Who will benefit from paying for the Canon 7D?
[If you're interested in the VIDEO features of the Canon 5D Mark II, 7D, and T2i / 550D, you may also find this article helpful: Canon SLRs for Video - JMG]
This week’s introduction of the new Canon 550D / Rebel T2i raises some interesting questions. This is a camera that clearly out-classes the Canon 50D in many regards, and has many of the features of the Canon EOS 7D, but at less than half the price (Currently $799 at Amazon.com). Will professional or semi-professional photographers be satisfied using the T2i instead of the 7D? What types of photographers will get any practical benefit from paying double for the Canon 7D?
Let’s get this out of the way first. If you’re at least a semi-pro, you’ll want to opt for the 550D designation over the “Rebel”, if it’s available. What photographer over the age of 15 wants a camera with “Rebel” in red letters across the front? Just kidding.
More seriously, though, let me do a quick side-by-side comparison of their features. If you’d like to see the whole table at once, just click use the drop-down menu at the top-left of the table:
| Canon 7D | Canon Rebel T2i (550D) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1599 | $799 |
| Body Material | Magnesium Alloy | Polycarbonate resin & fiberglass with Stainless Steel |
| LCD Monitor Size | 3.0" 920,000 pixels | 3.0" 1,040,000 pixels |
| Sensor | 18 Megapixel CMOS | 18 Megapixel CMOS |
| Crop Factor | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| Sensitivity (ISO Range) | 100-6400 +12800 | 100-6400 +12800 |
| Metering System | 63 Zone (point linked) Evaluative 9.4% Center Weighted 2.3% Spot | 63 Zone (point linked) Evaluative 9% Center Weighted 4% Spot |
| Focusing Points | 19-point dual diagonal cross-type | 9 Points, 1 cross-type at center |
| AF Working Range | -.05 EV to 18 EV | -.05 EV to 18 EV |
| Still Photo Frame Rate | 8 frames per second | 3.7 frames per second |
| Maximum Burst Duration | 94 jpg 15 RAW | 37 jpg 6 RAW |
| Exposure Compensation | 1/2 or 1/3 stops via thumb-wheel | 1/2 or 1/3 stops via dedicated button + dial |
| Shutter Speeds | 30 - 1/8000th sec. | 30 - 1/4000th sec. |
| Standard Flash Sync Speed | 1/250th sec. | 1/200th sec. |
| Highest Video Resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Max Video Frame Rates | 30 fps at 1080p 60 fps at 720p | 30 fps at 1080p 60 fps at 720p |
| Media Type | Compact Flash | SD / SDHC / SDXC |
| Weight | 820g | 530g |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% 1.0x magnification | 95% Frame .87x magnification |
The back of the Canon T2i is dominated by the 3" LCD
If you think any items should be added to this table for comparison, let me know.
There are certainly some differences between these cameras. The 7D has a metal body and a brighter viewfinder with full coverage. The 7D will feel better in your hand, and these things are always nice. On the other hand, the new 550D sports a higher resolution LCD than the 7D, which can be handy in the field.
The main differences, though, are centered around a very specific style of photography, and really might not be a benefit to many photographers. The main area difference? Speed. The Canon EOS 7D will focus on faster moving subjects, and take more photos at faster shutter speeds. It has a faster flash sync speed, too. Many of these are the result of the dual-processor power of the 7D, though some are certainly limitations for marketing purposes… (my Canon EOS A2 in 1994 had a 1/8000th sec. shutter speed at half the price of this camera… I’m sure this isn’t a technological based limitation for the “Rebel”. I don’t remember ever using it then, either).
For example, if you primarily shoot in the studio, there would be no benefit to spending the extra $900 on the 7D, especially for product photography. Since they use the same sensor, the image quality will be identical. Fast moving models might be a little more of an issue if you’re shooting with very dim modeling lights, but most models are staying within a relatively small studio space, so this just wouldn’t make much difference. In fact, a great deal of portraiture work would fall under this category as well.
Similarly, if you primarily shoot landscapes or other still-life fine art photography, you can expect the same image quality as that produced by the 7D, and being able to focus faster and take 8 frames per second won’t make any difference. Both have mirror lock-up, which is more important to this type of work. Indeed, if you’re backpacking and every ounce counts, the Rebel T2i / 550D has the benefit of being lighter. Keep in mind that if you’re rough on your cameras out there in the wild, the 7D will hold up better.
I suspect that the lens mount is the only metal portion of the housing of the Canon Rebel T2i / 550D
On the other hand, journalists who need to catch fast action on a regular basis will have better success with the 7D, as it has a superior auto-focus system. The Rebel T2i’s AF system is basically the same that found in the 40D, so if you have used that camera with success, the Rebel may suit your needs as well. Sports photographers will undoubtedly enjoy the accuracy of focus provided by the 7D.
Similarly, wedding photographers (especially wedding photojournalists) may find the speed and accuracy of the AF (as well as the other high-speed functions) useful for catching those moments that only happen once. If you’re a more traditional wedding portraitist, the 550D may suffice, especially as a backup. Indeed, you could buy two of the Rebels for the price of a 7D. David Ziser, a well known Ohio wedding Photographer (see his training videos on KelbyTraining.com) used a 40D for years. Personally, I would not use a 550D as my main camera for shooting weddings since my own work involves catching fleeting moments… but I’d consider using one for a backup or second body.
Needless to say, if you have the extra money, the Canon EOS 7D is going to be the superior camera. However, that saved $900 could buy a pretty nice lens (or two) or some pocket wizards or flashes… The choice in the end depends on your shooting style and how important it is to have extra money left over for extras.
As always, comments are welcome!
READY TO BUY ONE? I’ve found that the best prices are at Amazon, but some people prefer B&H for their selection and reputation.
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[...] Canon 7D vs. Canon Rebel T2i : Half the price… half the camera? | Light and Matter [...]
It’s my understanding that the Rebel T2i doesn’t output HD while recording, meaning that you can’t do critical focus using say, an HD on board monitor. Does anyone know if this is accurate, and secondly, does anyone have any info regarding firmware updates for the Rebel T2i that would enable it to do HD out while recording?
Francisco,
It’s true, sort of. Via HDMI, the T2i/550D only outputs SD video while recording. However, you can connect a laptop via USB and use the bundled software to view full HD video while recording. The nice thing is, most of us already have laptops that will do the job, so it saves a bit of money (even if it might seem like a clunky solution at first).
- Matthew
This question was posted in response to another article, but I thought that it might be more useful here… so I’m copying it, along with my response.
Ritam says:
June 19, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Dear Matthew,
I am fond of nature photography, photographing mostly flowers, larger flora and landscapes. I use canon 450d with canon 100mm 2.8 macro for macro shots and canon 17-40 L for landscapes. Now I have a possibility to purchase canon 5d for an affordable price. I would love, of course, to jump to canon 5d mark II, but that is still too expensive for me at present. At the same time I am thinking of changing to the recent canon 550d which has so lovely features of higher resolution, HD video and greatly improved LCD-screen at so affordable price. Could you please kindly advise me on what is the best option to go from 450d to 5d or 550d? First of all, I would like to have best image quality. I could not find anywhere a direct comparison of 550d with 5d, so it is difficult for me to jugde the difference in their image quality. Usually, of course, FF provides better image quality that crop. But, at the same time, 550d has greater resoluton and newer Digic IV processor and better gapless design of the matrix. So, could you please clarify something on their comparative image quality? For me, it is also very important that 550d has LiveView which is extremely helpful for shooting wild flowers with a tripod. I am acually scared of how I am going to shoot flowers with 5d without LiveView!
I would appreciate greatly also the video feature of 550d. And its improved LCD is supreb indeed and very helpful for evaluating the true image quality an the spot.
I am also worried that my lenses will work in a different way on 5d. Now my 100mm lens works in fact as a 160mm lens on FF, and that is not bad for macro. Besides, the cropped matrix provides greater DOF which is also very nice for macro (it is easier to get shallower DOF, that greater DOF). My 17-40 lens now works for me as a universal lens, for, in fact, it is somewhat 28-70mm lens on the crop, it suits fine my needs for shooting landscapes and large flora as well as family shots, etc. On the FF it will become an ultrawide zoom, and I am not sure if I really need so wide angle – till now, it is perfectly enough for me as real 28-70. Besides, I have read such a wide zoom looses, to certain extent, its image quality on the wide angles on FF, especially in the corners. All these differences make me hesitant.
But still, if 5d provides truly better qualtiy than 550d, then, I feel, im prepared to sacrifice the convenience of 550d for that.
Or would you recommend to content myself for the timebeing with 550d and just amass gradually the fortune to get 5d mark iI?
Thank you so much, if you will find time to answer me!
-Ritam
Reply
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Matthew says:
June 20, 2010 at 10:34 am
Hi Ritam,
That’s a very good question, and unfortunately, I don’t have an old 5D around for testing, which is really the best way to settle the matter.
Probably the most striking difference between the cameras will be the build quality. The 5D feels solid and heavy, and it will stand up to hard, professional use, whereas the 550D will feel like an entry-level camera. Some people don’t care about that sort of thing, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
But as for image quality…
If both cameras had 12.8 megapixel sensors, but one full-frame and one APS-C (1.6x), then to make a print of the same dimensions, the lens flaws recorded by the smaller sensor would have to be
magnified by 1.6x, and you’d therefore expect the image quality to be better from the larger sensor.
However, if you’re comparing an 18 megapixel with a 12.8, you’d have to enlarge your photos from the 12 megapixel sensor by 1.4x to get to the same print size, which means that you’d be enlarging those lens flaws anyway. It would be very slightly less (1.4x rather than 1.6x), but this difference is probably not significant, especially with high quality lenses (like yours).
So, right off, I think that the sensor size issue that IS significant when comparing the 5D Mark II and the 7D or 550D is not an issue between the 5D and the 550D; they should be about the same with regards to lens flaws, and the 550D ultimately gives you more resolution. There is also, as you mentioned, the “sweet spot” effect to consider: the 550D is using the highest resolution part of your lens’s frame of coverage, so you’re likely to be getting better and more even images anyway.
The other issue is technology age. Most importantly, the 5D’s sensor has 12-bit capture, while the
550D‘s has 14-bit. This is a very significant difference, especially in the shadow side of the histogram. With the 550D, you should expect more dynamic range and smoother tonal gradients. Of course, the 550D‘s Digic Processor is a newer model, and the sensor boasts two extra f-stops of exposure, and it should be more energy efficient and produce less noise, relatively speaking.
Despite how well the new generation of cameras handle noise, I’d guess that you’d still get slightly better noise performance in low light with the 5D in mid-range ISOs.
So, with all of that said, I would expect that you’ll get very similar image quality between the two cameras, but with good technique, it may be better with the 550D. And if you’re interested in the live view and video features of the 550D, I’d say you should go for it
Hope that helps a bit!
– Matthew
Thanks for your article. It provides some good things to think about.
I’ve been a video guy for some time, and one of the things that we all wanted for years when digital video cameras started becoming available was the ability to overcrank the camera (or in other words shoot at higher frame rates) to produce real slow motion when the footage was played back at 24 or 30 frames a second.
All the main prosumer HD camcorders out there now provide the capacity to shoot at 60 or 50 frames per second (progressive) to make real slow motion. However, I don’t know of any of them (at least none that cost less that say, $10,000) that can shoot full 1920×1080 HD at anything over 30 frames per second progressive.
When I saw that you listed the Canon 7D as being able to shoot at 60fps at a 1920×1080 resolution, I was a bit surprised. I’m afraid it’s too good to be true. I’ve had a look over at Canon’s website and read the specs for video. Here’s what it said:
“Advanced movie mode with manual exposure control and selectable frame rates: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD): 30p (29.97) / 24p (23.976) / 25p, 1280 x 720 (HD): 60p (59.94) / 50p, 640 x 480 (SD): 60p (59.94) / 50p.”
So at the bigger resolution, the camera just shoots at 30p, 24p and 25p (the European standard), and it’s not until you get down to 1280 x 720 that you start seeing 60p or 50p…just like the T2i. I had wondered if perhaps the dual Digic processors might make it so the 7D could get more video onto the CF card faster and therefore not have to buffer as much, such that perhaps it could shoot longer clips. However, the pages for both the 7D and the T2i over at usa.canon.com say that the cameras max out at 4gb per clip. For video people, this might make the T2i again more attractive, because it appears to have exactly the same video capabilities as the 7D.
Hi Matt,
Thanks for the correction! I’m not sure how I made the mistake, but I certainly did… I’ll correct it in the text shortly. As I’ve mentioned in other articles, I don’t shoot video at all… so I suppose I was probably just being lazy
- Matt
Incidentally, the 4GB file size limit is not related to the architecture of the camera; it’s due to the formatting of the cards. They use the older FAT32 file system (like Windows 98) rather than NTFS, and FAT32 does not support files larger than 4Gigs (minus 1 byte).
This seems to me (with a very limited understanding of the matter) like something that a firmware update COULD potentially change. If the camera supported an NTFS file system, and the cards were re-formatted to NTFS, there might be much less limitation on the duration… but that would be a very hefty chance to the Camera’s OS.
As Ever,
Matthew
“I suspect that the lens mount is the only metal portion of the housing of the Canon Rebel T2i / 550D”
I really doubted that statement so I did a quick magnet test, it sticks. Yup there seems to be a metal frame under it.
Interesting. I made that comment in jest (at least half-jest), but since Canon claims that it is made of polycarbonate, fiberglass resin, and stainless steel, I’m surprised that any of it is magnetic… since many of the formulations of stainless steel are non-magnetic. The chassis (frame) is stainless steel, but the housing truly is not made of metal… it is all polycarbonate.
Of course, much of the innards and electronics of the camera must be metallic. I’ll hope that you kept your magnet away from the storage media
The comment, though, was driven by the feel of these cameras. The rebel series usually feel like what they are… mainly plastic and resin, and they don’t have the robust feel of a professional camera. This can be an advantage sometimes, as long as you’re getting what you expect.
Although the “chassis” is officially stainless steel with a plastic body, you’ll get a better idea of what they mean by “chassis” if you take a look at the construction diagrams. There’s a great one published on DPreviews, here: http://a.img-dpreview.com/previews/CanonEOS550D/images/exploded.jpg as compared to the magnesium alloy bodies of the 7D, here: http://cpn.canon-europe.com/files/education/technical/eos7d/caption_020.jpg
I expect that Canon knew that the 550D would cannibalize 7D sales to some extent. Do we expect to see an updated model that supersedes the 7D?
Canon seems pretty consistent with giving each new model in the x0D (30d, 40d, 50d, etc.) series about 18 months before announcing a new model, so the 7D is relatively young if they stick to the same schedule (it only started shipping last autumn). It will be interesting to see how well the 550D will sell… the previous Rebel models have been top sellers in the USA, at least on Amazon.com.
- Matt
Very informative and well-flowing article. I didn’t know the T2i had so much in common with the 7D; it almost seems like the 7D isn’t really worth it for what you’re actually getting. I’m still shooting with the XTi so either would be a big leap ahead technology-wise, but the size of the body itself is a major factor for me; the XTi (which is around the same size as the T2i) doesn’t fit well in my hand. Thanks for the info!
Since I originally wrote this article, I’ve seen dozens of blogs saying things like “The T2i is a 7D Killer”, which is a little absurd. Anyone who actually fully uses the features of the 7D would not be satisfied with the Rebel T2i. However, I think it’s safe to say that there are many people who want the pixel count of the 7D, and maybe the HD video, but really don’t need the rest…. for those people, it’s a legitimate option.