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Canon T8i vs Canon SL2 Comparison

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Canon T8i

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon T8i
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Canon SL2

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon SL2
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Canon T8i vs Canon SL2 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the T8i and the SL2, two Entry-Level DSLR cameras by Canon. Canon T8i was introduced to the market in February 2020 and Canon SL2 was launched in June 2017. As you can see, SL2 is 3 years older than T8i. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

We can expect this to be a close match up because both models are ranked amongst the best in Entry-Level DSLR cameras. Out of 82 cameras in this class, Canon T8i is ranked #4 with an overall score of 75 and Canon SL2 is ranked #9 with an overall score of 73.

T8i and SL2 are members of Canon's Rebel series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Canon Rebel Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Dimensions Weight
Canon T8i
2020 24.0MP - APS-C 131 x 103 x 76mm 515g
Canon SL3
  
2019 24.0MP - APS-C 122 x 93 x 70mm 449g
Canon 4000D
  
2018 18.0MP - APS-C 129 x 102 x 77mm 436g
Canon T7
  
2018 24.0MP - APS-C 129 x 101 x 78mm 475g
Canon SL2
2017 24.0MP - APS-C 122 x 93 x 70mm 453g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon T8i and Canon SL2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon T8i Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2020-02-12
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 51200)
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
  • 7.5fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 515g. 131 x 103 x 76 mm
  • Also known as EOS 850D / EOS Kiss X10i
  • Replaced Canon EOS Rebel T7i Compare

Canon SL2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-06-29
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 51200)
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 453g. 122 x 93 x 70 mm
  • Also known as EOS 200D / Kiss X9
  • Replaced Canon EOS 100D Compare

Canon SL2 was replaced by Canon EOS Rebel SL3. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 vs Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D / Kiss X9)
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 vs Canon EOS Rebel T8i (EOS 850D / EOS Kiss X10i)

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon T8i and Canon SL2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Canon EOS Rebel T8i over Canon EOS Rebel SL2
Image Processor
DIGIC 8 vs DIGIC 7 More Capable Processor
Number of Focus Points
45 vs 9 36 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
7.5fps vs 5.0fps 2.5 fps faster
Battery Life
800 shots vs 650 shots 150 more frames with a single charge
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
CHECK T8i PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon EOS Rebel SL2 over Canon EOS Rebel T8i
Viewfinder Magnif.
0.54x vs 0.51x Larger Viewfinder
Weight
453 g vs 515 g 62 g lighter
Flash Coverage
9.8m vs 4.0m 5.8m longer range
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK SL2 PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon EOS Rebel T8i and Canon EOS Rebel SL2
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fully Articulated Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
24 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.040k dots High resolution screens
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
UHS Card Support
UHS-I vs UHS-I Read/Write in High Speeds
Webcam Function
Yes vs Yes Use your camera as a Webcam
Common Weaknesses of Canon EOS Rebel T8i and Canon EOS Rebel SL2
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Optical Viewfinder Type
Pentamirror vs Pentamirror not as bright as Pentaprism Viewfinders
Canon T8i vs Canon SL2: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon T8i and Canon SL2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon T8i has external dimensions of 131 x 103 x 76 mm (5.16 x 4.00 x 2.99″) and weighs 515 g (1.14 lb / 18.17 oz) (including batteries). Canon SL2 has external dimensions of 122 x 93 x 70 mm (4.8 x 3.66 x 2.76″) and weighs 453 g (1.00 lb / 15.98 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon T8i and the Canon SL2. Canon SL2 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 9mm narrower, 10mm shorter and 6mm thinner than Canon T8i.

Canon T8i vs Canon SL2 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Canon T8i and the Canon SL2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon T8i and Canon SL2.

Canon T8i vs Canon SL2 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Canon T8i and the Canon SL2 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon T8i and Canon SL2.
Canon T8i vs Canon SL2 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Canon T8i and the the Canon SL2 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SL2 is 62g lighter than the Canon T8i but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Canon T8i and Canon SL2 have the same Canon EF/EF-S lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

T8i
SL2
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

T8i
SL2
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Canon EOS Rebel T8i (EOS 850D / EOS Kiss X10i) nor Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D / Kiss X9) provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon T8i and Canon SL2's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Both cameras feature Fully Articulating screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels. Fully articulating screens are also useful for taking Selfies and video.


Canon T8i vs Canon SL2: Sensor Comparison

Both Canon T8i and Canon SL2 have APS-C sized 24.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the T8i and SL2 sensor size comparison.

Canon T8i vs Canon SL2 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon T8i and Canon SL2 Cameras


Canon T8i and Canon SL2 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Canon T8i vs Canon SL2 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Canon T8i and Canon SL2 have the same Canon EF/EF-S lens mount and currently there are 333 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 113 lenses with Image stabilization for Canon EF/EF-S mount.

Lens Type # of Canon T8i Lenses # of Canon SL2 Lenses
Standard Zoom 40 40
Standard Prime 21 21
Wideangle Zoom 37 37
Wideangle Prime 51 51
Telephoto Zoom 59 59
Telephoto Prime 44 44
SuperZoom 28 28
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 7 7
Macro Prime 28 28
Perspective Control Prime 16 16
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 333 333

Here are some of the most popular Canon EF/EF-S Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Canon EF/EF-S Mount Lenses for the T8i and the SL2
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM Lens Canon EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM
35mm FF 670gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM Lens Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM
35mm FF 630gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III Lens Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III
35mm FF 480gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM Lens Canon EF 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM
35mm FF 1385gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM Lens Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM
35mm FF 1490gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM Lens Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM
35mm FF 159gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II Lens Canon EF 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II
35mm FF 250gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Canon EF 35-80mm f4.0-5.6 III Lens Canon EF 35-80mm f4.0-5.6 III
35mm FF 175gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Canon T8i and Canon SL2 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon T8i and Canon SL2 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon T8i for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SL2 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Canon T8i for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon SL2 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Street Photography
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Canon T8i for Sports Photography

GOOD

Canon SL2 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.5fps
Anti Flicker feature
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
45 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 800 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
1 Cross Type Focus sensors
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Canon T8i for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SL2 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Large Body
515g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Large Body
453g
Body Thickness 70mm
Read the details

Canon T8i for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SL2 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Check the Best Canon EF-S Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Live-view
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon T8i vs Canon SL2: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon T8i and Canon SL2, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon T8i and Canon SL2 scores compare:

Canon T8i
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #5 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #130 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Canon SL2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #8 out of 80 in Compact SLR cameras
Ranked #150 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Canon T8i has a higher Overall Score than the Canon SL2 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon T8i
Canon T8i
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Canon SL2
Canon SL2
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Canon SL2 vs Canon T8i Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon EOS Rebel T8i Canon EOS Rebel SL2
Brand Canon Canon
Announced 2020-02-12 2017-06-29
Body Type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 22.3 x 14.9 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
Area 332.27mm2 332.27mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 51200 ISO 51200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 45 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Canon EF/EF-S Canon EF/EF-S
Number of Available Lenses 333 333
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.51x 0.54x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m (with Auto ISO) 9.80 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.5 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 515g 453g
Dimensions 131 x 103 x 76mm 122 x 93 x 70mm
Battery Life 800 shots 650 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 79
DxO Color Depth not tested 23.6
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 13.4
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 1041
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