The digital camera I like to recommend to most new photographers is just not a Nikon or Panasonic

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Canon EOS R100 mirrorless digital camera is a superb starter for aspiring photographers.
• It incorporates a 24-megapixel sensor for nice picture high quality and shade and might seize 4K (UHD) video at 24 frames per second.
• Sadly, it would not have a flip-out preview display screen. 

It is a good time to be a photographer nowadays, because it’s simpler than ever to entry nice cameras. Particularly, mirrorless cameras like Canon’s EOS R100. Positive, our smartphones are able to capturing fairly good images, however in the event you’re a real photographer at coronary heart, you are ultimately going to need extra out of your digital camera. 

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You are going to need extra flexibility in post-processing and, fairly frankly, higher picture high quality. Fortunately, Canon has a number of digital camera our bodies in its mirrorless product line, together with the R100: a compact mirrorless digital camera aimed on the newbie photographer who’s contemporary off their smartphone.

The Canon R100 is among the lightest digital camera our bodies available on the market, however do not let its weight idiot you into assuming it may’t create high quality pictures or video. It has an APS-C sensor that may seize 24 megapixels and 1080p video at 60 frames per second. It is also able to capturing 4K (UHD) video at 24 frames per second.

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If you’re simply beginning out in pictures, the very last thing you need to do is wrestle with flipping via menus, buttons, and dials. You need to begin taking pictures as quickly as attainable to get used to the texture of the digital camera and its capabilities. Canon’s intuitive menu design together with its dial-and-button format makes the R100 a simple sale for brand spanking new photographers.   

Sure, it is compact, however the shutter button and rear buttons are proper the place they have to be in your index finger and thumb, respectively. I’ve actually massive arms, so I battle with holding smaller cameras. With the R100, nevertheless, it solely took a couple of minutes for me to get used to the way it feels.

I am a agency believer {that a} digital camera has to really feel good in your arms; I do not care about its elaborate checklist of bells and whistles, it ought to simply “really feel proper” if you are going to shoot with it repeatedly. Canon does an excellent job with this.

Picture high quality

The picture high quality is on par with what I anticipated from a budget-friendly digital camera with a cropped sensor (APS-C). You may hear smartphone producers reminiscent of Apple and Samsung boast having over 40 megapixels of their smartphone cameras, so in the event you’re not sure if a digital camera with solely half that may stand as much as them in high quality, the reply is a powerful sure. This is why. 

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The picture sensor on this digital camera is a lot bigger than these in any smartphone, so the picture high quality will nearly at all times be higher. Listed here are two pattern pictures captured with the R100 in two barely completely different situations. Picture one utilized the equipment lens (18mm-45mm) that got here with the R100. 

On this first picture, you will discover the picture high quality is fairly stable. I did not do any post-processing aside from adjusting the white steadiness. My canine Kylo seems fairly good right here. Even after I zoomed into the picture, I seen the noise wasn’t unhealthy, contemplating I shot this in a shaded space on a sensor smaller than what I often use (full body).

The ISO was cranked as much as 3,200, so getting picture noise is sort of assured. Have a look at the primary picture and examine it to the zoomed-in model of the picture under. The noise is not a lot of a difficulty. 

I captured yet another picture, however I will admit, I cheated just a bit. Within the second picture, I connected an 85mm prime lens, which has a wider aperture for extra gentle. Additionally, it is only a higher lens due to the standard of the glass. 

I also needs to observe that I connected this lens onto the R100 through an RF to EF lens adapter. Most of my Canon lenses are EF mount, which is not suitable with the mirrorless our bodies until you utilize an adapter. With that stated, the R100 did a stellar job.

This 24 megapixel APS-C sensor did a fantastic job in capturing nice particulars. Sure, I’ve a greater lens on the physique, however this additionally proves {that a} photographer can begin with this digital camera and improve to raised lenses through the years till they’re prepared to maneuver onto an upgraded mirrorless physique from Canon. As within the first picture, I solely corrected the white steadiness. No different post-processing was achieved. 

How the Canon handles video

Capturing video on the R100 is simple, with full HD at 60 frames per second. That is nice for reside motion, however in the event you’re trying to shoot one thing in a “cinematic flare,” again the body price all the way down to no less than 30 frames per second, ideally 24 frames per second. 

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In the event you’re curious to shoot in 4K (UHD), observe that your picture shall be introduced at a tighter focal size as a result of the video mode makes use of the middle of the APS-C sensor and never the complete working space. This might be an inconvenience, however not a dealbreaker for a digital camera on this worth vary. 

In the event you’re questioning whether or not the R100 can be utilized for vlogging and reside streaming, the reply is sure and no. If you wish to vlog, you may, however you will not have the ability to see your self as there is not any flip-out display screen discovered on most vlogging cameras. Relating to reside streaming, you should use the micro HDMI to attach the R100 to your pc through a seize card or an HDMI switcher reminiscent of an ATEM Mini. 

My issues with the R100

I haven’t got many issues. First, the dearth of a flip-out display screen is fairly inconvenient. Flip-out screens are helpful past simply vlogging functions. For instance, in the event you’re photographing one thing from a excessive or low angle, having the choice to rotate the display screen is tremendous useful in composing and framing your shot. 

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Secondly, the APS-C sensor is just not a dealbreaker, however taking pictures video needs to be achieved within the highest decision obtainable. Capturing in 4K (UHD) is an possibility, however cropping in on the sensor would not give your 4K footage the look of a clear 4K video, only a 4K file dimension. On a optimistic observe, the APS-C sensor is nice for taking pictures moon pictures, and it has a full-frame telephoto lens connected. You may achieve a bit of extra attain in focal size by roughly 1.4x. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

In the event you’re an aspiring photographer seeking to scratch the itch that your smartphone digital camera can not seem to fulfill, the Canon EOS R100 is a stable digital camera at a budget-friendly $459 (which incorporates the 18-45mm equipment lens). The starter lens is not the most effective, however you will positively see an enchancment over your trusty smartphone. 

One other wonderful thing about the R100 is that it has the potential to develop with you as you purchase barely higher lenses, such because the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. This one affords a wider aperture, higher glass, and nice portraits proper out of the field. So, even with the addition of the 50mm lens, you are still beneath $1,000 spent for a fantastic choice to get began with pictures.