Earlier this week, Canon officially unveiled the EOS R100, a compact, affordable RF-mount mirrorless camera “designed for new, first-time mirrorless…or existing interchangeable camera users who previously enjoyed EOS Rebel or EOS M cameras.”
While the Canon EOS R series originally only featured full-frame cameras, the company has added a handful of APS-C models in recent months in an attempt to broaden the lineup’s appeal for hobbyists and beginners. Yet none of the APS-C RF-mount cameras have been as portable or budget-friendly as the newly announced EOS R100; Canon is hailing the R100 as “the smallest and lightest EOS R series camera” ever built, and the company’s press release promises an “estimated retail price of $479.99 for body only…[or] $599.99 with the RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens.”
In other words, the EOS R100 will be an RF-mount camera for absolute beginners: folks just exploring photography for the first time, content creators requiring a camera for both video and stills, and smartphone or casual shooters looking to take a step up. And indeed, the sub-$500 price is genuinely impressive, but with budget models like these, it’s always important to ask: Was Canon forced to sacrifice key features in order to cut costs?
We haven’t yet gotten our hands on a copy of the EOS R100, but looking at the specification sheet, the answer seems to be a “no.” Here’s what the camera offers:
- A 24 MP APS-C sensor
- 6.5 FPS continuous shooting
- 4K/24p video
- A 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 143 focusing zones
- Eye Detection AF
These aren’t standout features, of course, but they’re a reasonably robust set of specs that’ll allow beginners to capture high-quality photos and even video as needed. Additionally, as mentioned above, the EOS R100 is extremely compact, making it a great option for frequent travelers as well as anyone looking for a camera to carry around.
The new camera does come with one clear drawback, however: The LCD screen is neither fully articulating nor touch sensitive. Presumably, Canon decided to drop these features in order to budget for an electronic viewfinder, but a fully articulating touchscreen is such a ubiquitous EOS R series element that it’s hard not to be disappointed. The lack of touch functionality will make focusing – especially for folks who are used to tapping to focus on a smartphone – a much more laborious process, while the fixed screen will significantly limit the camera’s use for video and especially vlogging.
Honestly, though, the loss of an articulating touchscreen feels like a small price to pay, especially given the inclusion of an EVF. At the end of the day, the EOS R100 seems like a great little option for a variety of beginners, so if you’re looking for a $500 camera that’ll give you access to a solid set of shooting capabilities, you can preorder it on B&H’s website. Note that the EOS R100 will likely begin shipping in either late June or July, so you shouldn’t have too long to wait.
Now over to you:
What do you think of the Canon EOS R100? Would you consider purchasing it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
