Canon Rebel T8i
24 MP, 7 FPS APS-C, 4K/23.976 (EOS 850D)
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
Canon EOS Digital Rebel T8i (18.2 oz./515 g with battery and SD card, $749) and Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM. bigger.
I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens for $899 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield, and it's about $660 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
January 2023 Better Pictures Canon Reviews Canon Lenses Canon Flash All Reviews
Canon Rebel T8i. bigger.
Canon Rebel T8i. bigger.
Canon Rebel T8i. bigger.
Sample Images top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
(more at High ISOs)
These are just snapshots and there are many more throughout the review; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are all shot hand-held as NORMAL JPGs; no tripods, FINE JPGs or RAW CR3 files were used or needed.
Desert Palms at Last Light, 7:29 PM, 17 June 2020. Canon T8i, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS II at 170mm wide-open at f/5 hand-held at 1/320 at Auto ISO 200 (LV 12.0), Perfectly Clear. bigger or 24 MP camera-original © 6.2 MB JPG file.
Water Meter, 7:48 AM, 17 June 2020. Canon T8i, Canon EF 28-135mm IS USM (which sells used for only about $100 if you know How to Win at eBay) at 33mm at f/7.1 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.0), exactly as shot. bigger or 24 MP camera-original © 12 MB JPG file.
Desert Palms at Last Light, 7:29 PM, 16 June 2020. Canon T8i, Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS at 16mm at f/5 at 1/100 at Auto ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 11¼), exactly as shot. bigger or 24 MP camera-original © 8.8 MB JPG file.
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
I love my T8i. It's small and inexpensive, and gives me the same awesome images as I get from the state-of-the-art 90D (megapixels don't matter). As you'll see at high ISOs the T8i is even better than the awful $5,000 LEICA Q2.
The colors and images I get from my T8i are second to none, and clearly superior to what I get from my Fujis, Sonys and LEICAs. All Canon cameras have had similar color rendition for over ten years, and I get superior JPG colors and images right out of Canons (and Nikons) that I can publish and bring to market right out of the camera.
My T8i handles great, and even in near total darkness the T8i focuses and exposes easily, and does this all hand-held without any need for stabilization. (at f/1.4 only the big palm on the right is in focus.
The T8i's automatic Lens Corrections make my old 1990s lenses super sharp; you can see samples with my $100 28-135mm IS USM above at Sample Images and below at Lens Corrections.
The Canon Rebel T8i (called the Kiss X10i in Japan and EOS 850D everywhere else) is an extremely competent and basic DSLR camera. It does almost all the things the more expensive cameras do, but with less size, less weight, and much less expense. What you miss compared to the more expensive Canon cameras is mostly that it's smaller so it has less room for and has fewer control buttons and dials, it "only" runs at 7 FPS and that it's not built as tough if you enjoy physically abusing your cameras.
The T8i finder uses a lightweight, hollow pentamirror rather than a heavy glass pentaprism to save weight, but it makes the T8i's finder smaller than in larger cameras.
Otherwise, the pictures that come out of this baby are just as good as, and have 20% more resolution than Canon's top $6,499 professional 1DX Mk III!
I LOVE the images I get from my T8i, just as I do from all my Canons, so much better than the duller images I get from Fuji, Sony und LEICA. I like this photo so much I'm going to show it again:
Desert Palms at Last Light, 7:29 PM, 17 June 2020. Canon T8i, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS II at 170mm wide-open at f/5 hand-held at 1/320 at Auto ISO 200 (LV 12.0), Perfectly Clear. bigger or 24 MP camera-original © 6.2 MB JPG file.
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
New since T7i intro top
Now has a rear control dial just like big Canon cameras.
4K video.
7 FPS, up from 6 FPS.
Adds 4:3 Ideal Format" crops to the square and 16:9 options of the T7i (how to set them).
Adds a new programmable AF ON button at the top right rear.
New tiny and clever level display icon in lower left of finder makes it easy to get level shots without cluttering your finder image. (Activate it at MENU > WRENCH 🔧 page 4 > Viewfinder display > Electronic level > Show.)
New 220,000 pixel RGB+IR meter sensor.
Can rotate videos after they've been shot.
Loses the rear dedicated WiFi button.
Loses some of the crazy scene modes from the top dial. I never used those, so this makes the T8i dial clearer.
Good intro top
Superb image quality: unbeaten color, highlight and tone rendition. The pictures look better than what I get from Sony or Fuji cameras. I've been shooting for over 50 years and own them all, and I can't get any better pictures from any other brand of camera.
Excellent ergonomics. The T8i just goes.
Big, fat, well-marked and easy-to-use MODE dial.
4:3, Square and 16:9 as-shot crops (how to set them).
New tiny and clever level display icon in lower left of finder makes it easy to get level shots without cluttering your finder image. (Activate it at MENU > WRENCH 🔧 page 4 > Viewfinder display > Electronic level > Show.)
Built-in flash.
Built-in flash also works as commander to control remote Canon flashes.
Can rotate videos after they've been shot.
My Menu menu.
Great battery life, rated over 1,000 shots.
Depth-of-field preview button.
Electronic Image Stabilization for video (none for stills; that's usually in your lens).
3.5mm Mic-input jack.
Made domestically in Japan.
100% U.S.A.-based high-quality technical support at (800) OK-CANON.
Bad intro top
No minimum shutter speed adjustment in Auto ISO.
No annoying AF-Assist LED, instead it uses even more annoying multiple bursts of flash to help it focus in the dark.
Missing intro top
No minimum shutter speed adjustment in Auto ISO.
No C1, C2 or C3 user presets. (see trick work-around.)
No automatic brightness control for rear LCD.
No Image Stabilization for stills (does have electronic stabilization for video).
No ability to save and recall camera settings to and from a card.
No timed manual exposure times longer than 30 seconds. You have to use Bulb, a remote release and an external timer instead.
No illuminated buttons.
No second card slot.
No headphone jack.
No USB charging; use the included external charger.
No flash pop-up button; just lift the flash instead.
Only 95%-coverage pentamirror finder, not 100% (Live View is 100%).
Specifications top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Lens Compatibility specifications top
Canon Rebel T8i Lens Mount. bigger.
This isn't Nikon; this Canon T8i works flawlessly with every Canon EF and EF-s lens ever made since 1987, period.
Image Sensor specifications top
24 MP (6,000 × 4,000 pixels) native.
14.9 × 22.3mm (APS-C) CMOS.
3.7 µm pixel pitch.
3:2 aspect ratio.
1.61 × crop factor.
Ultrasonic cleaner.
14-bit analog-to-digital conversion.
ISO specifications top
ISO 100 ～ 25,600, also ISO 51,200 (H1).
Auto ISO specifications top
Adjustable for high limits from ISO 400 to ISO 25,600 in full stops.
No minimum shutter speed adjustment in Auto ISO!
Minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO cannot be changed. It varies from 1/60 at wide to about 1/(twice the focal length).
Image Sizes specifications top
Large: 6,000 × 4,000 pixel (24 MP) native.
Medium: 3,984 × 2,656 (11 MP).
Small 1: 2,976 × 1,984 (5.9 MP).
Small 2: 2,400 × 1,600 (3.8 MP).
Cropped Aspect Ratios
4:3, Square and 16:9 crops from inside the above 3:2 native sizes.
Still Formats specifications top
JPG and/or raw.
sRGB and Adobe RGB.
Video specifications top
File Format
.MP4 file holding H.264 4:2:0 8-Bit video and AAC stereophonic audio.
Frame Sizes and Rates
4K (3,840 x 2,160) at 23.976p or 25p [120 Mb/s] .
1,920 x 1,080 at 23.976p, 29.97p, 25p or 59.94p [12 to 60 Mb/s].
1,280 x 720 at 50p or 59.94p [26 Mb/s].
Longest Take Length
30 minutes.
Audio specifications top
Recorded only along with video.
S - t - e - r - e - O microphone built in.
Mic-in jack with plug-in power overrides built-in mic.
No headphone jack.
Autofocus specifications top
45 cross-type sensors.
ONE SHOT, AI FOCUS and AI SERVO modes.
LV -3 ~ +18 (lens not specified).
Light Meter specifications top
Evaluative, Center-weighted, Partial and Spot.
LV -2 ~ +20 (lens not specified).
Finder specifications top
Lightweight pentamirror.
95 % coverage (Live View is 100%).
0.51× magnification with 31mm (50mm equivalent) normal lens. (0.82× magnification with 50mm telephoto lens).
19mm eyepoint.
23.2º apparent angle.
-3 ～ +1 diopters.
Shutter specifications top
1/4,000 ～ 30 seconds, Bulb.
1/200 flash sync speed.
Remote Release specifications top
2.5mm socket for Canon RS-60E3 or similar 2.5mm remote cords.
Frame Rates specifications top
To 7 FPS, viewfinder shooting with tracking autofocus and auto exposure.
To 7.5 FPS, Live View shooting.
Buffer (Burst) Sizes specifications top
170 frames JPG; 40 frames raw.
Flash specifications top
1/200 sync speed.
E-TTL II control system.
Built-in Flash
Yes, pops up.
GN 40'/12 meters at ISO 100.
Built-in flash also works as commander to control remote Canon flashes.
External Flash
Dedicated hot shoe.
Standard PC (Prontor-Compur) flash sync terminal.
No Prontor-Compur (PC) terminal; use the built-in flash to trigger your slaves or just use a hot-shoe adapter for corded sync.
LCD Monitor specifications top
Canon Rebel T8i flipping LCD. bigger.
3" (75 mm) diagonal.
1,040,000 dots.
3:2 aspect ratio.
Swivels out 180º as shown, and then up 180º as shown or down 90º.
No anti-smudge coating.
No anti-reflection coating.
Connectors specifications top
2.5mm remote jack.
3.5mm Microphone in jack.
USB 2.0 Micro-B.
Mini-C HDMI (not CEC).
Wi-Fi specifications top
802.11b/g/n.
2.412 ~ 2.462 GHz.
Channels 1 ~ 11.
NFC specifications top
None.
Bluetooth specifications top
Version 4.1 LE.
GPS specifications top
None.
Storage specifications top
One slot for an SD, SDHC or SDXC card.
UHS and UHS-I.
Body specifications top
All plastic outside.
Quality specifications top
Bottom, Canon Rebel T8i. bigger.
Made in Japan.
Power & Battery specifications top
Battery
The included LP-E17 rechargeable Li-Ion battery is rated for 1,240 shots without flash or 800 with 50% flash (360 shots with Live View or 310 with Live View and 50% flash.)
or
1.5 hours of 4K video or about 2.5 hours of HD video.
10% fewer shots at 32º F (0ºC).
7.2V, 1,040 mAh.
1.30 x 0.55 x 1.94."
33 x 14 x 49.4mm.
1.59 oz. (45g).
Battery Meter
3-segment icon.
3-dot battery health check.
Charger
Battery Charger LC-E17. bigger.
Back, Battery Charger LC-E17.bigger.
LC-E17 folding plug 100-240V 50-60 cps charger included in U. S. A.
In other areas you may get the LC-E17E charger with a detachable cord.
2.65 x 1.09 x 3.63."
67.3 x 27.7 x 92.2 mm.
3 oz. (85g).
Rated 2 hour charge time.
AC Adapter
Optional AC Adapter AC-E6N and DC Coupler DR-E18.
Size specifications top
4.04 × 5.16 × 3.00 inches HWD.
102.6 × 131.0 × 76.2 millimeters HWD.
Weight specifications top
18.17 oz. (515 g) with battery and card.
16.61 oz. (471 g) stripped.
Environment, Operating specifications top
0 ～ 40º C (32 ～ 104º F).
0 to 85% RH.
Included specifications top
T8i body.
Canon EF-2 Eyecup.
Canon EW-400D-N strap.
Possibly the 18-55mm lens if bought as a kit.
Announced specifications top
13 February 2020.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
September 2022 ~ January 2023
$749 at B&H, at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield.
Also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens for $899 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield.
About $660 used if you know How to Win at eBay. Oddly it sells for about the same price with or without the standard kit 18-55mm lens.
June 2020
$749 at B&H, at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield.
Also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens for $899 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield.
Accessories top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Included
Canon RF-3 EF Body Cap.
LP-E17 battery.
LC-E17 charger.
Optional
AC Adapter AC-E6N and DC Coupler DR-E18.
RS-60E3 Wired Remote Release.
Canon DM-E1 Programmable Microphone
Mono shotgun, 90º or 120º stereo settings.
Windscreen included.
Canon DM-E100 Stereo Microphone
Only one stereo pattern.
Windscreen included.
Canon Angle Finder C
Switchable 1.25× and 2.5× magnifications.
Canon EF and EF-s Lenses
Canon Flash
Unboxing top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Box, Canon Rebel T8i. bigger.
Canon got lazy and uses the same big box for just the body (as I got) or the kit with the 18-55mm lens. If you get the body-only, most of the box is empty and tiny letters on the top of the box near the picture of the camera with lens says "lens not included." Don't buy this from a street vendor or at retail who may have put the box in shrink wrap and covered the "lens not included" warning.
The box is completely unsealed, never shrink wrapped. Just like packages of ice cream that kids open, lick and put back in store freezer sections or mouthwash that's been gargled and put it back on the store shelf, there is no way to know if anyone else has been fiddling with your camera or lens, swapping parts and accessories, or even if it's a dropped, returned, damaged or used lens or camera.
Canon uses a sticker with the serial number on the camera bag inside the box, but these don't seal; they're easy to put back so they don't show any tampering.
This is why it's critical to buy only from an approved online source, since they ship from automated warehouses where no shifty salesmen or other customers ever getting to touch your new camera before it ships. While new home security cameras, $5 CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays and bottles of milk and drinking water are sealed and quite obvious if anyone's opened them, paradoxically Canon doesn't bother sealing anything, so your only insurance is to buy only from a trusted online dealer.
Getting a Legal U.S.A. Version top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Canon U.S.A. Warranty Card. bigger.
Your T8i must include a U.S.A. warranty card like the one shown above from Canon U.S.A., Inc. It should be on top inside your box as you open it. The serial number on the card must match the serial number on the bottom of your T8i.
If not, you got ripped off with a gray market version from another country. This is why I never buy anyplace other than from my personally approved sources. You just can't take the chance of buying elsewhere, especially at any retail store, because non-U.S.A. versions have no warranty in the U.S.A., and you probably won't be able to get firmware or service for it — even if you're willing to pay out-of-pocket for it when you need it!
Shifty dealers may include color copies of a card from a legitimate U.S.A. lens in a gray-market box, hoping you won't check serial numbers and catch their fraud. A card with the wrong serial number means nothing other than that you have no warranty coverage.
The serial number on the box doesn't have to match, but it should. It will be hidden someplace on the sticker with all the bar codes. If not, it means a shady dealer took things out of boxes and was too sloppy to put them back correctly — and it means you got a used lens if anyone other than you took it out of the box.
If a gray market version saves you $300 the risk might be worth it, but for $200 or less I wouldn't risk having no warranty or support.
Always be sure to check yours while you can still return it, or just don't buy from unapproved sources or at retail so you'll be able to have your camera serviced and get free updated firmware as needed. Get yours from the same places I do and you won't have a problem.
Performance top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Auto ISO
Auto White Balance Color Rendition Crop Modes
Ergonomics Exposure Finder Flash High ISOs
Lens Corrections Mechanics Noise & Vibration
Rear LCD Playback Data Power & Battery
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Overall performance top
The Rebel T8i is a great little camera, differing only in size, weight, durability, speed, controls, displays and sensor format from Canon's top pro cameras. Picture quality is the same.
Autofocus performance top
Autofocus is fast and clairvoyant. I set it to ALL-AREA AF and it just figures out where to focus and does it.
Even in near total darkness my T8i focuses and exposes easily, and does this all hand-held without any need for stabilization. At f/1.4 only the big palm on the right is in focus:
Palms in pitch dark under cloudy sky, 8:47 PM, 20 June 2020. Canon T8i, Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L hand-held at f/1.4 at 1/40 at Auto ISO 25,600 (LV -1.6), exactly as shot. bigger.
Manual Focus performance top
Manual focus is easy; just turn most lens; focus ring and watch the ground glass. There's a green dot that pops on at the bottom right of the finder when you're in perfect focus, too.
Auto ISO performance top
Auto ISO only lets us set the maximum ISO from 400 ~ 25,600 in full stops.
Auto ISO doesn't let us pick the slowest shutter speed. Instead, the T8i chooses it for us, from a minimum of 1/60 at normal and wide settings to about 1/(double the focal length) at longer focal lengths.
Auto White Balance performance top
Auto White Balance works fine, no problems here.
Color & Tonal Rendition performance top
Images have the same great look I love from all my Canon cameras. This is why I'd rather hoot my landscapes with this than from any other camera from Sony or from Fuji; Canon's colors are far better.
For my sample images and all my non-people shooting I set STANDARD Picture Style, +4 Saturation and 7, 5, 5 Sharpening. (Press the bottom of the rear round controller marked "✱" (just under SET) to set Picture Styles.)
Color rendition is how pictures look in the real world. Real-world color rendition has nothing to do with color accuracy measured in a lab. Color rendition is dependant on how a maker programs all the color matrices, curves, and look-up tables to generate color from the data read from the sensor, and varies widely between makers once you set a camera away from its defaults. I never shoot at defaults.
If you shoot raw then your colors and tones aren't created until you process the raw data later in software, and your choice of software will have as much effect on your images as the camera itself.
I'm a working artist, not some online tweaker, YouTuber or tech blogger. Color is critical to my work. I'm pickier about color than almost anyone; I see things most people don't. I get to WOW! much more often with my T8i than I do with my Sonys and Fujis (Nikon is just as good, but different).
That's just me; your preferences and results will vary.
Crop Modes performance top
4:3, Square and 16:9 crops are set at MENU > CAMERA page 1 > Still img aspect ratio.
These crops are marked with just black lines in the finder, not with more obvious gray areas.
Ergonomics performance top
Everything handles as I expect from Canon, which is excellently. Canon are my favorite camera for fast and easy handling, by far.
There's a new tiny and clever level display icon in lower left of the finder makes it easy to get level shots without cluttering your finder image. Activate it at MENU > WRENCH 🔧 page 4 > Viewfinder display > Electronic level > Show.
I prefer the traditional pro-style black menu system rather than the default, simplified white menu system. To select this, set MENU > (hit the [ Q ] button until the DISPLAY LEVEL SETTINGS menu is selected) > Shooting Screen > Standard and > Menu display > Standard.
The touch screen OK for entering text, but just barely. It's smaller than I'd like, but tough, it's a small camera.
Slightly odd is that the second position of the shutter button (where the picture is taken) makes a very slight "click" as you press it all the way home. Most cameras don't have have a click or stop at the point where the shutter releases; most shutter buttons glide through the release point with no detent.
The grip is as good as it can be for small camera, but it's a bit thin so my big American fingers hit the frame of the camera, rather than wrap only around the grip.
Exposure performance top
Exposure is as we expect from Canon. It's accurate, and if it's a contrasty subject with a lot of bright colors and I have my Saturation set to +4, often I'll get the best results by setting -⅓ or -⅔ stops exposure compensation.
Finder performance top
As expected for a tiny DSLR, the T8i uses mirrors and air instead of a glass pentaprism atop the lens to rotate the finder image. This lets the T8i be smaller and lighter, but also means that the finder is smaller than it is in larger cameras.
The finder only covers 95% of the image; it's possible that some slight extra subject will make it into your final image compared to what's seen in the finder. If this is vexing for you, just use Live View which shows everything exactly.
Flash performance top
The built-in flash works great. I wish all my cameras had built-in flashes.
Of course my T8i works with all my EX-series Canon Flash.
High ISO Performance performance top
High ISO performance is excellent. It's identical to Canon's state-of-the-art APS-C 90D.
As seen at normal image sizes below, the T8i pretty much makes the same images from ISO 100 to ISO 25,600. ISO 51,200 (H) gets a little blotchier and the blacks aren't quite as black, but it still looks pretty much the same, and laudably has the same color rendition as it does at lower ISOs.
This is magnificent performance, and much better than the awful full-frame $5,000 LEICA Q2.
Click any for the camera-original © LARGE FINE JPG files:
Click any for the camera-original © LARGE FINE JPG files (about 10 MB each).
600 × 450 Pixel Crops (10× magnifications)
What we see at the crazy-high magnifications below is that fine details go away as the ISO increases. This happens with all cameras and is an artifact of the noise reduction working harder as the ISO increases.
These are 600 × 450 pixel crops that vary in size to fit your browser window.
If these are about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at 20 × 30" (50 × 75 cm) at this same high magnification.
If these are about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters) at this same extreme magnification.
If these are about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete images would print at 80 × 120" (2 × 3 meters) at this same insanely high magnification.
In the T8i, the most detail is at ISO 100, and becomes softer at every higher ISO. This is normal and how noise reduction works in every camera.
By ISO 800 most of the detail in the scrollwork between the clock numbers is gone.
By ISO 6,400 the minute marks are mostly gone.
By ISO 12,800 all the detail is gone from the clock face, leaving only the numbers.
At ISO 51,200 there isn't much left of anything other than large shapes.
Click any for the camera-original © JPG files:
Click any for the camera-original © LARGE FINE JPG files (about 10 MB each).
Lens Corrections performance top
The T8i makes even my $100 EF 28-135mm IS USM from the 1990s super sharp:
Desert Backdrop, 7:34 AM, 17 June 2020. Canon T8i, Canon EF 28-135mm IS USM (which sells used for only about $100 if you know How to Win at eBay) at 70mm at f/8 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.4), exactly as shot. bigger or 24 MP camera-original © 8.8 MB JPG file.
The T8i can correct automatically for:
Falloff, at MENU > CAMERA page 1 > Lens aberration correction > Peripheral illum corr,
Distortion, at MENU > CAMERA page 1 > Lens aberration correction > Distortion correction
and a host of other lens aberrations like chromatic aberration and diffraction which are grouped into a single
Digital Lens Optimizer setting at MENU > CAMERA page 1 > Digital Lens Optimizer.
You can turn each of these ON or OFF at those menu options. The Digital Lens Optimizer only goes ON or OFF as one; there is no ability to turn any of the individual corrections within the Digital Lens Optimizer ON or OFF separately.
Mechanical Quality performance top
The T8i is all plastic on the outside, except for the metal hot shoe, lens mount and tripod socket.
It's made in Japan.
Sound, Noise & Vibration performance top
The T8i seems to have a noisier shutter than I recall for other Canon Rebels, which usually have very quiet and refined shutters.
The T8i sounds a little louder and clunkier each time it fires.
Rear LCD Touch Screen performance top
The rear LCD works great, and it's a touch screen.
I wish it were bigger and didn't swivel, but that's just me.
Playback performance top
Playback is the usual from Canon.
Data performance top
Cards are formatted as "EOS DIGITAL."
Power & Battery performance top
The battery seems to last forever. I haven't been able to run it down.
Be sure to charge it before any trip, and to bring its dedicated charger. You might otherwise get so used to the long battery life that you'd forget that it sometimes need to be charged!
Compared top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
As the most expensive Canon Rebel, the T8i has excellent autofocus performance, the best controls and a rear control dial.
Moving up to a 90D gets you even more controls, displays, speed and resolution — but still the same pictures most of the time.
See also Is It Worth It.
The oldest and cheapest Rebel T100 and Rebel T7 lack the processing power for modern lens corrections, which can lead to distortion, color fringes and horrible high ISO performance.
The newer and more expensive Rebel SL3 has the processing power for lens corrections and excellent high ISO performance - but all three of these cheapest models have equally crappy autofocus performance.
The Rebel T8i and R10 have the processing power power for lens corrections and excellent high ISO performance, and also have excellent autofocus performance.
| Announced | 2018 February 26 |
2018 February 26 |
2019 April 10 |
2020 February 13 |
2022 May 24 |
| Resolution | 18 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
| ISO Max | 12,800 (H) |
12,800 (H) |
51,200 (H) |
51,200 (H) |
51,200 (H) |
| Sensor Cleaner | NO |
NO |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Lens Corrections | NO |
NO |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Lens Mount | Plastic |
Metal |
Metal |
Metal |
Metal |
| Built-in Flash | YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Diopter Adjustment? | NO |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Dedicated Power Switch | No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Rear LCD | Small and crappy |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
| Autofocus Sensors | 9 |
9 |
9 |
45 |
651 |
| Autofocus Performance | Crappy |
Crappy |
Crappy |
EXCELLENT |
EXCELLENT |
| Included lens | None |
None |
None |
||
| Price w/included lens 1/2023 |
Canon T8i User's Guide top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Charging user's guide top
There is no USB charging.
Use the included external charger.
Menu System user's guide top
I prefer Canon's traditional (black) menu system instead of the T8i's default simplified (white) menu system.
To select the traditional system, press MENU > (hit the [ Q ] button until the DISPLAY LEVEL SETTINGS menu is selected) > Shooting Screen > Standard and > Menu display > Standard.
[ Q ] Screen user's guide top
Press the [ Q ] button and Canon's superb "quick control" screen appears to let us set just about anything quickly.
This is where we set the self timer and most other common shooting options.
Power On/Off user's guide top
When power goes off and on, the T8i remembers it you had the self timer set or not, but it resets exposure compensation back to zero.
Program Shift user's guide top
If you shift the Program with the top dial, it resets as soon as the meter turns off.
As-Shot Crops user's guide top
4:3, Square and 16:9 crops are set at MENU > CAMERA page 1 > Still img aspect ratio.
Level Display user's guide top
To see it on the rear LCD, press INFO a couple of times.
To see the new tiny display icon in lower left of finder, activate it at MENU > WRENCH 🔧 page 4 > Viewfinder display > Electronic level > Show.
Scene Modes user's guide top
To set Portrait, Sports, Night Scene, etc, set SCN on the top dial and press the rear [ Q ] button.
Auto ISO Minimum Shutter Speed user's guide top
There is no Auto ISO minimum shutter speed setting. The T8i chooses this itself as you zoom, which may be slower than you want for people and action or faster than you want for ultrawide shots with stabilized lenses.
To fix your own shutter speed with Auto ISO, either flick the mode dial to Tv or M mode and choose your shutter speed, or try a fixed SCENE mode like Portrait or Sports relevant to what you're doing.
Image Adjustments ("Picture Styles") user's guide top
This is where you set saturation, contrast, sharpening and more.
TO set this, just press the bottom of the rear round controller marked "✱" (just under SET) and have at it.
For my sample images and all my non-people shooting I set STANDARD Picture Style, +4 Saturation and 7, 5, 5 Sharpening.
For people pictures, I set it to STANDARD Picture Style, 0 (default) Saturation and 7, 5, 5 Sharpening. I also may try the Portrait or Smooth Skin SCENE modes.
User Presets user's guide top
There are no C1, C2 or C3 user presets as on fancier Canons.
A partial workaround is to set your T8i as you like it for the P/Tv/Av/M modes, which then retain all your settings whenever you return to any of these four modes, and then assign your choice of Scene Mode to the SCN dial position. Now when you swap between SCN and any of P/Tv/Av/M modes you have two different camera set-ups as fast as you can turn the dial.
I leave my P/Tv/Av/M modes set to super-high saturation, and set my SCN position to portrait or smooth skin, so I can flick between people and thing photos just as I do on my bigger Canons with C1, C2 and C3 settlings.
Color Histograms user's guide top
Color histograms are off by default.
To activate them, press MENU > [▶] PLAY page 4 > Histogram disp > RGB.
Custom Functions user's guide top
Custom functions are hidden at MENU > WRENCH 🔧 page 5 > Custom functions(C.Fn).
ISO 51,200 (H) user's guide top
To get ISO 51,200, you first have to enable it at
MENU > WRENCH 🔧 page 5 > Custom functions(C.Fn) > item 2: ISO Expansion > Enable > SET.
Custom Controls user's guide top
Custom controls are set in Custom Functions. Set these at MENU > WRENCH 🔧 page 5 > Custom functions(C.Fn) > C.Fn III #13 Operation/others Custom Controls.
I set my top DISP button to make the LCD super-bright for use outdoors. I set this at MENU > WRENCH 🔧page 5 > Custom functions(C.Fn) > C.Fn III #13 Operation/others Custom Controls > DISP Button > Maximize Screen Brightness (temporary).
I prefer to set my SET button to be another MENU button, so I can set everything while holding my T8i with only one hand.
Sorry, we can't assign the SET button to be a ZOOM control.
Flash user's guide top
Just pull-up on the top of the finder housing and it pops up.
I always use the flash for fill flash when photographing people in strong sunlight. Just pop up the flash and you're in business.
I never use flash indoors; if I do, I be sure to gel (filter) the flash orange (CTO) to match tungsten or green to match fluorescent lighting and then set the camera to that same manual white balance.
Recommendations top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
The Canon Rebel T8i is a great little camera. It does everything I expect it to do, and more, and it does it well. If you think you want this camera, get it.
I'd pass on the basic 18-55mm lens offered as part of a kit. Instead I'd get the body-only, and the superb Canon EF-s 18-135mm USM that does everything. With the18-55mm you'll be tempted to get the excellent and basic 50-250mm telephoto lens, while with the 18-135 you always have what you need right on your camera.
If you want a more serious telephoto along with the 18-55mm, get the superb EF 70-300mm USM. No, you don't need the 55-70mm range between the 18-55mm and 70-300mm. The 50-250mm is also excellent and super-light.
For an ultrawide lens, get the superb and inexpensive EF-s 10-18mm — but be sure you know How to Use Ultrawide Lenses.
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used camera. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
More Information top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Accessories Unboxing USA Version
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T8i at B&H. I'd also get it at Adorama, at Amazon or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay. It also comes as a kit with 18-55mm lens at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
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