• APS-C 337.5mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 480.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Canon 7D Mark II advantages over Panasonic FZ2500

  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 1 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.11 vs 2.41 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 2.3 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in GPS
    GPS vs None
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 670 vs 350 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Thinner
    78 mm vs 134 mm
    Thinner
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Panasonic FZ2500 advantages over Canon 7D Mark II

  • Less expensive
    $898* vs $1799
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs none
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/4000 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Less shutter lag
    0.10 vs 0.25 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.74x vs 0.63x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.4 fps vs 9.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    10.6 fps vs 9.5 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 7D Mark II

Review Excerpt

  • Excellent image quality; High ISO performance improved over predecessor; Excellent burst speeds (up to 10fps); Significantly improved buffer depths; 65-pt AF system; Dual Pixel CMOS AF; Can focus down to f/8 (great for teleconverters); 1080/60p video; Headphone and mic jacks; Rugged build quality.

  • Autofocus speed (AF shutter lag) slower than 7D and 70D; Mediocre battery life for a pro DSLR; Dynamic range at low to moderate ISOs not as good as competitors; Phase-detect AF did not perform as well as expected in our low-light AF tests; No built-in Wi-Fi; No autofocus for 1080/60p video.

  • Rugged camera body with many physical controls; Generally excellent image quality & high ISO performance for its class; Versatile zoom lens; Fast and accurate autofocus; Unlimited 4K video recording; Fast full-res burst mode with generous buffers.

  • Continuous autofocus performance struggles at telephoto end; Slow buffer clearing (no UHS-II support); Lens produces soft corners at most focal lengths.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 7D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 7D
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Built-in GPS
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Less shutter lag
Panasonic FZ2500
Canon 7D
  • $948
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
  • $1499
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 6D
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Panasonic FZ2500
Canon 6D
  • $948
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Canon 70D

Canon 7D Mark II
Canon 70D
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $1149
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Panasonic FZ2500
Canon 70D
  • $948
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1149
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Sony A77 II

Canon 7D Mark II
Sony A77 II
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Panasonic FZ2500
Sony A77 II
  • $948
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $1198
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Panasonic FZ1000

Canon 7D Mark II
Panasonic FZ1000
  • $1597
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $773
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Panasonic FZ2500
Panasonic FZ1000
  • $948
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $773
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
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