CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The number focus points that shoot at f/8 would be a selling point for me for an 80D.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Agree, although the number is lens dependent, 27 focus points with a maximum f/8 aperture is terrific for those using long lenses and extenders.

Haydon

Keep in mind, the 80D only supports 2 lenses with 27 cross-type at F8 one of them being the 100-400L II.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

While I wasn't that specific I indicated in the post just before yours that the availability of 27 focus points was lens dependent. The fact that one of them is the Canon 100 to 400 is terrific since that is a favorite lens of general wildlife photographers and especially birders.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

80D has lower build quality and durability, less sealing against weather and dust. It's basically a high-end consumer camera... more plastic, an "almost" 100% (whatever that means), .95X viewfinder, and a different control layout with more auto selections that's more similar to 70D & 60D (a little less direct access and slightly slower to use, not as easy to use without looking while continuing to hold the camera to one's eye). I haven't seen any official rating of it, so am guessing it's got a 100,000 click shutter.

7DII is more targeted toward experienced pro and advanced amateur users with a shutter rated to 200,000 clicks (up from 150K in original 7D), it has a true 100%, 1.0X viewfinder, more weather sealing and metal (magnesium) body panels. It has controls such as the "joystick" and quick dial on the rear, that give rapid access to AF point selection and Exposure Compensation respectively, and are easier to use while keeping the camera to your eye. It also has comparatively few auto options. It appears Canon assumes 7DII buyers and users will be fairly advanced shooters who will want to make their own settings, for the large part.

7DII AF performance also should excel. It uses a discrete chip for AF (1D series style), plus has dual Digic 6 image processors. 80D uses a single Digic 6 processor to handle it all.

7DII has dual memory card slots (one CF, one SD). 80D has a single SD slot.

7DII (like 7D before it) has a "1D style" shutter release button that makes for minimal shutter lag.

There's more... But 80D does look like a whole lot of camera for the money! I like the articulated LCD it offers (but cameras without that feature might be more durable and have better weather sealing).

Canon kind of had to step up the AF system in the 80D... since the Rebel T6i/T6s now have the same 19-point AF system as the 70D (which is a bit of a dumbed down version of the 19-point AF intro'd in the original 7D).

The original 7D's AF system has five focus patterns: The usual Single Point/Manual Selection, All Points/Auto Selection (all Canon models have those two)... plus Spot Focus (high precision Single Point), Expansion Points, and Zone Focus. The 70D's has three: Single, All Points and Zone. The 80D's has four: Single Point, All Points, Large Zone and Small Zone. The 7D Mark II has seven: Single Point, All Points, Spot, 4-point Expansion, 8-point Expansion, Large Zone and Small Zone. I have looked in detail, but 7DII has a lot of tweaks to refine AF for certain situations... I suspect the 80D won't offer as many.

As to the comparative prices, keep in mind that when it was introduced over a year ago, the 7DII sold initially for $1800. It's "street price" has gradually settled to $1500 over time. It's fairly typical that prices start out right at MSRP, but then settle down a bit over time. I bet after the 80D has been on the market a while it's price will drop under $1000... if you can wait a year and a half or so!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Let's not forget the all to important Horse Power factor under the hood either!
The 80 has the latest(for now), digi 6 processor and the 7ll has two of them!! Giving the 7ll twice the computing power!!!! ;-)
SS

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I'm sure the 80D will be a nice camera but it is difficult to compare two 'different' cameras.

It really depends on what you will be using them for. The 80D has a number of features that are good for simple video work such as the touch screen and articulating screen.

The 7D MK II is a heavy duty camera designed for sports and wildlife photography. The 7D MK II is heavily weather sealed and very solid in construction and can take the extreme outdoor weather elements much better than the 80D. The extra megapixels of the 80D do not amount to much in the overall picture, in fact, the extra pixels may have a negative effect on the noise level in the image- we'll know more when it is released soon. The extra frames per second of the 7D MK II is also a plus. The AF system in the 7D MK II is more than about how many 'focus points', it is about how those points are utilized- focus speed and tracking speed.

For a few hundred dollars, I would go with the 7D MK II over the 80D. The 80D will probably work well for sports and wildlife but I believe you will get more keepers with the 7D MK II.[/quote]

:thumbup:

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I agree with all you points, but the 80D is still a major step up over the 70D, although strangely some posts I've read don't seem to agree. There are a surprisingly significant number of 7D2 features , not available in the 70D, which are included in the 80D, although they may not be implemented in exactly the same way. There are even some 80D features that are not available in the 7D2, besides its new sensor. I'm not giving up my 7D2 anytime soon, but for many, the line between the 7D2 and 80D is now much more blurred than between the 7D2 and the 70D. For instance, for birders and others, the 27 f/8 focus points with a lens like the Canon 100-400 L II and Canon 1.4 extender would be a big deal.

Haydon

I meant no disrespect sir. I admire your knowledge base.

ecar Loc: Oregon, USA

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I didn't take it as disrespect and I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. I read your post and assumed you hadn't read mine on the same subject just above it and posted again to to clarify that.