Canon 70D vs Nikon D780: A Veteran DSLR Showdown with a Modern Twist

Choosing your next DSLR can feel a bit like browsing a vinyl collection - do you go for the classic warmth or the shiny new features? The Canon EOS 70D and Nikon D780 represent two different eras and philosophies in advanced DSLR design. The 70D came roaring in 2013 as a powerhouse mid-tier APS-C DSLR, while the D780, launched in 2020, is Nikon’s full-frame, cutting-edge mirrorless-hybrid-ish DSLR. Both are beloved workhorses, but their differences stretch far beyond megapixels.

Having spent thousands of hours behind the viewfinder with both, I’m here to help you navigate which is truly the right tool for your photographic toolbox - whether you’re a portrait artist, wildlife chaser, or tired of hunting for that perfect travel companion. Let’s get our hands dirty.

Size, Feel, and Handling: Comfort Doesn’t Always Scale

There’s a surprisingly distinct tactile experience between these two cameras, influenced by their sensor sizes but also by body design choices.

If you lay the Canon 70D and Nikon D780 side by side, the 70D feels like the sprightly middleweight boxer - compact and manageable for long shooting sessions, with dimensions of 139x104x79mm and a weight of approximately 755g (including battery). The D780, in contrast, is a bit bulkier at 144x116x76mm and approximately 840g, befitting its full-frame sensor and beefed-up innards.

The 70D’s grip is well contoured for smaller or medium-sized hands and offers intuitive reach to shutter and dial controls. The D780’s larger, deeper grip reflects its ambition as a professional tool, accommodating larger lenses and battery cells without fatigue. Interestingly, the D780’s weight supports its sturdy, weather-sealed build - a notch above the 70D’s solid but slightly less robust environmental sealing.

So if you prize portability and ergonomic comfort during extended street shoots or travel, the 70D’s smaller frame might pleasantly surprise you. On the other hand, for intense fieldwork or professional studio days, the D780’s heft feels reassuring rather than burdensome.

Top-Down Controls: Traditional Layouts, Modern Flair

Taking a peek at the top panels tells another story about each camera’s approach to user interaction.

The Canon 70D leans into Canon’s classic control scheme, with clearly arranged dials, a handy top LCD display for quick exposure readouts, and dedicated buttons for ISO, drive modes, and AF selections. This layout feels familiar and efficient, the exact sort of thing I grew fond of during long hikes or spontaneous street moments when fiddling needed to be minimal.

Nikon’s D780 merges traditional DSLR ergonomics with a few nods towards its bridge-to-mirrorless lineage - including a subtle top LCD panel, robust command dials, and a layout optimized for one-handed operation. The lack of a built-in flash on the D780 (don’t worry, this is common in professional-grade cameras) means a cleaner look but does add to reliance on external lighting.

Both cameras prioritize immediate access to exposure compensation and custom settings, but the 70D’s interface feels a bit more straightforward, whereas the D780 packs more customizable buttons for photographers who love to tailor controls - perfect for pros or advanced enthusiasts.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor Technologies and Image Quality

Now, onto the pièce de résistance - sensor performance. The sensor is the beating heart dictating image quality, and these two have quite distinct identities.

Canon 70D sports a 20MP APS-C (22.5x15mm) CMOS sensor with a 1.6x crop factor. Despite its age, this sensor still punches above its weight, delivering vivid colors with a respectable dynamic range of approximately 11.6 EV and a color depth of 22.5 bits as per DxO benchmarks. Its max native ISO of 12800, expandable to 25600, is useful in many scenarios, though noise rises significantly at the higher end.

Contrast that with Nikon’s D780, which houses a modern 24.5MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 35.9x23.9mm. This sensor advantage translates to a massive 858 mm² surface area - more than double the 70D’s sensor area - which is crucial for superior light-gathering, especially in low light. Nikon's sensor is renowned for its exceptional dynamic range (not officially DxO tested yet, but industry consensus is top-notch), elevated color depth, and pristine high ISO capabilities - native ISO range stretches to 51200 and can be boosted to a staggering 204800.

From my experience, this means the D780 produces jaw-dropping detail retention in shadows and highlights and beautiful color gradations, especially with RAW workflows. The 70D, while capable, reveals its limitations in high-contrast and dim environments, often requiring noise reduction or exposure balancing in post.

Viewing and Composing: Optical and Screen Interfaces

A fantastic image starts with a dependable viewfinder and an accessible LCD screen, so let’s see how each camera fares here.

The Canon 70D features a fully articulated 3.0-inch ClearView II TFT touchscreen with 1.04 million-dot resolution. Its articulating design is a godsend for shooting at awkward angles - think macro or street photography from hip-level vantage points. The touchscreen is responsive and enables intuitive AF point selection, but the display’s brightness struggles a bit under harsh sunlight.

Nikon’s D780 opts for a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen with a much higher 2.36 million-dot resolution, offering stunning clarity and better visibility outdoors. Though it’s only tilting rather than fully articulating, the touch interface is snappy and supports sophisticated controls like touch AF and menu navigation which I found most welcome during video shoots.

Both cameras sport traditional optical pentaprism viewfinders - the 70D has 98% coverage at 0.6x magnification, while the D780 covers 100% at 0.7x magnification. The D780’s brighter, edge-to-edge coverage makes precise composition easier, especially beneficial for critical landscapes or portraits.

In real-world usage, I preferred the D780’s viewfinder for accuracy, though the 70D’s fully articulating screen steers advantage in versatility for certain shooting styles.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Tracking Life in Motion

Autofocus is often what separates a “nice shot” from the “keeper,” especially in wildlife and sports photography.

Canon’s 70D utilizes Canon’s then-cutting-edge Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 19 cross-type phase-detection points, delivering smooth and reliable live view and video AF. The camera offers multiple AF modes including face detection and tracking, with 7 fps continuous shooting - a respectable rate for APS-C bodies of its era.

The Nikon D780, influenced heavily by mirrorless tech, employs a 51-point phase-detection AF system all across the sensor when in both viewfinder and live view modes. Even more impressively, it features AI-based subject recognition and eye priority AF, significantly improving accuracy and tracking finesse. Burst speed clocks in at a solid 7 fps, matching Canon’s rate but with a deeper buffer and faster card writes due to dual SD UHS-II slots.

Having tested both extensively, the D780’s AF system feels decades ahead in fluency, especially when chasing erratic wildlife or fast-paced sports action. The 70D holds its ground in moderate scenarios, though it shows some hunting in low contrast or dim settings, while the D780 rarely falters.

Lens Ecosystem and Accessory Considerations

Optical glass remains the ultimate upgrade, so which system hooks you up better?

The 70D uses Canon EF and EF-S mount lenses, boasting an extensive library of over 320 compatible lenses. Canon’s EF-S lenses are specially designed for the APS-C crop sensor, keeping weight and cost down. Also, Canon’s STM lenses play nicely with the 70D’s Dual Pixel AF for near-silent and smooth focusing, critical during video shooting.

Nikon employs the venerable F-mount, compatible with nearly 310 lenses plus a slew of modern Z-mount lenses via adapters, opening doors to the Z mirrorless glass universe. Given the D780’s full-frame sensor, these lenses deliver superb image quality and creamy bokeh more readily. Plus, Nikon’s updated lens coatings and VR stabilization tech complement the D780 body well.

Practically speaking, Canon’s lens selection suits enthusiasts prioritizing lightweight setups and budget-friendly options plus native video focus. Nikon’s ecosystem arms professionals and serious amateurs seeking maximum optical performance and versatility. Both systems have a vibrant third-party supplier market as well.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

It’s the little things - battery stamina, memory card options, and wireless features - that round out user experience.

The Canon 70D employs an LP-E6 battery, rated for approximately 920 shots under CIPA standards. While decent for its era, expect fewer frames when using live view or video. The D780 uses the more modern EN-EL15b battery, offering a jaw-dropping 2260 shots - exceptionally helpful for extended outings or event coverage.

Storage-wise, the 70D has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot, which can be a bottleneck for professionals needing backup. The D780 shines here with dual UHS-II SD card slots, allowing simultaneous RAW+JPEG writes or instant backups - an essential safety net.

Both cameras have built-in Wi-Fi, but only the D780 packs Bluetooth as well, making instant image transfers and remote shooting more reliable and battery-friendly. The 70D dates back to USB 2.0 speeds, whereas the D780 embraces faster USB interfaces (though specs are broad). HDMI ports exist on both for external video capture.

For users shooting long tethered sessions or weddings, the D780’s dual card slots and superior battery life strongly tip the scale.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Stills

We can’t overlook video, especially as DSLRs bridge the gap with mirrorless features.

Canon’s 70D was a pioneer with its Dual Pixel CMOS AF video autofocus, recording Full HD 1080p video up to 30fps and 720p up to 60fps. The articulated touchscreen aids in creative angles, and a microphone port allows decent external audio capture. However, the lack of 4K and minimal frame rate options places it squarely in the consumer/prosumer bracket even today.

Nikon’s D780 catapults you into 4K UHD video territory at 30p, 25p, and 24p, alongside Full HD up to 120fps for slow-motion artistry. It supports uncompressed HDMI output, external audio input via microphone and headphone jacks, and offers advanced video profiles. The D780’s hybrid AF during video rivals many mirrorless models with smooth focus transitions.

If video is a priority, especially for content creators or hybrid shooters, Nikon’s D780 offers several leaps forward beyond Canon’s older 70D.

How These Cameras Excel Across Photography Genres

Enough specs - where do these beasts really shine?

Canon 70D front Canon 70D screen back Nikon D780 front Nikon D780 screen back

Portraiture

The Nikon D780’s full-frame sensor creates buttery bokeh with shallower depth of field and exceptional skin tone rendition. Its face and eye AF perform like magic, swiftly locking on subjects even in tricky angles. The Canon 70D still renders pleasant portraits with punchy colors but can’t match the subtle tonal range or background separation of the D780.

Landscape

Resolution and dynamic range favor the D780, delivering images rich in shadow detail and highlight retention. The better weather sealing also means you’re more confident shooting in demanding conditions. The 70D’s APS-C sensor still captures fine detail and broad color, but high dynamic range scenes sometimes need bracketing and HDR processing.

Wildlife and Sports

The D780’s 51 AF points and 7fps burst complemented by advanced tracking excel in fast-moving wildlife, birds, or athletes. The 70D holds its own with decent AF and speed but may struggle to keep up with erratic subjects or low contrast scenes.

Street Photography

Here, the 70D’s smaller body and fully articulating screen shine. It’s less conspicuous and more versatile for spontaneous shooting. The D780 is bulkier, but its superior ISO performance still supports low-light street captures. Both feel comfortable on a variety of prime lenses suited to street.

Macro Photography

Though neither camera features built-in stabilization, both excel with high-quality macro lenses. The 70D benefits from the articulating screen, making it easier to frame close-up subjects. Nikon’s sensor resolution edge makes details pop more in final images.

Night and Astro

The D780 is the clear winner for astrophotography thanks to its superior high ISO performance and massive full-frame sensor. The 70D’s noise at high ISOs limits long exposures and star detail.

Travel

Travel photographers will find the 70D easier to carry and more budget-friendly for multiple lenses. The D780, while heavier, balances versatility and durability. Battery life strongly favors the Nikon for long trips or shooting when charging is scarce.

Professional Workflows

The D780 supports dual card slots, advanced file formats, tethering, and compatibility with professional workflow software seamlessly. The 70D is competent for prosumer assignments but feels dated compared to today’s demands.

Performance Summary: An Expert’s Overlay

When rating performance in various categories from sensor quality to handling and video, the Nikon D780 generally outperforms the Canon 70D by a solid margin - with the difference particularly pronounced in image quality, autofocus, battery life, and video.

This detailed breakdown across photography genres illustrates the D780’s suitability for nearly all professional and advanced uses, whereas the 70D remains a capable camera for enthusiasts, hobbyists, and budget-conscious shooters.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

In the grand scheme, the Nikon D780 is designed for photographers seeking a modern, full-frame DSLR that can handle demanding pro-level work, video creation, and long shooting sessions with grace. Its superior sensor, autofocus, battery life, and professional features come at a heftier price ($2296 MSRP), but the investment pays dividends if you need the best image quality and versatility.

The Canon 70D, rolling out nearly a decade earlier, remains an excellent option for enthusiasts who want a sturdy, user-friendly DSLR with good autofocus, an articulating screen, and compatibility with a huge lens lineup - especially if you’re shooting portraits, travel, or street photography on a tighter budget (~$758 new or less on the used market). It’s accessible, reliable, and thoroughly tested in the field, though its video features, sensor performance, and card capacity show their age.

Closing Thoughts: Trusting Your Creative Needs

Photography is as much about the camera as your eye, dedication, and passion. The Canon EOS 70D feels like a trusted companion for those getting serious and wanting solid toolbox fundamentals, especially APS-C loyalists. The Nikon D780 is more like a Swiss Army knife on steroids - ready for almost anything and built to stay in the game long term.

So ask yourself: Are you leaning towards a compact, capable camera that helps you grow? Or is it time to step into a cutting-edge full-frame workhorse that complements a professional or semi-pro workflow? Whichever way you swing, both cameras carry the DNA of expert craftsmanship - meriting a deep look based on your own photographic journeys.

Happy shooting - and may your next click always capture your vision with unmatched clarity and spirit.

I hope this exploration helps unpack the nuances beyond spec sheets. Feel free to reach out if you want tailored advice for your specific shooting style or budget!