Canon Eos 100D - Surprisingly impressed!

stevelmx5

stevelmx5

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I've currently got a 5D classic and lenses for wedding/portrait/event work and an NEX5 which I've used as a second body/video rig for jobs as well as holiday duty etc. I've had the NEX for around 18 months and it's always impressed, particularly with the manual Olympus OM Zuiko lenses I use 90% of the time.

However, a combination of GAS and missing a viewfinder on really bright days has meant that I've started looking to replace the NEX5 with either a 6 or 7. While I was in Manchester today I took a walk into the new Jessops store (which impressively stocks the majority of bodies from every manufacturer) and had a look/hold of the EOS 100D out of interest and found that I was surprisingly impressed with the handling. It was next to an 1100D which has never appealed to me due to the very plasticky felling body/grip but the 100D has a nicely rubberised grip along with buttons placed in well thought positions on the back.

As a result, I've spent the afternoon comparing the merits of the NEX against the canon as a second camera and I can only come up with 2, those being the flip out screen which is great for macro and low level video and the potentially better sensor. The Canon offers the benefit of sharing lenses with my 5D (it would be great with the 40/2.8 or a nifty fifty) along with my flash triggers etc and has an optical viewfinder which i do prefer.

Both bodies are similar prices so I was wondering if anyone here has used a 100D and how they found it in the real world? I realise its hardware is the same as the 700D so optical performance should be the same so I'm more interested in actual handling etc.

Cheers
Steve
 
I'm testing one at the moment.

Really impressed so far, especially used with a 40mm. Can carry in palm of my hand, and reckon you could just use a wrist strap. Or have around your neck all day without noticing.

I have medium-sized hands so find it comfortable to use, even with just three fingers on it.

However, a Sigma 30mm f1.4 (one of the smaller lenses on my 7D) feels too big/heavy on it. A 17-55mm would be VERY front-heavy. Will try it later.

If Canon released a series of pancake lenses, they'd dent Micro 4/3rds sales - certainly Panasonic's G-series.
 
The 100D is not that much smaller or lighter than some of the existing DSLRs. I use a Sony A230 as a walkabout camera and it is hardly any bigger or heavier than the 100D.
I just carry mine around in my hand and use a wrist strap as seen on a compact camera and it is strong enough.

Agree that large/heavy lenses defeat the object and I find a 35 prime (the cheaper, plasticky variety!) to be a perfect match.

Be interesting to see how Canon do with the 100D as I would think it would suit a lot of people. This forum is full of posts where people don't want to lug around their large DLSR and set of lens but still want the operation of a DSLR (optical viewfinder, speed etc,.) and it fits that market very well.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I had another quick play with one yesterday and the optical viewfinder and faster focus really stood out against the NEX. I agree that similar Canon bodies (eg the 700D) aren't much bigger but the combination of the 100D and a small prime would be a good match for my current NEX5. The biggest things I'd miss would be the flip screen for macro and video work and the focus peaking but they're not the end of the world.

I'll keep an eye on prices to see if it drops.

Cheers
Steve
 
Seems a bit expensive at the current price (over £500) but that should drop over time. If you want a small dslr (albeit an slt with an evf) then the Sony A37 is a bargain at just over £200 - but perhaps not an ideal option for someone who already has Canon lenses.

Interesting that Sony discontinued their line of small a-mount cameras just as Canon introduced a small dslr. If the Canon model sells well it seems likely that Nikon would also bring out a small dslr? :)

I have the A37 and the small body with a prime lens (35 1.8/ 50 1.8 / 85 2.8) makes a nice lightweight combo. I also have a Nex 5 but prefer the dslr form factor, much faster af and viewfinder of the A37. I think the A37 also has the same sensor as the Nex 6 (and A57 and Nikon D7000), it also has focus peaking and a tilting screen but it's very low resolution compared to the Nex 5!
 
Yep, I am a fan of the small Sony's too although having just held a 100D in a shop I can say for my hand at least that Canon have done a nicer job with the shape of the grip. Although it is still small it seems to fit my fingers better.

People may expect it to be cheaper because it is smaller but as it has same sensor and presumably processor and so on as 700D then no reason why it should be that much cheaper.
 
Had a play about with one for abit and can say its a nice little camera. Really nice screen on it.
 
What Canon really needs to release is a pancake 20mm or 24mm EF-S lens for this 100D, then I'd be all over it in a heartbeat.

Love the idea of a mini DSLR, only disappointed with the single Canon pancake lens, it'd be 60mm FoV on crop, way too long for anything useful. I'm a 35mm man.
 
Hi

i just bought this wonderful camera for my wife(i kinda wanna buy myself one to replace my 400d) and i must say it is a awsome camera!

feels great and weighs next to nothing.

Here is a shot my wife took after i taught her about Appature and DOF.

SOOC jpeg, no pp whatsoever(cant as my lightroom dont work with this camera!)


IMG_0030 by jonneymendoza, on Flickr
 
Does anyone know what version of Lightroom will work with this camera/does any at the moment? I have Lightroom 4 and am interested in it but will it mean having to upgrade/not be able to use RAW for a while?
EDIT - Just found out id need 4.4 which is compatible with the 700D and 100D :)
 
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OK so I got myself a 100D today :) Took it out briefly today and I was very impressed. Got some great pictures from it, I only took it out with a 50mm f1.8 so was quite limited by that focal length but still.

Firstly, it is small but after holding it for a while you kinda forget how small it is, it just feels normal to me now. Ive never owned a 'big' DSLR and my last one was a D3200, compared to it the different isnt really significant at all: http://camerasize.com/compare/#448,317
I have small hands so it fits nicely in my hand, admittedly its not quite as nice to hold as the D3200 but its still fine. The screen is superb, very high resolution and the touchscreen feature is there if you want to use it, you dont have to and I didnt really. The d-pad is a bit small and fiddly, they probably couldve made it a tiny bit bigger and it wouldve been fine.

With the 50mm f1.8 is produced some very nice, sharp images and resolved a lot of detail:

IMG_9972 by ollieee1, on Flickr

Overall im very happy with it and its really enjoyable to use.
 
wuyanxu said:
What Canon really needs to release is a pancake 20mm or 24mm EF-S lens for this 100D, then I'd be all over it in a heartbeat.

Love the idea of a mini DSLR, only disappointed with the single Canon pancake lens, it'd be 60mm FoV on crop, way too long for anything useful. I'm a 35mm man.
Click to expand...

It's horses for courses. I loved the 40mm on my APS-C, it was the perfect focal length for me.

I really hope they do bring out more though! :)
 
Agree, I liked the 40 as well although I found a 35 even better. Anything wider than 35 as a walkabout prime is too wide for me. I had an X100 and always felt it a bit too wide for me.
 
I would agree with Chris and SixToes, the 40mm on APS-C is a much better FOV than the 50mm.

The 40mm is useful, think of the old Minolta 58mm or Helios 58mm m42 lenses on 35mm as an equivalent.
 
I would also agree that 40mm or 35mm would be perfect on a crop sensor.
 
Bought a 100D last week to replace a G12. Much impressed with the 100D.
 
Thrash said:
OK so I got myself a 100D today :) Took it out briefly today and I was very impressed. Got some great pictures from it, I only took it out with a 50mm f1.8 so was quite limited by that focal length but still.

Firstly, it is small but after holding it for a while you kinda forget how small it is, it just feels normal to me now. Ive never owned a 'big' DSLR and my last one was a D3200, compared to it the different isnt really significant at all: http://camerasize.com/compare/#448,317
I have small hands so it fits nicely in my hand, admittedly its not quite as nice to hold as the D3200 but its still fine. The screen is superb, very high resolution and the touchscreen feature is there if you want to use it, you dont have to and I didnt really. The d-pad is a bit small and fiddly, they probably couldve made it a tiny bit bigger and it wouldve been fine.

With the 50mm f1.8 is produced some very nice, sharp images and resolved a lot of detail:

IMG_9972 by ollieee1, on Flickr

Overall im very happy with it and its really enjoyable to use.
Click to expand...

How do you rate the image quality compared to the d3200 ?
 
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