Canon EOS R7 Review: Your Next APS-C King

The Canon EOS R7 is a mirrorless camera that has an APS-C sensor from canon. It is one of the first two cameras, alongside the EOS R10, that uses Canon RF-mount lenses which is great because finally, there is an affordable option for those who want to make the switch from a DSLR.

So who is this camera for? Let’s find out in this review.

Canon EOS R7 Design and Ergonomics

The Canon EOS R7 is currently the best APS-C camera from Canon. It is their top-of-the-line. This means some of the features of the more expensive full-frame cameras are also available here.

The first feature that is carried over is shutter protection. The shutter can actually come down to protect the sensor. This added layer of protection is great to prevent dust from entering the sensor.

Moreover, I like the design language of the camera with all the mode dials easily accessible. The right side of the camera has an all-new quick control dial with a multi-directional joystick. The position is perfect and easy to navigate. The lower right side of the body has the traditional D-Pad that is tactile like the other buttons. 

Moving on to the top, there is no built-in flash which is odd because the Canon EOS 7D back then has one. 

Beside the hot shoe, you will spot the mode dial, ISO button, a dedicated recording button, and other controls. 

The left side of the camera houses the HDMI port, USB-C, and audio inputs.

Now let us talk about the ergonomics of this camera.

The Canon EOS R7 is comfortable to hold. The grip has a deep groove that fits my hand perfectly. It is not that heavy too and with a lens attached, it felt well-balanced.

The grip alone makes it stand out over its competitors such as the Sony A6600. The R7 is larger and more comfortable to use for long hours, unlike the A6600whicht is surely lighter at the expense of grip and comfort.

The Canon EOS R7 has dust and moisture resistance like its full-frame siblings. Canon mentioned that the body has the same material as the Canon 90D and it is obvious because it does not feel as durable as the Canon R5 and the Canon R6 in the hand. It lacks the weight that makes you confident that it is built to last.

Ease of Use

If you are switching from a Canon DSLR and you will feel right at home with the Canon R7. The menu, despite being long, is still leaps ahead compared to Sony’s cluttered menu.

The good thing though is that the touch screen is responsive and will easily take you to the Settings that you want to change.

The multiple customizable buttons also help greatly with convenience. I set them up to my most-used settings and I am good to go.

Now, the Canon R7 has dual card slots. This is great because it could potentially be a backup camera for professionals. I mean, the R7 would even work as the main camera.

Point is, that the dual card slots are nice to have but Canon’s implementation this time is less than ideal. 

See, the R7 will record everything that you want to. However, it will stop writing into the first card until it is full and you need to manually switch it to the second card. It does not do card overflow.

It is kind of pointless to introduce a neat feature and then half-heartedly implement it. Dual card slots are there to let the photographer do the work and not fiddle with replacing cards or in this case, the menu.

Moving on, that’s the only grip I had in terms of usage. The menu, button placement, and other features are all great.

Lastly, the flip screen is a nice touch, especially for people like me who take videos regularly.

Autofocus Performance

The Canon R7 autofocus performance is impressive. It felt the same as the Canon R5 and the R6.

Shooting people with face and eye detection activated nails the subject most of the time. Now, the problem kicks in when you try to switch from people to an object swiftly. Sometimes, it hunts a little but once it locks the focus then you are good to go.

Combine the R7 with Canon L lenses and it is a superb setup. The focus is spot on and I did not feel any slow down at all. However, combine it with the entry-level lenses and you will notice a little bit of slow down. Not sluggish, just a tad slower than usual.

The continuous shooting speed can easily keep up with the AF speed. Sometimes there are misses when shooting in burst, but for its price, the R7 can easily keep up with the big boys.

Canon EOS R7 Image and Video Quality

The Canon R7 has a new 32.5-megapixel APS-C sensor. It is accompanied by a new DIGIC X processor as well so the image quality is spectacular.

The noise performance of the new sensor is excellent. Shooting at ISO 3200 yields little to low noise and even going higher to ISO 6400 is acceptable.

RAW performance is phenomenal as expected. The dynamic range is deep and it is easy to pull details from the shadows.

I have not shot that much video with the Canon R7 to speak of fair judgment. But for the small clips that I took, I am impressed.

There is a rolling shutter present but it is not as apparent as Sony cameras which is great for tracking and panning footage.

To put it simply, the R7 meets the expectations when it comes to video quality. It is a contender for those who are looking for a camera that can take photos and videos that can compete with more expensive models.

Verdict

The Canon EOS R7 is set to be the Canon 7D of this generation and I think that moniker is fitting. It can easily compete with the Sony A6600, even better in some aspects.

This camera has excellent autofocus and is perfect for wildlife and sports. Portraits? Street? Product shoots? This camera can handle it easily.

Battery life is great, not DLSR-level of juice, but will last for a couple of hours of shooting. 

The screen looks vibrant and does not look dull at all. It even has a higher resolution than other cameras at the same price point. Lastly, the USB-C charging is a nice addition.

So who is the Canon R7 for?

It is for Canon DLSR users who want to switch to a new mirrorless camera without breaking the bank. This camera is also great for sports and wildlife photographers. Also, this camera is a value-for-money if you have a Canon system because of adapters.

Ultimately, the Canon R7 is a well-rounded camera that will work great for intermediate shooters who needs a performance upgrade. For professionals, if you have RF lenses already then the R7 is a great secondary camera. It is tough and it will deliver when you need it the most.