Canon Digital SLR Camera Body [EOS 80D] with 24.2 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS Sensor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF – Black

I bought this camera because I found that my Full frame (EOS5D mk3) camera was just too heavy. The *80D has a similar focussing system to the 5D which I found to be excellent for Birds in flight. Although Canon has marketed several new models since the launch of the 80D, this is still a very good option and at an excellent price.

Only used a little since I got this – moved up from a D100 so a big step – this looks to be a camera that warrants the hype and appears to be every bit as good as the review say. Looking forward to a long and enjoyable ownership experience, especially when I’ve saved the pennies to buy some proper lenses.

So far its very good even on modest “kit” lenses

This camera makes low light photography more effective with its high ISO and also its speed is great for movement. The fold out touchscreen is brilliant. You can either have it out to use live view for shooting movies or it folds into the back of the camera functioning as an info screen where you can change settings very fast with a finger touch. as I only just have it I can’t say more than that but so far so very good.

I’ve been using Canon DSLR’s since 2008, starting with the XSi and progressing to the T3i, 60D, 70D and now the 80D….
I’ve also used the 6D MKII and the Sony A7III…
For pure image quality, both of those full framers blow this away…
BUT:
The autofocus on the 80D is more usable than on the 6D MKII as there are 45 points that are more spread out..
The focus on the A7III is even quicker, despite the fact that the AF on this camera (with the right lenses-See the new USM lenses!) is super fast…
Reasons I chose THIS over the A7III:
Fully-Articulated and FULLY TOUCHABLE SCREEN!!
Dual Pixel AF in Live View
THAT GRIP!
The fact that it takes the same battery as my 70D and the 60D and the 5D series as well…
The fact that it comes with an actual CHARGER!
The fact that my 70D battery grip fits this camera with no problem..
The fact that my Yongnuo flashes work as well as they did with the 70D (which is to say not perfectly, but well enough)
The fact that my strobes/trigger work as expected with this camera and NOT with the A7III
The fact that I can drop this camera and not think twice about it..Not that I would…
The fact that I can flip the screen around to face inwards, when transporting the camera/not using live view and KNOW that the screen is protected..
The fact that this camera will NEVER overheat..
The optical viewfinder is superior to the EVF on the Sony except for the fact that you can preview your exposure, although you can do that on this camera in live view if you wish…I much prefer optical…It’s true that you can see in lower light through the EVF on the sony, when you’d see inky blackness on the OVF, BUT, the evf image is noisy and if it’s that dark, you should be using flash/strobes or just not shoot…
The built in flash-It works much better than they used to..
CANON’s LENS ECOSYSTEM:
Many many options out there (WAY more than Sony) and there are far less expensive options for Canon than for Sony, although Sony’s lenses are mirrorless system specific and much sharper…
A great used/aftermarket for lenses….And other accessories
A TON of useful accessories/3rd party and OEM for Canon…
I can carry the 80D around all day with a long lens on it, holding it just by the grip and my hand doesn’t get tired, whereas with the Sony I want to put it down after like 5 minutes…
ONE CARD SLOT! It’s SO MUCH SIMPLER…I THOUGHT 2 card slots was a MUST because the “pros” on YT told me so, but in reality, for an amateur, it’s just a PITA…I MUCH prefer the super quick way I can change memory cards and batteries on the 80D vs the Sony and others….
LENS RELEASE BUTTON;
It’s between the lens and the grip on the A7III and on the opposite side (where it belongs!) on the 80D…
Much quicker to change lenses…
Sensor Protection-The 80D has a mirror that stays in place when you change lenses….The Sony and other mirrorless cameras have a naked sensor exposed to the world when you remove the lens, except the EOS R and I think the Nikon twins-Z7 and Z6, which drop a shutter down when the lens is removed..
Battery Door-On the 80D, you flick it open, pop out the battery, slot in a new one-sticking it in the natural way you’d think it would go btw) and slam the door shut, job done….On the Sony, you have to hold the tiny latch as you close the door…But the memory card door works like the Canon, so why the inconsistency?
REACH-So on this Crop Sensor/APS-C camera, a 70-200 lens becomes/looks like/behaves like, etc etc…A 112-320! lens…So you basically get 60% more reach..Of course, you get short-changed on the wide end, but length is better than width anyway…
AND THE BIG REASON: PRICE!
The 6D MKII is now $1299 with a free (and actual Canon) battery grip…an amazing deal! BUT, it was originally $2000!!!!!!
The A7III IS $2000 BODY ONLY! Yes, I know it’s $1998, but by the time you add tax, it’s over $2K! AND, by the time you add two decent lenses, you’re talking $4K…
I was able to buy a refurbished 80D and two lenses for $1450…With a battery charger! So I saved roughly $2550, which is enough to pay for a nice vacation, on which I can use my new camera! Or I can buy the Sony and just stay home and take pics of my walls…
For me, with my long history of Canon DSLR ownership and my needs, the 80D just made/makes sense…
Highly Recommended!