Canon 70D vs Sony A7S

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Canon 70D vs Sony A7S

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APS-C 337.5mm²
20.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon 70D Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 70D in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 70D.
Compare Canon 70D image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 70D conclusion.

35mm 847.3mm²
12.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 102,400

Go in depth with our full Sony A7S Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A7S in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A7S.
Compare Sony A7S image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A7S conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 80D
Compare 70D vs 80D

Succeeded by the Sony A7S II
Compare A7S vs A7S II

Compare CANON 80D vs SONY A7S II

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Differences

Canon 70D advantages over Sony A7S

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Less expensive
$999 vs $1998*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.70 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

920 vs 380 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More pixels
20.2 vs 12.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
6.7 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
6.7 fps vs 5.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Sony A7S advantages over Canon 70D

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 8.40 vs 4.11 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S test data on DxO Mark 70D test data on DxO Mark

3,702 vs 926 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A7S test data on DxO Mark 70D test data on DxO Mark

13.2 vs 11.6 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Thinner
48 mm vs 78 mm
Thinner
More viewfinder magnification
0.71x vs 0.59x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bigger RAW buffer
39 vs 14 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 70D User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A7S User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 70D

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-135mm Lens
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Buy the Sony A7S

Sony a7S

All A7S Deals

Review Excerpt

Dual Pixel CMOS AF delivers full-time continuous autofocus (with phase detect at every pixel in framing area) for video and Live View still shooting; Full HD (1080p) video recording with pro-level features and quality; Improved resolution and good high ISO performance; Excellent Wi-Fi remote shooting with full exposure controls; 3-inch articulating LCD touchscreen.
Image quality only improved slightly over 60D; Dynamic range still lags behind competing models; May not feature enough upgrades to convince people to step up from 60D.
Read our Canon 70D Review

Outstanding high ISO performance; excellent dynamic range; 4K video recording (via uncompressed HDMI); XAVC S option for HD video; Slightly improved battery life over A7/A7R; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC connectivity.
4K video requires expensive external recorder; Sluggish startup time; Loud shutter; Silent Shooting mode hurts image quality; Lacks a built-in, pop-up flash; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses.
Read our Sony A7S Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D7100

Canon 70D

Nikon D7100

$999
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$690
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Canon 70D vs Nikon D7100

Sony A7S

Nikon D7100

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$690
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7S vs Nikon D7100

Compared to Sony A77 II

Canon 70D

Sony A77 II

$999
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$1198
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon 70D vs Sony A77 II

Sony A7S

Sony A77 II

$1998
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$1198
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A7S vs Sony A77 II

Compared to Nikon D7200

Canon 70D

Nikon D7200

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1016
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Canon 70D vs Nikon D7200

Sony A7S

Nikon D7200

$1998
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$1016
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

Compare Sony A7S vs Nikon D7200

Compared to Sony A7S II

Canon 70D

Sony A7S II

$999
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$2398
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon 70D vs Sony A7S II

Sony A7S

Sony A7S II

$1998
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

$2398
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony A7S vs Sony A7S II

Compared to Leica M (Typ 262)

Canon 70D

Leica M (Typ 262)

$999
APS-C

Lens selection
Less expensive

$4995
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon 70D vs Leica M (Typ 262)

Sony A7S

Leica M (Typ 262)

$1998
35mm

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$4995
35mm

More pixels
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Sony A7S vs Leica M (Typ 262)

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