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The Canon Rebel T8i DSLR in a Mirrorless World

The Canon Rebel T8i DSLR in a Mirrorless World

The Canon EOS Rebel T8i is a 24MP DSLR camera that works with their EF and EF-S mount lenses. It has an optical viewfinder, but it also has a usable and responsive touchscreen interface and live view experience that’s a match for the company’s mirrorless camera options.

Image from CameraJabber

Priced at $749.99 body-only or $900 with an EF-S 18-55mm IS STM kit lens.

Key specifications

  • 24-megapixel APS-C image sensor
  • EF or EF-S lens compatibility
  • ISO 100 to 25,600, extends to 51,200
  • 7 fps continuous shooting, or 7.5 fps in live view
  • 45 point, all cross-type phase-detect AF
  • 0.51x pentamirror viewfinder with 95% coverage
  • 3.0″ vari-angle touch-screen LCD
  • 24p 4K video with 1.6x crop, or full-sensor 1080p60
  • 800 shot battery life, or 310 shots with live view
This Camera is also known as the Canon 850D in other parts of the world.

The 24-megapixel Canon T8i looks very similar to its predecessor from most angles, there’s a new rear control dial and AF-On button. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are also available. The Shutter is now rated at 7 frames per second through the viewfinder, or 7.5 fps in live view mode, which is pretty good considering the Mirrorless Cameras.

Canon has added 4K movie capture, with limitations like a huge focal length crop, contrast-detection autofocus (rather than the more reliable Dual Pixel AF you get in lesser Full HD modes) and a fixed 24 fps frame rate.

The Camera’s Flippy Screen by PcMag

The Canon T8i is very solid in-hand, with a plastic body, with no creaks or flexing. It’s also pretty light and compact for a DSLR. The new AF-On button can be used for quick autofocus adjustments with a slight thumb motion, pretty useful to be honest.

Sadly, the pentamirror viewfinder is dim and tunnel-like compared with the electronic finders of mirrorless rivals and even some rival SLRs.

Top of the Camera by CineD

tThe on-screen UI is standard Canon. It’s fairly clear and logically laid-out, and can be navigated with buttons, dials or the very precise touchscreen. Battery life can go upto nearly 500 frames when shooting stills through the viewfinder, it’s decent.

One notable change is that the Rebel T8i doesn’t fire the flash when it’s not really needed, since it can no longer pop up automatically. You need to pay attention to your shutter speeds, though, and either raise the ISO, or lift the flash yourself.

Guy holding the camera.

The Canon T8i’s autofocus system has two distinct operating modes, depending upon whether you’re using the optical viewfinder or live view modes. Both systems are capable of locking focus quickly and accurately in good light, there are a total of 45 autofocus points.

The addition of 4K video is one of the bigger changes in the Canon T8i, but it’s really rather a shame that it comes hobbled by several significant limitations. The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking.

The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking.

Camera Sensor

The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking. The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking.

Good Stuff

  • Through-the-lens optical viewfinder is crisp and lag-free
  • Good ergonomics and solid build
  • Compatible with a vast range of Canon EF and EF-S lenses and accessories
  • Excellent battery life (if you stick to the optical viewfinder)
  • Good still image quality, albeit not as good as some newer models
  • Fully articulating touchscreen display is very versatile

Not So Good Stuff.

  • Relatively small, dim viewfinder, even by APS-C DSLR standards
  • Wide-angle possibilities are very limited for 4K capture
  • No PDAF and only 24fps for 4K, tooFull HD video is prone to moiré and false color
  • Less point-dense AF than mirrorless rivals
  • No in-body stabilizer
  • AF points for viewfinder shooting clustered near the center of the frame
  • No ability to charge battery over USB

All of the above summed up here, this Canon Rebel T8i DSLR in a totally mirrorless world does feel a bit old. But, with it’s Video Recording and Image Processing, this could be a good option as a family camera and also a good tool for a budding Online Content Creator.

The Canon Rebel T8i DSLR in a Mirrorless World

The Canon Rebel T8i DSLR in a Mirrorless World

The Canon EOS Rebel T8i is a 24MP DSLR camera that works with their EF and EF-S mount lenses. It has an optical viewfinder, but it also has a usable and responsive touchscreen interface and live view experience that’s a match for the company’s mirrorless camera options.

Image from CameraJabber

Priced at $749.99 body-only or $900 with an EF-S 18-55mm IS STM kit lens.

Key specifications

  • 24-megapixel APS-C image sensor
  • EF or EF-S lens compatibility
  • ISO 100 to 25,600, extends to 51,200
  • 7 fps continuous shooting, or 7.5 fps in live view
  • 45 point, all cross-type phase-detect AF
  • 0.51x pentamirror viewfinder with 95% coverage
  • 3.0″ vari-angle touch-screen LCD
  • 24p 4K video with 1.6x crop, or full-sensor 1080p60
  • 800 shot battery life, or 310 shots with live view
This Camera is also known as the Canon 850D in other parts of the world.

The 24-megapixel Canon T8i looks very similar to its predecessor from most angles, there’s a new rear control dial and AF-On button. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are also available. The Shutter is now rated at 7 frames per second through the viewfinder, or 7.5 fps in live view mode, which is pretty good considering the Mirrorless Cameras.

Canon has added 4K movie capture, with limitations like a huge focal length crop, contrast-detection autofocus (rather than the more reliable Dual Pixel AF you get in lesser Full HD modes) and a fixed 24 fps frame rate.

The Camera’s Flippy Screen by PcMag

The Canon T8i is very solid in-hand, with a plastic body, with no creaks or flexing. It’s also pretty light and compact for a DSLR. The new AF-On button can be used for quick autofocus adjustments with a slight thumb motion, pretty useful to be honest.

Sadly, the pentamirror viewfinder is dim and tunnel-like compared with the electronic finders of mirrorless rivals and even some rival SLRs.

Top of the Camera by CineD

tThe on-screen UI is standard Canon. It’s fairly clear and logically laid-out, and can be navigated with buttons, dials or the very precise touchscreen. Battery life can go upto nearly 500 frames when shooting stills through the viewfinder, it’s decent.

One notable change is that the Rebel T8i doesn’t fire the flash when it’s not really needed, since it can no longer pop up automatically. You need to pay attention to your shutter speeds, though, and either raise the ISO, or lift the flash yourself.

Guy holding the camera.

The Canon T8i’s autofocus system has two distinct operating modes, depending upon whether you’re using the optical viewfinder or live view modes. Both systems are capable of locking focus quickly and accurately in good light, there are a total of 45 autofocus points.

The addition of 4K video is one of the bigger changes in the Canon T8i, but it’s really rather a shame that it comes hobbled by several significant limitations. The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking.

The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking.

Camera Sensor

The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking. The longer effective focal length also means that even with both optical and digital IS active, the stabilization system can struggle to smooth camera shake in 4K, especially if you’re walking.

Good Stuff

  • Through-the-lens optical viewfinder is crisp and lag-free
  • Good ergonomics and solid build
  • Compatible with a vast range of Canon EF and EF-S lenses and accessories
  • Excellent battery life (if you stick to the optical viewfinder)
  • Good still image quality, albeit not as good as some newer models
  • Fully articulating touchscreen display is very versatile

Not So Good Stuff.

  • Relatively small, dim viewfinder, even by APS-C DSLR standards
  • Wide-angle possibilities are very limited for 4K capture
  • No PDAF and only 24fps for 4K, tooFull HD video is prone to moiré and false color
  • Less point-dense AF than mirrorless rivals
  • No in-body stabilizer
  • AF points for viewfinder shooting clustered near the center of the frame
  • No ability to charge battery over USB

All of the above summed up here, this Canon Rebel T8i DSLR in a totally mirrorless world does feel a bit old. But, with it’s Video Recording and Image Processing, this could be a good option as a family camera and also a good tool for a budding Online Content Creator.