicator (needle in the middle) in the viewfinder, and top LCD screen, disappears. It re-appears when iso is set to auto, but can not be adjusted. I am not used to the settings in this new camera, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Regards.
A bit late on that, you probably figured it out a long time ago. The horizontal indicator in the viewfinder is not related to aperture, but to exposure compensation. That’s why it disappears, exposure compensation is meaningless in M mode. However, with Auto ISO on, it starts to make sense again and the indicator reappears.
Nasim, as always a very good review! Very much appreciated the summary!! Nice to see NO biased review! Very good pictures to post!
How much of difference is there between 10fps at 14 bits and the Samsung NX1 15fps at 12 bits?
Does this order make sense for photography?
1) learn your camera and go take photos
2) get good lenses
3) learn a how to use light room and photoshop very good
4) buy a high quality camera
Thank you again for the good review.