Nice comparison between the 2 cameras. The Nikon is definitely a very nice camera although it looks like the Canon is still not too far behind. Got to love that Nikon dynamic range though. The full resolution RAW files from the test are available to download as well: http://learningcameras.com/reviews/4-dslrs/141-nikon-d7100-vs-canon-7d-photography-fight
I've worked with the 7D quite a bit for video, but rarely if ever for stills. I guess most of those guys use the 5D when it comes to still work.
I owned a D7000 and now have the D7100. I won't say it smokes the 7D, like a Nikon fanboy should, but I will say that the DR gives it a solid advantage.
I shot some character portraits for a film another friend of mine was shooting in New York State, pretty deep in the woods. Very organic, wooded, nature, lots of golden hour stuff, rich with the complimentary but subtle color palette that mother nature provides. The camera assistant, who shoots stills as well on a 7D and 5D, looked at a few of my shots and asked how I was able to do the HDR. I told him it wasn't an HDR, and it took him a few minutes to realize what this review briefly explains. I haven't used a Canon since my 30D broke, years ago, but I can tell you on the D7100 and her predecessor, I pulled detail out of shadows I hadn't ever dreamed of looking before.
Both are great cameras, and if you have good glass, they will give you a fantastic window of the world.
I had a 7D (with the 100-400mm Canon) and replaced it with a D7100 (with the AFS 70-400mm), the main differences I noticed were
The D7100 images seem to have less noise than the 7D.
The small buffer on the D7100 is a distinct disadvantage that even the fastest SDHC cards available cannot overcome.
The 7D feels a little less plastic and more robust than the D7100.
Overall the images produced by the Nikon combo are significantly sharper than the Canon combo (although that is probably due to the lens rather than the body), the downside is the small buffer which can be limiting in some situations.
In the vast majority of situation either body would meet most people requirements for still images.
I still have my 7D and I have D7100. For ergonomics, I like the 7D. I had been shooting Canon for a few years, and I know where everything is on the 7D. D7100 is not that familiar to me, and I will never get used to the lenses mounting 'backwards' . Otherwise, for IQ, D7100 hands down. I notice the DR improvement in my wildlife shooting and while D7100 can be noisy, it's not as noisy as 7D IMO.
I wondered about the noise/IQ difference recently and took out the 7D to shoot since I hadn't used it for a while. It reiterated to me that I really need to get my butt in gear and sell off the rest of my Canon stuff, and the 7D.
It's a good camera, but I am perfectly happy with the Nikon 7100 and 300 f/4 lens.
I did a controlled test between 7d+400/5.6 and 7100 + AFS 300/4 + TC14II using a dollar bill. 7100 combo does resolve more details.
On the field, I think I like the photos from 7100 combo better as well, for both BIF and perched.
One problem I found is that the inconsistency of 7100's AF. I had a few oppotunities that I get very close to a bird and I fired a burst. Oddly, none of the shots are razor sharp. Had I have my 7d combo in hand, such thing will never happen.
jxsq wrote:
I did a controlled test between 7d+400/5.6 and 7100 + AFS 300/4 + TC14II using a dollar bill. 7100 combo does resolve more details.
On the field, I think I like the photos from 7100 combo better as well, for both BIF and perched.
One problem I found is that the inconsistency of 7100's AF. I had a few oppotunities that I get very close to a bird and I fired a burst. Oddly, none of the shots are razor sharp. Had I have my 7d combo in hand, such thing will never happen.
I agreed on the D7100 AF. I see firmware update in the future.
I'm thinking of one or the other, but I'm not choosing for at least a while.
Thing is though, the comparison is not really a fair Nikon vs. Canon shootout. The Nikon is a new model, the Canon is now, what, 3 and a half years old? The 7D is a equivalent to a "pro" camera, the NIkon is a "consumer" in terms of features (controls, viewfinder, CF vs SD, etc., though oddly the 60D is eligible for Canon Pro Service while the D7000, D7100 and D600 are not eligible for NPS) and the 7D's price is $850 on B&S while the D7100 is $1150.
It's like comparing a D300 and a D7000 - though the 7D seems to fare better technically than the D300 did in that standoff. In fact, I would have thought the High ISO results would have been more divergent. (though, as this thread has shown, opinions seem to vary)
Either way, I'd choose the camera based on the lenses I needed, the features needed, then how I like the ergonomics and then sensor performance. (no wonder that I even now still have a D2x, which remains excellent - some allege Nikon's best - at base ISO)
. Otherwise, for IQ, D7100 hands down. I notice the DR improvement in my wildlife shooting and while D7100 can be noisy, it's not as noisy as 7D IMO. 