Canon EOS 850D/Rebel T8i £799/$749
Can this affordable DSLR fend off competition from mirrorless rivals?
Specifications
Sensor: 24.1MP APS-C CMOS (22.3 x 14.9mm) Image processor: Digic 8 AF points: 45 cross-type (viewfinder), Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Live View) ISO range: 100-25,600 Max image size: 6,000 x 4,000px Metering zones: 384 Video: 4K UHD at 25p, 24p; 1080p (Full HD) at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p Viewfinder: Pentamirror, 95% coverage, 0.82x magnification Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-I) LCD: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040k dots Max burst: 7.5fps (Live View), 7fps (viewfinder) Connectivity: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, mini HDMI, 3.5mm microphone jack Size: 131 x 103 x 76mm Weight: 515g body only (with card and battery)
We’ve been waiting to test the Canon EOS 850D since it was first announced in February 2020. The global pandemic meant worldwide supplies came to a grinding halt; however, while we still wrestle with weekly challenges and evolving restrictions, Canon has been able to finally release the EOS 850D.
The EOS 850D (sold as the Rebel T8i in some countries) is positioned as more of an all-rounder camera for enthusiasts than a true beginner DSLR, though it’s equally tempting for existing Canon users stepping up from cameras like the entry-level EOS 1300D/Rebel T6 or 2000D/Rebel T7.
Key features
Canon is keen to offer photographers easier ways to share images online: the EOS 850D includes 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy so you can connect to your iOS or Android device through the Canon Camera Connect app to edit and share images. From there, content can be downloaded to a smart device, reviewed and posted on social media or shared with friends and family.
Powered by Canon’s fast Digic 8 processor, the Canon EOS 850D is a light, versatile and connected DSLR, and is capable of 7fps continuous shooting. It has Canon’s tried-and-tested 24.1-megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS APS-C sensor, but what sets the EOS 850D apart from the old 800D/T7i are its Intelligent Tracking (iTR) autofocus technology and, of course, its new 4K movie capability. However, while 4K may be new to Canon DSLRs at this price point, mirrorless cameras in this sector have been 4K-capable for at least one camera generation.
iTR AF aims to improve focusing when you use Face Tracking AF
or the new Eye Detection AF in Live View, to help you take better portraits with sharper eyes.
While shooting ‘traditionally’ using the optical viewfinder (that shows 95% coverage) the autofocus tracking on the EOS 850D benefits from 45-point all cross-type AF, as well as Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF.
Naturally, the 850D can shoot raw files, but there’s also a C-Raw format that’ll produce smaller file sizes, which almost doubles the continuous shooting buffer from 40 to 75 images.
The 850D can record video in Full HD at up to 60 fps, or 4K UHD resolution at up to 25 fps. There’s also a detailed set-up for time-lapse movies and automatic scene selection. To counteract the ‘jittery shake’ associated with handheld movie shooting, the EOS 850D features five-axis Movie Digital IS, for smooth, controlled video capture.
Build and handling
At 515g body-only, the EOS 850D feels light for a DSLR. Even with the larger EF-S 18-135mm lens attached, it’s easy to hold and shoot.
The EOS 850D also comes set up with an easy-to-use Guided menu interface, which explains features like how Aperture Priority mode can be used to blur a background behind your subject or keep a whole landscape in focus.
The 850D’s small Quick Control dial is better than the basic four buttons surrounding the Set button on the 800D’s rear panel. However, the dial is thinner than on the old EOS 77D or the more upmarket EOS 90D. We found it tricky to use accurately while dialling in exposure compensation in Aperture and Shutter Priority modes. But as you can access all the settings you need via the touchscreen, we’d generally just tap the screen and press the Q button, then tap and adjust specific settings that way.
Focusing using the touchscreen in Live View offers far greater focus control and accuracy:
“What sets the EOS 850D apart from the old 800D are its Intelligent Tracking autofocus technology and its new 4K movie capability”
you have 143 points in automatic mode or 3,975 points in manual selection, thanks to the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system.
Performance
Shooting action using the 7fps burst rate, Auto Selection AF point selection and AI Servo AF, the EOS 850D did a good job of focusing on children running quickly towards us – one of the trickiest shots to capture, as the focusing distance is rapidly changing. Out of a seven-shot sequence, only one image didn’t have our fast-running subject in sharp focus, which is impressive for this level of camera.
Using the optical viewfinder, the EOS 850D’s iTR autofocus did a decent job of finding a face in the frame to focus on when using the Auto Selection AF settings. But it’s while shooting with Live View that iTR really comes alive. Portraits can be captured with ease, as you get a Face Tracking target box that tracks and locks around faces, wherever that face is in your frame. For even greater focusing precision, a smaller target box locks on to one of the eyes; you can even choose which eye to focus on.
While the EOS 850D is posited as a 4K camera, its 4K shooting is very compromised. The video quality itself is good, with lots of fine detail resolved. However, filming in 4K means suffering a 1.5x crop and losing Dual Pixel AF – you’re reduced instead to a nervous, pulsing, contrast-detect autofocus system. In anything but good lighting conditions it struggles to register subjects, with face and eye detection quite shaky. Employing either digital stabilisation mode invokes further cropping, reducing your frame to about a third of its size with the strongest stabilisation turned on – and it isn’t even that stable! Peter Travers
Canon’s new RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and RF 800mm f/11 IS STM primes for EOS R-series mirrorless cameras offer a very different experience from the brand’s off-white super-telephoto lenses you see massed at global sporting events.
The design concept of the RF 600mm f/11 IS STM and its 800mm sibling focuses on downsizing and keeping the weight off. To start with, the lens has a relatively narrow f/11 aperture rating. That’s not such a limiting factor as you might think, however, because autofocus still works flawlessly with the Dual Pixel AF sensor-based autofocus systems of EOS R-series cameras. The aperture is also fixed, so there’s no need for a diaphragm and the associated electromagnetic control system.
With handheld and even tripod-mounted shooting, camera-shake is an ever-present danger with super-telephoto lenses. This one comes with a five-stop optical image stabiliser that works a treat on EOS R and RP cameras, and is further enhanced when working in conjunction with the in-body stabilisers of R5 and R6 cameras.
Performance
We tested the lens on EOS RP and EOS R5 cameras. Autofocus proved to be quick and unerringly accurate, as well as being able to make good use of the R5’s advanced tracking capabilities. The image stabiliser lived up to its billing: even on the EOS RP, we were able to get consistently sharp handheld shots at 1/30 sec, and a pretty good hit rate at just 1/15 sec.
Image quality is impressive in all respects, with very pleasing sharpness and contrast. Chromatic aberrations and distortion are negligible, even with in-camera corrections switched off. Resistance to ghosting and flare is also pretty good, although you really do need to invest in the ‘optional’ lens hood that’s sold separately. Matthew Richards
The Olympus M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5.0-6.3 IS represents the key strengths of the Micro Four Thirds format: compact size, light weight, and a ridiculous amount of reach for such a small package. This is all made possible not only thanks to the clever design of the lens itself, but because of the small size of the Micro Four Thirds image sensors inside the best Olympus cameras. Their 2x crop factor means that, to calculate the equivalent 35mm range of an attached optic, you multiply the focal length by 2x – which makes this latest Olympus lens a whopping 200-800mm. The lens is also compatible with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20, which means that you can extend the effective maximum focal length to an enormous 1600mm.
With a close focus distance of 1.3m across throughout the entire focal range, the lens adds a telemacro feather to its cap. The ability to combine telephoto and macro shooting makes the Olympus 100-400mm more versatile than its supertele zoom capabilities might suggest.
The optical formula features some of Olympus’ best lens technology, including four Extra-low Dispersion lenses (to suppress color bleeding), plus two Super High Refractive Index lenses and and two High Refractive Index lenses for edge-to-edge brightness and clarity across the full zoom range.
Performance
The lens is generally able to capture good levels of detail – although, as borne out by our lab tests, the sharpness is a little disappointing – and obviously degrades the longer your chosen focal length. Autofocus is snappy and reliable for stills, especially on Olympus bodies where the powerful AF and tracking systems of the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, E-M1X and E-M5 Mark III work well. Video AF is smooth and speedy as well, meaning that this is a great option for super telephoto footage. James Artaius
It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing paid shoots for clients or doing shoots purely for yourself – photography equipment is expensive. Getting the right kit for the right situation is always going to mean spending a good chunk of change – but it doesn’t have to be as chunky as you think. Instead of buying everything new, you can shop for used gear and upgrade (or even completely replace) your kit without making your credit card cry. Whether you just need a new lens or you want to buy a completely new setup, your money will go a lot further if you look at used equipment.
We’re putting this to the test with MPB, the world’s largest digital photography gear resale platform. Every month we’ll be putting together our dream setup for shooting a specific area of photography, for a fraction of the price of buying new.
This time, we’ve assembled an astrophotography kit…