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Canon 7D Predictions
By admin | December 19, 2007
This is a rewrite of an article I posted earlier - it is posted again under the assumption that the replacement to the Canon 5D will be named the “7D” - I actually have no idea if it will be named the 5D Mark II, the 6D, the 4D, or something else. . .
Knowing (most of) the features of the replacement to the Canon 5D is easy - all you have to do is look at the other new camera releases from Canon this year in the 1D Mark III, the 1Ds Mark III, and the 40D.
The Canon 7D will probably have the following features:
- DIGIC III Image Processor
- 14 bid A/D converter (up from 12)
- Ultrasonic Sensor Cleaning System
- 3.0″ TFT LCD display (up from 2.5″) with a resolution of 230,000 pixels
- Improved weather-sealing for the body.
- (3) User Defined Custom Settings.
- Improved menu navigation system (to match the development of the 40D)
The Canon 7D specs that we don’t know yet, but can guess at, are:
- 4.5 frames per second (fps) (up from 3 fps)
- 16.1 Mp Sensor (up from 12.8)
Features that the Canon 7D will not have are:
- Dedicated mirror lock up (MLU) button. Cry all you want, it just isn’t going to happen.
- Fully weather-sealed body. They have to leave reasons for professionals to go with a 1D series body.
Both the 40D and the 1D Mark III have shown great improvements in noise visible at high ISO ratings, and I expect a similar improvement in the 7D. It is very exciting that we will see IQ at a greater level than achieved with the 1Ds Mark II (a camera that not long ago cost over $7,000).
I think that Canon could help hold off the onslaught from movement towards the Nikon system (D300 and D3) by offering the 7D at a lower price point than expected; however, I don’t think they will do this. The 7D I will be introduced at around $3,200 US.
I think the increase in resolution will be of little consequence for most photographers. Face it, most of the pictures taken with digital SLR’s are woefully high on technology and low on tallent. Even for professionals, the biggest need is not more resolution but for higher speed operation and better noise control at high ISO’s. I hope that the new DIGIC III processing helps on both fronts.
Frankly, from a practical perspective, the best feature of the new Canon 7D will be the sensor cleaning feature. Sensor dust seemed to be an especially big deal for 5D users and is an aspect of digital SLR photography that is in bad need of a solution. Also greatly appreciated will be the easier menu navigation system similar to the 40D. I don’t yet have a grasp on how the Auto ISO features improved on the 40D, but I hope we see similar, if not more substantial improvements for the 7D.
I hope to see the new Canon 7D out in February of next year. It will be exciting as the reviews come in, and also exciting to see the prices on the Canon 5D (old version) plummet both new and on Ebay!
Topics: Canon |