If the 5D Mark II was the pro camera that put HD-DSLRs on the map, the mid-range Canon EOS 7D is the one that brought them into the mainstream. Though it’s not a full-frame DSLR like the 5D II, the 18-megapixel 7D is a very good camera for shooting both still images and full 1080p HD video. Using an APS-C size “crop” sensor which magnifies regular lenses by 1.6x, the 7D will help you get close to the action whether you’re shooting a ring ceremony during a wedding or the winning catch at a football game. The 1.6x magnification won’t do your wide-angle lenses any favors though. I also wasn’t impressed with the 7D’s high ISO, low light shooting capabilities mainly because it uses an 18MP sensor crammed with tiny (4.3 microns) pixels. As a video camera though, the 7D is one of the best designed HD-DSLRs out there, with an easy-to-use dedicated video button on back and a range of shooting options including everything from 24p in full 1080p HD to 60p at 720p HD. It’s also blazing fast for still image capture, offering 8 frames per second shooting and virtually no shutter lag. The 7D’s 19-point focusing system is fast and reliable and a marked improvement over the 5D Mark II. If it doesn’t offer the same level of image quality as the 5D II and lacks a full frame sensor, it’s also $700 cheaper making it a great camera to get your feet wet for shooting both still and HD movies. — Dan Havlik

Product information

MSRP: $1,700 (body only)