One of the most beloved wildlife DSLRs, does the Canon 7D Mark II still have anything to offer a decade after release?
(Image credit: Canon)
When it came to sports and wildlife, the Canon 7D Mark II used to rule the roost for enthusiast shooters.
Its 20.2MP APS-C sensor didn't have the richest resolution, but it did have a 1.6x crop factor – the magic ingredient that made all your lenses even longer. Combined with the Canon 7D Mark II's 10fps burst shooting, weather sealing and dual memory card slots, this was an amazing camera for anyone shooting outdoor action without breaking the bank.
However, the Canon 7D Mark II is now a decade old. Launched in November 2014, it has been superseded twice – first indirectly by the Canon EOS 90D DSLR, then by the Canon EOS R7 mirrorless camera (which is its direct 7-series successor).
But does the little camera that could, still can?
I think this tried and tested DSLR still has a lot to offer. Obviously it's hard for ten-year-old tech to go toe-to-toe with today's cameras, where there have been enormous leaps in performance. Even the 90D gives you substantially more power, let alone the mirrorless R7 with its bleeding edge autofocus and blistering electronic shutter speed.
But the Canon 7D Mark II can be had for as little as 300 bucks at MPB.com in the UK and US. And while the tech is now very long in the tooth, you still get a lot of bang for those bucks.
In fact, one of the coolest things for me personally is that this is still a camera that has GPS – so you have a built-in compass and the ability to geotag your images (without the nonsense of pairing with your phone).
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The autofocus system is comparatively primitive, with only 65 focus points, but it's still powered by Canon's excellent Dual Pixel AF. And I love the old-fashioned, chunky controls on Canon's old DSLR bodies – they just feel great in the hand when you're tracking animals outdoors.
If you're on a budget, or a beginner, or you've never tried sports and wildlife photography and you want to give it a go without breaking the bank, picking up a Canon 7D Mark II is a great value way to get into action shooting.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
