Canon eos 80d 18-55mm Is stm
It feels more of an enthusiast-level camera than the 77D, like an APS-C version of the larger full-frame 6D Mark II
The 80D feels more of a heavyweight contender than the 77D, tipping the scales at 730g compared with 540g for bodyweight without an attached lens. It’s a bigger camera that feels more substantial in the hand, with a more natural, assured grip and a better balance when fitted with chunky, enthusiastgrade lenses. It has an up-market pentaprism viewfinder, delivering a bigger viewing image than the pentamirror finders of the 2000D, 800D and 77D, as well as giving full 100 per cent frame coverage.
As with the 800D and 77D, the 80D features a 24.2Mp Dual Pixel CMOS image sensor, and the same 45-point autofocus system, in which all AF points are cross-type and 27 are available at f/8. The metering system also happens to be the exact same type. One notable difference worth mentioning is that the image processor is a generation older, being DIGIC 6 rather than DIGIC 7, which is due to the camera being about a year older. As such, the 80D was announced three years ago.
Build and handling
There’s an AF area selection button just behind the main shutter button, plus three more buttons for AF mode, drive mode and ISO, lined up along the front of the top-panel info LCD. The LCD itself is larger than that fitted to the 77D. Around the back of the camera, there’s a concentric eight-way ‘multicontroller’ and quick control dial,
the latter of which is larger and easier to operate than on the 77D. Again, there’s a fully articulated ‘vari-angle’ touchscreen.
Moving back to the top of the camera, there’s a simplified shooting mode dial that places less emphasis on beginner-friendly modes, although these are still available from a catch-all position on the dial. An important upgrade is that you get two customizable positions on the dial, so you can create and store preferred selections of shooting settings, including custom functions, that you might want to use repeatedly. It can be a big time-saver when you’re setting up for certain shots.
performance
Along with excellent autofocus and metering performance, the 80D puts in a good turn of speed, boosting the 6fps maximum drive rate of the 800D and 77D to 7fps. It’s beaten only by the 7D Mark II in this test group, but matches it with a 1/8000th top shutter speed and rules the roost for battery stamina at around 960 shots.
One slight drawback is that the sensitivity range isn’t quite as generous as in the newer 800D and 77D, topping out at ISO16,000 compared with ISO25,600 in standard trim, and rising to ISO25,600 rather than ISO51,200 in the expanded mode.