Why The Canon 7D Will Be A Full Frame DSLR

There's been talk online that the coming Canon 7D will have a 1.6X sensor.

Here's the 7D specs I've seen quoted for such a camera.

Canon EOS 7D
1.6x crop format
-18mp
- dual digic 4
- 8 fps
- 19 af points (all cross type)
- ISO 100-6400 (L & H1 & H2)
- 63 metering zones
- 100% viewfinder
- Horizon Help Viewfinder
- 3″ VGA LCD
- FullHD Video
- Built in Flash Master

There's a few reasons this just isn't going to happen.

First of all, this sounds an awful lot like what the 60D will be, doesn't it? So unless Canon is just starting a new naming system for their XXD line of DSLRs, this certainly won't be what the Canon 7D is going to look like.

Granted, the above specs sound like a great Canon DSLR, and I do think you'll see one released pretty much as per these specs, but it'll be the Canon 60D, not the 7D.

The Canon 7D needs to be a full frame DSLR. Nikon has positioned itself nicely in the full frame DSLR market with its two sets of full frame siblings, the D3 and the D700, and the D3X and the coming D700X. Canon needs a full frame DSLR that sits below the 5D MkII in their lineup.

When the Canon 1D MkIV and the Canon 1Ds MkIV come out, Canon will then have four full frame DSLRs in their lineup, with the 7D and the 5D MkII rounding out the team. At the moment, strangely enough, Canon is lagging behind Nikon in their full frame DSLR offerings. I don't expect them to leave that alone for long, and the Canon 7D is going to fill in that hole nicely for them.

These are exciting times folks! Never have we had so many great options to choose from! With Sony fighting hard with the introduction of their Sony Alpha A850, full frame, 25 MP DSLR at around $2000 (check out Michael Reichmann's great Alpha 850 review over at Luminous Landscape), the full frame DSLR market is heating up.

**Update: Well, I was wrong and Canon is stupid. The Canon 7D has been announced, and there's no full frame, just an updated 50D. :-( **

More on the Canon 7D...

Re-Evaluating the Canon 7D

Will the Canon 7D Be Able To Take On The Nikon D700X?

Canon EOS 7D - One Flickr Users Canon 7D PipeDream

Canon EOS 7D - Why Most Of The Canon 7D Specs Are Wrong

Canon EOS 7D - Will We Be Seeing a Canon 7D in September?

Canon EOS 7D - Why Most Of The Canon 7D Specs Are Wrong

So, with the Canon 7D rumors heating up, I got to talking with one of my photographer friends about what the 7D specs will be.

Here's the Canon 7D specs that are prevalent online.

EOS 7D
12.1mp Full Frame
DIGIC IV
3″ OLED
ISO 100-25,600
3.9fps

I agree that the 7D will likely be full frame, but I doubt the Canon 7D will be 12.1 megapixels. Canon is going to want to one up the Nikon D3 and the Nikon D700 by giving the 7D a higher megapixel sensor AND cleaner high ISO. I'm guessing the Canon 7D will have a 16 to 18 megapixel sensor, at least on par with the Nikon D3 and D700 for high ISO.

Digic IV on a Canon 7D is a given. Why would they backstep to older technology as this DPReview poster says in his post on the 7D? It's more likely they'd use the 7D to introduce a new Digic V than it is for the 7D to have Digic III.

3" OLED... yeah, yeah. Pretty standard now. The Canon 7D will have one.

3.9fps depends on the sensor size. If the rumors are right, and the Canon 7D has a 12.1 megapixel sensor, then I think 3.9fps is low. I'd say 5 or 6fps if the 7D has a 12.1 megapixel sensor. If I'm right, and the Canon 7D has a 16 to 18 megapixel sensor, then sure, 3.9fps for the 7D sounds about right. Still might be higher though. :)

Now what about video? Will the Canon 7D have video or will they leave the video feature off the 7D as a way to keep the cost down and differentiate the 7D from the 5D MkII? Tough call. I know one thing. I'd gladly give up video on the Canon 7D if I can have a 16 to 18 megapixel sensor that's as clean as the Nikon D3 and D700.

The body of a Canon 7D will likely be similar to a 5D MkII or Canon 50D. Not 1D or 1Ds class, but solid enough for most shooters. I'm ok with that.

My big question, and Peter Gregg's as well, is if Canon will have a solid autofocus sytem in the new Canon DSLR cameras like the Canon 1D MkIV, Canon 7D, and Canon 60D. Canon really can't take another big screw-up like their 1D MkIII, so let's hope so!

More on the Canon 7D...

Re-Evaluating the Canon 7D

Canon EOS 7D - One Flickr Users Canon 7D PipeDream

Having focus problems with your 5D MkII? You're not alone!

Canon EOS 5D MkII Autofocus: Unhappy 5D MkII Users Speak Out