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Canon 800D vs 250D

The Canon EOS 800D (called Canon T7i in some regions) and the Canon EOS 250D (labelled Canon SL3 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2017 and April 2019. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 800D
versus
Canon 250D
Canon 800D   Canon 250D
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
24 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/25p Video
ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200) ISO 100-25,600 (100 - 51,200)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Swivel touchscreen Swivel touchscreen
6 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
600 shots per battery charge1070 shots per battery charge
131 x 100 x 76 mm, 532 g 122 x 93 x 70 mm, 449 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 800D and the Canon EOS 250D? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 800D and the Canon 250D is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The 250D can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the 800D is only available in black.

Size Canon 800D vs Canon 250D
Compare 800D versus 250D top
Comparison 800D or 250D rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 250D is notably smaller (13 percent) than the Canon 800D. Moreover, the 250D is markedly lighter (16 percent) than the 800D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 800D nor the 250D are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 800D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 532 g 600 n Feb 2017 749ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 250D 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 449 g 1070 n Apr 2019 599 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 850D 131 mm 103 mm 76 mm 515 g 800 n Feb 2020 749ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II 116 mm 88 mm 59 mm 387 g 305 n Oct 2020 599ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 2000D 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
6.
 
Canon 77D 131 mm 100 mm 76 mm 540 g 600 n Feb 2017 899ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 200D 122 mm 93 mm 70 mm 453 g 650 n Jun 2017 549ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M6 112 mm 68 mm 45 mm 390 g 295 n Feb 2017 779ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 1300D 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 449ebay.com
10.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 760D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D5600 124 mm 97 mm 70 mm 465 g 970 n Nov 2016 699ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 250D was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 20 percent) than the 800D, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the 250D uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 8) than the 800D (DIGIC 7), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon 800D and Canon 250D sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the 800D and the 250D have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the 250D is much more recent (by 2 years and 1 month) than the 800D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon EOS 800D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The Canon EOS 250D offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

800D versus 250D MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 800D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.1158680
2.
 
Canon 250D APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/25p23.913.4179182
3.
 
Canon 850D APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p24.013.5187383
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/24p24.013.6193983
5.
 
Canon 2000D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.611.9100971
6.
 
Canon 77D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.397178
7.
 
Canon 200D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.4104179
8.
 
Canon M6 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.412.6131778
9.
 
Canon 1300D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
10.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
11.
 
Canon 750D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
12.
 
Canon 760D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
13.
 
Nikon D5600 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.0130684
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the 250D provides a better video resolution than the 800D. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/25p, while the 800D is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 800D and the 250D are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the 250D has a higher magnification than the one of the 800D (0.54x vs 0.51x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 800D and Canon 250D in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 800Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon 250Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 850Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 7.5/s Y n
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 2000Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 77Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 200Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon M6optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 1300Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Canon 750Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
12.
 
Canon 760Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D5600optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The Canon 250D has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 800D and the 250D write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 800D and Canon EOS 250D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 800DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
2.
 
Canon 250DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Canon 850DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0Y-Y
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
5.
 
Canon 2000DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon 77DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
7.
 
Canon 200DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
8.
 
Canon M6Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
9.
 
Canon 1300DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
12.
 
Canon 760DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
13.
 
Nikon D5600Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
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The 250D is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the 800D has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 800D was succeeded by the Canon 850D. Further information on the features and operation of the 800D and 250D can be found, respectively, in the Canon 800D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 250D Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 800D or the Canon 250D – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 800D:

  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2017).


Advantages of the Canon EOS 250D:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 8 vs DIGIC 7).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/25p vs 1080/60p).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.51x).
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (122x93mm vs 131x100mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 83g or 16 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1070 versus 600) out of a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (20 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 1 month of technical progress since the 800D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 250D is the clear winner of the contest (9 : 3 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

800D 03:09 250D

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 800D and the Canon 250D place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 800D or the 250D. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 800D4.5/5..3.5/580/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 749ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 250D4/5o4.5/579/1004/54/5 Apr 2019 599 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 850D4/5+3/580/1004/53.5/5 Feb 2020 749ebay.com
4.
 
Canon M50 Mark II4/5..4/5..4.5/53.5/5 Oct 2020 599ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 2000D3/5o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 449 amazon.com
6.
 
Canon 77D4.5/5..4/582/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2017 899ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 200D4/5+ +4/578/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2017 549ebay.com
8.
 
Canon M6......80/1004/54/5 Feb 2017 779ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 1300D4/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 449ebay.com
10.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 760D5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D56004/5..4/579/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2016 699ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Canon 800D vs Canon 250D

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 800D Canon 250D
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2017 April 2019
    Launch Price USD 749 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Canon 800D Canon 250D
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 24 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6000 x 4000 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.72 μm 3.72 μm
    Pixel Density 7.22 MP/cm2 7.22 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/25p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25,600 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 7 DIGIC 8
    Screen Specs Canon 800D Canon 250D
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.51x 0.54x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon 800D Canon 250D
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 6 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon 800D Canon 250D
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon 800D Canon 250D
    Battery Type Canon LP-E17 Canon LP-E17
    Battery Life (CIPA)600 shots per charge1070 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 131 x 100 x 76 mm
    (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.0 in)
    122 x 93 x 70 mm
    (4.8 x 3.7 x 2.8 in)
    Camera Weight 532 g (18.8 oz) 449 g (15.8 oz)
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