Canon EOS 70D
Manufacturer: Canon Type: camera Sensor: APS-C Resolution: 20.2MP Year introduced: 2013 Key feature: First Canon with Dual Pixel CMOS AF for dramatically improved Live View and video autofocus
Overview
The Canon EOS 70D, announced in July 2013, introduced Canon’s groundbreaking Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology — a phase-detection autofocus system built directly into the imaging sensor. This was a genuine innovation: every pixel on the 20.2-megapixel sensor could perform both imaging and phase-detection AF simultaneously, enabling video autofocus performance that Canon described as “close to the quality of a video shot with a camcorder” ([1]).
For underwater photographers, the 70D offered a meaningful step up from the Canon EOS 60D with its improved 19-point all cross-type AF system, 7 fps burst shooting, and enhanced ISO range of 100-12800. The built-in Wi-Fi was a new addition, though of limited underwater utility. Priced at $1,199 USD, it occupied the mid-range segment between Canon’s entry-level Rebels and the professional EOS 7D.
The 70D attracted housings from seven manufacturers — an unusually broad range that reflected the camera’s popularity as an affordable entry point for serious underwater photography.
Housing Availability
- Ikelite — Announced September 2013, among the first to market ([2]).
- Nauticam (NA-70D) — Introduced September 2013 ([3]).
- Aquatica (A70D) — Announced November 2013 ([4]).
- Sea & Sea — Released their housing in November 2013, after an earlier announcement ([5]; [6]).
- Recsea — Announced February 2014 ([7]).
- Hugyfot — Released images of their housing in May 2014 ([8]).
- Inon (X-2) — Shipped May 2015, the latest to market ([9]).
Reviews & Discussion
The 70D was covered extensively on Wetpixel as a news and housing announcement story, though no in-depth underwater review was published. Steve Douglas commented on the announcement asking whether Wetpixel would review the camera and compare its video with the 7D, to which Adam Hanlon replied that they did not have plans at the time but “would be interested in doing so” ([10]).
Timeline
- 2013-07: Canon announces the EOS 70D with Dual Pixel CMOS AF at $1,199 USD, available September ([11])
- 2013-09: Ikelite announces 70D housing ([12])
- 2013-09: Nauticam introduces the NA-70D housing ([13])
- 2013-11: Aquatica announces the A70D housing ([14])
- 2013-11: Sea & Sea releases their 70D housing ([15])
- 2014-02: Recsea announces housing for EOS 70D ([16])
- 2014-05: Hugyfot releases images of their 70D housing ([17])
- 2015-05: Inon ships their X-2 housing for the 70D ([18])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2013: Canon Announces The Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 13, 2013: Ikelite Announces Housing For Canon Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 27, 2013: Nauticam Introduces The Na 70d Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2013: Aquatica Announces The A70d Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2013: Sea Sea Release Their Housing For Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2013: Sea Sea Announces Housing For Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 20, 2014: Recsea Announces Housing For Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 9, 2014: Hugyfot Releases Images Of Their Housing For The 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 8, 2015: Inon Is Shipping Their X 2 Housing For The Eso 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2013: Canon Announces The Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2013: Canon Announces The Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 13, 2013: Ikelite Announces Housing For Canon Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 27, 2013: Nauticam Introduces The Na 70d Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 7, 2013: Aquatica Announces The A70d Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 22, 2013: Sea Sea Release Their Housing For Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 20, 2014: Recsea Announces Housing For Eos 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 9, 2014: Hugyfot Releases Images Of Their Housing For The 70d ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 8, 2015: Inon Is Shipping Their X 2 Housing For The Eso 70d ↩
- Canon announces the EOS 70D (article) ↩
- Ikelite announces housing for Canon EOS 70D (article) ↩
- Nauticam introduces the NA-70D housing (article) ↩
- Aquatica announces the A70D housing (article) ↩
- Sea & Sea releases their housing for EOS 70D (article) ↩
- Sea & Sea announces housing for EOS 70D (article) ↩
- Recsea announces housing for EOS-70D (article) ↩
- Hugyfot releases images of their housing for the 70D (article) ↩
- Inon is shipping their X-2 housing for the EOS 70D (article) ↩