Canon EOS 100D Review | 108 Data compared

The Canon EOS 100D (Rebel SL1) is highlighted as a remarkably small and lightweight APS-C DSLR that effectively bridges the gap between traditional DSLRs and compact mirrorless cameras. Its primary strengths include a highly responsive, smudge-resistant touchscreen, excellent image quality with usable high ISO performance, and capable Live View/movie shooting with the Hybrid AF II system. Conversely, the significantly reduced size leads to a cramped, uncomfortable handgrip and poor balance with larger lenses. Technical drawbacks highlighted by ⁠DPReview include a lower dynamic range compared to peers, limited autofocus tracking with non-STM lenses, and an AF illuminator that requires the pop-up flash to be active. DPReview

Canon EOS 100D Review Summary The Canon EOS 100D (known as the Rebel SL1 in the US) is a remarkably compact and lightweight DSLR that successfully downsizes the body of a traditional DSLR while maintaining an 18-megapixel APS-C hybrid CMOS AF II sensor. It retains standard DSLR styling, an optical viewfinder, a responsive capacitive touchscreen, and a traditional EF-S lens mount, ensuring full compatibility with Canon's extensive lens ecosystem. While the camera targeted beginner users with fun shooting modes and live-preview digital filters, it delivered impressive image quality that rivals its larger siblings, making it highly portable without sacrificing performance. However, the downsized design comes with several distinct limitations. The primary drawback is that while the camera body itself is small, the overall system remains large because standard EF-S lenses do not scale down in size. Performance-wise, users face slow autofocusing speeds when using Live View, and the camera's built-in creative digital filters are strictly limited to Live View shooting. Additionally, the smaller form factor necessitated a physically downsized battery capable of only 380 shots per charge, alongside a weaker...

The Amateur Photographer review highlights the Canon EOS 100D as an impressively engineered, ultra-compact DSLR that maintains excellent handling despite its small size. Key strengths include a deep handgrip for secure, comfortable usage and a high-quality, responsive 3.2-inch touchscreen for easy navigation. However, the compact design introduces compromises, including a significantly shorter battery life and a modest 4 frames-per-second burst rate. Additionally, the viewfinder offers less than 100% coverage, and the rear screen is fixed, hindering shooting from high or low angles.

The What Digital Camera review rates the Canon EOS 100D (Rebel SL1) at 90%, highlighting its exceptionally compact, lightweight design paired with excellent 18-megapixel image quality and a highly responsive 3-inch touchscreen. The camera boasts solid ISO performance, a useful rubberized grip, and quiet autofocus, making it a capable entry-level option. However, compromises include a limited 9-point AF system with only one cross-type sensor, reduced battery life due to its small size, and lack of a tilting screen. Additionally, the camera is noted for having a small d-pad and a launch price that offered little savings over the more feature-rich Canon EOS 700D.

Canon EOS 100D Review Overview The Canon EOS 100D stands out as a remarkable feat of engineering by being the smallest and lightest APS-C DSLR ever created, offering a body roughly 30 percent smaller and lighter than its sister model, the 700D. Despite its dinky size, it shares the same high-quality 18MP CMOS sensor as larger models, which translates into superb picture quality with highly detailed images, neutral colors, and impressively low noise up to ISO 1600. Unlike the slower Live View autofocus found on the 700D, the 100D incorporates the superior Hybrid CMOS AF II system, enabling remarkably swift and accurate subject locking even in low-contrast macro environments or while shooting smooth 1080p video with its stepper-motor (STM) kit lens. However, achieving this miniature frame required several physical and technical compromises that hold the camera back from a perfect score. Key disadvantages include the omission of a convenient flip-out screen in favor of a fixed 3-inch touchscreen, stripped-back manual shortcut buttons that force users into the Q menu for basic settings like white balance, mono-only microphone audio, a smaller...

The Canon EOS 100D is an entry-level, highly compact APS-C DSLR camera that offers excellent ergonomics, a superb touchscreen interface, and impressive image quality with very low noise at fast ISO speeds. Perfect for beginners, it introduces a responsive phase-detect autofocus system in live view that, when paired with the smooth and silent 18-55mm STM kit lens, makes it a capable option for casual video recording. It provides a fast, traditional viewfinder experience through a primary 9-point autofocus sensor and supports full manual exposure control during video capture. Originally launched at a high price point, its value significantly improved over time as prices tumbled, making it an affordable entry point into the Canon EOS lens ecosystem. However, the camera features several notable limitations and has since been superseded by the Canon EOS 200D. Its continuous burst shooting is deliberately limited to 4fps—slower than the 700D's 5fps—and enabling chromatic aberration removal heavily degrades this performance down to 2.2fps. Furthermore, only the center focus point is cross-type for added sensitivity, the screen is completely fixed rather than articulated, and it lacks built-in...

Canon EOS 100D Review Summary The Canon EOS 100D (also known as the Rebel SL1) stands out as an exceptionally compact and lightweight 18-megapixel DSLR designed to compete with the smaller footprint of mirrorless compact system cameras. It successfully packs a standard APS-C sensor and a highly responsive DIGIC 5 image processor into an aluminum and resin body that weighs just 407 grams, making it an ideal, non-intimidating choice for everyday use and holiday photography. Navigating the camera is highly intuitive for both beginners and traditionalists, thanks to an impressively sharp 3-inch touchscreen LCD and a straightforward layout that includes a dedicated ISO button and a swift top-plate lever for transitioning into Full HD video mode. Performance remains reliable with a decent battery life capable of delivering up to 380 shots per charge, alongside compatibility with over 75 Canon lenses. However, the camera's ultra-compact form factor comes with notable compromises. The review highlights that the lack of a tilting or angle-adjustable LCD screen and a shorter, foreshortened handgrip make it less ergonomic for users with larger hands compared to its...

The Canon EOS 100D (also known as the SL1) is a compact, lightweight entry-level DSLR camera capable of shooting video and photographs. Tested during a walk in the Scottish highlands, the camera's form factor proves highly convenient and pleasing for travel environments, making it almost small enough to fit into a large pocket. It features an impressive Image Stabilizer performance from the included 18-55mm kit lens, allowing filmmakers to capture stable handheld shots without a tripod. Additionally, the camera features quick autofocus capabilities and handles up to 30 minutes of individual clip recordings on a standard SD card. However, the reviewer notes several downsides, highlighting that the camera's image quality is deeply tied to an outdated sensor that performs identically to older or alternative Canon models like the 700D, 7D, or T3i. A major drawback for landscape shooting is the heavy amount of aliasing produced by the sensor, which struggles to neatly capture fine details. The touch screen control is also described as not very intuitive, and the autofocus causes a shifting motion in the frame while adjusting. Ultimately, the...

The Canon EOS Rebel SL1 (EOS 100D) is a highly capable camera that effectively merges the ultra-compact, lightweight design of a mirrorless system with the high performance and excellent image quality of a traditional DSLR. It features an upgraded Hybrid CMOS II autofocus system that covers 80% of the live-view screen, significantly improving autofocus tracking and framing flexibility during video recording and Live View mode compared to older models. Accompanied by a sharp, quiet, and smooth-focusing EF-S 18-55mm STM kit lens, the camera excels at capturing Full HD 1080p video at 30fps and delivers sharp low-ISO still photography with superb hue accuracy, an responsive touchscreen LCD, and fast shot-to-shot times. Despite its impressive miniaturization, the camera suffers from poor battery life and a fixed, non-articulating LCD screen. While its small stature is a major selling point, the body remains bulkier than many modern mirrorless alternatives due to the physical space required for the interior DSLR mirror system. Furthermore, the SL1 falls short of its competitors regarding high-ISO performance and dynamic range, showing a noticeable drop-off in image quality above ISO...

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Canon EOS 100D as an ultra-compact 18-megapixel APS-C DSLR designed for portability, featuring a responsive 3.0-inch touchscreen, a built-in feature guide, and an improved Hybrid CMOS AF II system for better video and live view performance. It delivers strong image quality up to ISO 25600, includes a self-cleaning sensor, and offers a dedicated microphone socket for enhanced audio. However, the smaller body results in a cramped handgrip for some users, and the 4fps continuous shooting speed limits its use for fast action. Additionally, the camera is constrained by a 9-point AF system with only one cross-type sensor and a smaller battery capacity compared to larger models.

The Canon 100D stands out as the world’s smallest and lightest DSLR featuring an APS-C sensor, designed specifically to compete against mirrorless options while retaining native compatibility with the extensive line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses. Measuring 90 by 114 mm and weighing 420 grams, it successfully pushes the limits of miniaturization without significantly sacrificing ergonomics, offering a comfortable, textured grip suitable for medium-sized hands. Its core performance relies on an 18-megapixel Hybrid CMOS AF II sensor paired with a Digic 5 processor, which improves JPEG processing and high-ISO noise reduction compared to older models like the 7D. It features a responsive 3-inch ClearView II touchscreen for menu navigation, 9 autofocus points, Full-HD video with continuous autofocus, and up to 4 frames per second shooting speed. The evaluation highlights strong positive points alongside some definitive drawbacks. On the positive side, its main pros include its remarkably compact and lightweight dimensions, surprisingly solid ergonomics, excellent image quality at high ISO settings, a beautiful LCD touchscreen interface, and full lens compatibility without the need for an adapter. Conversely, the cons focus...

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Review Summary The Canon EOS Rebel SL1 stands out primarily as the smallest and lightest traditional dSLR available, specifically tailored for users with small-to-medium hands who want a more compact camera body. It delivers reliable, entry-level photo and video performance, capturing clean JPEGs up to ISO 800 (and usable shots up to ISO 1600), with snappy startup and autofocus speeds that easily handle family photography and vacations. It also inherits a highly responsive and intuitive touch-screen user interface from its larger sibling, the T5i, which streamlines setting navigation and Live View touch-focusing. Despite its compact comfort, the SL1 suffers from several notable feature omissions and design limitations. On the downside, the camera is incredibly light on modern features, completely lacking built-in wireless connectivity, GPS, intervalometers, or focus peaking for manual lenses. Furthermore, its 3-inch touch screen is fixed rather than articulated, making it nearly impossible to shoot video or frame shots in bright, direct outdoor sunlight. Because mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras can offer the same photo quality in an even smaller form factor for a lower price,...

The HardwareZone review of the Canon EOS 100D highlights its status as the world's smallest and lightest DSLR featuring a large APS-C sensor. Weighing only 407 grams, the camera stands out for its clever handling design, which prevents the controls from feeling cramped despite its diminutive size. Key pros mentioned include a comfortable, spaced-out layout complete with an unexpected, dedicated ISO button and a highly responsive 3-inch touch-sensitive monitor. The review praises its Hybrid AF system for smooth operation in Live View mode and its strong image performance, which yields sharp resolution and vivid JPEG colors that remain clean up to ISO 3200. However, the main cons center around the inevitable compromises of its ultra-compact form factor. The small camera body is not physically built to balance large DSLR lenses, making the system front-heavy and unwieldy when paired with heavy zooms. This limitation constrains a photographer's choice to smaller lenses, such as Canon’s 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens, to maintain a balanced total package. The review concludes that while it faces tough competition from mirrorless Micro Four Thirds systems that offer...

The Canon EOS 100D, featured in an ePHOTOzine hands-on preview, is an ultra-compact 370g DSLR designed to offer 18-megapixel APS-C quality with a 25% size reduction compared to the 650D. It features a 3-inch touchscreen, a 9-point AF system, and updated Hybrid CMOS AF II for improved video focusing. Pros include the remarkably small, lightweight form factor combined with a secure, deep hand grip and a responsive touchscreen interface. Key cons, driven by the compact design, include reduced battery life of 380 shots and limited direct control buttons, forcing reliance on the "Q" menu for adjustments.