Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS 70D→Canon EOS 500D
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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The EOS 500D offers little measurable spec improvement over the EOS 70D. Spend the money on glass instead.
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution15MP (down from 20MP — optimised for low light)
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.
| Genre | EOS 70D | EOS 500D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.5 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | -0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Documentary | -0.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.9 | ||
| Landscape | -0.9 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.8 | ||
| Casual | -0.4 | ||
| Food | -1.6 | ||
| Macro | -0.9 | ||
| Architecture | -1.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS 70D | EOS 500D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £68 | £57 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2009 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.2MP APS-C CMOS | 15.1MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 15MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 720p/60 | Full HD 1080p/20, 720p/30 | |
| Autofocus | 19-point all cross-type phase-detect via viewfinder; first Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face tracking in live view | 9-point phase-detect (centre cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face detection in live view | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 7fps | 3.4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~920 shots (CIPA) | ~400 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 755g (with battery) | 530g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.95x | Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.87x | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Canon EF / EF-S | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS 70D and EOS 500D next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 500D against your specific genres — not just specs.
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