Understanding the Limits of Canon 80D's HDMI Output

The Canon EOS 80D is a popular camera for both beginners and professionals. However, one aspect that users often question is whether this camera provides a clean HDMI output. It is essential to understand the limitations and explore possible workarounds for those seeking a clear feed for external recording or live streaming.

Lose Overlays with Canon 80D's HDMI Output

When using the Canon EOS 80D with an external monitor via HDMI, you may notice that the video feed includes overlays such as camera settings and focus points. These overlays can be a significant issue if you need a clean feed for live streaming or external recording. Unfortunately, the 80D does not provide a pure HDMI output without these overlays.

How to Use HDMI with Overlays

While the camera uses its HDMI feed to power the rear screen, this is the same feed that would be captured by an external recorder. The rear screen displays a wealth of information, such as shutter speed, aperture, and more, which can be used when recording. However, along with these useful elements, the rear screen also shows overlays that can interfere with the quality of the video output.

For users looking to capture video without these overlays, a clean HDMI output would be ideal. This type of output delivers only the raw sensor information, making it easier to record high-quality video externally. Unfortunately, the Canon 80D does not offer this clean HDMI output natively.

Workarounds for Clean HDMI Output

Even though the Canon 80D does not have a clean HDMI output, there are workarounds that can help get close to the desired result. To minimize the overlays, you need to turn off the following:

Turn off all informational displays on the LCD screen. Disable autofocus and use manual focus.

However, it is important to note that even with these settings, you might still encounter issues. The autofocus confirmation squares might still appear during recording, which would affect the overall quality of the video feed.

Expert Opinions and Limitations

Based on an August 2019 review by the Broke Backpacker website, the Canon 80D faced criticism for a couple of missing features: it cannot record video in 4K and it does not have a clean HDMI output. While 1080p to HDMI recording is generally straightforward today, the lack of clean HDMI has been a sore point for some users.

A Clarification from the Community

A2A: Yes, definitely. It would be difficult to mess up a 1080p to HDMI output in this day and age. However, the absence of a clean HDMI output can make it challenging to record high-quality video or stream live without unwanted overlays.

Given these limitations, users opting for the Canon 80D might need to invest in additional equipment, such as a capture card that can handle the overlaid information. Alternatively, utilizing a workaround by disabling notifications and focusing manually can offer a compromise.

In conclusion, while the Canon 80D provides an excellent value for its price range, its inherent limitations in HDMI output require users to take extra steps to ensure a clean feed for external recording or live streaming.