Canon 70D vs Sony A99
59 Imaging
62 Features
84 Overall
70


57 Imaging
69 Features
88 Overall
76
Canon 70D vs Sony A99 Key Specs
(Full Review)
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
- Announced December 2012
- Superseded the Sony A900
- Updated by Sony A99 II

Canon 70D vs Sony A99 Overview
Lets look a little more in depth at the Canon 70D versus Sony A99, both Advanced DSLR cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 70D (20MP) and the A99 (24MP) is fairly close but the 70D (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) provide totally different sensor sizing.

The 70D was revealed 11 months later than the A99 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).
Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the 70D scores vs the A99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Canon 70D vs Sony A99 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon EOS 70D & Sony SLT-A99. The full galleries are available at Canon 70D Gallery & Sony A99 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon 70D over the Sony A99
70D | A99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | October 2013 | ![]() | December 2012 | More recent by 11 months |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Canon 70D
A99 | 70D | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 1040k | Clearer display (+189k dot) |
Common features in the Canon 70D and Sony A99
70D | A99 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very precise focus | ||
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated display |
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurement |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Both are selfie friendly |
Canon 70D vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon 70D features outer measurements of 139mm x 104mm x 79mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 3.1") having a weight of 755 grams (1.66 lbs) while the Sony A99 has measurements of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).
Compare the Canon 70D versus Sony A99 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the 70D and the A99.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 70D and A99 is 59 and 57 respectively.

Canon 70D vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison
Oftentimes, its difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by researching a spec sheet. The visual below will offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 70D and A99.
Clearly, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 70D having a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Sony A99 will result in greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images way more aggressively. The newer 70D will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Canon 70D vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon 70D vs Sony A99 Specifications
Canon EOS 70D | Sony SLT-A99 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Sony |
Model type | Canon EOS 70D | Sony SLT-A99 |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Advanced DSLR |
Revealed | 2013-10-31 | 2012-12-12 |
Body design | Mid-size SLR | Mid-size SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Digic 5+ | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | Full frame |
Sensor measurements | 22.5 x 15mm | 35.8 x 23.8mm |
Sensor area | 337.5mm² | 852.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 20 megapixels | 24 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 5472 x 3648 | 6000 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
Highest enhanced ISO | 25600 | - |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 19 | 19 |
Cross type focus points | 19 | 11 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Canon EF/EF-S | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Number of lenses | 326 | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 1.6 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fully Articulated | Fully Articulated |
Display size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 1,040 thousand dot | 1,229 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Display tech | Clear View II TFT color LCD | TFT Xtra Fine color LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359 thousand dot |
Viewfinder coverage | 98% | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.6x | 0.71x |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 30s | 30s |
Max shutter speed | 1/8000s | 1/8000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 7.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 12.00 m | no built-in flash |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/250s | 1/250s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | Optional | BuiltIn |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 755 gr (1.66 lb) | 812 gr (1.79 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 139 x 104 x 79mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 3.1") | 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 68 | 89 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.5 | 25.0 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 11.6 | 14.0 |
DXO Low light rating | 926 | 1555 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 920 photographs | 500 photographs |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LP-E6 | NP-FM500H |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, remote) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC |
Storage slots | One | Dual |
Cost at release | $758 | $1,998 |