A 32.5MP APS-C mirrorless camera using Canon’s RF mount, the Canon EOS R7. It was introduced alongside the EOS R10 as a more expensive sibling model. It’s targeted at a comparable enthusiast photography market as the present EOS 90D DSLR and, potentially, the EOS M6 II.
Canon Eos R7: Key Features
The R7’s 32.5MP APS-C sensor offers more resolution than any cropped sensor camera currently on the market, which will be music to the ears of wildlife photographers and birders who are constantly looking for more cropping options.
While it’s not a fully new sensor (based on the same architecture as the 32.5MP sensor in the 90D and Canon EOS M6 Mark II (opens in new tab) \s), it boasts enhanced wire layer and microlens technology to enable improved signal readout.
It also has astounding shooting speeds of 30 frames per second electronically, which is comparable to the R3, Sony A1, and Nikon Z9 (unless you take into account the latter’s 11MP crop mode), as well as 15 frames per second mechanically, which is faster than any other Canon EOS camera, including the R3, R5, and R6.
This is the first APS-C camera from Canon to have in-body image stabilization, a 5-axis system that, depending on the lens, can provide up to 8 stops of correction (for example, the new Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM), offers 7 stops.
It also sports the most recent and advanced autofocus innovations for the R system: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, with case studies, human, animal, and vehicle subject recognition, and AF acquisition down to -5EV.
Canon estimates that you can record about 60 minutes of video before overheating and record constraints come into play. The R7 is a video powerhouse, capable of uncropped 4K 60p, 4K 30p oversampled from 7K, and 1080p up to 120p. Canon Log-3, clean HDMI out, a microphone input, and a headphone jack are all features of the camera.
Date and Price of the Canon EOS R7 release
Compared to full-frame counterparts, the Canon EOS R7 is considerably more affordable, making it more appealing to individuals on a tight budget. It also compares favorably to other top-tier APS-C cameras.
The Sony A6600, which has been around for three years, costs somewhat more than the EOS R7. Also, it is substantially less expensive than the more expensive Fujifilm X-H2S, another flagship camera with quick autofocus and fast shooting capabilities.
The EOS R7 beats out the Fujifilm X-T5 in terms of autofocusing but falls short when it comes to native lenses, so which one you choose will mostly rely on the lenses you already own.
Full-frame Canon cameras with older technology, like the full-frame Canon EOS RP, are available for less money than the EOS R7 but have significantly less advanced autofocusing and video capabilities.
The Canon EOS RP has yet to be directly replaced by a “entry-level” full-frame camera, but that may change in 2023. As long as you prefer the benefits of APS-C cameras over full-frame, the EOS R7 nicely fills the gap as an affordable mirrorless camera for enthusiasts. But, there is currently little evidence to suggest that an EOS RP successor is approaching.
Review of the Canon EOS R7: Design
To make the EOS R7 both portable and user-friendly, Canon has blended aspects from both its DSLR lineup and its current EOS R series cameras.
You’ll probably feel right at home if you’ve already used a Canon EOS camera. It won’t be too tough to find everything you need, even if this is your first time using the brand. The EOS R7 manages to feature a deep, hefty grip, which is impressive for such a compact body and should be well-liked by photographers. The camera’s total size isn’t too large for shooting while traveling, either.
As you’d expect for a mid-range cameras you don’t have a top-plate Display for fast checking settings. Users of APS-C cameras shouldn’t feel too badly treated here because the same is true of the full-frame EOS R6. You do, however, receive a logically organized control scheme that includes a mode dial to the right of the viewfinder, a control dial just behind the shutter button, and specific buttons for ISO and video recording just behind that.
When you turn the camera around, you’ll see a joystick-cum-control wheel hybrid that some people might enjoy and others might really dislike. It does require some getting used to, particularly if you already possess a Canon camera. Yet, after a few days in its company, it begins to function fairly well in conjunction with the main control dial. Depending on the shooting mode you’re in, you can use the dials to change the shutter speed and aperture as well as navigate menus and playback photographs.
When shooting through the viewfinder, the joystick is perfect for moving the AF point around the frame. However, if “Touch and Drag” is enabled in the main menu, you can also move the AF point on the screen.
A four-way d-pad, a practical “Q” button for rapidly accessing your frequent settings, and buttons for playing back and erasing images are among the additional buttons. As almost all of the controls are on the right side of the camera, using it one-handed is perfect because everything is easily reachable with your thumb thanks to the compact size of the body.
EOS R7 from Canon: Performance
In a lot of respects, shooting with the R7 actually does seem like shooting with a mirrorless (read: leaner and smaller) 90D – but with many more bells and whistles.
The RF-S 18-150mm lens (or, rather, the lens for it) and the camera seem to have been built for each other, and they are an excellent partnership for videography as well as run-and-gun, travel, and everyday photography. For all-purpose shooting and content creation, this is a fantastic combo.
If you really want to get serious, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.8L USM and other high-end full-frame lenses, the R7 provides the speed and resolution to maximize their performance. You can’t really criticize the results, even though the larger L-series glass is enormous for the slimline APS-C body.
The amplification of focus lengths and how this helps wildlife photographers is where this camera really shines. If you attach the Canon RF 800mm f/11, you’ll have an effective 1280mm lens with 32MP of resolution, allowing you to crop in even more. This is all powered by lethal Animal AF.
Due to the amazing Dual Pixel AF II technology, the subject identification and tracking are superb. We photographed a variety of objects, including swiftly moving ice skaters, still models, and various waterfowl, and the autofocus never failed us.
It was highly instinctive while filming any kind of bird waddling and swimming rapidly through the frame. It was sticky and adaptive when switching between eye, head, and body detection while shooting skaters executing tricks. When recording video, the AF performs equally well and is not deceived by objects in the foreground that obscure people.
The buffer is constrained by the preference for SD cards versus CFexpress despite the camera’s lightning-fast shooting capabilities, with maximum bursts of 46 RAWs and 184 JPGs. But even with that, we were able to fire off regulated salvos and didn’t miss anything.
