Canon EOS 77D EF-S 18-135 IS USM Kit + Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI

Comment

I planned to buy a Rebel SL2 or T7i as a backup to my 80D but, with the Spring Canon rebate offer, the Canon EOS 77D dropped a Benjamin below the T7i. A week later I found a 77D on my doorstep. The 77D is essentially a cross between a Rebel and 80D: Rebel T7i form factor and build with many controls and features of the 80D. While not as solid as the 80D, the 77D feels good in my medium sized hands, sporting ample grip area and thoughtfully placed controls. Controls may be used by feel while looking through the viewfinder, allowing on the fly adjustments. The touchscreen is vivid, sensitive, and a dream for navigating through the menus. The only negative is the on-off switch: stiff and cheap feeling. Luckily I rarely turn my cameras off—sleep mode is good enough—but I felt like I might break the darn thing off with each use. AF is fast and accurate, basically the same as the 80D. The 45-point phase-detect AF system (viewfinder) covers a major portion of the frame, making off-center and low light compositions a snap. There are few situations this camera won’t achieve focus under. Canon’s AF mode and point selection are refined, fast and easy to use. I normally manually select zones and individual AF points while looking through the viewfinder: press the AF select button and spin one of the dials or press the rocker pad. AF points may be selected on the touchscreen also: move your eye away from the viewfinder and the AF modes instantly appear on the LCD. Dual Pixel AF, used for Live View and video, is amazingly flexible, accurate and several times faster than the Hybrid AF used on the prior generation of Rebels, e.g., SL1 and T6i, and M3. Simply press the Live View button and you have a highly effective “mirrorless” camera. I suspect the iOS generation will be perfectly happy using the 77D in Live View only, poking the touchscreen like a giant iPhone and uploading images to social media via Wi-Fi and the Canon Connect app. Dual Pixel AF is a level slower than the 45-point phase-detect AF in the viewfinder, so not for fast sports or birds in flight. However, it is ideal for point and shoot and can track joggers, walkers and crawlers like a champ. For video, it grabs faces like glue and never lets go. One significant feature the 77D didn’t inherit from the 80D is the 100% coverage and .95x viewfinder. Instead, we get a somewhat small and dim 95% coverage and .82x magnification Rebel spec viewfinder. Small viewfinders are par for the course for Rebels but disappointing for this class and price point. Although a wee viewfinder, its a “smart” one, featuring a transparent LCD overlay for display of AF points, grid and icons, aping EVF features. The square AF points are easy to see in most light, unlike the pinhole AF points used in many Rebel models, and may be programmed to flash red all the time, not at all or only in dim light. I leave the grid enabled to help keep horizontal and vertical lines square. Although an electronic level is available, it’s small and fiddly to use. Basic video options are yet another Rebel inheritance of the 77D. The good news is Dual Pixel AF is cutting edge by any standard and makes capturing sharp video shockingly easy. The quality of the resulting HD file is very good but, sadly, files are limited to low bit rates and the so-called “easy to share” MP4 format. In contrast, the 80D has the option of higher bit rates (MOV format and ALL-I compression), allowing for more post processing with fewer artifacts. And the 77D lacks clean HDMI out, so you can’t dance around the low bit rates with an external recorder. Another MIA 80D trait is auto focus micro-adjustment or AFMA: the ability to calibrate individual lenses for optimal sharpness. My 70D, 80D and 6D MK II required AFMA for most lenses. Oddly, my cameras without AFMA—SL1 and 77D—are sharp when using most of the same lenses. It’s as if Canon was intentionally sloppy setting up DSLRs with AFMA, expecting customers to calibrate, but dialed in those lacking AFMA more carefully. The diminutive LP-E17 is the same battery used in recent Rebels (T6i, T7i, etc.) and M-series EOS. A small battery is a necessary compromise for a small camera: don’t expect the same performance as a big battery like the LP-E6N. Canon claims the LP-E17 delivers 600 still images with optical viewfinder shooting and, indeed, I squeezed out close to that number. However, heavy Live View use drops that number below 300. In fairness, my M3 (mirrorless) uses the same battery and barely manages 200 frames, so the 77D is a reasonably power efficient camera in “mirrorless” mode. A spare battery is essential if you’ve got itchy trigger finger or shoot video. Finally, the image quality of the 77D is excellent: sharp, low noise, vivid colors, accurate exposure and noteworthy high ISO performance. No problem if you need a 2-stop shadow lift or a large print. I process RAW files in Adobe Lightroom Classic and the 77D exhibits the same image quality as the 80D, M5 and other cameras with the Canon 24.2 MP CMOS, so no surprises here. While not perfect, the 77D is a darn good camera: polished ergonomics, excellent AF performance and ready and able in nearly any photographic situation. It especially excels as a travel and hiking camera, shoehorning high performance into a compact form factor without being too tiny to hold comfortably. For video bloggers, the articulating LCD, Dual Pixel AF (in face priority mode) and smartphone control make the 77D a great choice for the next ramen challenge or makeup tutorial.

Show more

Comment

I previously had the Canon Rebel XSI, released in 2008. It was a 12MP shooter and I was still happy with the quality of photos that it captures which are still better than any smartphone today (though certainly modern smartphones have come a long way and can produce amazing photos). However, it couldnt do video and with the kids growing up, that was something I was sorely missing. While many of Canons competitors are offering 4k video in this price range, Canon seems content letting them steal market share by choosing to only offer 1080p in mid-range cameras like the 77D while saving 4k for their professional series ($3k+). As annoying as that is, Im already invested in Canon lenses and Im not a professional photographer so paying multiple thousands is not in my budget, so I settled on 1080p being good enough. That said, Im extremely impressed with this camera and I didnt expect to be. 12 to 24mp doesnt matter much to me - sure it gets me a little more crop options but I was plenty happy with 12mp previously. Whats most impressive is the auto focus, the overall quality of the camera and the shooting speed. Ive taken action shots with the kids and pressed the shutter as fast as I can and in a matter of a few seconds I have 10-12 shots, all of them crisp and perfectly focused. I backup to Google photos which turns those into a nice animated GIF for me, so not only do I get amazing expressions on the kids out of all those photos, but I even get a short little GIF video clip with no extra effort on my part. Summary: if you dont have an SLR today or you have an old one (mine was 10 years old) and are wondering if its worth the upgrade to a modern DSLR: it absolutely it is. If 4k video is important to you, look elsewhere or wait a year or two for Canon to wake up and add it to their midrange cameras as well, but in the mean time for 1080p video and awesome pictures, this camera is hard to beat in this price range!

Show more

Comment

I am extremely happy with this DSLR. I bought the body only as I already had multiple Canon lenses. I chose it as an upgrade from my Canon Rebel SL1. I have always preferred Canon to Nikon, and I have owned both brands multiple times over many years of doing photography with various SLRs. This camera is definitely an upgrade for me, and has more advanced features which I use, while at the same time still being reasonable to use. The better autofocusing system, light sensitivity, and photo resolution were the main reasons I purchased this camera. I prefer compact sensor cameras in general as the size of most of the full frame cameras has become really ridiculous both in size and in weight now. IMHO it is not necessary to have a large heavy camera these days, to take professional photographs. Before I purchased this I read reviews on professional photography sites and everyone had good things to say about both Canon and about the 77D model. I am very glad I chose this camera and would highly recommend it.

Show more

Comment

Went with this model over the 80D. No regrets. Excellent camera. Only draw back is I wish Canon would have made this model weather resistant. I owned a 40D & 50D. For mid level photographers the 77D is great. Performs just like the 80D. The 80D is slightly better for Video and more robust camera body & battery pack. You can attach a battery grip to the 77D and problem solved. -M

Show more

Comment

I’ve won awards with this camera. 1 for a visual marketing campaign contest 2 made it in the top 25 list for local businesses in my area. I’ve beat people with full frame cameras , which proves that it’s about how well you understand the science and art making it your skill. Enjoy the photos feel free to ask me anything if you have questions on exposure methods

Show more

Comment

Ok, my new best camera. I was torn between the t7i and the 77D. But after reading the details and comparisons of the two cameras I decided to go with the 77D. I have just taken some shots to familiarize myself with the camera. I am loving it. More details to follow once I really get into the camera. One thing that I wish that Canon had done was to make a battery grip for the 77D. Ok, an update. Have had this camera now for @3 months and it continues to amaze me with the shots I am getting. The ease of changing settings to make shots even better, or to experiment with different settings. I am loving this camera even more each time I use it. I started out using the Scene Intelligent Auto setting and progressed from there to Creative Auto mode. Wow, it is just amazing what this camera does for your confidence. I am certainly impressed and virtually keep this camera as an extended hand. And as stated before, I am loving it more and more. You will not regret purchasing this camera.

Show more

Comment

This camera is very light weight compared to my 40D. It has all the settings needed to do all kinds of photography. Very simple to use - I would recommend this camera very highly!! Battery life is outstanding. Photos are fantastic.

Show more

Comment

Update 2019-04-17: Amazon customer service is way better than Canon and replaced the body I was having issues with. The replacement seems to be functioning properly. During one half hour session, I took over 600 photos as well as some video. Only once did I have an issue with the body losing connection to the lens (Tamron 18-300), but it resolved itself immediately. TLDR: The camera is a good step up if youre looking to grow your skills, if your camera does not have any defects. ----- I purchased this camera because I wanted to upgrade from my old Rebel XT DSLR. I also was looking for something that would allow me to grow my skills. The good: Some of the features that I loved coming from the XT were the articulated touch screen and some of the buttons for quick access to settings. Since the camera has better low light performance, I dabbled a little bit with very basic astrophotography and wasnt disappointed. Why the 1 starcscart_ Heres where things get sticky. The first day I had the camera, I was using it pretty hard (as Im sure most people do). After about 15 to 30 minutes of heavy use, the camera would freeze up. Shutter would stay open. Touch screen and all controls would not respond. The only option was to power down, remove the battery, and start over. I gave Canon 2 chances to repair the camera. Both times they stated that the camera was function properly. The first time, they told me that my 3 Canon and 1 Tamron lenses were causing the issue. The second time, they told me I didnt understand buffering. I fully believe that, while their phone support staff are fantastic, there is a fundamental breakdown in communication between them and the repair staff. You wont find out until you get the camera back whether or not they actually fixed the problem or if theyre assuming youre an idiot who didnt read the manual. I just cannot recommend this camera based purely on my experiences. If youre invested in Canon, just be aware that your mileage may vary. You might stick to either the T7i or go up to the 80D. I plan to return the camera at this point and re-evaluate my choice, not only in body, but manufacturer.

Show more

Comment

This is the third Canon camera that I currently own. I have a PowerShot ELPH 180, a Rebel T6, and now this 77D plus several lenses and other accessories. I bought the 77D body only and since I already have lenses that fit this body there was no point in buying more. I’m not a professional photographer nor am I a beginner and having a basic knowledge and understanding of DSLR’s and cameras/photography in general I found this camera to be an excellent choice for the money spent. It’s a step above the Rebel cameras (including the i models) and a step below the 80D and other higher end and higher priced cameras, but for the beginner, the average, and the more experienced photo enthusiast, who would want more? Like the T6, this camera is packed with features plus a few more broader features, but I won’t go into them all. You can read about them in the 77D description. I found the menu easy to navigate and actually all controls are easy to get through. The touch screen with its quick response is a plus. I’m not interested in shooting videos and I won’t be uploading jpeg’s directly from the camera because I always process my raw photos in Photoshop prior to uploading so I can’t comment on the video or wifi features, but from what I’ve read and seen on youtube reviews the video feature is excellent. I would suggest watching some Youtube 77D reviews before purchasing and from the number of reviews I’ve seen, they all rate this camera as a great buy for more reasons than I can list here. I read where someone on the question/answer section on this page indicated that the battery from the Rebel T6 would work in this camera. It won’t. It’s a different battery so be advised. If you’re looking for a semi-professional camera at a reasonable price with Canon’s solid reputation backing it up then this is the one for you. NOTE: The only negative thing that I find with the 77D is that the video on/off is the same switch as the cameras on/off switch and if youre not careful in turning on the camera you can accidentally be in video mode.

Show more

Comment

Nice camera! Has an amazing sensor and is a good size. The top LCD display, scroll wheel, articulating screen and touch screen all make this a very user-friendly camera. The Dual-Pixel AF and 45 all cross-type autofocus points make this one of the best autofocusing systems on a DSLR. Note that this camera will work with both EF and EF-S lenses.

Show more