Canon 70D review: Can this new DSLR change autofocus forever? We go hands-on to find out

Most camera announcements these days are largely evolutionary, but every now and then one crops up that's clearly a revolution in the making. That's definitely true of Canon's latest, as you'll find out when you read our Canon 70D review for our first impressions on the most exciting announcement in quite some time. The Canon 70D is a replacement for the 3-year-old 60D, and it debuts an autofocus system new not just for Canon, but for the camera industry as a whole.

Thanks to its revolutionary on-sensor phase-detect AF system, the Canon 70D promises to change the way you shoot both video and still images forever. Rival systems typically provide but a handful of focus points scattered across the sensor's surface, but for the Canon 70D, a full two-thirds of its surface area is capable of phase-detect AF at every single pixel location.

 

The Canon EOS 70D's CMOS image sensor boasts a truly unique capability: phase-detection autofocusing at every pixel over two thirds of its area.

As well as its industry-first focus system, which works both for video and live-view stills, the Canon 70D includes a raft of changes in other areas. There's a higher-res 20.2 megapixel APS-C sensor, a DIGIC 5+ image processor, an expanded sensitivity range that tops out at ISO 25,600 equivalent, swifter seven frames per second burst shooting, a touch-panel LCD monitor, built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking, and plenty more besides.

Available from September 2013, the Canon EOS 70D is priced at around US$1,200 body-only. Two kit bundled are to be offered: one with the 18-55mm STM lens for US$1,350, and another substituting the 18-135mm STM lens for US$1,550. Simultaneous with availability of the camera itself, Canon will also ship a new battery grip priced at US$270.

Ready to pre-order? Place an order with one of our trusted affliates, Adorama and B&H, with the links below:

• Adorama: Body-Only ($1199) | Kit with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens ($1349) | Kit with EF-S18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM lens ($1549)
• B&H: Body-Only ($1199) | Kit with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens ($1349) | Kit with EF-S18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM lens ($1549)

Want to know more about the Canon 70D? (You know you do!) We've been fortunate to spend some time hands-on with the EOS 70D. Come get our first impressions on this groundbreaking new camera, and see what we think of its powerful new on-chip focusing capability.

 

To make the most of its new AF system, the Canon 70D sports a new touch screen display.