SL2: A great addition to any Canon kit

I picked up a SL2 body on Friday from my local neighborhood camera store, Pro Photo Supply in Portland. I purchased the SL2 because it is the smallest native EF mount for use with my compact EF primes (EF 28mm f/2.8 IS, EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, and EF 50 f/1.8 STM), and to compliment my existing bodies (6D and M).

We already know the sensor is one of Canon’s best and more than good enough for just about any task. Adding an updated swivel touch screen and wireless connectivity help make the SL2 a compelling offering for $550, and a great camera for anyone’s kit, especially when your kit includes the $125 EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. That lens is a perfect companion to the SL2, pretty much a match made in heaven. The body and lens have the same finish and same remarkably feather weight. Every time I pick up the SL2 with 50/1.8 STM, I am blown away with what it can do, yet weigh next to nothing.

I wish Canon would have launched this body with a new EF 20mm f/1.8 STM similar to the 50 STM, and offered a 20 + 50 lens kit. This kit could have gone to press, along with a marketing campaign about a revival of the compact SLR + prime lens era. This could be the ultimate kit for those looking to step up from their smartphone to shoot in low-light with shallow depth-of-field, and to experiment and discover the photographer’s eye.

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Photographer’s kit:

- EF 20mm f/1.8 STM

- EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

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Pancake kit:

- EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM

- EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

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Traveler’s kit:

- EF-S 10-18mm IS STM

- EF-S 18-55mm IS STM

- EF-S 55-250mm IS STM

- EF-S 35mm f/2.8 IS STM macro

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Video kit:

- EF-S 18-135 IS Nano USM

- EF 70-300 IS Nano USM

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Compared to the SL1

I was a huge fan of the SL1 and thought it was Canon’s best counter argument to mirrorless, so I am glad to see the SL2 arrive with so many new features and refinements. That said, based on my initial use, there are a few aspects that went in the wrong direction from the original SL1:

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Eye Proximity Sensor & Related Touch Screen Issues

The SL1 has an eye proximity sensor, but it has been removed from the SL2, much to my disappointment. There’s a new “DISP” button located near the shutter that is easily and quickly pressed. This is apparently Canon’s solution, but here’s the problem, the SL2 has a small optical viewfinder (OVF) and lack a top info display screen, so that means the main rear screen needs to be used to check setting and to change settings.

Canon’s default configuration is for the rear display to show information, but since the it’s a touch screen my nose activates the screen when shooting through the OVF, prompting the camera to remind you to use the Q button to change settings. To avoid this situation I went custom function settings and change C.FnIV: Operation/Others LCD display when power on to 1: Previous display status. This creates a different problem in which the new DISP button needs to be pressed to activate the rear screen for settings, and then press it again to disable as you bring it to your eye, and then repeat as required. Not so great.

The other option is to disable touch control. This will allow the rear display to act as info display, but it means that battery life will be reduced and that the display stays active when looking through the OVF, which I find distracting. Adding touch control and touch shutter to the My Menu helps make this less of an annoyance. However, even with that work around, I am reluctant to disable touch screen, which make the camera operation so much faster and so much more powerful when using LiveView.

And there it is, LiveView. This camera works very well in LiveView, but if I were planning to use LiveView for most shooting then the M6 would be a more compelling option. The problem with the M6 and all other M bodies is that the lens selection is very limited, and adding the EF adapter makes for a camera body that is as large and notable heavier than the SL2. The T7i / 800D is Canon’s next smallest and lightest Canon DSLR. It also lacks a top info screen and eye proximity sensor, so this usability issue seems to be unavoidable with Canon at the moment.

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Grip Issues

I am found of the SL2’s revised top layout with new button over the SL1, however, this new layout required the grip to be extend out further. The SL2’s grip feels even tighter and sharper than the already tight and sharp SL1. The grip’s long protrusion and sharp angle cause my hand to cramp when holding tightly with my lower three fingers. If I hold the camera loosely then it isn’t a problem, and since the camera + lens is usually has a low weight, then a light hold is all that is required. So it is workable, but I believe the grip could be more comfortable for a wider range of hand sizes if the gap was filled in and the grip protrusion was then made smaller while also being a bit wider and more round.

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Increased Size and Weight

The SL2 is a bit larger and heavier than the SL1. While the SL2 is still small, it has grown just enough that when placed side-by-side with a 6D the size difference is no longer as striking. The weight has increased, but it’s still strikingly light compared to the 6D. Resolving the above two issues would have increased the weight further, but I think it would have been worth the extra weight.

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Conclusion

Considering the above issues have a fairly significant impact on usability, I would say that Canon’s 77D / 9000D is the lowest cost, smallest and lightest DSLR with full usability. The problem is that $900 for body only is a lot more than $500, 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.0 is notably larger than 4.8 x 3.7 x 2.8, and 540g is a lot heavier than 453g. So despite the SL2’s flaws, I still think it is a worthy addition to anyone’s Canon kit.

Some smartphone snapshots of the SL2

SL2 w/ EF 40mm STM

SL2 w/ EF 28mm f/2.8 IS

SL2 w/ EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and 6D w/ EF 85mm f/1.8

SL2 and 6D

SL2 and 6D

Is there a level/horizon in the SL2 ?

jwilliams wrote:

The part about removing the eye sensor really bugs me. It sounds like it makes the camera almost unmanagable to me. Having the rear screen on when using OVF is annoying, but having the touch function on is sure to cause multiple problems. Turning touch off removes one of the great features of the camera. I am just shaking my head that they could do something so stupid. The SL1 worked fine as is. I always thought the user interface was well thought out. If this is a change to save a few $ on an eye sensor it is really upsetting. If someone actually thought adding the button was better ... well that may be even worse.

I was all set to buy one, but not now. Small thing maybe, but incredibly STUPID!!!!!!

I had no idea that the auto-turnoff eye sensor was not there on the SL2.   I use the VF 95 % of the time, and so this really bothers me.  So I scoured the online SL2 manual and on p. 301 found under "Focus Settngs 2",  there are three options for turning the LCD off or on.  The first option lets you press the shutter button 1/2 way , (as when you use the VF to  focus), the LCD will turn off.   It will come back on when you either release the shutter, or take the picture.

Where am I wrong here ?  It seems to me that it is sort of automatic for the LCD to turn off when you use the VF  to focus  There are two other options using the DISP button to turn off the LCD.

Let me know if I'm reading this right ??

carolyn

Ranger a.k.a chammett
http://www.pbase.com/chammett
'elegance is simplicity'

FD wrote:

Is there a level/horizon in the SL2 ?

My camera isn't here yet, so I don't have camera in hand. But there is a grid display shown in the Menu Options 5,   p. 209 in the online manual.

carolyn

Selene wrote:

c.hammett wrote:

jwilliams wrote:

The part about removing the eye sensor really bugs me. It sounds like it makes the camera almost unmanagable to me. Having the rear screen on when using OVF is annoying, but having the touch function on is sure to cause multiple problems. Turning touch off removes one of the great features of the camera. I am just shaking my head that they could do something so stupid. The SL1 worked fine as is. I always thought the user interface was well thought out. If this is a change to save a few $ on an eye sensor it is really upsetting. If someone actually thought adding the button was better ... well that may be even worse.

I was all set to buy one, but not now. Small thing maybe, but incredibly STUPID!!!!!!

I had no idea that the auto-turnoff eye sensor was not there on the SL2. I use the VF 95 % of the time, and so this really bothers me. So I scoured the online SL2 manual and on p. 301 found under "Focus Settngs 2", there are three options for turning the LCD off or on. The first option lets you press the shutter button 1/2 way , (as when you use the VF to focus), the LCD will turn off. It will come back on when you either release the shutter, or take the picture.

Where am I wrong here ? It seems to me that it is sort of automatic for the LCD to turn off when you use the VF to focus There are two other options using the DISP button to turn off the LCD.

Let me know if I'm reading this right ??

carolyn

This is how I have mine set up to work. The back display turns off when I push the button half way down and doesn't come back on until after I either release the button or take the picture. Am I missing something I didn't know I had on the Sl/1?

Ranger a.k.a chammett
http://www.pbase.com/chammett
'elegance is simplicity'

Thanks Selene for verifying that this option on the Focus Settings 2 works as I thought it would.  Like I mentioned, I use the VF 95% of the time and use the 1/2 press of the shutter to lock focus, so it seems fairly natural to me that it should work.  BUT I don't have the camera in hand, so you are the proof !

Thanks a bunch Selene... if someone finds we are wrong, please advise !

carolyn

Selene wrote:

Here is an image from the Sl/2. Note that the light is terrible--pretty dark with light coming in from skylights. My cat's head is in both light and shadow. Was taken with the 18-135 stm at F 5.6, so shallow depth of field. This was raw. I brought down the shadows and lifted the highlights just to see what I could do, as I often have situations life this when kayaking in the golden hour. Not my best photo, but some sense of using the camera in a difficult situation. The better test will be using it how I intend to use it, but I think it will work out pretty well.

I think your picture of this gorgeous gray kitty is wonderful ! It is beautifully monochromatic with its gray / beige background , and the ineresting textures and diagonals of sunlight and kitty. Thanks for posting it

I have a "Tortie" (tortoishell) cat. Her fur is black with a lot of caramel and and vanilla patterning. She looks like her name "Snickers". I don't think I've ever gotten a very good exposure of Snickers in strongly mixed light, because the SL1 picks up too much of her lighter colors or else if I focus on the darker part, the lights are too bright. But in even lighting I get good exposure.  So I'm anxious to see if the SL2 improves my Snickers in strong light and shadow.

Cheers - carolyn

Yeah, I mentioned that in the review. You have to move up to the 77D to get a camera with an eye proximity sensor, which means a noticeable jump up in price, size and weight. That said, there's also an increase in features, including a top info display.

I had no idea that the auto-turnoff eye sensor was not there on the SL2. I use the VF 95 % of the time, and so this really bothers me. So I scoured the online SL2 manual and on p. 301 found under "Focus Settngs 2", there are three options for turning the LCD off or on. The first option lets you press the shutter button 1/2 way , (as when you use the VF to focus), the LCD will turn off. It will come back on when you either release the shutter, or take the picture.

Where am I wrong here ? It seems to me that it is sort of automatic for the LCD to turn off when you use the VF to focus There are two other options using the DISP button to turn off the LCD.

Let me know if I'm reading this right ??

carolyn

Ranger a.k.a chammett
http://www.pbase.com/chammett
'elegance is simplicity'

I do not have a page 301 in my printed manual, and just tried searching the PDF for “Focus Settings 2” but didn’t come with anything. So without having reviewed your reference but tested out the camera, you are correct, when you half press the shutter the rear display disables. That’s great and all, but the display reappears and since the does not have automatic brightness control, the on/off process can be very distracting. If you are in a darker space, then the rear display can be very bright and make it harder to see through the OVF. Further, if you bring the camera up to your eye before half pressing the shutter, which is my normal process, then you still have the nose activating touch screen issue.