What’s good about the Nikon D7100
Best price $1,197
Weighs a little bit less than the 7D 23.8 oz vs 28.9 oz
Smaller body size 67 in³ vs 75 in³
Higher sensor resolution 24.1 MP vs 18 MP
Larger image sensor 367 mm² vs 332 mm²
Higher resolution rear screen 1226k dots vs 920k dots
Better light sensitivity by 1 f-stop 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Newer camera March 2013 vs September 2009
Has HDR on-board 7D does not have HDR
Has panorama image capture 7D does not have panorama
Has 3D capture capabilities 7D does not have 3D
Has an HDMI port for photo playback 7D does not have HDMI
What’s good about the Canon EOS 7D
Best price $1,249
Better video capture 1080p 30fps vs 1080i 60fps
Faster continuous shooting speed 8 shots per second vs 6 shots per second
What the Nikon D7100 and Canon 7D have in common
Similar street prices $1,197 vs $1,249
Same viewscreen size 3.2″ vs 3.0″
Both are popular cameras based on user ratings
interchangeable lenses
RAW capture
hot shoe
What’s missing from both the Nikon D7100 and the Canon 7D
No GPS tagging
No waterproof housing
No external microphone jack
No Wi-Fi
No flip out viewscreen
Nikon D7100 vs Canon EOS 7D Mark II - which camera is for you?
Nikon has made its move to launch the Nikon D7100 and arrived just in time this month, so many start to ask this question again “when is the Canon 7D Mark II coming?”. It has been over 3 years and will be 4 years by this September since Canon released its 7D, a nice dslr camera for professionals. There have been dozens of rumours about Canon will soon release the 7D Mark II with much upgrade from its victorious predecessor. If the rumours have turned out to be not just rumours, this takes us to the next round of anticipated releases from Nikon and Canon, both in a similar bracket of being in the semi-pro/pro range of bodies that are likely to be around the £1,000 mark.
Ronaldo vs Messi. Apple vs Android. Lennon vs McCartney. Mac vs PC. Team Jacob vs Team Edward. There’s something strange within our human makeup that cannot resist a good old argument. People in general like to take sides, it gives a sense of belonging to a community with likeminded people who feel the same way as you, almost as if just because someone owns the same phone as you they will share the same God or religious beliefs as you, (well with the way some Apple fans worship Steve Jobs this could actually be true.)
But with love, comes hate. And there’s no doubt about it, the internet and the anonymity it brings with it can lead to some hilarious vitriol being spewed about. So this takes us to the heavyweight matchup of the photography world, Nikon vs Canon. Let’s be honest, the real professional photographers know the argument is non-existent, it’s not the equipment that separates the men from the boys and the best photographers will get better images, regardless of brand. The truth is the very minute advantages one brand has over the other, (such as Nikon winning the megapixel count race or Canon being slightly less expensive), is so small it’s barely worth writing about. Combined, the two companies own over 90% of the DSLR market and for good reason, they both make exceptionally high quality equipment and the healthy competition at the end of the day just leads to better products for us as the consumer. Everyone wins.
However, with the launch of the Nikon D7100 available now with all the amazing features, it is understandable that you (perhaps a Canon Fanboy) are attempted by it. In real, there are loyal Apple fans switching to Samsung because of the design, the features, or the OS. Let’s compare the specs of the Nikon D7100 and the rumours 7D Mark II and decide if you should wait…..
Nikon D7100
There was a brief look at some of the D7100 DX camera last month in our Nikon camera comparison article. The keyword there being ‘brief’, and that’s because review models you can actually get hold of and play with are still hard to come by. What we do know from the stats however is that the D7100 has a new 24.1-megapixel CMOS sensor that uses a 51-point Autofocus system. A new sensor has no built in Anti-Alias filter like the previous model, meaning images will be sharper and truer.
Enhancements are aplenty, such as wireless uploading using the Wireless Mobile Adapter, in camera HDR, a new OLED viewfinder with 100% coverage, post processing photo effects, a stereo mic and headphone jack, and the body is housed in a moisture and dust proof magnesium alloy shell.
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Now this might prove difficult to compare due to the fact that the 7D Mark 2 hasn’t had its specs officially announced yet, but as with almost all technology releases, there’s very little in the form of surprises and information gets leaked through various channels, so we can hazard a good guess and compare. The 7D has proved to be hugely popular since its release in 2009, bridging the gap between the average DSLR, and Canon’s higher end models which can prove out of reach financially and practically to some, such as the 5D. There was an extensive marketing campaign for the 7D by Canon at the time, and for good reason, they pushed the boat on in terms of features and you certainly got more than your money’s worth. The autofocus system was better than anything seen on an APS-C camera, and 8fps shooting helped to push this camera into the ‘semi-pro’ range. A viewfinder with 100% coverage and improved weather sealing helped sell a camera as it took features normally only found on Canon’s flagship bodies.
Fast forward 3 and a half years, and it’s obvious how good the 7D was and still is, by the fact that many of the features it had then, still hold up and as are important today, such as the 18 megapixel sensor or full manual controls for recording the 1080p HD video. The most important aspect though as with any camera is the image quality, and the 7D does not disappoint, even at high ISO’s, noise is minimal and images pin sharp, (with the correct lenses).
So what can we expect from the next incarnation of the 7D? Taken from various sources in the know, (a.k.a. employees working in Japan who can’t keep their mouths shut), these are some details that are rumoured –
24.1 megapixel APS-C sensor
New 61 point AutoFocus system
Larger 3.2” screen with 100% coverage
Dual DIGIC V processors
10 fps continuous shooting
Dual Memory Card slots
ISO and build quality close to the 5D Mark III
GPS and Wi-Fi built in
Sounds pretty impressive right? Well this also is likely to come at a big price increase, rumours are the body will cost at least US$2,200, which could push it into the price range of full frame cameras. The stats make the new 7D seem like a baby 1DX, a professional level camera just not full frame, and with very slightly less features required, such as weather sealing which is only really required for togs who have to brave the rain no matter what, such as sports photographers in the rain, otherwise known as sports photographers based in Britain.
The sensor is interesting, in that Canon knows Nikon has had a recent advantage in the megapixel race, and Canon will be expected to at least match the 24.2 megapixels that the Nikon D7100 has. The increased autofocus points and ability to now shoot at 10fps shows that Canon is still very much targeting this camera as an affordable alternative for those wishing to shoot action such as sports or wildlife.
The price is undoubtedly going to put some people off, when you can pick up a second hand but full frame 5D Mark II for that price. The justify spending that amount on a crop sensor the image quality and ISO performance is going to have to really stand up and better the 5D Mark II, which will be no mean feat. Canon are not dummies however, and they know that the crop sensor will help those without an unlimited budget as coupled with their lenses, the crop factor will help the user get in closer to things such as birds and animals. Also, they don’t want this camera to be competing with the 1D or 5D, but the new 7D will be firmly the third highest spec after them though.
Which camera is for you?
Other features will be compared, and Canon knows it will have to offer features that better the D7100 considering it is likely to be £400-500 more expensive and come out likely almost 6 months later, in the autumn. With the D7100 now propping up for sale across retailers though, it could be a case that Nikon has beaten Canon to the punch, by releasing a camera which could almost be as good as, if not certainly not worth £500 less than, the new 7D. Of course this won’t necessarily matter too much or hurt Canon’s sales, as a lot of people buying the new 7D will probably be upgrading as they already have Canon’s lenses and will stay loyal to the brand. For the new user deciding between the two though, it could be a case of that this question cannot be answered until 6 months’ time, when the new 7D is actually reviewed. For now, the D7100 is the latest choice, and one that you cannot go wrong with, the software features are the most up to date on the market and you are buying into a brand that offers a back catalogue of lenses to suit any user or scenario.
If you are a complete newbie though, you probably don’t need all these bells and whistles, and I would probably go for the current 7D, the one you can pick up right now and rightful winner of so much praise since its release. Its versatility and image quality means that it won’t be obsolete even when the 7D Mark II is eventually released, and as a new user, there is nothing to really limit yourself expect your work rate and creativity. Advanced features are exactly that, for the advanced user, and by the time you learn enough on your first camera, you are in a much better position to work out what features you really need and will use.
