Canon 70D PDF User Manual
Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Canon EOS 70D? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Canon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the 70D offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.
That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.
Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Canon EOS 70D below.

In any case, the 70D is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was announced on July 2nd, 2013, which means that, as of today, the camera is 3737 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Canon 80D as a replacement in the same line of cameras.
Canon's instruction manual for the 70D
The camera's instruction manual is 468 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the 70D is included towards the bottom of this webpage.
Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!
Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Canon EOS 70D manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.
If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Canon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.
Printed, hardcopy versions of the Canon 70D manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.
Video tutorial for the Canon EOS 70D
Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your 70D by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.
Once again, the Canon 70D is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.
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Canon 70D FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the 70D.
What technology is the imaging sensor in the Canon 70D based on?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Canon 70D to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Canon equipped the 70D with the DIGIC 5+ image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon 70D?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800.
Does the Canon 70D have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the 70D is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Canon EOS 70D?
Canon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the 70D. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the 70D over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Canon 70D?
Canon embeds the number of shutter actuations in the camera firmware. You can check the number of shots that your 70D has taken up to now by using a third-party app, as described on the Canon 70D shutter count page.
Does the Canon 70D feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon 70D for flash photography?
The 70D's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Canon 70D support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Canon 70D use?
The camera gets its power from the LP-E6 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the Canon 70D?
Yes, Canon offers the BG-E14 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Further reading
How does the 70D stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 2000D vs Sony A9 II
- Canon 70D vs Fujifilm GFX 50R
- Canon 70D vs Leica M Typ 240
- Canon 70D vs Leica M Typ 262
- Canon 70D vs Olympus E-M10 IV
- Canon 70D vs Panasonic G85
- Canon 70D vs Ricoh WG-6
- Fujifilm X-Pro1 vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X-Pro2 vs Sony A9 II
- Fujifilm X-T20 vs Sony A9 II
- Nikon P1000 vs Sony A9 II
- Sony A6000 vs Sony A9 II
Core camera specifications
Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Canon EOS 70D.
Camera Model | Canon 70D | |
Camera Type | Digital single lens reflex | |
Camera Lens | Canon EF mount lenses | |
Launch Date | July 2013 | |
Launch Price | USD 1 199 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
---|---|---|
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 22.5 x 15.0 mm | |
Sensor Area | 338 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 27 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.6x | |
Sensor Resolution | 20 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 5 472 x 3 648 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.11 μm | |
Pixel Density | 5.91 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12 800 ISO | |
ISO Boost | 100 - 25 600 ISO | |
Image Processor | DIGIC 5+ | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 68 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.5 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 11.6 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 926 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Optical viewfinder | |
Viewfinder Field of View | 98% | |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.59x | |
Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Swivel screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | Front-flip possible | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Phase-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | no Peaking Feature | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 7 shutter flaps/s | |
Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
Battery Type | LP-E6 power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 920 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
139 x 104 x 79 mm (5.5 x 4.1 x 3.1 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 755 g (26.6 oz) |
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