While some manufacturers are including 4K and giving extremely good low-light performance in their under $3,000 cameras, Canon has chosen a slightly more conservative approach with their video specs, giving 1080p 60fps and clean HDMI, and autofocus during video (which should be pretty usable based on their other cameras). Stills however, are greatly improved, with up to 10fps shooting, so this is going to be a great camera for action photographers.


Canon_7D_Mark_II_hiRes_eos7d_lcd

Here are the specs:

  • 20.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors
  • 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Clear View II LCD Monitor
  • 1920 x 1080: 60 fps, 30 fps, 24 fps
  • 1280 x 720: 60 fps, 30 fps
  • 640 x 480: 30 fps
  • ISO 100-16000 (Extended Mode: 100-51200)
  • 1/8" Headphone, 1/8" Microphone, HDMI C (Mini), USB 3.0
  • Clean HDMI 8-bit 4:2:2
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Live View
  • 65-Point All Cross-Type AF System
  • Continuous 10 fps Shooting
  • Shutter: up to 1/8000 second
  • Magnesium Alloy Body Construction
  • Built-In GPS Receiver & Digital Compass
  • Availability: November 2014
  • Price: $1,800 Body Only, $2,150 with EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens

Some intro videos from Canon:

And more on the video features:

Full HD 1080p video recording is supported in multiple frame rates, up to 60 fps, in both the MOV and MP4 file formats. Additionally, uncompressed video can be recorded to an optional external recorded via the HDMI output. In-camera video is recorded using the high quality H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec and manual exposure control is supported for greater refinement over the look and feel of recordings. Video clips are automatically partitioned after the file size has reached 4GB and both IPB and All i-frame compressions are available for use depending on editing and output preferences.

When recording video, customizable Movie Servo AF can be utilized to adjust the focusing location, speed, and tracking intervals for fluid and smooth AF quality. Support is also available for STM lenses, which deliver exceptionally quiet and smooth focusing to benefit the overall quality of movies.

In-camera audio is recorded using the Linear PCM format for MOV files, or the AAC format for MP4 files, and support is available for utilizing an optional external microphone during recording. Additionally, a headphone input is also available for real-time audio monitoring.

Canon_7D_Mark_II_hiRes_eos7d_top

Stills, as usual, look pretty great, but what many of you are wondering about is the video quality. We haven't gotten any clear indication how much video is improved, but after 5 years of release, it would be surprising if we still had aliasing/moire in a DSLR in this price range. The 5D Mark III is only two years old, so with the way Canon moves I don't see the 7D Mark II being leaps and bounds better (if at all). We've got some important features that bring it up to par with more cameras in this range, like 60fps at 1080p and clean 1080p HDMI out (8-bit) versus 720p on the 7D, and some decent improvements in ISO performance. While the previous 7D started getting pretty noisy in video around 2000-2500 ISO, this camera will probably be a stop or two better (based on 6400 max vs. 16,000 max for the new camera), which would likely give you usable 6400 ISO (at the very least probably clean 3200 ISO).

Other than that we haven't really seen much in the way of video quality except for two low-quality, non-full-screenable videos Canon has on their website, but if I can find higher quality versions, I will post them:

It's kind of hard to tell from these videos, and it's a little crazy in 2014 that you'd spend so much money on these promos and then bury them on the website in non-HD form. Either way, we'll have to wait and see for some real video samples that give us a sense of what the camera can do.

They also announced three new lenses, two full-frame lenses, 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM400mm f/4 DO IS II USM, and an APS-C lens, 24mm f/2.8 STM:

EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

$600, Available in December

Canon EF 24-105mm f:3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens

EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM

$6,900, Available in November 

Canon EF 400mm f:4 DO IS II USM Lens

EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM

$150, Available in November

Canon EFS 24mm f:2.8 STM Lens

Canon 7D Mark II Body Only — B&H

Canon 7D Mark II with 18-135mm — B&H

Source: Canon 7D Mark II