2019 looks like it’s going to be a very busy for Canon. The brand has already followed-up the launch of the EOS R (Canon’s first-ever full-frame mirrorless camera) with the more affordable EOS R and now the brand has launched a new entry-level DSLR that could prove to be a very important camera.
Known as the 250D in Europe and the SL3 in America, the camera features a 24.1 Megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS APS-C sensor, which has been paired with Canon’s advanced DIGIC 8 processor engine (first seen in Canon’s M50 mirrorless camera). This enables the 250D to offer what Canon calls ‘a variety of improvements in Live View autofocus precision’ over the older 200D. These include Eye AF, Auto Lighting Optimizer, Digital Lens Optimizer and Highlight Tone Priority.
The 250D offers a burst rate of 5 frames per second, features 9 AF points and appears well-suited to photography newcomers with a guided user interface that offers up on-screen hints and tips to educate the users.
Measuring just 122.4 x 92.6 x 69.8mm and tipping the scales at 449g (including battery and memory card), the 250D continues from the 200D in being the smallest DSLR on the market, although the white version of the camera weighs a tiny bit more (451g). The native ISO range of 100-25600 can be expanded to 51200 and, like the 200D, the 250D features a 3-inch touch-sensitive LCD.
Along with plenty of new features for stills, the 250D also sees improvements for video too, offering 4K at 24/25p and Full HD at up to 60p, along with a timelapse movie mode. Interestingly, there’s also an external mic port, which is pleasing to see on an entry-level DSLR and will further beef up the 250D’s credentials as a possible Vlogger camera.
Other features include a Skin Smoothing setting, along with the inclusion of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to share images to smart devices and the battery life sees an increase to 1070 shots on a single charge. Available from late April, the 250D/SL3 will cost £529/$599 (body only).