I was really nervous for a period when the pandemic was just starting, and for less obvious reasons than the fact that there was a worldwide pandemic happening. I was nervous that the release date of the Canon EOS Rebel T8i was going to be pushed back, since it came out in April of 2020.
Thankfully, I believe that Canon was already well into the production process for the Canon EOS Rebel T8i by the time the pandemic became serious.
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i, which was a follow up to the Canon EOS Rebel T7i, was hotly anticipated in the entry-level world because the Rebels have always been one of the most popular cameras for new photographers.
However, once the Canon EOS Rebel T8i actually came out and started getting reviews, some reviewers noted that it didn’t come with as many improvements over the older version as they were expecting.
This leads us to a question. Is the Canon EOS Rebel T8i still a serious contender for the best entry-level DSLR?
You’ll have to read our full Canon EOS Rebel T8i review to find out.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Specs
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i specs are pretty great for the price range this camera is in. For starters, you can expect 4K video at up to 25p and Full HD video at up to 60p.
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i features a 24MP CMOS sensor and a Digic 8 processor, just like other Canon cameras in the same price range, and an autofocus system with 143-points.
While I already mentioned the fact that a lot of photographers feel as though this type of DSLR is outdated, one huge benefit to purchasing a Canon EOS Rebel T8i is the fact that you will have a huge number of lenses available to use with it. The camera takes both EF and EF-S lenses from Canon, but it also works with third party lenses from Tokina and Sigma.
Since camera manufacturers aren’t as focused on creating DSLR cameras as much as they are focused on creating mirrorless cameras, it is left to be determined whether the Canon EOS Rebel T8i will have more lenses to choose from in the future. Still, if you’re looking for a versatile camera, the Canon EOS Rebel T8i is it because you can save money over purchasing a mirrorless and then take that money and spend it on a wide array of lenses.
There’s basically no better way to ensure you can have a fun shooting experience with the same camera time and time again.
Other Canon EOS Rebel T8i Specs Include:
- 24MP CMOS sensor
- Digic 8 processor
- ISO range of 100-25,600
- 4K video capabilities at up to 25p, Full HD video capabilities at up to 60p
- 3” vari-angle touchscreen with 1.04m-dots
- 7.5fps burst mode
- Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi
- 1.13 lbs
- 800-shot battery life with OVF, 310-shot battery life with Live View
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Body & Design
This camera is made of mostly plastic. It measures 4.0” by 5.2” x 3.0” and is definitely a near replica of the Canon EOS Rebel T7i. I personally would have liked to see Canon do a little something different with this camera, since it was the 30th anniversary of the original Canon Rebel, but it is a comforting feel for photographers who swear by the line.
The camera comes with many different creative filters, like a fish-eye effect and a grain b/w. The camera is definitely aimed at entry-level photographers and it comes with different Scene modes that help them to feel more comfortable branching out into different shooting scenarios.
One change between the older Canon EOS Rebel T7i and the newer Canon EOS Rebel T8i is that the camera now comes with a dedicated AF ON button.
Another thing to mention is the battery. I’ll talk more about the battery life in the handling section below, but the battery that Canon used for this camera is a LP-E17 battery which is literally half the size of the LP-E6 battery. This is helpful if you’re planning on packing light as you go on longer shoots.
Learn More:
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Build & Handling
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i build is very light. It weighs just 1.13 lbs, which means that it is a good option for younger photographers or photographers who are simply sick of carrying large DSLRs around with them all the time.
One of my favorite parts about the Canon EOS Rebel T8i design is its vari-angle touchscreen. You can seriously adjust it to sit at just about any position.
When it comes to the Canon EOS Rebel T8i handling, I would say this camera is much better than other cameras in similar Canon lines, both because it is so light and because of its battery life. If you stay away from Live View, you can get up to 800 shots off of just one charge. Very few cameras can compete with this sort of a battery life.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Video Performance
This Canon EOS Rebel T8i video performance test is brought to you via De’rajon Slaughter.
As I already mentioned, this camera can shoot 4K video at up to 25p, and it can also shoot Full HD video at up to 60p. But, unfortunately you can’t shoot 4K video unencumbered. If you’re going to be shooting 4K, you will have to accept a 1.5x crop. You also can’t use the Dual Pixel AF while shooting 4K video. What this means, in practice, is that your 4K video will only be really good in bright lighting. If you’re going to be shooting in darker lighting, then I fully recommend that you just stick to Full HD.
The same is true if you plan on using your digital stabilization while shooting video. There are two digital stabilization modes in video and both of them crop your video even more. Since digital stabilization creates such a drastic crop, and since it isn’t amazing in the first place, I also recommend that you simply bring a tripod with you in order to avoid the digital stabilization altogether.
I’m guessing, though, that anyone seriously looking at purchasing this camera likely won’t need 4K video, which is good news because the autofocus system works so well while shooting Full HD. You can track subjects easily and change your focus by tapping your screen.
You can create slow-motion videos in Full HD and you can film vertically, which means that you can easily create videos for social media channels.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i Price
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i price is currently $750 on Amazon. However, since it did come out a year ago, you can find cheaper Canon EOS Rebel T8i bodies available if you search for them secondhand from other photographers.
It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of purchasing used camera gear directly from other photographers, though, since you never really know what shape the camera is in and some websites don’t have as many protections for consumers. It can definitely be a gamble.
That’s why we suggest you use MPB for all of your used camera needs. MPB is a used camera site that is actually run by photographers. This is a surprisingly rare phenomenon.
MPB has a professional team to rate every piece of equipment they buy from photographers like you or I. So, you know that MPB’s rating system is accurate. It ranges from “like new” to “faulty” and you can get huge deals in every category.
While MPB currently doesn’t have any Canon EOS Rebel T8i bodies for sale, they rotate through hundreds of products everyday. So, by the time you’re reading this article, they could.
You can search for one, and possibly some other used camera deals, here.