Canon takes the first step to create a milestone in Live View focusing, Canon EOS 70D hands-on

Canon recently launched a new generation of two-digit quasi-professional APS-C body EOS70D. This body is of great significance to Canon, not only because it is the continuation of Canon’s two-digit A new generation model of the camera body, and more importantly, it is also the first Canon model to be equipped with a new two-way pixel CMOS focusing system. Canon hopes that this technology can subvert the focusing capabilities of single-lens camera LiveView and even provide high-speed focusing during video recording. ability.

Jump to start introducing this model that Canon hopes will bring a new dawn to LiveView.

Before the emergence of the EOS 5D, the two-digit EOS digital SLR cameras had always been the representative of Canon's mid-range cameras. After the two-digit model became popular among consumers, Canon also launched the EOS7D with a higher positioning in APS-C. However, the later EOS60D was simplified in terms of specifications and design concept.

However, with the emergence of EOS6D, Canon seems to have decided to simply provide affordable full-frame models at a certain price. Although this time the EOS70D still continues the market positioning of 60D, the functions of the body are not There are more; but on the other hand, Canon also hopes to attract more user groups. They believe that in addition to advanced functions, they also need to provide easier operation methods. In addition, considering the increasing number of single-eye video recording groups, Therefore, LiveView capability has become the focus of the product.

This time the EOS70D is an important model that not only has the functions that advanced users need, but also incorporates many automatic functions and implements the latest focusing system. The dual-pixel CMOS focusing system used in the 70D uses 80% of the pixel points on the sensor to include both a diode for imaging and a diode for image disparity interpretation. Together with a high-speed computing engine, it provides a unique Focal plane phase difference focusing system.

Returning to the body design, the sizes of the 70D and 60D are not far apart. The appearance has been modified in some details. For example, the mode dial will list the various situation modes one by one in the original 60D. The design on the turntable has been changed to concentrate all modes into one project, and the required functions can be selected through settings. The turntable can also be rotated 360 degrees, and the skin texture of the turntable is also different. The skin of the 70D's turntable seems to be More friction.

In addition, there is an additional focus mode switch button behind the shutter, which is a design not found in the 60D; the 70D provides manual focus point selection, central single-point focus, and central nine-point automatic judgment modes. In addition, in the shutter mode, the silent shutter currently equipped on Canon's new mid-to-high-end models is also decentralized, which not only reduces the trigger sound, but also provides smaller reflector shake at low shutter speeds.

As for the recording button and LiveView, they have been changed to a lever and button activation mode. As long as you switch to Movie mode, you will immediately enter the recording mode; the function lock button below has also become a lever design that is biased toward high-end machines. . Although the flip-up LCD maintains a three-inch design, it also adds capacitive touch to provide touch settings, touch selection focus and touch shutter under LiveView, touch selection when browsing photos, and touch zoom in and out.

In terms of the standard electronic system, the 70D provides 19-point full cross focus, but the distribution pattern is similar to the 11-point focus of the 60D. It adds more to the existing 11-point focus. The focus point provides more flexibility for detailed focusing; the new 20.1MP element is equipped with the engine DIGIC5+, which can provide high-speed processing capabilities, with continuous shooting up to 7fps and a maximum ISO of 25,600.

In addition, the 70D is also equipped with WiFi function, which provides the functions previously installed on the 6D. It can be combined with iOS and Android systems to provide remote shooting and file transfer capabilities. In addition, it also has the ability to transfer files between cameras and print with Canon WiFi. Features include direct printing from the computer and sharing files to Internet TV via DLNA. The 70D also supports a new wireless flash trigger system, which can trigger a new 2.4GHz flash on the body.

In addition, in LiveView mode, like the previously released 100D and 700D, it provides the A+ smart situation mode like a consumer-grade camera, and also introduces a variety of special effects for real-time preview. It can be said that in addition to providing more advanced While providing high-level professional functions, it also provides features that ordinary users can easily use.

The lens used this time is a new generation 18-135mm ISSTM lens. This lens is designed as a lightweight travel-type high-power zoom lens. Previously, Canon also provided lenses with the same focal length, but this lens The main thing is to replace it with an STM motor that has the characteristics of high speed and quietness. It must also be for the layout of EOSMOVIE, so this lens with a practical focal length is replaced with an STM motor that does not make a loud noise during autofocus, right?

The actual shooting is as shown in the photo above

During the use, the author also made a slight comparison with a current 60D user about the use experience between the two generations and the focus of the optical viewing window. In terms of the system, it mainly continues the original 11-point focus distribution area to place more focus points, but the distribution range is still slightly concentrated. However, the central nine-point automatic judgment focus is very convenient for users who often use central composition, and because Compared with the 60D, the central area has many more focus points, which can reduce the need to focus first and then move the focus when composing the picture.

In the focus mode of the optical viewfinder, the 70D and 60D feel slightly faster in the same situation and with the same lens, but it is not obvious; however, the speed of LiveView mode can be felt. The charm of sub-dual-pixel CMOS focusing technology, although it is still slightly slower than the optical viewfinder, it can be said to be a leap forward compared to the 60D, and because the focus points are spread over 80% of the screen, it is more concentrated than the optical viewfinder. The 19-point focus is more flexible.

A friend happens to have Canon's 28mmF2.8 and Sigma18-50mmF2.8, plus the 18-135mmSTM provided by Canon. I used LiveView focusing to compare the two bodies, and I can feel the 70D. The focus speed is very fast, especially the 18-135mmSTM that uses an STM motor. The Sigma18-50mmF2.8, which does not even have an ultrasonic motor, has the least difference in body perception among the three lenses due to its large aperture and focus motor speed. .

The author and my friends were also quite surprised by the speed of focus focusing. Although the depth of field conditions caused by the film format are not as fast as those of mobile phones or small-format digital cameras, there are already many 1/1.7-inch The focusing level of a digital camera, especially when using an STM lens in the same wide-angle situation, is faster than the EOSM with an interchangeable lens after updating the firmware, and the far-end focusing speed has not dropped significantly. Compared with the traditional comparison or The number of judgments from hybrid focus to compound focus is also greatly reduced.

However, in LiveView mode, since taking pictures requires lowering the reflector and triggering it again, the response speed when actually taking pictures is still not as fast as that under the viewing window. However, this is also the fate that traditional monoculars must face. ; But for users who are not good at using the optical viewing window to take pictures, at least the 70D provides a simpler way to take pictures and view the view, and the focusing speed is also significantly improved compared to the previous LiveView. Of course, the most important thing is when recording. continuous focus.

Of course, the dual-phase CMOS focusing system is not only for LiveView photography, but a large part of it can be used for video recording. I took several short videos using the 70D and tried to quickly switch to different The focusing body allows the 70D to judge on its own, refocusing faster than many APS-C format interchangeable lens cameras.

However, during the use process, I found that the dual-phase CMOS focusing technology of 70DLiveView has some problems with the interpretation of certain objects. The optical viewfinder focusing system operates normally but LiveView has difficulty focusing on objects, except for When I tried to photograph the above picture of shaved ice outside the printed backboard at a press conference, the optical viewing window worked quite normally. However, as long as the focus range was on the shaved ice, the LiveView was unable to focus. Perhaps the focus logic has been corrected. space, right?

The emergence of the 70D can be regarded as Canon's product to once again narrow the performance and essence gap between tens-digit models and hundreds-digit models, but it also shows that even if the current APS-C body provides quasi-professional-level At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the simple operation needs of entry-level users. Whether it is situational mode or the A+ and special effects functions under LiveView, it is difficult for the current APS-C body to take the hardcore professional route and needs to be considered. For those who are using SLR cameras for the first time.

Compared with 60D users, is 70D worth upgrading? If used purely as a camera, the 70D has a certain improvement in performance, but the more significant differences lie in focus point distribution, continuous shooting speed, new wireless flash trigger system support, silent shutter and wireless transmission functions. If you just need to compare Starting from the entry-level body with more advanced functions and dual dials, the 60D, which is currently priced at a reduced price, performs well.

However, considering that it is the first time to use a monocular, or there is a need to use it with family or friends who are not familiar with monocular operation, or there is a need for practical video autofocus, the 70D obviously has LiveView focus that the 60D cannot catch up with. The ability and even the focusing speed under normal circumstances are not inferior to those of interchangeable lens cameras with smaller formats.

The author is also very optimistic that Canon will use this new focusing structure on more models in the future. After all, the current monocular is not only a tool for photographers, but also for ordinary people who pursue high image quality and through Video recording is a tool for recording life, which is why Canon strengthens the focus system and provides dual-phase CMOS technology.