Costco Canon 70D Review

One of our favorite DSLR cameras that came about in 2013 was the Costco Canon 70d.

While not a profound upgrade from the Costco 60d, there are still some significant features that have been introduced, most notable the 20.2 million-pixel CMOS censor, smart viewfinder technology, wi-fi compatibility, 7fps video, and extended ISO range.

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The Canon 70d is their “game-changer” camera with new revolutionary live view technology and an array of awesome features that put it in the same realm as some of the very high-end DLSRs on the market.

Come take a look inside!

The Review

Specifications

  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF
  • 19-Point All Cross Type AF System w/ dual cross f/2.8 Center Point
  • ISO Range Of 100-12800 (H:25600)
  • 7 fps continuous shooting
  • DIGIC 5+ Image Processor
  • 3-inch Vari-Angle Touch Screen Clear View LCD Monitor
  • 1080 Full HD Video
  • In-Camera Imaging
  • Wi-Fi Compatibility
  • Aluminum and Plastic Composite

pro's


  • High resolution with minimal noise
  • Professional image quality
  • Very accurate camcorder
  • 1080p HD, high quality movies at 30p and 24 with ALL-I and IPB compression
  • 19-point all-cross-type AF system
  • 20.2 megapixel APS-C sensor has great resolution
  • Bright and responsive viewfinder
  • Menu options and guides for entry-level shooters
  • Touchscreen LCD

Con's

  • Polycarbonate Body is not quite as strong
  • On/Off button on the left-hand top plate, not the back like higher end models
  • Color noise in photos with heavy shadows
  • Significant drop in battery ability when shooting video
  • In-camera HDR crops a lot of the image
  • Inability to record video remotely with Canon Wi-Fi app
  • One card slot
  • No headphone jack


  • Features And Benefits

    eos 70d

    One of the coolest improved features on the Canon 70d is the Live View AF. Canon has updated to a Dual Pixel CMOS auto-focus system, which utilizes cutting-edge technology to capture light and perform phase-difference detection.

    This is brand new in the world of EOS cameras. This feature becomes very evident for those who are shooting continuously. In comparison with contrast detection, this can help the camera focus on a moving subject right away.

    If you’re used to higher-end DSLRs, you might be disappointed to find out that this is a polycarbonate body and not Magnesium Alloy. Even with that said, the build quality on this thing is very strong and that alone shouldn’t deter you from buying it. If you are a Canon enthusiast, you’ll be happy to know that the body and buttons are laid out in the same fashion as prior models. This is also great for people who are new to the Canon system. The LCD touch screen works at an ideal sensitivity.

    While we’re on the LCD monitor, may we just say how big, bright, and beautiful this thing is? With the exact technology found on the EOS 7D, images and menu screens are very bright and can be previewed in nice detail. The screen is very high-resolution compared to other cameras and works great when trying to get a true idea of a photo or video you just shot. Even when you’re shooting, you’ll find that the need to focus at a higher fps is more than possible.

    Another awesome evolution for the Canon 70d is the refined 20.2MP APS-C Sensor. In fact, even with the increased pixel count, the sensor works phenomenally in low-light situations. When you pair this sensor with the processor, not only do you get extremely high quality photos, but the overall speed of the camera is expound upon.

    The EOS HD Video on this camera is absolutely amazing. With the ability to manually control ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and sound while recording, you can create some very clean, high-quality videos without audio clipping. The videos files that exceed 4GB are automatically split up which is great when it comes to saving and exporting.

    If you’re familiar with the Canon APS-C, you’ll probably recognize the 19-point AF system. This cross-type system allows the photographer to focus more accurately along different axis with much faster speed. It is also insanely quiet. Sometimes it is so quiet that you barely even notice it while it’s doing work.

    With the multiple automatic settings, three user-defined settings, and five image styles, it’s pretty easy to get some wonderfully colorful pictures on this camera that are vivid and bright.

    dslr

    If you want to dig a little deeper, you have the ability to adjust things such as sharpness, contrast, white-balance, and filter effects to fine-tune your photo to your ideal style. This is ideal if you are somebody who wants to have great photos straight off the memory card without needing any editing programs.

    The ability to have wi-fi connectivity is great. With a range of up to 94ft. you can transfer images between wi-fi enabled Canon cameras, smartphones, computers, and wi-fi enabled printers. You can also upload to Canon’s web service. This is still a feature of DSLRs that is not yet standard, but can be very helpful in transferring data faster.


    Frequently Asked Questions


    What is phase-detection auto focus and how does it work?

    Phase detection is actually a fairly simple process. A lens essentially projects two different images, a left image and a right image. If the lens is out of focus when trying to shoot a subject, it will produce a blurry image and be considered ‘out of phase’. If the lens is in focus with the subject it is trying to shoot, then the photograph will come out clear and it will be ‘in phase’. When light passes through the lens, two image sensors will evaluate it. They then decide whether the subject of the image is supposed to be a major focus of the photo. Whether or not it is, the system will then speak to the lens so that it adjusts its focus accordingly. It will do this as many times as necessary until it has found the proper focus.


    What are the main differences between DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras?

    Both of these cameras definitely have their own advantages and disadvantages. DSLRs typically have longer battery lives, have faster autofocus speeds, shoot better in low light situations, and have more lens and accessory options. Mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, are light and more compact, are better at shooting video, and typically have faster shutter speeds when compared to mid to low end DSLR cameras. Both have the ability to produce high quality images.


    How do I find the right lens for my Canon EOS 70D?

    These cameras are only compatible with two types of Canon lenses, the EF (electro focus) and EF-S (electro focus shortback focus) lenses. The acronyms don’t matter. Just know that if you go lens hunting, these are the only one that will work. Check the focal length next. Short focal length lenses under 35mm are wide angles lenses, medium focal length lenses between 35mm and 70mm are ‘normal’ lenses, and long focal length lenses above 70mm are telephoto lenses. Wild angle lenses are great for landscape photography, normal lenses are excellent for everyday photography, and telephoto lenses are excellent for wildlife photography.