Canon has just announced a brand new mirrorless camera and new full-frame mirrorless lens to add to their already impressive lineup. The brand new Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera is the newest camera in the EOS R Mirrorless camera series, and the new Canon RF28mm F2.8 STM Lens is the latest pancake prime lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Let’s take a look at the details.
Key Features of the Canon EOS R100
- Compact, lightweight, and affordable
- Smallest and lightest EOS R series camera
- 24.1 megapixel sensor
- 143 zone AF Subject Detection/Eye AF
- 4K video at 24fps/Full HD at 60fps
- Built in WiFi and Bluetooth
Key Features of the Canon RF 28mm F2.8 STM Lens
- Wide angle full-frame lens
- Lightweight (120g) “pancake” size
- Canon Super Spectra Coating
- Minimum focusing distance of 9 inches
What’s New About the Canon EOS R100?
Smallest, Lightest
The Canon EOS R100 offers excellent still-image capabilities in a camera body that is both compact and lightweight. In fact, this is both the smallest and the lightest camera body in the EOS R series. The EOS R100 was intentionally made light and compact to help give the camera excellent mobility for photographers on-the-go. Including the camera body, battery, and memory card, the R100 weighs in at just 12.56 oz., or 356 g.
24 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
The compact weight and size doesn’t have to be a tradeoff with image quality. The EOS R100 utilizes an excellent 24.1 megapixel (APS-C) CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 8 Image Processor. You can expect beautiful background bokeh, color accuracy, and low noise images that far exceed the capabilities of a smartphone. Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Eye Detection AF ensure that your subject will be sharp in the right places at all times, making it easy to capture amazing images on this small yet powerful camera.
Creative Settings
Perhaps one of the most versatile features for new photographers on the EOS R100 is what Canon is calling Creative Assist and Creative Filters. These settings allow you to apply certain effects to your photos in-camera, such as “Background Blur,” “Brightness”, and “Saturation” for you to view in real time on your live view screen. For photographers who are new to photo editing, this can provide you the ability to create some amazing effects in camera. You can even use these effects to preview what a certain edit will look like on your photos.
Who Should Buy the Canon EOS R100 and Lens?
The EOS R100 is an excellent camera for the new creator. While certainly more suited for photographers, videographers will find their fair share of features that they will like. However, if you want to purchase your first camera for photography, with the idea of capturing a few videos here and there, the EOS R100 should be high on your list. Especially as a new photographer, having a compact and lightweight camera body is going to make sure that you’ll always have the camera with you when the photo opportunities present themselves. Best of all, you don’t have to forfeit image quality for size. The 24.1 megapixel sensor is perfect for stills, and you don’t have to break the bank to snag the EOS R100.
The Canon RF 28mm F2.8 Lens pairs very well with the EOS R100 due to its small compact size, weight, and affordable price that matches the EOS R100. However, the RF 28mm F2.8 isn’t just for crop sensor cameras. In fact, it works on full-frame RF mount cameras as well. This lens is perfect for any Canon EOS R-series user who cares about size or weight. Since this lens is so small and compact, it can really fit in almost any kit. You’ll find your uses in low light situations where you want to shoot with a wide angle.
Comparable Products
Canon’s EOS R series is made up of mirrorless cameras that include the EOS R5, R6 Mark II, R3, R7, R10, and now the R100. While each camera is suited for a different use, the EOS R100 fits in as the entry-level Canon mirrorless camera. The Canon Mirrorless lineup is designed to offer the same image quality we’ve come to expect in Canon DSLR cameras in more compact mirrorless camera bodies.
The Canon RF 28mm F2.8 Lens joins the likes of other pancake lenses for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless system cameras including the RF 16mm F2.8, the RF 50mm F1.8 (otherwise known as the “nifty fifty”). These lenses are affordably priced to help you take amazing photos with very compact and lightweight lenses.
About the Canon RF28mm F2.8 STM Lens
The Canon RF 28mm F2.8 STM compliments the new EOS R100 perfectly. With a very compact and lightweight size, often referred to as a “pancake” lens, the RF 28mm is an excellent lens that will take up very little space in your bag. Best of all, it comes at a very affordable price. The 28mm focal length is perfect for a wide range of photos and videos, giving a very realistic field of view from your camera. On an APS-C image sensor, the focal length is equivalent to 45mm.
A maximum aperture of F2.8 is impressive in a lens this size. It ensures that you’ll be able to not only capture images in low light, but also capture beautiful background bokeh where necessary. For situations where you may want to move closer to the subject, the RF 28mm F2.8 lens offers a very impressive minimum focusing distance of roughly 9 inches, or 0.23 m.
Videographers will be happy to know that the brand new RF28mm F2.8 uses a Canon leadscrew type STM focus drive. Simply put, this allows the focus to adjust quietly and smoothly. The focus drive responds quickly and quietly to ensure optimal focus in all videos, even in low light situations.
Conclusion
If compact, lightweight, and affordable camera gear is in your repertoire, then you’ll certainly want to add this new camera and lens to your list. The new Canon EOS R100 is certain to be an excellent entry level compact camera, while the RF28mm F2.8 is the perfect pancake lens for nearly any kind of creator.
