Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Extensive Comparison

When it comes to the biggest camera brands, we all know where to look. And today, we are pitting -cameras from two of those brands together – Sony a7 vs Canon 70D. The competition today is one of smarts, innovation, and quality. These guys are bringing really strong points to today’s contest and we’re excited to uncover everything about each of them just for you.

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Our comparison might seem somewhat skewed being that the Sony a7 is a mirrorless camera while the Canon 70D is a DSLR. Plus, the Sony a7 is a pro camera while the Canon 70D is only semi-pro. But, as usual, we strived to walk the think line and maintain the balance while making our research and compiling this review.

Sony has brought it’s A game to the Sony a7 which also includes a new mount. Sadly, that has also translated to increased expenses for us by way of lenses. And you know Sony lenses are pretty pricey.

Canon, on the other hand, made it a point to make the Canon 70D a worthy upgrade to its Canon 60D. The touch sensitivity feature it brings as well is quite something too.

In terms of cost, these are not the most expensive cameras on the block which is a good thing. You’d hardly need up to a thousand bucks for each of the cameras. But that’s just for the body. Depending on the kind of lens, you might be spending upward of a thousand bucks altogether for each of these cameras. The Sony a7 would definitely be the more expensive package as you’d also need an adaptor.

So, Sony a7 vs Cano 70D – which need you get? It’s all up to you in the end, but we’re psyched to guide you!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Comparison Overview

The comparison overview section of our review is dedicated to those who cannot afford to spare the time. This is a pretty long read as we took the pains to ensure that no area was left uncovered in this comparison. Of course, we’d rather you stayed with us till the end so you don’t miss out on any detail. But if you can’t spare the time, this overview will guide you. Go through it if you need to make your decision in a snap.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Where Both Cameras Get It Right

These two cameras do great in many similar areas, although in many of these areas the Sony a7 still outperforms the Canon 70D.

For instance, though both cameras have built-in WiFi, the Sony a7 has NFC connection while the Canon 70D does not. That said though, here are other areas where these two cameras perform equally or almost so.

They both have high resolution sensors, with sharp LCD screens and weather-sealing. RAW support, face detection focus, and a viewfinder are also other features these two cameras also share.

The screen of these two cameras articulate although one more than the other. And then they both have an external flash shoe, a microphone port, as well as AE bracketing.

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Where The Sony a7 Does It Better

The Sony a7 has a sharper sensor with a higher max sensor, a sharper LCD screen resolution, and more focus points as well.

Also, this camera comes with a headphone port in addition to a microphone port. It comes with a large, full frame sensor and sensor pixel area as well. This makes the camera naturally better in dynamic range and also a better low light camera.

The color depth of this camera is better than that of the Sony a7. So, it’s going to pick up unique colors better than the Canon 70D.

Finally, this camera is not as large as the Canon 70D and it’s also not as heavy. So, it’s easier to carry around in comparison to the Canon 70D. Its AE bracketing feature is also slightly better.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Where The Canon 70D Does It Better

The Canon 70D comes with a built-in flash for certain low light situations. It’s great because it means you won’t always have to carry an external flash around.

Also, the LCD screen of this camera fully articulates and also comes with a touch sensitivity feature. It’s great for convenient video shooting for vloggers and the touch sensitivity feature makes the camera more intuitive and easier to interact with.

In burst mode, the Canon 70D does better, although not by much. But one area where it outdoes the Sony a7 by a long mile is in the battery life. It has an amazing 920 shots per recharge which is nearly a thousand. Pretty impressive, huh?

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Where Both Cameras Get It Wrong

The lack of an image stabilization system is the biggest failure of these two cameras. Their continuous shooting feature is also not wonderful. But it isn’t that big of a deal to us as with the lack of an image stabilization. In situations where long lenses have to be used and a tripod stand can’t be used, getting IS lenses might be your best bet. Problem is it’s a costly and bulky option.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Our Opinion On The Price/Value Ratio

All things considered, these cameras are quite affordable. There isn’t any of these cameras that sells for up to a thousand bucks. So, that’s a good thing in the first place. However, placing the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D side by side, the Canon 70D comes out as the more expensive camera. The difference is only about a hundred bucks though.

That said, to the price/value ratio. We think Sony did a better job offering a great price/value balance than Canon. The Sony a7 is a pro camera after all but it sells for less than the Canon 70D which is a semi-pro. But then again, we also understand that the Canon 70D is a DSLR. So, for a DSLR, the Canon 70D is a pretty sweet deal. However, placed beside the Sony a7, it seems somewhat slightly overpriced. But that’s the upfront cost though.

This is why. The Sony a7 comes with a new mount which might make it difficult to use your old glass. So, in the end, customers are going to have to spend more getting an adapter or a whole new set of glass. This might make me the Sony a7 a more expensive deal in the end.

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Comparative Brand Strengths

The two brands involved in our review today are Sony and Canon. They are both giants in the camera-making industry and also have a huge following as well. Going way back, these two Japanese brands have poured their entire existence into making cameras that photographers have come to depend on. It’s no wonder they are at the top of their industry.

On the one hand, we have Sony which is popular for its high quality offerings of full frame mirrorless cameras. This brand, although several years younger than Canon has been able to carve a niche for itself in the industry with its amazing sensors and video cameras that would make any filmmaker drool.

Besides, we also have its alpha R and alpha S series which are Sony’s lines of high resolution and low light cameras respectively. We like to think of these as specialist cameras as they are specifically tailored to a particular audience.

Canon is a different kind of brand, beginning several years before Sony. The brand mostly makes DSLRs although it has all kinds of cameras in other categories including compacts and mirrorless cameras. It’s probably the most respected camera brand and has shown a lot of commitment to growth and innovation, especially if you bar the fact that they are a bit slow to introduce 4K video to their features.

Characteristically, Canon cameras are pretty pricey although they also have the more affordable cameras such as the Canon 70D which we have on review. So, Canon does cater to a whole range of photographers, serving them with excellent image quality that they can swear by.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Comparison Table Of Major Specs And Features

	Sony a	Canon 70D
Announcement Date	22nd January, 2014	31st October, 2013
Sensor Size	Full Frame CMOS Sensor	APS-C CMOS Sensor
Sensor Resolution	24 Megapixels	20 Megapixels
ISO	100 – 25600	100 – 12800
Lens	Sony E Mount	Canon EF/EF-S Mount
LCD Screen	3 inch Tilting Screen	3 inch Fully Articulated Screen
Touch Sensitivity	No	Yes
LCD Screen Resolution	1.230k dots	1.040k dots
Viewfinder	2359k dot Electronic Viewfinder	Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	100%	98%
Continuous Shooting (Burst Mode)	5 Frames per Second	7 Frames per Second
Built-in Flash	No	Yes
Focus Points	117	19
Headphone Port	Yes	No
Color Depth	24.8 bits	22.5 bits
Dynamic Range	14.2	11.6
Low Light ISO	2248	926
Sensor Pixel Area	35.65µm2	16.91µm2
AE Bracketing Range	±5 EV	±3 EV
NFC Connection	Yes	No
Battery Life	340 shots	920 shots
Dimensions	127 x 94 x 48 millimeters	139 x 104 x 79 millimeters
Weight	474 grams	755 grams
	Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Which Situation Is Each Camera Best For?

Sony a7	Canon 70D
The Sony a7 is a pro camera with a lot of sophisticated features. We really like this camera for a number of reasons.   First, this camera has a full frame sensor which favorably positions the camera to take the best photos. It takes a more encompassing field of view in comparison to a crop sensor. This makes the Sony a7 a great option for taking photos such as landscapes and architectural structures as well.   It’s also a great camera for taking portraits as well. With a full frame sensor, this camera gives a nice shallow depth of field that’s great for the beauty and detailing it gives to your portraits.   With a 24 megapixel sensor resolution, we’d happily recommend this camera to photographers who print their photos in large sizes. 24 megapixels is plenty room for you to print in large sizes or crop as much as you want. That’s what you get with a high resolution sensor.   Furthermore, this camera has a pretty good low light capability. So, it’s a good option for photographers that major in weddings, concerts or that sort of event that typically goes down at night. In general, any scene with unpredictable lighting will benefit from the Sony a7.   Also, the video mode of this camera is pretty good which doesn’t come as a surprise. Sony makes some of the best video cameras after all. This camera shoots in full HD video quality. It also records at 60 frames per second. So, if you love to do the slow motion effect, this camera is for you.   The burst mode here is not fantastic. You only get 5 frames per second. So, for sports, wildlife and the rest, you might not notice any huge benefit shooting with the Sony a7.   Finally, with its compact feel and relatively small size, the Sony a7 can make a great daily camera. It’s easy to carry about and it also has a great grip. Of course, being full frame, the camera is not exactly the smallest or the lightest camera around. Nonetheless, it is small and compact enough for daily transport.	The Canon 70D is a semi-pro camera. It’s a little out of reach for the average beginner but for the beginner looking to make the upgrade to the a more advanced camera, the Canon 70D is a good bet.   The Canon 70D is a DSLR camera which is really great. But it also gives the camera a bit of chunkiness which could make the camera a little difficult to carry around. The Sony a7, on the other hand, is a mirrorless camera. So, in comparison to the Canon 70D, it is a lot easier to carry around.   The sensor of the Canon 70D is smaller than a full frame. It’s a crop sensor which is pretty common among DSLRs even though there are those with full frame sensors.   The fully articulated screen of this camera makes it great for selfies. It also makes it a great option for vloggers and Youtubers. The screen flips in nearly every direction just for that purpose. Besides, it’s also touch sensitive. This means that you can make adjustments on the fly while shooting your videos. If that’s how you like to roll, then don’t miss the Canon 70D. the Sony a7, on the other hand, lacks the touch sensitivity feature.   In all, this is a great camera for video, there’s just so much you can get with the video capabilities of the Canon 70D. It shoots in 1080 pixels but, unlike the Sony a7, the Canon 70D does not shoot at 60 frames per second which is a bit of a letdown. Its autofocus though is fantastic and fast for shooting videos. The touch sensitivity of the screen too is also a good addition to the camera for shooting video.   All the same though, the Canon 70D still tends to struggle in low light for videos as well as for stills. So, for concerts and wedding receptions, we might be tempted to tend more towards the Sony a7 than the Canon 70D.   For sport photography, we will recommend the Canon 70D somewhat. It shoots at 7 frames per second which is okay even though we’ve definitely seen cameras with more frames per second in burst mode.
Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Which Features Do They Have In Common?

We will now compare the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D to find out which features these two cameras have in common. We list them in the following headings below:

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 1: High Sensor Resolution

These two cameras have high resolution sensors which is great news. There’s a lot of detail to experience and enjoy when shooting stills with these cameras. The Sony a7 has the higher resolution sensor though. It comes with a sensor resolution of 24 megapixels while the Canon 70D only has a sensor resolution of 20 megapixels. But all things considered, these are high resolution cameras.

That said, there are loads of benefits you get working with high resolution cameras. The first is the detail you get when you take your pictures. This makes these cameras perfect options for such things as heavy cropping, for instance.

You probably already know that when you crop a picture, the picture tends to lose a bit of its quality. So, if the photo isn’t taken in high resolution from the get-go, then you could run into problems when cropping. The resulting image would look heavily pixelated and unfit for professional use.

Also, if your clients usually demand that you print their photos in large sizes, then you’re going to need high resolution cameras. And these two cameras do not disappoint. 20 to 24 megapixels is enough to ensure that you get the best quality of large sized photos. You’ll be able to print photos in a size of up to 30 by 40 inches.

Furthermore, high resolution sensors are also important for downsampling. If you need to downsize you photo so that it comes at a smaller size, it would be much better if the photo is high resolution. This is because it would mean that the photo would only decrease in size but not in quality.

Many times, photographers have to carry out downsampling in order to make it easier to transfer files or to upload to the internet. Photos taken with high resolution cameras hardly suffer negatively from downsampling.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 2: High ISO

A high ISO is important to a camera as it gives you enough room to work with your camera even when lighting isn’t the best. A good camera has a wide range of ISO settings so that you can adjust your ISO to the best setting when necessary.

When in poor lighting, adjusting your camera’s ISO as well as aperture settings and shutter speed can make all the difference between a good photo and a bad photo. And, of course, ISO also comes to play in movie/video mode.

That said, although a high ISO setting is great, you also have to be careful when using a high ISO setting. This is because, usually, as you increase the ISO of the camera, the chances of suffering noise in your photos also increases. So, usually, you’re advised to only increase the ISO as need be.

If your photo is too noisy, as you know, the entire photo can become useless.

For the Sony a7, it comes with a max ISO of 256000 which is pretty high. However, you might not even need to use up to 256000 for any of your works. It would be way too noisy.

 In fact, we did notice that the camera did well in low light at ISO settings of 100 up to 3200 and sometimes 4800. When we checked out its stills at 6400, we began to notice a bit of noise coming into the whole affair. So you want to be careful about that.

The Canon 70D is a great camera and also performs similarly to the Sony a7. It has a high max ISO of 12800. This camera can automatically set its ISO itself but in this mode, it’s best to cap the ISO at 3200 if you don’t want to suffer grain.

However, if you want to push the limits a little farther, especially when the scene is really dark, then go manual. In manual mode, you can work with an ISO setting of up to 6400 stops. Just remember to turn on “noise reduction” in order for your photo to come out noise-free.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 3: 3 Inch Tilting Screen

A tilting screen is important in every modern camera as it makes the camera easier to operate. You can imagine how difficult it would be working with a fixed screen. Shooting videos and taking photos at certain weird angles would be a huge challenge. But all that is solved thanks to screens that tilt.

All the same though, there are different degrees of tilting. There are screens that tilt fully and there are those that tilt partially. Of course, you can already tell that those that tilt (articulate) fully would be more convenient than those that don’t.

In the case of the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D, the Sony a7 only tilts partially and that is not surprising. Sony isn’t exactly known for fully articulating screens, that’s more Canon’s field. So, yes, it’s no big surprise that the Canon 70D comes with a full articulating screen.

This means that for vloggers and youtubers, the Canon 70D would be more your speed. The fact that it can be completely moved around means that it’s perfect for those one-man videos where you don’t have someone shooting you. You just tilt the screen and you can look at yourself as you record.

Another thing about the screen of the Canon 70D is that it is touch sensitive. Touch sensitive screens are a huge advantage because they make your camera much more intuitive. Especially in video mode, a camera with a touch sensitive LCD screen would be easier to interact with – not to forget faster as well.

For instance, moving your focus from one part of the frame to another is easier if the screen is touch sensitive.

On the Sony a7, you have to work with the buttons. And the buttons on the back of this camera are quite a lot. They aren’t so difficult to master and especially if you’re used to Sony cameras, they are easy to navigate. However, in video mode when you need to move quickly, buttons could slow you down a bit.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 4: Dynamic Range

How do these cameras perform in the sun or outdoors? This is determined by the dynamic range of your camera. You know they say the sun is the best filter, yeah? Well, if the dynamic range of a camera isn’t good enough, it might not perform well in the sun. So, in the end, what you get is a camera that loses all the important details of your photo to the highlight and shadows.

Now, let’s see the dynamic range situation on the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D. The Sony a7 has the better dynamic range at 14.2 while the Canon 70D comes behind with a dynamic range of 11.7. Now, in this case, it’s not just that the Canon 70D does not do as well as the Sony a7. The Canon 70D does not meet up to the minimum value for a good dynamic range.

Usually, a good dynamic range falls between 12 and 14.

Well, the better performance of the Sony a7 is mostly due to the size of its sensor. Typically, a full frame sensor has a wider dynamic range than that of a crop sensor which makes it a better performer than the Canon 70D.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 5: RAW Support

Shooting in RAW mode is a big deal these days and everyone shoots RAW. In fact, if you’re getting any of these cameras, then it is assumed that you have an interest in shooting RAW. Raw photos are beautiful, sharp, detailed, and the best quality of photos you can possibly get. However, they do have their challenges as well.

JPEG, which is the more commonly used format is popular for how convenient and readily usable it is. When you shoot in JPEG, there are several optimization processes that occur on the photo. These processes work on the photo, making the resultant photo lighter and processed. This, then makes them instantly sharable which is why most photos you find online are JPEG.

But the thing about JPEG is that they lack that quality that RAW photos give.

But here’s the thing about RAW photos. As their names suggest, RAW photos have not had any form of processing carried out on them. So, the photos are unprocessed and uncompressed. What this means is that RAW photos end up taking a lot of space.

Plus, when first taken, unlike JPEG, they appear muted and flatish. So, you can’t share them immediately, you’d have to edit them first.

Hence, the photographer shooting RAW would have to be conversant with software applications such as Lightroom and Photoshop. We assume that you already do since you’re here for a semi-pro/pro camera.

Some of the benefits you stand to obtain from shooting RAW is that you’re able to do some photo correction in post-production. Whether it’s white balance or exposure, you can clean up all that mess with the right tools on a RAW file. Plus, there’s the non-destructive editing as well which means that you get to retain your image quality whatever editing you’ve carried out on the camera.

But sure, these two cameras take amazing RAW photos. You can check them out yourself to confirm. Don’t take our word for it.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 6: 1/8000 Second Max Shutter Speed

The Sony a7 and Canon 70D both have a pretty snappy shutter speed. We are looking at 1/8000 second. That is fast! But then again, we’re comparing a pro vs a semi-pro, so well, it’s not supposed to be such a big deal.

Whatever the case though, the max shutter speed of these cameras are high. And being that these cameras also slow down to 30 seconds, there is a wide range available to you to play around with. You might not even end up having to use the fastest shutter speed.

That said, the options you get from having a wide range of shutter speeds are quite amazing. You’d be able to achieve a whole lot of effects. For instance, taking stills of moving objects are much easier and neater when the shutter speed is super fast. You’re able to capture the subject frozen in motion without any of the blur which is just great.

Also, in situations where you need to let in more light into the sensor, the wide shutter speed range of the camera also comes into play. By simply reducing the speed, you let in more light into the sensor which makes for a brighter shot.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 7: Focus Points

In the focus points department of these cameras, the number of focus points of these cameras are widely thrown apart. The Sony a7 has 117 focus points while the Canon 70D has only 19 focus points. Now, let’s leave the numbers and discuss the performance of the focus points in each of these cameras.

The Sony a7 has fantastic autofocusing. It’s quite fast whether in video mode or when taking stills. This is an advantage that comes with having many focus points. However, we did notice that when it came to dark lighting, there was a bit of struggle for the Sony a7 in trying to focus.

Another small struggle for the Sony a7 came in moving the focus points. There’s a knob that allows you do that. But definitely, if the screen was touch sensitive, it would have been a much smoother ride. You’d simply have to just drag the focus from one end to the other to adjust the focus of your camera.

In comparison, this is a benefit you easily get on the Canon 70D which comes with a touch sensitive screen which makes the camera easier to work with in video mode.

As for focusing on the Canon 70D, the camera is quite good. It comes with a feature known as the Dual Pixel AF. So, it’s pretty quick in its autofocusing. However, just like the Sony a7, it struggles in low light, perhaps even worse than the Sony a7.

Now, to the figures, the higher number of focus points that the Sony a7 has gives it an advantage that the Canon 70D does not have. This advantage comes to play when taking photos of moving subjects. Because the Sony a7 has more focus points, the camera is better equipped to take photos with the moving subject in focus and perfectly exposed.

With fewer focus points (the Canon 70D only has about 19), it might be a little more challenging.

This video compares different cameras but the autofocusing technology used in these cameras are same as those on the cameras on review.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 8: Continuous Shooting/Burst Mode

The burst mode / continuous shooting mode of these cameras are just average in our opinion. As for the Sony a7, the continuous shooting mode comes at 5 frames per second while that of the Canon 70D comes at 7 frames per second. In our opinion, that’s just average especially since burst mode is mostly used for sports shooting and the likes.

We suppose you’ll be able to use these cameras to shoot your sports scenes though. Nevertheless, maybe you might want to lean more towards the Canon 70D if you do a lot of such shootings. But we’ve definitely seen better, so this does not wow us.

In fact, it seems that, with Sony and Canon, the pro cameras seem to have the more mediocre continuous shooting/burst modes.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 9: Full HD Video Resolution

Being that this isn’t one of Sony’s most advanced cameras, we’re not surprised that this camera does not have the 4K video resolution. The price point of the camera also suggests that. The same also applies to the Canon 70D, it’s a semi-pro camera. Plus, there’s also the fact that Canon has been a little slow in adding 4k video cameras to its offerings.

If you’re a pro photographer that’s not particular about 4K videos, then either the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D, it won’t matter since they both shoot in full HD. Also, if you can’t afford the hassles of 4K post-production, then these cameras would perform well enough for whatever project you need. You’d hardly even miss the 4K video resolution. And the good thing is that the quality of videos is amazing on both cameras.

Now, to the nitty gritty of the comparison between the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D for their video mode. First off, they both come with microphone ports which means your sound quality is going to be stellar. The only small difference is that the Sony a7 comes with a headphone out while the Canon 70D lacks one. Is it a big deal or a deal breaker? Well, not to us.

The next feature we’ll compare is the screen of these cameras which is another important feature you need to consider when considering a camera for video. The Sony a7 has a tilting screen while the Canon 70D has a screen that fully articulates. This, of course, gives the Canon 70D one point ahead of the Sony a7 for ease of use, intuitiveness and interaction.

Now, another point. The Sony a7 shoots at 60 frames per second while the Canon 70D does not. It shoots at 30 frames per second. So, in this case, the points go to the Sony a7. Shooting at 60 frames per second, it means that the Sony a7 can give you good slow-mo effects while the Canon 70D can’t exactly give you that.

Autofocusing is great for Sony a7 and Canon 70D. So, it’s kinda hard to award one camera over the other on both cameras. In this case, we’d probably call it a draw. However, this is in bright light. In low light though, the cameras don’t do as well. The lack of good lighting makes the cameras a little slower to focus.

And that leads us to low light performance. The Canon 70D does not perform as well as the Sony a7 in low light. On paper and in performance, the Sony a7 is a way better camera in low light than the Canon 70D. So, for videographers who shoot at weddings, dinner parties, concerts, award shows and the likes, the Sony a7 could be your go to.

It’s a pretty sold idea that Sony does a better job in low light than most other cameras.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8L1LFhCwKs

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 10: Color Depth

For all the colors on your photos to pop, the color depth of the camera used to take the photo must be good enough. Usually, the deeper the color depth of your camera, the more the unique colors your camera can pick.

This means that cameras with a good color depth will exhibit less color banding especially in areas where are there are subtle color shading. Such cameras with good color depth make picking up all the colors in that band easy and precise.

The minimum color depth any good camera ought to have is 22 bits. Now, let’s compare. The Sony a7 has a color depth of 24.8 while the Canon 70D has a color depth of 22.5. This already places the Sony a7 ahead of the Canon 70D. So, the colors on a photo taken with the Sony a7 would pop better than that taken on the Canon 70D.

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 11: AE Bracketing

Getting a perfectly exposed photo can be pretty challenging especially when lighting is bad or when the brightness and darkness begin to vary a lot. In those moments, manually adjusting the settings of your camera in order to get the perfect shot would be time-consuming. Besides that, you might even lose moments in your bid to set and reset your exposure. So, it’s a good thing that the Sony a7 and the Canon 70D have AE bracketing.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 12: Wireless Connection

Of course this is great news for photographers as it makes file transfer super easy. You simply set it up in the first place. And then you can simply transfer files from your camera to your laptop or smartphone pretty fast, of course, depending on how good your internet is.

WiFi transfer is great because it means that you can travel without taking cables along. And then all the clutter that comes with using cables too are generally avoided.

The Sony a7 has this one thing though that puts it ahead of the Canon 70D. The Sony a7 has NFC connection. This means that the camera pairs with other devices nearby instantly. All it requires is a tap of the button and even without internet, you can still transfer your files.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 13: Weather Sealing

Yeah, this is great news. Since these two cameras are weather-sealed, it means that they are capable of working outdoors even when the elements are unpredictable. Weather-sealing usually involves layering the camera with rubber especially at the vulnerable parts of the camera. By doing this, the camera is sturdier so it can hold its own in unpredictable weather. Altogether, it makes the camera more durable even with continued use.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D Common Feature 14: No Image Stabilization

Neither of these cameras comes with any form of image stabilization system. Usually, Sony does the built-in sensor-shift image stabilization. But in this case, it chose not to fit the Sony a7 with any kind of image stabilization. All the same though, it’s a little challenging that the neither of these cameras has an image stabilization system seeing as the lower camera is a semi-pro camera.

Photographers would have to do most of their jobs on a tripod stand in order to prevent blurry images from camera shake. Especially if you have to use long lenses, you’d have to use a tripod stand or any other form of stabilizing rig. But then again, there are times where you have to shoot handheld, and at those times, these cameras disappoint somewhat.

Of course, there’s always the option of getting Image Stabilization (IS) lenses. But that’s an expensive move.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Features Unique To Each Camera

In this section, we uncover these two cameras to find out what unique features they each bring to the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D. You might, most likely, make your decision for one over the other in this section. So, you might want to pay close attention.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Features Unique To The Camera

Full Frame Sensor

A full frame sensor is always of advantage in any camera because of its size. The thing though is that they are more expensive to manufacture than other sensor sizes. So, typically, full frame cameras are more expensive than other smaller cameras.

Another inconvenience with full frame cameras is that they are not quite as compact which makes them a little inconvenient to move around when compared to cameras with smaller sensors. They are also a little heavier than cameras with smaller sensors as well. But they do have their advantages.

One is that, because they are large and wide, full frame cameras tend to encompass the entire field of view that you intend to capture better than smaller sensors. Full frame is a great sensor size for landscapes and it’s also great for taking photos of architectural structures. You really get a well encompassing shot which is really good.

Also, the full frame sensor of this camera makes the camera able to give your photos that nice shallow depth of field effect. This effect is great for portraits as it helps with the beauty of the image and also helps with the detail of the portrait as well.

Additionally, full frame cameras are usually better performers in low light than smaller sensors. Dynamic range, as well, is wider. So, full frame cameras are not just better in low light, they are also better out in the sun.

Mostly professional cameras come with full frame sensors as they can be a bit expensive to work with. The glass to buy and all of that might be a bit out of reach for some beginners.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Electronic Viewfinder

The Sony a7 is a mirrorless camera, so, expectedly, it comes with an electronic viewfinder.

The viewfinder of the Sony a7 is pretty large which is nice as it gives you enough room to view everything you need to view. Plus, it also makes it easier for you to compose your scenes on the viewfinder as well.

The only problem though is that it makes the camera larger and chunkier. So, if you can live with that, then that’s okay. We loved it either way though.

The electronic viewfinder of the Sony a7 is a really exceptional one. The resolution of the screen is so sharp that looking through the viewfinder is pretty much like looking through an optical viewfinder. Everything is crystal clear.

However, just as with a normal electronic viewfinder, the viewfinder of the Sony a7 displays all the information which removes the guess work of using DSLRs from the Sony a7.

Of course, the fact that the Sony a7 comes with an electronic viewfinder impacts on its battery life as electronic viewfinders are pretty demanding. The Sony a7 has a really poor battery life of just about 340 shots for a single recharge. The Canon 70D, on the other hand, which comes with an optical viewfinder comes with a stronger battery life of 920 shots per recharge.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Features Unique To The Canon 70D

APS-C Sensor

The size of the sensor of the Cano 70D is a crop sensor. So, it is smaller than that of the Sony a7. This, automatically, makes the Canon 70D the smaller camera but that only seems to be so on paper as the Canon 70D is the larger from the measurements.

In comparison to the full frame sensor of the Sony a7, the crop sensor of the Canon 70D comes up short in certain respects. However, in image quality, it doesn’t seem to have affected the quality of the Canon 70D much.

True, with a crop sensor, images from such cameras have a tighter feel to them. In comparison to the full frame cameras, the field of view looks cropped which brings down image quality just a little bit.

Besides that, the camera also doesn’t have that advantage of a shallow depth of field that a full frame has. So, although picture quality is great on both full frames and crop sensors, the loss of this effect makes photos from full frames more desirable than those from crop sensors.

But then again, the crop sensors are less expensive to manage for beginners and are less commonly found in semi-pro to pro cameras. DSLRs though usually come with crop sensors just like they also come with full frames as well.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Optical Viewfinders

Just like a normal DSLR, the Canon 70D comes with an optical viewfinder. Optical viewfinders have a lot of advantages primarily because of how clearly you’re able to see through them. In this case, the Canon 70D operates with a pentaprism which is a high end technology used in advanced DSLRs. Lower end cameras work with pentamirrors instead.

Being that this camera works with an optical viewfinder, it doesn’t require as much battery power as the Sony a7 which uses an electronic viewfinder. So, in the end, the Canon 70D has much better battery power than the Sony a7 with about 920 shots per battery recharge.

Like all DSLRs, working with an optical viewfinder requires a bit of a learning curve as they typically don’t display as much information as an electronic viewfinder. If you’re transitioning from a mirrorless camera to a DSLR, you might want to keep that in mind.

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Built-in Flash

In certain situations of low light, an external light source might be needed. In those cases, a built-in flash comes in handy. This built-in flash is a convenient addition that works for most average situations. It’s easy to stow away which means that you don’t have to carry extra gear except you absolutely have to.

With the Sony a7, on the other hand, you’re always going to have to carry extra gear. Thankfully, both cameras come with an external flash shoe. But it would have been great having both actions which is another reason we love the Canon 70D.

Get the Sony a7 here!          Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Unique Pros

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Pros Unique To The Sony a7

• The Sony a7 has a sharper sensor than the Canon 70D.
• Plus, the sensor is larger. It comes as a full frame while the Canon 70D has a smaller crop sensor camera.
• There are way more focus points on the Sony a7 than on the Canon 70D.
• Although both cameras have a sharp LCD screen, the Sony a7 is sharper.
• Weight is another plus for the Sony a7. It’s not as heavy as the Canon 70D.
• Besides a microphone port, the Sony a7 also has a headphone port.
• Color depth and dynamic range are also other features where the Sony a7 does better as well.
• In low light, the Sony a7 is the better performer both for stills and for video. This is thanks to the sensor size as well as the sensor pixel area.
• This camera also comes with an NFC connection for faster pairing and transfer in the absence of internet.

Get the Sony a7 here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Pros Unique To The Canon 70D

• The Canon 70D has a better and stronger battery life.
• Its LCD screen is also touch sensitive and fully articulated while the Sony a7 lacks these features.
• In burst mode, the Canon 70D is a better camera.
• It comes with a built-in flash as well.

Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Unique Cons

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Cons Unique To The Sony a7

• This camera lacks a built-in flash.
• Its LCD screen lacks the touch sensitivity feature. Plus, it only tilts, it doesn’t fully articulate. So, it might not be the first camera of choice for vloggers.
• It doesn’t work as well as the Canon 70D in burst mode.
• Lastly, its battery life sucks.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Cons Unique To The Canon 70D

• The max sensor resolution of this camera isn’t quite as sharp as that of the Sony a7.
• Max ISO is also lower than that of the Sony a7.
• There are not many focus points on the Canon 70D.
• It comes with a microphone input but lacks a headphone out.
• It’s a much heavier camera which makes it more challenging to carry around.
• For dynamic range and color depth, the Canon 70D does not perform as well as a Sony a7.
• This camera is not as good as the Sony a7 in low light.
• No NFC connection as well.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Common Pros

Sony a7	Canon 70D
With built-in WiFi, this camera easily and swiftly transfers files to your computer and other devices thereby eliminating the need for cables and cords.   It also comes with NFC connection which makes it easy to transfer files in the absence of internet.	Also comes with built-in WiFi but lacks NFC connection.
Although the Sony a7 lacks a built-in flash, it comes with an external flash shoe to attach an external flash when necessary.	The Canon 70D also comes with an external flash shoe but in addition comes with a built-in flash.
This camera comes with a viewfinder (electronic viewfinder).	Also comes with a viewfinder (electronic viewfinder).
RAW support for the most amazing images.	Same here.
With face detection focus, your camera, detects human faces, giving them the right exposure for the perfect shot.	Also comes with face detection focus.
The sensor of this camera comes is a high resolution sensor at 24 megapixels.	Although not as high as that of the Sony a7, the Canon 70D also has a high resolution sensor.
The LCD screen of this camera is pretty sharp.	That of the Canon 70D is even sharper.
There’s a microphone port on here to record the best audio while shooting your videos.	Also comes with a microphone port.
This camera is weather-sealed to ensure durability and impermeability against dust and moisture in unpredictable weather.	Also comes weather-sealed.
Features AE bracketing.	Also features AE bracketing.
Smartphone remote control is available	Also available on the Canon 70D.
Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – Common Cons

Sony a7	Canon 70D
This camera does not come with an image stabilization system.	Also lacks an image stabilization system.

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – General Feeling Among Users

Sony a7	Canon 70D
From the looks to the feel of the camera, many customers enjoyed using their camera. The design of the camera also appealed to most users – the way Sony combined the retro look and feel with the modern design left many customers intrigued. So, besides how the camera performed, users also loved the way the camera made them feel when they handled it.   Besides that, this camera comes in pretty lightweight and many customers enjoyed that. This light weight and compactness of this camera made the camera commonly used by most customers as a portable, daily camera. It fits into most people’s purses and that was a definite plus for this camera with many.   We guess it was pretty unanimous opinion that the Sony a7 takes fantastic photos. 24 megapixels gives the camera more than enough room to take well detailed photos. Plus, the full frame sensor as well impressed the majority. Seeing these photos confirmed users’ opinions for us. They did look good.   Now, the battery life was one of the biggest pain points that the Sony a7 users experienced. The battery life sucked and nearly every buyer made that complaint.   The lack of stabilization though, didn’t seem to be a big deal as it wasn’t mentioned by most Sony a7 users.	The Canon 70D is a great camera and you can tell from all the great reviews the camera enjoyed. The camera gave loads of customers the free hand to play and experiment with their photos as much as they want.   A loved feature of the Canon 70D is its ability to process RAW images to JPEG in the camera as it saves space.   They also loved the low light performance of the camera. And many were impressed with how the camera was able to produce less noise even with high ISOs.   The built-in WiFi was also commended. We saw people enjoy transferring their files from camera to computer or phone very easily. The swiftness and hassle-free benefits this feature brought to the user of this camera were also deeply appreciated.   Another feature that users appreciated was the rotating wheel at the top of the camera. This feature makes it easier to run through the menu settings on the camera. So, customers enjoyed that feature as well.   There were those who felt that the camera wasn’t fast enough in burst mode. The writing speed of the SD card as well was a small issue too.   But altogether, most found it the perfect balance between affordability and the latest technology.
Get the Sony a7 here!	Get the Canon 70D here!

Sony a7 Vs Canon 70D – In Summary

So, in summary, here’s our opinion on the Sony a7 vs Canon 70D debate. These are great cameras with loads of features and an impressive level of technological sophistication, especially for the price.

The Sony a7 looks good with its retro plus modern design. It also has a fantastic grip. You’d love the way camera feels when you grab it for your handheld shots. And although it’s a full frame camera, it’s even more compact than the Canon 70D. So, it’s a great camera for carrying around if you need to.

The sensor is also sharper and with its full frame, the Sony a7 makes a better camera for photography than the Canon 70D. If that’s your primary need for a camera, the Sony a7 could be your go-to. The Canon 70D also takes great photos, but the Sony a7 takes better stills, no doubt.

If you’re a vlogger or videographer though, we are quite torn between the two cameras. One the one hand, the Sony a7 shoots at 60 frames per second. But then again, the Canon 70D comes with a fully articulated, touch sensitive screen. So, you’d have to weigh your needs yourself and find out which is the deal breaker for you.

We don’t like any of these cameras in burst mode as they perform only mediocrely. They are not best for shooting fast moving scenes.

So, while it is somewhat hard considering that the Sony a7 is a pro camera while the Canon 70D is only semi-pro. But considering the price and all that, we think we’d be more inclined to go for the Sony a7, if we absolutely had to choose.

Get the Sony a7 here!

Get the Canon 70D here!

PS:

Keep this in mind though, the Sony a7 is not exactly the most inexpensive camera to use. Its Sony E mount is a new kind of mount different from Sony’s A mount and E mount. This means that you’d either have to start from the scratch and get new glass. Or you might have to get an adapter to be able to use your old glass. The lenses of the Sony a7 are not exactly ubiquitous in the market right now.

And it’s not just the Sony a7 that has the lens story. The stock lens on the Canon 70D are not that great. So you might have to get another kind of lens for your camera as well. The good thing is it’s not as expensive as Sony lenses and it’ also easier to get.

Get the Sony a7 here!

Get the Canon 70D here!