Canon EOS 70D Review

The Canon EOS 70D came out to replace the Canon EOS 60D. There are several new and updated features that are sure to impress in this DSLR model. Its touchscreen and automated focus are great enhancements that take little time to get used to and make shooting fast and efficient.

It seems like Canon put a lot of focus on its default “Picture Style” option, which is basically the same thing as automatic focus and lighting and all the things that could easily be done individually. Whereas it is smart to make sure the auto function works properly, it is equally as important to make sure all other functions work just as well, which is something we feel Canon somewhat lacked. Even in the auto Picture Style function, the sharpness and clarity of the pictures seems perfect until you take a serious look at the image. The final result in image quality is definitely not bad; in fact it’s quite good, but maybe users would expect more from a camera that is so impressive in other fields. The video quality is roughly the same as the picture quality. There is an obvious softness to the images and a relatively low resolution provided by HD quality. However, as long as ISO levels are kept within reasonable range, the output will be satisfactory.

Regarding its other functions, Canon EOS 70D does provide excellent performance. The range of time between powering on, focusing and shooting is no more than 0.4 seconds; faster than almost all other Canon models. When using good lighting, the camera will focus, expose and shoot in around 0.2 seconds, while in low light scenarios it will take around 0.8 seconds. Its shot and operation speeds are certainly among the main highlights of the model and compare very well to the rest of the market in the category. Canon also included the Dual Pixel CMOS AF (DPA) system for improved autofocus. This system allows for greater lighting and clarity in a given shot. Continuous shooting also works very efficiently, provided you are using an adequate SD card: the Dual Pixel system is great for continuous shooting mode as it quickly insures great clarity in those action shots. JPEG runs through 30 fast action shots in around 7.1fps.

There are very few problems or concerns regarding the new design of the camera. The newer version of the camera actually cuts down on focus time because it instantly drives the camera to focus without having to constantly adjust. Also, it covers nearly 80% of the frame, a very impressive and rare feature in a camera of this stature. Its Live View feature is also a great bonus. Live View allows for a rapid focus and shoot speed of around .6 seconds (in well-lit areas). Unfortunately, in low light situations the Live View feature isn’t as strong, taking about 1.4 second to focus and shoot. However, this is great if you're planning to use the camera more for videos in which you want the focus to slowly adjust rather than instantly.