DaveD65 Loc: Queen City, Ohio

Dear friends from UHH,

After extensive research, I've decided to purchase a Canon EOS 70D. Unfortunately this camera is not in production any more, but I was able to find many used 70D's that appear in excellent condition. (Adorama, Ebay and MBP) Yet many people have said that the EOS 77D is the replacement for the 70D. A new 77D body only cost a little more than a really nice used 70D. I've watched several 70D vs 77D reviews on youtube and the 70D always seems to win out. Other than the pixal count and a few other doodads, they seem pretty much alike. So, what I would like to ask is what you guys think? I know there are alot of 70D users in this esteamed group and I greatly value your opinions. I don't need to be referred to any web site, I'm mostly after your experiences with the 70D or the 77D. Please help me decide which body I might buy. Thank very much for your time and efforts.

DaveD

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

No, the 77D is the replacement for the T6s part of the Rebel line.
The replacement for the 70D is the 80D. This line is built stronger, partly weather sealed and with more manual controls. Sort of in the middle between the T series Rebels and the xD models like the 7D, 5D and 1D.

Look here for Canon direct refurbished with the same warranty as new in box. They some times have the 70D, but not today.
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-eos-digital-slr-cameras

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Canon currently has the 70D with 18-55 lens, factory refurbished, in stock for $749.20, but they usually don't last long. They also have refurbished 80D with the same lens for $100 more.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

It really depends upon how robust you need your camera to be. The 77D is basically built to the Rebel line quality, which are certainly not bad cameras, but entry level build quality. The 70D and 80D are built to higher standards, but not to professional level quality such as the 5D IV. The 77D and the 80D are mostly similar as far as capability is concerned, with a few advantages going in each direction. https://www.digitalrev.com/article/canon77dvs80d

I made the decision to buy a refurb 80D from Canon, and am very happy, but that is simply a personal preference decision.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

As robertjeri stated, the 77D is actually the replacement for the T6s. I have a 77D, and am very pleased with the camera. While it is Rebel-like in its size and weight, it has many of the features found in cameras such as the 70D and 80D. It has a top LCD screen and a selection wheel on the back of the camera. Overall, the controls are more similar to the 70D/80D. The auto focus system is excellent and fast. Low light capabilities are improved over the 80D. It does not have weather sealing, and the viewfinder is slightly smaller and is a pentamirror instead of a pentaprism. In practical terms, I can't distinguish a significant difference. The weather sealing is not important to me. It depends upon what features you need. The 70D is now quite a bit behind the technology curve, and the 77D has an advantage in that regard. (Newer focus system, better low light performance, etc.). However, if having weather sealing and the pentamirror viewfinder are important to you, I'd go with a refurbished 80D. For me, the 77D has exceeded my expectations and meets my needs very well. The 77D has been on a special Canon sale of $649.00 for a while now, which is a really good value for a new camera, in my opinion.

DaveD65 Loc: Queen City, Ohio

That really helped, thanx

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

I bought a Canon 70D last Christmas from Canon refurbished to replace my old 50D. I love it; before these I also have a Rebel. All are great cameras, but The D series are much better for weather sealing, ruggedness, and quality. They all take excellent photos for beginners and semi-pro. The refurbished from Canon are exactly as new including the 1 year warrenty.

leftj Loc: Texas

The 80D would be a better camera than either of these.

kashka51

I was in the same situation as you. I ended up finding a used 80D and I love it!

EdU239 Loc: The Northeast

I own an 80D but have used (rented) both the earlier 70D and the more recent 77D. I had been planning to purchase a 70D a couple of years ago but when the 80D was announced I decided to wait and go with that. So...I would say go with either a refurbished 80D or a 77D. The latter has the same sensor and focusing system as the 80D in a lighter and less robust body and with fewer manual controls. The 77D also has a Digic 7 processor rather that the 80D’s Digic 6. They both take excellent pictures. When I bought my 80D I was upgrading from an old T1i so it was a big step up. The 77D wasn’t out yet, which made my choice a little easier.

If at all possible, I would suggest handling (renting, if possible) both cameras to see which you prefer. I love my 80D but I am aware of the weight, just under 26 oz. The 77D weighs 19 oz. and is noticeably lighter, although a heavy lens will cancel that out. In my view the two cameras are so close in specs that it’s very much a gut decision about which one seems best to you after you handle them.

Rogers

I’m extremely satisfied with my 77D that I’ve had since it came out almost a year and half ago. I used it as the designated photographer for my high school 50th reunion. I’m super impressed with the precise autofocus. My previous camera was a 10 year old Rebel, and wasn’t nearly this good. Maybe all the later cameras have it, but I’ve also been impressed how the camera corrects for lens distortion by detecting the lens I am using.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Well put.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Hi David,

Those people are wrong. 77D is not a replacement for the 70D.

The 80D is the replacement for 70D. These "xxD"models are a step down from the 7D-series, but a step above the Rebel/Kiss/xxxD models. Current Canon EOS DSLR models from most entry level to most advanced are...

APS-C: Rebel T7 (2000D), SL2 (200D), T7i (800D), 77D, 80D, 7D Mark II.

Full frame: 6D Mark II, 5D Mark IV, 5DS/5DS-R, 1DX Mark II.

In spite of its name, the 77D is actually a top-of-the-line Rebel-series model and replaced the Rebel T6s (760D outside N. America) model. I can guess why Canon decided to change the naming convention with the 77D... but if anything it's just caused confusion. The model should have been called a T7s in the N. America market, if they'd followed past practice.

Intro'd in 2013, the 70D is 20MP with a 19-point AF system that's sort of a dumbed down version of what was introduced in the original 7D (2009). Like all the other xxD models (other than 77D), its viewfinder uses a true pentaprism and it has a higher specification shutter with top speed of 1/8000 and a 1/250 flash sync. It's shutter is probably rated for 100,000 actuation durability. 80D was upgraded to 24MP and introduced a new 45-point AF system. It also uses a pentaprism with it's 100% viewfinder and has similar specification shutter.

Now T7, SL2, T6i, T6s, T7i and 77D all use essentially the same 24MP sensor as 80D (among the APS-C models, only the 7D Mark II doesn't use that sensor now... it used the same 20MP as was in 70D). However instead of a pentaprism, 77D and all these other models use a penta-mirror based viewfinder to save weight and cost. This makes for a little less big, bright viewfinder. They all also use approx. 95% coverage viewfinders (as opposed to 100% on 80D and 7DII). The T7i and 77D use essentially the same 45-point AF system as the 80D (T6i and T6s used 19-point similar to 70D's). All Rebel series use lower specification shutters: 1/4000 top speed and typically 1/200 flash sync. Rebel-series shutters are also usually durability rated for about 75,000 actuations. (Canon doesn't publish shutter durability ratings for all models, so this is just a guess... but even published ratings are just a prediction of "mean time between failures" anyway... many/most cameras actually deliver much more.)

Canon Rebel series tend to be a little slower shooting, a bit more plasticky and less well sealed for weather-resistance than the more upscale models.... and the 77D is no exception in this respect.

Canon Rebel series are updated more frequently than the more upscale models. In a sense, 77D is two generations newer than 70D. As a result, the 77D has in some ways surpassed 70D (more resolution, more advanced AF system).

Something I noticed and found a bit surprising is that Canon DOES NOT offer a vertical/battery grip for the 77D and T7i. In fact, the cameras don't appear to be designed to accommodate one (third party manufacturer Vello makes one... but it's sort of a kluge with limited controls and external wiring). In contrast, Canon offered "BG-series" vertical/battery grips for T6i, T6s and their predecessors. They also offer them for 70D, 80D and the rest of the xxd series models (other than 77D)... and for 7D-series and all the full frame models. These grips not only double battery capacity and allow one to take twice as many shots, they also provide a convenient grip and secondary controls for vertical orientation shooting. A lot of folks who use them also think the grips help with balance when using larger lenses. I've used grips on all my DSLRs (and similar power boosters, motor drives or winders on my film SLRs in the past).

Don't get me wrong, the one year old 77D is a fine camera in its own right. It's the very top of the line, latest and greatest of current Rebel models for all practical purposes. In some significant ways a 77D can be considered an "upgrade" over a 70D, which is now a five year old model that was replaced by 80D in 2016. But the 80D remains a "step up" from 77D. I think it's unfortunate that Canon decided to use the confusing naming convention for the 77D, though it's fairly obvious why they did so.

Photocraig

I have the 77D and couldn't agree more. The important difference is teh new sensor shared by the by the current aps-C Canon line. And DIGIC 7 the very latest image processor that provided the higher ISO performance.

Any chance for a refurbished's 80D or 70D at a good price is fine. But at $649--this 77D is very hard to beat, as long as you're smart enough to come in from the rain, or cover up very well.

C

lil'_r1ch Loc: Roscoe, IL

The 70D is a very capable camera. I have been using mine for nature, wildlife, studio and macro. Does most things well, however it is not the greatest in low light/high ISO situations.

Do look at the 80D before deciding on the 77D, you won't regret whichever you chose.