Canon EOS 7D Samples

The Canon EOS 7D is compared to its predecessor, the K-7, below. All images below are 100% unmodified crops from their respective cameras. Both cameras were set on aperture-priority mode with fixed ISO. Picture style is standard on the 7D and bright on the K-7. Noise reduction is off on both cameras, although they seem to still apply some, as shown by the variation in softness. Remaining settings were left on automatic. The Canon was fitted with a EF 50mm F1.4 USM lens and the Pentax with a DA* 55mm F1.4.

These cameras produce very different output. Under indoor lighting, the white-balance system leave a noticeable difference in color, with the K-7 being closer to reality. Image sharpness is clearly better on the 7D, although this may have to do with the processing more than anything else, as seen in the edges of the figure on the Canon.

Note: Pentax K-7 images to be reshot to check for focus error, as these crops are softer than the ones taking using the same camera and lens for the outdoor crops. Noise characteristics are the same regardless of focus.

Canon EOS 7D	Pentax K-7
ISO 100	ISO 100
ISO 200	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 400
ISO 800	ISO 800
ISO 1600	ISO 1600
ISO 3200	ISO 3200
ISO 6400	ISO 6400
ISO 12800	The main thing to look at here is image noise. Although noise levels start the same, the EOS 7D takes the lead at ISO 1600 and up. At the higher sensitivities, the 7D shows between 1 and 1 1/2 stops advantage over the Pentax K-7. This is quite an achievement for the 7D which is also higher resolution than the K-7 by 3 megapixels. Details are also reasonably kept as ISO increases which is not something usually seen.