Compared to its predecessors, many changes have been made to the EOS 7D Mark II, the first revamped model in five years. This article is an interview with the developers to obtain first-hand information on the advancements made in the camera body, and to find out more about the appeal of the EOS 7D Mark II. (Reported by: Ryosuke Takahashi)
Q: Does the body have a dust- and moisture-resistant structure?
A:
"Yes, the body is designed with considerations given to its dust- and moisture-resistance." In response to feedback on the design of the EOS 7D, dust- and moisture-resistance is about four times stronger on the EOS 7D Mark II, with enhancements made to many parts of the body, including the strap mount and battery compartment cover.
Q: What materials are used for the body?
A:
"The top, front, and rear covers make use of magnesium alloy, which is tough and has an electromagnetic shielding effect." Besides the high strength, magnesium alloys are also known to have good heat dissipation performance. This material is also indispensable for producing a solid design as well as an elegant texture and feel.
Q: Is the size of the pentaprism similar to that of the EOS 7D?
A:
"Redundant parts are omitted to make the pentaprism more compact compared to that of the EOS 7D. However, there is no difference in their performance as an optical prism." It is rationally designed to create space for accommodating new features such as the GPS antenna without compromising the optical performance.
Q: What is the maximum number of shots that can be taken when the battery is fully charged?
A:
"During viewfinder shooting at a temperature of 23°C and at AE 100%, the maximum number of shots is 800. When using 50% of the built-in flash, the maximum number is 670 shots. Under the same conditions during Live View shooting, the maximum numbers are 270 and 250 shots at AE 100% and flash 50% respectively." These are the numbers when the LP-E6N battery is used.
Viewfinder Shooting (Room Temperature): Approx. 670 shots
Live View Shooting (Room Temperature): Approx. 250 shots
Q: What are the advancements made in the GUI?
A:
"Scalable fonts are used to enhance the expressiveness of the interface. Also, more detailed information can now be displayed on the playback screen, and a larger number of items can be registered to My Menu." Scalable fonts are fonts with a negligible amount of jagged edges.
Q: In what ways are the dual card slots useful?
A:
"Having dual card slots allows the camera to switch to a different card automatically, and you can record different data to different cards. At the same time, it also widens the user's options in card selection with each slot supporting the CF and SD card format respectively. Also, you can play back or check images captured by another Canon camera on the EOS 7D Mark II."
Q: Is the visibility of the viewfinder better than that of the EOS 7D?
A:
"Their optical characteristics are identical. However, with enhancements made to the mat surface of the focusing plate, graininess is reduced compared to the EOS 7D, while it has also become easier to identify the focus." Viewfinder coverage is about 100%, the same as its predecessor, and a magnification of 1x is achieved. The eyepoint is about 22mm.
A: Pentaprism
B: Metering Sensor
C: Eyepiece Lens
D: For displaying viewfinder information
E: LCD (lower) for displaying viewfinder information
F: Focusing Screen
G: Transparent LCD
H: LED Light of Transparent LCD
I: Light Guide for Illumination of Transparent LCD
Q: Can the battery grip for EOS 7D be used on the EOS 7D Mark II?
A:
"No. Please make use of the BG-E16 designed for the EOS 7D Mark II." The new Battery Grip BG-E16 is made of magnesium alloy, and is dust- and moisture-resistant. It also comes with a separate AF area selection button.
Q: Is the structure of the LCD screen equivalent to that of the EOS 7D?
A:
"The resolution is about 1,040,000 dots compared to about 920,000 dots on the EOS 7D, and a Clear View II LCD screen is adopted." As mentioned in the interview, the LCD screen of the EOS 7D Mark II is wider, which accounts for the proportionate increase in the number of dots.
Clear View LCD
A: Protective Cover
B: Anti-reflection Coating
C: LCD Panel
Clear View II LCD
A: Anti-stain Coating, Anti-reflection Coating
B: Protective Cover
C: Optical Elastic Material
D: LCD Panel
Q: Can we continue to make use of the existing battery model?
A:
"Yes." The new LP-E6N (1,865mAh) has a larger capacity, while maintaining the same shape as the LP-E6 (1,800mAh). The existing battery charger also remains usable, so equipment that you have purchased for the EOS 7D will not go to waste.
Born in Aichi in 1960, Takahashi started his freelance career in 1987 after working with an advertising photo studio and a publishing house. Photographing for major magazines, he has travelled to many parts of the world from his bases in Japan and China. Takahashi is a member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS).
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