Canon T5i vs Canon 70D

[bob100]

Title pretty much states the basis of my dilemma. I currently shoot a T2i and really like a lot of things about it. I would however like the additional focus points (especially on the 70D) as well as the expanded ISO, Swing out touch capable lcd screen.

I have seen posts on photography forums and people seem to be of the opinion that the 70D is the way to go as it offers so much more of an upgrade vs the T5i. In fact a lot say the T5i is not even enough of a difference to bother stepping up from the T2i.

So I guess I have 2 questions would going from T2i to T5i offer many benefits? and would going all the way to the 70 justify the difference in cost (t5i around $600 and 70D around $1100)?

Thanks for input

for that kind of money I would get a refurbished 6D ($1300) - but that's me, a 70D may be better for your circumstances

 

[cobright]

I already understand how the red, green and blue photo sites collect the light and send it to be recorded in a digital format. My understanding was that ISO settings happen because of a change in signal gain on the sensor. Not because of how the camera processes the data. Though I can see how a refinement in processing can yield a cleaner image and expand ISO range because we all know that RAW isn't really straight from the sensor but rather minimally processed from the sensor. i still question whether it could give you a whole stop though.

It's interesting because since I first asked the question I've been reading some and I've found like 5 explanations that contradict themselves at least a little bit. All from "reputable" sources. Makes it hard to find accurate information. Then again in the end an extra stop is an extra stop so does it matter how it happens?

Most sources will focus on what the camera does not so much how it does it and the 'how' of this gets really technical. Here's my attempt... Be warned I don't know anything specific to image sensors, but I design circuits using Analogue to Digital Converters (ADC) for a number of other applications.

Okay, so (generally speaking) your RAW file is a direct record of the charge state on each pixel of the image sensor, yes? (or close enough for what we are doing here?)

That sensor is outputting that information as an analog signal. A specific voltage within a range of maybe 0 to 3 volts. This voltage is resolved at very fine resolutions, so for each color (rgb or whatever) a pixel reporting 1.117V is reporting a very different value than one reporting 1.11659V.

Your RAW image file is a mostly unprocessed recording of each of these values for each pixel. But you don't store information on digital media using analog values. So most image sensors have an ADC as a componant.

Now SkaGoat says Canon moved the ADC off the image sensor and onto the DIGIC. I can see this speeding up the data pipeline inf the DIGIC can handle a more capable ADC. I'm guessing the sensitivity gain comes from clearing the state of the sensor faster and increasing the sample rate. The sensitivity comes from how much light the sensor can record within that shutterspeed, each of those photon receptors must be cleared in order to record more light and they cannot be cleared until that data is converted to a digital value and recorded to the buffer.

Maybe I've made this worse. Probably not the best simplification of this. Get what ya pay for is what I say.

 

[cobright]

My understanding was that ISO settings happen because of a change in signal gain on the sensor. Not because of how the camera processes the data.

Gain is a term for the ratio of output to input. Describing the improved ISO as coming from a change in signal gain is another way of saying that the image sensor is now able to output more signal data per second.

Speeding up the data pipeline would accomplish this.

 

[photo_chick]

Thanks cobright. It is a very technical aspect that most photographers never even think about. With film it was easier... larger silver grains=more light sensitive.

 

[Donald Duck888]

Hi all,

Just wanted to let you all know that I decided to go with the 70D. I just got it today and it is awesome so far, although I feel like I have so much to learn with it as it has so much more capability than my T2i.

I will update again when I get more time to play with it.

Thanks to all for the advice and info.

 

[Luvscrappin]

Hi all,

Just wanted to let you all know that I decided to go with the 70D. I just got it today and it is awesome so far, although I feel like I have so much to learn with it as it has so much more capability than my T2i.

I will update again when I get more time to play with it.

Thanks to all for the advice and info.

Looking forward to hear what you think going forward. So hoping to get my hands on one before our December trip! Enjoy!