Canon 7D - can it be improved significantly any further?

vvume

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Running through the features in Canon 7d, I am wondering if Canon has left much in terms of features to be improved or added for this model class. I am sure there can always be minor tweaks, and the price might come down significantly, but I can't imagine anything major being added for in the next 3-4 iterations.
 
Running through the features in Canon 7d, I am wondering if Canon has left much in terms of features to be improved or added for this model class. I am sure there can always be minor tweaks, and the price might come down significantly, but I can't imagine anything major being added for in the next 3-4 iterations.
 
Jay Bean wrote:
Jay Bean didn't write anything here
Running through the features in Canon 7d, I am wondering if Canon has left much in terms of features to be improved or added for this model class. I am sure there can always be minor tweaks, and the price might come down significantly, but I can't imagine anything major being added for in the next 3-4 iterations.
 
Here's a short list of improvements I would expect to see... some sooner than others

Image quality - continually with sensor technology
Video resolution - 4k like Red cameras
Faster continuous speed - no end in sight

Remote flash control via RF (without add-on transmitter) instead of light controlled
Wifi/3g/4g built in - why not, if it's fast enough
the days of physically connecting are limited
GPS built in

Built in projector - sounds silly now, but just wait (they exist already of course)
Heat sensing face detection - AF point automatically on the closest eye

We could go on.... cameras will probably fly one day.

--
Phanfare supporter- Photon for iPhone!
 
Easy

better IQ at low-moderate isos, ie 200-1600. Currently only up to 400 (barely) for pro use. That is, besides brides, who will buy higher iso's .
Lighter wt.
 
Of this list, Wireless connectivity followed by GPS appears to be the most convincing upgrades in the next 3-4 iterations. And sensor might get a bump up, but I doubt it would be as earth shattering compared to whats in there right now (maybe a bump up in ISO).
 
Yes, it can: a better flux capacitor, time travel machine, and toaster.

Oh, and built in GPS for geotagging.
 
2x Digic V and what ever may come?

maybe 7 years down the road in a another line pioneered by this one: black silicon sensor enabling better high ISO?

Or FF is as "low" as 7D now, including these mentioned features...10 to 15 years from now?
I don't understand anything about physics, so I just put a dream on that...
Anyone?

--
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hm...
  • 3G/4G broadband cell connectivity to a server that stores the images
  • built-in GPS (iPhone has it...why not something 10x the size?), could also be used for theft-recovery
  • RAW 1080p video
  • variable speed up to 500 frames per second video
  • further advancements in high-ISO
  • mirror lockup
  • articulating screen
that would be enough for a mark II yeah?
 
...would be a real game changer if Canon finally brought it back to Digital SLRs. Based on some earlier threads, I wouldn't be the only one thrilled to see that happen and it's a logical future growth path for the 7D family.
Running through the features in Canon 7d, I am wondering if Canon has left much in terms of features to be improved or added for this model class. I am sure there can always be minor tweaks, and the price might come down significantly, but I can't imagine anything major being added for in the next 3-4 iterations.
 
Very valid point!

Hard to see what improvements Canon can make without moving the 7D into another class.

In terms of features, we'll most probably see 20D-> 30D types of improvements.

As far as image/video quality, though, the possibilities are endless.

Until we get to 24-30mp with noiseless ISO 6400, there will always be room for improvement.
 
There is still room for improving image quality.
  • Improve the pixel level dynamic range. Even half a stop of extra highlight range would be very useful.
  • Reduce noise at lower ISOs further.
  • Some kind of radically new sensor technology using either multiple layers of sensors (like Foveon) or multiple size sensor elements (like Fuji) or some kind of intelligent sensor that can vary exposure locally within a limited range.
Ergonomics improvements:
  • Add a dedicated ISO dial. If there is room on G11, there must be some room on a XXD/XD class camera body.
  • Wireless flash control that talks to external flashes using Bluetooth/802.11/etc. instead of light.
  • Additinoal SD card slot - especially useful for storing videos.
  • Optional EVF that can be plugged into the hotshoe mount that can be used in live view or video mode
  • Faster contrast based AF in live view mode.
  • Electronic shutter option that can sync full power flash at high shutter speeds.
Software improvements:
  • Add widescreen HD option (848x480) for video recording
  • Add arbitrary rotation option to DPP
 
Running through the features in Canon 7d, I am wondering if Canon has left much in terms of features to be improved or added for this model class. I am sure there can always be minor tweaks, and the price might come down significantly, but I can't imagine anything major being added for in the next 3-4 iterations.
I expect that's why you're not working as an Engineer for Canon.
--
Canon 40D. Canon 50mm f1.4, canon 135mm 2.8/soft focus, Canon 70-
200 f4L, Canon 24-105L.
 
Yes, there are so many things that can be improved so in 15 years time when you look back you won't believe you asked that question :)

One of the big improvements we will begin seeing is not in hardware but in software.

We are only now begining to gets small hints at what software can do if you look at the compact cameras.

Super advanced focus mechanism that can focus and track all kinds of objects, faces being the most important "Automatic" high dynamic range images are some of the examples. But there are tons more.

Andreas
 
dual card slots.

But perhaps all these will be the heavily rumoured 1DIV due to be announced early next week.

Regards
Stephen
hm...
  • 3G/4G broadband cell connectivity to a server that stores the images
  • built-in GPS (iPhone has it...why not something 10x the size?), could also be used for theft-recovery
  • RAW 1080p video
  • variable speed up to 500 frames per second video
  • further advancements in high-ISO
  • mirror lockup
  • articulating screen
that would be enough for a mark II yeah?
 
Running through the features in Canon 7d, I am wondering if Canon has left much in terms of features to be improved or added for this model class. I am sure there can always be minor tweaks, and the price might come down significantly, but I can't imagine anything major being added for in the next 3-4 iterations.
--
Romy



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(Over 250 species captured in habitat, and counting.)
 
...would be a real game changer if Canon finally brought it back to Digital SLRs. Based on some earlier threads, I wouldn't be the only one thrilled to see that happen and it's a logical future growth path for the 7D family.
Strange--if we had it 10 years ago with the EOS 3, why can't we have it ten years later?

Has technology gone backwards in 10 years?
 
Articulating display -- only if the camera gets no larger and the display area gets no smaller. And... the camera maintains the same level of mechanical robustness and reliability.
 
I have always had two peeves with Canon's 1.6x cameras. The first was being able to use the RC-1 controller, and they FINALLY added that to the 7D. Which lines up with my theory that the 7D is the "Digital Elan 7" so to speak. :)

The second is that, since a lot of us prefer to work with Jpeg's and save RAW for special needs / situations, why not let us dial in the size / compression ratio of the Jpeg rather than rely on someone else's idea of what Large / Medium / Small means.

Now that we have 18MP of leeway it makes sense to let the user dial this in.

The other one is that I agree with Michael Reichmann, let us assign mirror lock up to a button like that RAW/JPEG/PRINT button. Canon's product mgmt knows this is a peeve for many people, they are just holding out based on some sort of misplaced arrogance.

I won't comment on the 18MP being too much, that it compromises other things like DR or low-light or high ISO, until I see some real test results.
 
Significant SW improvements will come as processing power increases (along with Battery efficiency).
 

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