Used Canon 800D: what it offers compared to the 750D

At the counter, the question almost always comes up like this: "The 750D costs less, it has the same megapixels, what do I get for the extra money with the 800D?" It's a fair question. On paper, the two Canons look like twins: 24.2 MP, APS-C, articulating touchscreen, EF/EF-S mount, same battery. However, in our workshop, we've opened both of them on the bench dozens of times, and the two-year gap between the 750D (2015) and the 800D (2017) has made a difference.

In this article, I lay out the differences that truly matter in practice: autofocus, sensor, video, and battery life. Then, those that remain only on the spec sheet. I also discuss the real prices of the used market in 2026, what to check before buying one, and the case where, with the same budget, a mirrorless is the most sensible choice. The goal is for you to know if the price difference is worth it for how you shoot, not in absolute terms.

750D vs 800D: what’s the same and what’s different

Side by side on the bench, the 750D and the 800D are almost the same camera. The camera body differs by just a few millimeters and about twenty grams, the battery is the same, and the first spec you read matches: 24.2 megapixels on APS-C. The megapixel count is identical, but the sensor is not. The 800D features a next-generation sensor paired with the DIGIC 7, and the difference is visible in the files. It is not found in the number printed on the box.

Identical features that do not justify a price premium

When it comes to the physical handling, the two bodies are identical. Choosing the 800D for any of these reasons is a waste of money:

• Ergonomics: grip, controls, and dimensions are practically identical. You won't feel the difference in hand.
• Viewfinder: both use a pentaprism with 95% coverage and 0.82x magnification. On both models, the edges of the frame remain outside the viewfinder, and you may find them in the final file.
• Screen: 3 inches, articulating, and touch-enabled on both.
• Lenses: same EF and EF-S mount. An 18-55 or a 50 mm f/1.8 mounted on the 750D works exactly the same way on the 800D.
• Battery and audio: the LP-E17 is the same, so replacement batteries are compatible with both. The 3.5 mm microphone input is present on both.

The four differences that matter

The rest of the spec sheet changes, but not every difference carries the same weight. Going from 5 to 6 fps won't decide a purchase, and Bluetooth is just a convenience. The 25,600 native ISO is a brochure number: we'll see later how far it actually pushes. The differences that justify the extra 100-120 euros are four, and we break them down one by one in the following sections:

1. Autofocus: from 19 to 45 points in the viewfinder and Dual Pixel in live view. This is the most concrete difference.
2. Sensor: dynamic range increases from approximately 12 to approximately 13.3 EV at base ISO, according to DxOMark measurements. You notice it when recovering shadows.
3. Video: Full HD goes from 30p to 60p. 4K remains absent on both.
4. Battery life: approximately 600 shutter count per charge against 440, with the same battery.

If none of these four points affect your way of shooting, the 750D does the same job and costs less.

Autofocus: 19 points vs 45 and Dual Pixel in live view

If there is a concrete reason to spend 100 euros more on the 800D, it is the autofocus. In the viewfinder, the 750D has 19 cross-type points, while the 800D has 45, all cross-type with most EF and EF-S lenses, and they are distributed over a wider area of the frame. In live view, you move from Hybrid CMOS AF III to Dual Pixel CMOS AF. These are two different leaps, and they matter to different photographers.

In the viewfinder: when 45 points make the difference

The 45 points are essential in AI Servo mode, when the subject moves and does not stay in the center. With 19 points, the grid leaves large gaps. A child running towards the edge exits the covered area, and the camera shifts focus to the background. With a denser grid, tracking follows the subject for longer, and the sequence yields more sharp shutter count.

This is where the difference really shows:

• Children and animals that change direction without warning.
• Amateur sports: the futsal match, the dance recital, the son's bike race.
• Off-center compositions with a moving subject, where there is no time to focus with the central point and recompose.

On static scenes, the situation is reversed. For landscape, architecture, and posed portraits, you work with a single point, often the central one, and the 19 points of the 750D are more than enough.

In live view and video: the real leap

The difference is evident from day one. The 750D's Hybrid CMOS AF III combines phase detection and contrast pixels. Before locking focus, the focus hunts back and forth, and in video, that pumping ends up in the clip. In the 800D's Dual Pixel system, every pixel in the AF area is split into two photodiodes that measure phase: the lock is decisive, and subject changes in video are fluid.

The touch interface also behaves differently: on the 800D, tapping the screen to shift focus always works, whereas on the 750D, the lock is slower and sometimes needs to be repeated. If you frequently shoot from the articulating screen, at ground level or with the camera overhead, or if you record family clips, you should look at the 800D. If you only use the viewfinder, you will never notice this difference.

What doesn't change: slow lenses in low light

The number of points comes from the technical specifications and guarantees nothing. On paper, the central point of the 800D works with less light than that of the 750D. But with an EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 at 55 mm, in a gym or a living room in the evening, the autofocus of both slows down and fails more often. The limit is set by the lens: at f/5.6, little light reaches the AF module, regardless of the body.

We see this at the counter often. If you want to change cameras because they "don't focus" at home, a 50 mm f/1.8 solves more problems than switching from a 750D to an 800D. Before spending on a new body, it is worth understanding if the issue is the lens.

Sensor and DIGIC 7: Noise and Dynamic Range in Practice

The 24.2 megapixels remain the same, but the 800D's sensor is from a later generation. The difference is most evident where Canon was previously weakest: in the shadows. According to DxOMark measurements, the 750D achieves approximately 12 EV of dynamic range at base ISO, while the 800D reaches approximately 13.3 EV. In post-production, this figure has very concrete consequences.

One full stop of recoverable shadows: when it matters

An extra 1.3 EV means you can brighten the shadows in a RAW file by more than one additional stop before noise ruins the image. The 750D also has another limitation, common to Canon sensors from that era. If you lift the shadows by 3-4 stops, banding appears: horizontal or vertical lines that no noise reduction software can truly remove. On the 800D, this issue is much less pronounced.

Situations where the difference matters:

• Backlighting: subject in shadow in front of a window or low sun, when you don't want to blow out the background.
• Landscape with sky: expose to retain the clouds and recover the ground in post, without having to do bracketing.
• Church weddings: bright stained glass, dark naves, white dress and dark suit in the same frame.

If you only shoot in JPEG and never open Lightroom, this difference is almost irrelevant to you. However, if you work with RAW files, along with autofocus, it is the most solid reason to choose the 800D.

High ISO: the real difference is about half a stop

On paper, the leap seems significant: the 750D has a native ISO of 12,800 (51,200 extended), while the 800D offers 25,600 (51,200 extended). In practice, no one uses the maximum values for photos they intend to keep. At 25,600 ISO, a 24 MP APS-C sensor loses detail and color, regardless of the processor. The meaningful comparison lies between 3,200 and 6,400 ISO.

Here, the DIGIC 7 mainly helps with JPEGs: in-camera noise reduction is cleaner and better preserves fine details, such as hair and fabrics. On RAW files developed in the same way, the advantage of the 800D is reduced to about half a stop. In practice, a file from the 800D at 6,400 ISO looks like one from the 750D at around 4,500.

For those shooting indoors without flash, that half stop is useful, but it doesn't change the camera's category. A Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, which can be found on the used market for around 100 euros, gains more than two stops compared to the kit lens, and on both camera bodies.

Video: Full HD 60p yes, 4K no

For video, the 800D is an updated 750D in the areas that matter. Neither model goes beyond Full HD, but the 800D reaches 60p and adds 5-axis digital stabilization. These are the differences that truly count when you are recording:

• Frame rate in Full HD: 30p max on the 750D, 60p on the 800D. At 60p, you can slow down to 50% in post-production and the motion remains smooth.
• Stabilization: the 800D features 5-axis digital stabilization for video only, which it combines with the lens stabilizer. The 750D relies solely on the lens IS. Digital stabilization crops the frame slightly: with the 18-55 at the minimum focal length, the angle tightens.
• Audio: both have a 3.5 mm microphone input and neither has a headphone output. You can only hear the audio when reviewing the file, which is too late.

Dual Pixel is the real reason to shoot video with the 800D

Frame rate and stabilization help, but in video, the real difference remains the autofocus mentioned above. With the 750D's Hybrid CMOS AF III, pumping is clearly visible in the footage, and those who use it for video almost always end up focusing manually. With the 800D's Dual Pixel, continuous AF keeps subjects walking toward the camera in focus, and touch-to-focus switching on the screen is smooth. For vlogs, school plays, and family videos, this alone justifies the price difference.

If video is your priority, look elsewhere

That said, in 2026 I do not recommend a DSLR to buyers who primarily shoot video. It lacks 4K and a headphone output, and the optical viewfinder remains unused during recording. There are cameras designed specifically for video, and we have two in our catalog:

• Canon EOS R50 V, today between 540 and 550 euros. It records in 4K and features both a microphone input and a headphone output. It uses the same LP-E17 battery as the 750D and 800D: if you are coming from either of these two DSLRs, the batteries you already have will continue to serve you.
• Sony ZV-E10, today at 500 euros. It also shoots 4K and has excellent AF in video, but it lacks a headphone output. Its NP-FW50 battery has a short lifespan: plan on having at least one spare battery.

Neither of them has a viewfinder. These are cameras for creators, designed to be used with the screen and often on a small tripod. The R50 V does not replace a DSLR for those who photograph by looking through the viewfinder. If you mainly take photos and occasionally shoot some video, the 800D remains the most balanced choice.

Battery life, connectivity and minor usage differences

On paper, the 800D delivers approximately 600 shutter count per charge compared to 440 for the 750D, according to the CIPA standard. These are conservative figures, measured with the flash used for 50% of the shutter count and the camera body turned off and on every 10 shutter count. Using the optical viewfinder and minimal flash, both models comfortably exceed these values. In live view or video, however, battery life drops quickly on both.

As for connectivity, there is only one difference. Both cameras feature Wi-Fi and NFC, but only the 800D includes low-power Bluetooth. This keeps the DSLR constantly connected to your smartphone, eliminating the need to re-pair every time you want to transfer a photo. Those who download images to their computer at the end of the day will not notice any difference.

• Weight: 555 g for the 750D, 532 g for the 800D. You won't notice the difference in your hand or in your bag.
• Guided Interface: the 800D explains on-screen what aperture and shutter speeds do. Essential for beginners, easily disabled from the menu in seconds for experienced users.
• Bluetooth: only on the 800D, useful if you frequently share photos from your phone.

The battery is the same: an advantage for those switching between them

Both use the Canon LP-E17. Those upgrading from the 750D to the 800D can carry over their spare batteries and charger without spending a cent. For anyone buying their first DSLR, a second original LP-E17 is the accessory to grab right after the memory card.

We are cautious about budget-compatible batteries. Many report incorrect charge levels: they show a full indicator, only for the camera to shut down abruptly. Others trigger a communication error message with the battery. In our workshop, we frequently receive DSLRs reported as defective that actually just had a malfunctioning compatible battery.

5 vs 6 fps burst: a marginal difference

Going from 5 to 6 frames per second does not change the nature of the two camera bodies. Neither is designed for sports or action wildlife photography. For running children or a futsal match, both are suitable, provided the photographer anticipates the moment.

The RAW buffer matters more. With a UHS-I card, the 750D stops after about 8 RAW files, while the 800D handles around 27 before slowing down. If you shoot in RAW and find yourself holding down the button, this is the real advantage of the 800D, far more than the extra frame per second.

Used Prices in 2026: When the Difference Matters

Today, on the used market, the 800D generally costs 100-120 euros more than the 750D in equivalent condition. It is worth spending that extra only if you will actually use what the 800D does better. These are the indicative price ranges we see at the counter for units in excellent condition.

The difference is justified in four cases:

• Video: with Dual Pixel and 60p, shooting feels different, every day.
• Live view: for those who frequently shoot from the articulated display, high up or close to the ground.
• Moving subjects: children, dogs, and amateur sports, where the 45 cross-type points keep focus locked.
• Heavy post-processing: when you often recover shadows from RAW files.

If you shoot landscapes, posed portraits, and a few trips a year, the 750D does the same job. The 100 euros saved go further into a bright prime lens than into a camera body from a later generation.

A 750D with a low shutter count beats a mistreated 800D

When comparing two listings, the priority order is as follows: first a clean sensor without scratches, then the shutter, then the display, and only at the end the model. A 750D at 260 euros with 8,000 certified shutter count is a better purchase than an 800D at 350 euros with a mark on the filter in front of the sensor. On an entry-level camera, replacing that unit often costs more than the body is worth.

Be skeptical of precise shutter count figures. For entry-level models like the Canon 750D and 800D, Canon does not declare an official lifespan, so anyone claiming a "guaranteed 100,000 shutter count" is citing an estimate found online. The method for evaluating a used Canon is the same as the one we explain in the Canon 5D Mark IV valuation guide: the price range changes, but the reasoning remains the same.

The uncomfortable comparison with entry-level mirrorless

In our catalog, a lab-revised Canon EOS R100 with a 2-year warranty currently costs between 332 and 400 euros, which is the same price as an 800D body only in excellent condition. This does not make the 800D a mistake. However, if they ask you 400 euros for the body only, stop and compare, because at that price the DSLR ceases to be the budget option. The comparison between the two options is in the last section.

What to check on a used 750D or 800D

On these two Canon models, the fault we see most often at the bench does not involve the sensor or the shutter. It involves the screen. These two cameras were designed for a public that uses them extensively in live view, and the screen hinge is the component that works the most. The method that follows is the same as our guide to checking used Sony A7 III, adapted for a DSLR.

The articulating display: the weak point of both

A flexible cable, the flat, runs through the hinge and bends with every opening and rotation. After a few years of use, it can crack, and the defect initially appears only in certain positions. This is why the screen must be tested while in motion, not just closed against the camera body.

• Open the screen to the side and rotate it slowly through its full range, checking that the image remains stable.
• Look for horizontal lines, flickering, or a black screen when it is rotated toward the lens or flipped upside down.
• Test the touch response across the entire surface, including the corners: scroll through menus and tap to focus in live view.
• Ensure the hinge has no play and that the screen stays firmly in the position you leave it.

Shutter count: how to read it properly

On Canon cameras in this price range, the shutter count is not displayed in the menus. It can be read by connecting the camera body via USB to software that queries the internal counter, or through a service center reading. The sequential file number is irrelevant: depending on the settings, it resets with a new memory card or a manual reset. If a private seller states "approximately 10,000 shutter count" without providing a reading, that number is an estimate and should be treated as such.

What we check at the counter

Before listing a Canon DSLR, our workshop checks these points one by one:

1. Certified shutter count, reported in the product sheet.
2. Screen flatness and touch response, with the tests described above.
3. SD card slot door: it must close properly, and the internal contacts must not be bent or oxidized.
4. Mode dial: every position must click firmly, without skipping the next mode.
5. Sensor: dust, oil spots, and scratches left by cleanings done with the wrong materials.
6. EF mount and electrical contacts: no wear on the tabs, no communication errors with the lens.
7. Viewfinder: dust on the focusing screen and correct display of data.
8. On the 750D, the firmware version: we compare it with the latest released by Canon and, if needed, we update it.

This applies even if you buy from a private seller: it is not a procedure limited to professional labs. The difference is that with us, if something fails after the purchase, you are covered by a 2-year warranty on all used equipment. If the screen starts flickering after six months, you won't be left with the problem.

With the same budget: 800D or Canon mirrorless?

With the €330-420 you'd spend on a used 800D today, you can also buy a Canon mirrorless with a mount still in production. It's not necessarily the right choice for everyone. It largely depends on what you already have in your kit and where you shoot.

When to stick with the 800D

The DSLR remains the sensible choice in three specific cases:

• You already have EF-S lenses. An 18-55 STM, a 55-250, or a 10-18 work on the 800D without adapters and without spending an extra euro.
• You want the optical viewfinder. You see the scene with your eye, without lag and without draining the battery. For some, it is a preference, not a detail.
• You shoot for long periods away from a power outlet. An electronic viewfinder consumes power every second of framing. With a DSLR, a day of trekking ends with one battery; on a mirrorless, you almost always need a second one.

When the R100 is the best choice

If you are starting from scratch and do not have any lenses, the Canon EOS R100 makes more sense. We have 7 units in stock, ranging from 332 to 400 euros. It uses the same LP-E17 battery as the 800D, weighs around 350 grams ready for use, and features Dual Pixel AF with face and eye recognition, even when using the viewfinder. Buy a system that will receive new RF lenses for years to come, while Canon has not released anything new for EF-S in years.

Let's be clear about the limitations. The screen is fixed and not touch-enabled: compared to the 800D, this is a step back for low-angle framing and for moving the AF point with a finger. 4K is available, but with a significant crop that makes it of little use. If you want an articulating touch screen and serious video capabilities, you should look at the Canon EOS R50 V at 540-550 euros, keeping in mind that it is designed for video and has no viewfinder.

If an EF-S lens ever comes up at a good price, it can be mounted on RF APS-C bodies using the EF-EOS R adapter, and autofocus works normally.

The step up to full frame: the EOS RP

At €600, we have 6 units of the Canon EOS RP, the most affordable Canon full-frame camera: 26.2 MP, good high-ISO performance, and RF mount. On paper, it’s the best deal in this comparison. In practice, it only holds up if your budget can also cover the lenses.

EF-S lenses mounted on the RP via an adapter trigger the automatic APS-C crop, reducing files to approximately 10 MP. You end up spending 600 euros on the camera body and then using it as a worse APS-C DSLR. Furthermore, the RP has the lowest battery life in the group. If you don't have at least 200-300 euros left after the camera body for a full-frame lens, our recommendation is the R100 or the 800D.

The complete reasoning on systems and formats can be found in the guide used full frame DSLR or mirrorless.

Frequently asked questions

Looking for a refurbished used Canon? Let's talk

If you have any doubts about a purchase or need advice for your specific case, contact us. We provide free advice because we are photographers first and sellers second, and because a customer who makes a poor purchase decision does not return to photography.

Three ways to get in touch:

• Contact form — response within 24 business hours
• WhatsApp at 342 362 3454 (messages only)
• Phone: 071 291 6347 (Mon-Fri 9-13/15-18, Sat 9-13)

And if you want to see what we have in stock right away, explore the used gear available today: every camera is certified, comes with a 2-year warranty, and ships within 24-48 hours.

Article written by Matteo for the ReflexMania Team. Last updated: October 2026. Prices and availability as of the date of publication.