waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Please let me know (personal experience) what is good and or bad about the T8i. Thanks :-)

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

After a long GAS attack I upgraded from a T4i to the T8i, love it overall, seems to be a little easier to get good level shots, biggest single thing I find, faster response , a few extra selections in the menus that I have not yet explored, main reason for the upgrade was that the T4i was acting up a bit and I was losing confidence in it so I will get around to whatever the new features offer as time goes on.
BTW, never want to go back, T4i now sits unused.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Thanks, a friend is thinking about getting into the DSLR game and is trying to decide between the T7i and T8i. I haven't asked him about the cost difference between the two he is considering so I'm not sure where he is on that. I took a quick look at the specs on the Internet and see that the 8i has 4K video and a faster shutter. It is good to hear from someone who has upgraded and has some experience. Thnks again :-)

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I was going tyo get the T7i, held off because of Covid restrictions, not sure about getting out, considered the M50, ready to buy no T7i available and I decided the M50 not for me, my son has the international version of the T7i, I do prefer my t8i, I might have been able to get a T7i but I had a lot of points to use and very few options of where to use them, transition to the T8i was almost instantaneous. NO comment on the video stuff as I don't do video. Bob.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The T7i was the most advanced EOS Rebel ever released, including the ability to auto-focus at f/8, a feature only of the 1-series bodies as recently as the 1DXII. The T8i adds more advanced features, but at the core, retains a 24MP sensor. Either is a great choice where price and / or some of the video features may make a difference to individual customers.

HistoryLover Loc: Landenberg,Pa.

I upgraded from a t1i to a t7i. Love the camera. A lot of extras for the price. Don’t know if the t8i has many more than the t7i for the extra $.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

My T8i was actually the same price as the T7i would have been when I held off on the purchase, I did get body only as I had all the lenses I needed.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

CHG CANON:
“ including the ability to auto-focus at f/8”
Would you mind clarifying that for me?
Thanks

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

F8? I can auto focus at f16.?

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The primary differences between T8i and T7i are....

- T8i can shoot at 7.5 frames per second, while T7i isn't quite as fast at 6 fps.
- T8i can shoot 4K video, while T7i it "only" able to do HD video.
- In order to do the above, the T8i uses a Digic 8 processor, while the T7i uses a Digic 7.
- Slightly more power efficient, the Digic 8 manages a few more shots with the LP-E17 battery both cameras use.
- Digic 8 processors produce a new type of RAW file: "CR3". While image editing software is provided with the camera, other software that works fine with the CR2 files of the T7i and earlier may need to be updated to work with the CR3 files.

There really isn't very much difference between T7i and T8i, aside from their video capabilities. They use almost the same sensor, much the same AF system, same memory cards, same battery & charger, almost identical design & control layout.

You may come across Canon 77D. Don't be fooled. Aside from some controls and one additional LCD screen on top, it's identical to the T7i. The 77D is a Rebel series camera, even though it's not labelled as such.

A much more significant "step up" would be a Canon 80D or the newer 90D. These have larger, brighter viewfinders thanks to a true pentraprism, higher specification shutters, better build and more weather sealing, much more direct access to various controls, larger/longer-lasting batteries, option to fit a battery grip with secondary controls, and a lot more. Of course, they're a bit heavier and their prices are higher...

- 90D (with new 32.5MP sensor) is selling for $1199.
- 80D (with the same 24MP as T7i/T8i) is on sale for $899.
- T8i is selling for $749.
- T7i is selling for $739.
- 77D is largely unavailable, but about same price as T7i.

There are tons of reviews and comparisons of all these cameras online.

One of the best sources for info regarding anything Canon-related is Bryan Carnathan's The-Digital-Picture web site.
https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T8i.aspx

For quick summaries of differences between models do a search to find them at a number of sites and some retailers, for example:

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T8i-vs-Canon-EOS-Rebel-T7i
https://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T8i-vs-Canon-EOS-90D
https://www.apotelyt.com/compare-camera/canon-t7i-vs-canon-t8i
and
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Canon_Rebel_T8i_vs_Canon_Rebel_T7i_vs_Canon_77D/BHitems/1546030-REG_1318277-REG_1318281-REG?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7qP9BRCLARIsABDaZzjBfGKiHKYnDQtV_93wR8jIy-cWYJOLBwARi7jgH_HT74w_rbhTJt0aAq7UEALw_wcB
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/SLR-Digital-Cameras/ci/6222/N/4288586280?sort=PRICE_LOW_TO_HIGH&filters=fct_bodies-kits_4016%3Abody-only%2Cfct_brand_name%3Acanon%2Cfct_sensor-size_3087%3Aaps-c

It's arguable that the lenses you get to use on it will actually make more difference in the qualities of your images, than what camera you choose (prices cited above are camera body only w/o lens). All the above are offered with one or sometimes two "kit" lenses, but there are some differences between those, too.

The "basic" kit lens is an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5 (or f/4) to f/5.6. There are two current versions of this lens (and a half dozen older versions): A less expensive "II" uses a slower, noisier micro motor focus drive and a slightly more expensive "STM" or "stepper motor" version has faster, smoother and quieter focusing. Both lenses have "IS" or image stabilization. Both are rather plasticky, but capable of making nice images.

There are also two "upgrade" EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lenses currently being offered... The more affordable one uses STM focus motor. The more expensive uses faster "USM" or "ultrasonic" focus drive. Actually this was the first Canon lens to use their new "Nano USM" and they claim it focuses 2X to 4X faster than the STM version. These two lenses are optically identical so there is no difference in their image quality potential. The USM lens is slightly different design to be able to accommodate an optional "power zoom module" that some videographers might like to use with it. The PZ-E1 power zoom module only fits and works with that particular lens. (There was an earlier EF-S 18-135mm without STM or USM, that used slower, noisier micro motor focus as well as a different optical formula that wasn't quite as good. You rarely see this lens any more, unless you're buying used. It can be recognized by not having either an STM or USM label.)

In addition to either of the above, there are sometimes two-lens kits offered, with the second lens being a telephoto zoom. Once again, there are two different lenses they tend to include: either an EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS or sometimes a cheaper EF 75-300mm "III". In this case, the EF-S 55-250mm is a much better, full featured lens. The 55-250mm costs a bit more, but is well worth it. The EF 75-300mm III is Canon's cheapest telephoto zoom. It has slow, noisy micro motor focusing, doesn't have image stabilization and has the worst image quality of any Canon telephoto zoom.

The 55-250mm also comes in two versions... an "STM" with faster, quieter autofocus drive and a "II" that uses slower, noisier micro motor focusing. They both have image stabilization and there isn't much difference in image quality, so the main concern is just the speed and noise of focusing.

The above are what Canon and sometimes retailers bundle with the cameras as kit lenses. Canon makes nearly 90 EF and EF-S lenses, any of which you can choose to use on the above cameras. Most of those are good to excellent quality. You may want to expand the capabilities of your kit later with one or more of them. But all those other lenses are not offered "in kit", where there's usually some discounting on price.

None of the above lenses come with a lens hood (Canon only includes them with their "L-series"). They are sold separately but I highly recommend getting the matched one for whatever lens you choose, as the hood will both improve images and help protect the lens while you're using it. Depending upon the model, Canon's OEM hoods may seem rather expensive...but in most cases there are third party (such as Vello) alternatives that are half or even 1/3 the price.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

This mostly refers to the ability to use teleconverters with lenses.

In the past, many Canon (and other) cameras were "f/5.6 limited". This meant that you could use an f/2.8 lens with a 2X teleconverter or an f/4 lens with a 1.4X teleconverter.... But the AF wouldn't be able to focus an f/5.6 lens with any teleconverter added... or an f/4 lens with a 2X. And there are many possible combos.

It refers to the lens' MAXIMUM APERTURE.... which is maintained during focusing and determines how much light the AF system has to work with.

When you add a 1.4X it reduces the amount of light passed through by one stop... so an f/2.8 lens with 1.4X effectively becomes an f/4... an f/4 lens becomes an f/5.6.... an f/5.6 lens becomes an f/8 whenever a 1.4X teleconverter.

When you add a 2X to a lens, it reduces the amount of light that passes through by two stops... so an f/2.8 lens w/2X effectively becomes an f/5.6... and f/4 lens w/2X becomes an f/8.

Canon (and others) have had this capability only in expensive, top-of-the-line models for some years now. More recently it's been added to additional, less expensive models so that almost all newer Canon DSLRs are now "f/8 capable", simply meaning that they can autofocus with less light, but mostly effecting the use of teleconverters with more lenses. "f/8 capable" cameras are often limited to just one AF point capable of this (the center point), though in some cases certain lens/teleconverter combos allow more.



This does NOT refer to the aperture you've selected to make a shot.

This refers to the lens' maximum aperture, such as a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM or EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM or EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM, for example. This is the largest possible aperture, which lets in the most light. In DSLR cameras and lenses, this wide open status is maintained all the time, except for the instant of exposure when the lens stops down momentarily to whatever aperture you've set. Sometime observe your camera closely from the front, watching what happens when you trip the shutter. You'll see the aperture close for the duration of the exposure, then reopen to the maximum. (There are exceptions, such as adapted, vintage lenses or modern fully manual lenses.)

Canon T7i, T8i, 77D, 80D and 90D being discussed above all use Canon's 45-point AF system that's "f/8 capable"... Typically only at the center point, but at up to 27 points with certain lens/TC combos (incl. the Canon EF 100-400mm "II" and Canon EF 1.4X "III"). Earlier models and more entry-level models like current SL3 and T7 use simpler, less capable AF systems that are "f/5.6 limited".

"f/8 capable" Canon DSLRs:

1D, 1D Mark II, 1D Mark IIN, 1D Mark III, 1D Mark IV
1Ds, 1Ds Mark II, 1Ds Mark III
1DX, 1DX Mark II, 1DX Mark III
5DS, 5DS-R
5D Mark III, 5D Mark IV
6D Mark II
7D Mark II
80D, 90D
77D
T7i, T8i (800D, 850D)

"f/5.6 limited" Canon DSLRs:

5D, 5D Mark II
6D
7D
70D, 60D, 50D and earlier
T6i, T6s, T5i and earlier (750D, 760D, 700D)
T7, T6, T5 and earlier (2000D, 1500D, 1300D)
SL3, SL2, SL1 (250D, 200D, 100D)

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Thanks

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

Another thanks here.

uhaas2009

But in consideration your knowledge and what you use the camera for.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Wow! A ton of good info here. The video and 7.5 FPS was already noted, but f/8 auto focus and CR2 vs CR3 are significant to me although I doubt my friend will be concerned about either for a while at least. Thanks to everyone for all the great input here. :-) Blessings to all.