Canon Add EOS R100 Entry-Level RF Mirrorless

2023.05.24

Yesterday night, Canon launched a new RF-system APS-C Mirrorless Digital Camera and a compact pancake prime lens for all RF-platform cameras. Both these new products are designed to make the RF platform portable for situations where compactness and lightness are important.

The new Canon EOS R100 is now the lightest and most compact RF-mount digital camera. Even tough there are eight lighter mirrorless models with different mounts, the 356g EOS R100 is quite light. This camera is built upon a new 24 megapixels APS-C (1.6X Crop) with Dual-Pixel AF. Interestingly, this is the only Dual-Pixel sensor that omits an Anti-Alias Filter. This CMOS sensor has a standard ISO 100-12800 sensitivity range, which expands to ISO 25600. Its Dual-Pixel design allows it to measure phase at every pixels which Canon combines into a virtual 3975-Point AF system. The camera supports simple Tracking AF-C and DMF.

This is a decidedly entry-level model with basic features, including Full Manual Controls, choice of metering and custom white-balance. Its hybrid shutter spans a standard 1/4000-30s range. While there is WB Fine-Tuning, the EOS R100 does not support bracketing except automatically for HDR capture.

The body of the Canon EOS R100 shows a mix of compromises to achieve its light weight. The major limitation is that this camera does not offer any type of image-stabilization and there is no mechanism to shake the sensor, so it does not offer a Sensor Cleaning feature either. Canon still included a Guide Number 6 builtin-flash and a hot-shoe. There is also a mid-size 2.4 megapixels 0.39" OLED EVF with 100% coverage at 0.59X magnification. This electronic viewfinder is sharp with good contrast. The rear 3" LCD has 1 megapixels and is fixed to the back of the camera. It does not appear to be a touchscreen, as one often gets in recent cameras. A single control-dial is available to adjust exposure parameters. Note that many RF lenses offer a customizable control-ring to adjust and extra parameter.

Canon plans to ship the EOS R100 in July for $600 USD or $800 CAD, including an RF-S 18-45mm F/4.5-6.3 kit lens. Around the same time, Canon also expects to ship the new RF 28mm F/2.8 STM lens introduced today.

The new Canon RF 28mm F/2.8 STM is a pancake-type prime lens with Full-Frame coverage for RF-mount. On a Full-Frame model, it provides a wide 75° angle-of-view. Mounted on an APS-C camera, such as the Canon ROS R100 launched today, it will be equivalent to a normal 42mm lens. A bright F/2.8 aperture allows this lens to capture plenty of light. The minimal focus-distance of 23cm gives it a magnification of 0.17X.

This is an impressively compact lens, measuring just 35mm in length and weighing a mere 120g. It manages to include a surprising amount of controls, including AF/MF switch and flexible ring that can adjust focus or an extra parameter. The internal edge of the lens accommodates 55mm screw-on filters. There is no point to attach a lens hood which allowed Canon to make it this short.

This compact prime lens will ships in July for $300 USD or $400 CAD. Both Adorama and B&H Photo are ready to accept preorders. The are also taking preoders for the Canon EOS R100: Adorama and B&H Photo.

• Digital Camera
• Lens