7D versus 70D - AF Focus System Differences | ISO Performance | IQ

Part One: AF System Comparison

So I have two 7Ds and a 5D MKII. The 5D has the standard choose a single point on AF Servo. Works fine. The 7D has a very nice zone function I use a lot. It sounds like the 70D doesn't have the same exact functions but does have a zone with 19 AF Points all Cross-Type. So can it do center 9, left/right/top/bottom 4 points as a 'zone'?

Part Two: ISO performance

How better is it? Technically 2 generations of crop cameras has been released to this point. Is it better? 7D does a decent job but with no MKII seemingly in the wind I might want to get one or two.

Part Three: Image Quality

Any noticeable difference? Losing some features but is the 70D IQ Improved? Using mostly EF 500mm, 70-200 f/2.8L IS.

Thanks! Can't find any reviews where it shows the actual focus systems.

I used to have a 70D and a T3i (Same Sensor as 7D) and i can easily say the 70D has a good 1 Stop difference in High ISO versus the 7D. So as far as IQ goes. your looking at 1 stop better. AF is exactly the same although Kai from Digitalrev said the 7D feels a bit more Snappier

I would get a 70D just because it has a flip out touch screen which comes in handy for Wildlife. I really miss that now that i have a 6D.

As I recall, the 70D does in fact have the 7D AF system, however, like the 5DIII has the 1Dx system, they are not 100% equal.

Some of the AF features of the 7D are not included in the 70D. This however, does not mean it's less powerful, or slower, just that it has less customization, less options for use.

I do not believe the 70D is a 2 generation improvement over the 7D. It is a single generation step. There was nothing in between the 18MP 7D sensor (also found in numerous Rebels and the 60D etc..) and the 70D that would be considered a generational step. IMHO.

Here is a good review, and by most accounts, the 70D, at the raw level, when compared to the 7D or equivalent, is about 1/3 stop better, but due to a slight increase in resolution and seemingly sharper images, could give an effective increase of about 1/2 stop.

Good reading and various image comparisons:

http://www.grantatkins​on.com …and-canon-eos-7d-compared

http://www.cameraegg.o​rg …08/70d-high-iso-raw-1.jpg
http://slrhq.com …ge/70D_6400_Sha​rpness.jpg
http://shrani.si …g/kFVXu08/rawis​o32001.png
http://www.imaging-resource.com …non-70d-image-quality.htm

I don't have a 7D to compare what AF features are missing or not, but the 70D has several custom functions that can be changed, and has zone selection.

lozw wrote in post #16983391
I don't have a 7D to compare what AF features are missing or not, but the 70D has several custom functions that can be changed, and has zone selection.

The 70D has a subset of the 7D AF modes, and the immediate mode that comes to mind as being missing is the spot AF.

Spot and Expansion are not present on the 70D.

The in-camera jpegs on the 70D are of a very high quality, and the RAW noise cleans up more easily than the 18MP crops.

ISO 6400, SOoC JPEG:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/o1cC​XA

my 7d lives on spot and expansion.
Theyre pretty much the only 2 modes I use.

Otherwise I would probably already have a 70d.

Well shooting mostly motorsports I am on the zone(thanks for the picture) and single select point based on composition I want. So it seems the AF is a moot point between the two.

I guess based off sensor only it is only 1 generation newer. Would agree. Thanks for replies. Going to rent one and just shoot it besides my 7Ds and see what I think. Just wanted to hear from some users.

Doesn't sound like anyone says there is a major IQ increase. And a 1/2 to 1 stop better ISO performance seems rather weak overall. My end goal is having 3 5DMKIII for trackside and slowly getting there but looking for a stop gap in the middle for a short period of time.

The tilted screen is a negative for me. Had a 60D and I ended up having it turned in most of the time. For motorsports it's just simply not used but not a deal breaker. The 60D I thought was really weak.

I have all three bodies in my stable right now. I am very impressed by the 70D. I consider it a completely different IQ class than the 7D after limited shooting with the 70D and the same lenses. Thoughts so far:

1. Auto focus: 70D is just much more consistent in sketchy lighting conditions or good light.
2. Sharpness: No contest. 70D RAW files are like someone removed a layer of waxy butter.
3. Noise: Still lots of noise at ISO 800, but it's easier to get rid of. Lower ISO images are more pleasing. Banding seems to be less when lifting shadows.
4. Ergonomics: 7D is built like a pro body, but the 70D flip out screen makes up for it.
5. Color: 70D RAW files are more vibrant.

Single AF point with expansion is probably the AF point selection mode I use the most, when shooting action with the 7D. I haven't tried the 70D, but obsiously I'd have to use another mode, since it's not available.
The custom functions related to the AF system in the 70D aren't identical to what you have on the 7D. The 7D mimics the 1D Mark IV. The 70D has a subset of what you find in the 1DX. This indicates that the 70D uses AI Servo AF III algorithms, just like the 1DX/5D Mark III does. The 7D uses the AI Servo AF II algorithms, which it shares with the 1D Mark IV.

The 7D also has a dedicated AF processor, just like the 1D-series, but the general rise of processing power in a single CPU combined with the slightly lower frame rate of the 70D may make the calculation capability of the 70D, as far as Servo AF goes, equivalent anyway.

To summarize, I doubt you'll see any big AF differences in either way.

jhayesvw wrote in post #16983971
my 7d lives on spot and expansion.
Theyre pretty much the only 2 modes I use.
.

+1 same for me

I do not think you will see much improvement in iq or af
The biggest change in the 70d is the af in live view, if you use live veiw than go for it otherwise i say wait

im on the market for one of these camera. more leaning towards 7D but the for extra $150, i can get the 70D. visited two shops one says 7d the other 70d. should i spend the extra for a newer model? everyone seems to be saying the 70d? but not a fan of video nor the articulating screen? but im worried im selling myself short for going for a 5yr old technology?

I like shooting indoors so high iso is a must which both can handle.....
i have read many comparisons and almost all goes the 70d..
waaah having said that im still confused...

PrinceAbubu wrote in post #17002708
im on the market for one of these camera. more leaning towards 7D but the for extra $150, i can get the 70D. visited two shops one says 7d the other 70d. should i spend the extra for a newer model? everyone seems to be saying the 70d? but not a fan of video nor the articulating screen? but im worried im selling myself short for going for a 5yr old technology?

I like shooting indoors so high iso is a must which both can handle.....
i have read many comparisons and almost all goes the 70d..
waaah having said that im still confused...

If everything else was the same. I would take the 70D just for the rotating touch screen. The rotating part is great when you shoot from a low or high position. The touch screen once you get used to it you wont want to give it up. Its so nice to be able to zoom , pan previews and moving through the menu's is twice as fast.

The screen is also a lot tougher then the 7D in that never needs a screen protector. Its made to be touched.

One thing that a lot of people don't understand about sensors: the 70D has more pixels in the same area as a 7D. Therefore, the pixel full well capacity will be the same or less, meaning the raw signal to noise will be similar.

No doubt Canon has improved the JPEG processing algorithms and processed images may have improvement over the 7D. But the Raw images, as indicated above, are only slightly better if at all - most of the improvement is due to having more pixels which means that you crop in PP or resize and eliminate some noise. Further, it is possible that the pattern of the noise is improved which means that the noise may be less objectionable. But like others, my 7D lives in point expansion mode and the additional AF modes are the reason I chose it in the first place.