Canon EOS 70D Hands-on Preview

July 2013 | By Andy Westlake

Preview based on a pre-production Canon EOS 70D

During the early days of digital SLRs, Canon was pretty much the undisputed leader in CMOS image sensor technology. Almost every new EOS model came with an increase in resolution and high ISO range, and when the EOS 7D appeared in late 2009, the company had progressed from 3MP to 18MP, and ISO 1600 to ISO 12800, in just over nine years. But since then Canon's APS-C cameras have all sported variants on the same basic sensor design, to the extent that you could be forgiven for wondering what on earth their engineers were doing all day. Now we know.

The EOS 70D is a mid-range SLR for enthusiast photographers that from the outside looks like a sensible, indeed desirable upgrade to the EOS 60D. It borrows many of the best bits from Canon's existing SLRs, including the autofocus sensor from the EOS 7D, the fully articulated touchscreen from the EOS 700D (Rebel T5i), and built-in Wi-Fi from the EOS 6D. But on the inside it sports an entirely new sensor that is, potentially, revolutionary. It offers 20.2MP resolution, but uses a 'Dual Pixel CMOS AF' design in which every single pixel is split into two separately-readable photodiodes, facing left and right. This means that in principle they are all capable of phase detection autofocus in live view and movie mode.

On-chip phase detection is nothing new - we first saw it in the Fujifilm F300EXR back in 2010. Since then it's been adopted in one form or another by most manufacturers, with arguably its most successful implementation coming in Nikon's 1 System mirrorless models. But because until now it's used relatively few active pixels scattered sparsely across the sensor, it's had practical limitations, often only covering a restricted area of the frame and struggling once the light drops below outdoor daylight levels. Canon says that its Dual Pixel AF system, in contrast, works across an area 80% of the frame width and height, in light levels as low as 0 EV, and at apertures down to F11. This means it could well be the most capable live view autofocus system we've yet seen on any type of camera.

We'll look at the technology behind the EOS 70D's live view AF in more detail later, but let's not forget that it has to work as a conventional SLR too. To this end it uses the same 19-point AF sensor as the EOS 7D for viewfinder shooting, but with slightly simplified control options in firmware. It can rattle shots off at 7fps for up to 65 frames in JPEG or 16 in RAW, and its standard ISO range covers 100-12800, with ISO 25600 as an expanded option. Image processing is via the DIGIC 5+ processor first seen in the EOS 5D Mark III.

In terms of control layout the EOS 70D is a logical evolution of the EOS 60D, adopting many of Canon's intervening updates and improvements. So it offers a full set of external controls to operate most key functions, and Canon's well-designed Quick Control screen to cover pretty much everything else. It also adopts the superb touchscreen interface that debuted on the EOS 650D (Rebel T4i), which we've found to be more useful than you might at first think. The 70D also regains an array of features that disappeared between the EOS 50D and 60D, such as AF microadjustment.

Canon EOS 70D key features

20.2MP APS-C 'Dual Pixel CMOS AF' sensor
DIGIC 5+ image processor
ISO 100-12800 standard, 25600 expanded
7fps continuous shooting, burst depth 65 JPEG / 16 RAW
'Silent' shutter mode
1080p30 video recording, stereo sound via external mic
19-point AF system, all points cross-type, sensitive to -0.5 EV
63-zone iFCL metering system
98% viewfinder coverage, 0.95x magnification, switchable gridlines and electronic level display
Fully-articulated touchscreen, 1040k dot 3" ClearView II LCD, 3:2 aspect ratio
Single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
Built-in Wi-Fi
Single-axis electronic level
Built-in flash works as off-camera remote flash controller
AF microadjustment (can be set individually for up to 40 lenses, remembered by lens serial number)
In-camera High Dynamic Range and Multiple Exposure modes (JPEG-only)
'Creative Filter' image processing styles, previewed in live view

Key specs compared

In the table below we see how some of the EOS 70D's key specs measure up against its more expensive big brother, the EOS 7D, and its main rival, the Nikon D7100. What's interesting here is just how close the 70D is to the 7D in terms of spec - in much the same way as Nikon's D7000 made the D300S look almost redundant, it's quite difficult to see why most Canon users would now choose the top-end APS-C model.

	Canon EOS 70D	Canon EOS 7D	Nikon D7100
Effective Pixels	• 20.2 MP	• 18.0 MP	• 24.1 MP
ISO Range	• 100-12800 standard • 25600 expanded	• 100-6400 standard • 12800 expanded	• 100-6400 standard • 50-25600 expanded
No of AF points	• 19	• 19	• 51
AF in live view	• Phase detection	• Contrast detection	• Contrast detection
Screen	• 3.0" 3:2 • 1,040,000 dots • Fully-articulated • Touch sensitive	• 3.0" 4:3 • 920,000 dots • Fixed	• 3.2" 4:3 • 1,228,800 dots • Fixed
Viewfinder	• 98% coverage • 0.95x magnification	• 100% coverage • 1.0x magnification	• 100% coverage • 0.94x magnification
Continuous drive	• 7 fps	• 8 fps	• 6 fps
Storage	• SD/SDHC/SDXC	• Compact flash	• SD/SDHC/SDXC • 2 slots
Weight (inc batteries)	• 755g (1.7 lb)	• 860g (1.9 lb)	• 765g (1.7 lb)
Dimensions	• 139 x 104 x 79 mm (5.5 x 4.1 x 3.1")	• 148 x 111 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9")	• 136 x 107 x 76 mm (5.4 x 4.2 x 3.0")
Wi-Fi	• Built-in	• Optional	• Optional

Size and design compared to the EOS 60D

The EOS 70D directly replaces the EOS 60D in Canon's range, and is very similar in terms of size and design. It's a bit smaller though, and has a sensibly-updated control layout. Here we take a more-detailed look at the two cameras side-by-side.

From the front the EOS 70D looks almost identical to the 60D. But it's slimmed down a bit, being fractionally narrower. Look a little closer and you can also see that the 60D's front-facing mono microphone has gone (replaced by stereo mics on the top plate).


The two cameras are pretty similar from the back too, with the 70D retaining the same basic layout. It gains Canon's improved live view/movie mode controller, and has a physical switch to lock the rear dial against accidental operation rather than a button. Other than that it uses all the same buttons, just not necessarily in the same order.

From the top, again the 70D is very much a sensible evolution. The mode dial is simplified and now rotates continuously rather than having hard end stops, and there's a new AF area expansion button next to the shutter release. But the rest of the controls are all essentially the same.

Kit options and pricing

The EOS 70D will be sold body-only for £1079 / $1199 / €1099, as a kit with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM for £1199.99 / $1340 / €1249, or with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens for £1399.99 $1549 / €1499. The BG-E14 battery grip will cost £229.99 / $270 / €215.

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window.

To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.

DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

GearShop

Canon 70D DSLR Camera, Body Only●	$1,199.00	Buy on GearShop
Canon 70D DSLR Camera Kit with EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens●	$1,549.00	Buy on GearShop
Canon 70D DSLR Camera Kit with EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens●	$1,349.00	Buy on GearShop

Canon EOS 70D 20.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Body Only)	$1,199.00
Canon EOS 70D 20.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Dual Pixel CMOS AF and EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM Kit	Too low to display
Canon EOS 70D 20.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Body Only)	$1,199.00
Canon EOS 70D 20.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Dual Pixel CMOS AF and EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM Kit	$1,349.00
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens (Import) for Canon EOS 7D, 60D, 70D, Rebel SL1, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i, T5i, XS, XSi, XT, & XTi Digital SLR Cameras + 6pc Bundle Accessory Kit	$177.77
Canon EOS 70D 20.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Body Only) 32GB Pro Kit - Includes camera, 32GB Secure Digital SD Memory Card, Compact Deluxe Gadget Bag - DC74m 3pc. Lens Cleaning Kit	$1,199.00
Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only)	$699.00
Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera & EF-S 18-135mm IS STM Lens with 32GB Card + Battery + Case + Tripod + Filter + Flash + Tele/Wide Lenses + Kit	$1,549.95
Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS UD Standard Zoom Lens	Too low to display
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only)	$1,339.00
Canon EOS 70D 20.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and EF-S 18-55mm 64GB Bundle - Includes camera, 64GB Memory Card, Telephoto Lens, 2 58 mm Filter Kits, 2 Batteries, Battery Charger, Gadget Bag, Card Reader, Mini Tripod, Screen Protectors, & Lens Cleaning Kit	$1,497.00

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Comments

Total comments: 1013

Sure, excellent results, but... I can not see any appreciable step forward from 60D in RAW. The picture from 70D is less saturated which gives an impression of lower noise level. Liked "significantly improved" with next "no cost to pay".
I think it is necessary to bring the exposure/contrast/saturation to the same levels (may be apply Auto-levels?) to allow fair comparisons by sight.

2 upvotes

Looking on the Raw details, the difference on iso noise from 70D to 60D/7D is exact the same step as 50D to 60D.
So 1/3 to ½ stop better than 60D, and is very good.

1 upvote

probably more than 1/3 stops I would say.

btw, there are near 0.56 stops difference between D7100 and 7D according to DxOMark (0.43 stops unit area).

0 upvotes

On imaging-resource i found the 25600 (70D) better looking then the 12800 from the 60D.

1 upvote

Just read some of the messages here about the 70D.

I use APC-S and full frame.
To put it simply....full frame is more forgiving, simply that its a larger sensor.(DUH).

Now that we've made this great discovery between the two formats...lets move on.
At one time video played second fiddle to the stills side of every SLR (mirror less or not).
The 70D (in my opinion) has levelled the playing field between stills and video.
It was bound to happen.
In fact maybe the 'worm has turned' , and people will be buying the 70D more for its video capabilities.

Its focusing system is amazing.....and I suspect that other manufactures will not wast time in implementing it into their camera.....especially Sony who will put this sort of sensor into their mirror less range of cameras....where it will work even better than in the 70D.
Remember gentlemen....this is just the beginning.

0 upvotes

I need APS-C because 5D3 has a slow frame rate of 6 fps.
the God said that a pair of video cameras is all we deserve.
Canon is going to flood the market with 70D to drown rivals.

Comment edited 3 times, last edit 11 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

It will be definitely not me who will buy 70D, sorry. At least not before my 600D breaks irreversibly. And by that time there hopefully will be a better choice. I am NOT in DLSR video.

0 upvotes

Congrats to DPR team for posting this this quickly.
It does clearly show some improvements in noise performance, it's especially noticeable in the dark blues, cf the box.
Mostly on par with the sony sensors, like the D7100, although the Pentax K5IIs seems to be performing better (no anti-alias to thanks I guess?)

But question : Does anyone know if it is a product of Canon's new line of production? Or will there be something that gives "more" in 6 months?
(Remember the 50D, and the two step jump from 12 to 18MP, in which the latter 15MP camera lasted 6 months...)
I recall some press about Canon investing in new semi-conductor lithography equipment for 2013/2014, and there's something about it in their 2012 AR, but I'm not sure.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

My understanding is that this is the last camera Canon will ever make. They basically think that this camera will never be bested and so why should they even attempt to make it better?

5 upvotes

hmm... Sorry, but I feel compelled to ask... A bit bitter about Canon?
No seriously, I know Canon pulls out products every 6 months for its rebel series and every one year for their mid range, but this sensor being brand new, I just wondered if it was the final design for the 2 and a half years to come like their 18MP sensor was, or just a step, like the 15MP was.

Comment edited 17 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

I hope that this preview's brief ruminations about putting some of the technology of the 70D into the next M comes to fruition. The samples show some good focus capabilities.

Other than that, the image quality for its price is nothing short of pedestrian...or at least as used for the preview. The cost is high for taking snap shots, no doubt about that. The M has spoiled me. Sure, its auto focus is weak but the output isn't so bad compared to its new sibling.

3 upvotes

If you don't use APS-C cameras and are devoted to stay away from it, please just carry on. Don't flood this with useless comments. It's a waste of time for you and other people. A lot of people are still interested in APS-C cameras and actually read comments here.

Comment edited 27 seconds after posting

10 upvotes

Yes APS-C but a bit bigger! Fujifilm X-M1 :)

0 upvotes

Problem is some of the smaller sensor users are feeling insecure, and the lack of confidence forced them to post BS comments here....

3 upvotes

@grumpycat: the Fuji X-E1 and X-M1 are just the equivalents of Canon Rebels wrapped in a nice-looking but awfully low quality plastic shell.

Why you would invest in that plastic garbage over a Canon or Nikon is beyond me, and the size advantage is not there either.

0 upvotes

@Mike99999 While I agree with the above comments about all the off-topic mirrorless comments in a Canon 70D thread, all Fujifilm X cameras from the X20 to the X-Pro1 have excellent build quality, and are mostly metal.

2 upvotes

+1 to the "pro APS-C" comment. I shoot Nikon, but I like the smaller format since it puts more pixels on target for shooting distant wildlife. (The 24MP DX sensor is the equivalent of something like 54MP on FX/fullframe.)

The smaller formats have a lot of advantages to them. I wish Nikon would recognize that DX isn't just "that thing that people who can't afford FX cameras shoot" and make a proper wideangle prime for it.

2 upvotes

Is there anyone else here who only reads comments with 4 or more likes? The interweb is seriously over stocked with bs pundits. I miss 2003 like you cant believe.

10 upvotes

I'd respond to this but I'm waiting for it to get one more like.

20 upvotes

I only read comments that are posted at least 3 times ;)

3 upvotes

Is there anyone else here who only reads comments with 4 or more likes? The interweb is seriously over stocked with bs pundits. I miss 2003 like you cant believe.

1 upvote

Is there anyone else here who only reads comments with 4 or more likes? The interweb is seriously over stocked with bs pundits. I miss 2003 like you cant believe.

1 upvote

You know what is interesting at high ISO? Not only is the Canon not much less (marginally) noisy than the noisy Nikon D7100, but Pentax's KIIs and K-01 have FAR less noise at (for example) 3200 ISO and (it appears) no more noise than the Canon 6D which is FF!!

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 37 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

Good for you. I am sure they will enjoy the revelation in the Pentax forum.

3 upvotes

Intriguing since those Pentax cameras have the exact same Sony sensor as the Nikon D7000.

0 upvotes

which may mean something if the raws from pentax weren't cooked at 3200 and beyond.

0 upvotes

You know what is really interesting?

DxOMark rates the K-01 at 1135 ISO for optimum quality.
They rate the K5IIs at 1208 ISO.
The Nikon D7100 is rated at 1256!

So the question is, do you trust DxOMark, or a random Pentax fanboy posting about Pentax on a Canon forum?

Tons of unfounded BS comments like this one are what convinced me, foolishly, to sell my D7000 and buy a Pentax K30, which I then sold two months later and bought a D7100 instead. I'll take the D7100 with its blazing fast AF, or the 70D with its 7 fps, before I pick up another sluggish Pentax AF system.

1 upvote

Pentax does RAW NR at high ISO. This doesn't mean that their sensors are bad (on the contrary, they're very good), but only that a "no NR raw" comparison isn't quite apples to apples.

And I can make out some fine textures in the D7100 file that are swamped by noise in the Canon file. Keep in mind that the Nikon sensor is higher resolution to start with.

0 upvotes

LOL at WBateman. How much faith do you put in DXO...... it measures noise and not noise structure. When the K5 came out I must have spent about 20 hours comparing it and the D7000..... with the "same sensor". after all that it simply turned out that I could not reduce the D7000 noise enough to be able to compete with the K5. noise quantity was about the same on both, but I could obtain much more usable images from the Pentax than the Nikon. I hope you also know that the K30 sensor is not the same as the one in the K5. They are cooked, but in a way that is good for you. Is it FF good.....NO!!! but its about as close as it comes.....

0 upvotes

What are those square shaped artifacts in the center?

0 upvotes

I would miss EVF and 1080/60p. I hope they will put those in their next mirrorless camera with the same sensor. Unlikely though...

0 upvotes

So many trolls coming out to bash a new Canon camera!

10 upvotes

The trolls only know and use smaller-than-APS sensor...:)

0 upvotes

@kewlguy, you will find people saying the opposite,
if you go to one of the m4/3" forums.

2 upvotes

@yabokkie - good thing I don't care about m4/3...

1 upvote

Too small for pro, too big for the other. In a few years, this kind of camera will be totally "as been".

5 upvotes

Size has no bearing on what a camera can do, nex troll. go back under your bridge.

6 upvotes

I think you meant to say "has been". If so, then all I can say is that virtually every smart camera will be over the hill in "a few years" - even the pro cameras. I don't see the APS-C sensor on this camera as all that limiting and am very keen on the new phase contrast focus system. I might consider one to complement my 5D3.

1 upvote

@ Redfox88
From the under of my bridge, at least, I have no shame to show my work. (And no need for a heavy and $2000 camera for me). You can take a look on my gallery and challenges here or my flick, too. Where is your?

0 upvotes

We keep reading (mostly by mirrorless fans) that DSLRs will be extinct shortly, replaced by lousy EVF mirrorless cameras. The only problem is DSLRs continue to outsell mirrorless cameras by a huge margin, 3-to-1 or more in the US and by as much as 9-to-1 in Europe. So for all the evangelizing mirrorless fans do it doesn't seem to be working as nobody is buying them in any large numbers.

2 upvotes

@ Marike6. I don't care so much about camera, I have A700, A33, NEX-3 and a P&S. indeed I could work with any camera you give me. The debate between EVF and OVF is long time over, and myself, I can work without VF. In 80% of the time, I grab the NEX because for me, it's the best compromise between convenience and quality.

0 upvotes

I hate to tell you this, but most of the photojournalists I know can't afford the high end full frame cameras that "pros" are supposed to use, like the D3 or 1D series cameras.

In fact, the largest newspaper in my region still supplies its photographers with used D300's! The weekly that I work for offered to spend up to $500 on a camera for me, but I had them buy me a lens instead and bought my own camera, a D7100. I have been saving all my money to move up to a 5D Mark III, but there is definitely a market for good APS-C cameras with certain features (like 7 fps on a $1,000 camera for us sports shooters).

1 upvote

DX is "too small for pro?"

In the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, there's a wildlife photography exhibit. Glorious six-foot-tall prints, stunning work, and they have full tech specs by every print. Y'know what one of the most-used cameras is? The humble D300, with its old 12MP DX sensor that's "too small for pro".

The new Olympus 16MP Four Thirds sensor is as good/better than it. The new Toshiba 24MP sensor that Nikon's using wipes the floor with it. If this old workhorse sensor is good enough for the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (even at four-digit ISO's), then it's good enough for most anything.

2 upvotes

@WBateman

If you are a professional photographer, you should be able use any camera for the job. An APS-C camera like the 70D should not pose any handicap. It has almost all the essential features of a "pro" camera except that the shutter may not last 300,000 cycle and the body is not so robust.

Further, newspaper printing do not require very high resolution. In the old days, the Canon 1D with 4Mp was very acceptable.

Local newspapers tend to have less budget for cameras. However, if you are working for Associated Press, it is likely they would still provide you with a Canon 1DX with the three "pro" zooms. It also depends on what they expect you to cover. If you cover sports, they have to provide you with the appropriate telephoto lens.

So far, micro 4/3 and other mirrorless cameras are never used. I am sure they have very good reasons for not using them.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 9 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I like those comments!
Complaining about size and then taking shots with IPad! Soon people start taking shots with Apple TV just give to the TV battery and camera! That's will be ok for them! :D

9 upvotes

nice one, I also observed this thing in gatherings that I went to

0 upvotes

Note to Simon Joinson: The Panasonic GX7 preview still has 40% more comments than the Canon 70D preview, even though the 70D preview has been up longer and been updated with sample images while the GX7 hasn't yet. Time to reevaluate your decision to skip reviewing many m4/3 cameras.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

You might want to look at digital camera sales trend which was published here not so long ago and re-evaluate your suggestion.

8 upvotes

Pana will manufacture 5,000 GX7 per month, while
Canon manufactures several thousands 1D/1Ds,
tens of thousands XXDs, and
hundreds of thousands XXXDs per month.

I think more than a hundred thousand for 60D and hopefully 70D.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 15 minutes after posting

6 upvotes

There is enough m43 and mirrorless content on DPR to satisfy even the most enthusiastic fan. This comment section is not really the place to put in a request for even more m43 content.

7 upvotes

Of the 27 m4/3 cameras announced to date, DPR have reviewed 20. We can be pretty sure that they will review the high-end GX7 and E-P5, and perhaps the G6 and GF6 too, if time permits.
That leaves us with three definitively skipped models: GF5, G5 and E-PL5. Hardly many, I think, and hardly evidence of a decision to skip reviewing m4/3 cameras.

0 upvotes

I would recommend G5 but among m4/3" cameras,
GX7 should be reviewed first on the image quality,
which may make all other reviews unnecessary.

Comment edited 6 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

They skipped the NEX-5R, Samsung NX 20, and so far the NEX 3N too. Possibly some other Samsung cameras. Bottom line is they review 100% of DSLRs and skp 30-50% of mirrorless cameras over the past two years. Simon Joinson SPECIFICALLY SAID in the GX7 preview thread that DPR skips some mirrorless cameras reviews because they don't get as much traffic. It has nothing to do with sales, DPR just wants their ad money. Clearly the evidence I have presented suggests that mirrorless popularity on DPR is rising.

0 upvotes

relax. I'm also interested in GX7 but definitely not at the price now. I'm not in a hurry to buy any camera, but I'll buy one immediately if the improvement is like D200->D300, so huge I won't need to read any review to know it.

0 upvotes

You specifically mentioned m4/3 cameras in your original post, but now you are talking about mirrorless cameras in general.

Anyway, DPR has stated many times, that they simply don't have the time to review every single camera, so they have to prioritize. DSLRs still sell in much larger numbers than mirrorless cameras, so more people are likely to be interested in those reviews. The fact that mirrorless reviews get less traffic is evidence of that. And the fact that the GX7 preview has generated more comments than the 70D preview, can't be taken as evidence that the actual review will be read by more people. Many commenters are obviously not very interested in the camera they are commenting on, and many comments are made by the same commenters.

Given that DPR are unable to review all cameras, how would you have prioritized? Would you choose to review every mirrorless camera at the expense of DSLRs? Would that be more fair?

1 upvote

people are managed by computers, statistics, big data, prism, ...

0 upvotes

Revenant you are confusing evidence with proof, the higher number of comments is abslutely evidence that the GX7 preview is getting more traffic unless you specifically counted the number of unique commenters and found a discrepancy compared to the 70D preview (I seriously doubt it and there is no reason to believe that there is one). It does not prove that there was more traffic but it is certainly strong evidence.

I guarantee you that DPR would hire more people to review every camera of each review generated enough traffic for them. I don't have a problem with this way of thinking as long as it is not just a facade for a deep-seated agenda to promote old-guy cameras and trash cameras of the future. That's why I'm calling out the GXY preview's exceptional popularity so that we can see if DPR puts its money where its mouth it when the next group of cameras is due for review.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

@yabokkie: on a similar note McDonalds continues to serve millions upon millions of crappy hamburgers and people buy them.

Enjoy your garbage Rebel with 18-xxx f/3.5-5.6 kit lens anchored around your neck like all the other tourists

0 upvotes

@Mikhail Tai

"old-guy cameras"? You mean the "old-guy" DSLRs that most professional photographers and enthusiasts use?

This thread is about the Canon 70D. Deal with it, and stop whining about m43 coverage, which is more than enough on DPR.

A niche format like m43 does not deserve any more coverage than the substantial attention DPR gives it. If you need 24/7 m43 attention, go to "m43 Rumors" or start your own website. This is not the place for your constant m43 evangelizing.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 3 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

why don't you make your own GX7 review?

0 upvotes

These are big, heavy cameras with big heavy lenses. Would not want to lug one any farther than I would have to.

3 upvotes

Tell that to Ansel Adams...

7 upvotes

...or change laws of physics.

2 upvotes

Big, heavy cameras? You might want to have your testosterone levels checked.

22 upvotes

Yes they are big, heavy and BLACK. That you forgot.
And yes iPhone is better 'cause is not heavy and you carry it with you.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

The 70D is 5.5 x 4.1 x 3.1" / 139.0 x 104.3 x 78.5 mm, and weighs 1.66 lb / 755 g, which for most adult men (and women) is not heavy at all.

If your feeling soft on any given day, just mount a 40 2.8, a spectacular lens that weighs almost nothing.

On the serious side, I don't know who started the meme that DSLRs are large and heavy, but frankly it's kind of strange to hear mostly adult males referring to compact APS-C DSLRs as "large and heavy".

5 upvotes

Good, just stay out of the way of those of us that can carry them :-)

1 upvote

Tell what to Ansel Adams, Walter? Tell him to carry my bag?

Unless he's going to haul stuff for me, or unless you are going to haul stuff for me, he and your reverence for him and his cute pictures of a bunch of rocks are useless.

If you want to carry photo gear for me let me know. The rest is just posturing. Poserus don't pay the bills.

0 upvotes

Firmware update 1.02 will reduce the weight from 1.66 lb to .96 lb.

4 upvotes

Fantastic, that's good news then! OK great thanks.

0 upvotes

yes, buy a heavy camera and live longer.

0 upvotes

Well, my girlfriend is 5'2'' and weighs about 110. She never works out, but she does carry around a Nikon D600 and shoots weddings with a heavy 70-200mm f/2.8. I'm not going to say that a DSLR is right for everyone, but if you think a DSLR is too heavy to throw over your shoulder and walk around with, it sounds less like the cameras' fault and more like a health problem.

2 upvotes

Hey Rallyfan... your bags too heavy for you? I did that stuff 35 years ago for some great pros with weak shoulders... done for me now and yes my neck/shoulders are worn out too. Thank goodness for smartphones I hope they will breed like rabbits and bring back the edge for an old medium format shooter :)

Whether you like Ansel Adams photographs or not he was no wimp whining about the weight of his 10x8 plate camera...well maybe to his long suffering wife. I am sure he would have a chuckle at people complaining about the weight of a DSLR. As for the "rocks" many have tried and many have failed. Try it with 1 sheet of film sometime....the "Moon" just might rise for you.

0 upvotes

He's no longer with us physically. Whether he carried a field camera up a mountain to take pictures of a bunch of rocks or whether he also carried 200 kg of IWF-approved bumper plates makes no difference. That's his problem.

He's irrelevant.

He'd be relevant if he were carrying my bag. He's be useful if he were carrying my bag.

He's not.

It really is that simple.

I'll leave whether what you did 35 years ago is relevant to your imagination. I suspect you can guess the answer...

Light is right. What I can lift and what I prefer to lift are two very different things.

The real competition to the 70D is Canon's 100D. The real question is, "for a second body in the kit, does the smallest DSLR in the range give up too much in terms of features that are actually useful to this medium-range body?"

0 upvotes

The guy carrying around a canoe is worried about the weight of a camera?

0 upvotes

While I muse at all the little nit picks and updated features posed as huge improvements, I'm still happy that I can switch to manual mode, shoot through a viewfinder, and using the center focus point to take decent photos that will make large prints. Considering that my first DSLR was a $7000 1Ds mk 1, it's all the same for much less. That's a real feature. :)

7 upvotes

So true! I hate seeing a new camera come out and everyone complains because it's lacking the 9 fps they wanted or because it has some noise at 3200. Too many nitpickers out there.

On a side note, we found an old 1D Mark I laying around my office and have been trying to sell it. So far it's down to $200 and still no takers! People don't appreciate how much cameras have improved in the last 8-10 years.

1 upvote

Focus accuracy.
Dynamic range.

0 upvotes

Looks good, I'd say the equal of the D7100 IQ, improved in shadows, and a groundbreaking AF. Kudos Canon, lots of happy users updating. Oh, like the D7100, a bigger buffer would be better. How much would a couple of gig of internal memory add?

Comment edited 28 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

In 2 years, they will release a firmware update that will increase the buffer size.
(for free)

Oh sorry what I m saying is nonsense.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Some of you constant whiners and whingers...there will never ever be a camera with a "talent" button.

Comment edited 20 seconds after posting

27 upvotes

AGREE. this camera has everything to make a beautful image for sports, landscape, portrait, family, etc. and lots of options to play.

5 upvotes

I heard the new Sony full frame NEX is going to have a "talent" setting. I can't wait to fire that up and go take pictures of people's feet.

4 upvotes

If canon would have balls, they would remove features instead of adding stuff that makes your life easier.

Do you think it will make you a better photographer if you can shoot nonstop @ 7fps holding your camera in front of you with live view?

1 upvote

I've seen no one who ever shot a flying golf ball through viewfinder of an SLR, which is no good. live view is the way to go to shoot sports.

Comment edited 5 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Yes, flying golf balls make excellent photographic subjects. You could even make big prints from the files and really impress your friends.

7 upvotes

the topic is capability, not art school, but
live view is definitely good from artists point of view,
better viewed on a large display.

I see people shoot with iPhones or iPads
the same way as professionals which the natural way to go.

Comment edited 4 times, last edit 6 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

@ChicagoRob @maniax
Do you shoot sports? Do you shoot street photography? Do you shoot anything where both you and your subjects are constantly moving? If so, yes live view with constant 7fps will make you a better photographer. If you shoot flowers and bugs (yawn), no need for you to get this camera.

0 upvotes

You mean you don't know how to use AF on button + AF C?[whatever the C, S etc equivalent is]

In bright light liveview is useless- you can't see squat.

0 upvotes

See some photographers just don't understand, so wrapped up in the camera itself. In any kind of crowded environment live view helps. Is the best angle for the shot in the middle of the street? Well, live view helps prevent you from getting run over by a car because you can actually keep an eye on your environment while you shoot. Trying to get shots of a soccer game from the sidelines? Well live view helps you take pictures while you navigate the other spectators without stepping on them.

1 upvote

I like Kinematic Digit's idea of retiring the 7D, (at least the name). However, I wouldn't go with a larger sensor in a 1D type body. Instead, I think a 1D type body that has been scaled down for APS-C, and with all of the 1D bells and whistles, with one SD and one compact flash slot, using the same batteries as the current 7D, but priced around USD $2,000 - $2,500, would be killer. I'd call it a Canon A1 X. Now that would really "make my day".

2 upvotes

we need more than 1D4 which, for example, didn't have an imaging AE for better AF tracking.

5D3 can do 6 fps but has no imaging AE,
D800 can do 5 fps (at 1.2x mode) with better AF tracking,
and may have more hits than slightly faster 5D3.

0 upvotes

@yabokkie, No one is talking about a return to the 1D4. The camera I have in mind would use the same APS-C size sensor as the Rebel and 70D, but in a much smaller 1D style body.

0 upvotes

Integrated vertical grip? Blecch, no thanks. Been there, done that, I prefer my clunkiness to be optional.

1 upvote

Canon will have to compete with Nikon APS-Cs first, and
imaging AE is one thing 7D2 will need to outgun D7100.

how much can "a faster frame rate D7100" sell,
at lower resolution and dynamic range?
(assume a sensor based on 70D)

0 upvotes

Hi JackM,
I can understand that if you don't use a vertical grip then you certainly wouldn't want to carry one. However, for me, no camera is complete unless it has one. That's why my dream camera would always be equipped with one.

1 upvote

yabokkie, how is the AE in the current dual layer metering worse than the Nikon metering? I have shot thousands of shots with the 5Dmk3, 7D, and the D800 and AE in those three are equal to each other. No more better than each other in terms of AE. Also, tracking on the D800 is not better than the 5Dmk3. I'm not sure where you're coming up with those conclusions, but I use these cameras all the time and I do not see your perceptions at all.

3 upvotes

It's a bit ironic that people say they want the choice, but I live in a tourist destination city, and I see hundreds of SLRs with vertical grips on them. These are vacationers that want that feature on their camera. I see more of that than I see them without.

0 upvotes

previous AE can see and help AF tracking colors,
1DX, D4, and D800 can see and recognize images.

Nikon 51-point AF performed well on colors but suddenly
Nikon and Canon realized they could do better and
both chose 100k pixel sensors.

AE recognizes the subject and tells AF where to look,
so it's less likely than before that AF will loose lock.

it's kind of standard facial recognition on P&S but
for SLRs only AF and AE sensors can see the subject
when mirror is down.

I feel sorry 5D3 doesn't have it for costing saving.

Comment edited 4 times, last edit 12 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

You must be basing this on things reported by ding dongs like Ken Rockwell about the 3D tracking features of the D800 and how dumb the 5Dmk3 is with it's AF system (as he reported back last year and he is wrong).

Well the 5Dmark3 doesn't have iTR, yes, but it hasn't made a difference for me. Case settings need to be adjusted to do this right with Tracking sensitivity turned up, and more importantly AF pt auto switching turned to setting 2. This performs exactly like the D800 in 3D tracking mode. No it doesn't have colour tracking iTR found in the 1Dx, but using both side by side the differences are so minor of a point that it's benign.

0 upvotes

3D is a term for RGB. D800 also does image/facial recognition which is especially powerful when you shoot a group of people in same color, uniform ... sports.

the problem may be that if the AF is locked to a nearby subject, it'll be locked on that wrong one until you notice and stop shooting.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 8 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Canon took off the image recognition from 5D3 cost wise that it would require a more expensive AE sensor plus a dedicated processor (DIGIC 4 for 1DX, which is not needed by D4/D800, handled by main Expeed 3).

Canon may not have planned imaging AE in advance or they would have included it in DIGIC 5+ requirement. hope DIGIC 6 will have enough power to make an elegant design for 7D2.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 10 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

It will be interesting to see if the Canon 70D kills off the market for a 7D Mk II model. Aside from a marginally faster frame rate, 100% viewfinder coverage, extreme weather sealing, and a metal body, there really doesn't seem to be any overwhelming reason for anybody to pay substantially more for a 7D type body over the cost of the 70D. It's possible that a 7D MkII may not make it to market for several years or maybe not at all. IMHO, I think the 70D is good enough to replace both the 60D and 7D. Now we just have to wait and see what Canon thinks. :)

0 upvotes

with the 6D being a FF, Canon's nomenclature is definitely confusing - I'd even call it random in the absence of uniformity

2 upvotes

7DII could easily move up to the $2000 price point with 45 or 61pt AF and 10fps. It would be the baby 1D. It could share that price point with the 6D as the sports counterpart. The 7D's AF, which presumably the 70D now has, was very good but it's not on the level of the 5D3. So there is room for improvement.

3 upvotes

> 100% viewfinder coverage,
> extreme weather sealing, and
> a metal body

none of them I care a bit.
what I want are basic photographic specs,
due to disappointment of the low spec 5D3:

(1) 61-point AF with 100k-pixel image recognition AE,
(2) > 8 fps frame rate, large buffer size, fast write out,
(3) 1080p60 at high SNR and resolution,

I would also want
(4) ultra high frame rate mirror lockup (for spots and HDR)
(5) GPS and other bells we can find in P&S
(6) user API (recruit Bill Gates for a BASIC-like script)
(7) 40.30MP readout for stereo 3D

basically top class AF and fast readout (double the channels?)

Comment edited 6 times, last edit 13 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

the whole 5D and 7D line has been butchering the 1D line for some time (since the 5Dmk2 specifically).

The flagship cameras are not being bought, and even the 1Dmk4 was not the strong seller they had hoped (much to blame on the 7D).

Whether there is a 7D mkII or not, the next flag ship 1D will have to separate themselves from this category more and appeal to the pros who buy them.

Nikon for example managed to maintain a strong presence with the D4 and those landscapers gravitated to the higher pixel D800 while the professional shooters like wedding stuck with the D4.

How Canon will approach that market in the future needs to change, and the 7DmkII isn't necessarily a wise choice to shoehorn between the 70D and the 5Dmk3 as it sits.

The 7D needs to retired and turned into a new entry level 1D series that is a 10fps shooter, with 1.3x or full frame, 18MP-24MP, WiFi built in, and completely waterproofed and priced at the $3-4K range.

4 upvotes

@KD, that's 1D5 come out the grave.

no blame to 7D, should blame D300 the evil.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 5 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I have no idea what you're talking about yabokkie?

1 upvote

if Canon didn't make 7D, people could just use D300/D300s and D700. these Nikon cameras are low cost 1D3/1D4 alternatives with professional grade AF, at slower frame rates, and higher or lower image qualities. so it's not something Canon could decide by itself.

0 upvotes

You are assuming Canon would leave the 7D2 alone. It seems with the 5D3 getting the 61 point AF and the 70D getting the 19 point AF that the 7D2 will get the 61 point AF, probably 10 fps, gps and/or wifi. Canon felt adding the 61 point AF largely alone was enough to make the 5D3 desireable and they were right. There will be a 7D2.

2 upvotes

Yabi: Canon made the camera people on here have been waiting for: a digital EOS-3 and called it the 5D3. Not sure what on earth you'd consider "low spec" with high res. 22 MP, 6 fps, 61 point AF from the 1D X.

0 upvotes

kine: what are you babbling about? pro cameras, like the 1D X, are expensive and always have been. They also sell lower volumes than mid range and entry level models. Canon knows how to sell cameras and made profit without your words of advice, lol!

0 upvotes

we already have an APS-C version of 5D3, which is D7100.

1 upvote

Stop trolling yabokkie. D7100 has better IQ than 5D3. Doesn't overdo the sharpening.

Faster and better performance at lowlight but it's shocking how an FF can lose to an APSC in IQ at double the price.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

0 upvotes

by "APS-C version of 5D3" I mean one that got
more than 1 stop worth of worse image quality (3-4 dB SNR)

in real D7100 is -0.9 stops worse than 5D3 at high ISOs,
and has +2 stops more dynamic range at base ISO,
that it has better IQ than 5D3 in shadows.

btw, 7D got -1.4 stops worse image quality than 5D3,
which means same performance per unit area (within error).

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 12 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Either I must be getting jaded or the editors at DP review need to learn the meaning of the word succinct, because I loose interest reading the summary of the preview to the proper review.

0 upvotes

"the summary of the preview"...?

1 upvote

Just out of curiosity, why is it that clicking on the big red button that says "Preview" does not, in fact take you to the preview? Of course, I know from The Fifth Element that I should never press the red button.

4 upvotes

his interest is loose ;-p

Comment edited 21 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

It's just a site design thing, we've been this way for years. Right now, the main argument for what we call 'interstitial' pages is that we can show related links which you might also enjoy reading, which we can't (currently) do on the main review pages.

2 upvotes

Hahahaha, "related links which you might enjoy reading"= MORE ADS. Yes, I know it's advertising that funds the site, but please respect your readers enough not to pretend that these 'interstitial' pages are a "feature" that we like and want!

2 upvotes

I'm not sure you're listening, but anyway, if you feel so strongly, you can get to previews and reviews directly from the 'reviews' dropdown prominently featured on the front page.

1 upvote

Thanks Barney. I don't feel particularly strongly about the site design, it was the pretence that said design was for my enjoyment that got my goat. Happy to scan a few ads to help fund what is a valuable resource. Regarding accessing the reviews via the dropdown, it's really not clear from the dropdown what is new content. Adding "last updated XX/XX/XXXX" to the links would be helpful in this regard"

0 upvotes

A 3.0 inch LCD screen when Nikon is using 3.2's now? Only one cardslot? No 100% viewfinder? Less than half the AF points of the D7100? Another featureless camera from Canon. There better be more in the production cameras or this will end up being a bigger joke than the 6D. Canon seems to be saving money by using old technology to pay for the implementation of better video. That's a mistake. It doesn't help anyone if Canon stops competing in the DSLR market.

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Nikon has a 3-inch screen on the 5200, which has an articulated screen, so the competitive features are matched on the competitive models.

1 upvote

I have a D7100... The 3.0 inch LCD is necessary for an articulated screen so that kinda evens out. The new AF seems quite promising and there's a lot of new possibilities with it if the tech works as advertised.

0 upvotes

@Patmann, I think you'd struggle to suggest the 70D is anything other than a D7100 competitor. However, the slightly smaller screen is usually the price you pay for the space taken up by the articulated hinge.

4 upvotes

The 70D has several million more PD AF points than the D7100.

3 upvotes

So a 3-inch screen is old technology, while a 3.2-inch screen is new? You'd have to be a real gearhead or spec-fetishist, and not very interested in actual photography, if you're bothered by a slightly smaller, but still perfectly good LCD.

8 upvotes

At least Canon uses a 3:2 screen instead of 4:3.

0 upvotes

My, trolls are joining DPR today just to bash Canon!

0 upvotes

Quite impressive that canon managed to split the PD into two, add in all the extra wiring for phase detection from the sensor over the entire sensor area - and still manage to be very competitive with it's peers on the ISO front.

APS sensors are into the realms of diminishing returns - people are smoking something if they really expected something dramatically better than the competition or even older sensors.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

3 upvotes

"and still manage to be very competitive with it's peers on the ISO front"

How do you know that? No good tests were published yet.

0 upvotes

pv1, look at the samples in this preview, they're quite promising.

Photos are meant to be judged with our eyes.

2 upvotes

Hard to judge with eyes when resolutions are different and tricks like NR in RAW are employed.

1 upvote

If NR or other processing are employed in raw, then it's something you can't by-pass, so it doesn't matter how the images would look without it. The raw, unprocessed sensor data is photographically irrelevant, if you aren't given access to it.

And the test results from DxO and others, who test unconverted raw files, are affected if the files are 'cooked'. DxO usually notes when they suspect 'smoothing', as they call it, but they can't show you what the sensor would be capable of if the files were unprocessed. They only have access to the same raw files that we do.

3 upvotes

peevee.. it's pretty easy to detect NR in RAW or NR introduced in the raw stage.

canon has been pretty good at not cooking raw's for the longest of times - unlike other manufacturer's - this has been vetted and proven by the most demanding of situations such as astrophotography.

0 upvotes

It's a real upgrade when it comes to the weather sealing too. It is sealed to the same standard as 7D, 6D and 5D3, wheras 60D only had a sealed battery compartment.

5 upvotes

well, it's now the equivalent weather sealing to that of the EOS-1N which is what I believe the 7D was stated as (same really as the 5D series I think).

1 upvote

not that sizzling

1 upvote

All these comments about marginal differences in IQ which only pixel peepers care about. The feature set in the 70D opens up so much when it comes to TAKING PHOTOS. Fast accurate live view AND a fully articulated LCD with touchscreen focusing at 7 fps?! Do you realize how must faster and more flexible that makes shooting? You can just whip the camera around at any angle, it's not glued to your face anymore. No need to focus and recompose, just touch the screen. And you can do it in the rain. There is no other camera that offers this feature set. You'll be able to catch shots that you otherwise would have missed. Who cares about barely noticeable IQ differences if you missed the shot?

Comment edited 3 times, last edit 5 minutes after posting

24 upvotes

The pixel peepers are expecting Canon engineers to defeat the laws of Physics don't you know ;-)

7 upvotes

at 7 fps it's definitely better than the slow 5D3.

0 upvotes

There are no EF-S sealed lenses, so you cannot do it in the rain unless you use full-frame L lenses which are totally disproportionate in size/weight/price/FL.

1 upvote

How about the OM-D, GH3 and Sony A77, etc? Nice to see dSLRs catching up with some of these 'new' features like fast focus in 'live view'. The 70D adds some good stuff to the marketplace, but it is hardly going to revolutionize photography by allowing faster focus in live view - that has been around for a while...

14 upvotes

bcalkins, with exception to the Sony A77, none of those can track objects moving away from you. Also Sony is rumoured to be abandoning the SLT in the next generation of cameras for an on sensor phase detect.

Phase detect is still the holy grail of AF, and will continue to be that way. Sony and Canon are leading that charge, and whether or not SLR is on the way out, Sony plans to eliminate mirrors altogether, Canon will likely introduce this in the next generation of EOS-M. This isn't catch-up or been around for a while. Fundamentally, the other part of photography is action, and if you've ever tried to shoot action with the OM-D or the GH3, you'll find it an exercise in futility (not impossible, just frustrating).

8 upvotes

peevee1,
I don't find L lenses "disproportionate" to the camera in any way. Care to point me to a source where they list the proportionate combinations of cameras/lenses which we are allowed to use without attracting your doubtlessly well-founded criticism?

3 upvotes

Sony should abandon SLT which is an interesting temporary technology, while Pana is quite good at perfecting old technologies.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 4 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

They may not be able to track moving objects away from me (as well), but that certainly doesn't mean they aren't perfectly capable of PHOTOGRAPHING moving objects away from me... I think I have enough images in my gallery to prove I can photograph something moving towards me with an OM-D without the benefit of phase detect autofocus tracking (and I'm talking shots I wanted to get, not crappy shots of things running at me at f/8). I get your point, but I disagree with the original statement that no camera before has offered the ability to reliably get shots using both the viewfinder and the articulated LCD before this advancement. It is an advancement, to be sure, but not quite so game changing as it sounds - if you have been using mirrorless cameras for the last few years.

I would also argue that PD-AF is the holy grail for TRACKING. Practically, for me anyways, that only affects a small number of my photos, and CD-AF offers some benefits in some areas over PD-AF, like accuracy.

2 upvotes

Well I've been using Fuji-X-Pro1, EP-3, OM-D, EOS-M, NEX-7 for the past three years. Some of them work in low light and event as back-up, but none replaces the PD-AF in my working situation.

the OM-D is very impressive indeed. Shooting that with weddings is about the best of the lot, but it still has it's issues. Like I said, not impossible, just frustrating at times and I'm not a gun and run shooter either.

3 upvotes

Whether Sony abandons the SLT technology or not is irrelevant to the point the existing A77 has had fast focus in live view for some time. It's also got a higher standard frame rate of 8fps and if you want it 12fps as well.

I would also say it's got many other features that mean while the new Canon is pretty innovative for Canon the A77 isn't eclipsed by it on features and remains competitive which is pretty impressive given the rate of change in technology these days.

If Sony does drop SLT technology I would imagine it will only be if it can provide an alternative at least as fast focusing-wise or that would be a step back but even if they do manage this, the current SLT cameras won't stop working overnight.

1 upvote

M4/3s has those features for years.

2 upvotes

M4/3rd's and Sony's have had the advantage over APS-C's in live view, but still fell behind in fps, continuous autofocus and tracking compared to an APS-C viewfinder + phase detection. Before the 70D, there was always a compromise. It remains to be seen if the 70D delivers all the speed and accuracy of phase detection with the flexibility of live view, but if it does, it's the camera I've been waiting for.

Comment edited 5 times, last edit 11 minutes after posting

1 upvote

There is nothing wrong with pixel peeping, gyaddamnit. Just because some say their have sharp images after downsizing their images 50%, that their (foolish) business.

IQ for some is of prime importance, especially when you work with very high res photography assets.

cmon already

0 upvotes

I think you've hit the nail on the head here - you've described how it's actually going to be to USE it, and take great pics... I mean the technology is great, but it's the way it all works together that's important. Another good but lighthearted review here: http://www.squidoo.com/canon-70d-price-review... complete with fro youtube video which is worth a look too.

0 upvotes

The 70D is - until now - a very normal DSLR, when talking about image qualitiy. It would be very interesting, whether the 70D has a better dynamic range than all the other Canons. In terms of dynamic range NIKON is FAR superior today.

11 upvotes

Back in the day every time Canon came out with a new camera the go to talking point for the Nikon crowd was something about how it was so much better to have 97 (or some similarly ludicrous number) AF points....didn't matter what kind of AF points or coverage area or tracking. Now all you hear is dynamic range. I'm sure there are some people who need every drop of DR they can get and good for them. If they shoot JPEG or don't expose as far to the right as possible then that difference becomes absolutely null. I wonder how many people who find that one aspect of a camera that a test somewhere has shown to be superior will take advantage of the difference.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 1 minute after posting

9 upvotes

D300 got 51-point AF,
as well as better low light IQ,
as well as better DR, than Canon.

Nikon was nobody before that,
a loser like Pentax (maybe a bit better).
but Canon has been in the dust for the past 6 years.

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

1 upvote

I tend to agree. Not sure why DP review calls this one the "hottest camera of this year." This is the same old same old, with a "vastly improved" autofocus system. Big deal.

1 upvote

"one of" the hottest cameras...

7 upvotes

Maybe it's just not a hot year.

3 upvotes

Better dynamic range is more than just noise in amplified cases.

I've processed thousands of images from Nikon/Sony sensors, and although they are noise free, they are flat in tone and colour. Everyone seems to think that dynamic range is only about noise, and it's far more than that.

3 upvotes

Nikon out of the box may have an edge with respect to dynamic range, but if you look what Magic Lantern is doing with recent Canons your realize that this has simply been limited by Canon to create a portfolio of price points and feature sets for the market.

0 upvotes

Canon should take note of what Panasonic is doing. Panasonic actually removed some video features(ETC at 60p, multi aspect ratio sensor) from the GH3 that was in the GH2. They said that it was done to give the GH3 the absolute best image quality possible for a 4/3" sized sensor and they appear to have achieved that.

The GH3 still has the excellent AFC during movies that the 70D has. However, it also has exceptional image quality.

I just find it interesting that Canon is now playing catchup to mirrorless.

5 upvotes

about AFC, GH3 has issues in its basic design.

1 upvote

and whathas the 60p option to do with image quality?

the 60p option would be possible with the sensor... and if you don´t need it you don´t have to use it.
you just fall prey to marketing blahblah....

2 upvotes

mpgxsvcd, stick with video discussion friend :)

2 upvotes

who cares about m4/3 format

6 upvotes

the size is okay,
though the m4/3" mount was not well thought out,
and the lenses are too small apertures.

Comment edited 17 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

"who cares about m4/3 format"

I do and seems like Panasonic/Olympus do too as they actually make primes for the system. How many EF-S primes does Canon make again? Also, we've seen fast LV, articulated touchscreen, wifi, etc. on m4/3 (and other mirrorless) before Canon. This from a former Canon user.

1 upvote

Didn't know that the RS-60E3 cable release and the RC-6 wireless remote provided remote control--thought they just provided remote release.

0 upvotes

about the dynamic range at base ISO, nobody should expect it can perform as well as Sony as long as they use the current "conventional" architecture. but the improvement is obvious and Canon did a good job.

Pana's GX7 also got improved in dynamic range and it will be interesting to see who did better, in DxOMark's standard.

most companies have several teams to develop in parallel and I hope other teams at Canon are also doing great (especially revolutionary readout).

Comment edited 3 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

It looks better than any of the Rebel cameras but I am struggling to see how it is any better than the 7D at high ISO.

I love the idea that its AFC is excellent in video mode. However, you have to buy new lenses for that and those lenses are few and far between.

I think that this update will sell a ton of cameras. However, I am not so sure that it is actually a step forward.

2 upvotes

what lens you are talking about?

no Pana m4/3" lens can be used on 70D.

0 upvotes

You do know this is an upgrade of the 60d, not the 7D, right?

3 upvotes

the image quality is way better than 7D for sure.

2 upvotes

The Rebels, 60D and the 7D use variants of the same sensor, and the IQ differences are marginal. The 70D is better than them all; look at the shadow noise in raw, for example.

2 upvotes

Maybe it has not the best ISO handling, but.......i love the colourendering and the AF and Wifi 7fps and much more. Now this package with a fullframe.

0 upvotes

Now, DPR, since you have a working version in hand: how is the AF in LV?

0 upvotes

Read the 'Summary' Section. It's "streets ahead" of previous Canons. :-)

3 upvotes

well previous Canons are too dumb in live-view.
maybe one street ahead of everyone else.
but this is a new breed of beast in its infancy.

Comment edited 8 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Good performance in terms of IQ, congrats to Canon, the sensor is improved, espcailly in shadows, although still a little bellow Sony or Toshiba sensors, but already very acceptable. It looks like DR at base ISO may have been improved a bit, something Canon users will like (in spite of all the print wasted saying it doesn't matter).

2 upvotes

im impressed.. some noobs here can judge the DR capabilities of a camera just by looking at images.
no need for scientific test .... they can say "that´s 12 stops of DR and that´s 14 stops of DR" just by looking at JPG´s... wow.

yet... when we compared images from a D800 and 60D in our photo club NOBODY could tell one from the other.

we resized them and our members should tell which have an higher DR and are taken with the D800 and which have a lower DR and taken with the 60D.

try it yourself..... resize ISO 100-200 images to the same pixel dimensions and let "experts" ..cough.... look at them without knowing which camera made them. you will end up with a statistical 50:50 result. same as if you where just randomly guessing.

nobody in our photo club had more then 55% correct.
sadly for the nikon fanboys.... :)

and that´s on the MONITOR..... now PRINTS will make the discussion absolutely useless..... but keep on talking about DR you noobs.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 6 minutes after posting

18 upvotes

I agree. I have seen differences in very bright light and base ISO. I welcome more DR, but it is no dealbreaker for me.

0 upvotes

I wish all photo IQ measurements (qualitative and quantitative) were done 'blind' (i.e. without knowing which camera took the photo). We all delude ourselves that we can make unbiased judgements and measurements, but it turns out to be almost impossible for a human to do.
As to judging DR by looking at a photo, surely that is impossible without knowing the brightness range of the original scene anyway.

1 upvote

I'm so relieved. Canon finally got their things straight and produced a sensor that can match Nikon's. Noise is marginally better than with the D7100 (okay, 4MP less, so all in all roughly the same noise) and the noise behaviour in the shadows have been improved a lot. That's how it should have been from the beginning. Still, Nikon - and Pentax with the K5 - are still visibly better in this regard. So maybe Canon can improve this further with the EOS 7D Mk.II.

2 upvotes

I am excited about this camera. I find the APS-C size is practical. Perfect for freelancers, wedding videographers and documentaries. But where is the option for ALL-I codec? Earlier I saw it in the menu of beta version of this camera. I hope, there will it be in the final version.

Comment edited 49 seconds after posting

1 upvote

This is a beta version. So all the complaints are unwarranted...

1 upvote

the camera has something but is missing good base lenses to bring out that something. So right now I hang on to my money till I see better or a great Xpro 1 deal comes along.

1 upvote

Are you serious, so you are saying that from roughly 60 EOS lenses available, there are no good base ones??? Then you go on rambling about the XPro1, which is a totally different class of camera??? Pure nonsense...

7 upvotes

Fujifilm should redesign their cameras, as well as their lenses.

0 upvotes

Clearly , the 70-200 lens holding back the camera (I repeat myself here) , the test shooting should be done with fast prime or L lens . Can't tell nothing about actual IQ of the camera

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

Another gap-filler from Canon.
This cam probably only is meant for cinematographers. No improvements in image quality vs 60D oder 600D which again shows, that there's no room for improvements anymore.
If only Canon packed these features in the 6D, it'd have been the perfect cam.

4 upvotes

You are right.As I checked some sample pictures in a polish site(http://www.optyczne.pl/6029-nowo%C5%9B%C4%87-Canon_EOS_70D_-_zdj%C4%99cia_przyk%C5%82adowe.html),where I found high ISO noise is worse than Canon 60D,specially color noise is horrible.

0 upvotes

I think, Canon should better take a look at Fujifilms technology. Instead of making sensors for better autofocusing they should copy their X-trans sensors which have totally wonderful high ISO results and combine these with the sharp Canon image quality. That'd be a killer cam.

0 upvotes

Canon must work harder to make the images better. many people say that the images is not better. I hope in Final version it is good.
otherwise many people will feel bad about this and did not buy this camera

0 upvotes

It's not all about enhancing image, its all about workability

0 upvotes

Looks as good as the D7100... perhaps even slightly better in RAW... a contentious point nevertheless...

I guess it depends upon each individuals personal preferences to noise reduction... As is the usual story... Canon's image is cleaner... albeit slightly softer... Nikon's approach is grittier / noisier giving the semblance of slightly better detail retention... but these differences are mostly visible from ISO 6400 onwards... which should pretty much be your limit when using an APS-C sensor...

0 upvotes

I hope Canon can give option to adjust the NR level by having +/_ 3 NR adjustment.
And everybody will be Happy

0 upvotes

Darn, examining the ISO100 RAW file I do NOT see any ISO 100 DR improvements at all. Arguably a slight back step compared to 7D/5D3 even. I really hope this is not their fancy new process sensor or Canonland may be doomed to not catch Exmor for low ISO stills quality for at least another 3-5 years if not more. Ugh. I hope they have some other sensor line in works for the 5D4 and 75MP or whatnot cameras. Or that they are doing something funky in the RAW borders now that means you can't use that area to test DR now.

But it seems like maybe they decided to forget about improving low ISO stills quality and focus on liveview AF type stuff instead.

8 upvotes

what's "7D/5D3" level you are talking about?

1 upvote

The same level they've been stuck at for like 7 years now.

0 upvotes

I love putting the OMD-EM5 up there wow what a great camera.The fuji is a great camera and i love that fuji makes new strides in sensor tech,but olympus did it first and they have great glass for very little .The 6D has the best quality for the buck for sure if you look at the shadow spots like the macbeth chart you will see it crushes all.......

0 upvotes

some people below say Fuji is worse due to its approach to noise reduction when they seem to smear the details. Using the DP comparison tool you guys can perform a short test: switch on the JPEG, ISO set 12800 and then look at the details. And what do you see now? I see clearly that details are maintained on the Fuji picture and it is so obious difference that unless you are a fanboys you will not argue anymore.

8 upvotes

but it does not mean this Canon camera is a bad one! Fuiji is just better (in the picture quality department and some others, in some areas like focus speed it is not)

0 upvotes

it's not only noise reduction but also, and most importantly, for their costing saving/elimination of low pass filter.

0 upvotes