Canon 70D vs Canon R5

The Canon EOS 70D and the Canon EOS R5 are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively, in July 2013 and July 2020. The 70D is a DSLR, while the Canon R5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (70D) and a full frame (Canon R5) sensor. The 70D has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Canon R5 provides 44.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 70D		Canon R5
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF mount lenses		Canon RF mount lenses
20 MP, APS-C Sensor		44.8 MP, Full Frame Sensor
1080/30p Video		8k/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 (100 - 25,600)		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 102,400)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (5760k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.2 LCD, 2100k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Swivel touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
920 shots per battery charge		320 shots per battery charge
139 x 104 x 79 mm, 755 g		138 x 98 x 88 mm, 738 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 70D and the Canon EOS R5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 70D and the Canon R5 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon R5 is notably smaller (6 percent) than the Canon 70D. Moreover, the Canon R5 is slightly lighter (2 percent) than the 70D. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the 70D gets 920 shots out of its LP-E6 battery, while the Canon R5 can take 320 images on a single charge of its LP-E6NH power pack. The power pack in the Canon R5 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 70D	139 mm	104 mm	79 mm	755 g	920	Y	Jul 2013	1,199
2.		Canon R5	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	738 g	320	Y	Jul 2020	3,899
3.		Canon R6	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	680 g	360	Y	Jul 2020	2,499
4.		Canon 80D	139 mm	105 mm	79 mm	730 g	960	Y	Feb 2016	1,199
5.		Canon G3 X	123 mm	77 mm	105 mm	733 g	300	Y	Jun 2015	999
6.		Canon 7D II	149 mm	112 mm	78 mm	910 g	670	Y	Sep 2014	1,799
7.		Canon 6D	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
8.		Canon 60D	145 mm	106 mm	79 mm	755 g	1100	Y	Aug 2010	1,399
9.		Canon 7D	148 mm	111 mm	74 mm	860 g	800	Y	Sep 2009	1,699
10.		Canon 50D	146 mm	108 mm	74 mm	822 g	800	Y	Aug 2008	1,299
11.		Nikon Z7	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	330	Y	Aug 2018	3,399
12.		Nikon D7100	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	950	Y	Feb 2013	1,199
13.		Sony A7R III	127 mm	96 mm	74 mm	650 g	650	Y	Oct 2017	3,199
14.		Sony A99 II	143 mm	104 mm	76 mm	849 g	490	Y	Sep 2016	3,199
15.		Sony A7R II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	625 g	290	Y	Jun 2015	3,199
16.		Sony RX10 II	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	400	Y	Jun 2015	1,299
17.		Sony RX10	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	420	Y	Oct 2013	1,299
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The 70D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 69 percent) than the Canon R5, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 70D features an APS-C sensor and the Canon R5 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the Canon R5 is 156 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the Canon R5 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC X) than the 70D (DIGIC 5+), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

With 44.8MP, the Canon R5 offers a higher resolution than the 70D (20MP), but the Canon R5 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.39μm versus 4.11μm for the 70D) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the Canon R5 is a much more recent model (by 7 years) than the 70D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Canon R5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the Canon R5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 41 x 27.3 inches or 104 x 69.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 32.8 x 21.9 inches or 83.2 x 55.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 27.3 x 18.2 inches or 69.4 x 46.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 70D are 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm for good quality, 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 70D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS R5 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon R5 offers substantially better image quality than the 70D (overall score 27 points higher). The advantage is based on 2.8 bits higher color depth, 3 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.7 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 70D	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	22.5	11.6	926	68
2.		Canon R5	Full Frame	44.8	8192	5464	8k/30p	25.3	14.6	3042	95
3.		Canon R6	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4k/60p	24.2	14.3	3394	90
4.		Canon 80D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.2	1135	79
5.		Canon G3 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	521	63
6.		Canon 7D II	APS-C	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	11.8	1082	70
7.		Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
8.		Canon 60D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.5	813	66
9.		Canon 7D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	854	66
10.		Canon 50D	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	none	21.8	11.4	696	63
11.		Nikon Z7	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/30p	26.3	14.6	2668	99
12.		Nikon D7100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.2	13.7	1256	83
13.		Sony A7R III	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	26.0	14.7	3523	100
14.		Sony A99 II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	25.4	13.4	2317	92
15.		Sony A7R II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	26.0	13.9	3434	98
16.		Sony RX10 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	531	70
17.		Sony RX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.9	12.6	474	69

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the Canon R5 provides a better video resolution than the 70D. It can shoot movie footage at 8k/30p, while the 70D is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the Canon R5 has an electronic viewfinder (5760k dots), while the 70D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the Canon R5 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 70D (98%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the Canon R5 has a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.59x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 70D, the Canon R5, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 70D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0	Y	n
2.		Canon R5	5760	Y	3.2	2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
3.		Canon R6	5760	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
4.		Canon 80D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0	Y	n
5.		Canon G3 X	optional	n	3.2	1620	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.9	Y	Y
6.		Canon 7D II	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0	Y	n
7.		Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
8.		Canon 60D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	n	1/8000s	5.3	Y	n
9.		Canon 7D	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
10.		Canon 50D	optical	Y	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.3	Y	n
11.		Nikon Z7	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
12.		Nikon D7100	optical	Y	3.2	1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	Y	n
13.		Sony A7R III	3686	n	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
14.		Sony A99 II	2400	Y	3.0	1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
15.		Sony A7R II	2400	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y
16.		Sony RX10 II	2359	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	14.0	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX10	1440	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The 70D has one, while the Canon R5 does not. While the built-in flash of the 70D is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the Canon R5 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon R5 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 70D writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the Canon R5 uses CFexpress or SDXC cards. The Canon R5 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the 70D only has one slot. The Canon R5 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the 70D can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 70D and Canon EOS R5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 70D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Canon R5	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon R6	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon 80D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon G3 X	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon 7D II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Canon 60D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 7D	Y	mono	-	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 50D	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Nikon Z7	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
12.		Nikon D7100	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Sony A7R III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
14.		Sony A99 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
15.		Sony A7R II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony RX10 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX10	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the Canon R5 has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The 70D lacks such a headphone port.

The Canon R5 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the 70D has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 70D was succeeded by the Canon 80D. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon website.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 70D or the Canon R5 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 70D:

• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (920 versus 320) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (69 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2013).

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS R5:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (44.8 vs 20MP), which boosts linear resolution by 50%.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (27 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (2.8 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (3 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.7 stops ISO advantage).
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC X vs DIGIC 5+).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (8k/30p vs 1080/30p).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 98%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.59x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 1040k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More modern: Reflects 7 years of technical progress since the 70D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the Canon R5 is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 70D and the Canon R5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 70D or the Canon R5 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 70D	5/5	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2013	1,199
2.		Canon R5	4.5/5	..	91/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2020	3,899
3.		Canon R6	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2020	2,499
4.		Canon 80D	4/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	1,199
5.		Canon G3 X	3.5/5	+	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	999
6.		Canon 7D II	4.5/5	+	84/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	1,799
7.		Canon 6D	5/5	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
8.		Canon 60D	5/5	+	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	1,399
9.		Canon 7D	5/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	1,699
10.		Canon 50D	..	+ +	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	1,299
11.		Nikon Z7	5/5	+	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2018	3,399
12.		Nikon D7100	5/5	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2013	1,199
13.		Sony A7R III	..	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2017	3,199
14.		Sony A99 II	..	..	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	3,199
15.		Sony A7R II	5/5	+ +	90/100	5/5	5/5	Jun 2015	3,199
16.		Sony RX10 II	5/5	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	1,299
17.		Sony RX10	5/5	+	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,299
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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Specifications: Canon 70D vs Canon R5

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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