Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Canon EOS 70D under test: SLR perfect for photos and videos - DDay.it - ??Digital Day

Millions of people have gone to the SLR, especially from the Canon EOS 300D with the first invented the camera at low cost. In recent years the entry level models have made the market, and certainly many fans thought it was time to do an upgrade. The new EOS 70D has been inserted in the so-called mid-range this summer, a band made up of cameras that have made the history of the world reflex functioning as a barrier between the consumer and prosumer.

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The 70D collects a heavy legacy, that of the successful 40D which they were created other models that may not have had the same luck, a little ‘for the arrival of models like the 7D and the 5D Mark II a bit ‘for the addition, the low-end models, of many features that were previously the preserve of up to top models. With the Canon D70 wants to replace this barrier, creating what is the mid-range market with a SLR camera equipped with unique features . Do not expect upheavals of course, this reflex in the world will never happen, but small changes, and new construction that open the way to new possibilities: one of these, and perhaps the largest, is the new 20 Megapixel sensor Dual Pixel that manages the focus in research phase uses all the sensor area , for performance during shooting video really excellent. In the days that we had available to try this new camera, we focused a lot on the video, with a special attention to autofocus, however we are aware that the photo is still the dominant feature when choosing a camera.

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Returning to our D70 we face the classic “Frankenstein” of novelty and lapped technologies coming from other cameras: the body is the revisiting of that of the 60D, the sensor is new ( and then we’ll talk about in detail) while the system is 19-point AF of the 7D, then comes from a camera to a higher category. It is not even the new metering system: Canon continues to build on iFLC its system to 63 zones. Among the changes, as well as a different design of the body, there is also the DIGIC 5 +, new shooting features and useful wi-fi , a flexible system that can be used to send the photos and, perhaps most useful to control mode tethering the camera to shoot in the studio or remote computer from your smartphone or tablet on the move. Given the presence of wi-fi do not understand why Canon has not spent a few euro more to add also the GPS module : wi-fi with GPS were on 6D, and the GPS on as a handyman the 70D would have been useful.

Better than the 60D, but we regret the magnesium

The designers of the 70D have revised slightly the ergonomics of the body, and apparently if the look is really the same as the 60D on the back you can see the biggest news. The first change relates to the microphone: mono microphone instead of the 60D, four small holes on the front, on the 70D were inserted two microphones for capturing stereo sound in the upper area . The news that we liked most is the inclusion of a small button between the shutter and the front ring: You can change the mode of focus. Thanks to this so you can change the type of focus without removing your eye from the viewfinder and with the key immediately ready to shoot. Profits also other changes on the back: a better organization of the keys, the addition of a locking lever for the rear ring as the top models and the addition of a switch to change modes between live view and video are small but significant improvements .

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Into The inner body is made of metal, but the exterior is clad in plastic alloy and regret the magnesium body of the 7D : some would argue that the 7D is a camera of an entirely different class, however the 50D, the 70D from which is derived, had an excellent magnesium body.

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Into Changes also the segment connections, but only at the organizational level: remain HDMI output, video output, USB port and connector for remote control wire (but with the wireless is pretty useless). There is the microphone input, headphone output but lacks the : This is a lack in our opinion very serious if we consider the performance of the camera in the field of video. We are aware that the addition of the output would make it attractive even for the professionals, who would find a good camera with audio control at a very competitive price, but this absence sounds much like a “non- we put it otherwise sell less than the 5D Mark III “. The 70D and the Mark III are two different cameras, but as you will read at the end of this test for an amateur or an amateur cameraman perhaps the 70D is more practical and manageable, although we are still talking about an APS-C camera.

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Into Another absence (less heavy though) is the dual SD card slot: Canon has only one slot for SD and the direct competitor of the 70D, the Nikon D7100 has a more practical double slot.

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brighter viewfinder, touch monitor

The other big news of the 70D is the monitor touch: someone might be surprised to see a touchscreen monitor on a camera of this level but choosing Canon has its own reason : the autofocus system DualPixel, combined with a view STM (then with motor focus step by step), is able to manage the transition from one plane of focus to another via the touch smoothly and quickly. We made several tests and operation is nothing short of amazing: camera on a tripod, shallow depth of field, and in video mode you can choose where to put the focus by simply touching the object with your finger on the screen and all without problems or loss of fire, shots and indecision. The transition from one level to another will be smooth, gradual and steady, and it’s almost a shame not to be able to choose the speed from the menu: the result is a recovery with changes in fire-like professional in no time and without the slightest effort.

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Into The monitor can be used to change course even shooting parameters and configuration, but as for the other reflex is much more comfortable moving from traditional controls.

Into The resolution of the display, adjustable, is 1 million pixels, a display gapless Clear View II TFT LCD that offers good visibility even in strong incident light . Also excellent viewfinder, with a coverage of 97%.

sensor at the top, processor, and click ok

As each camera Canon D70 is also built around the sensor used, and in this case is precisely the new CMOS Dual Pixel handyman to define the soul of this reflex . A true all-round, as we shall see, because thanks to the barrage of 7 fps and excellent performance both during shooting and video shooting in the Canon 70D is in the range of the best possible investment for a photo lover who does not want to spend too then finding a camera that can not squeeze at best.

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Into The Pixel Dual sensor is Canon’s answer to the problems of focus during video and live view, these conditions where the AF sensor in research phase is out of use due to the lack of the mirror. Canon had already searched for a solution of this type with the sensor Hybrid 650D and 700D , but the performance of the hybrid sensor, especially in the tracking of the moving parts, have not met in full. The hybrid sensors, those in search of integrated step, in fact work by masking parts of the photodiodes of the sensor pixels that become so dedicated to focus more pixels we mask the focus becomes more effective, but at the same time the image quality worsens because we’re stealing to snap pixels to allocate them to other purposes. A very delicate balance: no one exaggerates the pixel to use as not to impact on the quality and performance of the system so they can not compete with a dedicated AF sensor.

Canon with the system DualPixel has transformed each photodiode in a sensor to search for a phase at the same time, however, also works as pixel photo (joining the two halves). A complex system, with a 40 megapixel sensor that actually but can only be used in pairs to handle the image was captured. We talked in depth system DualPixel in the preview we did in July and that you can find here, so you should read also to look at the video if the operation is not clear.

Into With a sensor of this type is the only doubt on keeping on high ISO, but as we will see this sensor, thanks to the DIGIC 5 +, can handle so impeccably high ISO levels , with a truly low noise and virtually invisible to ISO 1600.

Many controls and many shooting modes

On the 70D Canon has incorporated many of the controls of the upper series and most of the shooting modes, especially creative ones, the consumer SLR. The result is a perfect mix that goes to meet the needs of those who wanted the return of the micro adjustments to the autofocus motor in the customized functions and those who preferred to have a camera that could automatically create a shot HDR. The 70D has all of this, a number of advanced features for advanced users and creative shooting features for those who want a ready to use photos (HDR and night shooting freehand), with the development of RAW in the car and with many editing capabilities . The most demanding can not complain though some functionality especially in the field of video: no adjustment of audio levels, lack the focus peaking and zebra, and even though these are professional functions are still controls for which just a change to the firmware. The user, however, Canon can breathe easy what Canon does not offer in the field of video will give sooner or later the team of Magic Lantern , which with Canon cameras showed with his custom firmware to be able to do wonders (and we’ll talk about shortly).

The quality and shooting impressions

DualPixel The system works with almost all lenses included, but was at his best in video mode if you use the new optical STM. In our test we used a number of objectives, and especially for shots to the hawks and eagles we used a 300mm F2.8L. was the only high-quality optics choice: some shots in Siena were made with the 17-40 F4 L and the 8-15 F4 L

Sometimes the shots are more useful than a thousand words, so here you put a little ‘of pictures made with the 70D and we also give you the link to download the RAW. From the photos it soon becomes clear that the D70 you can aspire to a quality shooting amazing , and we return to those cases where the optics used plays a very essential role. The 70D’s autofocus motor, inherited from the 7D, is impeccable with objects moving at speeds “crazy” like a hawk: the tracking no mistake, the shot is accurate and hardly the photo is out of focus.

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Into No problem for the sensitivity: while pushing the ISO to high enough levels the noise generated still limited, anything that you can see on a print in A3 format. 70D starts to show its limits in 6400, but we are talking about really extreme situation .

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Into The 70D has really quality to sell in the field of photography, a recovery and a perfect seal in the shadows, a large dynamic, low noise and detail in abundance.

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Download all RAW files

Video

EOS 70D surprising especially in video mode: the sharpness and clearness of the picture that can give during shooting you add a management focus really efficient. The Dual Pixel almost makes miracles, unravels very little even under difficult conditions. He can, for example to hold up the focus continues as a person walks towards the camera , and with the change of optical STM fire is fluid and flawless. Here’s a little video: the exchange of fire visible in the video are made in “touch”.

Download the original video file

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