Canon EOS 850D Review

October 2, 2020 | Tim Coleman | Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Introduction

The Canon EOS 850D (also known as the Canon EOS Rebel T8i) was announced in February 2020 and replaces the three-year-old EOS 800D as the company's upper entry-level DSLR camera with APS-C sensor, positioned above the EOS 250D and below the EOS 90D.

These days there is very little activity in this sector of the camera market and an overall sense of stagnation.

Both DSLR rivals, the Nikon D5600 and Pentax K-70, are four years old now.

Put the EOS 850D up against the EOS 800D and there is little to choose between them.

So what is new? 4K video is introduced - that's old news for mirrorless cameras but new to an entry-level DSLR. However, it's not without limitations and we'll get into that.

There's the more recent Digic 8 processor and greater AF-point array in live view mode, while the high speed shooting mode is a fraction faster at 7fps.

Overall the Canon 850D feels like a EOS 800D/ EOS M50 hybrid.

With those incremental changes the EOS 850D remains competitive, certainly for those fixed to the DSLR type.

Its feature set includes the faithful 24.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, 1.04-million-dot vari-angle touchscreen, 7fps burst shooting and Canon's legendary dual pixel phase detection AF.

If photography is the main focus then the EOS 850D is still a well-rounded choice for beginners, but for those as keen to explore video making then it lags behind mirrorless rivals.

The Canon EOS 850D / Canon EOS Rebel T8i was announced in February 2020 and is available now in black, costing £839.99 / $749.99 body only or £929.99 / $899.99 with the 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit lens (28-88mm equivalent).

Ease of Use

Canon EOS 850D
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.

Canon EOS 850D
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.

Canon EOS 850D
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.

Canon EOS 850D
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.

Canon EOS 850D
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.

Canon EOS 850D
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.

Canon EOS 850D
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.

Canon EOS 850D
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)

iso100.jpg iso100.jpg

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

iso200.jpg iso200raw.jpg

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

iso400.jpg iso400raw.jpg

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

iso800.jpg iso800raw.jpg

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

iso1600.jpg iso1600raw.jpg

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

iso3200.jpg iso3200raw.jpg

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

iso6400.jpg iso6400raw.jpg

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

iso12800.jpg iso12800raw.jpg

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

iso25600.jpg iso25600.jpg

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
Large
Medium
Medium
Small
Small
Small 2
Small 2
RAW
RAW
RAW Compressed
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.

Night

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

Dynamic Range Off

On

Dynamic Range On

HDR +3EV

hdr_02.jpg

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

Standard

Portrait

Portrait

Landscape

Landscape

Neutral

Neutral

Fine Detail

Fine Detail

Faithful

Faithful

Monochrome

picture_style_07.jpg

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

Grainy BW

Soft Focus

Soft Focus

Fish-eye

Fish-eye

Water Painting

Water Painting

Toy Camera

Toy Camera

Miniature Effect

Miniature Effect

HDR Standard

HDR Standard

HDR Vivid

HDR Vivid

HDR Bold

HDR Bold

HDR Embossed

picture_style_07.jpg

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

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 240Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 240Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 21 second movie is 151Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 61.3Mb in size.

This is a sample timelapse movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 9 second movie is 330Mb in size.

Product Images

Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D
Canon EOS 850D

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.

3.5 stars

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.

Canon EOS 250D

The Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3 is a new entry-level DSLR aimed at people buying their first interchangeable lens camera. It improves on the previous EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 model principally by implementing 4K video recording, a better live view mode, more sophisticated auto-focusing, and longer battery life. Is this the best interchangeable lens camera for beginners? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon EOS 250D review...

Canon EOS 800D

The new Canon EOS 800D / Rebel T7i DSLR camera is positioned between the cheaper EOS 1300D and more expensive EOS 77D, attempting to offer most of the same features as the 77D in a more beginner-friendly design. Find out if it succeeds by reading our expert Canon EOS 800D / Rebel T7i review...

Canon EOS M50

The Canon EOS M50 is a surprisingly capable mid-range mirrorless camera, at least on paper, offering a specification list that in many ways out-does the company's flagship M5 model. Does it live up to it's full potential though? Find out by reading our Canon EOS M50 expert review...

Fujifilm X-T30

Dubbed the Little Giant by Fujifilm, the new X-T30 mirrorless camera takes most of the things that we loved about the flagship X-T3 and packages them into a smaller, lighter body. It even has a few tricks up its sleeve that the X-T3 doesn't currently offer, most notably a more advanced auto-focusing system. Read our Fujifilm X-T30 review to find out how it compares to the X-T3 and the previous X-T20, and why you should definitely consider buying this new mid-range mirrorless camera...

Nikon D5600

The Nikon D5600 is a new 24 megapixel mid-range DSLR camera with Snapbridge connectivity. The compact D5600 also offers timelapse movies, a touchscreen interface, 1080/60/50p video recording, ISO range of 100-25,600, 5fps continuous shooting, a range of creative effects, 3.2 inch tilting LCD screen, and a 39-point autofocus system. Read our in-depth Nikon D5600 review now...

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

The new Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV is the successor to 2017's E-M10 III camera, principally adding a flip-down LCD screen, 20 megapixel sensor, 15fps burst shooting, better continuous auto-focusing and USB-C charging. Find out how it performs in our Olympus EM10 IV review, complete with with full-size sample photos and videos.

Panasonic Lumix G90

The mid-range interchangeable lens camera market is fiercely fought, with a huge array of formats on offer from all the major camera manufacturers. Enter stage left Panasonic with the new Lumix G90 / G95, a camera that aims to satisfy both photographers and videographers alike. Can it pull off this tricky feat? Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix G90 / G95 review to find out...

Pentax K-70

The Pentax K-70 is a new mid-range DSLR camera that inherits a lot of pro-level features. The 24 megapixel K-70 is fully weatherproof, as is the 18-135mm kit zoom lens, and it also offers a vari-angle LCD screen, 6fps continuous shooting, an 11-point Hybrid AF system, an optical viewfinder with nearly 100% frame coverage and an ISO range of 100-102400. Read the World's first in-depth Pentax K-70 review now...

Specifications

Image Sensor

Type

22.3mm x 14.9 mm CMOS

Effective Pixels

Approx. 24.10 megapixels

Total Pixels

Approx. 25.80 megapixels

Aspect Ratio

3:2

Low-Pass Filter

Built-in/Fixed

Sensor Cleaning

EOS integrated cleaning system

Colour Filter Type

Primary Colour

Image Processor

Type

DIGIC 8

Lens

Lens Mount

EF/EF-S

Focal length

Equivalent to 1.6x the focal length of the lens

Image Stabilisation

Optical Image Stabilizer on compatible lens

Movie: In-camera 5-axis Digital IS available. Further stabilisation enhancements from lenses compatible with Dynamic IS 1

Focusing

Type

Via optical viewfinder:

TTL secondary image-forming phase-difference detection system with
AF-dedicated sensor

Via liveview on LCD screen:

Dual Pixel CMOS AF System. Phase detection pixels built onto imaging sensor 2

AF System / Points

Via optical viewfinder:

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) 3

Via liveview on LCD screen:

Maximum 143 AF points via camera automatic selection 4

Freely position 1 AF point/ 1 AF Zone (9 points, 3x3 grid) via manual selection 5

AF working range

-4 - 18 EV

AF Point Selection

Via optical viewfinder:

Automatic selection: 45 point AF (with iTR Face Priority)
Manual selection: Single point AF
Manual selection: Zone AF
Manual selection: Large Zone AF

Selected AF point display

Indicated by a transmissive LCD in viewfinder and Quick Control screen

Predictive AF

Yes 6

AF Lock

Locked when shutter button is pressed half way in One Shot AF mode or AF-ON Button is pressed.

AF Assist Beam

Intermittent firing of built-in flash (effective range up to 4.0 m) or emitted by optional dedicated Speedlite

Manual Focus

Selected on lens

Exposure Control

Metering modes

Via optical viewfinder:
220,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor
Metering with the area divided into 216 segments (18 × 12)
(1) Evaluative metering (linked to all AF points)
(2) Partial metering (approx. 6.5 % of viewfinder)
(3) Spot metering (approx. 2.0 % of viewfinder)
(4) Center-weighted average metering
Via liveview on LCD screen:
(1) Evaluative metering (384 zones)
(2) Partial metering (approx. 5.8 % of LCD screen)
(3) Spot metering (approx. 2.9 % of LCD screen)
(4) Center-weighted average metering

Metering Range

Via optical viewfinder:
EV 1-20 (at 23 °C with 50mm f/1.4 lens ISO 100)
Via liveview on LCD screen:
EV -2-20 (at 23 °C, ISO 100, evaluative metering)
Movie: EV 0-20 (at 23 °C, ISO 100, evaluative metering)

AE Lock

Auto: In One-shot AF mode with evaluative metering exposure is locked when focus is achieved.
Manual: By AE Lock Button in creative zone modes.

Exposure Compensation

+/-5 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments (can be combined with AEB).

AEB

3 shots +/-3 EV 1/3 or 1/2 stop increments

ISO Sensitivity

Auto (100-25600), 100-25600 (in 1/3-stop or whole stop increments)
ISO can be expanded to H: 51200
During Movie shooting: Auto (100-12800), 100-12800 (in 1/3-stop or whole stop increments) ISO can be expanded to H: 25600

Shutter

Type

Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter

Speed

30-1/4000 sec (1/2 or 1/3 stop increments), Bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode)

White Balance

Settings

AWB (Ambience priority, White priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, White
Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom, Colour Temperature Setting.
White balance compensation:
1. Blue/Amber bias +/-9 levels
2. Magenta/ Green bias +/-9 levels

Custom White Balance

Yes, 1 setting can be registered

WB Bracketing

+/-3 levels in single level increments
3 bracketed images per shutter release.
Selectable Blue/Amber bias or Magenta/ Green bias.

Viewfinder

Type

Pentamirror

Coverage (Vertical/Horizontal)

Approx. 95 %

Magnification

Approx. 0.82x 7

Eyepoint

Approx. 19 mm (from eyepiece lens centre)

Dioptre Correction

-3 to +1 m-1 (dioptre)

Focusing Screen

Fixed (Translucent LCD screen for information overlay)

Mirror

Quick-return half mirror (Transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with EF 600mm f/4 IS USM or shorter)

Viewfinder Information

AF information: AF points, focus confirmation, AF area selection mode
Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB.
Flash information: Flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation, red-eye reduction light, AI Bounce mode active
Image information: Card information, maximum burst (1 digit display), Highlight tone priority (D+).
Composition information: Grid, Aspect Ratio
Other information: Warning icon, Flicker Detection

Depth of field preview

Yes, with Depth of Field preview button.

Eyepiece shutter

Not provided

LCD Monitor

Type

Vari angle touchscreen 7.5 cm (3.0") 3:2 Clear View II TFT, approx. 1040 K sRGB dots

Coverage

Approx. 100%

Viewing Angle (horizontally/vertically)

Approx 170°

Brightness Adjustment

Adjustable to one of seven levels

Display Options

(1) Quick Control Screen
(2) Camera settings
(3) Electronic Level

Flash

Built-in Flash GN (ISO 100, meters)

12

Built-in Flash Coverage

up to 17mm focal length (35mm equivalent: approx. 28mm)

Built-in Flash recycle time

Approx. 5 seconds

Modes

Auto, Manual flash, Integrated Speedlite Transmitter

Red-Eye Reduction

Yes - with red-eye reduction lamp

X-sync

1/200 sec

Flash Exposure Compensation

+/- 2 EV in 1/2 or 1/3 increments

Flash Exposure Bracketing

Yes, with compatible External Flash

Flash Exposure Lock

Yes

Second Curtain Synchronisation

Yes

HotShoe / PC terminal

Yes/ No

External Flash Compatibility

E-TTL II with EX series Speedlites, wireless optical multi-flash support

External Flash Control

via camera menu screen

Shooting

Modes

Scene Intelligent Auto (Stills and Movie), No Flash, Creative Auto, SCN(Portrait, Smooth Skin, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Group Photo, Night Portrait, Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control, Food, Kids, Candlelight), Creative filters, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual (Stills and Movie), Self Portrait

Picture Styles

Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Fine Detail, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined (x3)

Colour Space

sRGB and Adobe RGB

Image Processing

Highlight Tone Priority
Auto Lighting Optimizer (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, Diffraction correction
Creative filters (Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Fish-eye effect, Water painting effect, Toy camera effect, Miniature effect, HDR art standard, HDR art vivid, HDR art bold, HDR art embossed)
Resize, Crop (JPEG only)

Drive modes

Single, Continuous L, Continuous H, Self timer (continuous, continuous panning, 2s+remote, 10s +remote)

Continuous Shooting

Max. approx. 7fps via viewfinder.
Max. approx 7.5fps via Live View

Live View Mode

Coverage

Approx. 100% (horizontally and vertically)

Focusing

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)
One-shot AF and Servo AF selectable for Stills and Movie

Metering

Real-time evaluative metering with image sensor.
Evaluative metering, partial metering, spot metering, center-weighted average metering.

Display Options

Grid overlay (x3), Histogram

File Type

Still Image Type

JPEG: Fine, Normal (Exif 2.31 compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system (2.0)
RAW: RAW (CR3 14-bit), CRAW (Compact RAW)
Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant

RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording

RAW, RAW + L possible.

Image Size

JPEG 3:2: (L) 6000 x 4000, (M) 3984 x 2656, (S1) 2976 x 1984, (S2) 2400x1600,
JPEG 4:3: (L) 5328x4000, (M) 3552x2664, (S1) 2656x1992, (S2) 2112x1600,
JPEG 16:9: (L) 6000x3368, (M) 3984x2240, (S1) 2976x1680, (S2) 2400x1344,
JPEG 1:1: (L) 4000x4000, (M) 2656x2656, (S1) 1984x1984, (S2) 1600x1600,
RAW: (RAW) 6000x4000

Movie Type

MP4 [Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: MPEG-4 AAC-LC (stereo)]

Movie Size

4K UHD 3840 x 2160 (25, 23.98 fps) inter-frame *
4K Time-lapse 3840 x 2160 (29.97, 25 fps) ALL-I
Full HD 1920 x 1080 (59.94, 50 fps) inter-frame **
Full HD 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.98 fps) inter-frame **
Full HD 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25) lite inter-frame **
HD 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps) inter-frame **


*The image is cropped around the centre of the image sensor by 64%. When Digital Movie Image Stabilisation is enabled the stabilised image area is around 57% in case of 4K recording. When Digital Movie Image Stabilisation is set to enhanced the stabilised image area is around 44% in case of 4K recording.
**The image is cropped around the centre of the image sensor, when Digital Movie Image Stabilisation is enabled. The stabilised image area is around 90% in case of Full HD or HD recording. When Digital Movie Image Stabilisation is set to enhanced the stabilised image area is around 70% in case of Full HD or HD recording.

Movie Length

Max duration 29min 59sec

Folders

New folders can be manually created and selected

File Numbering

(1) Consecutive numbering
(2) Auto reset
(3) Manual reset

Other Features

Custom Functions

14 Custom Functions

Metadata Tag

User copyright information (can be set in camera)
Image rating (0-5 stars)

Playback zoom

1.5x - 10x

Display Formats

(1) Single image with information (2 levels)
(2) Single image
(3) 4 image index
(4) 9 image index
(5) 36 image index
(6) 100 image index
(7) Jump Display

Slide Show

Choose images with Image Search
Playback time: 1/2/3/5/10/20 seconds
Repeat: On/Off
Background music: On/Off
Transition effect: Off, Slide in 1, Slide in 2, Fade 1, Fade 2, Fade 3

Histogram

Brightness: Yes
RGB: Yes

Highlight Alert

Yes

Image Erase/Protection

Erase: Select image, select range, all images in folder, all images on a card, all found images (during image search)
Protection: Single image, select range, all images in folder, all images on a card, all found images (during image search)

Menu Categories

Menu interface adjustable by the user between standard and guided
(1) Shooting menu
(2) Playback menu
(3) Wireless menu
(4) Setup menu
(5) Display Options menu
(6) My Menu

Menu Languages

29 Languages
English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Ukraine, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Hindi, Romanian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Malay, Indonesian, and Japanese

GPS

Compatible with GPS receiver GP-E2

Firmware Update

Update possible by the user.

Interface

Computer

Hi-Speed USB

Wi-Fi

Wireless LAN (IEEE802.11b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only, 1-11 ch)

Wi-Fi Security

Camera Access Point: WPA2-PSK with AES encryption or open
Infrastructure: Shared key, with WEP encryption, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK with TKIP/AES encryption or open

Bluetooth

Bluetooth® (Specification version 4.1, Bluetooth low energy technology) 8

Other

Video output (PAL/ NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal), HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC compatible), External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack)

Direct Print

Canon Printers

Canon Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge

PictBridge

Yes

Storage

Type

SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS Speed Class 1 compatible)

Supported Operating System

PC & Macintosh

PC and Mac computers, see support pages for latest software requirements

Software

Image Processing

Digital Photo Professional 4 (RAW Image Processing)

Other

EOS Utility
EOS Lens Registration Tool
EOS Web Service Registration Tool
EOS Sample Music
Picture Style Editor
Camera Connect app available on iOS and Android devices

Power Source

Batteries

1 x Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E17

Battery life

Viewfinder Shooting:
Approx. 800 (at 23°C, AE 50%, FE 50%) 9
Approx. 730 (at 0°C, AE 50%, FE 50%)
Live View Shooting:
Approx. 310 (at 23°C, AE 50%, FE 50%) 10
Approx. 290 (at 0°C, AE 50%, FE 50%)

Battery Indicator

5 levels

Power saving

Power turns off after 10/30 (10 sec viewfinder/30 sec live view, functions, image playback etc.) sec, 30 sec, 1, 2, 4, 8, or 15 mins. Can be disabled.

Power Supply & Battery Chargers

AC Adapter AC-E6N, DC coupler: DR-E18, Battery charger LC-E17E

Accessories

Viewfinder

Eyecup Ef
Rubber Frame Ef
E-series Dioptric Adjustment Lenses
Eyepiece Extender EP-EX15II
Magnifier MG-Ef
Angle Finder C

Case

Semi Hard case EH26-L / EH27-L

Wireless File Transmitter

Built in Wi-Fi transmission11
Connectivity to Smart devices is possible with Android version 4.0-4.4/5.0-5.1 or iOS 7.1/8-8.3.
Remote Wi-Fi zoom operation of EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM via the optional Power Zoom Adapter PZ-E1 is only possible on EOS 80D usin g a compatible smart device or supplied EOS utility software

Lenses

All EF and EF-S lenses

Flash

Canon Speedlites (90EX, 220EX, 270EX, 270EX II, 320EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 430EX III-RT, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, 600EX, 600EX-RT, Macro-Ring-Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT, EL100)

Remote Controller / Switch

Remote Switch RS-60E3, TC-80N3 (requires Remote Controller Adapter RA-E3) Remote Controller BR-E1

Other

Hand Strap E2, GP-E2

Body Materials

Chassis: Aluminum alloy and polycarbonate resin with glass fiber
Exterior: Polycarbonate resin with glass fiber and special conductive fiber

All data is based on Canon standard testing methods except where indicated.

Subject to change without notice.

  1. Following lenses are not compatible with in-camera digital stabilisation: EF50mm f/1.0L USM, EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF600mm f/4L USM, EF50mm f/1.2L USM, EF400mm f/2.8L USM, EF600mm f/4L IS USM, EF85mm f/1.2L USM, EF400mm f/2.8L II USM, EF600mm f/4L IS II USM, EF85mm f/1.2L II USM, EF400mm f/2.8L IS USM, EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM, EF200mm f/1.8L USM, EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF1200mm f/5.6L USM, EF200mm f/2L IS USM, EF500mm f/4L IS USM, EF28-80mm f/2.8-4L USM, EF300mm f/2.8L USM, EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender, EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM, EF500mm f/4.5L USM 1.4x
  2. Dual Pixel CMOS AF - AF is possible over an area of approx. 80% Vertical x 80% Horizontal of the frame
  3. Peripheral Cross type AF points will not function as a cross type AF points with the following lenses: EF 35-80mm f4-5.6 (II/III/USM), EF35-105mm f4.5-5.6 (USM). EF 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 (II)
  4. Maximum number of AF frame is dependent on selected image aspect ratio
  5. Dual Pixel CMOS AF - AF is possible over an area of approx. 80% Vertical x 80% Horizontal of the frame
  6. With EF300mm f/2.8L IS USM at 50kph
  7. with 50mm lens at infinity, -1m-1 dpt
  8. Bluetooth functionality with Camera Connect app requires smart device to be equipped with Bluetooth version 4.0 (or later). Also requires smart device to be using operating system iOS 11.4 (or later) or Android 5.0 (or later)
  9. Based on the CIPA Standard and using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera, except where indicated
  10. Based on the CIPA Standard and using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera, except where indicated
  11. Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Bluetooth® word, mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Canon Inc. is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

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

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 240Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 240Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 21 second movie is 151Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 61.3Mb in size.

This is a sample timelapse movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 9 second movie is 330Mb in size.

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