Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D7000

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      Overview

      In this comparison, we will evaluate the Canon EOS 7D and the Nikon D7000, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

      Canon EOS 7D was introduced in November 2009 and Nikon D7000 was introduced in November 2010. Let us first list highlights of the models.

      Canon EOS 7D Highlights

      • 18.0 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
      • 100 - 6,400 Native ISO
      • 19 Focus Points
      • 3.0" 920k dot Fixed Screen
      • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
      • 8.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • 30 min Video Recording Limit
      • Built-in Flash
      • Wheather Sealed Body

      Nikon D7000 Highlights

      • 16.2 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
      • 100 - 6,400 Native ISO
      • 39 Focus Points (39 Cross-type)
      • 3.0" 921k dot Fixed Screen
      • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
      • 6.0 fps Continuous Shooting
      • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
      • Built-in Flash
      • Wheather Sealed Body

      Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

      Pros and Cons

      In this section we present pros and cons of Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7000.

      PROS

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      •   Video Capture
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Orientation Sensor
      •   Video Capture
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   Built-in Flash
      •   HDMI Output
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Long Battery Life - 1050 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      CONS

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth


      And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

      AVERAGE

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      •   Sensor Resolution - 18.0 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   19 Focus Points
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
      •   DxO Overall Score - 66
      •   Weight - 860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 800 shots
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16.2 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   -1 EV Min AF Detection
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
      •   DxO Overall Score - 80
      •   Weight - 780 g (1.72 lb / 27.51 oz)

      Advantage of Canon EOS 7D

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Canon EOS 7D over Nikon D7000.

      Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D7000
      Higher Sensor Resolution 18.0 Megapixel vs 16.2 Megapixel
      Max Image Resolution 5184 x 3456 vs 4928 x 3264
      Higher Max Continuous Shooting 8.0 fps vs 6.0 fps
      Higher Max Flash Compensation +3 EV vs +1 EV
      Partial Metering vs

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Canon EOS 7D.

      Advantage of Nikon D7000

      This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon D7000 over Canon EOS 7D.

      Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D7000
      Higher Boosted ISO 12,800 vs 25,600
      Timelapse Recording vs
      More Focus Points 19 vs 39
      Center Autofocus vs
      Tracking Autofocus vs
      Higher Resolution Screen 920k dot vs 921k dot
      Average Metering vs
      Lower Min Metering +1 EV vs 0 EV
      Higher DxO Low Light ISO 854 vs 1167
      Higher DxO Color Depth 22.0 vs 23.5
      Higher DxO Dynamic Range 11.7 vs 13.9
      Higher DxO Overall Score 66 vs 80
      Speaker vs Mono
      Lighter 860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz) vs 780 g (1.72 lb / 27.51 oz)
      Longer Battery Life 800 shots vs 1050 shots
      More Storage Slots 1 vs 2

      Check out other cameras which are frequently compared to Nikon D7000.

      Common Strengths and Weaknesses

      We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

      STRENGTHS Canon EOS 7D Nikon D7000
        Video Capture
        Face Detection
        Live View Autofocus
        High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain)1/8000 sec1/8000 sec
        Built-in Flash
        HDMI Output Mini Mini Type C
        Environmental Sealing
        Orientation Sensor
      WEAKNESSES Canon EOS 7D Nikon D7000
        No Image Stabilization
        Screen TypeFixedFixed
        Low Video Resolution1920 x 10801920 x 1080
        No Headphone Output
        No Built-in GPS
        No Built-In Wi-Fi via Eye-Fi
        No Built-In Bluetooth

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Screen

      Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7000 have 3.0" Fixed screens with 920k dot and 921k dot resolutions respectively.


      Viewfinder

      Cameras have built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinders. They both have 100% coverage.

      Sensor

      Canon EOS 7D features a 18.0 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 22.3 x 14.9 mm and a total area of 332.3 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 100 - 12,800 in boosted mode. Nikon D7000 features a 16.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.6 x 15.6 mm and a total area of 243.4 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 100 - 25,600 in boosted mode.


      Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

      Sensor size chart
      Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
      Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
      Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
      Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
      Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
      Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
      Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

      Photography Features

      Canon EOS 7D is equipped with Dual DIGIC 4 processor and can take pictures up to 5184 x 3456 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 5184 x 3456, 3888 x 2592, 3456 x 2304, 2592 x 1728 with 3:2 aspect ratios. Nikon D7000 is equipped with EXPEED 2 processor and can take pictures up to 4928 x 3264 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 3696 x 2448, 2464 x 1632 with 3:2 aspect ratios.


      Lens Mount

      Canon EOS 7D has Canon EF/EF-S lens mount and Nikon D7000 has Nikon F lens mount. They both have APS-C sensor but because of a small size difference their crop factors (also called lens multiplier) differ from each other. Canon EOS 7D has the crop factor of 1.6x which means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.6. Nikon D7000 has the crop factor of 1.5x which means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.


      No Image Stabilization

      The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Canon EOS 7D it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Nikon D7000 nothing can be done. On Nikon D7000 it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Canon EOS 7D nothing can be done.

      Connectivity, Battery and Storage

      USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

      Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. Canon EOS 7D has a Mini HDMI and Nikon D7000 has a Mini Type C HDMI connector for video signal output.


      Battery

      Canon EOS 7D comes with LP-E6 battery pack with battery life of 800 shots and Nikon D7000 comes with EN-EL15 battery pack with battery life of 1050 shots.


      External Storage Slots

      Canon EOS 7D has a single CompactFlash (Type I/II, UDMA 7) card slot. Nikon D7000 has Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slots.

      Other Features

      Shutter

      Canon EOS 7D has Electronic shutter and Mechanical Focal Plane shutter. Nikon D7000 has Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/8000 sec on Canon EOS 7D, and up to 1/8000 sec on Nikon D7000. Canon EOS 7D can shoot continuously up to 8.0 fps. Nikon D7000 can shoot continuously up to 6.0 fps.


      Focusing

      Canon EOS 7D has 19 focusing points and Nikon D7000 has 39 (9 cross-type) focusing points. Nikon D7000 has detection range from -1 to +19 EV.


      Exposure

      Exposure meterings of Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7000 range from +1 to +20 EV and 0 to +20 EV respectively and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range. You can also do exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Canon EOS 7D and exposure lock, exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Nikon D7000.


      Flash

      Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 12.00 m on Canon EOS 7D and 12.00 m at ISO 100 on Nikon D7000. They also accept external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe or PC Terminal or Wireless Speedlite EX to Canon EOS 7D and via Hot Shoe or Wireless connection to Nikon D7000. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/250 sec on both cameras.

      Physical Parameters

      Canon EOS 7D body has dimensions of 148 x 111 x 74 mm (5.83 x 4.37 x 2.91") and Nikon D7000 body has dimensions of 132 x 105 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.13 x 3.03"). Canon EOS 7D weighs 860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz) and Nikon D7000 weighs 780 g (1.72 lb / 27.51 oz).

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      148 mm

      111 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      132 mm

      105 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      111 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      105 mm

      Image cannot be displayed


      74 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      77 mm

      Image cannot be displayed

      Size comparisons of Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7000

      Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7000 for Different Types of Photography

      We give scores to the cameras for six types of photography based on their features and specifications. Let us see how suitable they are for each type of photography.

      Landscape Photography

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      GOOD
      80
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      GOOD
      81
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing

      Sports Photography

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      AVERAGE
      68
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   19 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps
      •   Battery Life - 800 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      70
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
      •   Long Battery Life - 1050 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Wildlife Photography

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      AVERAGE
      63
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   19 Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Battery Life - 800 shots
      •   Orientation Sensor
      AVERAGE
      66
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Long Battery Life - 1050 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Portrait Photography

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      GOOD
      80
      •   19 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor
      GOOD
      78
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
      •   Orientation Sensor

      Street Photography

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      GOOD
      78
      •   19 Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz)
      GOOD
      79
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 780 g (1.72 lb / 27.51 oz)

      Travel Photography

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      GOOD
      77
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 800 shots
      GOOD
      79
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 780 g (1.72 lb / 27.51 oz)
      •   Long Battery Life - 1050 shots

      Evaluations

      We evaluate Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D7000 and give them scores of 68 and 69 out of 100 recpectively. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      OVERALL
      68
      OVERALL
      69

      Sensor

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      AVERAGE
      68
      •   Sensor Resolution - 18.0 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   DxO Overall Score - 66
      AVERAGE
      69
      •   Sensor Resolution - 16.2 Megapixel
      •   100 Lowest Native ISO
      •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
      •   DxO Overall Score - 80

      Photo

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      AVERAGE
      68
      •   Timelapse Recording
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 8.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec
      GOOD
      70
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   High Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/8000 sec
      •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
      •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/250 sec

      Video

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      BAD
      16
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
      •   Low Video Recording Limit
      BAD
      14
      •   No Image Stabilization
      •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080

      Focusing

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      GOOD
      81
      •   19 Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus
      GOOD
      83
      •   -1 EV Min AF Detection
      •   39 Focus Points
      •   9 Cross-type Focus Points
      •   Face Detection
      •   Live View Autofocus

      Screen and Viewfinder

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      GOOD
      73
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 920k dot
      GOOD
      73
      •   Fixed Screen
      •   Screen Size - 3.0"
      •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot

      Connectivity

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      GOOD
      75
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth
      GOOD
      75
      •   HDMI Output
      •   No Headphone Output
      •   No Built-in GPS
      •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
      •   No Built-In Bluetooth

      Battery, Storage and Physical

      Canon EOS 7D

      Nikon D7000

      AVERAGE
      68
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 860 g (1.90 lb / 30.34 oz)
      •   Battery Life - 800 shots
      GOOD
      75
      •   Environmental Sealing
      •   Weight - 780 g (1.72 lb / 27.51 oz)
      •   Long Battery Life - 1050 shots
      •   2 Storage Slots


      For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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