Camera test 48
Photography News | Issue 50 | photographynews.co.uk
CanonEOS200D While many photographers are going for mirrorless models to save bulk, Canon shows how you can go for a DSLR without over-burdening yourself
Specs
Price £679 with an 18-55mm IS STM, body only option £579 Sensor 24.2-megapixel CMOS with low pass filter with DIGIC 7 processor, 14-bit capture Sensor format APS-C 22.3x14.9mm, 6000x4000 pixels ISO range 100-25,600, expansion to 51,200 possible Shutter range 30sec to 1/4000sec plus B, 1/200sec X-sync Drivemodes 5fps continuous max Metering system 63 zone dual layer sensor with evaluative, partial, spot and centre-weighted average Exposuremodes PASMmodes, scene intelligent auto, +/-5EV in 0.5 and 0.3EV steps, AEB three shots in +/-2EV, 0.5EV and 0.3EV steps Monitor 3in vari-angle touchscreen, 1040k dots Viewfinder 95% coverage with 0.87x magnification, built-in dioptre correction Focusing Dual Pixel CMOS AF with AI, AI servo and one shot modes Focus points 49 points in a 7x7 grid via live viewwith single point and 3x3 grid options, nine points through optical viewfinder Video Full HD, max duration 29min 59sec Connectivity Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, USB Other key features Built-in flash, 11 custom functions Storagemedia 1x SD Dimensions (wxhxd) 122.4x92.6x69.8mm Weight 453g body and battery Contact Canon.co.uk creative auto, creative filters Exposure compensation
Words and images byWill Cheung
Size is important, and while many photographers enjoy the heft and large body form of a typical DSLR camera, the huge interest in mirrorless models shows that smaller cameras have great appeal. The Canon EOS 200D is small, very small. It is a DSLR with an impressive feature set and, of course, is supported by Canon’s huge system of lenses and accessories. The EOS 200D is an entry level APS-C format camera with a resolution of 24.2-megapixels, so of a standard comparable with leading cameras using sensors of this size. It is aimed at those who are currently using phones and tablets as well as older DSLRs for their family shots and social media but are looking to take their image creating skills forward. Canon, in its wisdom, has done a fabulous job with the EOS 200D and I found it a fun and easy to use camera, but it also has the potential for more advanced workers. Its body only price is £509 and £579 with the standard 18-55mm IS STM kit lens so, in Canon’s existing range, it sits above the EOS 1300D (£359 body only) and the EOS 750D (£549 body only). Canon’s approach to camera layout and menu structure shows that this camera is well targeted. You have a three position on/off/record control button perfectly placed for the right forefinger, a simple click- stopped exposure mode dial and a vari-angle touchmonitor. Most of the controls and their positioning are typically Canon so you have things like the exposure lock star button placed for the right thumb, a blue image preview button and an aperture button marked AV+/-. And although the EOS 200D is aimed at less experienced users, a pro Canon user will look at this entry level camera and spot the familial similarities. That is a very good sign and shows that Canon got its fundamental layout right ages ago and has more or less stuck with it regardless of the prospective user.
Above The EOS 200D is aimed at inexperienced photographers and with that in mind Canon has kept its design and control layout nice and simple. Yet it is still blessed with really useful features such as the articulating monitor (see image below) making shooting from unusual viewpoints very easy.
situations. In the standardmode, you get camera settings and features such as self-timer, focus points and image quality. Push INFO and this screen stays for ten seconds – or goes off if the button is pushed again. You get the same with the DISP button next to the shutter release. The display is not eye-activated. Handling is generally very good, once you get used to the size. My hands are probably small to average for a bloke and I found my little finger slipping off the bottom of the handgrip. It’s funny, you don’t appreciate how useful the little finger is when it comes to gripping a camera body but it’s clear that its role is greater than you might think.
For comfort I ended up tucking my smallest digit under the body’s edge. The smaller body also meant that I had to adjust my handgrip to get at certain controls but it’s nothing to be concerned about. Obviously prospective buyers with larger hands need to check that the camera is comfortable to hold and operate; its light weight does mean that a secure grip for stability is important. The controls work nicely and are strategically well placed so I didn’t find myself having to hunt for
Push themenu button and regular Canon users will immediately see something different in the default mode. You get an explanatory line outlining the area of camera functionality you are about to enter. So, for example, for Shooting settings you get ‘Configure image quality, color tone (WB) and other settings for stills’. That will be handy for newcomers and it appears every time the menu button is pressed. Canon has given this serious thought, though, so as soon as a user is comfortable with what the various menus do, there is the option of changing the guided or feature assistant display to a standardCanon menu layout using the Disp levels settings menu item. Do this and you will see a shooting screen or menu display that current Canon users will be immediately familiar with. Both shooting screen and menu display have standard and guided options while the mode guide and feature guides can be turned on or off. The shooting screen in its guided mode uses comparison pictures (showing depth-of-field differences, waterfalls, interiors) to help users make the most of particular
Handling is generally very good, once you get used to the size
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