CANON EOS 200D
Does this DSLR manage to balance portability with powerful features? We investigate the second-generation miniature EOS
Portable but powerful, we take a look at the Canon EOS 200D to find out how it stacks up
The Canon EOS 200D is a unique DSLR camera. Following on as a successor to the EOS 100D of 2013, the 200D features a miniaturised body, to place it in direct competition with the current crop of mirrorless compact system cameras. Canon has employed significant engineering innovation to apply an almost exact downscale of its EOS design. The body feels noticeably leaner than its Canon entry-level stablemates, handling more like a bridge camera with its contoured hand grip, which remains reassuringly deep and textured. When paired with the EF-S 18-55mm f4-5.6 IS STM kit lens, the setup feels perfectly balanced so that, despite its small size, the camera does not seem in danger of being dropped through loss of grip.
The EOS 200D’s 63-zone dual-layer metering system is very capable of managing high-contrast scenes and is not easily fooled into blocking up shadow areas through underexposure. Sharpness, colour and clarity at ISO 25,600 are a good indicator that although the camera is small in size, it is pitched higher in the EOS range than basic entry-level. Colour output is natural, displaying pleasant, lifelike hues that are punchy without being oversaturated. Even with the kit lens, the APS-C CMOS sensor’s 24.2 megapixels are put to good use, resolving plenty of fine detail, especially at around f8 and ISO 100800. This is complemented by the three-inch Clear View II touch-sensitive LCD, which displays a good level of contrast, without being excessive. The touch feature is reliable and responsive, allowing rapid settings access and postshot zooming for review. The AF system is excellent, offering fluid, lightning-quick response times, in concert with the 18-55mm lens’ STM drive. Where the 200D falls behind the 800D is in its nine-point AF system, which is less versatile than the 45-point array in the latter model.
Overall, the Canon EOS 200D excels as a take-anywhere camera, that offers advanced features, an intuitive interface and impressive image quality.
“Although the camera is small in size, it is pitched higher in the EOS range than basic entry-level”