Canon Announces the New EOS 70D Equipped with a Dual Pixel Sensor

Canon Announces the New EOS 70D Equipped with a Dual Pixel Sensor

In recent months Fstoppers has shied away from churning the rumor mill, but you no doubt have read about the expected announcement of the new Canon 70D from other blogs. We've been eagerly waiting for its announcement because of what we understand to be a totally new sensor housed within the successor to the 60D: the Dual Pixel CMOS. Canon's newly announced 70D comes with this sensor, which focuses more accurately and faster when shooting video.


canon 70d information

 
Information is still coming in, but this is what we know so far:
 
    20.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
    DIGIC 5+ Image Processor
    Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Live View
    3.0 inch 1,040k-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen
    Full HD 1080p Video with Move Servo AF
    Built-In Wireless Connectivity
    19-Point All Cross-Type AF System
    Continuous Shooting Rate Up to 7 fps
    ISO 100-12800 (Expandable to ISO 25600, 6400 ISO for video

 
All this is packed in a body that's shaped just slightly differently than the 60D, but comes in weighing basically the same.


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"Canon's newly-developed Dual Pixel CMOS AF is an innovative new image-plane phase-detection AF technology that employs a CMOS sensor on which all of the effective pixels are able to perform both imaging and phase-detection AF simultaneously. Each individual pixel (the smallest structural unit capable of outputting an image signal) on the CMOS sensor incorporates two independent photodiodes (elements that transform light into electrical signals) which output signals that can be used for both imaging and the phase-detection AF. When using the EOS 70D Digital SLR camera's Live View function, the technology enables autofocusing with ease, flexibility, speed and accuracy similar to shooting through the viewfinder, enabling sharp focus to be obtained across a wide shooting area1 through phase-detection AF2 until final focus is achieved. Compared with earlier generations of Canon's image-plane phase-detection AF3, Dual Pixel CMOS AF realizes shorter focusing times, outstanding tracking performance and smoother autofocusing during video shooting. And, because Live View shooting can be used in a manner similar to using the camera's viewfinder, the fast and smooth AF performance allows users to concentrate more attention on the subject and composing the photo when shooting."


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Phase-detection AF
With conventional phase-detection AF, the light that enters through the photographic lens is divided into two images. The difference in the focus point position between the two images is measured on a dedicated AF sensor rather than the image sensor itself, enabling the camera to determine the direction and amount of lens adjustment required to obtain proper focus. Because phase-detection AF enables fast focusing performance compared with contrast-detection AF, the technology is widely employed in digital SLR cameras, mainly for viewfinder shooting.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF employs the same measurement principle as a dedicated AF sensor, except that it is carried out directly with the image sensor. Its large coverage area enables smooth and reliable image-plane phase-detection AF for both still images and video with no reliance on dedicated AF sensors or contrast-detection AF.

Contrast AF
Contrast AF is an autofocus method employed in compact digital cameras and video camcorders, as well as conventional digital SLR cameras for Live View shooting. Because contrast is highest when an image is in proper focus, the camera analyzes the contrast information from the image on the image sensor, adjusting the lens until the maximum contrast value is reached. While contrast AF offers high focusing accuracy, it tends to require more time compared with phase-detection AF because the focusing components of the lens must be driven during AF measurement to find the point of peak contrast.

Hybrid CMOS AF and Hybrid CMOS AF II
Hybrid CMOS AF is an AF method employed in the EOS Rebel T5i Digital SLR camera and the EOS M digital camera that delivers enhanced focusing speed during Live View shooting and when shooting video. Combining fast phase-detection AF and high-accuracy contrast AF, Hybrid CMOS AF makes possible faster focusing performance than contrast AF alone, quickly measuring the subject distance using a dedicated phase-detection AF image element embedded in the CMOS image sensor and completing the process with extreme accuracy using contrast AF. The EOS Rebel SL1 camera features Hybrid CMOS AF II, which makes use of an imaging sensor that supports AF across a wide area spanning approximately 80 percent of the shooting area measured vertically and horizontally.

So when can you get it and what will it cost you? The EOS 70D Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be available in September 2013 for an estimated retail price of $1199.00 for the body alone and $1349.00 bundled with an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens or $1549.00 bundled with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens. Also available will be a new Battery Grip BG-E14 that conveniently accepts up to two LP-E6 battery packs or a set of six AA batteries for an estimated retail price of $270.00.

Jaron Schneider's picture

Jaron Schneider is an Fstoppers Contributor and an internationally published writer and cinematographer from San Francisco, California. His clients include Maurice Lacroix, HD Supply, SmugMug, the USAF Thunderbirds and a host of industry professionals.

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That's just how Adobe camera raw, or photoshop, or whatever program you're using is set up....it doesn't HAVE to be changed to 300dpi...well, if you're doing your own printing, i guess it would, but the fact still remains, that can be changed to WHATEVER you want it to be, in about 2 seconds time....you could change it to 12,000 dpi, and the original amount of pixels that the camera has outputted wont change...as far as i know you cant change the DPI in camera, b/c, like i said, IT DOESN'T MATTER......it only matters once you go to print it.....

The fact that you started unloading all your Canon gear b/c of something you dont understand, well, that sucks, b/c if you had just done some research, you'd realize that 12mp output by canon, is the same as 12mp output by nikon, or olympus....the only difference is when you print.....

if you're sending a print to commercial printer, and you order an 8x10, that IS the size that they will print, no matter if you send them a file with 1000 pixels wide (100dpi) or 3000 pixels wide (300dpi)....the DPI of the file will change to fit the print size......

I inquired and inquired, to Canon and Canon forums, but NEVER got a reply. That is really the main reason I am unloading my Canon equipment.

That's b/c most people are idiots, and are as lost as you on the subject....

do an experiment....send 2 files to walgreens......take the same photo into photoshop, on the first one, go to Image > Image Size...then UN CHECK resample image.....type in 72 dpi in the "resolution" box.....now save it out as a new file.....

Now do the same thing to the original file again, only this time type in 300dpi....(with "resample image" still un-checked)....now save that out as a new file, and send BOTH files to walgreens and print 8x10's or whatever....guaranteed they both look exactly the same....why? b/c they both have the same amount of PIXELS.....

Is it weather sealed?

Pretty cool move on Canon's part. The AF system looks really neat and innovative. But as far as Canon's body designs have come over the years, especially with looking more sleek with every next body in a series; the 70d looks kinda ugly. Especial the "Q" and 'Playback" buttons, they look crappy. Im just being really nit picky though, this is stil an exciting release.

I have to agree, the shape of the buttons is really weird.

Personally kind of sad the Menu button was moved from where it was on the 60D.

Besides Video how much different is the 70D as compared to picture quality of the AE-1, I do not care about frames per second just over all picture quality

Looks intriguing!!!

Great pairing with a 6D for longer reach and video. Looks like it's gonna steal some thunder from the D7100! Here's a rundown: http://www.aputure.com/blog/?p=5274

Is it me or everyone with nikon D800E laughs canon specifications?