Canon EOS 7D – Is it really an EOS 60D or EOS 6D?

By Robert • Oct. 21, 2009

Canon EOS 7D The launch of the controversial Canon EOS 7D has generated a huge amount of forum buzz as to where it fits in to the Canon product lines. Marketing departments seems to make abrupt shifts in naming conventions leaving consumers to guess their strategy if they even have one. In Canon’s case, we are left to ponder such inconsistencies such as why there was no Powershot G4? Or, why the PowerShot SD980 IS is called the Digital IXUS 200 IS outside the USA?

Along comes the Canon EOS 7D with an 18MP APS-C size sensor, new viewfinder, improved body construction, new AF system with a dedicated processor, dual Digic 4 processors and new shutter mechanism to allow 8fps continuous shooting. The size and appearance of the EOS 7D are clearly those of the EOS 50D. However, the feature set puts it outside the EOS 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D product line.

Without a full-frame sensor, you could argue that it’s not a successor of the EOS 5D. Of course, there never was an EOS 6D. Instead, photographers got a EOS 5D Mark II. Now, I am really confused!

The price of the Canon EOS 7D (body-only) at Amazon is US$1,899 (MSRP) which is about 2X the price of an EOS 50D body but well below the US$2,749 it will cost you for the EOS 5D Mark II.

Perhaps, we found the answer to the naming mystery! The Canon EOS 7D is a new price point rather than a new product line. It gives advanced amateurs and professionals alike another choice without detracting from existing models. It will help Canon prevent marketshare loss from the likes of Sony’s A700 and Nikon’s D300.