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Canon 70D Vs 80D

Two enthusiast cameras, the Canon EOS 70D and the Canon EOS 80D were introduced in successive years in 2013 and 2016. Both cameras have an APS-C sensor and are DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Reflex). The 80D offers 24 MP, compared to the 70D’s 20 MP resolution.

An overview of the two cameras’ primary specifications is provided below as a jumping-off point for the comparison.

HEADLINE SPECIFICATIONS
Canon 70D VSCanon 80D
Digital single-lens reflexDigital single-lens reflex
Canon EF mount lensesCanon EF mount lenses
20 MP – APS-C sensor24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video1080/60p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (100 – 25,600)ISO 100-16,000 (100 – 25,600)
Optical viewfinderOptical viewfinder
3.0″ LCD – 1040k dots3.0″ LCD – 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreenSwivel touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second7 shutter flaps per second
Weather sealed bodyWeather sealed body
920 shots per battery charge960 shots per battery charge
139 x 104 x 79 mm, 755 g139 x 105 x 79 mm, 730 g

What distinguishes the Canon EOS 70D and Canon EOS 80D from one another, beyond this summary of essential features and traits? Which should you purchase? Continue reading to learn how these two cameras compare in terms of their body sizes, imaging sensors, shooting features, input-output connections, and reviews from industry experts. If you already have Canon 80D and looking to upgrade more, then you should read the comparison of Canon 80D Vs 90D that will clear up your mind regarding an upgrade.

Body comparison

The side-by-side comparison of the Canon 70D and 80D’s physical dimensions and weight is shown below. According to how big they are in comparison, the two cameras are displayed. The three consecutive views come from the front, the top, and the back. To the nearest millimeter, all width, height, and depth measurements have been given.

The Canon 70D and the Canon 80D are of comparable size when the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is used as a measure of their overall size. However, compared to the 70D, the 80D is 3% lighter. It is important to note that both cameras may be used in difficult locations or bad weather because they are both dust- and splash-proof. If you are a victim of Canon 70D Error 80 then don’t worry it can be resolved easily through different techniques.

The aforementioned size and weight comparisons are rather lacking because they do not account for the interchangeable lenses that are necessary for both of these cameras. Since both cameras in this instance have the same lens mount, the same lenses can be used on both. The Canon EF Lens Catalog has optical options that you may compare.

The 80D can take 960 pictures on a single charge of its LP-E6N power pack, compared to the 70D’s 920 shots from its LP-E6 battery.

The main physical details of the two cameras are listed in the adjacent table along with more options. Use the CAM-separator app to choose your camera combination from a wide range of options in case you want to display and compare another camera pair.

 Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
canon 70d bodyCanon 70D139 mm104 mm79 mm755 g920iJul 20131,199ebay.com
canon 80d bodyCanon 80D139 mm105 mm79 mm730 g960iFeb 20161,199ebay.com
canon 90d bodyCanon 90D141 mm105 mm77 mm701 g1300iAug 20191,199amazon.com
canon 6d mark ii bodyCanon 6D Mark II144 mm111 mm75 mm765 g1200iJun 20171,999amazon.com
canon g3 x bodyCanon G3 X123 mm77 mm105 mm733 g300iJun 2015999amazon.com
canon 7d ii bodyCanon 7D II149 mm112 mm78 mm910 g670iSep 20141,799ebay.com
canon 6d bodyCanon 6D145 mm111 mm71 mm770 g1090iSep 20122,099ebay.com
canon 60d bodyCanon 60D145 mm106 mm79 mm755 g1100iAug 20101,399ebay.com
canon 7d bodyCanon 7D148 mm111 mm74 mm860 g800iSep 20091,699ebay.com
canon 50d bodyCanon 50D146 mm108 mm74 mm822 g800iAug 20081,299ebay.com
nikon d7500 bodyNikon D7500136 mm104 mm73 mm720 g950iApr 20171,299amazon.com
nikon d7100 bodyNikon D7100136 mm107 mm76 mm765 g950iFeb 20131,199ebay.com
sony rx10 ii bodySony RX10 II129 mm88 mm102 mm813 g400iJun 20151,299ebay.com
sony rx10 bodySony RX10129 mm88 mm102 mm813 g420iOct 20131,299

Evidently, relative prices will be taken into consideration while choosing a camera. The camera’s position in the maker’s portfolio and the larger market can be inferred from the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices. The two cameras under consideration share the same market niche and were released at the same price. Retail pricing typically remains initially close to the debut price before discounts become accessible after a few months. Further discounts and stock clearance sales frequently drive the camera price significantly lower later in the product cycle, especially when the replacement model is about to debut.

Sensor comparison

One of the most important factors affecting image quality is the imaging sensor’s size. Larger individual pixels on a sensor with a larger surface area tend to have better low-light sensitivity, a wider dynamic range, and a richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units on a sensor with a smaller surface area and the same technological generation. Additionally, a camera with a large sensor will give the photographer more options for using shallow depth of field to separate a subject from the background. The drawback of larger sensors is that they are more expensive to produce and frequently result in larger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The APS-C sensor and format factor (also known as “crop factor”) of 1.6 are shared by both of the cameras being considered. The review cameras fall into the category of medium-sized sensor cameras, which strive to balance portability and image quality, within the range of camera sensors. The sensor width to sensor height for both cameras is natively 3:2.

The 80D uses a more sophisticated image processing engine than the 70D (DIGIC 6), which has advantages for processing speed, color accuracy, and noise reduction.

Despite having identical sensor sizes, the 80D delivers a better resolution of 24 megapixels as opposed to the 70D’s 20 MP. The additional megapixels result in a linear resolution improvement of 10%. However, these sensor specifications suggest that the 80D has a smaller pixel size and a higher pixel density (with a pixel pitch of 3.75 m compared to 4.11 m for the 70D). However, it should be noted that the 80D is significantly more recent than the 70D (by 2 years and 7 months), and as a result, its sensor will have benefited from advancements in technology that more than make up for the 70D’s smaller pixel size.

The Canon 80D’s higher resolution suggests more freedom when editing photos or the capacity to print bigger images. The maximum print size for the 80D is 30 x 20 inches (76.2 x 50.8 cm) for high-quality output, 24 x 16 inches (61 x 40.6 cm) for very good quality (250 dpi), and for exceptional quality (300 dpi) (300 dpi) 50.8 x 33.9 cm, or 20 x 13.3 inches. For the Canon 70D, the corresponding sizes for prints of good, very good, and excellent quality are 27.4 x 18.2 inches (69.5 x 46.3 cm), 21.9 x 14.6 inches (55.6 x 37.1 cm), and 18.2 x 12.2 inches (46.3 x 30.9 cm).

The native sensitivity range of the Canon EOS 70D is ISO 100 to ISO 12800, and it may be increased to ISO 100-25600. The Canon EOS 80D’s comparable ISO settings range from ISO 100 to ISO 16000, with the option of expanding the ISO range to 100-25600.

Both cameras have CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensors, so they are both technologically advanced. The RGB colors are recorded by both cameras using a Bayer filter on a square grid of photosensors. The majority of digital cameras have this configuration.

DxO Mark has been publishing sensor performance measurements that are generated using a standardized technique since 2007. This service calculates a sensor’s overall rating as well as sub-scores for color depth, dynamic range, and low-light sensitivity (together, “DXO Sports” and “DXO Landscape”) (“DXO Portrait”). The 80D offers significantly better image quality than the 70D of the two cameras being compared. The benefit is based on 1.1 bits more color depth, 1.6 EV more dynamic range, and an increase of 0.3 stops in low light sensitivity. The physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings are compared across a group of comparable cameras in the table below.

 Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
canon 70d bodyCanon 70DAPS-C20.0547236481080/30p22.511.692668
canon 80d bodyCanon 80DAPS-C24.0600040001080/60p23.613.2113579
canon 90d bodyCanon 90DAPS-C32.3696046404K/30p24.013.5184883
canon 6d mark ii bodyCanon 6D Mark IIFull Frame26.0624041601080/60p24.411.9286285
canon g3 x bodyCanon G3 X1-inch20.0547236481080/60p21.412.352163
canon 7d ii bodyCanon 7D IIAPS-C20.0547236481080/60p22.411.8108270
canon 6d bodyCanon 6DFull Frame20.0547236481080/30p23.812.1234082
canon 60d bodyCanon 60DAPS-C17.9518434561080/30p22.211.581366
canon 7d bodyCanon 7DAPS-C17.9518434561080/30p22.011.785466
canon 50d bodyCanon 50DAPS-C15.147523168i21.811.469663
nikon d7500 bodyNikon D7500APS-C20.7556837124K/30p24.314.0148386
nikon d7100 bodyNikon D7100APS-C24.0600040001080/60p24.213.7125683
sony rx10 ii bodySony RX10 II1-inch20.0547236484K/30p23.012.653170
sony rx10 bodySony RX101-inch20.0547236481080/60p22.912.647469

Many contemporary cameras have the ability to record videos in addition to still photographs. The sensors in both cameras under consideration have a fast enough readout speed to capture moving images, but the 80D offers a higher frame rate than the 70D. Unlike the 70D, which can only capture video in 1080/30p, it can capture movies in 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Cameras can and do differ across a multitude of attributes in addition to body and sensor. In that they both have an optical viewfinder, the 70D and 80D are comparable to one another. Even in environments with strong lighting, the latter is helpful for getting a clear image for framing. While the viewfinders in both cameras have the same magnification (0.59x), the 80D’s has a wider field of view (100%) than the 70D’s (98%), making more of the photo visible. The Canon 70D, Canon 80D, and comparable cameras are broken down into some other key feature differences and similarities in the table below.

 Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
canon 70d bodyCanon 70Dopticali3.0 / 1040swiveli1/8000s7.0/sii
canon 80d bodyCanon 80Dopticali3.0 / 1040swiveli1/8000s7.0/sii
canon 90d bodyCanon 90Dopticali3.0 / 1040swiveli1/8000s11.0/sii
canon 6d mark ii bodyCanon 6D Mark IIopticali3.0 / 1040swiveli1/4000s6.5/sii
canon g3 x bodyCanon G3 Xoptionali3.2 / 1620tiltingi1/2000s5.9/sii
canon 7d ii bodyCanon 7D IIopticali3.0 / 1040fixedi1/8000s10.0/sii
canon 6d bodyCanon 6Dopticali3.0 / 1040fixedi1/4000s4.5/sii
canon 60d bodyCanon 60Dopticali3.0 / 1040swiveli1/8000s5.3/sii
canon 7d bodyCanon 7Dopticali3.0 / 920fixedi1/8000s8.0/sii
canon 50d bodyCanon 50Dopticali3.0 / 920fixedi1/8000s6.3/sii
nikon d7500 bodyNikon D7500opticali3.2 / 922tiltingi1/8000s8.0/sii
nikon d7100 bodyNikon D7100opticali3.2 / 1229fixedi1/8000s6.0/sii
sony rx10 ii bodySony RX10 II2359i3.0 / 1229tiltingi1/3200s14.0/sii
sony rx10 bodySony RX101440i3.0 / 1229tiltingi1/3200s10.0/sii

Both cameras feature a back screen that can be tilted to face the front and is articulated. Those who are interested in capturing selfies, such as vloggers and photographers, would particularly like this function.
There is an intervalometer incorporated into the Canon 80D. By doing this, the photographer can take time-lapse photos of events like a flower blooming, a sunset, or the rising of the moon without having to buy an external camera trigger and associated software.

Both the 70D and the 80D write their imaging data files to SDXC cards for storage. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which offer up to 104 MB/s of Ultra High-Speed data transfer.

Connectivity comparison

The degree to which a camera can communicate with its surroundings can be a crucial consideration when choosing a camera for some imaging applications. The connectivity of the Canon EOS 70D and Canon EOS 80D is broken down in the table below, with a focus on the interfaces that the cameras (and a few selected competitors) offer for accessory control and data transfer.

 Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
canon 70d bodyCanon 70Distereo/monoiimini2.0iii
canon 80d bodyCanon 80Distereo/monoiimini2.0iii
canon 90d bodyCanon 90Distereo/monoiimini2.0iii
canon 6d mark ii bodyCanon 6D Mark IIistereo/monoiimini2.0iii
canon g3 x bodyCanon G3 Xistereo / monoiimini2.0iii
canon 7d ii bodyCanon 7D IIistereo / monoiimini3.0iii
canon 6d bodyCanon 6Dimono/monoiimini2.0iii
canon 60d bodyCanon 60Dimono/monoiimini2.0iii
canon 7d bodyCanon 7Dimono / iiimini2.0iii
canon 50d bodyCanon 50Dii / iiimini2.0iii
nikon d7500 bodyNikon D7500istereo/monoiimini2.0iii
nikon d7100 bodyNikon D7100istereo/monoiimini2.0iii
sony rx10 ii bodySony RX10 IIistereo/monoiimicro2.0iii
sony rx10 bodySony RX10istereo/monoiimicro2.0iii

It is noteworthy that the 80D contains a headphone port, allowing users to connect external headphones and assess the sound quality while recording. There is no such headphone port on the 70D.

Although the 70D and 80D have both been retired, old examples may still be found on eBay. The Canon 80D took the place of the Canon 70D, and the Canon 90D came next. The free PDF manual for the Canon 70D or the online manual for the Canon 80D each contains additional details on the features and functionality of those cameras.

Review Summary

What is the final verdict then? Is there a certain favorite among the Canon 70D and 80D? What camera is superior? The list below provides a summary of each model’s relative strong points.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 70D:

  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2013).

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 80D:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20MP), which boosts linear resolution by 10%.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (11 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.1 bits more color depth).
  • More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (1.6 EV of extra DR).
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 6 vs DIGIC 5+).
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 1080/30p).
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 98%).
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low-frequency shooting.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 7 months of technical progress since the 70D launch.

The 80D is the contest’s undisputed winner if the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is used as a guide (12 : 1 points). However, the importance of specific attributes will vary across photographers, so while considering and selecting a new camera, you might wish to use your own weighing system to compare the summary points. A professional wedding photographer will regard camera differences differently from a travel photographer, and a cityscape photographer will have different needs from a macro photographer. As a result, choosing the best and most worthwhile camera is frequently a very subjective process.

What about further options? Do the Canon 70D and Canon 80D cameras rank among the best in their class based on their specifications? Check out the most recent Best DSLR Camera ranking to see if the two cameras are among the best.

In any case, while a camera’s potential as a photographic tool can be revealed through a spec-based evaluation, little can be learned about, for instance, the shooting experience and imaging capabilities of the 70D and the 80D in actual use. User reviews, like those found on amazon, can sometimes provide helpful insight into these problems, but they are frequently insufficient, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where professional reviews come into play. The table below summarises the camera evaluations of some of the most popular photo equipment review websites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, professional reviewers generally agree on the quality of various cameras, but occasionally their opinions differ, supporting the earlier assertion that selecting a camera is frequently a very personal decision.

  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
canon 70d bodyCanon 70D5/5+ +..83/1004.5/55/5Jul 20131,199ebay.com
canon 80d bodyCanon 80D4/5+ +4.5/584/1004.5/54.5/5Feb 20161,199ebay.com
canon 90d bodyCanon 90D4/5+4.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5Aug 20191,199amazon.com
canon 6d mark ii bodyCanon 6D Mark II4/5+4/580/1004.5/54/5Jun 20171,999amazon.com
canon g3 x bodyCanon G3 X3.5/5+....4.5/54/5Jun 2015999amazon.com
canon 7d ii bodyCanon 7D II4.5/5+3.5/584/1004/54.5/5Sep 20141,799ebay.com
canon 6d bodyCanon 6D5/5+ +..83/1004.5/54.5/5Sep 20122,099ebay.com
canon 60d bodyCanon 60D5/5+..79/1004/54.5/5Aug 20101,399ebay.com
canon 7d bodyCanon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5Sep 20091,699ebay.com
canon 50d bodyCanon 50D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5Aug 20081,299ebay.com
nikon d7500 bodyNikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5Apr 20171,299amazon.com
nikon d7100 bodyNikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5Feb 20131,199ebay.com
sony rx10 ii bodySony RX10 II5/5+ +..82/1004.5/54/5Jun 20151,299ebay.com
sony rx10 bodySony RX105/5+..80/1004.5/54.5/5Oct 20131,299ebay.com

However, caution should be used when evaluating the review ratings above. The evaluations were made in comparison to cameras from the same technical generation that were similar. Thus, comparing ratings of extremely different cameras or ones that are widely apart in terms of their release dates has limited value because a score needs to be put into the context of the debut date and the launch price of the camera. Please keep in mind that some of the review websites have modified their reporting and methodology over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did reading this review influence your choice of camera? Use the search menu below if you want to look up the differences and similarities between other camera models. You can also click on any of the links provided to view comparisons that other people found interesting.

Specifications: Canon 70D vs Canon 80D

For a quick review of their similarities and differences, the two cameras’ specifications are side by side compared below.

Camera ModelCanon 70DCanon 80D
Camera TypeDigital single lens reflexDigital single lens reflex
Camera LensCanon EF mount lensesCanon EF mount lenses
Launch DateJuly 2013February 2016
Launch PriceUSD 1,199USD 1,199
Sensor SpecsCanon 70DCanon 80D
Sensor TechnologyCMOSCMOS
Sensor FormatAPS-C SensorAPS-C Sensor
Sensor Size22.5 x 15.0 mm22.5 x 15.0 mm
Sensor Area337.5 mm2337.5 mm2
Sensor Diagonal27 mm27 mm
Crop Factor1.6x1.6x
Sensor Resolution20 Megapixels24 Megapixels
Image Resolution5472 x 3648 pixels6000 x 4000 pixels
Pixel Pitch4.11 μm3.75 μm
Pixel Density5.91 MP/cm27.11 MP/cm2
Moiré controlAnti-Alias filterAnti-Alias filter
Movie Capability1080/30p Video1080/60p Video
ISO Setting100 – 12,800 ISO100 – 16,000 ISO
ISO Boost100 – 25,600 ISO100 – 25,600 ISO
Image ProcessorDIGIC 5+DIGIC 6
DXO Sensor Quality (score)6879
DXO Color Depth (bits)22.523.6
DXO Dynamic Range (EV)11.613.2
DXO Low Light (ISO)9261135
Screen SpecsCanon 70DCanon 80D
Viewfinder TypeOptical viewfinderOptical viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View98%100%
Viewfinder Magnification0.59x0.59x
Top-Level ScreenControl PanelControl Panel
LCD FramingLive ViewLive View
Rear LCD Size3.0inch3.0inch
LCD Resolution1040k dots1040k dots
LCD AttachmentSwivel screenSwivel screen
Touch InputTouchscreenTouchscreen
Shooting SpecsCanon 70DCanon 80D
Focus SystemPhase-detect AFPhase-detect AF
Continuous Shooting7 shutter flaps/s7 shutter flaps/s
Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
Fill FlashBuilt-in FlashBuilt-in Flash
Storage MediumSDXC cardsSDXC cards
Single or Dual Card SlotsSingle card slotSingle card slot
UHS card supportUHS-IUHS-I
Connectivity SpecsCanon 70DCanon 80D
External FlashHotshoeHotshoe
USB ConnectorUSB 2.0USB 2.0
HDMI Portmini HDMImini HDMI
Microphone PortExternal MIC portExternal MIC port
Headphone Socketno Headphone portHeadphone port
Wifi SupportWifi built-inWifi built-in
Near-Field Communicationno NFCNFC built-in
Body SpecsCanon 70DCanon 80D
Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
Battery TypeLP-E6LP-E6N
Battery Life (CIPA)920 shots per charge960 shots per charge
Body Dimensions139 x 104 x 79 mm
(5.5 x 4.1 x 3.1 in)
139 x 105 x 79 mm
(5.5 x 4.1 x 3.1 in)
Camera Weight755 g (26.6 oz)730 g (25.8 oz)

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