Canon EOS 70D vs Sony SLT Alpha 58 — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS 70D and the Sony SLT Alpha 58 are both DSLRs released in 2013, and the Sony is the lighter, more compact carry. The A58 measures 129 x 95 x 78 mm and weighs 492 g, against 139 x 104 x 79 mm and 755 g for the Canon. That gap favours the Sony for a travel kit.

The 70D is the stronger camera for action, shooting at 7 fps against the A58's 5 fps and focusing through 19 points rather than 15. Its shutter reaches 1/8000 second versus 1/4000, which keeps wide-aperture exposures controllable in strong daylight. Each body commits you to its own lens system, Canon EF-S on the 70D and Sony Alpha DT on the A58.

The A58 answers with in-body sensor-shift stabilisation, steadying handheld shooting with any mounted DT lens, while the 70D depends on stabilised lenses for the same effect. Resolution is effectively tied at 20.2 versus 20.1 megapixels on the same APS-C sensor format, so crops of a distant subject come out nearly the same size from either camera.

Full HD is the ceiling for both cameras, so neither is the pick for 4K work. The 70D offers the higher maximum frame rate at 30 fps against the A58's 24, giving smoother motion and more freedom when slowing footage in an editor. The Canon records MOV files, while the Sony offers AVCHD and MP4, and MP4 drops easily into most editing timelines.

Neither camera has a built-in intervalometer for time-lapse, so sequences need external triggering or manual frame-by-frame shooting. Both record video, so the choice turns on frame rate and file format.

The 70D's rear screen is the better shooting tool, at 3 inches with 1,040,000 dots and touch control, against the A58's 2.7-inch 460,000-dot screen. Tapping to place the focus point is quicker than navigating buttons, and the extra resolution helps when checking focus on playback. The Canon also offers Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer and weather sealing the A58 lacks.

A shared flip-out screen and live view suit both cameras for waist-level or overhead framing, and each supports built-in and external flash. Neither has GPS, so location tagging needs an external receiver.

The 70D carries the battery advantage, rated for 920 shots against 690 on the A58, which supports a longer day of shooting before a swap. Both use a single card slot, so there is no in-camera backup on either. The Sony accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo cards alongside SD, SDHC and SDXC, while the Canon takes SD types only. Neither charges over USB, so both need a mains or dedicated charger.