Canon EOS M200 + EF-M 22mm f2 pancake lens: a Street Photographer review
Here we are: here is the review I promised you.
INTRODUCTION
The Canon EOS M200 is a compact and super light interchangeable lens camera. It counts with a 24MP sensor, great Dual Pixel autofocus, and in terms of image quality, offers a lot both for videos and photographs, despite we talk currently about the cheapest mirrorless on the market.
This review is intended to be from the point of view of a street photographer. If you are looking for a great solution for street shots, keep to read this post.
WHY DID I BUY THIS CAMERA?
There are three main reasons:
I would a small, compact, light and not flashy camera for my street photography
I wanted to go back to working with a 35mm equivalent lens
I would a hybrid solution able to guarantee me good performances in terms of video and photos to have always with me when I go out
CAMERA SPECS
24MP APS-C sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus
Digic 8 image processor
Face and eye detect autofocus
4K/24p video capture (1.7x crop)
3" tilting touchscreen
6.1fps burst shooting (~4fps with AF)
CIPA rated to 315 shots per charge, USB charging
Wi-FI and Bluetooth
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
A camera body a bit bigger than a pack of cards, with a good pancake lens in front of A 24MP sensor allowing me to get the same image quality of a Canon EOS 80D DSLR.
This is like a Ricoh GR in the sense of a camera where the subjects won't take you so seriously, and you can’t imagine how is useful for street photography, especially in certain places.
WHAT HAVE I DONE FOR THIS HANDS ON REVIEW?
I spent the last two days on the street, taking pictures in different places in the city: I photographed in popular neighborhoods, in parks, in the subways, at the university, in the historic center. After shooting the first time with the camera strapped to the neck, I preferred a wrist strap from Sailor Strap, and this is a camera that I recommend using this way to fully enjoy freedom of movement and take pictures from every angle and direction.
I wanted as much as possible a no-thinking camera, a real point & shoot camera for my street photos. I used the camera with the Dual Pixel autofocus and it looks fast, faster than I thought. My way to work is exactly the same that I am used to work with my DSLRs: shutter priority mode when it comes to Street Photography.
The photos you can appreciate here were made the last 2 days, JPG straight from the camera, with a light adjustement in Adobe Lightroom.
THE PHOTOS
MY EVALUATION (ON A TEN SCALE)
Build quality 7
Ergonomics & handling 8
Features 8
Metering & focus accuracy 9
Image quality 9
Low light / high ISO performance 9
Performance 9
Movie / video mode 9
I think the Canon EOS M200 with the pancake 22mm lens becomes a Street Photography Beast, one of the best set-up I have worked with in 15 years and for this reason I totally recommend this camera to all those street photographers looking for a small companion to carry always with them in the bag when go out to make street photography. You don’t need any other lens and if you are a photographer loving the less is more philosophy this can be your camera.
I am quite surprised this camera is not ver considered by street photographers. I know the camera is proposed more for vloggers and content creators, but you just need to see what it becomes with 22mm to instantly recognize it as a street photography stuff. When the experience as a street photographer is like a dance for you, with slow and sudden movements, depending on the scene you recognize, when you want something with which you can approach people without appearing a weirdo, this is the camera for you. And…for me.
