Skip to main content

Eye autofocus arrives on Canon’s selfie-loving mirrorless for beginners

Canon’s mirrorless camera for newbies, selfie-takers, and vertical video enthusiasts just got a refresh. On Wednesday, September 25, Canon unveiled the Canon EOS M200, a beginner-friendly mirrorless camera that adds eye detection autofocus and 4K video to the features of the older M100.

Recommended Videos

The Canon EOS M200 keeps the same 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor as the M100, an unsurprising move considering the budget price. The unchanged sensor means the M200 should snap images that are just as good as those taken with the M100.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Those 24 megapixels, however, are getting an even better Dual Pixel autofocus system with the addition of eye detection. Canon’s Dual Pixel AF is a solid autofocus system already, but now the camera can recognize and focus on eyes instead of relying on the user to place the focal point over the eyes. That should help newbies nail the focus on shots of people, as well as simplify selfies.

A new Digic 8 processor also allows the camera to step up to 4K video at 24 fps. That move allows for more detail and resolution, but video doesn’t use the whole sensor at a 1.6x crop. That’s something Canon has also done with other cameras, delivering the resolution but narrowing the view of an attached EF-M lens. Video can be shot in both the traditional horizontal format and the mobile-friendly vertical orientation.

Despite the new processor, burst shooting remains unchanged at 6.1 fps, while the camera also keeps the same ISO range, 100-25600.

Like the M100, the Canon EOS M200 is designed for the selfie generation, and as such, most of the controls live on the three-inch touchscreen, which can also flip 180 degrees for selfies. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and editing features such as skin smoothing are also geared towards selfie enthusiasts.

The simpler design can feel less daunting for beginners. Canon pairs that minimalist design with a Creative Assist mode that allows users to make adjustments without understanding any camera jargon, and a Feature Assistant mode that helps teach that jargon with on-screen instruction.

Besides the touchscreen controls and selfie modes, Canon adds one more feature for beginners and selfie enthusiasts — the price point. The camera comes bundled with an EF-M 14-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens for about $550. The camera is expected to start shipping next month.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
After years of waiting, Sony A7S III may arrive this summer
best sony a7 series camera a7s ii

The Sony A7S III might be just around the corner. While the name of the camera is not yet official, Sony's Kenji Tanaka confirmed that the "successor to the Alpha 7S II" will arrive this summer, according to an interview with DPReview. That release window will likely see the camera go head-to-head with the Canon EOS R5, another video-centric, full-frame mirrorless camera.

Sony A7S II Image used with permission by copyright holder

Read more
Sony A6100 vs. Fujfilm X-T200: Best beginner mirrorless cameras compared
fujifilm x t200 review product dm 1500px10

The Fujifilm X-T200 and Sony A6100 both target the beginner photographer, but despite being entry-level cameras, they have some features we would expect to find on flagship models. That's great news for those on a tighter budget who still want a capable camera that will last for years. But when it comes to picking between the two, which is one the better investment?

Before the X-T200, the Sony A6100 easily trounced the older Fujifilm X-T100. While image quality was more or less equal, the A6100 was the better camera in almost all other aspects save design (which is more of a personal preference, anyway). But with the X-T200, Fujifilm has placed a true competitor on the board -- so much so, we can no longer say that the A6100 is the easy choice.
At a glance
Sony A6100

Read more
Canon EOS R5 will be a video beast, with 8K RAW, 4K at 120 fps
canon eos r5 video details 8k raw 4k 120p april 2020 update 2

Canon has released yet another tease of its upcoming EOS R5, revealing new details about the mirrorless camera's video specifications. The new information largely confirms rumors that have been circulating for weeks and proves that the R5, the presumed new flagship of Canon's mirrorless line, will be a formidable force for filmmaking.

While 8K had previously been announced, resolution alone is rarely the determinant of image quality, especially as we push beyond 4K. We now know more specifics about exactly how the camera will process video, and it isn't just for those 33 million or so pixels that R5 will excel. It shoots 8K at 30 frames per second in either RAW or 10-bit 4:2:2 in the H.265 format with either Canon Log or HDR PQ color profiles. It does this internally, without requiring an external SSD or HDMI recorder, and without cropping the sensor.

Read more