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Canon 7D Mark II vs Nikon D7200

Introduction

Considering the fact that there are so many options out there, it can be really hard to find the right camera for you. Now, since you’re reading this, I take it you’ve made up your mind about getting a DSLR camera, whether if you’re just starting out, or changing from another type of camera to a DSLR, it’s still a good decision.

I believe this article will be really helpful because these two cameras vary greatly in price, where one of them can be counted as an affordable entry-level DSLR, the other comes at a way more expensive price, and it has a plethora of premium features with incredible performance. Nonetheless, it is important to know for what kind of photography or videography you need the camera for, because depending on that fact, it will be more easier for you to define which features you need the most, and which one meets your requirements the most.

You might find the Nikon 7D Mark II to be the ideal choice for you, but you also might find the Nikon D7200 to be the right choice, until the end, I think you’ll have enough arguments to support your decision, because apart from this head-to-head comparison and reviews that we’re going to make, I’m also going to put a comparison table at the end of this article to see the most noticeable differences between them.

So, let’s not spoil any further and get straight into the specifics to see what these cameras are truly capable of, and why they would be the ideal choice for you.

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Head To Head Comparison

Canon 7D Mark II

If you’ve used Canon cameras before, or you’ve searched about them on the internet, then you probably know that the 7D Mark II sits on top of the line when it comes to high-end cameras. I’ve personally used this camera for over a month, while I’ve tried its features and I’ve seen how it performs in different situations, all I can say is, Canon 7D deserves its reputation, and it’s a camera for serious photographers who want to upgrade their photography to a whole new level.

In terms of the design, this DSLR does not really come in small construction, it’s rather more tradition measuring 148.6x 112.4 x 78.2mm, while it has a weight of 910grams. However, a bigger camera means a bulkier, sturdier and a more durable construction, so let’s also point out the fact that the 7D Mark II has a magnesium alloy body, while for those who intend to use it in rainy conditions or something similar, they’ll be happy to know that the 7D Mark II is weatherproof. In practice, this camera is perfect for wildlife, because it’s not only the design that makes it suitable for such photography, it’s also the specs and the performance within, for which we’ll talk in a bit.

Like most other DSLRs, the 7D Mark II has a 3-inch 1,040,000-dot LCD screen which previews photos with significant vibrancy, sharpness, and detail. This camera performs great in outdoor light, so you won’t have to worry about that either. However, I’m really disappointed that Canon has not included touchscreen capabilities in this model, while this has become a very common feature even for low-cost DSLRs, and other types of cameras.

But there’s more, for those that are used to tilting the camera screen, you won’t have that here since this particular model boasts a fixed screen design, which means you can’t adjust it for shooting from different angles and viewing positions. So, if you can ignore these two minor yet major flaws of the design, then you’re good to go.

Okay, enough said about the design, now let’s see how can this camera perform, and what are its specs.

Starting with the sensor, the Canon 7D Mark II features a 20.2-megapixel sensor, while it has a native ISO sensitivity of 100,16,000, and it has a fast image processor which all together allows for continuous shooting speed of up to 10 frames per second.

But this is not really the best part when it comes to performance since the autofocus system is also something that really needs to be acknowledged. To be more precise, the Canon 7D Mark II has a 65-point AF system, so if you intend to use this camera for sports, wildlife, or portrait photography, you won’t have to worry about losing focus since due to the incredible AF system, the 7D Mark II has the ability to maintain focus even with fast-moving subjects. Also, let’s not forget, all of these AF points are cross-type.

What I like most about the autofocus system is the seven AF point selection modes, now, we’re going to mention all of them, but by the name, you’ll be able to understand what are their functionalities. These 7 AF point selection modes include Single Point Spot, Single Point, AF Point Expansion with manual selection, AF Point expansion with manual selection but while surrounding the points, AF Zone, Large Zone AF, and all of the 65-points automatic selection AF, so as you can see, you will really be well equipped indeed.

Now, regarding the video quality, if you were hoping for 4K video, then get over it, because you only get Full HD 1080p video, but nonetheless, you’ll have stunning results with sharp details, accurate colors and incredible focus with the help of the AF system. You can also save the uncompressed feed to external recorders via the HDMI port, while you can also connect a microphone and headphones for better sound recording and monitoring. Therefore, I recommend this camera to those serious videographers who really want to enhance and enrich their way of recording videos.

When it comes to other connection methods, you also get wireless communication technology using the Wi-Fi Adapter W-E1, while this works if you connect it with compatible smartphones, tablets, and computers.

This camera was also rates as one of the best cameras for dentists and hairdressers. It’s amazing at shooting up-close.

Overall, I really liked this camera, and as for the price, even though it lacks some essential and common features such as the touchscreen, it’s still a great camera to go with, especially for those serious videographers who want to upgrade to a better camera.

Canon 7D Mark II Sample Footage:

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Nikon D7200

Now, as for our second product, the Nikon D7200 comes at a way more cheaper price than Canon 7D Mark II, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a bad camera, in fact, it packs similar features, but they have a couple of differences in performance though.

Design-wise, the Nikon D7200 is built in a unique way, while it has an eye-catching design with an easy-to-use button layout, and a decent grip for more comfortability. I like the textures on the sides, which in my opinion, do not only deliver comfort while holding the camera, but they also give a great look to the overall aesthetics. If you’ve used other Nikon D cameras, then you’ll probably be familiar with the button placement, since they are mostly the same.

Now, when it comes to the screen, for some users, this may be disappointing as it doesn’t have a tilting touchscreen, but nonetheless, the 3.2-inch LCD is rated 1,228,800 dots and it’s really good, while it can be cranked up five levels to handle outdoor light. I’m not really that much disappointed that it doesn’t have a tilting touchscreen because it has an affordable price, and I think it delivers plenty of other features to make up for the lack of those two essential things.

Also, let’s not forget that the viewfinder has a .94x magnification while it is bright and it has easy to read settings which show on the bottom of the screen.

Now, let’s jump to the performance and see what else does this camera offer.

First, let’s start with the sensor, shall we? Well, the D7200 has a 24.2-megapixel sensor while it runs the EXPEED 4 image processor, and with the combination of these, it allows the camera for continuous shooting speed of 6 frames per second.

In addition, the Nikon D7200 has an incredible autofocus system which boasts 51-points, while 15 of them are cross-type, and a shutter-speed range of 1/8, 000th. Seeing all these specs, I can safely say that this DSLR camera would be the perfect addition for those action shooters.

When it comes to the ISO range, the D7200 has a native ISO sensitivity of 100-25,600, and a boosted ISO sensitivity of 51,200 (H1) and 102,400 (H2). Now, for better results, you can try changing ISO, for example, for concerts and events where there is a lot of lights and movements at the same moment, I suggest you use 25,600, however, if you use extreme ISOs, you should know that you’ll have some noise present in your photos or recordings.

Now, if you were wondering if this camera has 4K video, it doesn’t. But of course, like most other DSLRs at this price range and above, it does offer Full HD video at 1080p 30/25p. Also, what’s good is that you can attach a wireless mic to the camera for your recordings, and in 1.3x crop mode, you can shoot at 60p/50p, so this basically adds more to what we said, that this camera is great for action shooters.

In terms of connectivities, this particular camera has everything you could ask for, starting from the built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, you can share your photos or transfer them any time you want with ease, you just pair your smartphone device or tablet with NFC to the D7200 to establish Wi-Fi connection. Other than that, after you connect it, you can also use your smart device to browse photos on the D7200 and then share your favorites by text message, email or posting online.

All and all, this is the most feature-rich DSLR you can find at this price range, and it delivers great value for money, so if you’re low on budget, and you’re looking for a DSLR with a plethora of premium features, then this could be your ideal choice.

Nikon D7200 Sample Footage:

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Canon 7D Mark II vs Nikon D7200 Feature Comparison

  Canon 7D Mark II Nikon D7200
Camera Type DSLR DSLR
Megapixels 20.2 24.3
ISO Range 100-16000 100-25600(51,200-102,800)
Flip-Out Screen No No
AF Points 65 AF Points 51 AF Points
Viewfinder Yes Yes
Touchscreen No No
Video Recording Yes Yes
Sensor Size CMOS APS-C

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Conclusion

Now that we got the comparison table out of the way, you can see for yourself which one is better in which situations and aspects. However, to get to the point of this article, if you are looking for a camera for photography purposes, I would recommend the Nikon D7200 over the Canon 7D Mark II, it has a lot more features, and it has a better sensor, but if you’re looking for a camera for video purposes, wildlife, or action shootings, then the Canon 7D Mark II would be your best pick.

Either way, they both are great cameras to go with, and as we said, they’re both good at what they do. I would personally pick the Nikon D7200 over the Canon 7D Mark II, it’s not only because it’s a lot cheaper, but also because it has more features, such as the built-in Wi-Fi & NFC.

It’s also important to mention that the Nikon D7200 performs a lot better in low-light conditions, due to the native ISO of 100-25600, and the boosted ISO of 51,200 – 102,800.

To finish up, I hope this article was helpful to you, and if you have any questions regarding this topic, then make sure you contact me and I’ll try to get back to you as soon as I can.

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