A new DSLR camera has emerged in the form of the Canon EOS Rebel T8i (also sold under the name EOS 850D in markets outside the US). These days, it’s not often that we have the chance to test out new DSLR cameras, especially ones that are priced so low. And it isn’t until we have one in place that we realize how little development or innovation there has been until that point.
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i / EOS 850D feels a few steps behind the finest starting mirrorless cameras in terms of the technology and features it offers, but we still believe it to be one of the best DSLR cameras available. It is instructive to note that competitor DSLR cameras such as the Nikon D5600 and the Pentax K-70 are both now four years old.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i EF-S 18-55mm is STM Lens Kit, Black
- 24 1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor with is 100–6400 (H: 12800)
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC technology
- 9-Point AF system and AI Servo AF
- Optical Viewfinder with approx 95percent viewing coverage
- Use the EOS Utility Webcam Software (Mac and Windows) to turn your compatible Canon camera into a high-quality webcam
- 24 1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor with is 100–6400 (H: 12800)
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC technology
- 9-Point AF system and AI Servo AF
- Optical Viewfinder with approx 95percent viewing coverage
- Use the EOS Utility Webcam Software (Mac and Windows) to turn your compatible Canon camera into a high-quality webcam
It is true that this is a rather small upgrade to the Canon EOS Rebel T7i / EOS 800D, which has been on the market for three years. The most significant feature is support for 4K video. In point of fact, the 4K video mode suffers from a number of significant restrictions that make it less useful.
However, despite its status as an entry-level DSLR camera, the Canon EOS Rebel T8i / EOS 850D is a very competent and user-friendly photographer. Although it is physically larger than other competing DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, it weighs just 515 grams, making it virtually unmanageable. Even though the construction quality isn’t the finest, the button layout has been given a lot of thought, and the LCD screen operates quite well.
When compared to its predecessor, this new version does not bring nearly as many improvements to warrant the increased investment. If you make more comparisons to the mirrorless cameras available today, you can get the impression that the technology included in the EOS Rebel T8i or the EOS 850D is lacking.
That “headline” inclusion of 4K video to bring this camera up to speed with (and set it apart from) older rival DSLRs is, in reality, extremely limited due to a significant crop factor and the loss of phase detection autofocus. This was done to bring this camera up to speed with (and set it apart from) older rival DSLRs. If you want to shoot a lot of videos, we recommend going with a mirrorless option like the Sony A6400, which is priced in a comparable range.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Body, Black
- Optical Viewfinder with a 45-point All Cross-type AF System with Face Detection.
- High Image Quality with 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) Sensor.
- High-Speed Continuous Shooting of up to 7.0 fps.
- 4K 24p along with Vertical Video.
- Optical Viewfinder with a 45-point All Cross-type AF System with Face Detection.
- High Image Quality with 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) Sensor.
- High-Speed Continuous Shooting of up to 7.0 fps.
- 4K 24p along with Vertical Video.
- Turn your VIXIA camcorder into a high-quality webcam using its clean HDMI output.
In order to differentiate the EOS Rebel T8i / EOS 850D from other mirrorless cameras, we believe that Canon should have focused more on improving aspects of the camera that give DSLRs an advantage over mirrorless cameras, such as the battery life and the viewfinder. The performance of the camera suffers when it is set to live view, which is also a letdown in terms of the viewfinder display and the size of the battery pack.
Is the Canon EOS Rebel T8i or EOS 850D a poor camera as a result of all of these issues? Absolutely not. It maintains its user-friendliness while being competitive because of its 24.1-megapixel sensor, quick and dependable Dual Pixel AF, polished vari-angle touchscreen, and 7 frames per second of continuous shooting. This is a good all-arounder camera for photography if you still like using DSLRs rather than mirrorless cameras.
Canon EOS 850D (Rebel T8i) DSLR Camera (Body Only) International Model (Renewed)
- Optical Viewfinder with a 45-point All Cross-type AF System* with Face Detection.
- High Image Quality with 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) Sensor.
- High-Speed Continuous Shooting of up to 7.0 fps.
- 4K 25p along with Vertical Video.
- Optical Viewfinder with a 45-point All Cross-type AF System* with Face Detection.
- High Image Quality with 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) Sensor.
- High-Speed Continuous Shooting of up to 7.0 fps.
- 4K 25p along with Vertical Video.
- Turn your VIXIA camcorder into a high-quality webcam using its clean HDMI output.
Build and Handling
- The body is made of plastic, however, it has a pleasant grip.
A compact optical viewfinder that has a magnification of 0.82x - Touchscreen display that is bright, polished, and can be angled at 3.0 inches
The EOS Rebel T8i / EOS 850D, like other DSLR-style cameras, has a grip that is quite pleasant to handle, and this model is not an exception. It has a big handgrip, and the whole form factor has something about it that gives the impression of being quite useful.
It weighs a meager 515 grams with the memory card and battery installed, making it one of the most compact DSLR cameras available. There are certain DSLRs that are easier to handle than others. For the purpose of this test, we utilized the normal 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, which is a compact and lightweight combo.
The body is unmistakably made of plastic. This camera may be priced higher than the entry-level Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D, but its build quality is comparable to that of the lower-end model. Because of this, we wouldn’t recommend using the EOS Rebel T8i / EOS 850D in harsh conditions or subjecting it to a lot of rough treatment. The card door in particular seems really fragile.
When compared to the bigger Canon EOS 90D, which is likewise made of plastic, there is a marginal improvement in quality. This is most noticeable in the camera’s weight and the way that its faux leather grips feel.
A ‘Guided’ menu system, which is user-friendly for novices and is active by default, is carried over from the model’s predecessor. This system provides guidance on what the various shooting modes represent and how to utilize them.
For instance, the effect of aperture in regard to background blur is illustrated while using the “Av” option, which is the aperture priority mode. There are also more techniques that may be used to blur the backdrop as well, such as getting closer to the subject or moving further away from the background.
When you’ve reached the point where you no longer need those instructions, you may change the display to the “Standard” setting, which is Canon’s well-known menu display. Access to the manual exposure adjustments is made easier in this mode, which is a thoughtful bit of design work on the part of the manufacturer.
Performance
- Dual Pixel phase detection AF that is both quick and dependable
- Burst fire at a respectable 7 fps (with the mechanical shutter)
- There is no Dual Pixel AF support for shooting 4K video.
The EOS Rebel T8i and the EOS 850D both have an autofocus mechanism that is both quick and dependable, which is one of the things that work in their favor. Canon’s illustrious Dual Pixel phase detection AF is responsible for the camera’s excellent performance in both still and moving image capture.
When using the viewfinder on the EOS Rebel T8i or the EOS 850D, the autofocus system is still a 45-point array, and each of those points is of the more sensitive “cross-type” variety. When you switch to live view mode, the autofocus system transforms into a 143-point array that covers a larger portion of the frame and includes eye AF, similar to the one found in the Canon EOS M50.
There is an option between a single shot, mixed action, and full action for the autofocus mode. Additionally, there is a choice of the AF area, which includes single point, zone (small or big), as well as auto. We discovered that the tiny zone AF mode works quite well for capturing general activity, and the zone area can be rapidly chosen in viewfinder mode using either dial or by touching the screen in live view mode.
The loss of dual pixel phase detection AF causes the autofocus to behave differently while shooting in 4K video mode compared to when shooting in Full HD video mode. Instead, it is the contrast detection autofocus, which is less efficient overall, that is more prone to focus hunting. The 4K video format suffers another setback due to this issue.
Image quality
- There is some fuzziness present in the 18-55mm kit lens.
- 4K movies at 25 frames per second, but with a crop factor of up to 2.2
- In-camera RAW picture processing
Since the Canon EOS Rebel T8i and 850D share the same image sensor and CPU as the Canon EOS M50, there shouldn’t be any surprises about the image quality of these two cameras. This is a strong shooter, creating photos that are sharp and vivid even in lighting conditions with high contrast.
It’s great to see 4K video, and the higher resolution does result in a crisper image than in Full HD. Unfortunately, due to the crop factor, it’s difficult to achieve a wide-angle view, but on the plus side, you do get a more telephoto image, which might be more in line with the way you like to shoot videos.
Although color vibrancy is a matter of personal preference, we are big lovers of the default color option on Canon cameras. JPEG photographs have excellent color representation, but if you want your photos to have a more bright and more saturated look, you should adjust the Picture Style so that it matches your desired look.
Although the 18-55mm kit lens that was used to take this photo is relatively soft, the Canon EOS 850D has a maximum resolution of 24.1 megapixels, which allows for a great deal of information (Image credit: Future)
Around eight out of ten photos in this running-towards-the-camera sequence were crisp on the subject while using Canon’s Dual Pixel AF in its tracking AF mode. This indicates that the autofocus system is capable in moderate action situations (Image credit: Future)
Because focusing can be activated through the touchscreen, it is simple to zero in on the subject of interest, which in this case was the lightbulb that was located closest to the camera (Image credit: Future)
The EOS 850D has a respectable dynamic range, but if you use Auto Lighting Optimiser or Highlight Tone Priority, you may boost the amount of tonal detail that is captured in a single image (Image credit: Future)
You have a strong chance of preserving the perfect moment if you shoot at a rate of 7 frames per second continuously at high, which was helpful in this situation because a person was wandering in and out of the frame (Image credit: Future)
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i and EOS 850D are capable of producing clear photos all the way up to an ISO setting of 6400, which contributes to the camera’s excellent image quality in low light situations. Fine grain begins to appear at ISO 1600, but only when viewing photographs at 100%, and it is quite acceptable; on the other hand, the detrimental effects of noise are most evident through color desaturation beginning at ISO 3200 and going higher.
In most situations, we would feel comfortable using an ISO setting of 6400 while avoiding higher sensitivity settings, which produce more noticeable brightness (and chroma noise in JPEGs).
There are still competitors on the market that are superior to this one in low light conditions. These competitors include the Pentax K-70, the Nikon D5600, and the Fujifilm X-T30. Each of these competitors provides a larger dynamic range inside a single image. There is not quite the same amount of room for recovering detail in the EOS Rebel T8i or the EOS 850D if you have a picture that is either very bright or excessively dark.
Verdict
If you still choose DSLRs over mirrorless cameras, the compact EOS Rebel T8i / 850D is a powerful camera that has outstanding focusing and a touchscreen that can be angled in a variety of ways. In addition to that, it creates beautiful pictures. However, there are a few reasons to buy this camera over mirrorless alternatives that give you more bang for your buck, while older DSLRs provide a better value for the money spent.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Specs
| Body type | Compact SLR |
|---|---|
| Body material | Composite |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 26 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Digic 8 |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 (expands to 51200) |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 51200 |
| White balance presets | 6 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, normal |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 45 |
| Number of cross-type focus points | 45 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF/EF-S |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.6× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentamirror) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 95% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.82× (0.51× 35mm equiv.) |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramShutter priorityAperture priorityManual |
| Scene modes | PortraitSmooth skinGroup photoLandscapeClose-upSportsKidsFoodCandlelightNight portraitHandheld night sceneHDR backlight control |
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash range | 4.00 m (with Auto ISO) |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe) |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/200 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleHigh-speed continuousLow-speed continuousSelf-timerRemote |
| Continuous drive | 7.5 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpotPartial |
| Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Modes | 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 120 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 120 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 60 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 60 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 30 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 30 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 30 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| USB charging | No |
| HDMI | Yes (mini HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth |
| Remote control | Yes (via wireless remote or smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | LP-E17 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 800 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 515 g (1.14 lb / 18.17 oz) |
| Dimensions | 131 x 103 x 76 mm (5.16 x 4.06 x 2.99″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Price
