Canon EOS 70D Review

Canon was essentially the unchallenged CMOS image sensor technology leader in the early days of digital SLRs. When the EOS 7D was released in late 2009, the firm had advanced from 3MP to 18MP, and ISO 1600 to ISO 12800, in just over nine years. Almost every new EOS model also had an increase in resolution and a high ISO range. But ever since, Canon’s APS-C cameras have all included different iterations of the same fundamental sensor design, to the point where you might wonder what on earth their engineers spend their days doing. Now we are aware.

From the exterior, the EOS 70D appears to be logical, if not attractive, to upgrade to the EOS 60D. It is a mid-range SLR designed for hobbyist photographers. The autofocus sensor from the EOS 7D, the fully articulated touchscreen from the EOS 700D (Rebel T5i), and the built-in wifi from the EOS 6D are just a few of the best features it inherits from Canon’s current SLRs.

  • Product
  • Features

Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Last update was on: January 19, 2024 11:07 am
$1,199.00

However, it has a brand-new sensor on the inside that could be ground-breaking. Although it uses a “Dual Pixel CMOS AF” architecture, which divides each pixel into two individually readable photodiodes facing left and right, it has a 20.2MP resolution. This indicates that, in theory, they can all use live view and movie mode phase detection autofocus.

On-chip phase detection is nothing new; the Fujifilm F300EXR introduced it in 2010. Since then, most manufacturers have incorporated it in one way or another, with Nikon’s 1 System mirrorless models possibly representing its most successful application. However, because it has only recently used a small number of active pixels dispersed thinly across the sensor, it has had practical limits.

It frequently only covers a small portion of the frame and struggles once the light falls below outdoor daylight. Contrarily, Canon claims that its Dual Pixel AF system operates over an area occupying 80% of the width and height of the frame, in light conditions as dim as 0 EV, and at apertures as small as F11. As a result, it may very well be the most effective live-view autofocus technology we’ve ever seen on a camera.

Structure And Constituents

Although it is physically smaller than the EOS 60D, the EOS 70D has a very similar design to that of the EOS 60D. Most of the body is made of plastic, but that shouldn’t be too much of a concern in this instance because it still seems to be put together neatly. Some of the secondary shooting controls have been reorganized or relocated, although the primary shooting controls have remained in the exact general locations throughout the game. Overall, there is not a lot of space left on the camera where more buttons could have been reasonably placed. This limits the number of controls that may be used.

The top of the camera.

The top of the EOS 70D may be compared quite favorably to the top of the EOS 60D. Direct access is provided to autofocus and drive modes and metering and ISO settings through the buttons that run along the top of the LCD screen. Each of these buttons serves a single purpose rather than performing several functions (which is easily changed with the camera to your eye).

The exposure mode dial has been simplified to group the various automated scene modes (portrait, landscape, sports, etc.) under a single position, and a pair of stereo microphones have been placed behind the pop-up flash housing in place of the mono mix that was on the front of the 60D. Both of these changes were made to improve the sound quality of the camera.

The control for expanding the focus area is located on the little button that can be found between the shutter release and the front dial. When you press it, you may extend the autofocus region from a single point to progressively more significant groupings of issues, which is helpful when trying to keep up with a moving subject.

The magnesium alloy builds that many of the 70D’s competitors offer more reassuring than the polycarbonate and aluminum construction that the 70D has. However, it’s difficult to tell whether there is much of a real-world difference in terms of its durability. The 70D’s structure is made of polycarbonate and aluminum.

Weather sealing

According to the specifications sheet for the Canon EOS 70D, the camera offers a level of water and dust resistance that is “similar to the EOS-1N.” The EOS-1N was Canon’s professional 35mm SLR camera during the middle of the 1990s. It is arguable how much significance this piece of information will have for most purchasers, but the inference is that it should not be affected by a light sprinkle of rain.

Within your grasp

The EOS 70D has a good-sized grip and rests securely in your hand; anyone who has handled a recent twin-dial Canon EOS should be able to take it up and feel right at home with it. The EOS 70D also has a good-sized viewfinder.

However, if you wish to shift the focus point using the multi-controller, this involves a substantial movement of your thumb downwards. Most essential controls are well-placed for operation with the camera to your eye, but to do so, you must move the camera away from your eye. You may also impact the autofocus point using the front and back dials, but you must first push the AF point selection button.

Touchscreen that Can Be Articulated
The touchscreen included in the EOS 70D is entirely articulated and comparable to the touchscreens found in the EOS 650D and EOS 700D. This indicates that it is far better than the one found in the EOS 60D, as the air gap that was previously present between the cover glass and the screen itself has been removed; as a result, visibility should be enhanced when exposed to intense light.

To take self-portraits, the screen can be flipped out and rotated so that it points directly downwards, upwards, or even forwards (in this position, the camera handily mirrors the live view display). In addition, it may be folded up such that the screen is facing inwards toward the camera providing an additional layer of defense (or if you somehow prefer an old-fashioned film-camera experience).

Additionally, the screen is touch-sensitive and similar to Canon’s most recent entry-level models; every facet of the camera’s interface may be managed by touching the screen. When used in conjunction with the Q button on the camera, it enables a wide variety of settings to be altered in a practical and user-friendly manner.

This won’t make much of a difference when shooting with the optical viewfinder, and you should probably stick to using the standard “hard” settings as much as possible. However, it is helpful in live view or while shooting from a tripod because it enables the focus point to be picked (and, if you choose, the shutter release may also be initiated) merely by tapping the screen.

According to Canon, the screen’s high-sensitivity option makes using the device while wearing (thin) gloves possible. You also have the opportunity to altogether disable the touchscreen if you find that it is too annoying to use.

Viewfinder

The viewfinder of the EOS 70D is made of glass and has a pentaprism design. It has a magnification of 0.95x and covers 98% of the image. This is an improvement over the 96 percent coverage that the 60D provides. It brings it considerably closer to competitors like the Nikon D7100 and the Pentax K-3, both of which have 100 percent coverage and somewhat greater effectiveness magnification than the 60D does.

Of course, it is still unable to compete with full-frame cameras like the Canon EOS 6D or the most advanced electronic viewfinders like the Olympus OM-D E-M1, in which the size of the viewfinder isn’t constrained by the dimensions of the camera’s image sensor (or, more accurately, the mirror in front of it).

In addition, the viewfinder of the 70D has been updated to include a gridline overlay that can be toggled on and off, as well as the nifty capability of using the AF array indications to display an electronic level in the viewfinder, which will help you maintain your horizons level (both features lifted from the EOS 7D).

The workings and the controls

Controls at the very top right of the camera

The control configuration on the right-hand top plate of the EOS 70D is identical to that of the 60D. The only difference is that an additional button for expanding the AF area has been added between the front dial and the shutter release. In addition, the principal exposure parameter for the selected mode may be adjusted with the dial on the front of the camera.

Program shift in the P position, the aperture in the Av position, and the shutter speed in both the Tv and M positions. Behind it is a strip of buttons that gives direct access to autofocus and drive modes, metering pattern, and ISO (the latter of which is noticeably better-placed for operation with the camera to your eye than the Nikon D7100’s), along with one that illuminates the top-plate LCD. Additionally, a button allows you to adjust the exposure compensation.

Your thumb can operate the camera’s three buttons, which are located on the shoulder of the device. In addition, the camera’s autofocus may be activated by pressing the AF-ON button, and the ‘Star’ button next to it serves as a programmable autoexposure lock.

When you push the AF point selector, which is located next to it, you will be able to relocate the focus point by utilizing the front and back dials and the directional pad located within the rear dial. Magnification of the playback may also be accomplished using the last two buttons.

Controls at the top left of the camera

The power switch and mode dial are on the pentaprism’s other side. This has the usual four exposure modes, which are Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, and Manual, in addition to a Bulb shutter mode and a single Custom position that the user may define.

Additionally, there are modes such as “Auto+,” “Flash off,” and “Creative Auto,” with the latter providing results-oriented creative control. Additionally, an SCN position combines Canon’s long-running scene modes, such as “sport,” “landscape,” and so on, into one location. Finally, the mode dial can revolve in any direction through the full 360 degrees because it has no end stops.

Below are two buttons that allow the user to go through the camera’s settings and modify the amount of information shown on the back screen.

Controls in the Rear

The remainder of the principal shooting controls of the Canon 70D is located on the rear of the camera and are mainly laid out for use with the right thumb. The live view and movie mode controllers are merged into a single unit next to the viewfinder. When the switch is set to the still position, the center button activates and deactivates the live view.

If you move the switch to the movie position, the camera will immediately convert to a live movie view and display the scene in a 16:9 aspect ratio. After that, pressing the Start/Stop button will begin and end the recording.

While shooting, pressing the Q button will bring up an interactive control panel. This screen will allow you to alter camera parameters that might not be accessed directly through the other buttons on the camera.

In addition, it incorporates superimposed option menus in the Live View and Playback modes, providing quick access to functions such as converting Raw files in-camera. The delete key is located nearer the bottom of the camera, while the playback button is just below it.

Adjusting the exposure compensation in the P, Av, and Tv modes and changing the aperture in the M mode is done via the back dial. Incorporated inside it is an 8-way controller that may be used to do tasks like adjusting the focal point, accessing menus, and scrolling through pictures while playback is in progress. Using the switch under the rear dial, one may prevent unintentional modifications to the settings by locking the dial.

Controls located on the front of the camera

A motorized (as opposed to a mechanical) release is activated when the user presses the button that activates the flash, which is customarily located on the side of the lens throat.

The preview button for the lens’ depth of field is located on the side of the lens throat opposite the handgrip, and it is intended to be controlled with your left hand. It is modifiable so that users may have access to various functionalities.

We are not significant lovers of this position. It might be tough to reach when shooting in portrait format or with the camera mounted on a tripod.

The connection provided via wifi

The Canon EOS 70D is the newest model produced by the business to incorporate wifi connectivity into its cameras. It is still uncommon to find this function integrated into a DSLR camera, but we believe it will become increasingly popular shortly.

According to Canon, it complies with the 802.11b/g/n standards and has a transmission range of up to 30 meters (98.4 feet). However, it is essential to remember that while wifi is enabled, the movie mode cannot be used, and any physical connection to a computer or printer will be severed.

The following is a complete list of the features that are offered:

  • Images may be sent between Canon cameras equipped with Wi-Fi.
  • Connect with your mobile phone or tablet (via EOS Remote)
  • Remote control from PC (via EOS Utility)
  • Produce prints using a printer that supports Wi-Fi.
  • Send the file to the web service (e.g. Canon iMage Gateway)
  • View photos on devices that are equipped with DNLA (e.g. TVs)

Although we will focus most of our attention on connecting the EOS 70D to a mobile device, it is feasible to connect the camera to a personal computer and use Canon’s EOS Utility to operate it by clicking it to the computer through wifi. This indicates that it is possible to utilize a “tethered” connection to other applications that can connect via similar means, such as Adobe’s Lightroom. Specifically, the tethered connection may be used to transfer data.

The camera allows you to save up to three different presets for the various connections you frequently use, intending to make it easier to reconnect in the future.

The EOS Remote app for Android and iOS

The ability to get photographs from the camera while away from a computer is one of the most common applications that we have discovered for built-in wifi in cameras. These images may then be shown to others or uploaded to the internet. It may be helpful in establishing a photograph to its subject, sending them a JPEG of the image, or even just chronicling a weekend trip on a social network. All of these things fall under the category of “convenient features.”

The Canon implementation is detailed but also very difficult to understand. For example, rather than just allowing a smartphone to connect to the camera, it is also possible to connect the 70D to a smartphone by clicking both devices via a shared wifi network (aptly named “infrastructure” mode). This makes it possible to connect the camera to a smartphone without the camera having to connect to the smartphone first.

And this is where the connection presets are both a help and a hindrance. While they make it simpler to reestablish connections if you frequently use a variety of connection methods, you must continually define a preset each time you make a new relationship is both time-consuming and annoying.

Adding the wifi option to the custom ‘My Menu’ page will not make a significant difference in the performance of things, but it will make things somewhat faster. The fact that the business that makes the EOS 70D provides a 174-page pdf explaining all of its functions (there is also a 36-page ‘Basic Instruction Manual’ that outlines the essential elements) can ultimately tell you a lot about how capable and how sophisticated the wifi is on the EOS 70D.

Shooting from a distance

The area of the program devoted to remote shooting provides users with satisfactory control over the camera. You can focus the camera by manually adjusting the focus point on the camera. There is an option in the settings to add an autofocus acquisition button to the interface, but by default, the app is configured to focus and trigger the shutter simultaneously. The smaller circular ‘button’ seen in these screen pictures is the AF acquire button.

After you have taken a picture, a little preview of it will show in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. When you touch this button, a row of images will appear at the bottom of the screen. From this vantage point, it can carry out a straightforward evaluation of the photographs, which includes the option to zoom in closer. Unfortunately, there is no method to switch from the current picture review mode to the complete image review mode, which will be discussed later.

Examining the images and transferring them

Using the EOS Remote app, you can access all of the still photographs and videos stored on the SD card. In addition, it allows users to navigate between photos using common movements on smartphones, such as pinching, swiping, and double-tapping.

You may email or download 1920 x 1280 S2 JPEG copies of photographs to your device’s image gallery from within the image review part of the app. Other options include rating images that are stored on the SD card. These are convenient, but they are not suitable for critical picture analysis since you cannot understand the focus accuracy from such few files. Although they are handy, they are not effective for critical image analysis.

It is possible to upload full-resolution JPEG photographs online, but this must be done directly from the camera itself. To accomplish this, you will first need to connect the 70D to a computer through its USB port and use the Canon EOS Utility software, which comes bundled with the camera, to configure a web service that is compatible with the camera. Examples of such services include Canon’s iMage Gateway, Facebook, and Twitter. After configuring everything, you can upload a single image or many photographs through wifi at full size, S2, or S3 quality, depending on the settings you choose.

Overall impressions, as well as the duration of the battery life

Overall, the wifi capabilities of the 70D are pretty thorough, and it may be considered a selling point at a time when Nikon is supplying wifi via somewhat difficult external adapters. The EOS Remote App is efficient and gives users a satisfactory level of control over the camera. However, compared to the setup methods offered by Olympus and Fujifilm, the complete nature of the approach used by Canon weighs against it, adding complexity and additional procedures.

However, it is inevitable that the connection feature of the 70D will have some effect onhe battery li camera. The battery life of the 70D will decrease substantially over time if wifi and GPS are both enabled at the same time. This is something that applies not only when you are actively using the camera, but also has an effect othe connection feature of the 70D will inevitably.

The power management ofcamera’s battery lifetical to that of any other EOS DSLR if you are in the habit of allowing your DSLR to go enabled simultaneouslyhuttinghotographers do), and if wifi and GPS are switched off.You may taaffectsra many days after you have set it into sleep mode, and the battery level will be practically the same as it was the last time you used it.

If, on the other hand, you let the camera go to sleep with wifi and GPS turned on, the 70D will drain its battery while it is sleeping. This will drain the battery to the point where, if you leave the camera for a couple of days, you may find that the battery is significantly drained, if not completely depleted.

Performance

Overall performance

The Canon EOS 70D is fairly quick, from starting up to autofocusing, and it now has to autofocus in live view, which is typical of single-lens reflex cameras. Canon claims that the startup time is 0.15 seconds, which seems about accurate to us. The startup speed is as fas as it sentirelyWhen the autofocus region is limited to a single point or a smalrelativelyuster, as we’ve said previously, the speed of the process is increased in both the live view and the conventional phase of the process.

The Canon EOS 70D has fast menus that remember where you wersimple adjustments of controls, and the My Menu tab allows you to keep your often-used controls in one place so that you can get to them more quickly. The Canon EOS 70D also has a quick response time to user input. Even while photographing motionPhase Canon EOS 70D is quite responsive, andquicks is especially true when utilizing a fast memocontrols adjustmentsettings such as HDR and Handheld Night Scene are used, thcommands little increase e processing time; nevertheless, this is not a significant issue, particularly when using a fast card.

Continuous Shooting and Buffered Continuous Shooting

It is an increespeciallyand even the 50D’s 6.3 fps, but it is stiuniquewhat slower than the EOS 7D’s 8 fps. The maximum frame rate of the EOS 70D is 7, which is an improvement over the 60D’s 5.3 fps and even the 50D’s 6.3 fps.mainlyo the results of our tests, its fastest rate is about 7.5 frames per second. Thisincreases sense when you take into account the fact that there is less processing required than there is when teighte camera needs to compress and store a JPEG. In high-speed mode, you are able to shoot around 11 Raw photos and 17 JPEGs (see the tables below for more).

Low-speed mode is useful when you don’t want to take quite as many pictures but still want toconsiderty, such as when children are your subjects, without filling the card quite so quickly. This is the case when you don’t want to recanas many frames. The Canon EOS 70D is capable of continuously taking JPEGs at a rate of around 3 frames per second for as long amaintain your finger on the shutter button.

Silent shutter

It is vital to keep in mind that the Silent shutter mode is not truly sspite the fact thmeant to assist those who are working in environments in which a noisycan continuously takeead, the noise caused by the shutter is spread out over a longer time period, which results in a little reduction in volume overall. The higremembere rate likewise decreases, going from seven per seceven though

In Live View mode, the emplo a silent initial shutter curtain makes the sound appear even less audible, despite the fact that, according to our recording tests, the maximum decibel levels are around the same. Because the EOS 70D has an electronic first curtaindecreasest shutter curtain do not move when using this model. This technology was initially introduced with the EOS 40D.

The Canon 70D can still take up to seven pictures per second in continuous drive mode when it is set to Mode 1, but when it is set to Mode 2, the In addition, because is a little bit different. In Mode 2, the main shutter ,mechanism fires to take the picture, but it doesn’t reset until you release the shutter button. This setting is helpful for taking pictures of wild animals. Because of this, the frame rate can only go as fast as the maximum speed at which you wish to film.

Battery capacity

The Canoslightly powered by the same lithiucentraln LP-E6 battery pack as the Canon 5D Mark III and EOS 7D. This pack features 7.2 volts and 1,800 milliampere hours of helps takeng with the viewfinder, CanHowever, becausecipates that you would receive up to one thousand photos, however ting in live view mode, they only anticipate you getting 230 shots, which is pretty disappointing.

Autofocus

Dual Pixel AF vs. Conventional AF accuracy

In order to gain a deeper comprehension of the functioning of the new technology, we devised a few experiments to evaluate traditional, dedicated phase-detect auto; howeverinst sensor-based phase-detect.

As a generalexpectwould anticipate that any on-sensor focus approach would be more accurate than the typical AF system of an STo due to the fact that it measures focus from the same plane where the image would be taken.

Since the conventional and dedicated AF sensor is located somewhere else in the camera, behind its own optics and a dual mirror assembly (each aspect of which will always be slightly misaligned), this means that it is not directly measuring fobecauseaking a measurement as a proxy for focus in order to compensate for the fact that it is not measuring focus directly.

However, we anticipate that the variation in focus ben the two systems will be rather minor for the vast majority of lenses. When working with the relatively modest apertures that are given by kit zooms, it is pmeasuringtle imprecision will bto the larger depth of focus. On the other hand, using lenses that have a big aperture, changes are likely to become more visible.

Accuracy and reliabirelativelyf the AF

EFmost from Canon

Because of its shallow depth of field and the lens aberrations that occur when the aperture is wthe larger depth of focus will hide any little imprecision lenses to properly focus. This is especially true when the aperture is fully open. However, the camera’s green and purple fringing in front of and behind the focus plane, which is caused by its axial chromatic aberration, has the advantage of making it simple to determine where the camera has focused.

The Dual Pixel AF technology exceeds tto focus properlytofocus system in a number of ways, including being more constant from shot to shot and more precise in terms of where it focuses. This is something that we would expect to see happen. It is interesmakes quite as precise as manually focusing the camera by utilizing both the live view button and the depth-of-field preview button to confirm that you are focusing on the aperture that you are using to capture the picture.

It’s interesting to note that when we put the EOS 60D through the same testHowever, itwe received results that were comparable but not exactly the same. Switching to live view autofocus produced the same results as manual focus, putting its contrast-detect AF method ahead of the 70D’s Dual Pixel AF rms of accuracy. The conventional phase-detection AF produced almost identically soft images but switching to live view autofoccomparable results as manua

It should not come as a surprise that contrast-detect autofocus is more accurate than phase-detect autofocus because it continues to move the lens until the optimal focus is achiLikewise, thed. However, it is important to keep in mind that contrast-detect autofocus is quite a bit slower than the Dual Pixel AF found on the 70D.

Actual-life Photographic Portrayal

You will be able to observe what those variations mean in a real-world photography environment through the use of the 85mm f/1.8 lens for a casual portraiture setting. When we focessentialsingrememberonal optical viewfinder, we achieved results that were rather satisfactory, if not quite razor-sharp.

However, for one of our five images, the camera was able to obtain results that were even better than those seen in this shby using a result that is pretty usual. On the other hand, the Dual Pixel AF system generated better results than the traditional method constantly; the five photographs we took are nearly indistinguishable from one another.

On the othobtainedble to get the absolute best results by either manually focusreflectingua pretty usual result while utilizing a significantly enlarged (10x) live view. Because the AF points of the Dual Pixel AF system are far bigger than those of a normal PDAF sensor, it is not always feasible to precisely put the focus point whergot be. This is one of the drawbathe Dual Pixel AF system.

Although we were able to attain a more exact placement in this photograph by making use of the 10x magnification, this technique is by no means the best one to utilize whenstandardg portrait photos. We were so focused on getting the shot that we didn’t realize our subject had moved around in the frame when we were zooming in.

Autofocus micro-adjust (for viewfinder phase-detect AF)

When combined with the standausingct AF system, the use of autofocus micro adjust makes it possible to get much improved results. This feature, which can be found in the custom function menu of the camera (C.Fn II 13), gives you the ability to bias the zoomedon of the lens forward or backward in comparison to where the AF sensor believes it should be. You can correct the issue if the lens regularly focuses behind or in front of the subject of your photograph.

With lenses from a third party: the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM

When we testedallows you.8 DC HSM, we discovered that the majority of Canon bodies hcomparedcusing it accurately, despite the fact that it has excellent optical quality. It is a lens that, like the 85mm, has a wide aperture that has the ability to dramatically highlight any mistake in focus.

Kit Lens

Keep in mind that shooting in the real world does not always include shooting higmostects with fast telephoto lenses. This is another importantitsep in mind. Any difference in precision that existed between the traditional focus system and the Dual Pixel AF system is eliminated when used with the EF-S 18-Remember5.6 IS STM kit zoom.

It’s possible that this is because of the new STM design, but the fact that it has a narrower maximum aperture aessential that you won’t see a significant change in a lot of differecenarios. These studies were carried out at a variety of focal lengths and distances, and the results that were shown above are indicative oThis may bembination of those variables.

. Still, thel AF’s tracking and continuous shooting capabilities have their limits.

These tests are all quite gomanyver, Dual Pixel AF does have certain drawbacks, the most notable various to do with keeping up with a moving subject wshown above indicateOS 70D features a setting called “Face Detect + Tracking,” which allows the camera to follow your subject’s faces as they move across the frame while maintaining focus on them.

However, if yohas this with continuous shooting at either high isthe camera will lock the focus on the first picture and will noFor example, theake any attempts to refocus for subsequent images. This applies to both high and low speeds.

Worse of all, the screen goes entirely dark during continuous filming, turning the entire process into something of a game of guesswork, especially when panning to follow a moving subject. When taking still photographs, this essentially renattemptel AF mode unusable outside of the Again, thisines of a “one-shot” scenario.

This behavior is sadly reminiscent of mirrorless cameras from the previous generation, which functioned in a mimilar to how they do now. When compared to the most recent models, which have continuous shooting settings that show live view between frames and can refocus between phs, this one appears to be rather out of date.

This forces them to shoot at a slower pace compared to their fastest potential rate; nonetheless, the Olympus OM-D E-6.5 M1’s frames per secondComparedocus tracking aren’t quite slow. I have high hopes that Canon will continue to refine and advance the Dual Pixel AF system in much the same manner it has in tsomewhatt.

An analysis of Dual Pixel AF in its entirety

It’s one of the quickest live view focus systems on a modern DSLR, so there’s not such a drastic difference in behavior when you switch to live view shooting as there is with other DSLRs. Our overall thoughts of the Dual Pixel AF system are fairly favorable.

Additionally, we have discovered that it provides much higher levels of accuracy and consistency when compared to the traditional AF method. It is important to note that even while you can use AF adjust to fine-tune the behavior of the conventional AF (and may very well need to do so in order to produce results that are passable), the setting has no impact on the autofocus that occurs in live view.

It is also important to note that the Dual Pixel AF system does not always utilize the same aperture that will be used to capture a picture; rather, it will use the diaphragm to regulate the amount of light that is allowed to reach the sensor. This is something that should be kept in mind. In the course of our research, we came to the conclusion that this factor may bring about a slight deviation in consistency.

if you are shooting photographs with a wide aperture in strong light since there is where you will have the highest mismatch between the functioning aperture value of the camera and the shooting aperture that you have set.

In general, we have discovered that the Dual Pixel AF has a very tiny degree of error when it comes to accuracy. Those who only use the lens that comes with the camera are not likely to notice the difference in focusing speed that we discovered between conventional phase detection and Dual Pixel autofocus. However, those who have an extensive lens collection or who intend to invest in faster zooms and primes will find that shooting in live view mode with the 70D is beneficial.

It is not accurate to say that Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus is “only for video.” However, it does appear to offer a reasonable mix between speed and accuracy, which makes it a suitable option to turn to when sharpness is of the utmost importance, particularly when shooting at big apertures.

Overall, the results of our tests indicate that the 70D’s Dual Pixel AF offers the majority of the advantages associated with conventional phase-detection AF and the majority of the advantages associated with contrast detection, but it does not quite manage to offer all of the advantages associated with both.

Tracking AF

Sadly, Dual Pixel AF is not really useful for anything other than capturing movies or single images (see the movie page to see how it does). If you want continuous autofocus with tracking, 70D’s conventional autofocus technology is the only option available to you. We tested its ability to follow a moving subject as it approached the camera and moved from left to right across the picture.

Both an older 85mm USM lens and a newer 18-135mm STM lens performed quite well when paired with the Canon EOS 70D’s wide-area autofocus capabilities (set to 85mm to match). However, the LCD overlay points lighted up, followed our subject as she went toward the camera, and tracked as well as we had anticipated. There were more lost frames with the USM lens, but just one. For the purpose of simplicity, we will just provide the findings for the 18-135mm lens below.

Movie mode

It is anticipated that the Dual-pixel CMOS AF technology found in the Canon EOS 70D will represent a significant advancement in movie recording capabilities. In addition to recording video at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 at frame rates of 30, 25, and 24 frames per second, the 70D is also capable of recording a single still image or several still photos at full quality while maintaining the aspect ratio of the video being recorded (either 16:9 or 4:3).

The movies are recorded in MPEG-4 AVC format using the H.264 encoding standard. There are three different recording sizes and two different compression algorithms that may be used for the two different HD video modes: Interframe recording, often known as IPB, is a method that results in less data because it predicts and saves only the 14 changes that occur between keyframes rather altering each frame individually.

Because it compresses and preserves each frame in a movie, the file size produced by ALL-I, whose name is confusingly spelled Intraframe, is higher for people who work in high-end editing software. This is because ALL-I saves each individual frame. The resulting files can be up to three times as big as those produced by the IPB.

Full manual control over exposure is provided by the Canon EOS 70D; nevertheless, the P, Tv, and Av mode dial settings all default to program exposure. There is a choice to have the audio adjusted automatically or manually; however, there is no headphone jack to actually check the audio. There are stereo microphones included inside the device, as well as a 3.5mm stereo mic jack.

Tracking and drawing the focus in a movie

You can get the advanced movie-like effect of ‘focus pulling’ with very little effort by using the built-in touch-to-focus feature of the Canon EOS 70D, which works well when using the Dual-pixel AF, which is ideal for focus tracking while movie recording and also works well when using the camera’s built-in touch-to-focus feature.

Modes for Face Detection and Tracking

Face Detect and Tracking is the autofocus option that is selected by default for both the live view and video shooting modes. The Canon EOS 70D was able to successfully follow our subject while we were using the 18-135mm STM kit lens, although it did so in stages and not nearly as evenly as we had anticipated it would.

If you watch the deck work behind the subject, you’ll see that it doesn’t start to drift out of focus until approximately the four-second mark. After that, it shifts gradually as she travels forward in the frame. Bear in mind that it does not appear like it requires focusing until the four-second point, so keep that in mind as well.

(It is important to note that the quality of the movie that is displayed below will differ depending on your connection; thus, you should download the complete video if the visual quality is really important to you.)

Tap the focus button.

Again, when the camera is set to Face Detect and Tracking mode, the focus is initially placed on the subject’s face. However, a tap on the screen causes the camera to shift its attention to the Space Needle in the backdrop. On the initial pass, there is a little pause, but all future passes are completely uninterrupted. In this instance, we made advantage of the 18-135mm STM lens, which is known for its quieter and smoother AF capabilities.

Alternating the subject

When shooting in strong sunshine, the Canon 70D focuses quite rapidly on the subject, as seen in the video that was just referenced. Only once out of four attempts at several focal lengths with the 18-135mm STM zoom did the camera have any issues, and that was when it was set to a focal length that was close to 135mm. In general, it looked as though the 18-135mm lens would start searching as soon as the minimum aperture reached F5.6. This video (which may be found above) was filmed at around 85mm.

Either video or wifi, but not both at once

When enabled on the Canon EOS 70D, wifi prevents the camera from capturing videos for some reason. When you want to film a movie, it is quite inconvenient to have to go through the settings to activate and off wifi, which is generally as simple as flipping a switch. This is something that is normally very straightforward to do.

Having the other new feature, wifi, completely disable video capture is frustrating, especially in a camera whose primary innovations revolve around providing smooth autofocus in video. This is especially frustrating in a camera whose primary innovations revolve around providing smooth autofocus in video.

Quality of the Image

The low ISO JPEG output of the Canon EOS 70D is visually comparable to that of the Nikon D7100 (the apparent difference in size is due to the greater resolution of the D7100). When examined more closely, the reds and greens produced by the 70D have a little more vibrant quality, whilst the lack of an anti-aliasing filter in the Nikon is visible in the form of moiré.

When shot at ISO 1600, the resolution of the 70D’s fine detail appears to be somewhat crisper than that of the D7100, which appears to have applied greater noise reduction. It appears that the Canon applies a greater amount of sharpening, as seen by the “crunchy” tone transitions in the brush bristles.

Although the D7100 does a better job of rendering the scene’s text, there is not much of a noticeable difference when everything is scaled to “the same output size.” When things are at the absolute top of the range for both cameras, things seem rather noisy.

When looking at the Raw output from both cameras at low ISOs, the D7100 appears to have slightly more fine detail, but this is accompanied by some moiré and false color, as can be seen in the man’s sleeve in this illustration (this can also be seen in the image captured by the 70D, albeit not as prominently). Even when “matched for output size,” the 70D seems to exhibit more color noise than the D7100 while shooting at ISO 6400 in Raw mode. This is the case even when both cameras are set to the same resolution.

The fairly crude sharpening that we found in our real-world photography is immediately obvious when you compare “JPEG to Raw photos” – even when employing our general sharpening regime, the processed Raw file displays far more fine detail than the JPEG file does. This holds true even when using “higher ISO settings,” despite the fact that it is somewhat accentuated due to the fact that we have the noise reduction option in the Raw converter set to its lowest possible value.

Canon EOS 70D Specifications

Body typeMid-size SLR
Sensor
Max resolution5472 x 3648
Other resolutions3468×2432, 2736×1824, 1920×1280, 720×480, 4864×3648, 3248×2432, 2432×1824, 1696×1280, 640×480,5472×3072, 3468×2048, 2736×1536, 1920×1080, 720×408, 3648×3648, 2432×2432, 1824×1824, 1280×1280, 480×480
Image ratio w:h1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels20 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors21 megapixels
Sensor sizeAPS-C (22.5 x 15 mm)
Sensor typeCMOS
ProcessorDigic 5+
Color spacesRGB, Adobe RGB
Image
ISOAuto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 (25600 with boost)
Boosted ISO (maximum)25600
White balance presets6
Custom white balanceYes
Image stabilizationNo
Uncompressed formatRAW
JPEG quality levelsFine, Normal
File formatJPEG: Fine, Normal.RAW: RAW, M-RAW, S-RAW (14bit)
Optics & Focus
AutofocusContrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View
Autofocus assist lampIntermittent firing of built-in flash
Manual focusYes
Number of focus points19
Lens mountCanon EF/EF-S
Focal length multiplier1.6×
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCDFully articulated
Screen size3″
Screen dots1,040,000
Touch screenYes
Screen typeClear View II TFT color LCD
Live viewYes
Viewfinder typeOptical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage98%
Viewfinder magnification0.95× (0.59× 35mm equiv.)
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed30 sec
Maximum shutter speed1/8000 sec
Scene modesPortrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control
Built-in flashYes (Pop-up)
Flash range12.00 m
External flashYes (Built-in flash works as wireless commander)
Flash modesAuto, On, Off, Red-eye
Flash X sync speed1/250 sec
Drive modesSingle, Continuous L, Continuous H, Self timer (2s+remote, 10s +remote), Silent single shooting, Silent continuous shooting
Continuous drive7.0 fps
Self-timerYes (2 or 10 sec, remote)
Metering modesMultiCenter-weightedSpotPartial
Exposure compensation±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing±3 (2, 3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
WB BracketingYes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis)
Videography features
Resolutions1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps)
FormatH.264
MicrophoneStereo
SpeakerMono
Storage
Storage typesSD/SDHC/SDXC
Connectivity
USBUSB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMIYes (HDMI mini)
Microphone portYes
Headphone portNo
WirelessBuilt-In
Remote controlYes (RS-60E3 cable release, RC-6 wireless remote, or using smartphone over Wi-Fi)
Physical
Environmentally sealedYes (Water and Dust resistant)
BatteryBattery Pack
Battery descriptionLithium-Ion LP-E6 rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)920
Weight (inc. batteries)755 g (1.66 lb / 26.63 oz)
Dimensions139 x 104 x 79 mm (5.47 x 4.11 x 3.09″)
Other features
Orientation sensorYes
Timelapse recordingYes (by USB cable and PC)
GPSOptional

Final Verdict

Canon has restored some key features to its ninth-generation enthusiast DSLR after targeting the EOS 60D in a more consumer-focused market. This effectively reinstates a more affordable yet complete option for the increasing number of people who have embraced photography as both a hobby and a business.

The 70D offers a good selection of automatic fallback options for things like HDR, night photography, and remote flash control, as well as a strong, well-designed interface and complex collection of features for those who desire a little more control over their image capture.

The feature sets of Canon’s SLRs often cater to specific user demographics and price points. This might come across as cynical, but charitable interpretations would avoid clogging the interface by adding everything.

For the enthusiast user who wants a good range of control but doesn’t require many of the pro-oriented features found on the 7D, the features present in the 70D are about right.

Only three AF pattern possibilities are available, as opposed to the seven on the 7D, which would be overwhelming for the 70D user. The final camera has a sufficient number of practical features without becoming overburdened.

Canon EOS 70D Price

  • Product
  • Features

Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Last update was on: January 19, 2024 11:07 am
$1,199.00

Canon EOS 70D FAQs

What is Canon 70D worth?

The price of a Canon 70D will vary depending on its age, condition, and the desire in the market; however, as of the year 2023, it is likely to be in the range of $500 to $800 USD.

How old is 70D Canon?

The Canon 70D was first made available for purchase in 2013, rendering it approximately ten years old by the year 2023.

What is Canon 70D used for?

The Canon 70D is an adaptable camera that can be used for a wide range of photographic applications, including portraiture, landscape photography, wildlife photography, action sports photography, and videography.

Is the Canon 70D water proof?

The Canon 70D is not watertight, but it is weather-sealed and can withstand some degree of dampness because of this.

Does Canon 70D have wifi?

The Canon 70D does, in fact, come equipped with both wifi and NFC compatibility right out of the box.

Does Canon 70D have touch screen?

The Canon 70D does, in fact, come equipped with a touch screen that enables users to perform functions such as touch focusing and touch shutter release.

Is Canon 70D good for portrait photography?

Yes, the Canon 70D is a good choice for portrait photography, particularly due to the fact that its autofocus system is quick and accurate and that it is able to generate pictures of a high quality.

Is 70D a full frame camera?

The Canon 70D is not a full-frame camera, despite popular belief. It has a crop camera that is APS-C in size.

Is Canon 70D DSLR or mirrorless?

The Canon 70D is not a mirrorless camera but rather a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera.

Can Canon 70D connect with phone?

Yes, the Canon 70D is capable of connecting to a smartphone by way of the Canon Camera Connect software and wifi connectivity.

Is Canon 70D autofocus?

The Canon 70D does, in fact, come equipped with an autofocus system that is quick and precise for both still images and video.

How long can a Canon 70D last?

If taken care of and maintained properly, the Canon 70D has the potential to last for a very long period. It has a life expectancy of approximately 100,000 actuations for its shutter.

Is the Canon 70D good for street photography?

Because of its quick autofocus system, pivoting touch screen, and compact size, the Canon 70D has the potential to be an effective camera for street photography.

Can Canon 70D shoot raw photos?

Yes, the Canon 70D is capable of shooting in RAW format.

Does Canon 70D have flash?

The Canon 70D does, in fact, come with its own built-in light.

How do I connect my 70D to my computer?

You can either use a USB cable to connect your Canon 70D to your computer or the EOS Utility software to transport the pictures from the camera to your computer.

What resolution is 70D camera?

The Canon 70D has a camera that is 20.2-megapixels in resolution.

How do I download pictures from my Canon 70D?

You can connect your Canon 70D to your computer by using a USB cable and then physically transfer the files, or you can use the EOS Utility software to transfer the files wirelessly. Either way, you can retrieve the photographs from your camera.

Tags:

Paul
We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

DSLRCameraSearch
Logo
Compare items
  • Cameras (0)
  • Phones (0)
Compare