Introduction
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The EOS M100 is Canon’s newest entry-level mirrorless ILC model. Despite being appreciably smaller (and cheaper) than its higher-end M5 and M6 siblings, it comes with the same 24MP APS-C sensor equipped with excellent Dual Pixel autofocus. It also has Canon’s latest DIGIC 7 processor, as well as Wi-Fi with NFC and Bluetooth for connectivity.
The M100 is aimed squarely at smartphone photographers looking to get their first ‘real’ camera, and its polished touch-centric control scheme reflects this. It’s small, it’s light, and because of the large APS-C sensor, is almost always capable of better photos than any smartphone.
Appropriately given the target audience, there’s even a dedicated ‘Wireless’ button to make it as easy as possible to get your images from the M100 to the wilds of Facebook and Instagram.
Key Features:
- 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Dual Pixel autofocus for stills and video
- DIGIC 7 processor
- 3″ tilting LCD
- 6fps burst shooting (4fps with continuous AF)
- 1080/60p video with digital IS
- Wi-Fi and NFC with Bluetooth
- 295 shot-per-charge battery live (via CIPA)
Although smartphones have largely decimated the compact camera segment, the EOS M100 is not without competition from other interchangeable lens cameras, all of which offer image quality above and beyond the typical smartphone camera. Users shopping based on price are likely to also consider the Panasonic Lumix GX850, Olympus PEN E-PL8, Fujifilm X-A3 and even the venerable Sony a6000.
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| Canon’s color output is a perennial crowd pleaser at the DPR offices. Out-of-camera JPEG. Canon EF 50mm F1.8 STM. ISO 200 | F5.6 | 1/800 sec |
The EOS M100 is among the least intimidating cameras in this group, for new users. It’s got the fewest physical controls, and tapping to focus and manipulate settings on-screen in Auto mode is likely to come naturally to just about anyone who hasn’t been under a rock since the first iPhone came out.
Compared to…
| Canon M100 | Panasonic GX850 | Olympus E-PL8 |
Sony a6000 | Fujifilm X-A3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 24MP | 16MP | 16MP | 24MP | 24MP |
| Sensor size | APS-C | Four Thirds | Four Thirds | APS-C | APS-C |
| Image stab. | Lens-based | Lens-based | In-camera | Lens-based | Lens-based |
| AF system (live view) | Dual Pixel | Contrast-detect | Contrast-detect | Hybrid | Contrast-detect |
| LCD | 3″ tilting | 3″ tilting | 3″ tilting | 3″ tilting | 3″ tilting |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Burst speed (AF locked) | 6.1 fps | 10 fps | 8 fps | 11 fps | 6 fps |
| Video | 1080/60p | 4K/30p | 1080/30p | 1080/60p | 1080/60p |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi + NFC + BT | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi + NFC | Wi-Fi |
| Battery life | 295 shots | 210 shots | 350 shots | 360 shots | 410 shots |
| Dimensions (mm) | 108x67x35 | 107x65x33 | 115x67x38 | 120x67x45 | 117x67x40 |
| Weight | 302 g | 269 g | 357 g | 344 g | 339g |
| Typical price w/lens (11/2017) |
$ 599 | $ 549 | $ 649 | $ 548 | $ 549 |
Based on the above table, it’s clear that in the mirrorless interchangeable lens market, this price bracket is getting pretty crowded. There are several different philosophies represented in here. The Sony a6000 has been around for a while but it continues to be a great value proposition. The GX850 is the only camera here to shoot 4K, and is slightly smaller than the M100, but comes with a smaller M43 sensor, which has an impact on still image quality at medium and high ISO sensitivity settings.
Overall, then, is the image quality and user experience of Canon’s most compact ILC enough to make it stand out in this crowd? Let’s find out.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)