Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Pro Reviews

The Canon EOS SL1 is a good DSLR, although a bit pricey – you can pick up a kit for $649 and $799 with an additional 55-250mm zoom. Yet, one of its main draws is its small size and it really doesn’t deliver on that score since it’s just a shade smaller than a classic DSLR like the Nikon D3300. And make sure you do a hands-on before you pull the trigger. If size is really important you can pick up a lighter 20MP Sony Alpha A5000 kit for $499. Even with all the issues, Canon DSLRs remain top sellers because they take good stills—and in the case of the SL1—good videos.

Based on the success of previous Canon EOS Rebel DSLR cameras, you'd expect the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 to be a very nice model. And you'd be right -- the Rebel SL1 provides some excellent features and performance speed in the entry-level DSLR camera market, and its improved autofocus system is impressive. While great features and performance may be a given for a Rebel and while this camera looks a lot like other Rebel DSLR models, you may still receive a bit of a surprise the first time you pick up the SL1. It's noticeably smaller and lighter than other Rebel models and other DSLRs. When you can pack most of the best features you'd find in an entry-level DSLR in a much smaller and lighter camera, the Rebel SL1 is going to be a strong contender in this market versus similarly priced DSLR cameras. And the optical viewfinder sets it apart from ILCs.

Canon's high-performing EOS Rebel SL1 is the tiniest digital SLR you can put your hands on, but it may be too small for some hands.

In many ways, the Canon SL1 provides the best of both worlds, pairing the compact, lightweight body of a mirrorless camera and the performance and image quality of a DSLR. You could almost call it a miniaturized version of Canon's Rebel T4i/T5i DSLRs. And that's a good thing; both standard-size interchangeable lens cameras are solid, full-featured consumer models. It's somewhat amazing that Canon can pack so much DSLR into a tiny body. However, the SL1 does have one important advantage over its bigger siblings -- its new Hybrid CMOS II AF system for shooting in Live View and Movie modes. The previous version of the technology proved to be fairly sluggish in the T4i, but we were relatively impressed with the improved AF speed of Rebel SL1. What's more, the Hybrid CMOS II AF of the SL1 uses a whopping 80% of both the width and height of the LCD monitor, offering a lot more framing and shooting flexibility than the T4i/T5i.

The EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 is the smallest and perhaps the most surprising DSLR camera that Canon have ever released. Nobody really expected this camera when it was unveiled alongside the more traditional EOS 700D. In many ways it perfectly straddles the divide between its bigger brother and the EOS M compact system camera, surprisingly offering very similar handling and performance to the former while not being that much bigger than the latter. Indeed, the EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 almost certainly spells the end for the rather unloved EOS M, at least until/if Canon release a second-generation version of what for them has been a disappointing release. It's not all good news for the EOS 100D, though, as the larger 700D offers a better grip and control layout, articulated screen, better flash options, stereo sound and a more versatile auto-focus system for not that much more money. Also the EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 makes less and less sense as you attach bigger and bigger lenses to it - with the 40mm pancake it's almost as small as some of the mirrorless camera competition, but fitting the 18-55m STM kit lens or some of the bigger EF lenses makes the overall package much bigger and reduces the camera's appeal. You really need to give careful thought to how you'd mainly use this camera before buying.

The Canon EOS Rebel SL1 / 100D is an ideal camera for consumer users looking for better image quality, with improved live view and movie-mode autofocus in a small body. Its touchscreen interface offers a modern set of digital controls in a camera that will still feel familiar to more traditional SLR users.

The SL1 is a fine dSLR, and I enjoyed shooting with it. But from a buying-advice perspective, its only real advantage over dSLR alternatives is its size, and in that respect it's simply not small enough -- especially compared to a mirrorless interchangeable-lens model equipped with a power zoom lens. Its optical viewfinder isn't significantly superior to the electronic viewfinder, either, which would be one of the main reasons to opt for a dSLR. And there are much cheaper compact ILCs that deliver similar performance and photo quality, with better feature sets, especially if you're willing to forgo the viewfinder. If you already have a selection of Canon EF or EF-S lenses, or want to be able to share lenses with bigger Canon bodies, it's a reasonable purchase, but otherwise you might want to check out the competition.

A good and compact Canon SLR, but at current prices it's overshadowed by its 700D sibling

If you're looking to buy the Canon EOS 100D and pair it with the 18-55mm kit lens or bulkier telephoto lenses, the reasoning for opting for a smaller body is questionable and you could end up asking yourself why you didn't opt for the 700D instead, which wouldn't have cost any more and offers the better specification.

Overall I'm going to give the EOS SL1 / 100D a Recommended rating. It misses out on our top award as I honestly think most people buying an entry-level DSLR would be better-served by a mirror-less camera these days. But for those who understand the differences and would genuinely prefer a traditional DSLR, the EOS SL1/ 100D represents a compelling option and a decent upgrade over the company's previous entry-level model, the EOS T3 / 1100D. It really is a fully-fledged Canon DSLR with essentially the same control, handling, quality and lens compatibility as a larger model, but now in miniature with - hallelujah! - a new kit lens that's quiet and doesn't rotate its front element. It's also important to give credit to Canon for finally delivering a DSLR that boasts a movie mode that's genuinely as easy and consumer-friendly as any mirror-less camera. The entry-level DSLR still has life left in it.

The Canon EOS 100D is the smallest DSLR available with an optical viewfinder, and appears to be Canons answer to DSLR-style mirrorless cameras, being roughly the same size as the Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Lumix G6, as well as roughly the same price, although the G6 features a swivelling touch screen, quicker continuous shooting, and more advanced features built in (including Wi-Fi). In addition, Micro Four Thirds lenses are generally smaller than Canon EOS lenses. And herein lies the dilema with the Canon EOS 100D, while the camera body is much smaller, the lenses remain large and the new 18-55mm IS STM is in fact larger than the lens it replaces. Add to this the extremely competitive pricing of the latest mirrorless cameras, you have to wonder who will buy this new camera? If you want a small camera with DSLR image quality, you can buy a much smaller mirrorless camera, for much less, or if you want a DSLR for more advanced features then the 600D and 700D are available with the extremely useful vari-angle screen. If the 100D was a replacement or update to the 1100D and had an entry level price point to match it, then the reduced number of features of the 100D would make sense, however at the moment the lack of some features, which most competitors now feature (stereo sound, panoramic, longer battery life), make it feel slightly limited at times. However, if you have an investment in Canon lenses, want as small a body as possible, and prefer an optical viewfinder, then the Canon EOS 100D delivers excellent images, is well built with good handling, despite the small size. For many having a true DSLR that is as small as possible will appeal, and the Canon EOS 100D certainly doesn’t disappoint, although there are a few negatives due to the small size, namely the shorter battery life, slower continuous shooting (compared to the 650D/700D), and slightly fewer features and buttons. We would also recommend trying the camera in person, as you may prefer a bigger camera, if you have larger hands.

Canon has miniaturised the digital SLR with the EOS 100D. If you want a small camera, but absolutely have to have a proper viewfinder, this is your best bet at the moment. It’s surprisingly usable given its tiny dimensions, although its 18-megapixel sensor is getting on in age.

Canon makes few serious sacrifices to deliver the most compact and lightweight DSLR yet

The EOS 100D may be small, but it still manages to pack in the power and we've generally been impressed. But, in saying that, you'll need to really want a smaller-scale DSLR in order to go out and buy one. For just £50 more the EOS 700D offers a more advanced autofocus system, larger build for what we think is a more comfortable use over an extended period, a better battery life and vari-angle LCD screen too. It's just all-round better, which puts a lingering question mark over the 100D. Size definitely counts for something though, and while we think the 100D is here to take the pressure off the EOS M to some degree, pair the 100D up with smaller-scale Canon glass and it's the small scale that sells it. In context to the rest of the Canon range there's no other reason to pick up this model though. This is a tricky camera to score. We've ummed and arred about it at length because both head and heart say go out and buy a 700D instead, yet the more we've used the 100D the more we've grown to like it. Add mighty image quality from this mini model and it just doesn't make sense to score it any lower despite its shortcomings in context to the rest of the EOS range. It's an impressive bit of kit.

Although Canon does make some small optics, most notably the 40mm pancake lens, you're still not going to find this to be an overall system that is significantly lighter and smaller. That said, the average consumer who might be considering the Canon EOS 100D is arguably unlikely to purchase a large variety of different lenses.