So over the Winter I got the Canon 7D, and to be honest I was a little nervous committing.

For starters, the camera came out in 2009, as opposed to the new Nikon D7000, which was brand new.

There has been a lot of controversy over which of these two cameras is the better option, here's my opinion.

I had heard good things about the 7D's 1080HD video at 30fps, and the quality of the pictures, even in low light. I researched both the cameras every day for about a month, and watched all the video tests and picture examples I could find.

In the end I chose to try out the 7D, and boy am I glad that I did. Anybody who says they were disappointed by this camera clearly is blind. I chose a 28-135mm lens for starters, and although it's a simple kit lens the photos look amazing. The video quality is beyond what I could have hoped for. It's clear, sharp, and impressive to say the least.

It shoots pictures at 8 shots per second, and the kit lens has a very impressive IS feature that makes Nikon look like a joke. Even though there are only 19 focal points, as opposed to Nikon's 39, the quality is still unparalleled. There are two microphones built in, one in the front for whatever you're recording, and one in the back so you can get your two cents in the shot. There is also an external mic port.

Shooting video has the option of 30 or 24fps. You can shoot in raw or jpeg, although raw looks much better. Even in low light this camera fights the grain like no ones business. It does however take an extreme CF card instead of a SD, and those can get pricey.

The body feels good in the hands, very sturdy, like you're holding a tool as opposed to a childrens toy. It's a big camera, and if you get the kit lens that is big also. It weighs more than other dslrs, but for all that it has buit in it is still very light.

The camera comes with a battery, a charger, a USB cable (you can use your computer as a remote control for the camera) some other cables to hook it up to your TV, booklets, a strap, and of course the camera and lens.

Now I know what they say, a cheap camera with a nice lens is better than an expensive camera with a kit lens, but trust me.. no. If you've got a little bit to spend (Anywhere from $1,500 to $1,800) I'd say choose this camera over all. It is, in my humble opinion, the best semi-pro camera you can get today, and it lives up to its legacy.