Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D Camera Review

The Canon Rebel T100 is fairly portable as far as DSLRs go. However, it's much bulkier than mirrorless alternatives like the Canon EOS M50 Mark II.

The Canon T100 doesn't feel especially well-built, but that's one of the trade-offs of a cheaper camera like this. The materials feel even less robust than the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D. Unlike other models, there isn't even a dedicated power switch; you simply turn the mode dial to turn the camera on. There's no dial lock, though, so you could easily turn the camera on by accident and drain the battery. On the upside, the buttons provide decent physical feedback, though the camera can be somewhat sluggish to respond to inputs.

• Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D camera body
• Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III lens
• Lens cap
• Rear lens cap
• Sensor cap
• Shoulder strap
• 1x LP-E10 battery
• AC adapter
• AC adapter cable
• Cleaning cloth
• User manual

The ergonomics are okay. The handgrip can feel somewhat cramped for those with very large hands, but otherwise it's well shaped, and the texture provides a secure grip. Since it's an entry-level model, there aren't too many buttons or control dials, which is good for beginners but makes it a lot harder to adjust settings when shooting in manual mode.

The optical viewfinder is decently sized and fairly comfortable to use, though the rubber eyecup doesn't provide a whole lot of cushioning, so it can get uncomfortable after a while.

The Canon T100 has a fixed screen, which makes it harder to shoot from unconventional angles. The screen isn't as good as the one on the slightly pricier Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, as it doesn't get as bright and has a lower resolution. It isn't touch-sensitive, either, so you have to use the D-pad to navigate the menu and adjust settings.

The menu is great. For the most part, it's well-organized and easy to use, and functions very similarly to the menu found on the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, despite some minor differences. That said, some settings are only available when the camera is in the relevant mode. For example, video settings can only be accessed when you switch the camera into video mode, while some options are only visible when you switch into Live View.

The camera has a 'Feature Guide' function, which gives you a brief description of the different shooting modes and Quick menu settings, but this camera doesn't have a more extensive guide mode to explain all the camera's settings. However, Canon does have a 'Canon Coach' app that you can download, which provides camera tutorials for novice users.

The camera's battery life in photos is great. It's CIPA-rated for 500 shots on a full charge. While that can vary drastically with real-world usage, it gives a good indication of how the camera performs compared to other models. Generally speaking, the T100 is better than most mirrorless cameras, but it falls short of higher-end DSLR cameras like the Nikon D5600 for battery life. All in all, it can last fairly long depending on your shooting habits.

When it comes to video, it can last for over an hour of continuous video recording, which isn't bad considering video isn't this camera's main intended use. However, it's still a fair amount shorter than higher-end or more video-capable cameras like the Canon EOS Rebel SL3.

Continuous shooting options are limited. The camera only has one continuous shooting drive mode, with a single slow burst rate. Ultimately, this camera isn't well-suited to capturing quick bursts of fast action, but it's fine if you want to take burst shots of slower-moving subjects.

When shooting in RAW, the buffer will max out at about 7 frames, but the shooting speed is so slow that you can shoot indefinitely in JPEG without ever filling up the buffer. Thankfully, the buffer is pretty quick to empty, so if you are a RAW shooter, you can get back to shooting without having to wait too long.

The Canon T100 has a pretty basic autofocus system, but it performs well within its limitations. Like most DSLR cameras, the focus area coverage and number of focus points is limited when shooting through the viewfinder. It has just 9 focus points clustered around the center of the frame. You have more flexibility when shooting in Live View, but by nature of being a DSLR, due to its mirror mechanism, autofocus in Live View isn't nearly as quick. The results here were achieved shooting through the viewfinder.

Tracking isn't especially reliable. While the camera supports face detection, it can struggle to keep up with faster moving subjects. However, it works well with slower, easier movements, and should suit beginner shooters quite well. Generally, the autofocus is smooth and accurate, especially when paired with a quick-focusing lens.

The T100 doesn't have built-in image stabilization, so you'll have to rely on optically stabilized lenses if you want to shoot at slower shutter speed handheld. We tested stabilization using the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, which isn't optically stabilized, and still managed to get clear shots at fairly slow shutter speeds. Of course, even aside from things like focal length and the physical weight of your lens, stabilization can vary drastically depending on how steady your hands are.

Dynamic range is mediocre. It's notably worse than higher-end Rebels like the Canon EOS Rebel T8i, capturing a smaller range of detail in high-contrast scenes. Depending on how you expose your images, you'll lose a lot of shadow or highlight detail, and it only gets worse in dim lighting conditions.

This camera is decent at resolving fine detail. Though it uses a lower-resolution sensor than the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, the level and clarity of detail is very similar, even when you punch in.

JPEG noise handling is great overall. You'll still get noisy images at higher ISO settings, but it's quite good for an APS-C sensor.

RAW noise handling is mediocre. It's on par with the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D. The camera doesn't do too well in low light, especially compared to newer, more powerful mirrorless cameras like the Nikon Z 50.

Frame rate options are limited. There aren't any high-speed frame rates for slow-motion video, but this is a photography-first camera, so that isn't too surprising.

Despite having an advertised 30-minute recording time limit, older Canon DSLRs like this one stop recording whenever the video file reaches 4GB in size, giving it an effective time limit of 12 minutes in practice. This isn't a video-centric camera, so bit rates and other specs aren't especially impressive, but the camera is fine if you just want to casually record some videos on the side.

Just like the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, there's no AI Servo in video mode. That means you can't continuously track a moving subject, which is pretty limiting. You'll have to manually adjust the focus if your subject moves out of the focal plane. Focusing isn't very smooth or quick, either, when using the kit lens. But it's fine if you're just shooting talking head videos, where your subject stays in one place.

Video quality is disappointing. Details aren't very sharply rendered. It's especially bad in low light, where visual noise becomes overwhelming and you lose a lot of shadow detail.

Rolling shutter isn't too bad, though you'll still notice some distortion with very quick camera movements.

There's only a single SD card slot, and it's unfortunately located in the battery compartment on the bottom of the camera, making it more difficult to switch out cards when using a tripod.

Inputs and outputs are minimal. There's a mini USB port for transferring files, and a mini HDMI input to connect the camera to an external display. Unlike the Canon EOS Rebel SL3, there's no microphone or headphone jack for video peripherals.