Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D vs Pentax K-70 — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D and the Pentax K-70 are APS-C DSLRs with optical viewfinders and conventional enthusiast bodies. Canon released the T7i in 2017, a year after the K-70. Both pair a 24 MP resolution with a CMOS sensor, so the headline stills numbers give neither an edge. The K-70 is the smaller but heavier body, at 688 g against 532 g, so the Canon is the lighter one to carry.

The Pentax K-70 is the stronger pick for handheld work in dim light, because it offers in-body stabilisation while the T7i does not. Any Pentax KAF2 lens you mount, including older unstabilised glass, gets shake reduction from the sensor. The T7i answers with 45 autofocus points against 11, giving far more selectable positions when you frame a running child or a bird in flight.

The K-70 also holds two smaller optical advantages. Its viewfinder uses a pentaprism rather than the T7i's pentamirror, and its 1/6000 second fastest setting is a shorter exposure than the T7i's 1/4000, allowing a wider aperture in bright sunlight. Lens choice follows the native system you buy into, Canon EF/EF-S or Pentax KAF2.

For Full HD family clips and web uploads, either camera fits, because the video specs match. Both record up to Full HD and offer a maximum video frame rate of 60 fps, write MPEG-4 or MOV files, and include a built-in timelapse mode. Neither records 4K, so ultra-high-definition work means looking beyond this pair.

The T7i has the friendlier rear screen, with touch control on its 3-inch, 1040000-dot display, while the K-70's 3-inch screen is not touch-sensitive. Tapping to set focus or swipe through menus makes the Canon quicker to hand to a beginner or to operate at arm's length. Both screens articulate, so overhead and low-angle framing work on either camera.

The K-70 counters with weather sealing, which the T7i lacks, making it the safer companion for landscape shoots in drizzle or dusty trails. Connectivity is a shared strength: both cameras offer GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for geotagging and wireless transfer to a phone. Both also carry a built-in flash and a hot shoe for an external unit.

The T7i is the better camera for a long day away from a charger, with a rated 600 shots against 410 for the K-70 under their respective test conditions. Both take a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card with UHS-I support, and neither offers a second slot or USB charging. The Pentax uses a D-LI109 battery and the Canon an LP-E17, so spares are brand-specific.