A small sensor that has everything a great

He had many expected, familiar with the brand red edging scrutinized the slightest rumor about her. Billed as an upgrade and a broad reshuffling of semi-pros housings Canon, what about it? 50D or 5D block pushed downgraded?

Choose a new device is always a tricky test, as factors of choice are numerous. What attracts me is power, on paper, have a limp semi-pro like a 5D mkII without changing my objectives park that suits me fine. A good point can be equipped with a camera in this range without having to repurchase the equivalent, although more expensive, in full-frame. So almost 8 months since I use that 7D so at roughly weekly and amateur. I photograph mostly of architecture, the 7D is coupled to a Canon 10-22 and sometimes 50 to f / 1.4 for portrait and low light.

First grip: it's solid! Compared to my old 350D, you enter immediately into another world. The housing weighs its weight, but with a very good grip, the whole is very stable and easy to handle. The ergonomics of buttons and menus has been significantly improved, certainly, but found very easily its brands.

If there's a good point that you can not miss during the use of this device is the viewfinder. This is great. Very big! Certainly, There are still a small difference compared to full-frame and silver, but we feel that the gap is reduced slowly. A feat for a sensor of this size! Comes the first picture. Even if one engages the first burst mode ... for awesome month! Beware though, to 18Mpix, the value of having adequate memory card is more than certain! The images produced are of very good quality. With such pixel density, we feel that there's been an enormous work done from this point of view, and the fear of a loss of quality was ultimately unfounded. It's really more than respectable: quality, without reaching that of a full-frame D700 or 5D kind is very very good. The sound is pretty good content, and shoot at ISO 1600 is possible without a big mush. Beyond that, inevitably, it moutonne but still usable although I can to avoid these high ISO sacrosanct: I put that picture over picture on the fly. Also, although I rarely put to the test on my main use, AF is really powerful and an update even when light is lacking.

And then we are surprised to try the video mode. After all, it does not cost more to integrate this material, why do without it? A significant thing is that the camera switches from image mode to video mode: it is not relegated to useless gadget that-because-we-could-le-fit. No, it is a real camera that is available. Videos are, too, superb quality and full HD. The ability to use his photos goals is a real must. The only problem I think is that filming, we tend to record any sound, including those coming from the camera: a zoom on the lens makes a little noise, and is found on the video. I like to take videos add ambiance, sounds a series of photos, and there is not always so convenient ... Provide a system to record the sound in addition if it is the first use of 7D: external microphone or audio recorder. Zoom lenses can also be quite violent, and lacking fluidity is also another drawback. Tricks like using an elastic exist to thin the movement for example.

Short.

In conclusion, I would say this case is very responsive to the expectations of the following targets:
- Amateurs willing to invest in a serious housing without breaking the bank in full-frame goals;
- Sports / Wildlife Photographers wishing to make the most of the proliferation of small focal sensors;
- Videographers wishing to have a very good camera for an unbeatable price, despite some grip.

In general, if a semi-pro tempts you, but the price of full-frame housing seems too luxurious, it's definitely the case to take. I have, and I will exchange it any time soon ...