The Canon EOS 77D is Canon's update to the 760D. The camera features a new 24mp APS-C CMOS sensor, ISO25600 that extends to ISO51200, 6fps continuous shooting, full HD 60fps video recording, along with built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth. There's a top LCD screen and two control dials.
Canon EOS 77D Features
Introduced with the 77D and 800D is a new Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens, an ultra-compact kit lens, that Canon says is the World's smallest non-retractable kit lens. The lens offers up to 4-stops of Image Stabilisation (IS), with improved optics, and a size that is just 61.8mm long. When used with the new lens, the camera is said to offer the World's fastest focus for APS-C ILC cameras at 0.03s (when using the viewfinder). The new lens will also be available on its own, as well as part of a kit. Nb. This review is based on the 800D review.
At first glance, the Canon EOS 77D may appear quite similar to the previous camera, the 760D, but when we look at the specifications in more detail, we can see that a number of improvements have been made.
Updated on the Canon EOS 77D - compared to the 760D:
- New 24mp Dual-pixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- Increased ISO range (extends to ISO51200)
- 6fps continuous shooting
- 600 shot battery life (compared to 440 on the 750D)
- FullHD video up to 60/50fps
- White Balance (Ambience, or White priority)
- New image processor (with additional lens correction)
- Slightly more compact body (redesigned battery layout)
- New Connection button
- New graphical user interface with easy / guided mode
- Bluetooth built-in
- 45 AF points
The updates on the Canon EOS 77D gives improved performance, with quicker continuous shooting, an extended ISO range, improved battery life as well as more AF points. There's also a new user interface, and new connection button, with built-in Bluetooth making the camera easier to use for beginners, whilst the other improvements made to the camera make this more appealing to the more enthusiastic photographer.
Wi-Fi is built-in and the camera includes NFC for quick connections, and Bluetooth is also available for low-power image transfers.
There is a microphone socket on the side, a flash hot-shoe on top, plus a built-in pop-up flash. The 3inch vari-angle touch-screen can be tilted forwards so that it can be used as a selfie screen, and the built-in guide can be switched on and off.
FullHD video is recorded at 60fps, with stereo sound. Electronic image stabilisation helps keep images steady, or you can use a lens with built-in optical image stabilisation (OIS).
A new Bluetooth remote, the BR-E1, has been introduced, offering a separate AF button and shutter button, letting you remotely control the 77D, 800D, 6D Mark II, and 200D. The remote has a 5m+ range.
The Canon EOS 80D is shown above, next to the new Canon EOS 77D.
Canon EOS 77D Key Features
- 24mp APS-C CMOS sensor (New)
- Dual Pixel AF
- DIGIC 7 image processor
- 45 AF points, all-cross type + Dual Pixel AF
- 3inch vari-angle touch-screen, 1040K dots
- 95% optical viewfinder, with 0.82x magnification
- ISO100-ISO25600 (extends to ISO51200)
- 6fps continuous shooting
- FullHD video at 60fps
- In-camera 5-axis electronic stabilisation (for video)
- Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth
- Built-in guide
Canon EOS 77D Handling
Like the 800D, the 77D benefits from an improved design, with a new battery layout, that has allowed a deeper and more comfortable handgrip. making it feel excellent in the hand. Going back to the previous version is somewhat of a disappointment. The camera has a plastic construction, however, this shouldn’t put you off the camera, with the camera feeling and looking solidly built. As a testament to this, there are many older models still going strong today.
If you’re moving from a previous EOS camera, then the layout of buttons and controls will be very familiar, with the main difference being the addition of a “connection” button. The on/off switch also features a third position, which switches the camera into video mode.
There are two control wheels on the camera, with one on top, and a scroll wheel on the back, which can be locked. This makes it quick and easy to change the aperture and shutter when in manual mode.
The screen looks good, although the live-view refresh speed isn’t as quick as most mirrorless cameras, with a 30fps refresh rate. Using the touch-screen to change settings is easy, and the screen is very responsive to touch. Viewing angles are good, with a gapless screen, and being able to tilt the screen can make it easier to see what you are shooting.
There are now 45 focus points (with 49 available in live-view), and these can be viewed in the optical viewfinder when shooting, or on the rear screen when using live view. You can even switch on display of focus points in playback mode so that you can confirm you focused on the desired point(s). In live-view, the focus area covers a large area of the image, and there is no penalty in focus speeds.
The optical viewfinder, whilst not the largest, features dioptre correction, and there is a soft rubber surround, making it comfortable to use both with or without glasses. There's an eye-detection sensor above the viewfinder so that the camera will know when you're holding it up to your eye, and this means the camera will automatically switch off the screen when needed.
Menus - The new guided menu system can quite easily be switched off if you’re already used to Canon’s menu systems. If you’re not, the guided menu system is clear and easy to use, with brighter text and larger icons. If you go for the standard menu system, this is clear and well laid out, and you can use the touch-screen with both menu systems. The Q button gives quick access to settings, and these can also be changed with the touch-screen. The only interface that we’d like to see updated is the live view mode, where pressing the Q button brings up another method to change settings.
Canon EOS 77D Performance
The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
Speed - We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.
| Shutter Response | <0.05secs (same for Live View) |
| Wide - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.2secs (0.2-0.3s for Live View) |
| Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.15secs (0.4s for Live View) |
| Switch on Time to Taking a Photo | 1.0secs |
| Shot to Shot without Flash | 0.3secs |
| Shot to Shot with Flash | 0.6secs |
| Continuous Shooting - JPEG (shots before slow down) |
6fps (~ shots) |
| Continuous Shooting - RAW | 5fps (24 shots) |
We tested this with the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. Focus is very quick, as is shutter response, and this is equally as quick even when using live-view. Switch on time is good, as is shot to shot time. Continuous shooting is good, at 6fps, and with a fast memory card, the camera continued shooting without slowing down when shooting JPEG images, letting you shoot an unlimited amount (until the card is full).
Canon EOS 77D Sample Photos
Sample Photos - Exposure is reliable, and the camera copes well with a variety of scenes. Using the "Auto Lighting Optimizer" (ALO) option you can extend the dynamic range recorded in shots, without necessarily having to resort to using raw images, or the HDR shooting options. Skin tones are good, and the camera gives pleasing JPEG results straight from the camera. For sharper images, you can process raw files, or adjust the in-camera settings.
The lack of face-detection focus when using the normal focusing mode, means that the success rate of portrait shots can be very low, especially when using a bright prime lens. If you want to use face-detection focus, then you'll need to switch to live-view.
Canon EOS 77D Lens test images
Lens Performance - The camera has built-in lens correction, including peripheral illumination correction, to correct for vignetting, chromatic aberration, distortion, plus diffraction. This means it can correct for any issues that your lens may have, as long as the camera has the lens data loaded into it.
We used the 18-135mm IS USM lens which performed well at the wide-angle end of the lens, becoming softer at the telephoto end. Macro focus was reasonable, and image stabilisation helped to ensure shots were free from camera shake. We were much more impressed by the performance of the 35mm f/2 IS lens, and it is possible that the 18-135mm lens we got wasn't performing as originally intended.
Canon EOS 77D ISO test images
ISO Noise Performance - The level of detail captured is very good, particularly at the lower ISO speeds from ISO100 to ISO1600. It's not until you get to ISO3200 till you start to notice noise in images, and at this setting, results are very good. ISO6400 produces images that should still be usable, depending on your needs. ISO12800 may provide usable images, however, we'd recommend resizing images, or further processing (such as processing the raw file, or converting to black and white). ISO25600 and above are best avoided entirely.
Canon EOS 77D White-balance test images
White Balance Performance - Auto White Balance (AWB) gives slightly warm results under tungsten lighting, and by using the white priority setting, the AWB can give much more accurate results, which is great for product shots. Using the tungsten preset gives warm results. The camera performs well under mixed lighting. AWB performs well under fluorescent lighting, and the preset gives a slight colour cast. Thanks to the "White priority" AWB setting, and the good AWB performance, you shouldn't need to use any of the presets.
Canon EOS 77D Digital filters
Digital Filters - There are a number of effects available, (Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Fish-eye Effect, Art bold effect, Water painting effect, Toy camera effect, Miniature effect), and we've shown examples above. The HDR modes are a little dramatic, and un-natural looking. There is no panoramic mode.
Video - The camera can record FullHD video at 60, 50, 30, 25 or 24fps, with stereo sound. There's also a microphone socket if you want to use an external microphone. You can use the movie mode in auto or manual modes, and there's a time-lapse movie mode as well. Video quality is quite good, although using the electronic image stabilisation results in the frame being cropped, which reduces image quality. Video footage will benefit from the use of a lens with optical image stabilisation for the best quality, or the use of a tripod.
Value For Money
The Canon EOS 77D is available for £829 body only, or £919 with 18-55mm f/4-5.5.6 IS STM lens. This is just £50 more than the Canon EOS 800D, and due to the additional controls would be the preferred choice out of these two cameras. If you're looking for a lower-priced DSLR from Canon, then you have the choice of the 1300D, 700D, and 750D (£549), and 800D. The range then goes upwards to the 77D, the 80D, and on to the 7D Mark II at the top of the APS-C range.
Here's a quick run down of the options available from Canon and other manufacturers:
Canon EOS 77D, 24mp, 45 AF points, 6fps, top LCD, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, £829 body only
Canon EOS 800D, 24mp, 45 AF points, 6fps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, £779 body only
Nikon D5600, 24mp, 39 AF points, 5fps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, £699 body only
Nikon D7200, 24mp, 51 AF points, 6fps, Wi-Fi, NFC, £799 body only
Pentax K-70, 24mp, 11 AF points, 6fps, Wi-Fi, in camera image stabilisation, weather-sealed, £599 body only
Sony Alpha A68, 24mp, (with EVF), 79 AF points, 5fps, top LCD, Wi-Fi, in camera image stabilisation, £549 body only
For mirrorless cameras, have a look here, with top alternatives being the Panasonic Lumix G80, Fujifilm X-T20, Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II, and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. Have a look at more DSLR cameras Top 10 APS-C DSLRs. You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
Canon EOS 77D Verdict
The Canon EOS 77D offers a worthwhile upgrade to the 760D, giving an improved design, with better handling making the camera more comfortable to hold. Focus speeds are good in both live view and normal shooting. Continuous shooting has been improved, along with the ISO range available. The user interface has been updated, and the touch-screen makes changing settings a breeze.
If you’re an enthusiastic photographer and can see yourself wanting direct control over the shutter and aperture speeds in manual mode, then the 77D is going to be the camera you will want, over the 800D. To get the best out of the camera, prime lenses are recommended.
The 77D is a big improvement over the 760D and offers an improved battery life, which will give many mirrorless cameras a run for its money. The camera also delivers great image quality, and with a wide range of affordable lenses, the 77D would make a great choice for any photographer.
| The Canon EOS 77D offers an impressive set of features, high speed performance, and great image quality. |