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Canon 70D vs Canon T6I

Introduction

In this article today, we’re about to see how an entry-level DSLR does against a mid-range DSLR, well I don’t quite call the Canon 70D mid-range, but it’s what everyone says, so I’m leaving it at that.

As you all know, DSLRs have been the runaway option for many enthusiast photographers, professionals, and semi-professionals. It’s the most popular camera option on the market for years now, and even though mirrorless cameras are going too far with technologies and features, DSLRs still remain as a top-choice due to their ability to deliver an outstanding image quality.

Unlike mirrorless cameras, DSLRs came first in line, whereas in-difference from other cameras, these use an optical viewfinder, while the name itself means Digital-Single-Lens-Reflective camera, which means that it uses a mirror and the light goes directly through the optical viewfinder.

This is not my first time reviewing these two cameras, I’ve made other comparisons before, but seeing that both of these cameras are equal in terms of rating and reputation, I saw it fit to make a comparison review about them. I’m going to be explaining everything in detail, see what makes them special, what makes them bad, what to expect, and so on, whereas at the end of the article, I’ll be providing you with a comparison table where you’ll be able to see the most key features and specs, and see which one outperforms the other in which aspect.

Okay, so let’s not wait for any further and start with the reviews.

Head To Head Comparison

Canon 70D

The Canon 70D came out almost 7 years ago, but since the beginning and even today, it remains as one of the most highly-rated DSLRs at its price range, and it’s widely used by professionals, photography enthusiasts, hobbyists, while I’ve also seen it in action being used for commercial appliances. It has some pretty impressive specs, while its aesthetics are also great.

Speaking of aesthetics, let’s first start by pointing out a couple of interesting facts about the design, whereas later on, I’ll continue with the performance, specs, and features.

The Canon 70D is a direct descendant of the 60D, they’re both pretty similar in size and design with some slight differences, such as the sensibly-updated control layout. On the back, you’ll notice the improved Canon’s Live View/Movie mode controller, while there is also a physical switch available which locks the rear dial against the accidental operation, unlike most cameras that use a button. The buttons are all the same, but they’re not quite in the same order, the mode dial is much simplified now and it rotates continuously rather than having hard end stops, and for AF area expansion you’ll notice a button near the shutter release.

That’s pretty much it, everything else remains the same, but let’s see if the screen is improved in any way.

This particular camera has a 3″ fully-articulated touchscreen ClearView II LCD with 1040k dots and an aspect ratio of 3:2. I really like the fact that you can tilt the screen, it’s an essential feature to have especially for those serious videographers, while the touchscreen will make your experience a whole lot easier, since you can navigate through the menu, swipe through images and even use some features with only one touch of a finger.

Okay, now, let’s start talking numbers, specifics, and performance.

The 70D has a 20.2-megapixel sensor while it runs the DIGIC 5+ image processor, so you’ll have a fast performance which outputs in a continuous shooting speed of 7-frames per second, and it’s very impressive actually.

There’s something though that Canon failed to improve, the optical viewfinder has a field coverage of 98%, so it’s still not 100% which means you’ll be missing some small details around the corners of the frame, but it’s great that it has a 0.95x magnification.

The Canon 70D is also a great low-light performer, it has a native ISO sensitivity that ranges from 100-12800, and a boosted ISO range of 25,600.

When it comes to the AF, the 70D has a 19-point AF which isn’t as impressive as some other DSLRs at this price range, but it’s still great since the camera can easily track and maintain focus even with fast-moving subjects. But that’s not all, the 63-zone iFCL metering system will also enhance the camera’s performance. Also, it’s important to note that the built-in flash works as an off-camera remote flash controller as well, so there’s that.

Additionally, the 70D has AF micro-adjustment which can be set individually for up to 40 lenses, while the in-camera high dynamic range and multiple exposure modes will also be quite useful in most situations for getting a high-quality image.

In terms of video recording, sadly, the 70D lacks one of the most in-vogue features for videographers, 4K recording. However, you can record at 1080p 30p video with stereo sound via the external mic.

Before we end, the 70D is Wi-Fi enabled, which means you’ll be able to instantly share and transfer all your images and work with smartphone devices and tablets, pretty easy right?

Overall, the Canon 70D is a reliable camera which outputs an amazing image quality, it comes with a reasonable price and its very feature-rich starting from the articulated touchscreen LCD to the plethora of features such as the multiple exposure modes. Pair it with a Canon 70D tripod, and you’re set!

Canon 70D Sample Images:

Similar Comparison: Sony A6000 vs Canon 70D

Canon T6I

 

The Canon T6i is the perfect entry-level budget-friendly DSLR camera on the market, it has the most commonly used features by professionals while it’s also pretty feature-rich for its price.

This particular camera boasts a unique design that takes its cues from its previous models, but it’s more compact and light measuring 5.2 x 4.0 x 3.1-inches, and it weighs only 20 ounces, which is pretty decent. However, I don’t find the handgrip to be as comfortable as the 70D’s, it’s not as deeper which can be a problem for people with large hands, however, it has the same standard texture on the handgrip which gives a smooth feeling, and it adds a flair of comfort when holding the camera.

The button layout is well-thought-out though, everything is properly balanced and well-spaced in-between, so the chances of you accidentally pressing buttons while taking shots are set to a minimum if not zero.

In addition, you’ll also like the screen on the rear, it’s not fixed, so that’s some good news since it can tilt which is very useful in some situations where you have to take shots from different angles, while it also serves for selfies, but that’s not all, because the screen is also touch-enabled, so your operation with the camera will be as easy as it gets, you can navigate through the menu, you can scroll through images, and you can even use some specific features.

It’s also important to note that the screen accepts two-finger gestures, while the screen is bright enough to deliver excellent details even in outdoor light, having 1.04million dots, this touchscreen LCD truly makes this camera stand out from most other DSLRs at this price range on the market.

When it comes to the sensor, even though this camera has a cheaper price than the 70D, the T6i features a 24.2-megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor which delivers finely detailed image quality with plenty of sharpness and vibrancy, while if you combine this with the advanced AF, you’ll get a fast and precise focus. To be more exact, the autofocus system consists of 19-points with all being cross-type, and it has a fast acquisition while the camera can easily lock onto the subjects as soon as it enters the frame, while it maintains focus even if the subject moves pretty impressive right. This enables the camera to be perfect for portrait photography, wildlife, sports, etc.

In terms of ISO performance, the Canon T6i has an ISO sensitivity that ranges from 100 to up to 12800, so it’s not as impressive as the 70D in low-light, but it’s still able to deliver noise-free images even at extreme ISOs.

What’s more appealing when it comes to the T6i is the creative filters such as the Art Bold, Water Painting, Fisheye effect, soft focus, toy camera, grainy black, and white plus miniature, and for more convenience, all of these can be used in both still photographers and movie mode.

What shows a noticeable difference between the 70D and the T6i is the continuous shooting speed, while the 70D has a 7fps rate, the T6i can shoot continuously at 5-frames per second.

Moreover, let’s also point out that the T6i can’t record at 4K, whereas same as the 70D, it can effectively record at 1080/30p, so for those serious videographers, this may not be the best camera you can find on the market, but if you’re a novice users, then I doubt that you’d need 4K.

All and all, for connecting, the Canon T6i is Wi-Fi and NFC enabled, so you can connect easily with a compatible smartphone device or tablet to instantly share or transfer your images.

In the end, the Canon T6i remains a reliable entry-level camera which despite the fact that it comes at a way more cheaper price than the 70D, still packs some serious features with a pretty decent performance.

Canon T6i Sample Images:

Similar Comparison: Nikon D5500 vs Canon 70D

Canon 70D vs Canon T6I Feature Comparison

  Canon 70D Canon T6I
Camera Type DSLR DSLR
Megapixels 20.2 24.0
ISO Range 100-12800(25600) 100-12800(25600)
Flip-Out Screen Yes Yes
AF Points 19 AF Points 19 AF Points
Viewfinder Yes Yes
Touchscreen Yes Yes
Video Recording Yes Yes
Sensor Size APS-C APS-C

Similar Comparison: Canon 70D vs Canon 7D Mark II

Conclusion

I don’t really think that there’s much difference between these two cameras, as you can see from the comparison table, they mostly share the same specs, whereas the T6i has an advantage over the 70D when it comes to the sensor, more precisely there’s a 24MP-sensor vs a 20.2MP-sensor.

In terms of ISO, they also share the same performance, while for the LCD screen, I can safely say that I’ve had a better experience with the T6i as it also has a better performance in outdoor light.

In other words, both of these cameras are pretty similar, built quality is maybe one of the major differences, but in the end, no matter what you choose, you won’t go wrong with any of these two cameras.

I would highly recommend these cameras to novice users, while the 70D also makes up as a second camera to go with, especially for professionals. They’re both great for portrait photography, still photography, landscape, while the T6i is also great for sports, events, wildlife, etc.

Similar Comparison: Nikon D5300 vs Canon 70D