Canon EOS R100: Canon's entry-level RF-mount camera, explained
Canon's entry point to the RF mount, still in Canon's lineup. Launched at $479.99 in 2023 (body only). Who it suits: first-time buyers who shoot stills through a viewfinder.
Canon EOS R100, shown with the RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM (not included with the body). Photo: FreeMediaKid! via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)
HIGHLIGHTS
Canon U.S.A. announced the EOS R100 on May 24, 2023. It launched at $479.99 in 2023, body only, or $599.99 with the RF-S 18-45mm, and Canon called it its most compact and lightweight EOS R camera to that date. It uses a 24.1MP APS-C sensor (Canon Europe's figure; the US release says 24.2MP) with DIGIC 8, and Dual Pixel CMOS AF across up to 143 zones, with eye and face detection for people.
Why it exists. The R100 is Canon's entry ticket to the RF mount for first-time interchangeable-lens buyers. It puts a 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder in a body of about 356 g with battery and card, takes RF and RF-S lenses natively and EF/EF-S lenses through an adapter, and its LP-E17 battery is CIPA-rated for about 430 shots on the screen. To hit its price, Canon gave it a fixed, non-touch 3-inch screen, bursts of 6.5 fps (3.5 fps with Servo AF), no in-body stabilization, and 4K/24p cropped with contrast AF. It is still in Canon's lineup.
Our gallery comes from four photographers: a sunset silhouette from Dresser Hill, lily pads on Cranberry Pond, the Rider Tavern in autumn sun, a cat close-up at ISO 6400, Le Landeron station in Switzerland and an overcast sky over Hohenleipisch. Who should buy it? Stills shooters who frame through the viewfinder. If you vlog or want a touchscreen, look at the R50.
The story
Canon U.S.A. announced the EOS R100 on May 24, 2023, for July availability at $479.99 body-only, $599.99 with the RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM and $829.99 as a two-lens kit (Canon U.S.A.).
The release aimed it at first-time interchangeable-lens buyers and people stepping up from a smartphone, and described it as the most compact and lightweight EOS R camera Canon had made.
Canon Europe still carries the EOS R100 in its current camera specifications (Canon Europe).
Specifications
Key specs for the Canon EOS R100, from Canon Europe's EOS R100 specifications and Canon U.S.A.'s May 24, 2023 release. Source for each row in brackets.
Sensor
24.1MP effective APS-C CMOS, 22.3 × 14.9 mm (24.2MP in the US release); DIGIC 8 [Canon Europe, Canon U.S.A.]
ISO
100–12800; H: 25600 [Canon Europe]
Autofocus
Dual Pixel CMOS AF, up to 143 zones (117 with some lenses); eye and face detection for people; EV −4 to 18 [Canon Europe]
Stabilization
No in-body stabilization; lens IS [Canon Europe]
Bursts
6.5 fps with One-Shot AF; 3.5 fps with Servo AF [Canon Europe]
Shutter
30–1/4000 s [Canon Europe]
Viewfinder
OLED, 2.36M dots, about 0.95x [Canon Europe]
Screen
Fixed 3.0-inch LCD, 1.04M dots; not touch-sensitive [Canon Europe]
Video
4K UHD at 23.98/25p, cropped (contrast AF in 4K); Full HD up to 59.94p; HD at 119.88p; 3.5 mm mic input [Canon Europe]
Card / ports
One SD (UHS-I); USB-C (USB 2.0 speed; no in-camera charging over USB) [Canon Europe]
116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8 mm; about 356 g with battery and card [Canon Europe]
Announced / price
May 24, 2023; $479.99, body only (US) [Canon U.S.A.]
Sample photos
Six photos taken with the Canon EOS R100 by four photographers, shared on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain. Each caption gives the settings the file records. Select a photo to enlarge it. More samples from Wikimedia Commons
f/8, ISO 100, 1/100 s, 24mm: a sunset from Dresser Hill, Charlton, Massachusetts (RF24mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM). Photo: Peter Cooper Jr. via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)f/7.1, ISO 100, 1/400 s, 24mm: lily pads on Cranberry Pond, Wolf Swamp WMA (RF24mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM). Photo: Peter Cooper Jr. via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)
f/4.5, ISO 100, 1/200 s, 24mm: the Rider Tavern in autumn sun (RF24mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM). Photo: Peter Cooper Jr. via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)f/7.1, ISO 6400, 1/125 s, 171mm: a cat close-up at ISO 6400 (RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM). Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)
f/7.1, ISO 100, 1/160 s, 18mm: Le Landeron station, Switzerland (RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM). Photo: Koizeay via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/100 s, 18mm: an overcast sky over the fields at Hohenleipisch, Germany (RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM). Photo: AX29 via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (resized)
Canon: Launched at $479.99 in 2023 (US, body only).
Verdict
Who it's for: first-time buyers who want a light RF-mount body with a viewfinder and Dual Pixel AF for stills.
Look elsewhere if you vlog or want a touchscreen and faster bursts: the R50 adds a vari-angle touchscreen, 12 fps and uncropped 4K.
Pros
24.1MP APS-C sensor with DIGIC 8
Dual Pixel CMOS AF with eye and face detection
Built-in 2.36M-dot OLED finder
About 356 g; about 430 shots per charge (CIPA, screen)
