Belts Suspenders Blog

If You Are Thinking Of Upgrading From EOS 20D… – Paul F. Sterbentz – Mountain View, CA
Three Positives:

1. Live View – allows you to see exposure and depth of field (no darkening) in real time on a sharp and bright preview screen. You can then press the * button (AEL)and lock that exposure in.

2. Critical Focusing – allows two stages of magnification in live view for critical focusing. I use it for “macro” photography with a EF 70-300mm lens. No stooping!

3. Spot Metering – I know this has been on previous models but extremely useful when using in live mode. Really can get pinpoint exposure control without bracketing after some practice.

Two other notables are low noise at high ISO and self cleaning sensor that really works. It also doesn’t hurt to have the added pixel headroom.

Two Negatives:

1. Spare Battery – is overpriced on Amazon (sorry guys, I love ya but you need to bring your price in line with everyone else). If you use Live View a lot you will need a spare battery.

2. Error Message 01 – “communications between the camera and lens is faulty” appeared at slower shutter speeds with my older EF-S 17-85MM. My two other lenses don’t give this message. I just sent the lens to Canon to have it checked out – update to come. I think the 7D may be a bit less forgiving with well worn lenses than the 20D.

Conclusion – If you can afford it, buy it. All the things you’ve been struggling to do with your 20D can be accomplished with the 7D in spades. There are new features that you need to learn by studying the manual but there is also a lot of familiar territory. If you thought you were a photo enthusiast before, you ain’t seen nothing yet!
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only): Canon: EOS 7D Body Only With a host of features designed to enhance every facet of the photographic process, from still images to video, the EOS 7D represents a whole new class of camera.Made to be the tool of choice for serious photographers and semi-professionals, the EOS 7D features an 18.0 megapixels APS-C size CMOS sensor and dual DIGIC 4 image processors, capturing tremendous images at up to ISO 12800 and speeds of up to 8 fps. The EOS 7D has a cross-type 19-point AF system with improved AI Servo AF subject tracking and user-selectable AF area selection modes for sharp focus no matter the situation. The EOS 7D’s Intelligent Viewfinder provides 100% coverage and displays user-selected AF modes as well as a spot metering circle and on demand grid lines. iFCL metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system uses both focus and color information to provide accurate exposure even in difficult lighting. The EOS 7D also captures Full HD video at 30p, 24p and 25p with an array of manual controls, including manual exposure during movie shooting and ISO speed selection. The EOS 7D features a magnesium alloy body that is dust- and weather-resistant and shutter durability of up to 150,000 cycles. – read more.