Canon EOS M100, we have tested it

Canon EOS M100, we have tested it

The universe of mirrorless cameras is still in its infancy. The benefits they offer compared to SLRs in the professional field are even lower. But no understanding of photography is aware that the mirrorless are the future . That's why companies that have dominated the digital snapshot industry so far are building better and better teams with this technology.

This is the case with Canon, which continues to make good progress with mirrorless cameras while developing powerful SLR equipment , such as its new Canon EOS 6D Mark II. Thus, in recent months it has presented the Canon EOS M6. A camera that, according to the Japanese, combines the performance of a SLR with the portability of a compact. But today we want to tell you about a lower mirrorless model , the Canon EOS M100, the most basic of the M range.

With it, Canon seeks to bring mirrorless technology closer to everyone. It is a lightweight and small model that offers outstanding performance and immense image quality . According to the Japanese company, it is the perfect camera for those looking to go one step beyond the Smartphone.

After several weeks in our hands, we can confirm that it is a very correct camera, easy to use and transport. It offers multiple options for taking snapshots and an image definition similar to the low-end of the SLR. That is, an almost professional quality but with the simplicity of a compact . In addition, by allowing the lens to be changed, the user will be able to increase the quality of their photographs in the future by fitting higher-performance lenses.

Canon EOS M100 datasheet

Sensor24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS
Image processorDIGIC 7
objectiveInterchangeable EF-M, EF and EF-S lenses via adapter
FocusDual Pixel CMOS AF
ISO sensitivityISO 100-25,600
Continuous shooting4 fps and up to 6 fps with fixed focus
ViewfinderNot
screen3-inch, tactile and articulated
VideoUp to Full HD 1080 / 60p
ConnectivityWiFi, NFC, Bluetooth
Battery-
StorageSD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS Speed ​​Class 1 compliant)
OthersAvailable in black and white
AvailabilityOctober 2017
Price630 euros with EF-M 15-45mm f / 3.5-6.3 IS STM lens

Layout and controls

The Canon EOS M100 is a very small, light and elegant camera. And its ergonomics are correct, since it adapts easily to the user's hand . Thus, we can hold it with one hand, which is also helped by its low weight. Meanwhile, with the other, we can adjust the zoom or focus of the lens.

Its housing is made of hard plastic and has a solid finish that gives a great feeling of resistance . On the front of its body we find the lens mount, the EOS brand and signature. This refers to the photographic system created by Canon, present in most of its cameras. We also find here the button that allows you to release the lens when we want to remove it.

The back is made up of some of the main buttons and a 180º folding touch screen . Here you can find the keys for the menu, viewing photos, deleting images and wireless connections. In addition, we also find shortcuts to access the quality of the snapshots, the flash and the shutter speed and aperture settings, although these can only be used if we shoot in manual mode. When folding the screen completely, we find some technical specifications and the serial number. This is especially important in order to access certain Canon online services.

Images of the Canon EOS M100

On the top edge are the other camera buttons. The shooting has two sections. The first and softer for autofocus, and the second, more resistant, for shooting. Around it there is a roulette wheel that has several functions, including moving the photographs taken. To the right of this is the button to record videos. On the left are the power button of the equipment and the roulette wheel to select manual, automatic and automatic video mode . And at the extreme left is the flash, which is folded inside the camera body. To display it, you have to activate a button located on the left edge.

The HDMI connection and the SD card slot are also located on this left side . To open both it is necessary to fold down the screen, which when it is in place also works as a safety cover. Finally, on the lower edge is the thread to place the tripod shoe. In addition to the slot for inserting the rechargeable Li-ion battery LP-E12.

Canon EOS M100, we have tested it 1

Otherwise, the Canon EOS M100 can be found in gray, black and white . And in the factory package it comes with a base cover, in our brown imitation leather case. However, the Japanese company has launched a wide variety of these cases. So that your users can customize their equipment the way they want.

Base cover

Target and screen

The Canon EOS M100 can be purchased without lenses, only with an angle (short zoom) or with an angle and a tele (long zoom). In our case we have only tested the angular lens, a Canon EF-M 15-45mm f / 3.5-6.3 It is a correct lens, unpretentious and not very bright. However, it offers good quality combined with the body of this camera and will be more than enough for amateurs and those new to the world of photography.

camera

The zoom range of this lens allows you to cover large spaces. This makes it very suitable for landscape photography . On the other hand, closing it will allow you to take good portraits without getting too close to those photographed, among other functions. As a curiosity, this lens includes the retractable system, which reduces its length to a minimum at rest.

Otherwise, this lens has an optical stabilizer to reduce the effects of camera shake . As well as STM technology, which ensures a smooth and silent focus when recording video.

The screen, for its part, is one of the fundamental elements of the body. Since this camera does not have an optical viewfinder. It is a 3-inch touchscreen LCD panel that occupies almost the entire front of the camera. It has a resolution of 1,040,000 pixels around and offers great sharpness, resolution and brightness.

screen

Focus and shoot

The Canon EOS M100 features a 49-zone Dual Pixel CMOS focusing system via automatic camera selection. While in manual mode it has 9 focus points. It is quite fast for a camera of its characteristics, and it works well in most situations. In addition, it is completely silent.

On the other hand, this camera has three autofocus modes . Face + Tracking, which automatically recognizes and tracks faces and subjects. Soft AF zone, where the area that we want in focus is selected manually or automatically. And 1-point AF, which is fully manual focus, either via the touch screen or the buttons.

In terms of shooting modes, the Canon EOS M100 has several options, both manual and automatic. In the former we can find fully manual exposure, with priority to aperture, shutter or programmed AE. As in any SLR camera. However, unlike these, manual shooting becomes more complex, since the arrangement of its buttons is not designed to be able to change values ​​such as the aperture of the diaphragm, ISO sensitivity or shutter speed quickly. To do this you have to use the touch screen or jump from one to the other by using a single button. This, added to the lack of an optical viewfinder, is the great difference with respect to professional equipment.

And it is that this camera is designed for amateurs and people who are new to photography. So it is good that it brings the manual mode for those who want to start testing it. But its optimal use is with one of the automatic modes . This is where this mirrorless model shines. Well, we find options for most situations. From portraits to landscapes, to sports photography, food photography or HDR. It even brings a grainy black and white option for lovers of vintage snapshots .

Black and white

In this sense, the camera itself also allows you to edit the photos without having to transfer them to the computer or mobile device . Thus, you can either shoot directly with the desired effect or later test several of them on the same image. In this editor you can choose the degree of intensity of the desired retouch, as in any program. Also, the Canon EOS M100 allows to transform the images from RAW to JPEG, in case the user has difficulties to do so on the PC. We have tested the grainy black and white effect, with a very pleasant result. Well, they really seem like snapshots from another era. And the RAW - JPEG conversion, which is not as good as it should be, because it makes the photo lose a lot of quality.

Although in most modes its performance is optimal, in others it is somewhat fair. This is the case in sports mode, in which the burst shooting speed is low , 4 frames per second with Servo AF, and 6.1 in single-frame AF, especially if we shoot in RAW. So it is clear that it is not for action photography, which requires more complex equipment.

Image quality

The Canon EOS M100 has a 24.2 effective pixel CMOS sensor. Which, combined with a DIGIC 7 image processor, offers pretty good quality in most situations . Although, as is usual in these teams, it suffers especially in low light conditions. The noise begins to be evident from a sensitivity of 5,000 ISO.

However, this is a very wide margin for a camera of these characteristics. And the lack of light can be corrected with its powerful flash. Of course, only if the photographed scene is close to our artificial light source. Otherwise, in correct lighting situations, it offers very sharp images, with very faithful colors and high dynamic range, even with high contrasts .

In this sense, the Canon EOS M100 has surprised us very positively. Well, we were used to dealing with professional SLR cameras. And in terms of sharpness, definition and color fidelity, it has nothing to envy of low-end SLR equipment .

Gallery of images taken with the Canon EOS M100

Although it is a camera designed for amateurs, Canon has included the RAW image format . An increasingly widespread option, as even the most recent mobiles include it. This type of file stores much more information about the photo, so the snapshot will be of higher quality. It also gives more options when editing them and does not lose properties after the editing process. But, yes, it weighs considerably more than JPEG. Since while it has a size of 5-6 Mb, RAW images reach 25 Mb. It also includes the option to record images in both formats.

As for video, the Canon EOS M100 is capable of recording in Full HD 1080p resolution at 60fps . The maximum recording duration is 29 minutes and 59 seconds, with a maximum size of 4 GB.

Connectivity and autonomy

How could it be otherwise, this camera hits the market with the latest in connectivity. And it is that Canon are aware of the immense rival they face with mobile phones. That allow you to take the photo and upload it to any social network in a matter of seconds. That is why the Japanese company has provided this equipment with WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC connections. This allows us to synchronize it with our mobile devices to transmit the images automatically . As well as controlling the camera remotely with our Smartphone.

In terms of autonomy, Canon ensures that its lithium-ion battery reaches 295 shots . Something that corresponds a lot to our tests, which even beat that mark. And is that it has endured several marathon days of photographs and viewing without having to reload. As for the video, it lasts about 125 minutes of recording, approximately.

Canyon

However, you can also activate the Eco Mode, with which the Japanese company ensures that up to 410 snapshots can be taken. Whether this mode is activated or not, the truth is that the Canon EOS M100 has a fairly optimized battery saving system . Factory settings cause the screen to turn off after a few seconds of inactivity. While the equipment turns off completely after as many seconds. This, which lengthens its autonomy considerably, can be annoying if we are taking photos at short intervals. To do this, we can change this setting and extend the times when it automatically turns off by up to 10 minutes.

The most important thing is that if you want to take photos throughout the day you will not need another additional battery . Since it endures a day of intense use, and even more if we activate the Eco Mode.

Price and availability

The Canon EOS M100 is available for 630 euros with the EF-M 15-45mm f / 3.5-6.3 IS STM lens in Spain. This is the basic pack, but it can also be purchased with an additional lens, the EF-M 55-200mm f / 4.5-6.3 IS STM, for 880 euros. And the body only for 500 euros. Regarding its availability, it can already be purchased in the main electronic stores, as well as on the Canon website.

Conclusions

Canon continues to make the right steps in its range of mirrorless cameras. If with its previous model, the Canon EOS M10, it was already pointing out ways in the sector, with this new creation it reveals that it has taken mirrorless very seriously and that it begins to increase its quality and performance without neglecting its star products. Which, undoubtedly so far, are SLRs.

As we have already discussed throughout the review, the Canon EOS M100 is a very competent camera. It is a low-end model designed for amateurs, so we cannot expect professional performance and results from it. However, in his field, which is that of amateur photography, he operates with great ease. And it offers great features for anyone who makes the leap from mobile to camera .

Canon EOS M100, we have tested it 2

The shooting modes also ensure the satisfaction of fans, since they will achieve quality photos without effort . Options like HDR, portrait, or grainy black and white represent a quantum leap from what most mobile devices offer.

But the Japanese do not forget the restless user, the one who wants to go further and learn photography. For them it includes a manual mode . Although, personally, I think it is quite uncomfortable, because you have to adjust the parameters on the touch screen or through a single button. So, unlike professional cameras, it does not adapt to the arrangement of the hand. Furthermore, for me the absence of an optical viewfinder in a device of these characteristics is an important handicap.

But, beyond these personal considerations, the truth is that we are in front of a good camera. Being aware that it is aimed at an amateur audience, its characteristics are optimal. It is easy to use, small, light, with many shooting options and capture, wireless connections that greatly facilitate the transmission of files and a large autonomy . And, most importantly, it makes great pictures .