Introduction

Ease of Use

Front of the Canon EOS 850D

As an entry-level DSLR camera, the Canon EOS 850D is not the smallest around. The EOS 250D and Nikon D5600 are both smaller and lighter. Mirrorless rivals are a further percentage smaller, especially in depth and height.

However, the EOS 850D is still compact and certainly lightweight at 515g with memory card and battery inserted. It may be a DSLR, but it ain't heavy.

Being the size it is and being so lightweight exemplifies the plastic build quality - this does feel like a low-end DSLR that needs looking after.

For example, the EOS 90D is also plastic but somehow feels tougher, while the larger Pentax K-70 is made from tougher stuff.

However, like most other DSLRs, the form factor of the Canon 850D is lovely. You get a firm hold of the camera with its generous hand grip. Not quite as fitted as the EOS 90D, but it holds well.

It's complemented by a logical button layout. There's no shortage of manual controls on the body, while the on/off/ video mode switch is built around the shooting mode dial positioned next to your resting thumb.

Rear of the Canon EOS 850D

One feature that locks 'traditional' photographers to a DSLR over the more modern mirrorless cameras is the optical viewfinder.

We won't get into the optical versus electronic viewfinder debate here, but we will comment on the display size.

Optical viewfinders provide a bright display. However, it's our opinion that an optical viewfinder such as the one here is less useful than those in enthusiast and professional-level DSLRs for two reasons; display size and frame coverage.

The unit here has a 0.82x magnification and the display itself appears smaller compared to those found in higher-level DSLRs, even EVFs.

Put it this way, the display does not fill your vision and feels a tad on the tunnel side, plus it exhibits chromatic aberration at times.

Also, the display is only 95% coverage of the sensor, meaning the outside 5% of a picture is not seen in the display.

Top of the Canon EOS 850D

Larger optical viewfinders offer a 100% coverage, again even in the Pentax K-70.

Should you stick to composing images via the viewfinder, the Canon EOS 850D offers an excellent battery life of 800-shots (even though it is a tiny 1040mAh battery unit). Mirrorless rivals can't come close to this.

There is a caveat if battery life is a dealbreaker. Mirrorless cameras often offer on-the-go charging via USB - this camera does not.

Also, we gravitated towards using the Canon 850D's LCD screen over the viewfinder (we'll explain why next). With this method, battery life drops to 310-shots.

Canon sticks with the same polished 1.04-million-dot vari-angle touchscreen as found in the EOS 850D.

It's a breeze to use, offering full touch function including menu navigation, touch shutter and AF and image playback.

Tilting LCD Screen

With bright display, 100% frame coverage and full tilt and swivel positioning, it's an easier and more versatile display than the viewfinder.

Also, Canon's excellent dual pixel AF is as effective in liveview (screen) mode as it is in viewfinder mode.

Our choice of image display is part testimony to the effectiveness of the lovely LCD touchscreen and part to the limitation of the viewfinder.

If the viewfinder display was larger and had full coverage we'd use it more. It's a feature that could have set the EOS 850D apart from mirrorless.

As such, outside of low light shooting where the optical viewfinder is brighter, conserving battery life is one of the main reasons to use it. This type of viewfinder makes way more sense with full coverage and larger display size.

Out of the box, the Canon EOS 850D offers a 'guided' menu system designed for beginners. Its graphical user interface explains camera basics, for example the effect of aperture on background blur and additional tips on how to achieve more blur.

Memory Card Slot

In this menu, direct access to exposure changes is slightly convoluted - really (and logically) this menu is for those that stick the camera in auto and shoot away.

Once you have learnt more about photography and your skill level has grown, naturally you will switch to the 'Standard' menu - Canon's familiar DSLR menu system.

Here the access to camera settings such as exposure changes and AF mode tweaks is more straight forward. The whole approach makes total sense.

As for the buttons and controls, you have a top dial and rear control wheel for key adjustments to settings such as autofocus area and exposure.

There's also a smattering of small buttons for settings such as ISO and autofocus mode.

Two doors are built into the faux leather finish on the left side of the Canon 850D.

Inside you will find ports for microphone, wired remote, USB and mini HDMI. Unsurprisingly, there is no headphone jack.

Front of the Canon EOS 850D

And given the technology remain mostly similar to three to four years ago, this is not a data hungry device. The single SD card slot compatible with the slower UHS-I speed card suffices.

For example, we made high-speed 7fps sequences (7.5fps when using the electronic shutter) using a best-in-class UHS-I U3 card and the Canon EOS 850D managed around 55 RAW and JPEG shots before it stopped.

The buffer takes around 15 seconds to process all of those images before the camera is fully functional again. For this level of camera, that's a respectable performance, although it's no action king.

Where the EOS 850D stands tall among entry-level DSLRs is the introduction of 4K video. However, the promise of 4K video does not come without compromise. It's not oversampled and incurs a 1.6x crop.

The 18-55mm lens in use for this test has a 28-88mm (effective) focal length that with the additional 1.6x crop is 45mm at its widest setting. There are further issues that we will get into shortly.

Once you get to grips with the Canon EOS 850D, it is a responsive camera. Start up time and shutter response is rapid, as is the autofocus. It's Canon's well-regarded Dual Pixel phase detection AF that works very well for both photography and video.

Bottom of the Canon EOS 850D

You've still got the same 45-point AF array when using the viewfinder just like with the EOS 800D. Each AF point is the more sensitive 'cross-type' and AF response and accuracy is impressive even in low-contrast light.

What's new here over the EOS 800D is the wider array of AF points in live view mode - 143 in all, just like in the EOS M50. There's also an effective Face or Eye detection AF in live view.

Sadly, phase detection AF is not available when shooting 4K videos. You're left with a slower and less accurate effective contrast detection AF. However, stick to Full HD and autofocus is very fast.

Depending on your AF mode, it can be just as easy to navigate the AF area when in viewfinder or live view mode.

We like the small Zone AF mode and changing this area using the rear control wheel where necessary via the viewfinder is a breeze. Likewise, for single point or tracking AF, the touchscreen works a treat.

We also now have a 5-axis digital in body image stabilisation (IBIS), for video only. It's effective. The 'Standard' mode is good for smooth panning shots while the 'Enhanced' option is best suited for walking with the camera in-hand videos. It's no gimbal, but it's a great option.

There is a compromise when using digital IBIS - a significant crop of the video image, both 4K and Full HD.

Compared to the EOS 90D

Set to the enhanced mode and the 4K image area in play is only 48% (that's two-fold resulting in a 2.2x crop), while for Full HD it is 70%.

So, with the same 18-55mm lens in 4K video with enhanced stabilisation, 62mm (effective) is the widest possible focal length, meaning something like 4K selfie v-logging is not really an option.

Sensor crop, stabilisation crop, contrast detection AF only. 4K video is not all that it is cracked up to be, unless you desire the extra reach in your shots.

On the other hand, full HD 1080p videos are possible up to 50fps and backed up with Canon's effective Dual Pixel AF. The crop factor from using image stabilisation is the only limiter.

Canon rarely implements IBIS for photography, which is instead gained through any one of Canon's lenses equipped with optical stabilisation, including the 18-55mm kit lens used in this test.

To test optical stabilisation we took a series of images at various shutter speeds and repeated this test at a number of focal lengths. Overall, we found stabilisation to be effective to around 3.5EV, although this performance may differ on other lenses.

Overall, there's certainly enough here to accommodate beginners and challenge the enthusiasts in the way that the Canon EOS 850D handles. This is no slouch, although there are some limitations depending on your use.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 24.1 megapixel Raw + Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 26Mb and 8Mb respectively although these file sizes do vary.

The 24.1MP APS-C sensor is a known entity, being found in the Canon EOS M50 and it's pretty much the same unit in the predecessor, the EOS 800D. As such, regarding outright image quality there really is little to choose between these cameras.

We did see an incremental improvement in low light image quality in the EOS M50 over the EOS 800D, and the same applies here on the new Canon 850D. Again, there's a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 25,600 and no visible sign of noise up to ISO 1600.

In RAW files where no noise reduction is applied, a grain appears at ISO 3200 and the adverse impact of noise at ISO 6400 is mainly seen through a minor colour desaturation, with luminance noise still looking uniform and therefore still acceptable.

Chroma noise is virtually absent at any ISO setting when shooting RAW format, although it is seen in JPEG images from ISO 12,800 and up.

It's a general rule of thumb that the top two native ISO settings (ISO 12,800 and ISO 25,600 in the EOS 850D) are where the adverse impact of noise is ungainly and ideally avoided.

Noise reduction in JPEG images strikes the right balance - not too aggressive so as to render overly smudged detail, but not too cautious so as to reign it on. The main downside in JPEGs is chroma (colour) noise at the high ISO settings.

We have griped about the handling of 4K video, but if its limitations are of no relevance then you will appreciate a much crisper image than those in Full HD. Hey, if you need more reach, it's even advantageous!

The same range of Pictures Styles and Creative Effects are available for photo and video, with six picture styles and up to three custom presets. The Neutral Picture Style is probably best for video because it leaves the most room for colour enhancements post capture.

In general we like to start off by using the Neutral picture style, but if you desire a reasonable degree of saturation in photos then you're probably better off using the standard picture style.

For colour rendition, overall Canon cameras are up there with the best in class. Skin tones in portraits, sunny skies, green landscapes, all rendered faithfully.

Noise

The nine-stop native sensitivity range covers ISO 100 to ISO 25,600, with the option to record in RAW and JPEG separately and simultaneously or extend the range up to ISO 51,200.

Here are some 100% crops which show the levels of noise for each ISO setting. All in-camera noise reduction settings are disabled.

JPEG	RAW
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)
ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)
ISO 12800 (100% Crop)	ISO 12800 (100% Crop)
ISO 25600 (100% Crop)	ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

File Quality

The Canon EOS 850D shoots two RAW formats, a standard type or a compressed format ('C RAW'). The latter is about 50% smaller in size. JPEG capture is possible in 'large', 'medium' or 'small', each with a smaller compressed version, plus a second 'small' setting.

Large

Medium

Small

Small 2

RAW

RAW Compressed

Night

It's possible to manually control the shutter speed for single exposure times up to 30 seconds. The bulb setting is found past the 30 seconds setting in the 'manual' exposure shooting mode only.

Long exposure shots can be triggered by self timer, via a wired remote or the Canon Camera Connect app. There are three low light Scene Modes; Candlelight, Night Portrait and Handheld Night Scene - the latter combines four consecutive shots.

This sharp handheld picture was taken at ISO 6400 and with a shutter speed 1/30 sec with image stabilisation active.

Dynamic Range

The Canon EOS 850D has a reasonable dynamic range without being class-leading. To increase the amount of dynamic range visible in a single image, there are various settings that can be tweaked; Auto Lighting Optimiser, Highlight Tone Priority and Exposure Bracketing.

In the Creative Effects mode there are four HDR settings; Standard, Vivid, Bold, Embossed, each with different degree strength. These modes can be used handheld but it's better to fix the camera to a tripod to ensure the consecutive frames are lined up properly.

In order to show how much dynamic range the EOS 850D sensor is capable of recording, our test images here are taken with dynamic range enhancements off, and then auto lighting optimiser on plus one in the HDR mode at its highest setting of +-3EV.

Off

On

HDR +3EV

Picture Styles

For photography and video, there are 7 Picture Styles; auto, standard, portrait, landscape, fine detail neutral, faithful and monochrome, plus three user defined settings.

Usually we prefer the 'neutral' picture style, but for Canon colours arguably the standard setting provides a better degree of saturation. But hey, this is all subjective. Interestingly for a beginner level camera there is no true vivid option.

Standard

Portrait

Landscape

Neutral

Fine Detail

Faithful

Monochrome

Creative Effects

There are 10 different Creative Effects including four HDR effects and a further 12 scene modes. We've included the same image taken with the 10 different creative effects below.

Grainy BW

Soft Focus

Fish-eye

Water Painting

Toy Camera

Miniature Effect

HDR Standard

HDR Vivid

HDR Bold

HDR Embossed

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Canon EOS 850D camera, which were all taken using the 24 megapixel Large JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Canon EOS 850D enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Canon RAW (CR3) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

Product Images

Conclusion

As an entry-level DSLR, the Canon EOS 850D is a very capable and comfortable shooter.

It's physically larger than some rival DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, but it is hardly unwieldy at 515g.

The build quality isn't the best either, but the button layout is well thought out and the LCD screen handles really well.

In comparison to its 3-year-old predecessor, there's simply not enough change here to merit the greater outlay.

Make additional comparisons to today's mirrorless cameras and it feels like technology in the EOS 850D is stunted.

The 'headline' inclusion of 4K video to bring the EOS 850D up to speed (and set it apart from older rival DSLRs) is in reality extremely limited through a significant crop factor and with the loss of phase detection AF.

If video is in your sights, we'd go for a mirrorless alternative.

To set the EOS 850D apart, we feel that Canon should have majored more in the areas where a DSLR holds the upper hand over mirrorless; better battery life and a bright optical viewfinder.

The viewfinder display is a let down and the battery unit is small and its performance dips in live view mode.

Does all this make the Canon EOS 850D a bad camera? Not at all!

It's still competitive with a 24.1 megapixel sensor, rapid and reliable dual pixel AF, a polished vari-angle touchscreen and 7fps continuous shooting.

The Canon EOS 850D is a good all-rounder for photography, if a little expensive for what you get.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4
Features	3.5
Ease-of-use	3.5
Image quality	4
Value for money	3

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Canon EOS 850D.

Specifications

News

The new Canon EOS 850D DSLR camera is the successor to the EOS 77D and 800D models, with both lines merging into one.

Canon are still dedicated to DSLR and mirrorless systems, giving people more choice, with both system having their own particular merits and drawbacks.

The Canon 850D (also known as the EOS Rebel T8i in the US) has a very similar design to the 800D, sitting between the 250D and 90D in the EOS range.

This is a 24 megapixel APS-C DSLR with the latest Digic 8 processor. It offers 7fps burst shooting, Eye Detection AF, Dual Pixel CMOS 45 point all cross-type AF system, 400K pixel AE sensor, and 4K 24/25p cropped video (same as the EOS 250D).

It now features a new Quick Control dial and a new AF-ON button, plus a 3.5mm jack for an external mic.

The Canon EOS 850D will be available from April 2020 priced at £819.99 / €989.99 body-only.

In the US, the EOS Rebel T8i camera body has an estimated retail price of $749.99 and the EOS Rebel T8i kit with EF-S 18-55mm F4-5.6 IS STM lens has an estimated retail price of $899.99.

Canon Europe Press Release

 Upgrade your photography with the Canon EOS 850D, the perfect all-round DSLR camera

Capture life’s spontaneous moments with more creative control

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland - Thursday 13th February 2020: Canon Europe announces the launch of the Canon EOS 850D, a lightweight, versatile and connected DSLR camera, powered by Canon’s fast and responsive DIGIC 8 processor. Capturing rich, detailed images with its 24.1 Megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS APS-C sensor and stunning 4K movie capability, the Canon EOS 850D is the perfect all-rounder for photography enthusiasts looking to upgrade their existing equipment and unleash their creativity.

The camera’s APS-C sensor delivers a high level of depth-of-field control, creating sharp images with beautifully softened backgrounds that make subjects stand out in the frame. Even when shooting fast-moving or distant subjects such as birds in flight, the 24.1MP provides ample resolution for cropping. The sensor also produces high resolution pictures without compromising on low-light performance; perfect for shooting indoor portraits. As part of Canon’s world-class EOS system, users can attach any EF or EF-S lens, add a Speedlite flash for creative lighting, or plug in an external mic via the 3.5mm jack. Paired with the versatile EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit lens, photographers can tackle a plethora of shooting scenarios.

Inherited from Canon’s professional range, the EOS 850D is equipped with an Intelligent Tracking (iTR) automatic focus (AF), made possible by the 220,000 Pixel RGB+IR metering sensor. By exchanging high-resolution automatic exposure data with the AF sensor, the iTR automatic focus provides high speed responsiveness and accuracy, ideal for capturing sport and wildlife photography. This advanced technology makes automatic face tracking through the optical viewfinder possible. The ergonomic design features top and rear dials for dual control of both shutter speed and aperture. With this enhanced design, lightweight body and improved connectivity all contributing to greater ease of use, the Canon EOS 850D is a great option for photography enthusiasts who need a camera that can inspire and provide total creative control.

Always Capture the Moment

The precise Eye Detect AF in Live View creates natural looking portraits with detailed eyes that bring the subject to life. Also capable of 7fps continuous shooting, accurately tracking subjects on the move is effortless. To give photographers the flexibility to capture from challenging viewpoints, the camera features a Vari-Angle touchscreen which can be positioned at almost any angle for more creative compositions.

The autofocus tracking on the Canon EOS 850D is high-speed and accurate due to the 45 point all cross-type AF sensor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF, while face detection is more reliable for improved exposure judgement when people are in the frame, perfect for capturing in challenging light such as when subjects are backlit. 

Greater Control of Stills & Movies

Whether shooting stills or movies, this fast and powerful DSLR delivers impeccable image quality as a result of the DIGIC 8 processor. The Canon EOS 850D can record in Full HD up to 60p, stunning 4K up to 25p  and expands on its predecessor’s options for movie capture, with a more 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 5-Axis Movie Digital IS, for smooth, controlled videos.

When capturing stills in Live View mode, photographers have ultra-fine control when selecting their focal point - offering 143 points in automatic mode or 3975 points in manual selection - thanks to the Dual Pixel CMOS AF. The Remote Live View function gives photographers extended control, including remote shutter release and the ability to view from their smartphone; perfect for when photographers need to step away from the camera. Capable of shooting in RAW, photographers can utilise all the information captured by the sensor, while shooting in C-RAW format will produce a smaller file size that almost doubles the continuous shooting buffer from 40 images to 75. With in-camera RAW editing, users can perfect their images without the need for a computer or mobile device.

Connect and Share with Ease

The connectivity options offer enthusiasts more ways to share their work and greater security when capturing. With 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®   Low Energy connectivity, photographers can connect the Canon EOS 850D to their iOS or Android device through the Canon Camera Connect app, to edit and share high-quality images. From here, content can be downloaded to a smart device, reviewed and posted on social media or shared with friends and family. With this integration, photographers can easily edit using DPP Express for iPad  for a full RAW workflow on the move. The Auto Image Sync also provides worry-free back up of both stills and movies to the users’ computer with Image Transfer Utility 2, so precious shots are never lost.

For photography enthusiasts looking to take the next step in creative control, this impressive DSLR captures detailed images and powerful 4K movies. Responsive, easy-to-use and built to last, the Canon EOS 850D is packed with advanced functionality to give photographers the tools they need to explore their creativity.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS 850D is available to pre-order from Canon’s online store and will go on sale from April 2020, with the following RSPs:

• Canon EOS 850D: £819.99 / €989.99

For more information on the Canon EOS 850D or to locate your nearest retail outlet, please visit:  

https://www.canon.co.uk/camera... OR https://www.canon.ie/cameras/e... 

Key Features

• 24.1 Megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS APS-C Sensor

• 7fps continuous shooting rate

• 4K (contrast AF) 24p/25p

• Full HD with Dual Pixel CMOS AF up to 60p

• 45 AF point system 

• 220,000 Pixel RGB+IR Metering Sensor with Flicker Detection (same as 90D)

• Intelligent Tracking (iTR) AF

• Eye Detection AF (With tracking)

• DIGIC 8 Image Processor

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample JPEG and Raw photos and videos taken with the Canon EOS 850D DSLR camera. The Canon EOS 850D is a digital SLR camera with a 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor, 4K movie recording, DIGIC 8 processor and 45 cross-type AF points.

A gallery of sample JPEG and Raw images and videos taken with the Canon EOS 850D DSLR camera.

Canon EOS 850D Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Canon EOS 850D enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Canon RAW (CR3) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

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