There are several purported entry level DSLR cameras out there, but few are as intuitive and easy to learn with as the Canon EOS 800D. Even though some of the specs on this camera aren’t necessarily as impressive as other models, even in the Canon EOS line, the addition of a guided interface to teach new photographers about things like white balance, autofocus, focal length, and more makes this a fantastic camera for amateurs. The EOS 800D is only bested by the Nikon Z50 for the choice of the best digital camera for beginners and best digital camera.
Why We Like It – Canon EOS 800D
The Canon EOS 800D, also known as the Canon EOS Rebel T7i, is a camera that has plenty to satisfy hobbyist photographers who want the better image quality digital SLR cameras have to offer. What’s especially nice about this model is the included guided interface that teaches new users about features from higher-end cameras they may be less familiar with. More advanced photographers may prefer the Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR model instead of this.
- Excellent live view performance through LCD touchscreen
- Fast and responsive AF system
- Intuitive guided interface for entry level photographers
- Pentamirror viewfinder only provides 95% frame coverage
- Plasticky-feeling outer shell
- No 4k video recording
Image Quality
It would be easy to believe that the image quality on an entry level DSLR will be lower than that on a more expensive camera, but the Canon EOS 800D shows that isn’t always true. Photos captured on this camera are clear, sharp, and vibrant, with especially good dynamic range appearing when shooting RAW files. This camera has an ISO range of 100-51200 and does a fairly good job of mitigating noise at higher ISO levels. Swapping the kit lens to another Canon EOS lens is recommended for markedly better low light performance. The image quality when video recording is less impressive since this camera can only achieve 1080p video, not 4k.
Related: The Canon EOS M50 mirrorless digital camera takes stunning 4K and even has an eye detectioon feature for better portrait pics.
Ease of Use
Arguably the nicest thing about the Canon EOS 800D is its guided interface, which can be turned off once you feel it’s no longer necessary. The vari-angle touchscreen also makes this camera incredibly easy to use when trying to catch pictures at odd angles, and the live view AF works like a charm to ensure your pictures are always in focus. Live view is the way to go when shooting with this camera, as the pentamirror viewfinder only provides about 95% coverage of the frame. The Canon EOS 800D also has built-in wi fi, so it’s incredibly easy to transfer images from the camera to your phone.
Battery Life
The battery life on the Canon EOS 800D is decent at about 600 shots per charge, though there are cheaper cameras out there that offer better like the Nikon D3500 Digital SLR Camera and the Canon EOS Rebel SL3. If you plan on using your digital SLR for video recording, you’d be better off looking elsewhere. Unfortunately, extended usage of live view functionality will also drain the battery faster, and since the viewfinder crops out some of the frame, you will likely want to use live view a lot.
Durability
The Canon EOS 800D has a very solid and weighty feel to it. Other than the minor scratches and scuffs that any camera will eventually experience, this camera body should stay in pretty good shape if taken care of. Much of the camera body is coated in a matte plastic that feels cheap to some reviewers, but the quality of the innards of this camera more than makes up for it. Just like the Canon EOS Rebel SL3, this camera is not weather-sealed, so take extreme caution when shooting out in the field.
Value
There are a lot of digital SLR cameras out there for beginners to learn with, but very few can match the Canon EOS 800D when it comes to image quality and ease of use. Entry level DSLR users will be pleased to have an in-camera teacher that can actively make their photos better. The kit lens is definitely not as good as others Canon has to offer, so take into account the price of any lenses you might want to add to your collection with this body. The lack of 4k video is also a dealbreaker for some users, but if you plan on using the camera mostly for stills, that should hardly be an issue.
Canon EOS 800D Wrap Up
Newbies to the DSLR realm are likely to get overwhelmed with the plethora of options available. The Canon EOS 800D is a fantastic learning tool that slowly eases new photographers into all the great features the format has to offer. The viewfinder, unfortunately, cuts out a portion of the frame, and the plastic outer shell feels a bit cheap at times, but both of these are minor when compared to the great image quality just about anyone can get from this digital SLR camera.
