Though mirrorless camera sales continue to grow, the interchangeable lens camera market is still overwhelmingly dominated by traditional DSLRs.
And when it comes to traditional DSLRs, the gold standard ( for the last couple of years, anyway) has been those with full-frame sensors. Canon’s own 5D Mark II, for example, had wide crossover appeal not only as an excellent stills camera, but as one of the most sought-after pieces of kit for filmmakers looking to capture the full-frame aesthetic on video.
Full-frame sensors have become so in demand that both Canon and Nikon have been racing to the bottom, producing ever-cheaper full-frame bodies that fill the gap between consumer-level APS-C DSLRs and each company’s truly pro-grade options. The question is, if you can get full-frame bodies for under $2, 000 now, why would you ever bother with an APS-C camera that costs just as much?
The long-awaited successor to the original Canon EOS 7D, the 7D Mark II has the build quality and durability of a prosumer camera and the autofocus system and extensive control that only Canon’s top-shelf DSLRs offer. It combines that with something no full-frame DSLR in this price range can offer: hot, nasty 10fps burst speed. It also shoots 1080/60p video with mic/headphone jacks and full manual control, leveraging Canon’s dynamic and powerful Dual Pixel CMOS AF system as well.
It’s a true flagship APS-C DSLR, one that benefits from the best technology and control that Canon has to offer. But does it make the case for flagship APS-C cameras, or does it fall victim to Canon’s own crowded lineup? We put it through our labs to find out.