Snap Verdict
The Canon EOS M200 is the replacement for the Canon EOS M100. As such, it’s Canon’s most entry-level interchangeable-lens mirrorless camera. While the Canon M200 has a lot in common with the M100, the sensor and processing engine are new, boosting its performance in a few areas.
The Canon M200 is easy to use and is a good camera for beginners. However, the current price of the Canon M50, which has the same sensor, a vari-angle screen and a viewfinder, makes it a more appealing purchase.
Specifications
| Price at Launch | £499/$549 with 15-45mm lens |
| Sensor | 24.1Mp APS-C format (22.3 x 14.9mm) CMOS |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF-M |
| AF System | Dual Pixel CMOS AF System with on-sensor phase detection pixels witha max of 143 AF points. Contrast detection used during 4K Movie and 4K Timelapse Movie recording |
| Screen | Tilting 3-inch 1,040,000-dot Touchscreen LCD (TFT) with 3:2 aspect ratio. Tilts approximately 180° upward |
| Viewfinder | N/A |
| Max Continuous Shooting | Single AF: Approx. 6.1fps (frames per second) Continuous AF: Approx. 4fps |
| Sensitivity | Stills: ISO 100 – 25600 (expandable to ISO 51,200) 4K Movie: ISO 100 – 6400 Full HD and HD Movie: ISO 100 – 12800 (expandable to 25600) |
| Video | 4K – 3840 x 2160 (23.98, 25 fps) Full HD – 1920 x 1080 (59.94, 50, 29.97, 25fps) HD – 1280 x 720 (119.9, 100, 59.94, 50 fps) |
| Exposure modes | Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual exposure, Scene Intelligent Auto, Hybrid Auto, Creative Assist, SCN, Creative Filters, Movie |
| Flash | Pop-up GN 5m @ ISO 100, No hotshoe |
| Storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB (Micro USB), WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI (Micro – Type-D) |
| Battery | Rechargeable Li-ion LP-E12 with 485-shot life |
| Dimensions | 108.2 x 67.1 x 35.1mm |
| Weight | 299g battery & memory card |
Features
Although the Canon M200 has a very similar pixel count to the camera it replaces, the sensor is not the same. I think it’s the same sensor as the one that’s in the Canon EOS M50.
As in the M50, chip is paired with Canon’s latest processing engine, Digic 8.
Despite this boost to the processing power, Canon has kept the sensitivity (ISO) range of the M200 the same as the M100. That means the standard range for shooting stills is ISO 100 – 25600 (expandable to ISO 51,200). Meanwhile Full HD movies have a standard range of ISO 100 – 12800, with a new expansion option of ISO 25,600. The range in 4K video mode is a bit more limited at ISO 100 – 6400.
Interestingly, the M200’s maximum continuous shooting rate is also the same as the M100’s, 4fps with continuous autofocusing or 6.1fps in single AF mode.
Autofocus System
Like the M100, the Canon M200 has a Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. This means that there are two photodiodes for every pixel on the sensor and this enables phase detection focusing. Canon has increased the number of autofocus (AF) points available for selection on the M200 to a maximum of 143 depending upon the lens. That’s the same the Canon M50. The M100 only has 49 AF points.
The M200 can be set to One-Shot AF and Servo AF, otherwise known as single and continuous autofocusing. The first is useful for stationary subjects while the latter is the option to go for with moving subjects.
The AF point can be selected individually in 1-Point and Spot AF mode or in groups in Zone AF mode. There’s also Face + Tracking plus Eye Detection AF available for portrait shots and images of moving subjects.
Although the M200 has phase-detection autofocusing, it reverts to contrast detection in 4K movie and 4K timelapse movie mode.
4K Video
The increase in processing power enables a step-up in video capability so the M200 can record 4K video whereas the M100 tops-out at Full HD recording.
Unfortunately, a 1.6x crop is applied to the image during 4K recording. That means that the 15-45mm kit lens, which gives an effective focal length of 24-72mm in stills and Full-HD video recording, captures 4K video that looks like it was shot using a 38.4-115mm lens on a full-frame camera.
In other words, when you switch to 4K recording, it looks like you’ve zoomed in. Even at the widest point, the 15mm point on the kit lens is a bit close for comfort if you’re vlogging with the camera at arm’s length – unless you have very long arms.
As I’ve already mentioned, the focusing changes from phase-detection to contrast detection when 4K movie or 4K timelapse movie mode is selected.
Instagram story lovers will appreciate the inclusion of a vertical video shooting format.
Build and Handling
My first thought about the Canon EOS M200 is that the body feels very plasticky. When you tap the exterior with your fingernail, the shell sounds thin and not especially robust.
Also, although there’s a reasonably effective thumb rest on the back of the camera, there’s no grip on the front. There’s a cross-hatched pattern that gives a little purchase, but the camera doesn’t exactly stick to your hand.
To be fair, the 15-45mm kit lens is lightweight, but some sort of grip or ridge on the front would make the camera feel a bit more secure in your hand. If you plan to use a heavier or longer lens, I recommend using the M200 on a strap just in case it slips in your fingers. I used it with the Peak Design Leash, but the Peak Design Cuff is also a good match.
Control Layout
Like the M100, the Canon EOS M200 has a simple control layout. Most people will be able to pick it up and start shooting within a few moments.
The power button on the top-plate is surrounded by a switch that allows you to select to shoot in Scene Intelligent Auto, standard stills or movie mode.
To the right of that control, an adjustment dial surrounds the shutter button.
Meanwhile, on the back of the camera, there are just four buttons and the navigation pad. The navigation pad has shortcut options to access the exposure compensation and flash settings, or to lock the exposure and change the information that’s visible.
At the centre of the navigation pad, there’s the Q/Set button to access the Quick menu and confirm settings. Like the main menu, the Quick menu is compatible with touch-control, which helps make the camera intuitive to use
The other three buttons on the back of the camera are the menu, video record and playback controls.
Screen and Interface
Like the M100, the M200 has a 3-inch 1,040,000-dot Touchscreen on its back. This has a hinge at its top that allows it to be tipped upwards through approximately 180°. This makes the screen useful when shooting landscape orientation images at different heights. However, the tilting mechanism is of no help for upright orientation images.
Straight from the box, the M200 has Canon’s Guided interface. This is helpful to beginners, making it clear what the different menu sections are used for. However, if you prefer it can be switched to the Standard interface. Helpfully, this has a customisable My Menu section, which is a nice touch for an entry-level camera.
The screen is very responsive to touch. It also shows enough detail in the magnified to view to enable manual focusing should you need to use it.
I shot with the Canon M200 in bright October sunshine in the UK and I found the reflections a little problematic. They make it hard to completely confident of your composition, so I missed a viewfinder. Unfortunately, as there’s no hotshoe, the M200 isn’t compatible with an external electronic viewfinder. However, the inbuilt Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity means that you can use a smartphone as a remote viewfinder and controller if you want.
I also missed an electronic level to help get the horizon straight.
Scene Intelligent Auto and Creative Assist Modes
Scene Intelligent Auto (Auto+) mode is a great choice for beginners as it set the camera to assess the scene and apply what it deems are the most appropriate settings. However, the Creative Assist mode is on hand to allow you to tweak the result. T
A tap on the Creative Assist icon gives simple control over aspects such as image colour, background blur (depth of field), exposure, contrast and white balance.
There’s also a collection of Preset adjustments called Vivid, Soft, Warm, Cool, Green, Shine, Lime, Peach, B&W, Blue and Purple. Tapping on any of them applies the effect to the preview on the screen to allow you to select the one that you like best.
Performance
The Canon M200 is aimed at novice photographers and in many situations, it delivers nice images in its default settings. However, I found that the exposure compensation control is useful for darkening the brightest areas a little.
Once again, Canon’s Dual Pixel COMS AF system puts in a good performance. I’m impressed by how well it copes with low light. When you’re shooting stills or Full-HD video, the Face + Tracking also does a great job of detecting faces and keeping them sharp – even in dim conditions. In addition, the Eye Detection AF isn’t fooled by spectacles.
Switch to 4K video, however, and the focusing is less assured. The Face + Tracking AF and Eye AF still function, but it sometimes takes a tap on the screen to get the focus in the right place. It’s also a bit slower and more prone to hunting.
This plus the additional crop that’s applied to 4K video makes Full-HD video a better bet for vlogging. However, there’s also no mic port, so you’re reliant on the built-in mic. That delivers quite good audio if you’re out of the wind, but inevitably, it picks up the sounds of your hands moving on the camera.
Image Quality
With the 15-45mm kit lens mounted, the Canon M200 captures a good level of detail at the lowest sensitivity settings. It doesn’t blow your mind, but images usually look pretty good.
On the whole, I’d aim to keep the sensitivity setting to ISO 6,400 or lower. I’d be happy to use ISO 12,800 occasionally, but I’d avoid going higher as the Jpegs start to get a bit smoothed.
It’s also important to keep an eye on out of focus details in the shadows as they sometimes look rather smudged even in low ISO images. If that’s the case you may need to limit the size of prints that you make and avoid making dramatic crops.
The Auto White Balance system has two settings, Ambient and White Priority. White Priority is a great choice when you’re shooting in artificial light as it takes out the colourcast.
Ambient Priority, however, retains some of the colour for a bit of atmosphere. It’s a good choice for natural light conditions, but I tend to favour the Daylight setting.
Sample Images
Follow the link to browse and download full-resolution images
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Sample Video
This video was mostly shot at 1920×1080, but there’s a short clip in 4K to show the crop that’s applied. The exposure and white balance were set automatically by the camera.
This video was shot in 4K mode with the exposure and white balance set automatically by the camera. The contrast detection autofocusing misses the subject occasionally.
Early Verdict
I won’t finalise this review until I can process the raw files from the Canon M200. However, I can say that the M200 is an easy camera to use. The simple control layout and Guided interface make it easy to get to grip with.
In addition, the image quality is good although you need to keep a watchful eye on out of focus details and I recommend keeping the sensitivity to ISO 6,400 or lower if possible.
While the tilting screen is nice for selfies, I really missed a viewfinder. Given the current price of the Canon EOS M50, which has a vari-angle screen and a viewfinder, I’d be inclined to opt for that rather than the M200.