Whether you are a professional photographer or the family documentarian, the Canon EOS M100 is one of the mirrorless cameras where Canon got it right. Out of the first few mirrorless releases, there were improvements the company took note from the consumers and fixed the inconveniences with this camera.
The compact frame makes it one of the smallest mirrorless cameras, which is one of its great qualities. Aside from its small build, it has a big touch LCD which can attract smartphone photographers.
For a quick and easy shooter, the Canon EOS M100 is definitely great but with many mirrorless cameras coming out – how does it compare to its competition?
Design and Durability
Measuring at 2.6 by 4.3 inches without the lens and weighing 10.7 ounces, the M100 is one of the smaller mirrorless cameras, as mentioned. And with its 15-45mm lens attached, it only adds 4.6 ounces. It can’t fit in your pocket but weighing less than a pound, it won’t add weight or take up much space.
As for appearance, you can get the camera in black or white. With the black version, the body and lens come in black while the white body has a silver lens. The lens is collapsible which is convenient for packing as it is an inch shorter when retracted. It can be a nuisance to extend it as you’ll have to play with a lock-and-twist contraption to extend the lens.
The M100 is perfect for anyone looking to instantly capture photos so if you’re someone who wants more control, the Canon EOS M5 is a better alternative. With the M100, the on-body controls are minimal with only three visible camera modes.
The Scene Intelligent Auto mode is identified with a green A, where the overexposure and focus are automatically controlled by the camera. The still camera icon is access to Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual shooting. And then there’s the movie camera icon which is for video recording.
Image and Video Quality
The M100 has the same image sensor as other Canon SLRs and mirrorless cameras. It uses the 24MP APS-C which is a good sensor and the main reason why the M100’s autofocus is fast.
When shooting JPG, noise is kept to a minimum. With ISO 3200, it is under 1.5 percent and goes up to 1.6 percent at ISO 6400. As for the ISO, the range will go up with dim light but even when the ISO goes up to 1600, the image quality will stay in tack. You will start to notice the fine lines once the ISO is at 3200 and above. The ISO goes up to 12800 and 25600 as well and at that point, it’s advised to use the pop-up flash in dark environments or add the 22mm f/2 lens to the kit.
As for image format, JPG is not the only option. Raw format is available and allows more flexibility when editing images through a software.
The video quality is good for what you’re working with but there is no 4K option so 1080p is what you’re limited to. The M100 shoots at 24, 30, or 60fps which allows you to have a cinematic aesthetic, traditional video, or high-speed visual. Time-lapse is another option.
Just like when you are shooting still images, the autofocus is great when recording and the internal microphone is impressive. The M100 picks up voices clearly, with some close proximity to the camera, but it also gets background noises. Unfortunately, external mics are no option since there’s no way to do so.
Lenses
If lens availability is crucial, be aware that the Canon EOS M collection doesn’t have a wide variety of lenses available for the body as other mirrorless systems. When buying the M100, the EF-M 15-45mm is included which is a solid lens as it covers wide-angle to short telephoto.
Other lenses that work with the M100 are the 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 lens, a compact telezoom, and the 11-22mm f/4-5.6, an ultra-wide zoom. These lenses are ideal for traveling since they are pretty small but not the best if the environment lacks light.
The 22mm f/2 wide aperture lens is definitely the one for shooting in tricky lighting but also for blurring backgrounds. Another alternative is the 28mm f/3.5 Macro for close-up shots.
How Does the Canon EOS M100 Compare?
| Canon EOS M100 | Sony a6000 |
| Has built-in WiFi | Has built-in WiFi |
| Costs around $400 | Can costs between $480-$600 |
| Has a resolution of 24.2MP | Has a resolution of 24.3MP |
| No viewfinder | Has an electronic viewfinder |
| Can take 295 shots per battery charge | Can take 360 shots per battery charge |
Conclusion
The Canon EOS M100 is an ideal camera if you’re looking for something that is quick and easy to use. It doesn’t lose the image quality or focal speed like other pricier models so you’re getting a bit more for what you end up paying for. The size also makes it portable to bring it to many occasions and events.
The M100 can be used for anyone but can be considered as an entry-level camera with its simplicity. There aren’t many modes or lenses you can use with the camera so if you want to explore your interest in photography, other models might be a better option.
