Canon Just Announced the EOS M200 and the Launch Video Is Fascinating

Canon has announced the launch of the EOS M200, a small camera featuring a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor, Dual Pixel autofocus and 4K video. Canon has also packed in a few features that make it more accessible to those without a deep knowledge of photography who are looking to produce and share content quickly on social media. What’s more interesting, however is the marketing video itself.

When watching the video above, a few things jumped off the screen at me.

Connected But Still App-alling?

Web-ready content is key in today’s media environment and Canon is keen to push the M200’s wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. However, users can but hope that Canon is also taking steps to improve its smartphone apps which don't have a particularly good reputation. Given that the example in this video shows a camera with the nickname of “EOSM200_C64D7,” Canon might still have a long way to go when it comes to understanding how to make something user-friendly.

More interesting, however, are the video specifications. The M200 will shoot vertical video and also offers 4k — notably at 24p and 25p but not 30p. Thanks to Canon’s legendary cripple hammer (hat tip to Camera Conspiracies for popularizing this term), 24p has been missing from many of the Japanese manufacturer's most recent cameras, much to the frustration and confusion of many Canon fans. This may be thanks to Canon using an older sensor and be sure to leave a comment below if you have any insights. It’s not clear yet whether DPAF will work in 4K, nor if there will be limitations with eye autofocus.

Boys Are Techie, Girls Are Pretty?

With marketing that is clearly geared towards content creators who are not necessarily technically minded, Canon has made efforts to simplify terms such as ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. As the video notes, the camera takes these words and instead swaps them for more “relatable terms” such as “brightness”, and “background blur.” When accessing Creative Assist feature, the camera gives visual examples as to what will happen if settings such as the aperture are changed.

This is a smart move. Canon needs to appeal to people who are used to the simplicity of their smartphones but are keen to try and create slightly more professional content. Fashion bloggers could be the suggested demographic in this marketing video, but it’s frustrating to once again see the industry deploying tired gender tropes: technically minded people are male and have big cameras, while non-techie people are women who like flowers, wearing pretty clothes, and blowing kisses. While it’s great to see a major manufacturer targeting a female audience, it’s probably not quite what those pushing for gender equality had in mind.

Kiss My Glass

The last thing that Canon is keen to plug is that M200 users have access to all of Canon’s EF-M range of lenses — all eight of them. Notably, Canon has added just one lens to that range in the last two years and it’s one of two lenses that lack image stabilization. It certainly feels like EF-S lenses are not part of any future Canon plans, and there will never be an adapter available to use RF lenses because of the awkward 2mm difference between the flange distances. I can only assume that Canon has more EF-M glass arriving at some point, and buyers will be pleased to know that both Sigma and Samyang seem keen to pitch in.

Nikon, it seems, does not have this difficulty, happily uniting its full-frame and APS-C cameras to use its recently-developed Z-mount. I’m fascinated to see what Nikon does next in terms of Z glass as this could be a huge advantage. Canon’s overlap between DSLR APS-C and DSLR full-frame meant that many investments were relatively future-proof; now, however, Canon’s APS-C mirrorless shooters do not have the option to progress seamlessly into becoming Canon full-frame mirrorless shooters.

Affordable?

The EOS M200 retails at $549 complete with a kit lens (EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM) and is available in black or white. What are your thoughts on this price, and will you be ordering one? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.