Canon releases EOS R100 as redesigned EOS M50 II with RF lens mount for beginner photographers ^↺

Canon recently launched the EOS R100 mirrorless APS-C camera with RF mount for the ultra-low-end mirrorless market. The EOS R100 bears the same 24.1-MP APS-C sensor and DIGIC 8 processor as the three-year-old EOS M50 Mark II. That said, just because the hardware is outdated, doesn't mean it's a terrible camera. The EOS R100 seems like an acceptable entry to interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras for the price — as long as expectations are kept in check.

As the cheapest Canon R camera, the EOS R100 costs just US$479.99 on pre-order, but it has some significant downsides compared to the EOS R50 that costs just US$200 more. Similarly to the R50, though, the single SD card slot is limited to UHS-I speeds, which is not a huge deal, considering the burst shooting speed of the R100 is just 3.5 fps with continuous AF and 6.5 fps with single AF.

The R100 shoots video, but video quality tops out at 4K 24 fps and FHD 60p, and it lacks in-body-image stabilisation, making it a poor choice for anyone looking to shoot anything more than short home videos. While the sensor and DIGIC 8 processor both can make use of dual-pixel AF, autofocus is limited to slower, less accurate contrast AF in 4Kvideo recording.

Along with a stripped-back, non-touch LCD screen, the EOS R100 has no built-in flash, no control ring on the front of the grip, no joystick or scroll ring, and no dedicated ISO button for quick adjustments. The bare-bones design is bound to cause gripes with those who end up buying the body, but it's important to consider that once beginners outgrow the R100's capabilities, they can easily upgrade to a higher-tier RF mount camera and reuse the lenses they already spent money on.

The Canon EOS R100 is expected to land on June 27, but pre-orders are open already at B&H Photo.

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