Upgrade Guide

Canon EOS 5D Mark II→Canon EOS 70D

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Canon

EOS 5D Mark II

£128

2008

→

Upgrade to

Canon

EOS 70D

£68 (-£60)

2013

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the EOS 5D Mark II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the EOS 70D

Unchanged or similar

Suitability by genre

Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.

Full spec comparison

Spec	EOS 5D Mark II	EOS 70D
Price	£128	£68
Released	2008	2013	↑
Sensor	21.1MP full-frame CMOS	20.2MP APS-C CMOS
Resolution	21MP	20MP	↓
Video	Full HD 1080p/30	Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60
Autofocus	9-point phase-detect (+6 assist points) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view	19-point all cross-type phase-detect via viewfinder; first Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face tracking in live view
Stabilisation	No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)	No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
Burst Rate	3.9fps	7fps	↑
Battery Life	~850 shots (CIPA)	~920 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	890g (with battery)	755g (with battery)	↑
Weather Sealed	Yes	Not weather sealed	↓
Viewfinder	Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.71x	Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.95x
Screen	3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots	3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots
Mount	Canon EF	Canon EF / EF-S
Memory Cards	Single CompactFlash slot	Single SD slot

Compare side-by-side

See EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 70D next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 70D against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the EOS 5D Mark II

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