Handling & ease of use
The EOS 7D is a solid bit of kit. At 820g, it’s one of the heaviest DSLRs outside of the top pro models (but on a par with other top-end APS-C models) and its chunky frame feels very tough indeed. Designed to appeal to advanced amateurs right through to pros, there is little doubt when holding it that this camera has been produced to survive its fair share of knocks.
Canon's design team started with a clean sheet when creating this camera, but you'll discover that the control layout doesn't stray too far from Canon's tried and tested formula – the more radical changes on the EOS 7D are with the internal components rather than the external looks. The contours of the EOS 7D give it an almost muscular appearance and I for one really like the extra hold the bulkier grip gives, although a couple of people found the EOS 7D too heavy for their tastes.
The packed specification means that there are a large number of buttons on the body, but this shouldn't present any real problems to ease of operation as they are neatly laid out and clearly marked, and the larger size makes them easier to use if wearing gloves. The only two buttons that will probably have you reaching for the instruction manual at the start are those marked Q and M-Fn. The Q button is used along with the toggle and input dial to allow fast changes of functions via the LCD monitor, while the M-Fn, or Multi-Function button, is customisable for your needs to a choice of functions.
The EOS 7D boasts an excellent viewfinder, which provides a sharp, bright screen and clear AF markings and exposure info along the base (see panel for more details). It also has two excellent LCD panels – the traditional top-plate LCD provides a full range of exposure information, while the rear 3in LCD is bitingly sharp thanks to its 920,000-dot display. The menu system is very clean and informative, while the screen sharpness is ideal for image review, Live View and the HD Video recordings.
On a final note, I much prefer the location of the on/off switch beneath the exposure mode dial on the left of the top-plate, than the usual placement on the lower rear of the camera.
Overall, the EOS 7D deserves a very high score as it's beautifully made, thoughtfully laid out and not at all difficult to use. 
Score 23/25

Features
Canon has crammed stacks of features into the EOS 7D so you shouldn't be left wanting for anything. More importantly, many are new and innovative rather than improvements on previous generations or drop-down features from the pro-series DSLRs.
The 18-megapixel resolution is the highest of any APS-C sensor currently available and more importantly, is well ahead in terms of pixel count of its main rivals, including the 12.3-megapixel Nikon D300s.
The EOS 7D's metering system has seen major developments and, much like Nikon's
Scene Recognition System, the Canon now boasts a FCL (focus, colour & luminance) metering system that uses extra data to aid exposure calculations (see panel on page 116). As well as this 63-zone pattern, it also boasts spot and partial metering, as well as centre-weighted average. A full range of overrides are available, including for the first time on an EOS, exposure compensation of +/-5EV (as well as bracketing at +/-3 stops).
The autofocus system has received just as much of an upgrade with the EOS 7D, using a 19-point system made up of cross-type sensors. The range of modes on offer allows you to use small zones of AF points as well as selecting an individual point or having all active.  Canon obviously sees the EOS 7D as being suitable for action and wildlife photography, because as well as the improved AI SERVO II predictive focus, it has the capability to fire at eight frames-per-second. That's an incredible frame rate, especially when you factor in the size of the image files being produced by the 18-megapixel sensor. To put it in context, shooting a sequence of Raw files produces more than 250MB of data per second! To handle this data transfer, the EOS 7D incorporates two DIGIC 4 processors, a system only found in the EOS-1Ds MkIII and EOS-1D MkIII/IV models.
There are far too many innovations, let alone features, to fit in the space we have for this test, so here are the other major features to note. The EOS 7D boasts a HD movie mode and is the first to offer manual control of exposure and user-selectable frame rates. It has an ISO range of 100-3200, expandable to ISO 12,800. The Dual DIGIC processor system also has the benefits of reducing noise, with ISO 6400 delivering the equivalent noise of ISO 1600 with the older DIGIC III chip. A sensor dust removal system is present and with close to 30 Custom Functions, there are no shortage of ways to customise the camera.
As you can see, the EOS 7D is fully kitted out to meet the needs of all but the most demanding of photographers.
Score 24/25

Performance
The Canon EOS 7D can't fail to impress. From the first exposure through to the last, it effortlessly fires each frame, with rarely a poor exposure or badly focused shot (any poor exposures were usually the blame of the user!). Once you get over the unusual sound of the mirror (compared with other EOS models), you'll discover you quickly become familiar with the EOS 7D. It's incredibly quick at everything it does – focusing is fast and accurate, while image processing is impressive. The LCD monitor provides a very sharp and clear image and the magnifier, which zooms in to a very small area of the frame, works very well with the toggle dial for quickly checking sharpness.
As a default for the test, the Picture Style was left in Standard and the White Balance in AWB (Auto) and with these settings, the EOS 7D produced very natural and nicely saturated colours in natural light, although it's not so reliable with artificial light sources. Skin tones are beautifully reproduced and gradation is excellent. Used at higher ISOs, noise is very well controlled and you can use speeds up to ISO 1600 without noticing obstructive noise. That's a real accomplishment as the more pixels crammed onto an APS-C sensor, the more difficult it is to keep noise levels down. Canon's dual DIGIC 4 sensor has done very well in this respect and Raw files, as well as JPEGs, display well controlled noise. Another concern with such a dense pixel count on the sensor was that image sharpness could suffer, due to the smaller pixel size, but again, this wasn't a problem either. Images from the 
EOS 7D display crisp sharpness and with full resolution images (5184x3456 pixels) delivering files sizes of 51MB, you can crop heavily and still make A3 prints. Image quality from the EOS 7D represents a step up from the EOS 50D, especially when you consider the options available by the larger file sizes to crop. Overall, the EOS 7D sets a new standard for DSLRs using the APS-C sensor.  
Score 23/25

Supplied accessories
The Canon EOS 7D is supplied 
with the following accessories: 
Li-ion battery (LP-E6), Battery Charger (LP-E6a), wide strap, USB & AV cables, body cap, software CD, Quick guide and instruction manual.

Viewfinder screen
The EOS 7D is the first EOS to boast a 100% viewfinder with a 1.0x magnification for an impressively large, clear and bright finder image. Another first for Canon is the transmissive LCD overlay screen, which does away with the need for interchangeable focusing screens.

Body protection
The EOS 7D has a magnesium alloy body and the durable matte finish found on the pro EOS-1D/Ds series. It’s also been weatherproofed to the same level as the 35mm EOS-1n SLR, to protect it from moisture and dust penetration.

8-megapixel CMOS sensor
The resolution puts the EOS 7D well ahead of its rivals in terms of megapixel count. Canon also claims that the pixels have been redesigned to deliver better quality, especially at higher ISOs and a wider dynamic range. Added to the higher pixel count, on paper at least, the EOS 7D’s sensor has some key advantages over those found on other similarly-priced DSLRs.

Autofocus system
The EOS 7D boasts a very comprehensive AF system. Firstly, it has its own processor for improved AF speed and performance, especially with tracking moving subjects. 
Also, all 19 AF points use the more sensitive cross-type sensor, as opposed to the more common line-type. Canon claims that focus tracking has also been improved by arranging some of the key sensors into a ‘zig-zag’ pattern.

Wireless control
The Canon EOS 7D includes an Integrated Speedlite Transmitter that allows it to master control of a wireless flash system. Attach the WFT-E5 Wireless File Transmitter (on sale for 
around £500!) and you can control the EOS 7D remotely– even via a web link!

Dual-layer fcl
The metering system sees a complete overhaul and now boasts an iFCL 63-zone Dual Layer sensor. The Dual Layer system has one layer sensitive to red/green light and another sensitive to blue/green light. FCL stands for Focus, Colour and Luminance, which means the EOS 7D uses focus point information, along with colour and luminance data, when calculating the exposure. It’s a new system for Canon, but one that has been tried and tested on several of Nikon’s DSLRs for a couple of years.

Supplied software
Canon deserves credit for supplying all of its DSLRs with a full suite of software. The EOS 7D is a supplied with the following packages:
• Digital Photo Professional (DPP): Allows you to batch process Raw files and edit images. Not a polished software package, but essential for converting Raws if you don't have the latest Photoshop CS4 package, as CS3 won't convert them.
• Zoom Browser EX and Image Browser: Used for browsing and printing images.
• EOS Utility, WFT Utility, Picture Style Editor & PhotoStitch: Lesser-used packages that allow for various tasks, such as remote operation of the EOS via USB, stitching for panoramics and setting up customised Picture Styles.

Overall Verdict
Canon has long enjoyed incredible success in the enthusiast/semi-pro sector but in the last couple of years Nikon, with its D300 in particular, has become the brand of choice for many. The EOS 7D looks set to readdress the balance and I'm in little doubt that it will win plenty of plaudits and awards in the near future. It's about as complete a DSLR as many could hope to own and is quite easily the best APS-C model on the scene. Handling and build quality are excellent, but it's the extensive features list and level of innovation, along with its performance, that truly impresses. Experienced photographers with no need for a full-frame DSLR won't find a better DSLR to use. Its speed, specification and the image quality from its sensor sets a new standard for the APS-C format and, at the current street price, it could almost be viewed as a bargain! If you hurry, you could save further and buy before the VAT increase!

Handling & ease of use 23/25
Features 24/25
Performance 23/25
Value For Money 23/25
Overall 93/100