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I've mentioned this in other R100 threads, but I'll give a summary here.
Bottom Line: Avoid, with prejudice.
Why? Simple. It's a really poor camera, in an ocean of very acceptable and excellent options.
You shouldn't feel the need to compromise this much in 2025. There's no articulating screen. There's no touch screen. And the lack of adequate physical controls (only 1 wheel) means changing basic settings is hidden inside menus. These aren't extraordinary features to ask for in 2025 -- they're basics. This camera cuts corners.
For an entry-level camera, you have to ask, who are the general target audiences? Those upgrading from using a mobile phone and those who want to learn the basics of photography. And when it feels so clunky and awful....with worse usability than a mobile...with settings hidden in menus instead of being openly exposed, it fundamentally fails both of these primary audiences.
Anyone coming from a mobile is going to instantly say "oh, I miss such-and-such from my mobile"...and summarily go back to their mobile, since it's pocketable, familiar, and easier to use. Anyone learning photography is going to get annoyed at how tedious it is to change an exposure setting like aperture or shutter speed or ISO....and just leave it on full automatic mode. You're not learning anything there.
It's a camera solely created to hit a price point. I've witnessed this personally in camera shops: the R100's lapses are used to encourage prospective buyers to skip it and upgrade to the next model.
The quality of the camera and lenses are pedestrian...and I'm being kind. It's entry-level consumer gear, so keep your expectations low. (Which being fully honest, it HAS IMPROVED over the last few decades...but entry level gear is still nothing to write home about).
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Those who acknowledge this with both eyes wide open...but still might have a use case for it, proceed knowingly full well of what you're getting.
Pros: I'll be fair and give it praise where it's due: it's tiny and light. Not the smallest or lightest Canon camera ever, but it's the best you'll find on their RF-mount. Granted, that weight comes from being nearly all plastic...so durability is out the window. But you know what's even smaller? A cell phone.
I own other RF-mount bodies and lenses...and I would not even buy this as an "emergency spare", at any price ...including free. (it's under-performing junk that would only take up valuable weight and space in my bag - I'd get the R50 as the lowest-performing option). I think that speaks volumes.
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Alternatives for Mirrorless: It'll be hard to get a modern mirrorless body with TWO general purpose consumer-grade lenses for close to this. But for a little bit more, you'll blow this piece of junk out of the water.
I'd argue that a $450 R50 + $350 18-150mm would fly circles around this, but you're doubling the cost. Same with the "Refurbished EOS R10 RF-S18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Kit" for $950 (part of this same sale). That's even better.
In an entirely different tier-class for photography, you have the R7 and the full-frame R8 -- these options will run you over a grand apiece. But they are the top-end APS-C....and surprisingly excellent hits-way-above-its-weight-class full-frame R8.
I'd argue that an older Olympus E-M1 Mark II for $400 + Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens $400 (24-80mm full-frame equivalent) would be DASHINGLY amazing....giving you pro-tier quality on a flagship device (albeit on an older piece of hardware). The argument is you may not have as much room to "grow" in the Olympus/OM-System ecosystem as you would in Canon....but let's be honest, you're not growing with this R100 "deal". When you quickly outgrow it, you'll be disposing of it.
If you can double your lens budget to $800, consider the Olympus 12-100 f/4 IS PRO...which is a full-frame equivalent of 24-200mm. A great superzoom. Giving you both lens and body stabilization at a very reasonable constant f/4. A "one body, one lens" mindset.
-----
For those just starting out who want to solely learn the basics of photography -- you have a LOT of options to choose from.
Canon 5D classic (<$150). Nikon D300 (<$100). Even Canon's ancient yet still really dang good pro-tier 1Ds Mark III (<$450....used to be $8,000 new in 2007. It has 21mp, sensor cleaning, and lens profiles...all modern features in a bullet-proof yet hefty body).
Get any one of those, slap on a nifty fifty for sub-$100, and you'll have a splendid time learning the basics.
And you'll come in far under that arbitrary $400 budget (even factoring in other mandatory things like neckstrap/wriststrap, memory card, card reader, etc). Play it smart, and you might be able to toss in an older decent tripod (Manfrotto 3000 series) or an older zoom (EF 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 II goes for roughly $100) and still come in under $400.
It might not have all the modern frills, but it's also no compromise. You'll be using excellent professional grade gear...not flimsy plastic consumer made-as-cheaply-as-possible junk. All at prices that strongly compete with this so-called "deal".
-----
If you're in the market for video...
Consider a Canon R50v for roughly $650 + any number of different manual lenses + a free copy of DaVinci Resolve + youtube videos on how to use it. Yes, it's more money than this "deal", but this "deal" was a very poor excuse for video. You'd get better results from your mobile. Seriously.
Also a hidden video gem -- the aforementioned Olympus E-M1 Mark II. Although nothing to write home about on the surface, it provides some amazingly good In-Body-Image-Stabilization (IBIS). You can get walking shots that are entirely usable -- a feat that even modern cameras like the R50v (and R7 and R8 and even the R5) fail to deliver.
I am a Canon user and this is a camera that does not worth the price in 2025. I recommend pay more and get the R50. That one you can get it on sale from Canon refurbished for $479 plus taxes with the kit lens.
Advantages of the R50: Touch screen, screen can flip so you can see yourself while recording. The R50 has a processor called DIGIC X which is more andvanced than the one in R100. More ISO range. Higher shots per second to capture faster action.
Thanks for the above input regarding R100 vs R50. As a result, I went with the refurb R50 kit lens combo for $499 that is also on sale. I plan to use it for small projects as I already have a whole Sony system setup (a6300 and a7m3 along with a bunch of aps-c and FF lenses). new third party support for RF-S mount lens (as well as existing first party RF lenses) gives me an option to continue down that path if I choose in the future
Thanks for the above input regarding R100 vs R50. As a result, I went with the refurb R50 kit lens combo for $499 that is also on sale. I plan to use it for small projects as I already have a whole Sony system setup (a6300 and a7m3 along with a bunch of aps-c and FF lenses). new third party support for RF-S mount lens (as well as existing first party RF lenses) gives me an option to continue down that path if I choose in the future
I'm new to the camera world... Why have multiple cameras in the same general class? Curious as I'm deep diving into the subject. I'm trying to decide on my first and was leaning to the r100 for the entry price but now think the r50 or a used a6100 or a6400. There's a lot of options.
I'm new to the camera world... Why have multiple cameras in the same general class? Curious as I'm deep diving into the subject. I'm trying to decide on my first and was leaning to the r100 for the entry price but now think the r50 or a used a6100 or a6400. There's a lot of options.
APS-C vs Full frame are different classes of sensor size and the concomitant lenses (and different prices as well). But each camera serves different purposes. APSC bodies are compact and smaller/lighter lenses, which can be beneficial for traveling. For me, there is software that is only compatible with some of the newer Sony bodies, but has much greater support for canon. Hence, I picked up this Canon camera, but didn't want to invest a lot of money into it. I still primarily plan to stick to Sony as I've invested in a ton of E mount lenses. Canon seems to be doing a lot of great stuff with their new mirror less system. Had I not already invested in Sony over the past 10 years (and had Canon developed mirrorless sooner rather than continue with DSLR) , I might have gone that direction If starting out, pick a system and stick with it. You'll keep the lenses longer than you'll keep camera bodies. At the same, time from the above comments and various professional reviews the R100 seems like a dead-end, throwaway camera. Realize that and accept that or maybe pick something that gives you more flexibility or a future upgrade path .
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I'm new to the camera world... Why have multiple cameras in the same general class? Curious as I'm deep diving into the subject. I'm trying to decide on my first and was leaning to the r100 for the entry price but now think the r50 or a used a6100 or a6400. There's a lot of options.
You're right. There ARE a lot of options. And if you include the last gen or even two generations, that number even grows bigger. And phew, there's a monstrous amount of overlap between features, pricing, etc. There's going to be a boatload of cameras -- current and otherwise -- you can lump into a pile and say "except for a feature here or there, these are all roughly the same in terms of pricing and performance".
So why? Variety. Being able to sell options to a market that's very crowded. Generally once they hook someone into their brand, it takes a lot for someone to jump ship to another brand.
Why is there a junky R100 when a jump to the very capable R50 is suggested? Simple. Upselling. That R50 probably doesn't cost them that much more to make, so they get better margins on it. Make the R100 so horrible in comparison, the next step up is a "great value". Nothing is by accident here -- and like everything in life, it's all about money.
-----
You might find this surprising, but there's fewer lower-tier cameras today than there were around a decade ago. Prices are increasing, profit margins are shrinking -- so instead of having half a dozen lower-tier cameras....there's just one or two now in each brand, with the intent to push to a mid-tier camera.
(Canon used to have two or three different lower-end tiers of DSLRs...plus a mirrorless line (EF-M mount..with two or three tiers in that)....plus compact point and shoots....plus mid-sized point and shoots.....plus larger point and shoots with larger zoom lenses....then maybe a weird novelty camera or two.....then a line of consumer video cameras/camcorders (all with their own tiers)....now it's the R100, R50, R50v, R10...with like one or two point and shoots/other cameras to service the low end. In short, there are far fewer models now than there has been in recent times).
Because it takes a lot of R&D for each model, and if the profits are less for a low-tier camera, you need to make up for it in volume of sales. And the opposite is happening, since everyone is "happy" with their mobile phone's camera.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank LavenderPickle7682
Bottom Line: Avoid, with prejudice.
Why? Simple. It's a really poor camera, in an ocean of very acceptable and excellent options.
You shouldn't feel the need to compromise this much in 2025. There's no articulating screen. There's no touch screen. And the lack of adequate physical controls (only 1 wheel) means changing basic settings is hidden inside menus. These aren't extraordinary features to ask for in 2025 -- they're basics. This camera cuts corners.
For an entry-level camera, you have to ask, who are the general target audiences? Those upgrading from using a mobile phone and those who want to learn the basics of photography. And when it feels so clunky and awful....with worse usability than a mobile...with settings hidden in menus instead of being openly exposed, it fundamentally fails both of these primary audiences.
Anyone coming from a mobile is going to instantly say "oh, I miss such-and-such from my mobile"...and summarily go back to their mobile, since it's pocketable, familiar, and easier to use. Anyone learning photography is going to get annoyed at how tedious it is to change an exposure setting like aperture or shutter speed or ISO....and just leave it on full automatic mode. You're not learning anything there.
It's a camera solely created to hit a price point. I've witnessed this personally in camera shops: the R100's lapses are used to encourage prospective buyers to skip it and upgrade to the next model.
The quality of the camera and lenses are pedestrian...and I'm being kind. It's entry-level consumer gear, so keep your expectations low. (Which being fully honest, it HAS IMPROVED over the last few decades...but entry level gear is still nothing to write home about).
-----
Those who acknowledge this with both eyes wide open...but still might have a use case for it, proceed knowingly full well of what you're getting.
Pros: I'll be fair and give it praise where it's due: it's tiny and light. Not the smallest or lightest Canon camera ever, but it's the best you'll find on their RF-mount. Granted, that weight comes from being nearly all plastic...so durability is out the window. But you know what's even smaller? A cell phone.
I own other RF-mount bodies and lenses...and I would not even buy this as an "emergency spare", at any price ...including free. (it's under-performing junk that would only take up valuable weight and space in my bag - I'd get the R50 as the lowest-performing option). I think that speaks volumes.
-----
Alternatives for Mirrorless: It'll be hard to get a modern mirrorless body with TWO general purpose consumer-grade lenses for close to this. But for a little bit more, you'll blow this piece of junk out of the water.
I'd argue that a $450 R50 + $350 18-150mm would fly circles around this, but you're doubling the cost. Same with the "Refurbished EOS R10 RF-S18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Kit" for $950 (part of this same sale). That's even better.
In an entirely different tier-class for photography, you have the R7 and the full-frame R8 -- these options will run you over a grand apiece. But they are the top-end APS-C....and surprisingly excellent hits-way-above-its-weight-class full-frame R8.
I'd argue that an older Olympus E-M1 Mark II for $400 + Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens $400 (24-80mm full-frame equivalent) would be DASHINGLY amazing....giving you pro-tier quality on a flagship device (albeit on an older piece of hardware). The argument is you may not have as much room to "grow" in the Olympus/OM-System ecosystem as you would in Canon....but let's be honest, you're not growing with this R100 "deal". When you quickly outgrow it, you'll be disposing of it.
If you can double your lens budget to $800, consider the Olympus 12-100 f/4 IS PRO...which is a full-frame equivalent of 24-200mm. A great superzoom. Giving you both lens and body stabilization at a very reasonable constant f/4. A "one body, one lens" mindset.
-----
For those just starting out who want to solely learn the basics of photography -- you have a LOT of options to choose from.
Canon 5D classic (<$150). Nikon D300 (<$100). Even Canon's ancient yet still really dang good pro-tier 1Ds Mark III (<$450....used to be $8,000 new in 2007. It has 21mp, sensor cleaning, and lens profiles...all modern features in a bullet-proof yet hefty body).
Get any one of those, slap on a nifty fifty for sub-$100, and you'll have a splendid time learning the basics.
And you'll come in far under that arbitrary $400 budget (even factoring in other mandatory things like neckstrap/wriststrap, memory card, card reader, etc). Play it smart, and you might be able to toss in an older decent tripod (Manfrotto 3000 series) or an older zoom (EF 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 II goes for roughly $100) and still come in under $400.
It might not have all the modern frills, but it's also no compromise. You'll be using excellent professional grade gear...not flimsy plastic consumer made-as-cheaply-as-possible junk. All at prices that strongly compete with this so-called "deal".
-----
If you're in the market for video...
Consider a Canon R50v for roughly $650 + any number of different manual lenses + a free copy of DaVinci Resolve + youtube videos on how to use it. Yes, it's more money than this "deal", but this "deal" was a very poor excuse for video. You'd get better results from your mobile. Seriously.
Also a hidden video gem -- the aforementioned Olympus E-M1 Mark II. Although nothing to write home about on the surface, it provides some amazingly good In-Body-Image-Stabilization (IBIS). You can get walking shots that are entirely usable -- a feat that even modern cameras like the R50v (and R7 and R8 and even the R5) fail to deliver.
Advantages of the R50: Touch screen, screen can flip so you can see yourself while recording. The R50 has a processor called DIGIC X which is more andvanced than the one in R100. More ISO range. Higher shots per second to capture faster action.
SIngle kit lens combo is still in stock for $329: https://www.usa.canon.c
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So why? Variety. Being able to sell options to a market that's very crowded. Generally once they hook someone into their brand, it takes a lot for someone to jump ship to another brand.
Why is there a junky R100 when a jump to the very capable R50 is suggested? Simple. Upselling. That R50 probably doesn't cost them that much more to make, so they get better margins on it. Make the R100 so horrible in comparison, the next step up is a "great value". Nothing is by accident here -- and like everything in life, it's all about money.
-----
You might find this surprising, but there's fewer lower-tier cameras today than there were around a decade ago. Prices are increasing, profit margins are shrinking -- so instead of having half a dozen lower-tier cameras....there's just one or two now in each brand, with the intent to push to a mid-tier camera.
(Canon used to have two or three different lower-end tiers of DSLRs...plus a mirrorless line (EF-M mount..with two or three tiers in that)....plus compact point and shoots....plus mid-sized point and shoots.....plus larger point and shoots with larger zoom lenses....then maybe a weird novelty camera or two.....then a line of consumer video cameras/camcorders (all with their own tiers)....now it's the R100, R50, R50v, R10...with like one or two point and shoots/other cameras to service the low end. In short, there are far fewer models now than there has been in recent times).
Because it takes a lot of R&D for each model, and if the profits are less for a low-tier camera, you need to make up for it in volume of sales. And the opposite is happening, since everyone is "happy" with their mobile phone's camera.
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