Canon SL1(100D) Review
/My Final Review of the Canon SL1 (100D)
SL1 Compared to Canon T5i/T4i | First Thoughts and Feature Tour of the Canon SL1Canon SL1(100D) World's Smallest DSLR
Canon SL1 (100D) Pros
- Great image and video quality - same sensor as other recent Rebels.
- Performance is good, the camera is quick to start up, the touchscreen is excellent and general operation including focus are responsive.
- Focus tracking during video seems to be improved especially at the outer edges but the focus speed is still the same.
- Physical buttons are excellent and camera feels nice in hand despite it’s small size, generally nice ergonomics.
- External stereo mic port and non-proprietary flash hot shoe(allows for a range of mic and lighting accessories that you don’t have the option of using with many of the smaller 4/3 cameras.
- Additional scene modes including miniature movie mode
Canon SL1 (100D) Cons
- It isn't that small and as soon as you attach any lens other than the 40mm you have a pretty bulky system that really doesn't offer much difference in size or weight from the t4i/t5i crowd.
- No articulated screen
- No wireless flash control and slower burst/smaller buffer.
- Battery life is shorter than t4i/t5i - really only noticeable if you are doing lots of video.
My Thoughts on the Canon SL1 (100D):
I think this camera is right for people who have a collection of Canon lenses and are willing to sacrifice a little performance for minor weight savings, I know those people are out there, I have heard from them. I also think this is a powerful little video recording device- interviewers, using the 40mm, stick an external mic on the hot shoe or wire in a lav and you are going to get gorgeous HD video and low light capabilities that still can’t be matched by most of the mirror-less or micro 4/3 crowd.
But that target audience is pretty small and the rest of us looking for a small camera with better than P&S quality have a fair number of options including the excellent Olympus Pens, the Panasonic GF series and the Sony NEX all of which offer smaller packages, many packed full of fun features and small lens systems that keep the size of the entire package smaller and lighter.
Despite everything I wrote I like this camera and would consider owning it as I am one of those with a collection of EF lenses and at time would like to travel light. I also think it will sell fairly well with the Canon name attached.
Support this site- Buy the Canon SL1 from Amazon. Not in the US? use the links at the bottom of this post.
