Canon EOS 77D Review

The Canon EOS 77D (9000D in Japan) is a lightweight DSLR camera with an APS-C sensor of 24 megapixels. It boasts an outstanding Dual Pixel Autofocus as superb external controls and connection through WiFi and Bluetooth. It is possible to think of it as the successor of the Rebel T6s, and if the name doesn’t make it evident, the specs and feature enhancements over its lower-end Rebel sister should. It is placed in the middle ground between the EOS 80D and the Rebel T7i.

Key Specs

• sensor with 24 megapixels and dual-pixel autofocus.
• phase-detection autofocus system with 45 points of all-cross-type coverage
• Digic 7 processor
• 3 “LCD display with the complete articulation of the touchscreen
• The LCD display on the top plate for camera information
• Dual control dials
• continuous shooting at 6 frames per second
• 1080 video capture at 60 frames per second, including a microphone input

Is there more to the Canon EOS 77D than just a fancier version of the Rebel? However, this is not the case. Dual control dials, an LCD on the top plate, and an additional button to turn autofocus on are the only significant differences between this model and the Rebel T7i, which was launched at the same time as this one. A general button shuffle and an additional eight grams of heaviness are two less noteworthy differences between the models. The end, as they say. In other words, the Rebel T6s and the T6i shared the same connection.

Having said all of that, we have to admit that the nickname “Canon 77D” seems a lot more professional than either the time-honored “Rebel” or “XX0D” appellation, and after all, this is a relatively well-rounded camera. Moreover, despite the rough it shares many with its more expensive cousin, the EOS 80D, it is priced far lower.

Let’s examine how they stack up against one another in more detail.

The Canon EOS 77D (9000D in Japan) is a lightweight DSLR camera with an APS-C sensor of 24 megapixels. It boasts an outstanding Dual Pixel Autofocus as superb external controls and connection through WiFi and Bluetooth. It is possible to think of it as the successor of the Rebel T6s, and if the name doesn’t make it evident, the specs and feature enhancements over its lower-end Rebel sister should. It is placed in the middle ground between the EOS 80D and the Rebel T7i.

Important technical details

• sensor with 24 megapixels and dual pixel autofocus.
• phase-detection autofocus system with 45 points of all-cross-type coverage
• Digic 7 processor
• 3 “LCD display with the complete articulation of the touchscreen
• The LCD display on the top plate for camera information
• Dual control dials
• continuous shooting at 6 frames per second
• 1080 video capture at 60 frames per second, including a microphone input

Is there more to the Canon EOS 77D than just a fancier version of the Rebel? However, this is not the case. Dual control dials, an LCD on the top plate, and an additional button to turn autofocus on are the only significant differences between this model and the Rebel T7i, which was launched at the same time as this one. A general button shuffle and an additional eight grams of heaviness are two less noteworthy differences between the models. The end, as they say. In other words, the Rebel T6s and the T6i shared the same connection.

Having said all of that, we have to admit that the nickname “77D” seems a lot more professional than either the time-honored “Rebel” or “XX0D” appellation, and after all, this is a relatively well-rounded camera. Although it shares many with its more expensive cousin, the EOS 80D, it is priced far lower. Let’s examine how they stack up against one another in more detail.

Therefore, the Canon EOS 77D will generally appeal to the same kind of customer as the T6s/760D; the photographer with sufficient expertise to demand a more hands-on approach must have some optical viewfinder. Users of older Rebel cameras, including some X0D models, should strongly consider upgrading to either the Canon EOS 77D or the Canon Rebel T7i due to all of the not-insignificant improvements included in these cameras.

If you are willing to forego an optical viewfinder, you could easily make a case for the Fujifilm X-T20 or Sony’s a6300. These cameras offer 4K video and much faster burst shooting in smaller packages (although the a6300 does not provide the same level of direct control as the Canon 77D). The new Canon EOS M6 is similar to the 77D under its skin.

However, with the inclusion of Dual Pixel AF, Live View photography on the EOS 77D is probably just as robust (or maybe more so, in some scenarios) than the mirrorless choices offered by Fujifilm or Sony. And this gets to the core of what makes the Canon EOS 77D so intriguing; it may not give the best of both the DSLR and mirrorless worlds, but it offers a convincing balance at this price range. And this gets to the heart of what makes the EOS 77D so appealing.

The body, the controls, and the characteristics

No one who has used or looked at a Rebel from one of the most recent generations will be surprised by the EOS 77D because it is virtually identical to its predecessor. It is light and has a reasonably plasticky texture, yet it does not have an extremely cheap feel. The controls are well-organized, and you can manage almost the whole camera while keeping one eye on the viewfinder. This is something we’d expect from a Canon DSLR. The ability to lock out the elements would have been good, but given the price point, it is neither here nor there.

Because of this, there is not much new to discuss regarding the design of the Canon 77D; it is only another compact DSLR. However, this camera and the Rebel T7i introduce Canon’s Dual Pixel AF to a lower price point. Because of this, it can substantially affect how you use the camera.

Control – shooting through an optical viewfinder

However, before we get to it, let’s review some fundamentals first. The ergonomic design of Canon’s EOS system is fully implemented in this model, which features a shutter button and front command dial that seem like they were taken directly from the EOS 650, the company’s first EOS film camera (in fact, the EOS system as a whole is celebrating is 30th anniversary this year).

Is it then something fresh and exciting? Of course, it depends on the person you question, but when you have worked with the Canon 77D for a while, you will realize it is a well-organized camera.

You have almost everything you could want at your disposal, and it is simple to adjust any settings while keeping one eye on the viewfinder. However, it would be wonderful to have more freedom over button customization. For example, I don’t alter my “Picture Style” very frequently, so I’d assign that button to anything else if I could. On the other hand, the two control knobs, in particular, manipulate settings relatively quickly. Even if you must remove one of your eyes from the viewfinder to use the Q menu controlled by a touchscreen, thankfully, it functions pretty well.

The optical viewfinder is unquestionably an APS-C DSLR aimed squarely at the consumer market. As a result, the optical viewfinder (OVF) is pretty dark, relatively tiny, and has a limited information display. However, an eye sensor above the screen is a good addition since it prevents you from getting distracted by the primary show when you bring the camera up to your eye.

The electronic level is also helpful to have on hand in a situation; however, it is on the small side and does not provide remarkably accurate readings. In addition, if the viewfinder frame covers less than one hundred percent of the image, you may find that unexpected shocks are seeping into the corners of your perfectly composed photographs.

In good developers, the 45-point focusing system of the EOS 80D is a significant improvement over the autofocus systems of earlier Rebels. It covers a substantial percentage of the viewfinder, which is on the smaller side. It makes framing your images much easier by allowing you to move your focusing point about, as opposed to having to focus and recompose. Those cross-type points should help assure higher autofocus accuracy than prior Rebels did.

Handling – Live View

In Live View, the Canon 77D performs quite similarly to how a large-ish mirrorless camera would in terms of its handling. It has decent refresh rates and a snappy touchscreen interface. But if you can access an optical viewfinder, you don’t need to consider shooting this way. So said, Dual Pixel AF is so effective, and the fact that it covers the whole scene in which you are taking a photograph is an additional benefit.

Autofocus is more comprehensive in Live View than it is when viewed through the viewfinder. It is also typically more accurate in Live View (and you won’t ever need to make an AF micro-adjustment in Live View because the focus is measured at the imaging plane). In addition, live View gives you a larger field of View than the viewfinder. Finally, it even topic tracks better than Canon’s through-the-viewfinder iTR tracking by a significant margin – additional information about this may be found on our page devoted to autofocus.

Even in this setting, the handling is generally satisfyingly competent all around. You can still access most of the functions you require with just your right hand, and then you can use your left hand to cradle the flip-out screen while using your thumb to adjust the autofocus. It works wonderfully for regular shooting, making working from various angles a snap.

On the other hand, if there are occasions when you’d instead use an optical viewfinder, you’ll find that option ready and waiting for you. Users considering an electronic viewfinder an absolute requirement probably won’t care about this feature because they won’t look at the 77D as a potential camera purchase. On the other hand, users who want the option of an optical viewfinder in addition to a refined Live View experience will find that the Canon 77D has it covered.

You will be delighted to know that the experience is relatively constant, even if you frequently switch between the two shooting methods. If you consider ‘Face + Tracking’ synonymous with ‘Auto AF point selection,’ then the Q menus of both cameras will feel quite familiar to you. This holds even for the terminology used to describe the autofocus settings.

Features

Regarding its features, the Canon EOS 77D is a mixed bag. There are guided shooting screens and menus, many scene shooting modes on the top dial and an assortment of ‘creative’ filters such as miniature effects’ and ‘toy camera effects’ if you feel uninspired when taking pictures.

You can shoot in Raw format using the automatic mode; then, after the fact, you may apply any of the ‘creative’ filters to the Raw files you’ve shot. Unfortunately, you cannot conduct more standard Raw processing in-camera, such as adjusting the white balance or exposure, which would be beneficial for refining a picture for WiFi upload. If you want to do that, you must shell out the cash for the EOS 80D.

The Canon 77D inherited a rudimentary version of Canon’s Auto ISO control, allowing you to choose an ISO range. The camera will automatically try to keep your shutter speed at roughly 1/125 a second regardless of your desired ISO setting (2 x focal length). There is no opportunity to pick a minimum shutter speed manually, nor is there a way to bias the shutter speed that the camera uses.

Through Canon’s Camera Connect software, which is downloadable for iOS and Android, users may help with comprehensive WiFi and Bluetooth implementation. If you’re using iOS, the initial setup will take a few minutes; however, pairing an Android phone with another device via NFC is relatively quick.

On the other hand, those of you who use iOS can maintain a Bluetooth connection at all times, making subsequent pairings go much more rapidly. In addition to seeing and downloading photographs from the camera, you can also use your phone to add information, such as the exact time and location of the images. Vloggers will like that the camera can be controlled remotely, that settings can be manipulated, and that autofocus tracking can even be set.

Image quality

The most recent version of our test setting replicates photography in both daytime and low light. You may switch between the two by pressing the ‘lighting’ buttons at the very top of the widget. When shooting in daylight, the picture’s white balance is adjusted manually to produce neutral grays; however, when testing in low light, the camera is kept in its default Auto setting. Raw files require human editing to rectify errors. We provide three distinct viewing sizes, which are referred to as “Full,” “Print,” and “Comp.” The latter two viewing sizes allow “normalized” comparisons since they use matching viewing sizes.

The ‘Comp’ option selects the camera with the highest possible resolution shared by the other cameras being evaluated.

The Canon EOS 77D produces results in our test scene that are almost identical to those of the more expensive EOS 80D as well as the EOS M5 (which you can read more about here); this isn’t surprising as all three cameras share what is likely the same sensor, and even though the Canon M5 and Canon 77D both have newer Digic 7 processors compared to the 80D’s older Digic 6, there does not appear to be any significant impact on image quality.

In general, you may thus anticipate colors that are usually attractive from Canon, with reds that are less murky than those produced by a Nikon D7200 and less yellow-tinged than those produced by a Sony a6300. On the other hand, the JPEG engine continues to exhibit quite a simplistic sharpening that is prone to haloing and may benefit from more development.

The higher ISO values result in a loss of clarity in areas of low contrast while leaving lots of noise behind. Raw noise performance is inferior to that of the D7200 and the a6300. Even though it captures a reasonably decent amount of detail, the Canon EOS 77D displays less moiré than the Sony (precisely like the Canon EOS 80D), which suggests that it has an anti-aliasing filter.

The Canon 77D produces results in our test scene that are almost identical to those of the more expensive 80D as well as the EOS M5 (which you can read more about here); this isn’t surprising as all three cameras share what is likely the same sensor, and even though the Canon M5 and Canon 77D both have newer Digic 7 processors compared to the 80D’s older Digic 6, there does not appear to be any significant impact on image quality.

In general, you may thus anticipate colors that are usually attractive from Canon, with reds that are less murky than those produced by a Nikon D7200 and less yellow-tinged than those produced by a Sony a6300. On the other hand, the JPEG engine continues to exhibit quite a simplistic sharpening that is prone to haloing and may benefit from more development.

The higher ISO values result in a loss of clarity in areas of low contrast while leaving lots of noise behind. Raw noise performance is inferior to that of the D7200 and the a6300. Even though it captures a reasonably decent amount of detail, the Canon EOS 77D displays less moiré than the Sony (precisely like the Canon EOS 80D), which suggests that it has an anti-aliasing filter.

It is important to note that when shooting in the real world, you may find that one of the packed kit lenses for the EOS 77D does not satisfy your needs. The EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM has a respectable reach, excellent build quality, and blazing-fast AF; our sample suffered from general softness over the entire zoom range. Although the 18-135mm will continue to be a good option for video, we discovered that the EF-S 24mm F2.8 STM was a far more satisfying partner for the 77D.

Video

The Canon EOS 77D can record video at resolutions of up to 1080/60p. As you can see from the comparison that was just made, in terms of the detail capture that it offers on our test scenario, it is almost comparable to the older EOS 80D. However, there are inevitable trade-offs in terms of sharpness against moiré. It exhibits generally equivalent detail capture while having less moiré than the Sony a6300 in 1080p; to put it another way, it’s not that fantastic. On the other hand, the Fujifilm X-T20 produces slightly crisper images, but there is a significant amount of artificial color.

Regarding its handling, the Canon 77D has a limited number of capture aids, yet, it maintains Canon’s heritage of making the recording of wonderfully steady video as simple as possible. The built-in Digital IS works exceptionally well. There is a microphone port to obtain higher-quality audio, even if it removes some of the information from the film you record. For example, viewing a histogram before you begin recording is possible, but the histogram is no longer visible after you start your clip. Additionally, there are neither manual focus peaking nor zebra highlight warnings.

Face detection and tracking are both very, very good, and this continues to be one of the most convincing use cases for Dual Pixel Autofocus in general. It should be noted that this is one of the only consumer cameras currently on the market that offers easy and dependable autofocus while shooting video clips, alongside other recent Canons. This distinction should be noted because this is one of the only consumer cameras currently on the market.

Last but not least, the video shooting mode is limited to either full-automatic or full-manual, which means that users do not have the choice to film in aperture or shutter priority. You’ll be happy to know Auto ISO is an option in manual shooting mode.

The EOS 77D will not be anyone’s first pick for high-end cinema shooting; nevertheless, it will be an excellent choice for individuals seeking a camera to use for vlogging. It also has the potential to be a terrific home movie machine for families.

Performance

The Canon EOS 77D will not be anyone’s first pick for high-end cinema shooting; nevertheless, it will be an excellent choice for individuals seeking a camera to use for vlogging. It also has the potential to be a terrific home movie machine for families.

Burst shooting is respectable at six frames per second with full focusing, even though it cannot match the performance of mirrorless competitors like the Fujifilm X-T20 and the Sony a6300 (though this drops to between 4 and 5fps in Live View with Dual Pixel AF). In addition, you can keep firing at a rate of 6 frames per second for around four seconds before the buffer becomes full (and unlike some other Canon cameras, this is unaffected by the Auto Lighting Optimizer, Lens Corrections, and ISO settings you choose).

According to CIPA, the camera’s battery life when utilizing the optical viewfinder is a reasonable 600 shots. As a result, a single battery should easily be enough to power the camera for an entire day of shooting, provided that flash use and chimping are kept to a minimum. However, you might want to purchase a second battery if you use Live View somewhat frequently.

Let’s check how well the EOS 77D’s autofocus works, shall we?

Autofocus

The Canon EOS 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM lens was used for all our tests here. It is important to note that this lens uses Canon’s new Nano USM technology, which is a fancy way of saying that the focusing element can move very quickly. We carried out all of our evaluations with this lens.

The Canon EOS 77D offers no autofocus customization options; no presets, no ‘focus/release’ priority, and no AF micro adjustment. The only autofocus customization option available is the ‘Color Tracking’ option found in the Auto AF Point selection, which we left enabled because it is enabled by default.

The tests we have carried out are intended to quantify the movement of subjects at a medium distance from the camera. This movement includes bicycles, of course, but it is also a fair indication of how well a camera handles topics such as children running around in the garden. We put the Canon EOS 77D through its paces through our battery of tests using the optical viewfinder and the Live View mode. First, let’s take a look at the optical viewfinder.

A viewfinder that uses optics.

Live View support for Dual Pixel Autofocus

Now comes the part where things start to become interesting. When utilizing the optical viewfinder, Canon’s iTR tracking was consistently inferior to the performance of their Dual Pixel AF in tracking Dan throughout the frame. In other words, the live view autofocus can better detect and follow a subject moving unpredictably because it has access to information about the entire scene.

Canon has said that the new Digic 7 processor included in the 77D, the Rebel T7i, and the EOS M5 and M6 cameras should result in improved Dual Pixel tracking performance, and it appears that this is precisely the case. It is always a pleasant surprise when marketing promises can be supported by outcomes that can be replicated.

The moment has come for us to put our close-range autofocus to the test. It is intended that this will replicate subject tracking in informal social contexts. This will be accomplished by commencing a hunt, freely framing images, and snapping pictures of friends and acquaintances while attending a dimly light social event. To start things off, we’ll look via the optical viewfinder using Canon’s iTR.

Canon EOS 77D Specifications

Body type	Mid-size SLR
Body material	Composite
Sensor
Max resolution	6000 x 4000
Image ratio w:h	1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels	24 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors	26 megapixels
Sensor size	APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm)
Sensor type	CMOS
Processor	DIGIC 7
Color space	sRGB, Adobe RGB
Color filter array	Primary color filter
Image
ISO	Auto, 100-25600 (expands to 51200)
Boosted ISO (maximum)	51200
White balance presets	6
Custom white balance	Yes
Image stabilization	No
Uncompressed format	RAW
JPEG quality levels	Fine, normal
File format	JPEG (Exif v2.3)Raw (14-bit Canon CR2)
Optics & Focus
Autofocus	Screen/viewfinder
Autofocus assist lamp	Yes (flash)
Digital zoom	No
Manual focus	Yes
Number of focus points	45
Lens mount	Canon EF/EF-S
Focal length multiplier	1.6×
Group PhotoKidsFoodCandlelightNight PortraitHandheld Night SceneHDR Backlight ControlPortraitLandscapeClose-supports
Articulated LCD	Fully articulated
Screen size	3″
Screen dots	1,040,000
Touch screen	Yes
Screen type	TFT LCD
Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View	Yes
Viewfinder type	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage	95%
Viewfinder magnification	0.82× (0.51× 35mm equiv.)
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed	30 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/4000 sec
Exposure modes	ProgramShutter priorityAperture priorityManual
Scene modes	Flash Range
Built-in flash	Yes
Flash range	12.00 m (at ISO 100)
External flash	Yes (via hot shoe)
Flash X sync speed	1/200 sec
Drive modes	SingleHigh-speed continuousLow-speed continuousSelf-timerSelf-timer + continuous
Continuous drive	6.0 fps
Self-timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Metering modes	MultiAverageSpotPartial
Exposure compensation	±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
AE Bracketing	±3 (3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features
Format	MPEG-4, H.264
Modes	1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 60 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 30 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 12 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 30 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1280 x 720 @ 60p / 26 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1280 x 720 @ 30p / 4 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Microphone	Stereo
Speaker	Mono
Storage
Storage types	SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Connectivity
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI	Yes
Microphone port	Yes
Headphone port	No
Wireless	Built-In
Wireless notes	Includes Bluetooth LE and NFC
Remote control	Yes (via smartphone or Bluetooth remote)
Physical
Environmentally sealed	No
Battery	Battery Pack
Battery description	LP-E17 lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	600
Weight (inc. batteries)	540 g (1.19 lb / 19.05 oz)
Dimensions	131 x 100 x 76 mm (5.16 x 3.94 x 2.99″)
Other features
Orientation sensor	Yes
Timelapse recording	Yes
GPS	Optional

Final Verdict

Since this is effectively a rebadged Rebel, I do not anticipate that the EOS 77D will set the world on fire as earlier members of Canon’s Rebel family have. As a result, it’s not so much a camera that you should want or fawn over; instead, it’s one that you should use, and it will reward the user with excellent results day in and day out. And at first, Canon’s new naming scheme for this successor to the Rebel T6s threw me off a bit, but now that I’ve gotten used to it, I like it.

The target audience for several recently introduced cameras is moving steadily toward more expensive models. A portion of this is down to the fact that the market is becoming smaller, but another reason is that cameras have grown so well in recent years that there isn’t much place for more than two tiers of so-called “entry-level” Rebels.

This may be what Canon thought because it would be a disservice to bestow upon it a moniker synonymous with the company’s more basic and pedestrian interchangeable lens cameras. Likewise, for a capable and well-rounded camera, it would seem a disservice to bestow upon it a moniker synonymous with the company’s EOS line.

The EOS 77D is unique on its own. At this price point, another alternative on the market is available that provides an excellent optical viewfinder, a refined Live View experience, and the same degree of control. Suppose you don’t require a 4K video. In that case, the Canon EOS 77D is a fascinating, dependable, reasonably inexpensive jack-of-all-trades camera that can do much of everything well. However, it may not be the camera that catches the attention of everyone.

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