The Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D is a simple crop-sensor DSLR. It offers little in the way of frills or extra features, with no 4k recording capability and few physical controls. As a photography camera, it's a solid entry-level model for the price, with a decent sensor and an okay autofocus system, along with plenty of great, affordable lens options, but its cheap price tag comes through in its plasticky build quality and low-resolution screen.
The Canon Rebel T100 is alright for travel photography. Images are quite detailed, and there are plenty of great Canon DSLR lenses to choose from. It also has a good autofocus system for still subjects, but it's less suitable for faster subjects and busier scenes. Unfortunately, it isn't the most portable option, especially compared to mirrorless alternatives, and its build quality leaves a lot to be desired. On the upside, it has a solid battery life, though you can't charge it over USB, which can be inconvenient when traveling without a battery pack.
The Canon Rebel T100 is okay for landscape photography. It offers good overall image quality, especially if you pair it with a high-quality lens, and thankfully, Canon has plenty of good wide-angle DSLR lenses for landscape photography. However, the camera's dynamic range is mediocre, meaning it can't capture as wide an array of detail in high-contrast landscapes. On top of that, its primarily plastic construction doesn't feel especially sturdy and isn't weather-sealed.
The Canon Rebel T100 is mediocre for sports and wildlife. Its slow max shooting speed makes it harder to capture bursts of fast-moving subjects. While it has a decent autofocus system for static subjects, it lacks an AF tracking feature and falls short of the standard set by modern mirrorless cameras. It doesn't feel especially well-built, either. On the upside, image quality is good for its caliber, with fair noise handling and nice colors straight out of the camera.
The Canon Rebel T100 isn't meant for vlogging. Its fixed screen doesn't let you see what you're recording when the camera is pointed at you. Its bulky design also makes it more of a hassle to carry around for extended periods. That aside, it can't record 4k video, and its 1080p video quality leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, it doesn't support continuous autofocus in video.
The Canon Rebel T100 isn't meant for studio video. It can't record 4k video, and video quality in 1080p isn't amazing, with noticeable grain and lack of detail. It's also missing inputs and outputs for various video peripherals like a microphone or headphones. On top of that, video recording is capped at about twelve minutes.
The Canon Rebel T100 isn't designed for action video. It's too big to be attached to a chest or helmet rig, doesn't feel especially well-constructed, and isn't weather-sealed. It doesn't have 4k video capability, either, and frame rates in 1080p are limited, with no high-speed recording options.
The Canon T100 is only available in one color: 'Black', and you can see our unit's label here. This camera is also sold as the EOS 4000D in other markets. We purchased it in a bundle with the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens, but you can also buy it without a lens.
Let us know if you come across a different variant of the Canon Rebel T100, so we can update our review.
The Canon Rebel T100 is an entry-level budget DSLR camera. It's about as simple a DSLR as you can get, with a limited set of features and physical controls. Its low cost is also apparent in its build quality, which feels notably less robust than pricier models. On the flip side, its simplicity and affordable price make this a solid option for beginners or for those who want to get into "proper" photography on a very tight budget.
For more options, you can also check out our buying guides for the best beginner cameras, the best cheap and budget cameras, or the best cameras under $1,000.
The Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D is a bit better than the Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D, though they're very similar overall. Both are simple, budget DSLR cameras that can be paired with Canon EF-S or EF lenses. That said, while both use APS-C sensors, the T7's has a higher resolution, making for slightly more detailed images with a bit more leeway to crop. The T7 also has a slightly larger, higher-resolution screen, and its materials feel a bit higher quality, but otherwise, the two cameras perform very similarly.
The Nikon D3500 is better than the Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D. Both are entry-level DSLRs with APS-C sensors, but the Nikon feels a little better constructed and has a higher-resolution sensor and better processor, resulting in better overall image quality. The D3500 also has a faster burst rate, a much longer battery life, and includes a built-in Guide Mode to walk new users through the camera's features.
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.
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 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.
Like the Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D, the T100 doesn't have an algorithm-based tracking feature that can actively detect and track moving subjects. It does support face detection when using Live View, but it's limited to single shooting and still subjects.
While there's no 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, easier-moving subjects.
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.
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.
Rolling shutter isn't too bad, though you'll still notice some distortion with very quick camera movements.
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.