Photography News Issue 45

Photography News | Issue 45 | absolutephoto.com

Camera test 34

Canon EOS 77D Its name might be a little unfamiliar, but Canon’s latest APS-C DSLR draws inspiration from two well-known and successful models in an attempt to make it the ultimate camera for beginners and upgraders. We put the EOS 77D to the test

Specs

Prices £829 body only

£919 with 18-55mm IS STM lens £1199 with 18-135mm IS USM lens (tested) Sensor 24.2 megapixels CMOS Sensorformat 22.3mmx14.9mm (APS-C), 6000x4000pixels ISOrange 100-25,600, 100-51,200 extended Shutterrange 30secs to 1/4000sec Drivemodes 6fps allowing up to 27 Raws, or JPEGs to card capacity Meteringsystem 7560-pixel RGB+IRmetering sensor, (67 segments), multi, partial, spot, centre-weighted Exposuremodes PASM, plus auto and scene options Exposurecompensation +/-5EV in 1/3 or 1/2EV steps Monitor Tiltable touchscreen 3in, TFT 1040K dots Viewfinder Pentamirror type, approx 95% coverage, 0.82x magnification Focusingmodes AI Focus, One Shot, AI Servo (AI Servo II algorithm), Color Tracking Focuspoints 45 AF points, Single point, Zone, Large Zone Video 1920x1080 (59.94p, 50 fps), also 29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p. H.264, up to 29min 59sec or 4GB file Connectivity Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, USB 3.0/micro USB, mini HDMI, 3.5mmmini-jack (microphone), remote release connector (Canon RS-60E3) Storagemedia SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS Speed Class 1 compatible) Dimensions(wxhxd) 131x99.9x76.2mm Weight Body 540g with card and battery Contact Canon.co.uk

Words and pictures by Kingsley Singleton

Canon’s DSLR range is well defined, in Europe at least; the fewer numbers in a camera’s name, the higher up the family tree it sits. And anything with two or more digits is a model with an APS-C chip. Aside from the top- end models, ascending numbers also mean newer cameras. Despite an extra ‘7’ slipping in, the EOS 77D sticks to that script. Specification wise, it’s placed above thenew800D, andbelowtheyearling 80D. You can see why they had to break convention with the name, but ‘77D’ actually trips off the tongue quite well. For the context of this review it makes sense to compare the 77D to the current models around, in terms of broad specification at least. Broadly then this is the same camera as the 800D, but with a couple of upgrades found in the 80D pushing it from beginners to enthusiasts as the target audience. The main thing is the use of a rear control dial, and a top plate LCD screen for camera settings, neither of which are found on lower-end models. The rear dial and top-plate LCD certainly make it handle more like a higher end DSLR, but the weight and button layout are closer to beginner models. The 77D uses the same 24-megapixel sensor, Dual Pixel autofocus system, and 45-area AF array as the 800D and 80D. Its Digic 7 processor outperforms the 80D’s Digic 6, but its burst mode is a frame fewer at 6fps. The ISO range of 100-25,600 (expandable to 51200), exceeds the 80D’s. Like the cameras around it in the range, the

Above The EOS 77D is a mix of two cameras; it most closely resembles the entry level EOS 800D, with some elements, like the top-plate LCD, from the higher spec EOS 80D. viewfinder feels quite cramped, a bit like you’re looking down a long tunnel, and though my eye adapted to that quite quickly, the 95% view is more of a problem. After shooting you’ll find slivers of stuff at the edge of the pic you didn’t expect. If you find you miss stuff out of a frame, maybe that’s a bonus, but in reality it’s not ideal, and means post-capture cropping is often necessary. Much of this comes from using a pentamirror design, rather than a traditional (and more expensive) pentaprism. In contrast the 80D has a 100%view. Button layout is straightforward, and very similar to the 800D. If you’re familiar with Canon bodies, it will be second nature, and if not, it’ll only take a couple of shoots to pick up. The addition of the AF-On button is welcome, and it sits within easy reach of the thumb, allowing you to separate the focusing from the shutter button. Next to this, the magnification controls for playback or live-view focusing double as auto exposure lock andAF point selection. Having a front (which Canon calls Main) and a rear (Quick Control) dial is a definite improvement over the single dial offered on the 800D, especially when working in manual mode. In shutter or aperture-priority,

main LCD display is a vari-angle 3in touchscreen version and there’s Wi- Fi, NFC and Bluetooth connectivity for uploading images and camera remote control (the latter missing from the 80D). It’ll shoot video at 1080p (maximum60fps), but not 4K, and it has a mic input (good), but no traditional output for headphones (not so good). It takes SD cards, but only one, despite the slot appearing to have space for a second. Something for the ‘78D’ perhaps... To get a proper feel for the 77D, I spent a week shooting with it in the Faroe Islands. I found it handled very well for a camera that’s only just out of the entry level arena. For starters it has a very deep and comfortable grip and a well-placed thumb rest. The layout is uncluttered around the grip, so you’re not in danger of hitting any buttons accidentally, which I find a problem on smaller bodies. That said, at 131x99.9x76.2mm (identical to the 800D) the camera is not exactly small. For me, that was a good thing, and combined with the rubberised coating on the body, it gave a solid hold. There’s no weather sealing though, so if you want a more rugged APS-CCanon, it’ll need to be the 80D. The vari-angle touchscreen is a good size, pin sharp, easy to read in

bright light, and feels robust. As it flips over, the screen can be protected and the top-plate LCD used for reading camera info alone. It also knowswhen it’s been flipped through 180º to the front; therein the picture flips, allowing easier ‘selfies’, if you’re that way inclined. As it’s a touchscreen, you press to focus in live view, and select and set menu functions, but I preferred to leave the touch function off and stick to button inputs, partly as I find myself accidentally interacting with the screen due to my pointy face. That said, when reviewing images, the screen supports gesture controls just like a phone, so you can swipe through pics and or use two fingers for zooming inandout. In that regard, it’s welcome. The mode dial, top left, offers the usual MASP modes and Auto/Scene modes. It has a knurled edge and can be locked to avoid accidental moves. Below it is the on/off/movie lever. I found this a little too light, and it was easy to knock, especially when putting the camera in a bag. Composition via the optical viewfinder isn’t great, due to the size of the view, and the actual image area displayed relative to what’s recorded. Like many entry level DSLRs, the