The Canon EOS 80D is the newer version of the company’s Dual Pixel CMOS sensor that can be previously found on the 70D. The 80D arrives on the scene with a faster on-sensor auto-focusing system, along with other minor additions. Ultimately, it is a great update over its direct predecessor, especially when you factor in a better performance regarding Live View. Still, Live View performance is not as fast when you compare it to many mirrorless cameras on the market, but for a DSLR, it is a lot more usable than others, especially when you’re shooting subjects in motion.
The Canon EOS 80D Has Generally Improved Overall Performance Than its Predecessor
The Canon EOS 80D can produce excellent photos, but that’s only when you’re either shooting in RAW format or would change a lot of the default JPEG settings. It is better to do manual calibration pertaining to the White Balance when shooting with this DSLR as the Automatic White Balance isn’t very good. Similar issues can be seen with other cameras such as that of Nikon’s D7200 and other cameras from Canon. However, the Automatic White Balance feature from the 80D is one that particularly takes the cake.
When shooting in broad daylight, the White Balance performance is pretty acceptable, but it is still not in the “good” zone. For instance, it will turn blue flowers into purple. When using the other white balance presets, it can remedy the situation a bit but it is still not an acceptable performance. Those who want to get really accurate White Balance performance on the EOS 80D should consider getting a gray card.
Because of the slightly improved higher-resolution sensor, along with the Fine Detail mode, it will allow the DSLR to produce a slightly better JPEG shooting performance than its direct predecessor. However, the 70D’s auto-white balance performance is definitely more accurate but the 80D has the upper hand in cleaning noise profiles across ISO sensitivities.
Speaking of the Fine Detail option, it produces better edge processing performance as compared to the Auto Picture Style feature. The latter functionality pushes the saturation and contrast a bit too much and overcompresses edges.
Overall, the Canon EOS 80D delivers better performance and photo quality than the 70D. It is definitely worth the upgrade, but the white balance presets are nothing to clap about. Users are suggested to purchase a gray card for more accurate color results.