Canon’s new 80D looks great on paper, but does it deliver – and is it worth upgrading from the 70D? By Angela Nicholson, Digital Camera World Magazine.
The EOS 80D is aimed at dedicated enthusiast photographers, a demanding group of people who want to be able to shoot a huge range of subjects in a variety of conditions. Inside is a new 24-million-pixel sensor along with a Digic 6 processing engine; a combination that brings a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-16,000 (one-stop higher than the 70D) and a maximum expansion value of ISO 25,600 (the same as the 70D).
Modern SLRs have two autofocus systems: one for when using the camera conventionally (in reflex mode), where images are composed in the viewfinder; and a second for use in LiveView and video mode. Canon has improved both of these systems for the 80D in comparison with the 70D. The reflex mode system, for instance, has 45 AF points, all of which are cross-type, whereas the 70D has 19 points. It can also use colour information from the 7,560-pixel RGB+IR (infrared) metering sensor to help with subject tracking. This and the increased burst depth makes the 80D more attractive to keen sport and action photographers.
Turning to the Live View and video autofocus system, the 80D uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology like the 70D, which means it has phase detection points on the imaging sensor itself. The new system is more sensitive and faster than the one in the 70D, but because fast autofocusing often isn’t desirable when you’re shooting video, it’s possible to vary the speed of the 80D’s system over seven steps for slower focus changes.
Build & handling
Canon gives touch-control over both the main and Quick Menus, and it can really speed up use. The Quick Menu is very useful, providing aspeedy route to some of the most commonly used features. It would be nice, however, if this was customisable so that it only contained the features you use on a frequent basis. Although the 80D’s screen is very good, the viewfinder is still the more natural option for most photographers to use when shooting stills, especially if the subject is moving. This also provides a bright view – and unlike the 70D’s viewfinder, which only covers 98% of the lens field of view, the 80D’s covers 100%. That means there are fewer surprises around the edge of the frame when you review your shots.
In an update on the 70D, it’s possible to select the Creative Filter mode via the 80D’s mode dial. When this is selected, one of 10 filter effects can be applied to JPEG images as they are shot. If you’re shooting raw files or raw+JPEG files, the camera switches automatically to shooting just JPEGs. Although it’s possible to use Creative Filters when composing images in the viewfinder, their impact can only be previewed on the main screen in Live View mode.
Performance
The 80D’s 24.2MP sensor makes a 25% increase in pixel count over the 70D’s, and it enables the new camera to make a significant step up in detail resolution for the majority of the sensitivity range without an increase in the level of noise. It’s noticeable, however, that at ISO 12,800 the 80D scores lower in our resolution tests than the 70D. However, when the
default levels of noise reduction are applied, images shot at this sensitivity setting (and at ISO 16,000) look good.
Noise is controlled well and although some detail is lost, there’s no obvious smearing. We would advise caution with the uppermost setting of ISO 25,600, because some areas have a slight haze and lack detail when images are at around A4 size. But that’s why this value is an expansion setting: Canon makes it available for use if it’s really needed, but doesn’t consider the image quality entirely satisfactory.
Canon has given the 80D a significantly better autofocus (AF)system for use with the viewfinder than the 70D, so I was keen to put it to the test. It didn’t disappoint, getting stationary subjects sharp in a flash and keeping fast-moving subjects sharp, even in low light. I experimented with the AF point selection modes when shooting skateboarders in the gloomy conditions of London’s Undercroft skate park, and found that the 45-point Automatic Selection option is pretty capable, probably aided by the new colour detection system. Single-point AF (Manual selection) mode also worked well provided I could keep the active point over the subject. That’s easier said than done when you’re shooting skateboarders, who are prone to jumping, twisting and turning, and I had greater success when using the Zone AF mode. In this mode, the 45 AF points are grouped into nine zones and you select the most appropriate zone to use before starting to shoot. The camera then tracks the subject using the AF points within that zone. It’s a great option for moving targets and you see the points light up as they activate, giving you confidence that your images will be sharp. It’s not 100% fool-proof but I got a high hit rate, and it’s more reliable than 45-point Automatic Selection mode.
The Live View and Video mode AF system is also good. It’s fast enough to shoot stills of moving subjects in some situations, but the viewfinder system is more reliable.
The Dual Pixel CMOS AF system’s focus shift is smooth enough to be usable when shooting video, but it is dependent upon the shooting scenario and speed of movement. In reflex mode the 80D uses the same metering system as the 750D and 760D, which means there’s a 7,560-pixel RGB+IR (infrared) sensor and 63-zone Evaluative, Partial, Centre-weighted and Spot metering options. The evaluative system is very good, but the weighting applied to the active AF point can mean you need to apply exposure compensation in highcontrast situations. There’s nothing especially unusual in that.
When shooting in Live View mode, the 80D uses the imaging sensor to measure exposure, and it does a good job. However, if you’ve turned up the brightness of the screen to cope with bright ambient light, keep an eye on the histogram view: images may look brighter than they actually are.
Fast AF
In continuous autofocus mode, the 80D kept this skateboarder sharp easily as he moved across the frame and towards the camera.
Dynamic range
Thanks to the 80D’s high dynamic range, there’s detail in the bright highlights as well as the gloomy interior of this scene.
It’s natural
The automatic white balance system coped with the different light and numerous colours of the scene to produce a natural image.
Specifications
Sensor APS-C format with 24.2 million effective pixels
Focal length conversion 1.6x
Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-1)
Viewfinder Optical covering 100%
Max video resolution Full HD (1920 x 1080)
ISO range 100-16,000, expandable to 25,600
Autofocus points 45, all cross-type
Max burst rate 7fps
Screen Three-inch 1,040,000-dot Clear View II TFT
Shutter speeds 30-1/8,000sec, Bulb
Weight 650g (body only)
Dimensions 139 x 105 x 79mm
Power supply Lithium-ion LP-E6N
While colours aren’t as saturated as in images
from the Pentax K-3 II, the 80D’s shots are a
little more saturated than is technically correct.
Still, they make for attractive results.
On the whole, the Canon 80D’s images are a
little cleaner than the 70D’s. It only drops
slightly behind the Pentax K-3 II and Sony
Alpha 77 II at the top sensitivity values.
Canon has squeezed more dynamic range
from the 80D than the 70D, indicating
images have a better range of tones.
However, the K-3 II achieves higher values.
We say
Canon has created an excellent camera that
makes a worthwhile upgrade from the 70D.
It’s well-built with sensibly arranged
controls, has good ergonomics and an
extensive feature set, and can be set up to
suit your shooting style. Most importantly,
the image quality is superb with lots of detail.
