Canon EOS 850D
Canon’s triple-digit DSLR series has a long and distinguished history. Back in 2003 the original EOS 300D was the first sub-£1,000 DSLR, a price breakthrough that initiated the decisive shift by enthusiast photographers from film to digital. The latest EOS 850D marks the line’s 12th generation and was originally announced in February last year, although its appearance in the shops was heavily delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
At £839 body only, £929 with the EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit zoom, or £1,209 with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens, the EOS 850D sits between the smaller entry-level EOS 250D and the enthusiast-focused EOS 90D in Canon’s line-up. It succeeds the EOS 800D from 2017, with the main updates being the addition of face-detection autofocus when using the optical viewfinder, faster continuous shooting, and the addition of 4K video recording (albeit with significant limitations). It also in effect replaces the slightly higher-spec EOS 77D, combining aspects of both cameras.
Of course, the EOS 850D now finds itself in the middle of another decisive shift in the marketplace, this time away from the mechanically complex film-era SLR architecture towards the smaller, simpler mirrorless form-factor, and electronic rather than optical viewfinders. In terms of the mirrorless alternatives, it’s up against some fine cameras, including the Nikon Z 50 and the Fujifilm X-S10. So how does it measure up against this new-fangled competition?
Features
Like its predecessor, the EOS 850D is based around a Canon-made 24MP APS-C sensor which offers a standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-25,600, that’s expandable to ISO
