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The EOS 70D is Canon's newest DSLR workhorse. It replaces the 60D that was released in 2010. Targeted at video makers and users looking to step up from its entry-level DSLRs, the 70D costs $1,200 (body only).
Internally, the 70D is completely new. It has a 20.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, faster autofocus thanks "Dual Pixel CMOS AF" technology, slightly higher continuous shooting (7 frames per second), built-in Wi-Fi and the Digic 5+ image processor.
Like any DSLR, the 70D has plenty of buttons for controlling settings such as autofocus and ISO. The back grip remains solid, too.
On the 60D, there were 15 modes on the mode dial. On the 70D, Canon consolidated them into 10 manageable modes.
The 3-inch (1.04-million dot) Vari-angle LCD is now a touchscreen that supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom in/out.
Unlike many DSLRs, the 70D's screen can be positioned at almost any angle to reduce direct sunlight. It's also great for taking pictures at low and high altitudes, not to mention handy for video recording.
Pressing the "Q" button will bring up the camera settings — all controllable with the touchscreen.
The 70D still only has a single SD card slot. Dual SD card slots (like on the Nikon D7000) would have been nice.
The 1800mAh battery is good for around 900 shots, which is less than the 60D's 1100. However, it's important to remember the 70D sucks up more juice to power that Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Wi-Fi.
The 70D can be remotely controlled using smartphones and tablets with the free EOS Remote app for Android and iOS.
Once upon a time, DSLRs were primarily used just for taking photos. That's still the case, but increasingly, we're seeing a lot of amateur filmmakers use DSLRs to shoot incredible movies that — with good lenses, proper lighting and solid post-production — have fooled us into thinking they were made by large production companies.
The Canon EOS 70D replaces the two-year-old EOS 60D, a DSLR lauded for its HD video recording capabilities. Billed as a "prosumer" DSLR, the $1,200 70D sits sandwiched between the company's entry-level Rebel T5i ($750, body-only) and the semi-professional EOS 7D ($1,500, body-only).
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While there are improvements across the board, the 70D's killer feature is the new, faster autofocus that works really well for HD video.
To start, Canon updated just about everything on the 70D. Compared to the old 60D, the 70D has 20.2-megapixels (up from 18-megapixels), higher standard ISO range from 100-25600 (60D maxed out at 12800), 7 frames per second continuous shooting (versus 5.3 frames per second), and an optical viewfinder with 98% coverage instead of 96%. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC also help the 70D keep up with today's connected times.
To manage all of these improvements, Canon swapped out the old Digic 4+ processor with the faster and more capable Digit 5+ image processor.

Not every DSLR user shoots on manual. And, as sad as it sounds, many new DSLR users choose to use the Live View (that's the LCD) to frame and shoot their photos instead of the optical viewfinder. Call it a trend of the times.
That's perfectly okay. Live View wouldn't exist if Canon didn't want you to use it. The only problem with a DSLR's Live View is that autofocusing is usually unbearably slow and results in the camera "hunting" around for a subject to lock onto. That was certainly the case with the 60D.
The 70D fixes that lag with a new "Dual Pixel CMOS AF" system that promises to speed up Live View use. From what I could tell, focusing on objects in Live View is indeed snappier than on the 60D, but it's still pretty darn slow compared to taking pictures with the optical viewfinder. You should probably avoid using Live View if you're planning to shoot on burst mode or in low-light, too, on account of the AF speed. If I may be blunt on the latter: it stinks.
Ever since the Canon 5D Mark II arrived on the scene in 2008, the popularity of DSLR video recording has shot through the roof. It's no coincidence that many famous YouTubers use a Canon — usually a 5D Mark II (or higher), 7D or 60D — to shoot their videos. Canon's DSLRs just shoot better video than, say, Nikon's DSLRs.
However, getting good HD footage isn't always easy. From stabilization to focus, there are a number of factors that can make shooting HD video more challenging.

Experts can throw the 70D on manual to get full control over everything, but beginners and intermediate users may find themselves lost and confused when a DSLR doesn't smoothly autofocus on objects between the foreground and background.
Whereas the Dual Pixel CMOS AF feels like a dud for taking pictures using Live View, it works like magic for recording HD video in 1080p resolution. The autofocus is fast, accurate and very silent (if you use one of Canon's "silent stepping motor" STM lenses). The autofocus works so well that I spent nearly an hour after unboxing the 70D just pulling objects into and out of focus. It's as simple as pointing the 70D at an object and then pointing it at another.
I'm no Woody Allen, but with the 70D, I can at least pretend to be without much effort. My only complaint is that HD recordings may have a rolling shutter (the oft-mentioned "jello effect") when tilting and panning.
Unchanged from the 60D is the fantastic 3-inch vari-angle display that flips out. Unlike cameras such as the Sony NEX-7 and Olympus OM-D E-M1, that only have displays that tilt up and down, the vari-angle screen on the 70D can be flipped out and rotated to suit almost any angle. It's pretty handy for vlogging and taking selfies (as silly as that may sound). When not in use, the screen can be reversed so that its LCD isn't damaged.
This time around, the 1.04-million dot resolution display is also a touchscreen, a feature Canon introduced in last year's Rebel T4i.
The Dual Pixel CMOS AF makes using the Live View screen a little more tolerable. Autofocusing on objects is ever so-slightly quicker, but still no match compared to the faster optical viewfinder mode.
This picture was taken at ISO 6400. While the 70D boasts ISO up to 25600, you generally won't ever go that high because the image noise ruins everything.
As long as you're not shooting in Live View mode, the 70D perform like a champ in low-light situations.
The 19-point all cross-type AF system is a big boost compared to the 9-point one in the 60D. We were able to nail action shots like this soccer photo without much effort.
Compared to the 60D, photos taken in broad daylight will look mostly the same. The only thing you'll gain on the 70D is a slightly higher resolution.
You won't find a gimped touchscreen on the 70D. It works exactly the way a touchscreen should — with full multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom in and out intact. Swiping from one picture to another is smooth and typing out passwords (for Wi-Fi) or folder names is so much less frustrating than using a wheel or direction pad.
The touchscreen is also tightly integrated with the autofocus system; you can touch to focus and activate the shutter. Similarly, you can also use the touchscreen to slide meters that set shutter speed, aperture, exposure and ISO. It's really great for beginners who want to see, in real-time, how the various settings work together to affect the way a photo looks.
Like a touchscreen, built-in Wi-Fi is a staple for any modern gadget. Smartphones and tablets can be connected to the 70D via the EOS Remote app for iOS or Android .
There are six wireless functions: transfer images between cameras, smartphone/tablet connection, remote control via a computer, print from Wi-Fi printer, upload to a web service and view images on DLNA devices such as Smart TVs.
Most of those features are throwaways. Uploading to web services is less than ideal since it requires configuration through Canon's iMAGE Gateway. Also, most people who buy a DSLR of this class aren't going to print without editing their photos first. The same logic applies to beaming photos to DLNA-ready TVs. Thus, the first three of the afore-mentioned features are the most useful.
To my surprise, connecting a smartphone or tablet to the 70D with the free EOS Remote app is very straightforward. Once connected, photos can be viewed on the linked mobile device. Controlling basic settings such as the focus, shutter, aperture and ISO are also possible via the smartphone app. Using the free iOS or Android app sure beats buying a separate wireless remote.
The Canon 70D isn't going to blow away anyone just looking to shoot photos. Aside from the slightly higher resolution and slightly faster autofocus (in Live View mode), the 70D produces pictures that are pretty on-par with the older 60D.
While the smaller secondary wheel and somewhat stiff buttons feel like a step down from the 60D, the higher viewfinder coverage is appreciated. However, the 98% viewfinder still isn't comparable to the versatility of a 100% coverage viewfinder found on the Canon's higher-end DSLRs.
That said, if you're an aspiring filmmaker, the 70D's video recording capabilities are going to wow you. The smooth autofocus transition is worth it alone. Get some capable glass and you could be on your way to becoming the next breakout Sundance Film Festival star director in no time.
The Canon 70D costs $1,200 (body-only), $1,350 (with 18-55mm lens EF-S IS ITM ), and $1,450 (with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM lens).
Pros:
Excellent HD video recording
Fast 19-point focus system
Responsive multitouch vari-angle touchscreen
Cons:
Incremental image quality improvement
Poor low-light autofocus in Live View (still photos)
Weaker battery than the 60D
Bottom Line With improved specs across the board, a touchscreen and some serious continuous autofocus magic, the 70D maintains its lead as the HD video recording DSLR to get.
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Images: Mashable, Raymond Wong