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I've been shooting with Canon EOS 1000D for 8 years. I am now looking some more advanced:

  • with faster and more precise autofocus
  • that can shoot better in low-light conditions

Now I'm considering switch to Canon EOS 80D vs Canon EOS 70D. Is 80D worth spending $200 more when it comes to image quality?

dzieciou
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The 80D has significant improvement over the 70D in dynamic range when shooting at low ISO. Above ISO 400 they're virtually identical in their response curves when the difference in actual ISO vs. set ISO is taken into account. From DxO Mark:
enter image description here

The difference in actual versus nominal ISO at a given setting is most pronounced when looking at color sensitivity - when both cameras are set at base ISO 100 the 80D is actually at about ISO 64 while the 70D is at ISO 93. This results in a color sensitivity score of 21.1 bits for the 80D vs. 20.5 bits for the 70D. If one looks at the graph one sees that the curves are very similar, the only difference is where each actual ISO sensitivity falls on the curve.
enter image description here

Note that this is a change from the way Canon has done things in the past where typically their EOS cameras were set at very near the actual ISO for a particular whole stop setting. Others, most notably Nikon and Sony, have been tuning their cameras with up to 2/3-stop lower actual vs. set ISO sensitivities for years. This tends to boost a camera's overall DxO Mark scores due to the way DxO weights the various factors that are combined into those scores.

The 19 point AF system in the 70D is essentially the same one that originally appeared in the 7D when it was released in 2009. While it was certainly very configurable, it had a reputation for being rather inconsistent from shot-to-shot. The newer 45 point AF system of the 80D not only provides more AF points over a wider coverage area of the frame, but it does so with more consistent shot-to-shot variation. It's not as good in that respect as the newest AF systems in the 1D X Mark II or 5D Mark IV which are perhaps the best anywhere, but it is better than the AF system in the 7D and 70D.

An additional consideration when comparing the 70D to the 80D that you haven't directly mentioned which could significantly affect your results in certain types of low light is the anti-flicker feature that was introduced in late 2014 with the 7D Mark II. The 5Ds, 5Ds R, 80D, 1D X Mark II, and 5D Mark IV all have it. The 70D was the last non-Rebel DSLR Canon has introduced without this feature. For more on how this affects shooting in light that flickers please see the case study example at the end of this answer to When should I upgrade my camera body?

Ultimately whether the differences in the two cameras is worth an additional $200 or so is up to the individual buyer and their needs. The advantages of the 80D over the 70D may or may not be worth $200 to you. For me personally and what I shoot the flicker reduction feature alone justified an upgrade from the 7D to the 7D Mark II. The better AF system and lower noise at high ISO also made the upgrade worthwhile.

You can compare the details of the specifications of the 80D and the 70D here. The reviews by The-Digital-Picture for each camera are linked at the top and bottom of the specifications and you may find them useful.

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Michael C
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  • Thank you for such extensive explanations and useful links! With your explanations I start to understand different measurements. – dzieciou Nov 01 '16 at 18:39
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Just based on your need for autofocus needs itself, the $200 difference should be worth it. You're getting almost 2.5x focus points with the 80D's 45 compared to the 70D's 19. This will give you the faster/precise autofocus you're looking for.

If you want to do a low-light comparison, you should do so by checking out this video. You should determine for yourself if that is worth the extra $200 in that regards, combined with the autofocus benefit. The 4 extra Megapixels doesn't hurt, either.

Nick
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    I'm not sure that more AF points is really that helpful once you already have 19 of them (unless your subjects are always in the corners). And more AF points doesn't mean faster. – Olivier Nov 01 '16 at 17:27
  • In the case of the 19 point AF system that first showed up on the original 7D precise is the last word I would use to describe it. Shot-to-shot inconsistency was the Achilles' heel of the 7D. The 80D is, in fact, more consistent. – Michael C Nov 01 '16 at 17:33
  • Switching from 1000D 7 AF points to 19 points will be already a big change for me. And $200 seems like a good saving for lens. That's obviously very subjective but still practical. – dzieciou Nov 01 '16 at 17:37
  • @MichaelClark In what situations this inconsistency has shown up? You mean AI Servo? Or what AF mode? – dzieciou Nov 01 '16 at 17:41
  • @dzieciou All of them. Even in One Shot mode using only the center focus point. See http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/08/autofocus-reality-part-3b-canon-cameras/#more-8458 – Michael C Nov 01 '16 at 17:50