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Canon EOS 70D Dual Pixel CMOS AF DSLR Camera | Review

October 20, 2018 by  
Filed under Digital SLR, Featured SLR

Canon EOS 70d Digital SLR Camera

Canon EOS 70d Digital SLR Camera

Rated 4 1/2 Stars

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The Canon EOS 70D is one of Canon’s Best mid-range APS-C SLRs. Upgraded from the 60D to a full 20.2 megapixels. It shares many of the features from the Canon 5D Mark III, but at a lower cost and weight. This is the first Canon DSLR to introduce the new Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology that greatly enhances autofocus capabilities, especially when filming video. The 70D HD movie mode shoots at Full 1080p HD Video at popular frame rates 1080p @30fps, 24fps and 720p @60fps and with manual exposure control. The 70d includes an HDMI port to hookup to an HDTV and an External Microphone Jack for better sound options with manual audio control.

The 70d gets a new high resolution articulating 3-inch LCD touchscreen (1,040,000 pixels). New Digic 5+ Image Processor. Fast 7.0 fps continuous shooting, Use the large LCD touchscreen with the Live View Function for composition of both pictures and video. EOS Dust Removal System removes dust from the sensor automatically. Gapless micro-lenses in the sensor helps to capture more light and reduce noise.


Canon EOS 70D Dual Pixel CMOS AF

Canon EOS 70D Hilights Video (Click the play button to start)

Canon EOS 70D Features: The EOS 70D’s Intelligent Viewfinder has 98% field of view and a wide viewing angle. Greatly improved low light performance, including ISO 12800. 63-zone evaluative metering system. A display off sensor, turns off the LCD when you are looking through the viewfinder. Upgraded to 19 AF Focus points. Compatibility with over 103 Canon EF Lenses. Upgraded to the new DIGIC 5+ Image Processor (same as the 5D Mark III), which provides fast, accurate image processing, AF, and faster startup time. New ALL-I codec records at: 91 mb/sec bitrate for best video quality. HDMI out to HDTV. Built-in WiFi.


Canon 60D to 70D Upgrade Features: The 70D is greatly upgraded from the 60D. Upgrades include, a new 20.2 megapixel imager with dual pixel AF technology. LCD now upgraded with a touchscreen, allowing you to touch focus points and swipe and enlarge photos with your fingers. AF points have increased from 8 to 19. Digic 4 Processor upgraded to the Digic 5+ processor. Video upgraded Movie Servo AF, allows you to track subjects and keep them in focus. Canon also added WiFi connectivity to the 70D to transfer content, and to control your DSLR remotely. Upgraded to built-in stereo microphones. ISO has increased from 6400 to 12800.


Shutter speeds: 30 – 1/8000 second, ISO: from 100-12800, Burst Mode: 7.0 fps, Built-in Flash.
Memory Cards: SD/SDHC/SDXC. Lithium-ion battery LP-E6 (included). USB 2.0.
Kit Lens Options: 18-135mm or 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 STM Lens.
Video: approximately 44 to 128 minutes of 1080p video can fit on a 32gb SDHC memory card (using ALL-I or IPB compression).
Dimensions: 5.5″ x 4.1″ x 3.1″ ( 26.7 ounces w/ battery).


Smart-Review Commentary: Canon’s 70D is a midrange entry with most of the power of the Canon 5D Mark III, but at a much lower cost, size and weight. It has the same Digic 5+ processor (17 times faster than the older Digic 4 chip). The big news for this camera is the new 20.2 megapixel imaging sensor with Dual Pixel AF technology. This allows for much faster and acccurate AutoFocus, especially with video capture. This is the best DSLR autofocus system available and the only camera currently with this technology.

The new touchscreen allows you to point at subjects to focus on, and does a decent job at focus pull (in video mode) when you point to another subject to focus on. This is great for fast action and interviews where you can’t manually focus fast enough to follow the action. HD movie capture has Full 1080p HD quality at 30 frames/second (blu-ray quality), and the 720p mode is at a fast 60fps frame rate. For better video quality, Canon has added the ALL-I codec, which compresses frame by frame instead of intraframe for best quality. In addition to an external microphone jack the 70D now has built-in stereo microphones. Built-in WiFi is new and allows you to share photos, and even control your camera with a smartphone. In the SLR mode this camera has a fast 7.0 frames/second burst mode, AF points have increased to 19, and ISO has been upgraded from 6400 to 12800. The 70D is an awesome camera for both pictures and HD video. It is the best DSLR for filming video. The 70D has received outstanding professional and consumer reviews. All of our 2016 CES coverage was shot with the Canon 70D, and it did a fantastic job. We tested this camera with the VAF-70D Anti Aliasing filter (see video below). See our review of the Canon EOS 80D with upgraded features to the 70D. The 70D gets SmartReview’s top pick and is a great value with the body selling now for under $1000.


Canon 70d DSLR Canon 70D
Body Only
Canon 80D
Body Only
Canon 70D with
18-55mm STM Lens
    SLR Features

  • 20.2 megapixels
  • Dual Pixel AF
  • High Res 3-inch LCD Touchscreen
  • Live View function
  • Full HD 1080p Video
  • ISO 100-12800
  • Burst Mode: 7.0 fps
  • Ultrasonic sensor cleaning
  • 63-zone evaluative metering
  • HDMI out to HDTV
  • Digic 5+image processor
  • APS-C Sized Imager
  • Built-in WiFi
  • External Mic Jack

Is this the best price?
SmartReview.com Product Rating (Click for Reviews)


Is this the best price?
SmartReview.com Product Rating (Click for Reviews)


Is this the best price?
SmartReview.com Product Rating (Click for Reviews)

DSLR Bundle Deals Canon 80D
+ Accessory Kit
Canon 90D
+ Accessory Kit
Canon 80D
+ Accessory Kit
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    Canon 80D & 90D
    + Accessory Kits


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Video Creator Kit

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Video: SmartReview.com Testing of the Canon 70D with the Mosaic Engineering VAF-70D Anti-Aliasing Filter.



Related SLR: Canon EOS 80D 24.2 Megapixel Digital SLR | Review

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Canon EOS 70D Lens Compatibility: The 70D is compatible with over 100 EF and EF-S lenses. The EF-S lenses are specifically designed for APS-C imager SLRs such as the 70D. APS-C SLRs have a focal length conversion factor of 1.6 compared to full frame SLRs. Wide Angle, Zoom, Macro, and Prime Lenses are available.

Canon EOS 70D DSLR Lenses: Canon EOS Zoom Lenses Comparison and Reviews

Canon EOS 70D DSLR Lenses: Canon EOS Prime (fixed) Lenses Comparison and Reviews

Canon EOS 70D DSLR Lenses: Canon Compatible Sigma SLR Lenses Comparison and Reviews


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