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 7D vs. Nikon D300S

Camera settings:

• Canon EOS 7D: Canon EF 50 mm F1.4 lens, Aperture Priority, ISO 100
  JPEG Large/Fine, Manual WB, Default Parameters (Standard), Self-Timer (with MLU), ALO disabled
   
  
• Nikon D300S: Nikkor 50 mm F1.4 G lens, Aperture Priority, ISO 200 (default base), JPEG Large/Fine, Manual WB, Default Parameters (Normal), Self-Timer (with exposure delay), ADL off

Canon EOS 7D	Nikon D300S
6.4MB JPEG (5184 x 3456)	5.1 MB JPEG (4288 x 2848)

Let's continue by looking at the EOS 7D next to arguably its most direct competitor in the market place - the Nikon D300S. In our studio test shot both cameras deliver excellent sharpness on a pixel level but, due to its additional six megapixels of nominal resolution, the Canon inevitably resolves more detail. Having said that you'll have to get close to a 100% magnification and use stopped-down high-quality lenses to spot the differences in a print or on your computer screen. Tone curve and color characteristics are not too dissimilar either, with the Nikon producing slightly higher saturation at default settings.