Canon EOS 2000D
The EOS 2000D is one of three Canon entry-level DSLRs. Audley Jarvis finds out if it’s the best of the trio
audley jarvis tests Canon’s entry-level DSlr
In years gone by, Canon used to offer a single entry-level DSLR that fulfilled the task of providing an affordable and easy-to-use camera that those new to DSLR photography could learn with. In the past 12 months, however, this has changed somewhat, and Canon now offers no fewer than three entry-level DSLRs to tempt newcomers into its EOS ecosystem.
The cheapest of these is the 18MP 4000D. At £369 with an 18-55mm kit lens, it provides a no-frills entry point to the Canon system. For an additional £100, the 2000D we have here bumps resolution up to 24.1MP. It also comes with an expanded set of physical controls along with a significantly sharper rear display. Sitting above both is the 24.2MP 200D, which at £559 with a 18-55mm kit lens costs around £90 more than the 2000D.
Given that the 2000D sits neatly in the middle of this trio, it’s likely to be a tempting proposition for anyone looking to buy their first DSLR. That said, it makes sense to weigh up its relative merits and shortfalls against Canon’s other entry-level DSLRs beforehand.
Features
In terms of its key hardware components and headline specifications, the 2000D is almost identical to the 1300D from 2016 that it succeeds. The main difference between the two is that the 2000D comes with a 24.1MP APS- C CMOS sensor compared to the 1300D’s 18MP chip. This puts the 2000D more into line with its main rival, the 24MP Nikon D3400 (£450 with 18-55mm AF- P VR kit lens). Elsewhere, though, there is little to separate the 2000D and 1300D. For example, the 2000D comes with the same DIGIC 4+ image processor found inside the 1300D, the upshot of which is that it doesn’t offer any significant upgrades in terms of performance.
Sensitivity also remains unchanged, with the 2000D providing a native range of ISO 100- 6400 plus an extended setting equivalent to ISO 12,800. By way of comparison, the Canon 200D can be extended to the equivalent of ISO 51,200, while the Nikon D3400 offers a maximum setting of ISO 25,600. Video recording abilities also remain at 1080p Full HD capture at 30fps, backed up by 720p HD capture at 60fps and VGA capture at 30fps. This puts the 2000D slightly behind both the Nikon D3400 and Canon 200D, both of which can record Full HD video at up to 60fps.
On the back, the 2000D has a 3in 920k- dot LCD
display that is vastly superior to the 2.7in/230k- dot display of the 4000D. Unlike the 200D, however, it is fixed in place and lacks any touch functionality. Above this sits a pentamirror viewfinder that provides 95% coverage. While it’s bright and clear, it is small compared to those found on higher- end DSLRs, at 0.5x equivalent magnification.
In addition to the standard quartet of PASM exposure modes, the 2000D provides a fully automatic Scene Intelligent Auto mode for point-and-shoot duties, alongside a Creative Auto mode for simplified depth- of-field control. The exposure-mode dial is rounded off by a Forced Flash Off mode and six individual Scene positions: Portrait, Landscape, Close- up, Sports, Food and Night Portrait. In terms of JPEG image-processing options, the 2000D offers Canon’s shadowboosting Auto Lighting Optimizer, plus the usual array of Picture Styles that can be used to adjust contrast, saturation and sharpness.
Body and design
In terms of its size, weight and general appearance, the 2000D is all but identical to the 1300D. Encased within a polycarbonate shell, it’s relatively well protected from the kind of occasional bumps most cameras sustain over time, on top of which it also benefits from a metal lens mount. As we’d expect of an entry-level DSLR at this price point, the 2000D isn’t weather-proofed, so you’ll need to take care when using it in wet weather. Aesthetically, the 2000D stays true to Canon’s principle of functional design, with its curved edges and matt-black finish giving it a relatively clean and modern look. As with its predecessor, it is guilty of feeling a bit plasticky, though. Thanks to its textured grip and sculpted thumb rest, the 2000D sits nicely in the hand, and feels well balanced with the 18-55mm IS II kit lens attached.
Compared to the 4000D, the 2000D boasts a relatively generous array of buttons, all of which are well spaced, relatively large and clearly labelled. The four buttons that comprise the d-pad provide direct access to ISO, Autofocus, White Balance and Drive Mode settings, while to the left of these is a useful Quick Menu button (marked ‘Q’), which can be used to call up an intuitive menu that’s tailored to the camera’s current exposure mode. While it lacks any user-assignable function buttons, you do get an AE- Lock button, which is a nice touch for an entry-level camera. Canon has chosen to remove the graphical user interface found on the 200D altogether, which seems an odd decision given the 2000D’s entry-level positioning. It does, however, come with a feature guide that offers simplified explanations of what the camera’s various modes and features do as you switch between them.
Performance
Given that the 2000D increases resolution to 24MP but employs the same DIGIC 4+ processor as the 1300D, it’s no great surprise to discover that the camera isn’t particularly speedy. Continuous shooting, for example, maxes out at 3fps which is slower than the Canon 200D and Nikon D3400, both of which can shoot at 5fps. At 3fps we were able to capture
around 40 consecutive full-size JPEGs before the buffer filled and the speed dropped, while in raw this fell to around 10 consecutive images. In raw + JPEG, we were only able to capture around six or seven consecutive frames before the camera began to stutter.
Autofocus through the viewfinder is taken care of via the same nine-point phase- detect module used by the 1300D (and also the 4000D/200D). While perfectly functional, this now feels rather dated. Despite relatively limited coverage, focus acquisition is both fast and accurate, especially when shooting static subjects. In live-view mode, it’s a different story altogether, with the 2000D’s contrast- detect system being painfully slow to acquire focus even in good light. In this respect, Canon’s decision not to bestow the 2000D with the Dual Pixel on-sensor phase- detection technology offered by the 200D strikes us as a missed opportunity. With the supplied 18-55mm IS II kit lens attached, focusing is also rather noisy, which is something to bear in mind when shooting video, especially given the 2000D’s lack of an external microphone input.
As we’d expect, the 2000D’s APS- C sensor delivers very good image quality, producing clean and attractive JPEGs, especially at lower sensitivities. The additional resolution that the 2000D enjoys over the 1300D and 4000D is also useful for those looking to make larger prints or crop more aggressively into images without sacrificing overall image quality. Metering from the 63-zone metering module is generally reliable, while automatic white balance metering is consistently on point, producing accurate and lifelike colour.