Canon EOS 70D Preview

After almost three years, Canon has finally introduced the successor to the popular EOS 60D from 2010, with the all new EOS 70D dSLR. This new model offers several "incremental" upgrades, many of which you'd expect to find on a 2013 model dSLR.

For starters, Canon has stuff an all new 20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor into the 70D, which is mated to their DIGIC 5+ processor; this is their top of the line processing unit, as featured in their professional series 1D X and 5D Mark III models. This combination not only offers improved image quality over the 60D, but also improved performance with burst speeds up to 7fps at full resolution.

To help speed up the AF system for standard still photography, Canon has taken their popular 19-point AF system that was introduced in their EOS 7D and stuffed it inside the 70D. This is a huge step-up from the 60D's 9-point system; which is no slouch either. While this upgrade will be much appreciated by potential 70D shooters who can't quite afford a 7D, yet still yearn for speed, the 70D's new Dual Pixel CMOS AF for Live View shooting is really going to get video buffs excited; as well as those who like to use Live View for stills, yet get frustrated with the slow response times in Live View mode seen previously in Canon EOS models.

This new Dual Pixel AF technology allows the 70D to offer a 30% increase in AF speed in Live View mode when compared to the EOS Rebel SL1, which previously held the record for the fastest AF in Live View on an EOS model. The Dual Pixel system is quite unique, as each photosite on the 70D's 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor has two photo diodes; one to record light data and the other to focus. While each of these 20.2 million photosites can focus and collect light, the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system only uses approx. 80% of the sensor's surface area to acquire focus when shooting video or stills in Live View, all the while providing a live feed of your subject to the LCD. When combined with their STM lenses, this system affords smooth transitions between focal points for a more dramatic effect, all the while with no audible noise from the focusing motors. While this new system is designed to work best with their STM lenses (like the new 18-55mm STM lens being released with the 70D), Canon notes that there are approx. 103 EF/EF-S lenses that are compatible with the Dual Pixel AF system; which is awesome news to those with a large investment in EF glass.

Other note worthy features include a new touch screen Vari-angle LCD, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity (with a free Android and iOS smart phone app), an upgraded 63-zone Dual Layer metering system with IFCL technology (Intelligent Focus, Color, and Luminance), and the ability to preview the effects of new Creative Filters in Live View mode; before the image is captured.

The EOS 70D looks to be a welcomed successor, and only time will tell whether these new upgrades are worth the investment. Check back in the coming months as we update this page once we get our hands on a full production unit. 


Canon EOS 70D Features:

• Newly developed 20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor
• DIGIC 5+ processor
• Canon EF/EF-S lens mount
• 19-point AF system (same system featured on the 7D)
• New Intelligent optical viewfinder
• 3.0-inch Vari-angle touch screen LCD
• Broad ISO range from 100 - 12,800 (expandable to 25,600)
• 63-zone Dual Layer IFCL AR metering sensor
• 7fps burst shooting at full resolution
  
• Built-in Wi-Fi
• Free Android and iOS smart phone app for remote shutter control, easy uploads, etc.
• New Dual-Pixel CMOS AF system, boasts improved AF performance during video and still photography when using Live View mode
• Li-ion battery pack

The Canon EOS 70D will start shipping in early September of this year (2013), and is available in the following three configurations:

• EOS 70D body only: $1199
• EOS 70D + new 18-55mm STM lens: $1349
• EOS 70D + 18-135mm STM lens: $1549

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