New Photographer? Here's The Camera I Recommend (and No, It's Not A Sony)

3 days ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The Canon EOS R100 mirrorless camera is simply a awesome starter for aspiring photographers.
It features a 24-megapixel sensor for awesome image value and colour and tin seizure 4K (UHD) video astatine 24 frames per second.
Unfortunately, it doesn't person a flip-out preview screen.

It's a awesome clip to beryllium a photographer these days, arsenic it's easier than ever to entree awesome cameras. Specifically, mirrorless cameras for illustration Canon's EOS R100. Sure, our smartphones are tin of capturing beautiful bully photos, but if you're a existent photographer astatine heart, you're yet going to want much from your camera.

Also: One of nan astir versatile cameras I've utilized is not from Sony aliases Canon and it's connected sale

You'll want much elasticity successful post-processing and, rather frankly, amended image quality. Luckily, Canon has respective camera bodies successful its mirrorless merchandise line, including nan R100: a compact mirrorless camera aimed astatine nan beginner photographer who's caller disconnected their smartphone.

The Canon R100 is 1 of nan lightest camera bodies connected nan market, but don't fto its weight fool you into assuming it can't create value images aliases video. It has an APS-C sensor that tin seizure 24 megapixels and 1080p video astatine 60 frames per second. It tin besides seizure 4K (UHD) video astatine 24 frames per second.

Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro Max pinch this 4K pouch camera for video - and can't spell back

When you're conscionable starting retired successful photography, nan past point you want to do is struggle pinch flipping done menus, buttons, and dials. You want to commencement shooting arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to get utilized to nan consciousness of nan camera and its capabilities. Canon's intuitive paper design, on pinch its dial-and-button layout, makes nan R100 an easy waste for caller photographers.

Canon EOS R100 camera assemblage for beginners

Yes, it's compact, but nan shutter fastener and rear buttons are correct wherever they request to beryllium for your scale digit and thumb, respectively. I person really ample hands, truthful I conflict pinch holding smaller cameras. With nan R100, however, it only took a fewer minutes for maine to get utilized to really it feels.

I firmly judge that a camera has to consciousness bully successful your hands; I don't attraction astir its elaborate database of bells and whistles. It should conscionable "feel right" if you're going to sprout pinch it regularly. Canon does a bully occupation pinch this.

Image quality

The image value is connected par pinch what I expected from a budget-friendly camera pinch a cropped sensor (APS-C). You'll perceive smartphone manufacturers specified arsenic Apple and Samsung boast having complete 40 megapixels successful their smartphone cameras, truthful if you're unsure if a camera pinch only half that tin guidelines up to them successful quality, nan reply is simply a resounding yes. Here's why.

Also: I'm a full-time Canon photographer, but this Nikon camera had maine reconsidering my choices

The image sensor connected this camera is much larger than those connected immoderate smartphone, truthful nan image value will almost ever beryllium better. Here are 2 sample images captured pinch nan R100 successful 2 somewhat different scenarios. Image 1 utilized nan kit lens (18 mm - 45 mm) that came pinch nan R100.

In this first image, you'll announcement nan image value is beautiful solid. I didn't do immoderate post-processing different than adjusting nan achromatic balance. My canine Kylo looks beautiful bully here. Even erstwhile I zoomed into nan image, I noticed nan sound wasn't bad, considering I changeable this successful a shaded area connected a sensor smaller than what I usually usage (full frame).

The ISO was cranked up to 3,200, truthful getting image sound is almost guaranteed. Look astatine nan first image and comparison it to nan zoomed-in type of nan image below. The sound isn't overmuch of an issue.

I captured 1 much image, but I'll admit, I cheated conscionable a little. In nan 2nd image, I attached an 85mm premier lens, which has a wider aperture for much light. Also, it's conscionable a amended lens, acknowledgment to nan value of nan glass.

Also: This hidden Pixel camera mounting makes my photos perfectly popular - here's how

I should besides statement that I attached this lens to nan R100 via an RF to EF lens adapter. Most of my Canon lenses are EF mount, which isn't compatible pinch mirrorless bodies unless you usage an adapter. That said, nan R100 did a stellar job.

This 24-megapixel APS-C sensor did a awesome occupation capturing good details. Yes, I person a amended lens connected nan body, but this besides proves that a photographer tin commencement pinch this camera and upgrade to amended lenses complete nan years until they're fresh to move connected to an upgraded mirrorless assemblage from Canon. As successful nan first image, I only corrected nan achromatic balance. No different post-processing was done.

How nan Canon handles video

Shooting video connected nan R100 is straightforward, pinch afloat HD astatine 60 frames per second. This is awesome for unrecorded action, but if you're attempting to sprout thing successful a "cinematic flare," backmost nan framework complaint down to astatine slightest 30 frames per second, preferably 24 frames per second.

Also: Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e: I took 100 photos pinch some phones, and here's nan winner

If you're funny to sprout successful 4K (UHD), statement that your image will beryllium presented astatine a tighter focal magnitude because nan video mode utilizes nan halfway of nan APS-C sensor and not nan afloat moving area. This could beryllium an inconvenience, but it's not a deal-breaker for a camera successful this value range.

If you're wondering whether nan R100 tin beryllium utilized for vlogging and livestreaming, nan reply is yes and no. If you want to vlog, you can, but you won't beryllium capable to spot yourself arsenic there's nary flip-out surface recovered connected astir vlogging cameras. Regarding livestreaming, you tin usage nan micro HDMI to link nan R100 to your machine via a seizure paper aliases an HDMI switcher specified arsenic an ATEM Mini.

My concerns pinch nan R100

I don't person galore concerns. First, nan deficiency of a flip-out surface is alternatively inconvenient. Flip-out screens are useful beyond conscionable vlogging purposes. For example, if you're photographing thing from a precocious aliases debased angle, rotating nan surface is ace adjuvant successful composing and framing your shot.

Also: The champion vlogging cameras you tin buy

Secondly, nan APS-C sensor is not a dealbreaker, but shooting video should beryllium done successful nan highest solution available. Shooting successful 4K (UHD) is an option, but cropping successful connected nan sensor doesn't springiness your 4K footage nan look of a cleanable 4K video, conscionable a 4K record size. On a affirmative note, nan APS-C sensor is awesome for shooting satellite photography, and it has a full-frame telephoto lens attached. You'll summation a small much scope successful focal magnitude by astir 1.4x.

ZDNET's buying advice

If you're an aspiring photographer looking to scratch nan itch that your smartphone camera can't look to satisfy, nan Canon EOS R100 is simply a coagulated camera astatine a budget-friendly $429 for nan assemblage only. It comes pinch a 45mm starter lens, which isn't nan best, but you'll decidedly spot an betterment complete your trusty smartphone.

Another awesome point astir nan R100 is that it has nan imaginable to turn pinch you arsenic you bargain somewhat amended lenses, specified arsenic nan Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. This 1 offers a wider aperture, amended glass, and awesome portraits correct retired of nan box. So, moreover pinch nan summation of nan 50mm lens, you're still good nether $1,000 spent for a awesome action to get started pinch photography.