Canon EOS 850D Body

The Canon EOS Rebel T8i is well-built with comfortable ergonomics and provides solid image quality for users that prefer an optical viewfinder. Unfortunately, its video capabilities aren't that impressive, and the viewfinder autofocus system is a little basic compared to what you get on mirrorless cameras through their electronic finders. Still, if you're in the market for a reasonably affordable DSLR, the EOS Rebel T8i is worth a look.

The Canon EOS 850D is a good DSLR, but 4K video is weak, and mirrorless cameras offer more, for less money.

The Canon EOS 850D / Rebel T8i is a well-featured mid-range DSLR that sits at the top of the triple-digit EOS or Rebel series. It delivers a comfortable step-up in features and handling over the cheaper entry-level models, making it a good choice for anyone who wants a decent DSLR without breaking into four figures. As always though, Canon offers a wide range of models at different price points, each offering a tempting stepping-stone to the next level. The EOS 90D is arguably its biggest rival, and while the boost in resolution make little difference in real-life, it’s the wealth of smaller upgrades that make it worth investing in the higher price. Meanwhile the mirrorless M6 II may lack a viewfinder as standard but gives you a lot of the 90D at the same body price as the 850D / T8i. There’s also the older M50 sporting a viewfinder, fully-articulated screen and the same photo and video quality of the 850D in a smaller body at a lower price - and with a wider kit zoom too. Ultimately the EOS 850D / Rebel T8i is a fine DSLR and one that performs well for the money - and if you’re after a Canon DSLR at this price point, I can recommend it. But again if you’re looking for a longer-term investment to grow with, you’ll find the 90D more powerful overall, so if you can stretch to it, I’d strongly recommend taking the leap.