Eos 7d Vs D700 - Which Camera Is Best?

If you’re thinking of buying either the Canon EOS 7D or Nikon D700 digital SLR camera, then you need to read this. In this article we will run through the major features of these two great cameras and see which is best. We will then sum up which camera is better for each point discussed, and conclude which one you should buy.

Photo Size?

The Nikon D700 has 12.1 megapixels, which means you can print up to A2, or A3 if you do a significant amount of cropping. The Canon EOS 7D's 18 megapixels mean that it wins in this regard. This is a big difference, especially considering that the D700 is nearly $1,000 more expensive than the 7D. However, megapixels certainly aren’t the be-all and end-all of digital SLRs, and the D700 does have the benefit of having an FX-format sensor, which means it is great for photographers who are used to using old 35mm film cameras.

How Fast Can You Shoot?

Both the Canon EOS 7D and the Nikon D700 are able to shoot 8 frames per second for up to 125 (7D) or 100 (D700) JPEG images at a time. In addition to this though, the D700 does boast even more than this in terms of its start-up time and shutter lag. The 0.12 second start-up time and the 0.40 seconds shutter lag will give you near instantaneous performance.

What About Shooting in Difficult Lighting?

The ISO range is probably the most important factor determining a camera's ability to cope with dark scenes. The ISO determines the sensitivity of the image sensor, and the higher it can go the more light it will get from the scene. The D700 and EOS 7D both have ISO ranges that go up to 6,400. However, both cameras are able to have their ISO ranges expanded, the 7D up to 12,800, but the D700 can go all the way up to 25,600! This means that the D700 is without a doubt the hands-down winner when it comes to low-light shooting.

Computer Control

One great feature that the Nikon D700 has which doesn’t appear to be on the Canon EOS 7D, is the ability to control the camera from a computer. This is great if you are shooting wild animals and don’t want to disturb them. Set your camera up, then hide away with your laptop as you wait for that perfect shot.

Live View

The Nikon D700 also enables you to use the 3-inch screen to frame up your photos. Also, this screen is viewable from as much as 170 degrees. This is very handy if you find yourself having to shoot from an awkward place with the camera pointing at an extreme angle.

Conclusion

Right, let's summarize the main features we have discussed in this article, and see which camera comes out on top for each one:
Megapixels: EOS 7D
Speed: D700
Low-Light Shooting: D700
Remote Control: D700
Live View Screen: D700
Price: EOS 7D (almost $1,000 cheaper)

So, if megapixels and price are your main factors, then the Canon EOS 7D is the better choice. However, if you can cope with only using 12.1 megapixels (which, by the way, is still plenty for the majority of photographers), and don’t mind paying the higher price, the Nikon D700 will give you very fast start-up and shooting, fantastic shooting ability in dark scenes, the ability to be controlled from your computer, and the ability to compose using the 3-inch screen.

By: G. Dauberman

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Still not sure what digital SLR you want to get? Check out the Canon EOS 7D and Nikon D700 for further information.