Canon 70D Announced

[Sdison]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/07/02/canon-announces-eos-70d-mid-range-SLR-with-dual-pixel-cmos-af-on-chip-phase-detection#press


http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-70d

What do we think?

Interesting focusing system, and the live view improvements are interesting. I thought they would appeal more to the upgrading from point and shoot crowd.

[ricktas]

not sure about the upgrade from P&S crowd. That would generally be the xxxD models, the xxD models are aimed at the upper level enthusiast, so more likely to be aimed at xxxD owners and those wanting to upgrade from older xxD like the 20D, 30D, 40D etc.

[Sdison]

That's what I mean - enhancing the live view experience seems to be aimed at video shooters and the upgrading crowd, who would prefer to use the screen than the viewfinder. That's why it's strange that they'd upgrade the LV in an upper level APS-C DSLR. It seems to go hand-in-hand with the new focusing system.

Early thoughts seem to be that the focus works a lot better overall, especially in low light and for tracking moving subjects in video. Look forward to seeing some testing.

[swifty]

The AF has big implications for video shooters but perhaps even bigger implications for Canon mirrorless down the track.
This is one of the main hurdles separating prosumer mirrorless vs pro DSLR - AF tracking. I'd be very keen to see how the 70D performs when it's field reviewed.
Great step in the right direction IMO.

[Redback200]

I'm looking at getting one. But I am curious about other specs/features about it. Like does it have a 100% view finder? Does the focusing system work on 3rd party lenses, does the new focusing system make any difference on focusing for still images etc. Unless there's a major issue that appears for anything like that I think I would still get it. I just want to know more about it. Can't wait for an in depth review from someone who has experience reviewing. (not some muppet on youtube.)

Edit In my mind Canon seem to be making great developments for video in their SLR's but that seems to be taking the focus away from stills. What does everyone else think?

[Bennymiata]

I think it shows definite improvements from the 60D that it replaces.
Personally, I use video every now and again, and I think the new live0view focussing system sounds great and seems to work well from the couple of short hands-on experiences I've read about.
I am interested to see how the new sensor works too and it's image quality.
The built-in Wi-Fi and touchscreen are also big upgrades.

Now we will wait to see what the new 7D offers.

[Hayaku]

I'm looking at getting one. But I am curious about other specs/features about it. Like does it have a 100% view finder? Does the focusing system work on 3rd party lenses, does the new focusing system make any difference on focusing for still images etc. Unless there's a major issue that appears for anything like that I think I would still get it. I just want to know more about it. Can't wait for an in depth review from someone who has experience reviewing. (not some muppet on youtube.)

Edit In my mind Canon seem to be making great developments for video in their SLR's but that seems to be taking the focus away from stills. What does everyone else think?
Pretty Sure I saw somewhere that the viewfinder is not 100%. 95 or 98 only I think

[swifty]

IMO all the video developments from all manufacturers (not just Canon) do represent an opportunity cost to stills development.
But fortunately some of these developments will hopefully end up benefiting stills photography in the longer run.

With this on-sensor PDAF advancement from Canon, I can imagine it would be a matter of time before EVFs get incorporated into pro DSLRs, although I don't think it would eliminate the OVF. It might be done perhaps as a switch that would toggle between OVF and EVF. By switching to EVF, you eliminate one of the mechanical barriers (the flipping mirror) and eventually with global electronic shutters, you might be able to eliminate the other mechanical barrier (the shutter). So this could be very exciting for sports/wildlife shooters.
If the bandwidth gets big enough, we might even see full resolution at video-like frame rates (24/30/60fps) whilst maintaining full PD AF.
While none of these aid my style of photography, I alluded to the implications on mirrorless cameras (including P&S) that could perform as competently as today's pro DSLRs. That to me is quite exciting.

[bobt]

In my mind Canon seem to be making great developments for video in their SLR's but that seems to be taking the focus away from stills. What does everyone else think?

I'm inclined the think that merging the two is a reasonably positive pathway for SLRs, simply because it is now possible to do so without a huge compromise having to be made. Personally, I love that capacity of newer cameras. Once, we had to take two cameras (video and still) plus their associated peripherals whenever we went away. Now, for half the trouble, you get both in one. This means that the range of memories is greater and broader.
Probably not what the purists want, but there will always be that more costly alternative for those who are disinclined to go down the dual purpose road.

[Siggi]

on paper it looks great and I'm sure it will perform just fine but the sample images I saw leave lots of room in regard to the IQ but this are early stages and we may find some better samples later on, I love the ergonomics of the 60D and now 70D but n the end IQ is what makes it or breaks it for me.

[Pobbs]

Meh, I'd wait for the 7DII.

[ronaldusreza]

I think that the dual pixel is very interesting, can't wait to try it and see how it actually works. and they have 19 AF points on this new camera which is a major upgrade from the 9 AF points on 60D

[Darren Oster]

From my perspective, this looks like a great camera. I was looking at getting a 7D, which would be as much still camera as I would ever need. The 70D seems to have all the features of the 7D, plus great video features thrown in. For the enthusiast market, this looks like a winner - although like others I would like to see a full review when it's released.

[Hayaku]

Just curious on this but does anyone have any experience with the new STM type lenses? The kit lenses for this are the new STM type and I do wonder how they perform.

Also isn't the STM part of advancement of video capabilities in DSLR?

[etherial]

I think it is actually a step up from the 7D, which is a good thing as the 7Dmk2 hopefully will be awesome!

[Redback200]

Meh, I'd wait for the 7DII.

I'm curious about your comment. Why are you going to wait for the 7DII? What do you think that it will have that the 70D doesn't? If Canon are serious about making their levels of branding different from it's other then it should be better than the 70D probably new AF, better FPS and possibly new sensor (but given the past maybe not) But looking at this camera it is basically a 7D with a slightly gimped frame rate. and better video abilities. For the stage that I am at and what I want in a camera I don't think I need anything more. 100% view finder would be nice though.

[coolhand78]

serious question from a newbie... would there be any reason to purchase the 7D over the 70D? it looks like the 70D will be $300-$400 more expensive,
but in what circumstances would the 7D be chosen over the 70D?

[Bennymiata]

The 7D has been around for a few years now, so the price is basically at the run-out stage and the 70D is not yet released, but its price will come down in a few months.
The main advantage of the 7D over the 70D is more FPS, due to using dual Digic 4 processors, and an all metal body (good and bad).

However, the Digic 5+ processor in the 70D is excellent, especially for high ISO use and low noise.
It is also used in my 5D3, and is a superb processor, and very fast too at processing shots from a fast burst.

I personally would buy a 70D over a 7D, at this stage, until the 7D MkII comes out and then make a reasonable comparison.

[Tannin]

Why are you going to wait for the 7DII? What do you think that it will have that the 70D doesn't?

Actual specs remain to be seen, but as a reasonable guess:

Real metal body (stands up to hard use much better)
Bigger, brighter viewfinder with close to 100% coverage
Better AF system (virtually certain)
Better exposure metering (probably)
Some other features ('cause they always need something to say about the new model - but they might not be anything very important)


You'd think that the sensor would be the same or a slight variation. Canon don't seem to mind sharing sensors between models, but equally are perfectly prepared to tool up for a different sensor if it strikes them as a good idea, even it it's almost identical to the existing one.

Me, I'l love them to do the obvious thing and provide the 7D II with a unique and very, very desirable feature: an APS-H sensor. But they won't.

[Tricky]

APS-H sensor on 7D2 would be awesome - I'd buy one.

The 70D new AF system sounds interesting. Not sure why they keep chasing more and more megapixels...

[AdamR]

I always wonder why a new advancement in one direction suggests to people that the company will drop the ball in other aspects. Same happened with live view and then video. Stills still work fine.

[MG16]

Can't wait until 7dm2
hopefully soon

[GoldZilla]

I always wonder why a new advancement in one direction suggests to people that the company will drop the ball in other aspects. Same happened with live view and then video. Stills still work fine.
Agreed. Surely even a minor advancement in some areas at the expense of large advancements in others is still a step forward, right?

[flashc]

I think it is actually a step up from the 7D, which is a good thing as the 7Dmk2 hopefully will be awesome!


From my perspective, this looks like a great camera. I was looking at getting a 7D which would be as much still camera as I would ever need. The 70D seems to have all the features of the 7D, plus great video features thrown in. For the enthusiast market, this looks like a winner - although like others I would like to see a full review when it's released.

Personally, I think the 7D is the best APS C camera that Canon make and mine is now over 3 years old and has shot over 100,000 frames. It has survived a couple of accidental (normally fatal) drops onto concrete and still came up working ok..

It's never had a Canon service or needed the sensor to be cleaned other than by the 7D onboard system.

I recently went to Brisbane to buy myself another 7D body as the price in camera shops at present is just over $1000.00.
I also considered a Nikon D71000 or continue waiting for the 7D Mk II release.

I couldn't find a 7D body anywhere I went because as soon as they receive stock of the 7D, they're sold out.

The salesman said have you considered the 70D and as I had my 7D with me, he took some shots inside the (darkish) large shop with both cameras.

I'm the owner of a new Canon 70D now...

I was so impressed with the low light focusing speed and quality of the high ISO shot of the 70D compared to my 7D, that I pulled out my credit card immediately..

Focusing seems very accurate and I agree that it's a step up from the 4 year old 7D as most of the features I have in my 7D are in the 70D. No White balance and no flash exposure adjustment direct control buttons are on the top panel, it has no joystick control stick, a smaller control wheel and no metal body.

Compare that to my 2nd camera I use as well, a Nikon D5100 and the 70D to me is just a 7D in a smaller format.
I can hold the 70D in my hand with a similar feel to my 7D and the tips of my fingers fit between the lens and the hand grip unlike other small DSLR cameras where it's a very shorter space to try to fit your fingers in with a secure hold. My wrists should recover from the lesser weight of the 70D.

Wireless flash (infrared type) same as the 7D, 8 frames sec, SDXC UHS-I memory cards that I already carry for my Nikon, WiFi built in if that's what you need, Clean pentaprism viewfinder with any focus points, grid etc able to be switched on and off as required, a lock button in the centre of the mode dial (that annoys me but I have accidentally turned it on my 7D so I know why they added it)

98% viewfinder coverage ( a reason why I bought my 7D as the 7D is 100%), 19 focus points all cross type, AF microadjustment if you need it for a different lens, 7 or 8 frames per second in burst mode, all my EF-S and EF lens will fit, same battery and charger as the 60D, 7D and the 5DIII, better clearer monitor than my 7D and it flips out like my Nikon and the 60D, touchscreen too, video probably works better than my 7D and that works well if I use it

Not sure why we need 20+ MP but Canon must have a reason, I guess, and it's good to be able to crop a small section sometimes.

Newly designed focusing system works well for me and equals the focusing on my 7D or is better, 1/8000 to 30 sec exposures selectable, ISO 100 to 25,600 if you're shooting in near darkness, HDR and multiple exposure modes built in, focusing brightness EV -0.5 to 18 works for me in low light.

My 7D is still a great camera for the metal construction, control layout and it just feels right when you pick it up...

The 70D in my experience so far is a "upgrade" of the 7D and i would recommend it to anyone who, like me is probably tired of waiting for the 7D Mk II to appear and will probably cost double the price or more..