Canon EOS Rebel SL2 DSLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm STM Lens + EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens

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Hey whats up everyone, my names Chris Winter and today Im going to do an in depth review of the brand new Canon SL2 or 200D, so hopefully i can help you decide if its the right camera for you. Build Quality: So lets start off this review by first taking a look at build quality of this new Canon SL2. And the first thing you notice is that this is a tiny little DSLR. In fact its one of the worlds smallest DSLRs which is something you really feel once you pick it up. The SL1 which came before the SL2 really introduced the idea of tiny DSLRs and Im glad theyve kept the size in the SL2. Now with micro four third cameras really coming into the mainstream these days, were seeing smaller and smaller cameras. But if you are looking for that tradition shape of a DSLR, the SL2 is about as small as you can get, which will be great for travel. ————————————————————— Articulating Screen: Now even though the SL2 is a tiny DSLR, Canon have been pretty agressive in trying include a tonne of new features, one of which is on the back here. And thats here with its brand new articulating screen. Im not going to lie, but when I heard rumors that the SL2 was going to have an articulating screen I got pretty excited and to see it come through Im very happy. Its also a fully articulating screen as well which is great for getting your shots from different angels, whether thats from up high or down low or even flipped to the front which is brilliant for filming yourself, but well talk more about that later on. Either way the inclusion is one of the best new features on the Canon SL2. ————————————————————— Touch Screen: Now staying on the back of the Canon SL2, another brilliant feature is that this articualting screen is a touch screen as well. Now sometimes you might think that a touch screen is a little bit of a gimmick, but ever since I first used one a few years back on the Canon 70D Ive found them to be incredibly useful. Sure I still use the buttons on the camera and the dials on top, but having the touch screen makes life so much easier. For example you can quickly jump through menus without having to scroll but the best feature is really for focusing. Now well talk about it more in depth later on in this review, but the Canon SL2 has a brilliant new autofocus system called Dual Pixel and when you pair it up with the touch screen on the back of the camera, its amazing. You can simply press what you want ot be in focus and the SL2 will quickly and smoothly come in to focus. Its brillaint. ————————————————————— Mic Jack: Now another nice inclusion with the Canon SL2 is its inclusion of a microphone jack. This means that rather than relying on the inbuilt mics on teh SL2, you can plu in a shotgun mic or a wireless mic and record fantastic audio. Unfortunately we are still missing a headphone jack which would have been nice to see, but I probably didnt expect it in a camera this cheap. Now the inbuilt mic isnt terrible, but it isnt great, so Id highly recommend getting a mic to plug in and you should be good to go. ————————————————————— Burst Rate & AF Points & Speed : Lets talk about the burst rate on the Canon SL2. Now the Canon SL2 can shoot an a very impressive 5 frames per second which sounds a bit like this: Now 5 frames per second is a pretty substantial jump from 3 frames per second which has been the standard for beginner cameras from Canon for a long time. This means that the Canon SL2 will be great for shooting sports, pictures of fast moving kids and even some wildlife shots. Now talking about the Autufocus on the Canon SL2 and as I said before the autofocus in much improved even in stills. The SL2 has 9 autofocus points with 1 cross type, which isnt the most impressive number out there, but in day to day use it worked well. I found myself having no problems catching my subjects in focus on most occassions, even on some relatively low light shots. So overall, the SL2 was a very solid performer, especially for a sub $600 camera. ————————————————————— Battery Life: Now if I was to point out a weakness on the SL2 it would probably be its battery life. The SL2 uses the LP-E17 battery which is found in some other Rebels series cameras and it isnt the best in terms of holding battery. For stills the SL2 was fine, but it did chew through battery pretty quickly when shooting video, so Id advise in picking up another battery from places like Amazon or eBay. ————————————————————— Video: Ok so now I want to touch on the video side of the Canon SL2 and this is where things get impressive. To me the Canon SL2 is essentially a mini Canon 80D or Canon 77D, its brilliant. The SL2 has a few killer video features which I never thought Id see in a budget beginners DSLR. Firstly, its got that fully articulating screen which I was talking about before. For video it really does make shooting a lot easier. Rather than trying to see the rear LCD in akward positions, you can move the camera around with ease simply moving the LCD. Weve also got that touch screen which again makes life a lot easier. So rather than having to pull focus manually, on the Canon SL2 you can now simply touch on the screen and whever you touch will pretty magically go into focus. And really thats all down to the new Dual Pixeld Autofocus system in the SL2. Its trickled down from the 70D and 80D and is to me the best autufocus system for video in any camera on the market. The Sl2 also has face tracking autofocus which is actually somethign Im using right now. So rather than having someone behind you keeping track of focus, you can just let the camera do the work and it actually works really well. Another new feature is that the Canon SL2 can now also shoot in 1080p 60 frames per second. With this you can slow down the footage in post and get some smooth slow motion. And theyve even thrown in a built in timelapse mode for good measure, which is great if you film vlogs. Add in the fact that you can now also record good quality audio with the built in mic jack and youve got yourself a bit of a winning video camera. In fact I think that the Canon SL2 will be the most popular camera for youtube by next year, its that good for the price. ————————————————————— Price: So speaking about the price, the Canon SL2 comes in at about $550. This is an incredible price for this level of camera. ————————————————————— Menus: I just quickly wanna talk about the menus on the Canon SL2. Overall if youve ever used a Canon camera before youll feel right at home. Even if this is your first DSLR you wont really have any problems especially with the new touch screen on the back. ————————————————————— Wifi: Another nice inclusion on the Canon SL2 is its inclusion of wifi & nfc. Essenitally this allows you to quickly pair it up to your smart phone to transfer photos wirelessly without having to connect it to a computer. Overall I found it worked really well, especially when paired up with the Canon Camera Connect app. ————————————————————— Conclusion: So as you can probably tell, Im in love with this little DSLR. This is the best beginner DSLR you can buy at the current time and if youre thinking about buying one today, Id highly recommend it. I hope you all have a fantastic day and I’ll see you next time.

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Great "Next Level" camera. This is a really great way to move up past point and shoot. One reason is ease of operation. It features a nice touch screen that tells you how to do many of the complicated things you need to know if you want a more advanced camera. The same screen doubles as a way to use touch screen photography. I had the SL 1 and it had one of the earliest best touch screens Canon had..You can flip through your pictures and enlarge the images ,just like a cell phone. Now the screen flips out, a nice improvement. The image processor is way more powerful,the Digic 7. Dont use auto ISO ,because it wants to use ISO 100. The sensor can give great pictures at hi ISO. Then you can use faster shutter speed. This means much sharper pictures ,since the faster the shutter speed,the sharper the picture . Canon cameras with the big sensors,like this and the Digic 7 processors,are the way to go for low light photography.. If you just use the automatic settings you may as well use a point and shoot camera. Some criticize the autofocus because it only has 9 points. I set it in center focus. You see a red dot when you are in focus. You dont need 71 autofocus points. You just need this one red dot in focus. Very powerful and accurate. So,I could go on and on ,but just remember. Push the ISO and use center focus. Have fun.

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There are many positives to Canons SL2 model. Foremost, it being that for a low-end entry level SLR camera, it manages to incorporate Canons fantastic and high-end DIGIC 7 processor chip. You can expect no lag in processing each shot (although your chosen SD card may be too slow to process each shot onto the card as quickly as you might like). The other and best positive is that it incorporates a built-in optical viewfinder so that you can see and shoot via the lens. I so dislike LCD screens in bright sunlight and while the SL2 does have a rotating LCD screen, YOU get to choose which option you prefer. Its weight and its size make for a great portable camera that youll find yourself always wanting to carry about. Its ultra light. Its entry level price is fair. I was going to wait for Canons new G1X Mark lll coming out this November 2017. The flagship of POINT & SHOOT CAMERAS. However, when I factored in its $1299 price tag compared to the SL2s $650 (body plus lens kit) price tag I realized the SL2 was a bargain and did pretty much of the same thing. The SL2 is cheap lightweight plastic in build quality. That lowers the weight but also makes sure the camera isnt user-friendly to dust and moisture. Controls are flimsy and the menu is weak for internal changes. This is a SLR but it behaves much more like a Point & Shoot when it comes to settings. There are a few negatives and the most obvious one is the miserable lens that comes with the camera (Canon 18-55mm). Zip for clarity and performance; in light or outdoors. Buy the BODY-ONLY and find yourself a better lens. Unlike the higher end Canon cameras Made In Japan, this SL2 is Made In Taiwan. I still give it a full 4 stars when consideration goes into pricing, performance and features. Its not the BMW of SLR cameras but still a great unit from Canon and well worth the purchase!

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4 Month Review recap: I would buy this again. This is a great camera to learn, grow, create, and even make a few bucks. Out of the box auto setting are great, learn to use the manual settings to get the most out of photos and video. The camera comes equipped with easy to follow guide but honestly learning the camera setting makes all the difference. Audio suck, if you plan to do video buy a shotgun mic. Light and versatile. Additional equipment in order recommended: Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens ( great lens overall specially for tight conditions, equal to 35mm on a full frame sensor), SanDisk Extreme Pro (Also have an Extreme as a back up), RODE VideoMicro (Recommend), OAproda batteries (recommend), Adobe suite (save yourself the time and hassle of the free apps, this was an unexpected but necessary and now welcome expense, lightroom classic and Premier just make life easy), K&F ND filter( helps with managing over exposure), Amazon Basics UV lens (swap when ND not in use), basic tripod, GorillaPod 3k kit (the legs are prone to pressure cracks), Wish List: 323 quick release system ( swapping between GorillaPod and tripod is not fun), Portable Light Panel (Night time video and Photo telephoto Lens with image stabilization likely 70-200mm My experience: beginner I chose to write this to help people make an educated decision. Reasons why i would want to upgrade: Not water resistant ( makes sense that it is missing at this price point) C-log ( expansive dynamic range and wide exposure latitude- provides more data to work with in post production, only high end DSLRs currently have this option) Reasons why not to upgrade: The additional bells and whistles come at a big cost and increase in weight. The weight would reduce my ability to shoot for an extended period of time. Additionally, If the camera was worth significantly more, It would deter me from taking the camera with me on everyday adventures. Need: I wanted to learn to vlog and photograph. I would primarily be capturing footage in cramped area (soccer stadium), with a lot of chaos( drunk soccer fans), in events that would last the majority of the day (tailgate before and after match). I needed something light, versatile, with decent battery life.That could capture video and photo in a range of lighting conditions. Photo: Great quality. The tripod combined with the eos app is godly, allows you to take the photo with out causing movement. Long exposure shots is where it is at. Video: The quality is good but the missing image stabilization is noticeable. Make sure to pair this with a lens with image stabilization and quiet focus.Small and light weight, I can film most of the day without any real strain. The additional batteries were a steal and enhanced my experience exponentially. The gorilla pod helps me keep a grip on the camera and get video i would otherwise not be able to get but the plastic used is prone to cracks and so I dont trust my equipment on it anymore. Audio: Just buy a Rode mic, no need for the pro versions the quality is fine with videomicro. My audio sounded fine until it was rendered and uploaded to youtube. I experienced low audio and had to crank it up in the SL2 audio settings. Learning Curve: Point and shoot in auto everything is cake. Manual requires a little more effort but makes your photos and video much better. I suggest learning about white balance, shutter speed, aperture, iso, Raw files and post production (loaded subject). Learn, apply and repeat.

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There is very little to dislike about this camera. If youre going to own a DSLR you might as well go the extra step and get the appropriate ancillary equipment to go with it. I would strongly recommend purchasing the Canon 430EXIII-RT Speedlight flash to go along with it. On the lenses, I use only three. The Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens; Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens; and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens (also called the nifty fifty). All three of these lenses are reasonably priced, (under $600 for all three) and will give you outstanding service for photography and video as well. The 18-135mm is my go to street lens which gives me reasonably wide-angle to moderate telephoto capabilities. Now, on to the Camera itself, The articulating touch screen is particularly handy. The dual-pixel autofocus is lightning fast and accurate. Even with the Speedlight and 18-135mm lens attached the camera weighs in at 2.15 lbs. I get very little discernable noise at 6400 ISO, and literally none at 3200 ISO. I shoot 60% in the manual mode, 25% in AV, and 15% in TV modes. And I shoot in RAW 100%. If I could fault the camera anywhere it would be in the buffer. However, that is not generally a problem for me as I almost never shoot more than 3-5 frames in the continuous mode. The video quality is outstanding, and no, it doesnt record in 4K. If thats your only hangup go ahead and spend a lot more money for a camera for video that very few people can appreciate anyway. One last suggestion before I end this diatribe. One of the best landscape photographers was Ansel Adams. He shot black and white film through a box camera. Its not the camera that makes outstanding images, its the person standing behind it. To be that person you need to fully understand your piece of equipment. I strongly recommend that you obtain the book David Buschs Canon EOS Rebel SL2/200D Guide to Digital SLR Photography. It is well worth the investment.

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Like they say the best camera is the one with you. I was a former DSLR shooter that gave up in favor of a smartphone in my pocket. I then felt a craving to go back and got distracted by new and improved point and shoot and mirror less models. Now I am back and very happy with the SL2. Its got a lot to offer at its price point. It feels like an entry level camera and it is in terms of performance speeds but that aside it can take wonderful travel, portraits, street, family photos. Especially with a 40mm prime lens. I already see the difference compared to my mobile phone. Yes it is still a hassle to carry around but the better pics and videos are worth it to me.

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I bought this for taking photos at family events and vacations. Personally, Im a little tired of cell phone photos. I have an extensive photo background but, have been out of this for 15 to 20 years. This is my first digital camera. WOW! what a difference the digital world makes to modern photography. There are lots of reviews on the internet. They are all positive for the SL2. This is my first Canon. I now have 4 lenses to go with this camera. These lenses are very fast and quiet when focusing - this is being used by many vloggers these days. The entire system is also very light which is nice for hiking and/or walking around the zoo! When you buy this, be sure to download Canon DPP software for editing your photos. Its a professional software thats included in the price of your camera.

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Ive had an SL1 since the camera came out in 2013. Love the camera because its so small and lightweight but still works with all my EF and EFS lenses. So when the SL2 was announced I ordered it right away. It arrived yesterday. The kit lens (on the SL2) is much smaller and lighter than my EFS 17-55 lens (on the SL1). More later when Ive had some time to take and compare photos.

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Loving my sl2 I have gotten great quality shots and the best part is this isn’t a $1000 camera but it’s producing thousand dollar shots it’s very easy to use as I just got into photography but my photos look like I’ve been doing it for awhile.

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Bought this to replace an aging -- but still working fine -- 8 MB Canon digital SLR. Not liking this new camera so much. The interface is overly convoluted. The picture quality isnt any kind of major improvement. And, its really disappointing that you cant use the standard IR remote that most other Canons are compatible with (and which is inexpensive and very simple to use) -- instead, it requires either a $40+ Bluetooth remote or a free but really clunky and seriously annoying-to-use app on your phone. Overall, now having major post-purchase regret.

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