Intro
As you may or may not know, among all the things I’m interested in, photography has been one of my oldest and most enduring passions. Today, I’m bringing you a one-year follow-up on a camera I didn’t get a chance to review when I first got it, so consider this video a mix of review and long-term impressions. I still consider myself an intermediate-skilled photographer, so this review is geared toward beginners and those looking to take their photography to the next level.
Full Guide
Watch the follow up video which incorporates a review and long term impressions.
Table of Contents
First Impressions: A Year Later
Back in early 2024, I began researching a replacement for my Canon Rebel T3. After 12 years of flawless performance, major props to Canon for its reliability—it was still working beautifully. However, it was time for an upgrade, especially with a big trip coming up that would involve a lot of photography for myself and a client. My goal was to find a camera focused on photography, so I looked at features that would elevate my still photography game at a reasonable price.
The Canon EOS R7 immediately stood out with its impressive specs: a 32.5-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, the powerful Dual Pixel DIGIC X processor, a 15 fps mechanical shutter, and up to 30 fps with the electronic shutter.
When I purchased it, the R7 was priced at $1,299. While not exactly cheap, it offers exceptional value for what it brings to the table as a photography powerhouse. I opted to buy just the body at that price since I already had a specific lens in mind: the Tamron 18-300mm telephoto lens. Every image in this video was shot using that lens. A link to buy the lens, the camera, and a copy of almost every photo will be below.
Performance in the Field
Over the past year, I’ve taken the R7 on trips to the Northwest, Alaska, Seattle, and Vancouver, all over my native Georgia, and to a few race tracks. The results have been nothing short of spectacular.
The speed and autofocus of the Canon R7 were game-changers from day one, and they continue to impress. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system has 651 autofocus points with animal detection which is incredibly reliable for tracking fast-moving subjects, like these low-flying geese over a lake. The R7’s autofocus locked onto a bird’s eye and kept up as they flew by and landed on the water—something that would have been a struggle with my old camera.
The performance of the buffer, which is the temporary holding area for photos before writing them to the memory card has also proven solid, I don’t recall hitting the limit at any point over the last year, even in wild animal tracking burst shots.
While UHS-II grade SD cards are recommended for optimal performance, I’ve found that high-quality UHS-I cards, like the Samsung Pro Ultimate, work nearly as well. With write speeds of up to 130 MB/s, these cards are comparable to something like a Prograde brand UHS-II cards, which write at the same 130 MB/s, but at a fraction of the cost. For example, a 512GB Samsung Pro Ultimate card costs around $55, while a Prograde of the same size is more than three times as much at $160.
When shooting in RAW, with each file averaging 42MB, capacity quickly becomes a priority. For my needs, the extra storage offered by UHS-I cards outweighs the minor speed advantage of UHS-II options, especially when the Pro Ultimate cards handle bursts so well. Links to the Samsung cards will be below.
Dual SD Card Slots: Peace of Mind and Workflow Flexibility
Speaking of SD cards, the R7’s dual SD card slots are a fantastic feature that adds both flexibility and security to your photography workflow. You can set the second SD card as a backup, duplicating every shot to both cards for added peace of mind, or use it as extended storage, effectively doubling your capacity. This was something that was missing from the Canon R8 that I actually bought first before returning it.
In-Body Image Stabilization: A Game-Changer for Handheld Shooting
Another of the standout features of the Canon R7 is its in-body image stabilization or IBIS, which makes a huge difference, especially for handheld shooting. The IBIS ensures images remain sharp and steady, even in less-than-ideal conditions, whether I’m capturing wildlife, landscapes, or action shots. It’s incredibly effective when shooting with longer lenses, where even the slightest movement can lead to blur.
This feature is particularly crucial for me because I often shoot handheld, and having the stabilization built into the camera means I can rely on it no matter which lens I use. It’s one of those features you quickly take for granted until you realize it’s missing—which was another miss on the Canon R8. That’s a dealbreaker for photographers like me who prioritize flexibility in their gear.
Seaplane coming for a landing in Vancouver Canada and seagul flying below in Victoria Canada
Familiar and Intuitive Control Layout
One of the things I truly appreciate about the Canon R7 is its control layout. Coming from a Canon Rebel T3, I felt right at home with how everything is organized—it’s familiar and easy to navigate, even with the added features and new buttons. For anyone who has used a Canon camera before, the transition to the R7 is seamless.
That said, even if you’re new to Canon, the controls are intuitive enough that you can pick it up and learn quickly. The placement of dials and buttons makes adjustments feel natural, whether you’re changing shooting modes, tweaking ISO, or accessing menus. It’s a camera that works with you, not against you, which makes the entire experience much smoother.
A comparison between the Canon Rebel T3 on the left and the R7 on the right
Versatile Shooting Modes
Another thing I love about the Canon R7 is the variety of shooting modes it offers, making it easy to adapt to different scenarios without missing a beat. Personally, I find myself primarily using Landscape mode and Sports mode. With just a quick switch, I can always have the best settings applied for the shots I’m aiming for—whether it’s capturing sweeping vistas or fast-paced action.
The R7 offers a mode for virtually every situation: Portrait, Macro, Night Scene, and even Creative Filters. I rarely venture into manual mode. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the control it offers; it’s just that I’m usually shooting in environments where the scene changes quickly. Playing around with manual settings while trying to keep up with dynamic moments is… not ideal. Or maybe I’m just too lazy to fiddle with it—either way, the preset modes are so well-designed that I don’t feel like I’m missing out.
More than a dozen shooting modes availalbe
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Canon R7 is its phenomenal battery life. Using the LP-E6NH battery with a 2130mAh capacity, I’ve consistently been able to take over 500 photos on a single charge—and that’s with heavy use, including frequent autofocus and burst shooting. For a day of shooting, whether I’m hiking trails or at a track event, I rarely find myself needing to swap batteries.
To put this into perspective, the Canon R7’s battery life is almost twice as good as the R8 which uses a smaller 1450mAh battery, and in my experience, it couldn’t even make it to 300 shots before needing a recharge.
Viewfinder Usage: A Change to Get Used To
Speaking of the viewfinder, one adjustment I had to make with the Canon R7, coming from a DSLR, is that you need to turn the camera on to use the viewfinder. With a DSLR, you can scout a shot through the optical viewfinder even when the camera is off, which is something I took for granted. The R7 uses an electronic viewfinder or EVF, which means the camera has to be powered on for it to work. It’s a small difference, but it did take some getting used to. That said, the trade-off is worth it because the EVF offers a real-time preview of your exposure, white balance, and focus adjustments, which isn’t possible with a DSLR. Once I adapted, I found the EVF to be a fantastic and didn’t impact battery life as much as I tought it would.
Fast and Reliable Startup Time
Now speaking of powering on the camera, one concern I had going from a DSLR to a mirrorless cameras was the boot time—how long it takes from turning the camera on to being ready to take a shot. I’d read complaints about other mirrorless cameras that suffered from frustratingly slow startup times, sometimes taking several seconds to power up. Naturally, I was skeptical about how the Canon R7 would perform here.
Thankfully, this turned out to be a non-issue. The R7 powers up and is ready to capture a photo in under two seconds. Whether I’m shooting wildlife, landscapes, or action shots, this quick startup ensures I never miss a fleeting moment.
Issues
I haven’t encountered many issues with the Canon R7 yet—it simply works when I need it to. There’s one rare hiccup I’ve noticed. Occasionally, the camera will perform a rapid focus search from one extreme to the other, rendering it unusable until I power it off and on again. Once restarted, it works perfectly again. I haven’t pinpointed the cause yet, though it might be related to a minor tumble I may have took in Alaska. Thankfully, it’s an infrequent problem, and the camera performs flawlessly otherwise.
Smart Phone Comparison
It’s worth addressing something many people ask: ‘Why not just use a smartphone?’ Don’t get me wrong—my Samsung S24 Ultra has amazing cameras and is great for quick shots or casual use. But when it comes to serious photography, there’s still no comparison to a dedicated camera like the Canon R7. The larger sensor, advanced autofocus, and ability to pair with specialized lenses give you creative control and image quality that no smartphone can replicate yet.
For a closer look at how a real zoom lens compares to the zoom on a smartphone, check out my blog post, where I break it all down with plenty of example shots, link in the description.
Photo Samples
A variety of photos taken on the R7 using a Tamron 18-400mm lens F3.5-6.5 lens at Stone Mountain Park in Winter 2024
Images downscaled to be web friendly
My Loadout
- Primary Lens: Tamron 18-400mm lens F3.5-6.5
- Carry: The Camera Bag for Every Adventure: City Streets to Hiking Trails (Partner Review)
- Safety: The Danger Buddies S-Curve Camera Strap for Hiking (Partner Review)
- Accessories: Elevate Your Shots: A Deep Dive into the Insta360 Extended 10ft Selfie Stick (Partner Review)
- More to come
Conclusion: The R7 After One Year
After a year with the Canon R7, I can confidently say it’s one of the most versatile cameras I’ve ever used. From its speed and image quality to its durability and advanced features, the R7 has consistently exceeded my expectations.
What’s even more impressive is that I’ve barely scratched the surface of everything this camera has to offer. With so many advanced features packed in, there are tools and capabilities I haven’t even fully explored, yet it still manages to amaze me every time I use it.
Stay tuned for my next video, where I’ll dive into the Tamron lens I paired with the Canon R7 and why it’s been the perfect match for my photography adventures. You won’t want to miss it!
- DIGIC X IMAGE PROCESSOR: Enhances performance for sharp photos and ultra-high definition videos
Frequently Ask Questions
Absolutely! The Canon R7 remains one of the best APS-C mirrorless cameras for photography, offering a high-resolution 32.5MP sensor, fast autofocus, and in-body image stabilization (IBIS). Whether you shoot landscapes, wildlife, or action, it’s a powerful, future-proof choice.
Yes! The R7’s IBIS is a game-changer, especially for handheld shooting. It works across different lenses, making low-light and telephoto shots much steadier. This is a big advantage over the Canon R8, which lacks IBIS.
The LP-E6NH battery lasts 500+ shots per charge, nearly twice the battery life of the Canon R8. If you shoot all day, you’ll still want an extra battery, but it holds up well even in burst mode and heavy autofocus use.
The R7 powers on in under 2 seconds, making it quick enough for capturing spontaneous shots. If you’re switching from a DSLR, this startup time is fast and responsive for a mirrorless camera.
All the photos in this review were shot with the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 lens, which I’ll be reviewing soon! It’s a versatile superzoom that pairs well with the Canon R7 for travel, wildlife, and general photography.
Absolutely! The R7's phenomenal autofocus system, particularly its advanced animal tracking, practically guarantees sharp photos of birds in flight. Combined with its exceptionally fast burst shooting, you'll capture more precise moments within those brief encounters in nature.
