The EOS 200D is an entry-level DSLR that features some of the newest technologies in the EOS series, such as a Vari-angle LCD monitor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF. Here, a photographer shares his first impressions of the EOS 200D together with the images that he shot on it. (Reported by: Kazuo Nakahara)

 

What the camera promises: Portability, improved Live View shooting and the benefits of Dual Pixel CMOS AF

A mirrorless camera with an optical viewfinder - that was what the EOS 200D felt like when I used it for the first time.

Of course, it is a full-fledged DSLR, not a mirrorless camera. However, not only is it one of the smallest and lightest Canon entry-level DSLR cameras, it also boasts highly-enhanced Live View shooting capabilities. This includes seamless, high-speed Live View AF via the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, which carries out phase detection AF with 100% coverage to ensure smooth and unobstructed focusing.

Combined with the DIGIC 7 image processor and the 24.2-megapixel image sensor, the inclusion of Dual Pixel CMOS AF promises enhanced Live View shooting performance that until now, had been more associated with mirrorless cameras than DSLR cameras.

For more about Live View shooting, check out:
Camera Basics #13: Live View

 

Shooting with the EOS 200D: My experience

Vari-angle LCD monitor makes it easy to shoot from challenging angles

The improved Live View shooting capabilities are greatly compatible with the Vari-angle LCD monitor. The touchscreen LCD monitor makes establishing focus In Live View easy: You can simply tap the spot where you want to focus. WIth the Touch Shutter function enabled, you can also release the shutter by simply touching the screen.

EOS 200D/ EF-S18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM/ FL: 40mm (64mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/5.6, 1/160 sec, EV +0.7)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

I snapped this shot as the child reached the top of the stairs on a playground slide. An angle like this one is difficult to achieve using the optical viewfinder, so I chose to use the Vari-angle LCD monitor instead. The face detection AF was also satisfyingly precise.

Read about position and angle in this article:
Camera Basics #14: Position and Angle

 

Face + Tracking AF: Perfect for photographing active, unpredictable children

The new DIGIC 7 image processor had clearly resulted in vast improvements to the face recognition and tracking functions. My favourite function is the “Face + Tracking AF” setting, which automatically detected and tracked the child’s face. As the AF covers about 80% of the frame (horizontally and vertically), it was easy to get the shot in focus. I just needed to make sure that the child’s face was in the frame before pressing the shutter button.

EOS 200D/ EF-S18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM/ FL: 18mm (29mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/4, 1/500 sec, EV ±0)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

I tried shooting from an extremely low angle with the Vari-angle LCD monitor to portray the child like a giant. Face + Tracking AF ensures automatic, speedy focusing even if you are shooting from unusual positions.

Click here for some tips on how to Use Telephoto Lens to Nail those Shots of Kids Being Kids

 

Other details: Exterior, longer battery life, built-in connectivity

On the exterior, the grip and dials have been redesigned to look more elegant than before. The battery is an LP-E17 (1,040mA), and is more powerful than the battery on the predecessor model, EOS 100D. Also, the built-in wireless connectivity capabilities, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are almost certain to be very big pluses to users who are savvier with smartphones and tablets.

 

Gallery

The joy of seeing shots directly through the viewfinder

EOS 200D/ EF-S18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM/ FL: 24mm (38mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/6.3, 1/250 sec, EV +0.7)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

I took this shot through the viewfinder, trying to draw attention to the interesting patterns on the floor and the shadow of the person walking. It was a joy to shoot through the optical viewfinder: I could feel the light reach my eyes directly and see things in real-time.

 

Instinctive viewfinder shooting

EOS 200D/ EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM/ FL: 135mm (216mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/5.6, 1/1,250 sec, EV ±0)/ ISO 125/ WB: Auto

I waited for the runner to reach the bottom right of the frame before I released the shutter. When you need to keep an eye on moving elements, it might feel more intuitive to shoot through the optical viewfinder. 

 

Small, lightweight and portable—great for street photography

EOS 200D/ EF-S18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM / FL: 55mm (88mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/5.6, 1/125 sec, EV +1.0)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

A picture-perfect coincidence: The contrast between the blue hydrangeas and the red jacket of the passerby in the background. The EOS 200D is ideal for street photography: Its compact body is convenient to carry around, and it is inconspicuous enough for taking pictures even in the middle of the street.

 

Capture fleeting moments with 5 fps continuous shooting

EOS 200D/ EF-S18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM/ FL: 55mm (88mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/5.6, 1/800 sec, EV ±0)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

I released the shutter as the seagull came flying towards me. When it comes to scenes where timing is important, it is easier to shoot with the optical viewfinder. When using the viewfinder, the 5 frame per second (fps) continuous shooting speed is an added advantage as well.

 

Enhanced subject detection capabilities

EOS 200D/ EF-S18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM/ FL: 55mm (88mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/5.6, 1/160 sec, EV +1.0)/ ISO 100/ WB: Auto

The DIGIC 7 image processor enhances the camera’s ability to acquire subjects in scenes with mostly the same colour, such as this one where the subjects were mostly green. Notice how the camera managed to focus on the tip of the leaf without any focus hunting.

 

Summing up: Powerfully enhanced Live View shooting performance

I believe that the eventual users of this camera will include many who love taking photos of family. The highly-accurate AF is certainly useful for capturing sharp, precise images of active, unpredictable children—even when you are running to keep up with them! 

There is a common belief among many long-time photographers that moving subjects should be captured through the viewfinder, and still subjects with Live View. This a belief that was valid when Live View AF used contrast detection autofocusing, which was slower than the phase detection autofocus used in the viewfinder.

Technology has since improved, and the enhanced Live View shooting performance on the EOS 200D is enough for me to recommend the opposite: Shoot moving subjects in Live View, and still subjects with the optical viewfinder. 

 

Find out more about the EOS 200D in the following articles:
EOS 200D Review: Travel and Street Photography
Landscape Photography with the EOS 200D: A Review with Sample Images
EOS 200D for Beginners: How to Use Creative Auto Mode for Further Creative Expression

 

---

---