Canon EOS Rebel T100
18MP APS-C, 3 FPS, ISO 12,800, 1,080/30p
World's Least Expensive DLSR, Ever!
World's Lightest Current DSLR
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
Canon EOS Rebel T100 (body weighs 15.4 oz./436 g with battery and included SD card; sells for $379 with included EF-s 18-55mm III lens as shown). bigger. I got mine at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you take the chance of getting it elsewhere. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used camera — and my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new camera. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
January 2023 Better Pictures Canon Reviews Canon Lenses Mirrorless Canon Flash All Reviews
Canon EOS Rebel T100. bigger.
Canon EOS Rebel T100. bigger.
Sample Images top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
(more at High ISOs and Lens Corrections)
These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are all shot hand-held as NORMAL (stairstep icon) JPGs; no tripods, FINE (quarter circle) JPGs or RAW CR3 files were used or needed.
House, 9:34 AM, 04 December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 39mm at f/11 at 1/320 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 15.4), as shot. bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 4 MB JPG file.
Spanish Flag, 11:07 AM, 04 December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 44mm at f/14 at 1/400 at Auto ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 16¼), Radiant Photo Software, perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012). bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 7 MB JPG file.
Fruits, 11:10 AM, 04 December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 47mm at f/10 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100, 0.3 stops exposure compensation (LV 14.6), as shot. bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 3.7 MB JPG file.
Leaves, 11:36 AM, 04 December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 55mm at f/8 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 100, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 13.6). bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 5 MB JPG file.
Gull at Sunset, 4:32 PM, 05 December 2022. Cropped from Canon T100, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II at 400mm at f/9 handheld at 1/200 at Auto ISO 800, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 11.0), Radiant Photo Software. bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 3.3 MB JPG file.
For this shot I popped-up the built-in flash, which helps the gull pop-out from the background and added the catchlight in the gull's eye. Fill flash is important.
The Moon, 4:32 PM, 05 December 2022. Cropped from Canon T100, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II at 400mm wide-open at f/5.6 hand-held at 1/640 of a second at Auto ISO 320, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 12.7), Radiant Photo Software. bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 1.9 MB JPG file.
18MP is plenty of resolution to crop sharp images. Here's the uncropped image:
Uncropped image. bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 1.9 MB JPG file.
Beach Sunset Afterglow, 5:06 PM, December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 18mm at f/3.5 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 400 (LV 6.6, Radiant Photo Software, distortion correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012). bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 3.5 MB JPG file.
Brixton by Moonlight, 5:11 PM, 05 December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 23mm at f/3.5 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 3,200 (LV 3.6), Radiant Photo Software, perspective and distortion correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012). bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 3.4 MB JPG file.
Denny's, 5:21 PM, 05 December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 18mm wide-open at f/3.5 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 2,000 (LV 4.3), Radiant Photo Software, perspective and distortion correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012). bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 3.7 MB JPG file.
Shell Station, 5:23 PM, December 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 21mm at f/3.5 at 1/30 at Auto ISO 250 (LV 7.3), Radiant Photo Software, perspective and distortion correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012). bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 2.4 MB JPG file.
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
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This Canon T100 (called the 4000D in Europe and the 3000D in Japan) is the least expensive interchangeable-lens digital camera ever created.
The T100 is a great value for the money, however it's so inexpensive that it lacks almost every advanced feature that experienced pro photographers take for granted on cameras that cost many times more. The technical quality of T100 photos can be a little worse than those from far more expensive cameras, but so what: the pictures look great, even handheld in the dark. If you want to be picky, go ahead and pay four times as much for a state-of-the-art 90D or five times as much for an EOS R7 — but those prices don't include a lens or SD card as the T100 does — and the pictures are pretty much the same.
Because it's so inexpensive the T100 is inferior in almost every laboratory metric to cameras that cost many times more, but in actual shooting (and for normal people, not laboratories), makes the same pictures. When you consider the price, all is forgiven.
The T100's lack of fancy features and resulting technical image quality reminds me in many ways of the best cameras from 15 years ago, but not in a good way. Remember also that the best cameras from 15 years ago cost ten times what the T100 does.
The T100 is the perfect camera for organizations, governments, churches and schools. If you're outfitting a photo class or getting a camera for mug shots, this is the camera. For just a fraction of the cost of anything else you get 90% to 100% of the picture quality, and 100% of the features you need to teach photography and shoot every kind of photo. Let's face it, none of us are Ansel Adams, so why pay four times as much for a camera to get the same photos — and those other cameras don't include a lens, flash and SD card as does the T100.
The T100 is perfect for photo classes, restaurant and building code compliance and just about everything else, especially because it has a built-in flash and focuses close. If you know what you're doing it takes great pictures, and if you don't, still takes the same photos as more expensive cameras. Save your money and enjoy!
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Built-in-Flash! bigger.
New intro top
Least expensive mainstream interchangeable-lens digital camera ever created.
Includes a lens I've never seen sold any other way, the EF-s 18-55mm III.
Good intro top
Least expensive DSLR ever created, and the T100's price includes an 18-55mm lens and a nice memory card!
Excellent ergonomics: feels great in hand, it's easy to setup, easy to carry everywhere and fun to shoot. It's so more fun and comfortable to shoot than anything from Sony or Fuji.
Ultra light, like a toy, which makes it easy to carry all day and actually take it out and shoot it rather than leave it back at home or the hotel.
All shooting controls are on the right side of the camera, making one-handed shooting easy.
Built-in flash.
1/200 flash sync speed, better than most cheap cameras.
Live-view shooting.
Live RGB histogram in Live View and on playback.
Excellent exposure accuracy.
Canon's usual excellent color rendition and Auto White Balance, which along with exposure accuracy are the most important things that make pictures look great.
Auto White Balance has a second additional "preserve white" option.
Excellent battery life, especially compared to mirrorless.
Exposure time counts-up on rear LCD during Bulb exposures, something few other cameras do. This is important for making long exposures, which are usually made in the dark!
HD video.
Wi-Fi.
USB output, but it's the old-style mini-B USB.
HDMI output (mini-C).
Comes with a short printed version of the manual on glossy paper.
AF/MF switch on included lens.
Quality made in Taiwan. Even at this price Canon has the respect not to dump it to Thailand or China.
100% U.S.A.-based high-quality technical support at (800) OK-CANON.
Bad intro top
Images look like they're from a DSLR from 2005, which isn't that bad.
Just like many Canon cameras 20 years ago, while autofocus almost always locks and indicates FOCUS OK, a small percentage (1%) of photos simply aren't in focus so that shot is wasted.
No automatic lens corrections for lateral color or anything other than vignetting, so often there can be color fringes in the corners if you're looking closely.
Included lens lacks stabilization.
Tiny viewfinder.
Button markings aren't on the buttons, but marked next to them. The buttons are mostly flat, so it's hard to find where to press the buttons in anything except direct sunlight. Otherwise it almost always takes some fumbling around to find things, like the critical PLAY or MENU buttons.
Small rear LCD. It's like shooting film: you can't really see what you shot until you get home and look at the images on your computer.
Missing intro top
No automatic lens corrections for lateral color or anything other than vignetting, so often there can be slight color fringes in the corners if you're looking closely.
Kit lens lacks stabilization, and has only a six-blade diaphragm.
No viewfinder diopter adjustment. This works great for me because I don't wear glasses and it never gets reset, but bad for eyeglass wearers who are used to every other camera today that lets us set the finder to match our prescription. You may need E-series Adjustment lenses if you wear glasses.
No USB charging; you have to carry and use the included external charger.
No ultrasonic sensor cleaner.
No power switch; OFF is simply one of the many options on the top mode dial.
No deeper detent at the OFF setting of the top mode dial, so it's easy to get knocked to ON. No big deal; the power doesn't drain if left ON.
No battery percentage meter, just a 3-segment battery icon.
No Kelvin white balance settings, just the usual icons and manual white or gray card settings.
No electronic level.
No automatic brightness control for rear LCD.
No slowest shutter speed adjustment in Auto ISO. It always sets automatically based on focal length, and its selection cannot be shifted.
Square, 16:9 and 4:3 crops are available only with Live View shooting, not with viewfinder shooting. These options have to be set in the menu system, which isn't as convenient for actual shooting as being able to assign this function to a button.
No C1, C2 or C3 memory presets on the mode dial (or anywhere else).
No in-camera Image Stabilization — but no good DSLR has built-in stabilization. Of course it works flawlessly with Canon's stabilized lenses.
No diagonal scrolling in zoomed playback: left/right or up/down only.
No Bluetooth.
No ability to save or recall camera settings to or from a card.
No timed manual exposures longer than 30 seconds. You have to use Bulb instead. Even the first Nikon F5 of 1996 gave manual exposures out to 30 minutes.
Like most cameras, no illuminated buttons.
No second card slot.
Not threaded to use a standard threaded cable release.
No GPS.
No auto popup for the built-in flash; you always need to flip it up manually (as I prefer).
Manual ISOs set in full-stops only, as I prefer it. To get third-stop ISOs you need to use Auto ISO (as I do).
No flicker avoidance.
In-finder data displays do not rotate with the camera. No DSLR does this.
Menus don't rotate when held vertically (No DSLR does this).
No advance mode lever.
No shutter speed dial.
No ISO dial.
No pulled ISOs below ISO 100.
No "Delete Burst" option during playback.
Fixed LCD screen (doesn't swivel).
No touch screen.
Playback images don't rotate as you rotate the camera (as iPhones do).
Files are always prefixed IMG_; you can't reprogram them to KEN_, for instance.
No pentaprism; finder uses an ultralight pentamirror instead to save weight.
No Mic-in jack.
No headphone jack.
Canon EOS Rebel T100. bigger.
Lens Compatibility top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Canon EOS Rebel T100 (4000D). bigger.
The T100 works flawlessly with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses made since 1987.
I tried my oldest and craziest Canon lenses to try to stump my T100, and even with my 1990 EF 50mm f/1.0L Ultrasonic, 1992 EF 20mm f/2.8 USM, and 1993 EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus it worked flawlessly with every feature like IS and every kind of focus motor.
EF-M lenses won't mount (they're for Canon's mirrorless APS-C cameras), nor will Canon's RF lenses, which are for Canon's full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Specifications top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Image Sensor specifications top
18 MP.
14.9 × 22.3 mm.
3:2 aspect ratio.
1.61 × crop factor.
No ultrasonic cleaner.
Image Sizes specifications top
5,184 × 3,456 pixels native (L, 17.9 MP, 17,915,904 pixels).
3,456 × 2,304 pixels native (M, 8 MP).
2,592 × 1,728 pixels native (S1, 4.5 MP).
1,920 × 1,280 pixels native (S2, 2.5 MP).
720 × 480 pixels native (S3, 0.35 MP).
Cropped Aspect Ratios
Square, 4:3 and 16:9 crops from the above, but only in Live View shooting.
Still Formats specifications top
JPG and/or raw.
sRGB and Adobe RGB.
ISO specifications top
ISO 100 ～ 6,400.
To ISO 12,800 (H) if set for still shots.
Manually selectable in full stops only.
Auto ISO specifications top
Selects in third stops.
Adjustable for high limits from ISO 400 to ISO 6400 in full stops.
Auto ISO minimum shutter speeds are not adjustable; they track the zoom setting and are not shiftable.
White Balance specifications top
AWB (Ambience priority, White priority), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom for white/gray card.
No direct Kelvin setting.
±9 steps amber/blue and green/magenta.
WB bracketing.
Video specifications top
30 minutes or 4 GB longest take length.
File Format
.MOV holding H.264 IPB video and LPCM audio.
Frame Sizes and Rates
1920 x 1080 at 29.97, 25 or 23.976 FPS.
1280 x 720 at 59.94 or 50 FPS.
640 x 480 at 29.97 or 25 FPS.
Audio specifications top
Recorded only along with video.
Mono microphone and mono speaker built in.
No Mic-in jack.
No headphone jack.
Autofocus specifications top
9 points phase-detect.
Works as slow as f/5.6 with the center sensor.
LV 0 ~ 18 center, LV 1 ~ 18 other points.
Light Meter specifications top
63 zones, focus-point linked evaluative.
10% central.
Center-weighted.
LV 1 ~ 20 in evaluative.
Finder specifications top
95% coverage pentamirror.
0.45 × magnification with standard 28mm lens.
(0.80 × magnification with 50mm telephoto lens.)
22.4º apparent angle.
21 mm eyepoint.
Fixed at -1 diopters.
No dioptometric adjustment, buy E-series Adjustment lenses to change this.
Live View specifications top
29.97 FPS.
Contrast AF.
315 zone evaluative meter works over range of LV 0 ~ 20.
Shutter specifications top
1/4,000 ～ 30 seconds and Bulb.
1/200 flash sync speed.
Remote Release specifications top
No remote connections on camera; use the app on your phone for remote control.
Frame Rate specifications top
3 FPS maximum.
Buffer (Burst) Sizes specifications top
Unlimited in JPG.
6 shots raw.
Flash specifications top
1/200 sync speed.
E-TTL II system for use with EX-series flash.
Built-in Flash
Yes, pops up.
Rated 2-second recycle time.
GN 30 feet, 9 meters at ISO 100.
Covers 17mm lens on APS-C (28mm full-frame equivalent).
External Flash
Dedicated hot shoe.
No Prontor-Compur (PC) terminal; use the built-in flash to trigger your slaves or just use a hot-shoe adapter for corded sync.
LCD Monitor specifications top
2.7" (68 mm) diagonal.
230,000 dots.
4:3 aspect ratio.
Fixed; does not swivel.
No anti-smudge coating.
No anti-reflection coating.
Connectors specifications top
Canon EOS Rebel T100 (4000D). bigger.
HDMI mini-C output.
USB output, but it's the old-style mini-B USB.
Wi-Fi specifications top
Yes, 2.4 GHz only.
NFC specifications top
NONE.
Bluetooth specifications top
NONE.
GPS specifications top
NONE.
Storage specifications top
One slot for SD (up to 2GB), SDHC (up to 32GB) or SDXC (up to 2TB) cards.
Body specifications top
Fiberglass-reinforced polycarbonate.
Quality specifications top
Canon EOS Rebel T100. bigger.
Made in Taiwan.
Power & Battery specifications top
Battery
LP-E10 rechargeable lithium-ion battery, included.
Rated 500 shots with the flash on 50% of the time (410 shots at 0º C), many more without flash.
Simple 3-segment bar graph gauge.
Optional AC Adapter Kit ACK-E10.
Canon LP-E10 battery. bigger.
Charging
No USB charging; you need the included LC-E10 external charger:
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Size specifications top
4.00 × 5.08 × 3.04 inches HWD.
101.6 × 129.0 × 77.1 millimeters HWD.
Weight specifications top
Camera Body: 15.4 oz. (436 g) with battery and card, no lens.
Lens weight: 6.790 oz. (192.6 g) actual measured weight.
Environment specifications top
Operating
0º ～ 40º C (32º ～ 104º F).
0 to 85% RH.
Canon's Model Number specifications top
2628C029.
Included specifications top
T100 body with attached Eyecup Eb.
EF-s 18-55mm III lens.
EW-400D strap.
SanDisk 32 GB 120 MB/s SDHC card:
Included High-Speed SanDisk 32 GB SD Card. bigger.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
January 2023
$379 with lens at B&H. Also at Amazon.
About $200 used with lens if you know How to Win at eBay.
December 2022
$299 with lens at B&H. Also at Amazon.
About $200 used with lens if you know How to Win at eBay.
Box, Canon EOS Rebel T100 and included EF-s 18-55mm III. bigger.
Box End, Canon EOS Rebel T100 and included EF-s 18-55mm III. bigger.
Optional Accessories top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Viewfinder Diopter Lenses
Canon EF and EF-s Lenses
Crappy Holga 60mm Toy Camera Lens
Canon Flash
Canon OC-E3 Flash Shoe Extension Cord
Canon Angle Finder C
Switchable 1.25× and 2.5× optical magnifications.
Performance top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
Overall Autofocus Auto ISO Auto White Balance
Color Rendition Crop Modes Ergonomics
Exposure Accuracy Finder Flash Frame Rates
High ISOs Lens Corrections Mechanics
Menus Movies Rear LCD Playback
Data Power & Battery Clock Accuracy
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
The T100 is a small, light, very inexpensive camera with great ergonomics, but limited features and technical picture quality. In many ways it's like stepping back to the first DSLRs of the mid 2000s, but with much higher resolution, Live View, video and WiFi.
Autofocus performance top
It only autofocuses with lenses of at least f/5.6 or faster. With a slower lens or lens combo with a teleconverter, it simply won't autofocus. I discovered this with my EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II on my 1.4× extender.
Autofocus has the same problem as many Canon cameras did years ago: a small percentage (maybe 1%) of the images are simply out-of focus, even though the camera indicated that they were in focus when shot.
Auto ISO performance top
Auto ISO allows setting only the maximum ISO, which can be set from ISO 400 to ISO 6,400, in full stops.
It automatically selects the minimum shutter speed based on focal length. This isn't adjustable other than by zooming, or using the Tv or M exposure modes.
Auto White Balance performance top
Auto White Balance is pretty good. It has both regular and a "Preserve White" setting which makes even indoor tungsten light look completely white rather than warm.
Sadly there's no Kelvin setting, which is what I use when AUTO WB isn't cutting it.
Color & Tonal Rendition performance top
It looks as great as all my other much more expensive Canons, which is 90% of what makes the picture. Bravo! This means I greatly prefer the images from the T100 over anything from Fuji or Sony!
Color rendition is how pictures look in the real world. Real-world color rendition has nothing to do with color accuracy measured in a lab. Color rendition is dependant on how a maker programs all the color matrices, curves, and look-up tables to generate color from the data read from the sensor, and varies widely between makers once you set a camera away from its defaults. I never shoot at defaults.
If you shoot raw data then your colors and tones aren't created until you process the raw data later into images in software, and then your choice of software will have as much effect on your images as the camera itself.
It's like pianos: anyone can talk forever about how pianos are made, but to most ordinary players the subtle variations between different samples of a Steinway Model D are eclipsed by their own limitations in playing, but when you're a virtuoso even subtle differences become obvious to the seasoned master. That's why when you buy, or choose a Steinway for your tour as a Steinway Artist, you go to Steinway's Astoria factory and pick from among several samples of the same model which suits your style best. To a master, the subtle details are everything, just like subtle differences in color rendition between different brands of camera. Art is not the duplication of reality; art is the expression of imagination.
I'm a working artist, not some online tweaker, YouTuber or tech blogger. Color is my life. I'm pickier about color than almost anyone; I see things most people don't.
This is just me; your preferences and results will vary.
Crop Modes performance top
There are square, 4:3 and 16:9 crops, but they only work with Live View shooting, and then they're selected only from within the menu system.
For me this makes these useless, as I shoot with the viewfinder and need to set a function button to allow immediate selection of the crop, neither of which work on the T100.
Ergonomics performance top
Ergonomics are very good, far better than anything from Fuji or Sony.
The T100 is well sculpted and feels great in-hand. It has none of the uncomfortably hard edges and sharp corners of Fuji and Sony; the T100 is designed to be shot rather than sit on a shelf.
The buttons aren't labeled on the buttons themselves; they're labeled next to the button instead. Since most of the buttons are flat, this makes many critical buttons like PLAY and MENU and COMPENSATION hard to find in anything other than direct sunlight. It's difficult to find the button itself rather than the printed marking.
It's easy to knock the power switch whose OFF setting is simply one of many modes on the top mode dial. There is no deeper detent at OFF.
The battery goes in more ways than the one way that actually works, and there's no big colored index on it, so it can be trial and error getting the battery in unless you have good light to see its tiny markings.
Exposure performance top
Exposure is excellent.
Most shots are dead-on, with the usual need to use -0.7 stops compensation in bright light with strong saturation settings to keep saturated colors from washing out. Most cameras are this way.
Finder performance top
The finder is pretty crappy.
It's tiny and has no diopter adjustment. If you have normal vision that's good because yo never have to fiddle with it, but if you need a different diopter setting, you'll have to buy a diopter for it.
Active AF areas are indicated with red LED dots, which are great because they don't hide anything as dark LCD boxes do.
Flash performance top
The built-in flash is often a life-saver, a feature missing on most more expensive cameras.
The 1/200 flash sync speed is faster than most inexpensive cameras, bravo!
Frame Rates performance top
The 3 FPS frame rate is slow.
It's perfect for things that hold still, but not for sports or action.
High ISO Performance performance top
High ISO performance is crappy and strictly last-generation. I haven't seen hot pixels or anything this bad in years, but it's still good enough to let me shoot outdoors at night handheld with an unstabilized lens, so for $299 I'm not complaining.
There's no mystery to comparing cameras; I shoot this same test at all the ISOs of every other camera I review so you can compare for yourself.
Complete Images details dark detail performance top
As seen at normal image sizes below, the T100 pretty much makes the same images from ISO 100 to ISO 3,200.
ISO 6,400 gets a little blotchier or noisy, and ISO 12,800 (H) gets even more blotchy and grainy.
Higher ISOs seem darker because that's the way the camera chose to expose them. In other words, higher ISOs require some positive exposure compensation compared to lower ISOs, which I didn't do here.
Click any for the camera-original © LARGE FINE JPG files:
Click any for the camera-original © JPG files (about 8 MB each).
600 × 450 Pixel Crops (8.6× magnification) High ISOs details dark detail performance top
What we see at the high magnifications below is that fine details go away as the ISO increases. This happens with all cameras (and our own eyes) and is an artifact of the noise reduction working harder as the ISO increases.
In the T100, the most detail is at ISO 100, and becomes softer at every higher ISO. This is normal and how noise reduction works in every camera.
By ISO 1,600 most of the detailed scrollwork between the clock numbers is gone.
By ISO 12,800 the minute marks and all the detail is gone from the clock face, leaving only the numbers.
If this 600 × 450 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 17⅓ × 26" (44 × 66 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 600 × 450 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 34⅔ × 52" (88 × 132 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 600 × 450 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 70 × 104" (1.8 × 2.6 meters) at this same magnification.
Click any for the camera-original © JPG files:
Click any for the camera-original © JPG files (about 8 MB each).
Dark-Area 600 × 450 Pixel Crops (8.6× magnification) High ISOs details dark detail performance top
Here are different crops from the same images as above, now showing the dark grillwork of the fireplace.
Higher ISOs greatly reduce the details in the shadows, as we expect.
The most detail is at ISO 100.
It starts to get blotchy at ISO 6,400.
At ISO 12,800 we have more blotches and hot pixels, but the good news is that we still can see the scrollwork. Other cameras usually let their ISOs be set so high that these scrolls are completely invisible! That's a good thing about the T100: high ISO coarse shadow detail.
If this 600 × 450 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 17⅓ × 26" (44 × 66 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 600 × 450 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 34⅔ × 52" (88 × 132 cm) at this same magnification.
If this 600 × 450 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at 70 × 104" (1.8 × 2.6 meters) at this same magnification.
Click any for the camera-original © JPG files:
Click any for the camera-original © JPG files (about 8 MB each).
Lens Corrections performance top
Except for light falloff (vignetting or peripheral illumination), there are no lens corrections.
Because of this many lenses, like the included kit lens, will show color fringes on the sides and corners if you look carefully.
The image below is as bad as it gets, which is what the world accepted ten years ago and for most people is just fine. If this looks fine to you, you're golden. Look at the "E" in HOME at the top right. Look carefully enough and you'll see green/magenta fringes. No big deal, but most cameras correct for this today. You won't see this if you use an exceptionally good lens that doesn't have these fringes.
Flower Shop, Noon, Sunday, 27 November 2022. Canon T100, EF-s 18-55mm III at 18mm at f/9 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 14.4), exactly as shot. bigger or camera-original 18 MP © 2.4 MB JPG file.
Mechanical Quality performance top
The T100 is a super light, mostly plastic camera.
Metal
Strap lugs, hot shoe, tripod socket, lens mount index stop.
Plastic
Lens mount, top cover, prism and flash housings, all buttons and dials, back, LCD cover, bottom and bottom door (door has internal metal insert).
Rubberized
Eyepiece surround.
Front right fake leather grip covering, only.
No rubber on back or left side (not needed, either).
Serial Number
Sticker glued into recess on the bottom of the camera.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Very minor clicking.
Made in
Made in Taiwan.
Menu System performance top
It's the usual clear system from Canon.
It's not as complex as fancier cameras; the T100 menus are simplified as there's less to set.
Movies performance top
Like most DSLRs, video autofocus is slow. I prefer my iPhone.
Rear LCD Monitor performance top
iPhones are so much better.
The T100's dim, grainy little LCD is pretty sad, but it's what we all loved back in 2005.
You can't see much on it. Menus are clear, while you really need to wait till you download your images to your computer to see what you got.
It has an old-style LCD that looks different when seen from different angles: lighter from above and much darker from below.
Playback performance top
Playback is classic Canon. It has the usual displays typical from years ago, and the RGB histogram is great.
There is no diagonal scrolling with zoomed images; you can move up/down or left/right only.
It has a problem that used to haunt all Canon digital cameras up until a few years ago: images are softer as you swap to them quickly, and redraw sharply a half second later. Likewise, a perennial curse of Canon that's come back here is that the image is soft as you magnify and scroll around it, coming-in sharply as you stop scrolling.
In other words, zoom-in on a playback image and scroll around. The image is soft as you're moving around, and pops-in clearly when you stop moving.
Data performance top
Files are always prefixed "IMG." There's no way to reset that.
The lens' focus distance is in the EXIF. I can read it in Photoshop's Lens Correction filter.
Cards are titled as "EOS_DIGITAL."
LARGE NORMAL (stairstep icon) JPG files are about 3.5 MB, varying with subject complexity from about 1.6 to 8 MB.
LARGE FINE (quarter-circle icon) JPGs run about 8 MB.
They are tagged as 72 DPI.
Power & Battery performance top
I got about 450 shots on my first charge before the battery icon came off full. I don't know how many shots I'd get if I let it run all the way down.
Clock Accuracy performance top
Every sample is different, but mine is poor, gaining about 1 second every day (30 seconds per month or six minutes per year).
This matters when you shoot multiple cameras (or this camera and an iPhone) and then sort all the images based on capture time to compare the similar views of each scene.
Compared top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
There is no comparison. There is no other interchangeable-lens digital camera priced anywhere near as low as the T100.
Of course more expensive cameras will have more features. I especially miss image stabilization in the lens, and lateral color and distortion correction in the camera, but to get both of those means stepping up to something like the SL3, which costs over twice as much. Even the T7 lacks lens corrections.
The oldest and cheapest Rebel T100 and Rebel T7 lack the processing power for modern lens corrections, which can lead to distortion, color fringes and horrible high ISO performance.
The newer and more expensive Rebel SL3 has the processing power for lens corrections and excellent high ISO performance - but all three of these cheapest models have equally crappy autofocus performance.
The Rebel T8i and R10 have the processing power power for lens corrections and excellent high ISO performance, and also have excellent autofocus performance.
| Announced | 2018 February 26 |
2018 February 26 |
2019 April 10 |
2020 February 13 |
2022 May 24 |
| Resolution | 18 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
24 MP APS‑C |
| ISO Max | 12,800 (H) |
12,800 (H) |
51,200 (H) |
51,200 (H) |
51,200 (H) |
| Sensor Cleaner | NO |
NO |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Lens Corrections | NO |
NO |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Lens Mount | Plastic |
Metal |
Metal |
Metal |
Metal |
| Built-in Flash | YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
| Diopter Adjustment? | NO |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Dedicated Power Switch | No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Rear LCD | Small and crappy |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
| Autofocus Sensors | 9 |
9 |
9 |
45 |
651 |
| Autofocus Performance | Crappy |
Crappy |
Crappy |
EXCELLENT |
EXCELLENT |
| Included lens | None |
None |
None |
||
| Price w/included lens 1/2023 |
User's Guide top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
See also Canon's T100 User's manual.
Power
Charge the battery in the included charger. It doesn't charge via USB. Be sure to bring the charger with you when you travel.
There is no power switch; there is an OFF setting on the top mode dial. All the other settings are ON.
It's easy to knock the power switch, be careful when you put it away. Leaving it ON won't run down the battery because it goes to sleep by itself, however if it's in a tight case it will wake up or take pictures when buttons get pushed.
Bulb is set as a shutter speed in Manual exposure mode. It's one click of the top dial to the left of the 30 second manual exposure setting.
The SET button is depth-of-field preview when you're shooting.
Auto ISO minimum shutter speeds are not adjustable; they track the zoom setting and are not shiftable. Hint: flick over to Tv mode with Auto ISO ON and choose your desired shutter speed. In one click or two you just forced the shutter speed to the exact value you wanted, but in Tv mode it won't change as the light changes.
Recommendations top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Other than used cameras, there's nothing else at this low price, and anyone who knows how to shoot certainly can get great pictures with the T100. (Hint: if you don't know what you're doing, you're not going to get better pictures with any other camera either.)
While I shoot every day and prefer a nicer camera, the T100 is ideal for people just goofing around, anyone with a low budget, and it's the perfect camera for schools and governments who need cameras for official work or to issue to employees and students.
Ideally I prefer the Canon EF-s 18-135mm IS USM lens, but it costs much more than this little camera. For a telephoto get the excellent and inexpensive EF-s 55-250mm IS STM, and for ultrawide get the superb and inexpensive EF-S 10-18mm IS (How to Use Ultrawide Lenses).
With the included lens, I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of the cap (exactly like an iPhone) so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 58mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints, but it's way too expensive for this lens. I'd suggest the Hoya multicoated 58mm UV, and for very basic use in filthy environments the uncoated Tiffen 58mm UV works almost as well and is much easier to clean.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures, the difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece. Since filters last a lifetime or more, there's no reason not to buy the best as it will last you for the next 40 years. Filters aren't throwaways like digital cameras which we replace every few years, like it or not. I'm still using filters I bought back in the 1970s!
I got my T100 kit at B&H. I'd also get it at Amazon or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you take the chance of getting it elsewhere. Canon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, dropped, incomplete, gray-market, store demo or used camera — and my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new camera. I've used many of these sources since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
More Information top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Lens Compatibility Specifications Accessories
Performance Compared User's Guide
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