Compared to...

Studio scene comparison (JPEG)

This is our standard studio scene comparison shot taken from exactly the same tripod position. Lighting: daylight simulation, >98% CRI. Crops are 100%. Ambient temperature was approximately 22°C (~72°F).

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV vs. Canon EOS 7D

Camera settings:

• Canon EOS-1D Mark IV: Canon EF 50mm mm F1.4 lens, Manual Exposure, ISO 100 (base), JPEG Large/10, Manual WB, Default Picture Style (Standard), Self-Timer (with exposure delay)
  
  
• Canon EOS 7D: Canon EF 50mm mm F1.4 lens, Manual Exposure, ISO 100 (base), JPEG Large/10, Manual WB, Default Picture Style (Standard), Self-Timer (with exposure delay)
  

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV	Canon EOS 7D
5.4MB JPEG (4256 x 2832)	6.4MB JPEG (5184 x 3456)

It comes as no surprise, however, to discover how similar the base ISO output of the two most recent high-end Canon DSLRs is. Were it not for the higher pixel count of the 7D giving a slight magnification effect (because more pixels are being used to describe images of the same height), the two would be almost indistinguishable.