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. Still, it doesn't weigh a ton, so it's still fairly easy to carry around for long periods without fatigue.

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 camera's 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 for more advanced shooters 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 sharp as the one on the slightly pricier Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D and can't get as bright. It isn't touch-sensitive, either, so you have to use the D-pad to navigate the menu and adjust the settings.

As is typical of more Canon cameras, the user interface 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. 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 every feature. However, Canon does have a 'Canon Coach' app that you can download, which provides camera tutorials for novice users.

The Canon T100 uses an APS-C sensor with a fairly high 18-megapixel count. That isn't as much resolution as newer models, like the mirrorless Canon EOS R100 or even the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, but it's still plenty of resolution to capture sharp-looking images, especially if you're mostly sharing online. It uses the same DIGIC 4+ processor as the T7.

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, which is rated for approximately 970 shots. All in all, it can last fairly long, depending on your shooting habits.

When it comes to video, it can last for almost an hour and a half of continuous video recording in 1080p, 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, which can record in 4k.

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 seven frames, but the shooting speed is so slow that you can shoot JPEG files indefinitely without ever filling up the buffer. Thankfully, the buffer is pretty quick to empty once full, so if you are a RAW shooter, you can get back to shooting without having to wait too long.

Like the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, the T100 doesn't have an AF tracking feature that can actively detect and track moving subjects in continuous shooting mode. It supports face detection when using Live View but is limited to single shooting and still subjects.

While there's no proper tracking function, the camera still has a continuous autofocus (AI Servo) mode and does a great job of keeping subjects underneath your chosen focus point in focus. Like most DSLR cameras, the focus area coverage and number of focus points are limited when shooting through the viewfinder. With just nine focus points clustered around the center of the frame, it can't autofocus on subjects at the edges of the frame, so you're somewhat limited in composition. Still, if you're keeping your target in the center point, the camera is quick and accurate, especially with slower, more predictable subjects.

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

The camera's 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 worsens in dim lighting conditions.

The Canon T100 is decent at resolving fine detail. Although it uses a lower-resolution sensor than the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, the level and clarity of fine detail are very similar, even when you punch in.

The camera's RAW noise handling is adequate, though the camera is limited by its max native ISO of 6400, which gives you less flexibility to adjust your exposure in low light. Overall, it performs on par with the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D and falls behind newer, more powerful mirrorless cameras like the Nikon Z 50.

The Canon Rebel T100 can only record video in Full HD and has very limited video features, but this is a photography-first camera, so that isn't too surprising.

Frame rate options are limited. There aren't any high-speed frame rates for slow-motion video.

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. However, the camera is fine if you want to casually record some videos on the side.

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 when using the kit lens. However, it's fine for more static subjects or talking head shots, for instance, where your subject stays in one place.

The 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.

The rolling shutter isn't too bad, though you'll still notice some slanting vertical lines and distortion with very quick camera movements.

There's only a single SD card slot rated for UHS-I cards. It's 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, the T100 doesn't have a microphone or headphone jack for video peripherals. Unlike many newer cameras, it also lacks Bluetooth capability for wireless connectivity.