70D’s automatic mode takes spectacular images even if you’re cross-eyed — just point the camera then hit the button. But at a €1,000+ asking price, it’s a sin not to go manual. Canon offer a free photography course for anyone who buys this camera from a participating retailer. For more information, see iop.ie/canon.
70D is over a year old but it comes out on top for stills and video, out-performing its predecessors — the 700D and 60D. Using an 18-135mm STM lens, the camera focuses in a second and shoots 7fps at continual rate.
There’s a fold-out touchscreen with built-in Wi-Fi so you can hook up to iPhone and Android apps for remote control. As for video, the 70D captures 24, 25 or 30fps at 1080p. Professional film-makers need look no further, although the lack of a headphone socket (for audio monitoring) is a drastic oversight.