Canon EOS R100 RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 is STM & RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 Lens Kit

A top-tier 24.1MP sensor trapped in a budget body from 2018. Buy it for the stunning photos, but only if you can forgive the fixed screen and non-existent stabilization.

What surprised us most is just how good the sensor is. In our database, it sits in the 88th percentile for image quality, which is frankly ridiculous for a kit this cheap. You're getting rich, detailed files that can handle a decent amount of cropping. The autofocus is also a pleasant surprise, with Eye Detection AF that's snappy and accurate for people photos, landing it in the top 20% of cameras we've tracked. The letdown is everything around that sensor. The burst shooting is a sluggish 6.5 fps, the video is a heavily cropped 4K at a cinematic but limiting 24fps, and the lack of stabilization means you'll need a steady hand or a tripod in anything but bright light.

The R100's main fight is with the used market, not new competitors. A used Sony a6400 will give you a similar sensor, vastly better video, and a tilting touchscreen for around the same money. If you can stretch your budget, the Fujifilm X-T5 is in a different universe with its gorgeous build, in-body stabilization, and stellar video, but it costs more than double. The R100 wins on sheer out-of-box affordability for a beginner who just wants to take great photos, but it loses on every single quality-of-life feature to a slightly older, used camera.

For under a grand with two lenses, this is a screaming deal for a stills-only beginner. You're getting a top-tier sensor and a versatile focal range that covers everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife. Just know that the low price comes from the body, not the glass. If your main goal is to learn photography and you don't care about video or a fancy screen, this is a steal. If you want a modern hybrid camera, this isn't it.

The Canon EOS R100 is the camera you buy when you want a real sensor in a tiny, affordable package, and you're willing to put up with some seriously dated design choices to get it. The one thing to know is that the image quality punches way above its price tag, but the user experience feels like a camera from 2018. That 24.1MP APS-C sensor is a genuine standout, delivering crisp, vibrant photos that'll make your phone camera jealous. But Canon cut every corner to hit this price, leaving you with a fixed, non-touchscreen LCD and no in-body stabilization. It's a brilliant sensor trapped in a budget body, and for pure photography on a strict budget, that's a trade-off worth making.

If you're looking for a hybrid camera that shoots smooth video or a vlogging rig, this isn't it. Go get a used Sony a6400 or a new Sony ZV-E10 instead. If a touchscreen or in-body stabilization is a must-have for you, this camera will just frustrate you.

Buy it for the sensor, not the camera. The Canon EOS R100 is a brilliant first step into mirrorless photography if your budget is fixed and you're laser-focused on still images. The image quality will genuinely wow you. But you have to accept a fixed screen, no stabilization, and video that feels like a checklist item. If you can live with those compromises, you'll love the photos. If you can't, save up for something more modern or shop the used market.