The Canon EOS M200 is the company’s most compact and reasonably priced mirrorless camera to date. As a result, it does not have a particularly broad range of capabilities; but, the fact that it contains a 24.1MP APS-C Dual Pixel CMOS sensor (to enable phase detection autofocusing), with Canon’s most recent Digic 8 processing engine, and the capability to shoot 4K video makes it an enticing offer.
It is also made to be simple to operate, which makes it a fantastic choice for novice photographers. However, it might also be a lovely choice for more experienced photographers who are looking for a compact camera that they can bring anyplace.
Update: It’s been a few years since Canon first released the EOS M200, and even at the time, it wasn’t exactly the most cutting-edge technology available; therefore, in 2021, will it still be competitive? To be honest, there aren’t many low-cost APS-C beginning cameras with which it can compete.
Canon EOS M200 Compact Mirrorless Digital Vlogging Camera with EF-M 15-45mm lens,...
- Fast and accurate Dual Pixel CMOS AF with eye detection AF
- High-image quality with 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor.
- 4K video and 4K time-lapse movie along with vertical video
- 3.0-Inch touch panel LCD screen with tilt Option for 180° for selfies.
- Fast and accurate Dual Pixel CMOS AF with eye detection AF
- High-image quality with 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor.
- 4K video and 4K time-lapse movie along with vertical video
- 3.0-Inch touch panel LCD screen with tilt Option for 180° for selfies.
- Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology with auto image transfer.
Key Features
When it comes to still photography, Canon has maintained the same sensitivity range for the M200 that was included in the M100 that it replaced, which is ISO100-25600 (expandable to ISO51,200). Although the results at ISO12,800 can still be used, our goal is to limit the setting for stills to no more than 6,400. When you go above that point, your JPGs will have areas that seem too smooth, while the raw files will have more noise.
The Canon EOS M200 and the Canon EOS M100 both have the same maximum continuous shooting rate, despite the fact that the EOS M200 has an improved processing engine and virtually precisely the same pixel count as the M100. However, for an entry-level camera, that is a respectable 4 frames per second (fps) with continuous autofocus and 6.1 frames per second in single AF mode.
When it comes to shooting video or stills in Live View mode on a DSLR, Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF system is one of the most capable. It provides solid service in the M200 with up to 143 autofocus (AF) points, and it is one of the most capable systems available (the exact number depends upon the lens in use). That’s an increase from 49 when using the M100.
Unusually, there is not now an AI servo available on the market that is capable of automatically switching between One Shot (single AF) and AI Servo (continuous AF) mode when subject movement is detected. This is not a major issue for photography enthusiasts, but it does imply that beginning photographers need to discover which choice is best suited for the topic they are photographing.
The M200 allows for the selection of individual AF points, and moreover, there is a Zone AF mode that provides the camera with a little bit more flexibility. Additionally, there is something called Face + Tracking as well as Eye Detection AF, both of which are really helpful when photographing moving subjects as well as portraiture.
We observed that the autofocus system works extremely well, especially in dim situations; however, the performance isn’t nearly as assured in 4K video mode when the focusing shifts from phase detection to contrast-based detection. Despite this, the autofocus system still performs very well.
This is a significant barrier to progress. It indicates that the video mode in which you are most likely to be interested in the shooting will not provide you with the advantages of Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus.
That’s not the end of it. During the 4K recording, the field of view on the M200 is cropped by 1.6 times. This is in addition to the fact that the AF mechanism that is utilized for 4K video recording is different. As a consequence of this, the 15-45mm kit lens, which typically has an effective focal length ranging from 24-72mm, seems to have a focal length range of around 38-115mm while shooting in 4K mode.
This autofocus limitation does not apply to Full High Definition videos or stills. Additionally, while recording 1080p video or shooting still photographs, the Face Tracking is quite good even in low light, and the Eye Detection AF is able to cope with persons who are wearing glasses.
If you are going to vlog with the camera held at arm’s length, this will result in a very close-cropped image of your face. This may not be an issue in some filming settings. This may make 1080p a more appealing option for vlogging; but, because there is no microphone port, you will have to rely on the microphone that is already integrated into the device.
The M200 gets high marks for its user-friendliness, but its build quality leaves much to be desired. Polycarbonate is the material used in its construction, and it has the feel of lightweight plastic.
You may change between Scene Intelligent Auto (Auto+), Stills, and Video shooting mode using a switch that is located on the top of the camera, directly about where the power button is located. You can quickly switch between shooting modes such as program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual as well as a host of automatic shooting options by tapping on the exposure mode icon located in the top-left corner of the touchscreen when Stills mode is selected. Other shooting modes include timer, movie, and sports.
This screen, which has a resolution of 1,040,000 dots and is 3 inches diagonally, is quite sensitive, and it is simple to make setting selections and modifications. Touch control may be used for both the main menu and the Quick menu, which is a helpful feature. Because there is no built-in viewfinder, images have to be constructed on the screen, which can be challenging in bright, sunny settings due to the possibility of reflections. In addition, there is no electronic level, which might make it challenging to set the horizon in the correct position.
The evaluative metering mode on the Canon EOS M200 performs a good job, with a few rare exceptions, of capturing the correct exposure for the primary subject of the photograph. On the other hand, there are situations in which you might want to dial in a little bit of negative exposure compensation to darken the brighter regions. If necessary, the shadows of the underexposed parts can be brightened by around 3EV or so to get things to appear like you want them to; but, you should keep a watch on the sections that are blurry.
The detail levels are excellent, but not amazing. Under further inspection, we found that the out-of-focus elements in certain ISO400 JPG images might have the appearance of being somewhat mushy. They appear OK when they are around the size of an A4 sheet, but you need to be aware of this problem if you intend to make huge prints or crop them.
Sensor and the Image Quality
Canon has not indicated whether or not the image sensor in the M200 is new, nor have they specified whether or not it is the same as the imaging sensor in another model. The fact that this camera has a resolution of 24.1 megapixels leads us to believe that it makes use of the same image sensor that is found in the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 camera. The chart that follows provides an overview of various sensor specs that can be found in several of Canon’s most current DSLR and mirrorless products.
It should come as no surprise that the APS-C format is enormous in comparison to the size of the image sensors used in mobile phones and cameras of the point-and-shoot sort. One of the most significant benefits they deliver is improved image quality, particularly in low-light situations. The contrast could hardly be starker.
Note: although you could believe that the pictures taken with your phone appear nice… on your phone. When you load them into a computer display, especially at a resolution of 100%, you will undoubtedly be dissatisfied with the results. If you are content for your memories to appear satisfactory only when seen on media that is the size of a little phone, then you probably do not need the M200.
Note that normally at this point I would compare resolutions, but because this camera does not have a hot shoe to accommodate an auxiliary flash, we were unable to carry out our typical enhanced ISO 12233 test. However, the findings would be comparable to those of the M6, thus you should do your resolution comparisons using the M6’s results.
One of the excellent features that mirrorless cameras have that helps with sharpness is… the absence of a mirror, which removes a possible source of the vibration from the system. The quality of the lens that is put in front of a high-resolution camera is another factor to take into account in order to get the most out of it. The resolution of the image will exaggerate any lens aberrations that are already present. Always, the quality of the image is directly proportional to the quality of the lens.
EOS M cameras have a native mount for EF-M lenses, and with the addition of an EF-EOS M Adapter, they are compatible with Canon’s extensive lineup of EF-S, EF, TS-E, and MP-E series lenses. It is important to keep in mind that, as is the case with all cameras employing the APS-C format, the selected lens’ focal length will frame the scene in a manner that is comparable to that of a lens with a focal length that is 1.6 times longer when mounted on a camera with a full-frame sensor (including when using EF-M and APS-C-only lenses such as the EF-S series).
The images that you get at ISO 100 with the M200 are quite clean; this is typical for EOS cameras. Increasing the ISO value will always result in an increase in the amount of perceived noise. Around ISO 3200 is the maximum noise level that I can tolerate from an APS-C sensor.
The results at ISO 6400 include a lot of noise, but you may still use them. The ISO 12800 setting is more of the last option, while the ISO 25600 setting causes a considerable proportion of the information to be lost due to the poor signal-to-noise ratio. It appears that marketing is going to play a significant role in the purposes of ISO 25600.
Autofocus
With the introduction of the M100, Canon brought its superb and quick Dual Pixel AF system down to the level of its most basic mirrorless camera model. With the M200, Canon has brought it back and enhanced it by increasing the number of AF points to 143. (all single-line sensitive).
The Live View and Movie focusing modes include Face + Tracking, Zone AF, 1-point AF, and Spot AF. The AF zone spans around 80% of the frame, and AF is feasible at maximum. apertures greater than or equal to f/11. Eye Detection AF is a brand-new and incredible autofocus feature. While the camera follows the subject’s closest eye, you should concentrate on framing the topic properly. Another new feature is called Spot AF, and it enables a more exact focus selection by using a smaller AF point.
Touch Focus may be used for still photography taken in Live View as well as for still photography taken before or during video recording thanks to the capacitive touchscreen included on the M200. Simply touch your finger on the LCD screen in the general direction that you wish the camera to focus, and the transition will be made seamlessly. This model does not include the Touch & Drag AF capability that may be found on some of Canon’s higher-end camera models. Those features have been excluded here.
Video Quality
The improvements made to this camera’s movie recording capabilities take precedence on the list of new and upgraded features, with 4K recording serving as the feature of the day.
The M100 is capable of recording video in the MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 codec and saving it in the the.MP4 file format. The front microphone on the device records audio in the AAC file format and saves it as.MP4 stereo files. Take note that this M-series model does not come equipped with a stereo input jack measuring 3.5 millimeters. There is an “Auto” setting, a “Manual” setting, and an “Off” setting for the sound recording levels. In the menu for sound recording, you have the option to configure both the Wind Filter and the Attenuator.
Available resolution and frame rates are:
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)
You may record movies using either completely automated or manual modes, giving you complete control over the many parameters that are used.
The M200 does not have any of the recently announced video capabilities like as HDR or Creative Filter capture; instead, their use is restricted to the Stills mode. However, the production of Time-Lapse Movies is supported. During the recording of a time-lapse movie, you will not have the option to record sound. Time-lapse movies are often captured in the MP4 file format at 1080p and either 30 or 25 frames per second.
The LCD can be flipped upward, making it completely viewable from the front even when the camera is placed on a tripod. This feature is very beneficial for capturing selfie movies and vlogging. You can anticipate this camera to produce good video quality while also making it relatively easy to create beautiful films. The compact size of the EOS M200 is a huge benefit for specific video projects, and its size also gives it a distinct edge.
Final Verdict
The Canon EOS M200 is released into a competitive market, and despite the fact that it is a respectable camera that has some fantastic features that are simple to operate for novices, it does not truly thrill or generate photographs that are appealing. It is capable of shooting 4K video, but the focusing is severely limited, and the camera has a large crop factor of 1.6x, which makes the 4K choice a lot less enticing than it initially seems.
To Canon’s good fortune, there isn’t a great deal of competition in the novice camera market right now. As a result, when compared to competitors selling cameras at prices comparable to the EOS M200, it performs pretty well. However, if you are willing to pay a little bit more money, you may obtain a camera that is a significant step up in quality, such as the Panasonic Lumix G100tab, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, or even Canon’s own EOS M50 Mark II.
Canon EOS M200 Specs
| Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Max resolution | 6000 x 4000 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 26 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | DIGIC 8 |
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 |
| White balance presets | 6 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, normal |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 143 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF-M |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.6× |
| Articulated LCD | Tilting |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | None |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Aperture priority | Yes |
| Shutter priority | Yes |
| Manual exposure mode | Yes |
| Subject / scene modes | Yes |
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash range | 5.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| External flash | No |
| Continuous drive | 6.1 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpotPartial |
| Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Modes | 3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 120 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 60 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 30 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I compatible) |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| USB charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Yes (micro HDMI) |
| Microphone port | No |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Remote control | Yes (via smartphone) |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | LP-E12 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 315 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 299 g (0.66 lb / 10.55 oz) |
| Dimensions | 108 x 67 x 35 mm (4.25 x 2.64 x 1.38″) |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Canon EOS M200 Price
