Canon unveils EOS 7D Mark II

Canon has announced mid-November release of the EOS 7D Mark II SLR. While local pricing hasn’t been supplied, Canon US has set minimum advertised price at just US$1799, body only.

7dThe 7D Mark II features Dual DIGIC 6 image processors for burst shooting up to 10 frames per second (fps), as well as Canon’s first 65-Point All Cross Type autofocus (AF) system with EV -3 sensitivity at the centre point. It also incorporates a Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for improved focusing.

The magnesium alloy body houses a newly-developed 20-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and is dust and weather resistant. Standard ISO range is from 100 -16,000 for both still and video (expandable to ISO 51,600). The EOS 7D Mark II also features an enhanced version of Canon’s EOS iTR (Intelligent Tracking and Recognition) AF, originally introduced with the EOS-1D X DSLR camera, enabling the camera to recognise subjects based on face and colour detection utilising the new AE system, and can track subjects using all 65 AF points.

The camera’s improved Scene Detection system features a 150,000-pixel RGB+IR 252-zone metering sensor. The wide-area 65-point AF array combined with EOS iTR and adjustable high-speed continuous burst shooting enables the easy tracking and capturing of fast moving subjects virtually anywhere in the frame. A new AF Area Selection Lever nestled around the multi-controller on the back of the camera makes it easier to switch between the seven supplied AF Point Selection modes without removing their eye from the viewfinder.

At 10 fps, the camera’s buffer capacity can consecutively capture up to 31 RAW images or 1090 Large Fine JPEGs. The camera has a shutter durability rating up to 200,000 cycles.

The EOS 7D Mark II camera also features silent drive modes for single frame and continuous shooting to support discreet camera operation where required.

The EOS 7D Mark II camera’s AE system can detect and compensate for flickering light sources such as sodium vapour lamps – often used in indoor sports venues. When enabled, this system automatically adjusts shutter release timing to help reduce disparities in exposure and colour, especially during continuous shooting.

7d1The Dual Pixel CMOS AF (DAF) technology, inherited from the EOS 70D, includes user-selectable adjustments for Movie Servo AF Speed and Movie Servo AF Tracking Sensitivity. Canon claims overall focusing speed, face detection performance, and performance in low light and with low-contrast subjects have been improved over previous Canon models.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF employs proprietary Canon sensor technology in which effective pixels are able to perform both imaging and phase-detection focus simultaneously for improved AF performance in both video and Live View still imaging modes.

Canon says the new camera’s AI Servo AF III autofocusing algorithm is similar to that of the EOS-1D X camera in that tracking parameters (tracking sensitivity, acceleration/deceleration tracking, and AF point auto switching) can be easily customised for specific shooting situations, using the same type of AF Configuration Menu.

The EOS 7D Mark II camera also offers the same level of High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Multiple Exposure (ME) functionality as the EOS 5D Mark III camera. The HDR mode includes five HDR shooting functions and allows users to save all source images in addition to the composited HDR image. Similarly, Multiple Exposure mode provides four compositing methods and also allows users to save individual source images.

A a built-in intervalometer and bulb timer enable the capture of time-lapse images and long- exposure images.

In addition to optional settings for Peripheral Illumination Correction and Chromatic Aberration Correction, found in other high-end EOS models, the EOS 7D Mark II camera adds Distortion Correction that operates with most EF and EF-S lenses to improve image quality while recording video and in-camera JPEGs. The My Menu feature has also been improved with the ability to store more user-selected settings in five additional tabs.

7d2The viewfinder provides ‘approximately 100 percent’ (?) field of view, while adding the ability to superimpose a customisable selection of camera settings data such as dual-mode electronic level display, grid, exposure mode, white balance mode and AF mode. A three-inch LCD monitor (approximately 1,040,000 dots) displays information and menus clearly – Canon says it is functional in bright sunlight. The EOS 7D Mark II camera is compatible with a range of interchangeable focusing screens.

A built-in GPS Receiver provides a digital compass and can record location information including longitude, latitude, elevation, camera direction and universal coordinated time (UTC) as EXIF data for geotagging both images and movie files in real time. The built-in pop-up flash can act as an optical controller with compatible off-camera EX-series Speedlites.

The EOS 7D Mark II camera features dual card slots for SD/SDHC/SDXC and CF memory cards, including Ultra High Speed (UHS-1) SD cards. Data transfer speeds from the camera to a personal computer are improved with the addition of a

The EOS 7D Mark II camera shoots 1080p Full HD or 720p HD video up to 60p enabling slow-motion capture at full resolution in either ALL-I or IPB codecs with optional embedded time code. This puts it at the top of the EOS heap, video-wise. Users can also choose between .MOV and .MP4 recording formats. The EOS 7D Mark II camera’s mini HDMI port can be used to record uncompressed Full HD video to external recorders.

The EOS 7D Mark II camera also features a stereo microphone port and outputs stereo audio via the camera’s mini-HDMI port. It is equipped with a headphone jack for real-time audio monitoring, as well as a silent control feature that allows users to adjust audio levels during recordings. Other built-in ports include a PC socket for external flash units and an N3 socket for dedicated Canon wired remote control accessories.

Canon does not supply local media with pricing details (and in fact doesn’t supply Pro Counter with local press releases!) but rather directs them to local resellers. When products aren’t yet released, the nearest indicator of price is from overseas Canon press releases which do supply prices. This is one of those times. Canon US has set minimum advertised price as US$1799 body only, and US$2149.00 bundled with an EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM lens.

It will use a new LP-E6N lithium ion battery pack with increased storage capacity. Also scheduled to be available are the new optional Battery Grip BG-E16 and optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E7A Version 2, with shipping dates and estimated retail pricing to be announced at a later date. Both the EOS 7D Mark II camera and Battery Grip BG-E16 are backwards-compatible to the current LP-E6 lithium ion battery pack.

– So much for the specs! For a detailed local ‘First Look’ review of the Canon 7D Mark II, click here.


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