Canon 70D

The Canon EOS 70D is a 20.2MP APS-C CMOS DSLR with a DIGIC 5+ processor, 19-point all cross-type AF system, Dual Pixel CMOS AF for smooth live-view and video tracking, 7fps burst shooting, Full HD 1080p video at up to 60fps, a fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen, built-in Wi-Fi, and weather sealing — making it one of the most capable mid-range DSLR bodies Canon has produced for stills and video alike.

Key Specifications

• Sensor: 20.2MP APS-C CMOS, 22.5 × 15.0 mm, 1.6× crop factor
• Processor: DIGIC 5+
• Autofocus: 19-point all cross-type phase-detect AF system
• Burst speed: Up to 7 frames per second
• ISO range: 100–12,800 (expandable to 25,600)
• Video: 1920×1080 Full HD at up to 60fps, with external mic input
• Screen: 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen, 1,040,000-dot resolution
• Lens mount: Canon EF (compatible with all EF and EF-S lenses)
• Connectivity: Built-in Wi-Fi, hot shoe, HDMI, microphone jack, USB Mini-B
• Battery: LP-E6 — rated approximately 920 shots per charge
• Shutter: 1/8000s max speed, rated to 100,000 actuations
• Body: Weather-sealed, 139 × 104 × 79 mm, 1,233g

What makes the Canon EOS 70D special?

The headline feature of the Canon EOS 70D is its Dual Pixel CMOS AF system — every pixel on the sensor is split into two photodiodes, which means the camera can perform fast, smooth, continuous phase-detection autofocus directly on the sensor during live view and video recording. That was a genuine breakthrough for DSLR video shooters and vloggers, and it still holds up today.

The 19-point all cross-type AF system in the optical viewfinder is significantly more capable than what you get on entry-level bodies. Cross-type points work in two directions, which means they lock on faster and more reliably in mixed lighting compared to single-axis points. The Canon EOS Rebel T7, for example, has only 9 AF points, none of which are fully cross-type across all lighting conditions. The 70D wins on every autofocus metric against entry-level bodies.

Compared to its successor the Canon EOS 80D, the 70D gives up a few megapixels (20.2MP vs 24.2MP), a slightly less advanced AF system, and a higher-resolution viewfinder — but the core handling, weather sealing, and Dual Pixel AF experience are very similar. The Canon EOS 90D pushed resolution to 32.5MP and added 4K video, but the 70D remains a solid performer for anyone who doesn't need those extras.

For video work specifically, the combination of Dual Pixel AF, a fully articulating screen, a dedicated microphone jack, and 1080p at 60fps made the 70D a capable choice for content creators and videographers. If you're curious about other used Canon DSLR cameras or want to compare more models, take a look at our full range of used DSLRs too.