sisola wrote:
Greetings!
I have been using an entry-level Canon, Nikon, and Pentax for my photography. I am responsible for much photography at work and am interested in upgrading to a higher level Canon.
When I look at the models available, I have no idea how to tell what I'm looking at in regard to the model numbers. Can someone help me to quickly understand the categories?
Looking to go from entry-level to mid-level. Interested in the Canon upgrade because my photos always seem better when I use it.
Feel free to make a recommendation, too!
Thanks!
Greetings! br br I have been using an entry-level... (
show quote)
Canon's current most entry-level to most pro
APS-C DSLRs are.... T6/T7, SL2, T7i, 77D, 80D, 7D Mark II.
- Rebel
T6 is the most basic, entry-level model. (Outside N. America, it's called EOS 1300D. Nikon equiv. D3000-series.)
= Rebel
T7 (1400D) has been announced, but isn't in many stores yet. It's a very slight upgrade (mostly just updated to the same 24MP sensor used in all other APS-C Canon except one).
- Rebel
SL2 (200D) is the smallest/lightest DSLR on the market now. It was very much upgraded from the earlier SL1 (which was similar to the T6). The SL2 now shares more features with step-up models.
- Rebel
T7i (800D) is a more advanced, but still affordable model. It replaced the T6i (750D), T5i (700D), etc. (Nikon equiv. D5000-series.)
- EOS
77D is where it gets a little confusing. This is actually still a "Rebel" series model, in spite of it's name. Functionally and in most respects it's same as T7i, but with a couple added controls and an add'l LCD panel on the upper, right "shoulder". The 77D was replacement for Rebel T6s (note the "s" instead of an "i"), which was called a 760D outside N. America.
In truth, all Canon DSLRs and mirrorless are "EOS".... But all the above are known as the Rebel series in N. America ("Kiss" in Japan). These all use a penta-mirror to keep costs and weight down, which makes for a slightly smaller and dimmer viewfinder. They also use lower specification shutters... top speed 1/4000 and flash sync 1/200, typically rated for about 75,000 actuations. Bodies are more "plasticky" and not exceptionally well sealed for weather resistance. (Nikon does the same.) All the current Rebel series now use the same sensor as the 80D (below), so are able to produce roughly equal image quality.
- EOS
80D is next step up, with a true pentaprism making for a bigger, brighter viewfinder, higher specification shutter with 1/8000 stop speed, 1/250 flash sync, probably good for about 100,000 shutter accusations and with some environmental sealing of the body. Actually, all the current Rebel models above now use the same 24MP sensor as the 80D, but this higher end model can shoot faster and more images in a burst. It also uses a larger battery that nearly doubles the number of shots possible per charge. (Nikon equiv. is D7000 series.) 80D builds upon prior 70D and 60D models. The 80D introduced a new 45-point AF system... it's now used in 77D and T7i as well. There is something very similar/possibly the same in full frame EOS 6D Mark II, too. The 45-point AF system uses all cross-type points and up to 27 of those points are "f/8 capable" which means it can autofocus more lens + teleconverter combinations. It's also able to focus in lower light conditions than previous AF systems. The 70D also introduced a new "Dual Pixel Auto Focus" (DPAF) in Live View mode, which is much faster than the "contrast detection" method used previously. This is now used in all but the most entry level models.
80D, 70D and higher models also have Focus Micro Adjustment, which isn't included on the lower models.
- EOS
7D Mark II is the next step up and most pro-oriented of Canon's APS-C models. It actually uses a slightly lower resolution 20MP sensor. That and dual image processors make it able to shoot at 10 frames per second. It also has one of the most advanced AF systems of any Canon DSLR, a 65-point array with it's own chip running it (like Canon's 1D-series... most other cameras use a single processor for everything). That makes for fast AF that's very good tracking movement. It has a higher specification shutter like 80D, except the 7DII's is rated for 200,000 actuations. The 7DII is designed to excel at sport/action photography, but of course can be used for other less demanding purposes too. 7DII also uses a mostly metal (magnesium) body and has add'l sealing for weather resistance. (Nikon equiv. D300/D500 series.)
7DII introduced an "Anti-Flicker" mode that helps make for considerably more accurate exposures under fluorescent and some similar types of lighting. This type of lighting cycles on and off at a rapid rate (60 hertz in N. Amer.), which "fools" many cameras, causing a lot of images to be underexposed. When the Anti-Flicker feature is enabled the camera detects the cycling of the light and times the shutter release to peak output. This works well. Canon has included Anti-Flicker on most models introduced since 2014, incl.: SL2, T6i, T6s, T7i, 77D, 80D, 6DII, 5DIV, 5Ds/5Ds-R, and 1DXII. (Nikon has similar feature on D500... not sure about any other models.)
All the above APS-C models can fully use all Canon EF and EF-S mount lenses.
Canon's current most entry-level to most pro
APS-C MILC or "mirrorless" models[/b] are.... EOS M100, EOS M50, EOS M6, EOS M5.
All M-series models use a different "EF-M" type lens. There are adapters that allow EF and EF-S lenses to be used on the cameras, as well as adapters for a wide variety of vintage mount, manual focus, manual aperture lenses.
All four current M-series models are 24MP.
-
M100 doesn't have a viewfinder. The LCD screen on the rear is used for composition, focusing, etc.
-
M50 has an electronic viewfinder and is the most recently introduced and is the only model so far with 4K video.
-
M6 doesn't have a viewfinder. The LCD screen on the rear is used for composition, focusing, etc.
-
M5 has the most direct access to controls, such as a more advanced user might want. It was the first M-series to have a built in electronic viewfinder.
All four of the above use Dual Pixel Auto Focus, as described above (70D/80D in Live View). This was a significant improvement over the contrast detection method used in previous M3, M2 and M models (all of which lacked a viewfinder.... an optional accessory viewfinder was offered for some models.) There was an EOS M4, but it was a very mild update to the M3 and was only ever sold briefly in Japan.
To date Canon has only made APS-C MILC cameras. They have stated a full frame MILC is planned and there are rumors that some working prototypes are in the field now, being tested.
Canon's current most entry-level to most pro-oriented
full frame DSLRs are.... 6D Mark II, 5D Mark IV, 5Ds/5Ds-R, 1DX Mark II.
-
6DII is a 26MP camera which follows the design scheme of the 80D, including using similar 45-point AF system, similar control layout and menus, as well as a similar level of build and sealing. However, it has a slightly lower spec shutter with 1/4000 top speed and 1/180 flash sync. It is the first Canon full frame DSLR to have an articulately LCD screen. (Nikon equiv. D610, D750.)
-
5D Mark IV is a 30MP camera that builds upon the success of the 5D series. It borrows the 61-point AF system of the 1DX-series and some of the earlier 1D-series models. (Nikon equiv. D810.)
-
5Ds & 5Ds-R are ultra high resolution 50MP models (otherwise similar to the 5D Mark III). They are not as high ISO capable or fast shooting as other recent/current 5D-series, but are the highest resolution available in this format. The difference between them is that the 5Ds uses a low pass (anti-alias) filter to reduce risk of an optical effect called "moiré", while the "R" version cancels that filter to maximize fine detail, but at greater risk of moiré in certain situations. (Nikon equiv. D850.)
-
1DX Mark II is Canon's top-of-the-line and most pro-oriented full frame camera. It's super well sealed for weather resistance, has a shutter rated for 450,000 actuations and can shoot at 12 frames per second (14 fps with mirror lockup). It is a 20MP camera, the modest resolution allows for the very fast frame rate, as well as ultra high usable ISOs. The 1DXII is designed to be able to capture fast action/sports, but of course is able to handle less demanding subject matter as well. (Nikon equiv. D5.)
All the full frame models require full frame compatible EF lenses. They aren't able to use EF-S (or EF-M).
I've noted Nikon equivalents with many of the above, but those should be considered only rough estimations. Canon and Nikon tend to "leapfrog" each other.... for example, the 46MP Nikon D850 is a recently introduced model that can easily be argued superior in many ways to the 50MP Canon 5Ds/5Ds-R, which are three year old models. There are a lot of differences between the D850 and 5Ds/5Ds-R... but in their respective brands they are the most comparable models.