It's a problem known as "The Paradox of Choice". See the Wikipedia article here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice

The more choices there are, the less happy you may be with what you finally choose - because you're never sure you made the right/best choice!

Bob,
That was really helpful, thanks a lot.
I think it is an option that creates more confusion than Canon thinks---- at least on my part.

The 77D is probably more about marketing than technology. The more choices Canon give customers the more likely it is that one of them will fit their needs and price range. That's the theory anyway. It also causes confusion about what to bay and what the differences are. Too many options con't always make life easier for customers.

The main "upgrade" of the 77D is the use of the new DIGIC 7 processing chip. This appears to allow them to offer a slightly higher ISO range, presumably due to slightly better noise reduction algorithms. It may also slightly improve AF tracking performance. However these are likely to me marginal gains. Measurably better in lab tests but probably not really noticeable to user who isn't looking for them.

As it is now I think the 80D has a longer battery life, a faster shutter, higher viewfinder magification, a faster shooting rate (both JPEG and RAW), better weather sealing and a headphone jack for monitoring audio when shooting video. The 80D also has an 8 way control bad, the 77D has a 4 way. The 77D has bluetooth, is slightly cheaper and has a larger buffer, plus the DIGIC 7 advantages.

I'm sure the 90D will have all the additional features of the 77D (mainly a DIGIC 7 processore), plus more. Canon's main goal in fife is to get you to upgrade in small step. i.e. for you to buy a new camera every year or two. They are all good cameras, each one slightly better then the previous one. If you buy the 77D now, Canon probably hope that you'll move to a 90D when they release one!

The EOS 77D is $ 899 and should be shipping by the end of March (http://www.adorama.com/ica77d.html?kbid=12417)
The EOS 80D is $1099 and ships right away (with $44 in store credit) (http://www.adorama.com/ica80d.html?kbid=12417)

So I wouldn't say the 77D is an 80D killer. It's an option with fewer features in general, but with a few things the 80D doesn't have. There's still a choice there!

Hi Bob, I hope this finds you well, and preparing for spring....
I'd love to hear your comments on the new 77D, and why Canon felt it was necessary to create another line above the Rebels?
It looks like a very nice camera giving up very little to the 80D
The Rebels have always been good cameras and good values, I almost wonder if the 'Rebel' name vas become too associated with the idea of a first step serious camera for 'Soccer Moms & Dads' (at which it excels) ??
It seems like a lot of camera for the money--Digic7 vs 6 in the 80D, better stated ISO, but not a 100% viewfinder.
There must be a real reason to create a new category, because it also creates some confusion.
I may be missing something but it looks like it would kill 80D sales ??
all the best

Batteries life depends on both the battery design and how it's used. For a typical Li-ion cell life is maximized if it's not fully discharged and not overcharged (or even charged to 100% capacity). I don't know if this applies to the Cannon batteries and charger but I assume the charger cuts off early enough to prevent any premature aging of the battery. I'd also guess that the camera shuts down before the battery is truly fully discharged to avoid shortening the life.

Typical numbers for a Li-ion cell might be 1000-1500 cycles of 95% to 50% charge/discharde before capacity drops to about 75% of the original capacity.

My experience is that at the true "end of life", the battery simply won't hold a charge or will refuse to charge. As long as the battery seems to take and hold a charge, I just keep using it (and carry a spare of course!).

Thanks Bob
I will continue to use the battery and carry a spare with me.
Regards
Ken

The only risk I can think of is that you might run out of battery power sooner then you would expect. As they age batteries will take less charge so their capacity diminishes. However I don't think there is any danger of damaging the camera. Battery voltage doesn't increase and older batteries don't explode.

Canon are probably very conservative in their estimation of "end of useful battery life", just like they are very conservative when they tell you a cartridge has run out of ink!

When I check the status of the battery recharge performance in my 60D I see one red cell illuminated which suggests that the battery has reached the end of its life.  But the battery seems to charge ok and hold charge.  Can anyone tell me if I am taking a risk in continuing to use it?
Ken Lindup

Thanks for the advice. Now I have to figure out how to make the best compromise between different requirements.

I looked at quite a few small tripods last year and my pick of the bunch was the Slik Sprint 150 (http://www.adorama.com/SLS150WSBH.html?kbid=12417). It offered the best "bang for the buck" in terms of stability, flexibility, size, weight and cost.

With any small tripod you are going to have to come to some compromise between weight, height and stability. If you don't extend the legs, stability of any tripod will increase, so you have to also balance shooting height against stability.

There are literally dozens (if not humdreds) of choices, but you have to first figure out how much you are willing to spend, how much weight you are willing to carry, how high it has to extend and what kind of load it has to handle in order to narrow down the selection. The  Slik Sprint 150 was my pick for an inexpensive tripod weighing under 2.5 lbs, extending to >60", capable of supporting a DSLR with a small/medium lens and it costings under $60.