Canon EOS 800D – Photo Review
Photo Review
8.8
Mục lục
In summary
The EOS 800D is squarely pitched at entry level photographers who want a more ‘serious’ camera that can accept interchangeable lenses.
It certainly looks the part and, for its price, is well built and generally well-designed.
The guided interface should help novice shooters to learn how to operate functions like aperture and shutter speed settings, once they are prepared to move off the full-auto setting.
The control layout on the 800D is straightforward. Buttons are clearly labelled, the icons on the mode dial provide a simple guide to mode selection for the most frequent shooting situations.
Full review
Announced in mid-February 2017, along with the EOS 77D which we reviewed in May, the EOS 800D offers many of the same features as the more up-market camera but features a simpler, guided interface to cater for novice users. Both cameras replace the EOS 760D and 750D models, which have been on sale since 2015 and are still being stocked by many stores (including Canon’s online outlet). Although all four cameras have the same 24-megapixel sensor, the new models feature the latest DIGIC 7 processor, which provides some performance enhancements.
Angled front view of the new EOS 800D with its LCD monitor extended and the EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit lens fitted. (Source: Canon.)
We received the EOS 800D with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, which we reviewed in April 2016. This lens is included in the ‘Super’ kit, which is listed in Canon’s online store at AU$1699. The 800D is also offered with the EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit lens for AU$1399 in Canon’s store.
Shared Features
The EOS 800D and EOS 77D share a number of features. Both models have the same 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor with 25.8 million photosites (24.2 megapixels effective) plus a built-in low pass filter and EOS integrated cleaning system. Another common feature across all three models is Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus support with a 45-point all cross type AF system in Live View mode.
Both models have bodies made from aluminium alloy and polycarbonate resin with glass fibre body plus polycarbonate resin with a cladding made from glass fibre plus special conductive fibre. Both models have a single SD card slot that is UHS-1 compatible.
The autofocusing functions and shooting modes are also essentially the same, as are the Picture Styles, Creative Filters and Scene pre-sets. Metering and exposure compensation are also identical in both models, which also boast the same shutter mechanism, shutter speeds, exposure compensation and bracketing functions.
Both cameras include a built-in GN 12 flash that can cover up to 17mm lens and supports a recycle time of roughly three seconds, with X-sync at 1/200 second. Flash output is adjustable across a range of +/-3EV in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments. An integrated Speedlite Transmitter enables optical control of remote Canon Speedlites.
They also come with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connections as well as Bluetooth wireless control that provides a low-power constant connection to facilitate image sharing via smart devices. Both models use the same LP-E17 rechargeable battery, with the EOS 77D offering slightly better capacity when the viewfinder is used for framing shots, although both have the same 270 shots/charge capacity in Live View mode.
Who’s it For?
The EOS 800D is squarely pitched at novice users purchasing their first DSLR camera, thanks to the shooting mode guide, which is located in the Display Level settings page of the camera’s menu. By default, it is set to Enable. This means each time you select a new shooting mode, a description of what it does will appear on the monitor screen. You can close this display by pressing the Set button or half-pressing the shutter release.
The control layout on the 800D is straightforward and anyone familiar with Canon’s more capable compact cameras should find it easy to understand. Buttons are clearly labelled, the icons on the mode dial provide a simple guide to mode selection for the most frequent shooting situations. Aided by the in-camera guide, even snapshooters should be quick to master this camera.
Technically, the 800D is positioned a cut above the 18-megapixel EOS 1300D and also the 24-megapixel EOS 750D and 760D models. However, it lacks some of the features that will make the EOS 77D more appealing to shooters with a higher level photographic experience.
Both the EOS 77D and EOS 800D include the relatively new DIGIC 7 processor and Dual Pixel AF technology, giving them an advantage over the older and cheaper 750D and 760D models. The EOS 77D supports time-lapse recording, while the 800D does not and the custom functions are slightly different.
The 800D has 15 C.Fn settings in the menu, among them a setting that lets the user assign a selected function to the SET button plus another with four options for setting the Shutter/AE button. The 77D has 14 C.Fn settings, the last one a Custom Controls setting that allows users to assign frequently-used functions to camera buttons or dials.
Both the 77D and 800D sit below the EOS 80D in the EOS hierarchy, although the 80D also has a 24-megapixel sensor but pairs it with the older DIGIC 6 processor. However, the 80D has weatherproof sealing, a larger monitor and 100% frame coverage for its viewfinder. It also boasts a 7 fps continuous shooting speed and flash synch at 1/250 second. Battery capacity is also higher in the 80D.
Guided Interface
The guided interface is designed to make it easy for novice users to adjust the camera’s controls to achieve desired results. They can help inexperienced photographers to learn about creative controls and effectively demonstrate the results of certain adjustments.
Different graphics are displayed, depending upon which mode is selected and different displays for each of the options available when a particular shooting mode is set. Examples are provided below.
The guided interface display for the Creative Auto shooting mode.
A different guided interface display is provided for the Program AE (P) shooting mode.
The Aperture Priority AE (Av) shooting mode shows examples of depth of field with different aperture settings.
The Special Scene mode provides an array of options to choose from.
Selecting the Portrait pre-set opens a sub-set of different options.
The display shown when the Sports icon on the mode dial is selected. It shows settings for adjusting brightness and selecting different drive modes.
The Creative Filter mode calls up an array of filter settings similar to those found in Canon’s compact cameras and other entry-level interchangeable-lens cameras.
Build and Ergonomics
The EOS 800D’s body is made from the same materials as the body of the EOS 77D and much of the control layout in both cameras is similar. The illustrations below provide an easy way to compare the two cameras.
Front views of the EOS 77D (top) and EOS 800D (below). (Source: Canon.)
Top views of the EOS 77D (top) and EOS 800D (below) showing the different locations of their mode dials. (Source: Canon.)
The mode dial on the 800D is to the right of the viewfinder housing and its single control dial is located just behind the shutter button, whereas the 77D has dual control wheels with the mode dial on the left side. Although the mode dials are in different places, their functions are the same in both cameras. The position of the on/off/movie mode switch on the EOS 800D makes it easy to switch quickly between stills and movie modes and you’re less likely to make that switch inadvertently than you would with the EOS 77D.
Rear views of the EOS 77D (top) and EOS 800D (below) with the monitors reversed. (Source: Canon.)
While the 800D has the same external dimensions as the 77D, it is eight grams lighter and lacks the top panel data LCD. In other respects, the two cameras are very similar. Since we’ve covered the body design and ergonomics of the 77D thoroughly in our review of that camera we feel there’s no need to repeat this information here for the 800D.
Sensor and Image Processing
The 24.2 megapixel APS-C sized sensor in the EOS 800D has also been used by Canon in the EOS 77D and EOS 80D as well as in the mirrorless EOS M5, M6 and M100 cameras. It has a fixed optical low-pass filter and supports a native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 25600. Extension to ISO 51,200 is available with the H1 setting.
Image sizes are the same as the 77D’s and covered in our review of that camera. So are the movie resolutions and frame rates ““ with the exception of the time-lapse movie format missing from the 800D. Check out the EOS 77D review (INSERT LINK) for details.
The specs cite a continuous shooting speed of six frames/second (fps) but that’s with focus and exposure fixed on the first frame, a shutter speed of 1/500 second or faster, maximum aperture, flicker reduction disabled, a fully charged battery and no image stabilisation. With autofocus and under more typical shooting conditions, you shouldn’t expect much faster than 4.5 fps. The low-speed continuous shooting mode records at roughly 3 fps.
Playback and Software
Playback options are similar to the previous models and provide the option of using the touch screen as well as the button controls. The screen supports the standard tap, drag, pinch and spread gestures. Swiping with one finger moves the playback one image at a time; swiping with two fingers jumps through images at the intervals set in the menu. Two fingers are needed to respectively reduce and magnify images.
The software bundle has to be downloaded from the Canon website at http://www.canon.com/icpd. It contains the latest versions of the standard ‘Utilities’: Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility (uploader) and Picture Style Editor for Windows and Macintosh PCs.
Instruction manuals for using the software can be downloaded from the same site. A printed user manual was supplied with the camera, along with a leaflet extolling the virtues of Canon’s irista image sharing service.
Performance
Not surprisingly, the results of our Imatest tests were similar to those we obtained from the EOS 77D and M6 (which have the same sensor), particularly with respect to colour reproduction. As in those cameras, saturation levels were quite high in the red and (to a lesser extend) orange hues. However, the overall saturation from the EOS 800D was slightly lower.
Unfortunately, the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens supplied for the review wasn’t quite up to the potential performance of the 800D since it suffered from both edge softening and coloured fringing, neither of which was corrected in JPEGs by the in-camera processing.
Nevertheless, although the camera plus lens fell slightly short of expectations for the 24-megapixel APS-C sensor with JPEG file, it managed to exceed expectations comfortably with CR2.RAW files taken with the optimal lens settings. Because the kit lens used for testing suffered from edge and corner softness, edge performance was a little lower.
Resolution remained relatively high for JPEGs between ISO 100 and ISO 800 (inclusive), after which it slowly declined, dropping sharply with the Hi setting (ISO 512000). Raw files maintained a significantly higher resolution throughout the review camera’s sensitivity range with a gradual decline as sensitivity was increased and much less of a drop at the top ISO setting. The graph below shows the results of our Imatest tests with both JPEG and CR2.RAW files.
Subjective assessments of image noise at high ISO settings in both long exposures and with flash shots showed them to be marginally better than equivalent shots taken with the EOS 77D, although exposures were generally better positioned. We found little apparent noise in long exposures taken at up to ISO 6400, with noise and softening beginning to be visible at ISO 12800.
Both noise and softening became visible at ISO 12800 and by ISO 51200 the image appeared soft and slightly granular, although with fewer artefacts than we found with the EOS 77D we tested. Colour saturation remained relatively high and shots taken at ISO 25600 were printable at up to 5×7-inch size before quality became questionable. The ISO 51200 extension could be used as a last resort but only for reproduction at small output sizes.
Flash exposures were consistent across the middle of the camera’s sensitivity range, with a touch of under-exposure at ISO 100 but correct exposures between ISO 200 and ISO 3200, leading to very slight over-exposure at ISO 6400. Thereafter, shots became progressively over-exposed with an attendant reduction in contrast and sharpness. We would advise against using the three highest ISO settings, except for emergencies.
Auto white balance performance was similar to other Canon DSLRs we’ve reviewed with shots taken under incandescent and LED lighting remaining partially corrected, while shots taken with fluorescent lighting and with the camera’s built-in flash being almost cast-free. The pre-sets for incandescent and fluorescent lighting types slightly over-corrected but manual measurement delivered a neutral colour balance. Plenty of in-camera adjustments are provided for tweaking images as you shoot and white balance bracketing of +/- three levels in one-step increments across the blue/amber and magenta/green axes is available.
Autofocusing speeds were similar to those of the EOS 77D, with focus locking on quickly in normal light levels when the viewfinder was used to compose shots. The face detection system was fast enough to keep track of moving subjects, even when they were moving across the frame at a standard walking pace.
When shooting movies, the Dual Pixel AF system locked onto most subjects quite quickly in bright conditions, even when new subjects entered the frame from the side. Slight lags could occur during panning and zooming, and they lengthened in low-contrast lighting.
Video quality was similar to the clips we obtained from the EOS 77D, which isn’t surprising as both cameras have similar capabilities. The slight differences between Standard and Light (IPB) settings were largely related to their different bit rates.
Aside from that, any differences between the HD 1080p and 720p video clips were largely related to the frame resolution and negligible when clips were viewed on a normal HD TV set. Audio quality was similar to that of the EOS 77D we tested. We didn’t detect any pick-up of operational noises when zooming and re-focusing while shooting movie clips.
For our timing tests, we used the same 16GB Panasonic SDHC Class 10 UHS-1 memory card as we used when testing the EOS 77D and the EOS 80D, to provide a speed comparison. Like the previous models, the review camera powered up almost instantly, but it took the AF system roughly half a second to be ready for shooting.
When the viewfinder was used for framing, we measured an average capture lag of 0.2 seconds, which is probably partly attributable to the lens used for the test. This lag was eliminated by with pre-focusing. In Live View mode, the capture lag averaged 0.3 seconds, but was also eliminated with pre-focusing.
Shot-to-shot times averaged 0.45 seconds without flash and 3.1 seconds with, regardless of file format. Processing times were similar to those obtained with the EOS 77D. On average, it took 0.9 second to process each JPEG image, 2.18 seconds for a raw file and 2.71 seconds for each RAW+JPEG pair.
In the normal continuous shooting mode, the camera recorded 35 Large/fine JPEG frames in 5.5 seconds without slowing down. This equates to just under 6.5 frames/second. Processing of this burst was completed within 3.6 seconds of the last frame recorded.
On swapping to shooting raw files, the camera slowed down after recording 20 frames in 3.1 seconds, which equates to approximately 6.3 frames/second. It took 12.1 seconds to complete the processing of this burst.
Roughly the same frame rate applied in RAW+JPEG format but the buffer capacity was limited to 19 pairs of shots, which were recorded in 2.9 seconds. Processing took roughly 16.2 seconds.
Like the 77D, the D800 also has a low-speed continuous mode rated at 3.0 fps, which we didn’t test. Buffer clearing times depend on the speed of the card, which in this case was 90 MB/s read and 25 MB/s write. Slower cards will have longer clearing times and may limit the length of bursts.
Conclusion
For a DSLR, the EOS 800D is a moderately attractive proposition for entry level photographers who want a more ‘serious’ camera that can accept interchangeable lenses. It certainly looks the part and, for its price, is well built and generally well-designed. We think the guided interface should help novice shooters to learn how to operate functions like aperture and shutter speed settings, once they are prepared to move off the full-auto setting.
Despite having been on sale for about five months, the EOS 800D body was in short supply when this review was published, although Canon’s Australian online store had both kits listed. The body alone (which was out of stock) was priced at AU$1309, the Single kit with the 18-55mm lens at AU$1399 and the Super kit with the 18-135mm lens at AU$1699.
Shopping around the local online re-sellers should save you between $100 and $300 on the body alone, between $100 and $225 on the single kit and $200 to $250 on the Super kit. B&H, which markets aggressively to Australian photographers, has the body listed at US$749 (equivalent to AU$965.61 + $49 for shipping), the Single kit for US$849 which is equivalent to AU$1094.53 + $49.65 shipping and $189.36 tax and the Super kit US$1049 (equivalent to $1352.37 + $58.67 for shipping and $210.06 tax).
SPECS
Image sensor: 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor with 25.8 million photosites (24.2 megapixels effective) and fixed low-pass filter
Image processor: DIGIC 7
A/D processing: 14-bit
Lens mount: Canon EF-S, EF
Focal length crop factor: 1.6x
Image formats: Stills: JPEG (Exif 2.30, DCF 2.0), CR2.RAW, M-RAW, S-RAW, RAW+JPEG; Movies: MP4 (Video: H.264 Intra frame / inter frame, Sound: Linear PCM / AAC, recording level can be manually adjusted by user)
Image Sizes: Stills ““ 3:2 aspect: 6000 x 4000, 3984 x 2656, 2976 x 1984, 1920 x 1280, 720 x 480; 4:3 aspect: 5328 x 4000, 3552 x 2664, 2656 x 1992, 1696 x 1280, 640×480; 16:9 aspect: 6000 x 3368, 3984 x 2240, 2976 x 1680, 1920 x 1080; Movies: 1920 x 1080 (59.94, 50 fps) inter-frame, 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.98 fps) intra or inter frame, 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25) lite inter-frame, 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps) inter-frame, 1280 x 720 (29.97, 25) lite inter-frame, 640 x 480 (29.97, 25) inter-frame / lite inter-frame
Image Stabilisation: Lens based
Dust removal: EOS integrated cleaning system
Shutter (speed range): Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter (30-1/4000 second in 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments plus Bulb)
Exposure Compensation: +/-5 EV in 1/3EV or 1/2EV steps (+/-EV for movies)
Exposure bracketing: 2, 3, 5 or 7 Shots +/-3 EV 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments
Other bracketing options: WB (+/-3 levels in single level increments, 3 exposures, B/A or M/G bias selectable)
Self-timer: 2 or 10 seconds delay
Focus system: TTL-CT-SIR CMOS AF system with 45 cross type AF points (45 f/5.6 cross-type AF points, 27 f/8 points (9 cross-type), centre point is f/2.8 and f/5.6 dual cross-type); Dual Pixel CMOS AF in Live View mode with Face Detection and Tracking AF, FlexiZone Single/Multi, One Shot and Servo AF modes.
Focus modes: AI Focus, One Shot, AI Servo (AI Servo II algorithm); Auto/manual AF point selection, AF assist beam via flash, AF lock available
Exposure metering: 7560-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor; Evaluative, partial, centre-weighted average and spot metering patterns
Shooting modes: Scene Intelligent Auto (Stills and Movie), No Flash, Creative Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, SCN, Creative filters, P/A/S/M modes
Picture Style modes: Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Fine Detail, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined (x3)
Scene pre-sets: Night Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control, Food, Kids, Candlelight
Image processing: Highlight Tone Priority, Auto Lighting Optimiser (4 settings), Long exposure noise reduction, High ISO speed noise reduction (4 settings), Multi Shot Noise Reduction, Auto Correction of Lens Peripheral illumination, Chromatic aberration correction, Distortion correction; Creative Filters (Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Fish-eye effect, Art bold effect, Water painting effect, Toy camera effect, Miniature effect, HDR art standard, HDR art vivid, HDR art bold, HDR art embossed)
Colour space options: Adobe RGB, sRGB
ISO range: Auto, ISO 100 to ISO 25600 with extension to ISO 51200 (ISO 100-12800 with expansion to ISO 25600 in movie mode)
White balance: AWB (Ambience priority, White priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom, Colour Temperature Setting. manual adjustment of +/-9 steps on Blue/Amber or Magenta/ Green axes
Flash: Built-in flash GN12 (ISO 100, meters), coverage up to 17mm focal length
Flash modes: Auto, Manual flash, Integrated Speedlite Transmitter; red-eye reduction is available
Flash exposure adjustment: +/- 3EV in 1/2 or 1/3 step increments
Sequence shooting: Max. 6 frames/sec.
Buffer capacity: 190 JPEGs, or 21 CR2.RAW files, 19 RAW+JPEG pairs
Storage Media: SD, SDHC, SDXC cards (UHS-I compatible)
Viewfinder: Pentamirror with approx. 95% coverage, 0.82x magnification, 19 mm eyepoint, fixed focusing screen, -3 to +1 dpt adjustment
LCD monitor: Vari-angle 3.0-inch, 3:2 Clear View II TFT touch screen with approx. 1,040,000 dots, Approx. 170-degree viewing angle, anti-reflection and anti smudge coating, 7 levels of brightness adjustment
Live View modes: Manual Focus (Magnify the image 5x or 10x at any point on screen), Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Face detection and Tracking AF, FlexiZone-Multi, FlexiZone-Single), Real-time evaluative metering with image sensor, Grid overlay (x3), Histogram, Electronic level
Playback functions: Single image with information (2 levels), Single image, index, (4 / 9 / 36 thumbnails), Slideshow, Histogram (brightness or RGB), Highlight alert, Playback zoom 1.5x – 10x, Erase/Protect
Interface terminals: Hi-Speed USB / Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal), HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC compatible), External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack)
Wi-Fi function: Built-in with NFC
Power supply: LP-E17 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack; CIPA rated for approx. 550 shots/charge with viewfinder, 270 shots/charge with Live View
Dimensions (wxhxd): 131.0 x 99.9 x 76.2 mm
Weight: Approx. 532 grams (including battery and memory card)
Distributor: Canon Australia; www.canon.com.au
TESTS
Based on JPEG files taken with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens.
Based on CR2.RAW files converted into 16-bit TIFF format with Adobe Camera Raw.
SAMPLES
Auto white balance with incandescent lighting.
Auto white balance with fluorescent lighting.
Auto white balance with warm-toned LED lighting.
Auto white balance with flash lighting.
ISO 100, 50mm focal length, 30 second exposure at f/5.6.
ISO 1600, 50mm focal length, 6 second exposure at f/7.1.
ISO 6400, 50mm focal length, 4 second exposure at f/11.
ISO 12800, 50mm focal length, 2 second exposure at f/11.
ISO 25600, 50mm focal length, 2 second exposure at f/16.
ISO 51200, 50mm focal length, 1.3 second exposure at f/16.
Flash exposure at ISO 100; 78mm focal length, 1/60 second at f/5.6.
Flash exposure at ISO 1600; 78mm focal length, 1/60 second at f/5.6.
Flash exposure at ISO 6400; 78mm focal length, 1/60 second at f/5.6.
Flash exposure at ISO 12800; 78mm focal length, 1/60 second at f/5.6.
Flash exposure at ISO 25600; 78mm focal length, 1/125 second at f/5.6.
Flash exposure at ISO 51200; 78mm focal length, 1/200 second at f/5.6.
ISO 125, 18mm focal length, 1/30 second exposure at f/8. (Av mode, Auto ISO.)
ISO 640, 135mm focal length, 1/200 second exposure at f/8. (Av mode, Auto ISO.)
Close-up at 135mm focal length, ISO 160, 1/125 second exposure at f/5.6. (Av mode, Auto ISO.)
Close-up at 135mm focal length, ISO 250, 1/200 second exposure at f/5.6. (Av mode, Auto ISO.)
Close-up at 35mm focal length, ISO 100, 1/200 second exposure at f/5.6. (Av mode, manual ISO.)
Crops from the centre (top) and corner (below) of the above image at 100% magnification.
ISO 5000, 18mm focal length, 1/4000 second exposure at f/3.5. (Tv mode)
ISO 100, 18mm focal length, 1/5 second exposure at f/16. (Tv mode)
ISO 400, 104mm focal length, 1/160 second exposure at f/8. (Av mode, Auto ISO.)
ISO 100, 18mm focal length, 1/10 second exposure at f/11. (Av mode, manual ISO.)
ISO 200, 55mm focal length, 1/60 second exposure at f/7.1. (Av mode, manual ISO.)
ISO 160, 135mm focal length, 1/200 second exposure at f/5.6. (Av mode, Auto ISO.)
ISO 100, 18mm focal length, 1/40 second exposure at f/8. (Av mode)
ISO 100, 18mm focal length, 1/30 second exposure at f/3.5.
ISO 100, 95mm focal length, 1/160 second exposure at f/5.6.
ISO 2000, 81mm focal length, 1/125 second exposure at f/8. (Av mode, Auto ISO.)
ISO 1000, 42mm focal length, 1/60 second exposure at f/4.5. (P mode, Auto ISO.)
Still frame from Full HD 1080 video clip taken at 50p.
Still frame from Full HD 1080 video clip taken at 25p.
Still frame from Full HD 1080 Lite video clip taken at 25p.
Still frame from HD 720 video clip taken at 50p.
Still frame from HD 720 Lite video clip taken at 25p.
Still frame from VGA video clip taken at 25p.
Rating
RRP: AU$1309 (body only); AU$1699 (as reviewed with EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens); US$749 (body); US$1050 (with EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens)
- Build: 8.8
- Ease of use: 8.9
- Autofocusing: 8.9
- Still image quality JPEG: 8.6
- Still image quality RAW: 8.9
- Video quality: 8.7
Buy
