Canon EOS Rebel SL1/Canon EOS Rebel 100D

Canon Rebel Cameras ~ A New Wave Of Digital SLR Camera

I could not help myself.. I ordered one of these little cameras, and it was delivered with very little pomp and circumstance. Neither I nor the dog heard the UPS driver, so it sat on my porch for about 1/2 and hour before it was discovered. So my plan is to write as much as I can about my new camera with a new user in mind. I will assume you know very little about this camera, and you are new to the digital SLR world.

Let's go ahead and mention the one thing that every reviewer is saying about the newest Canon Rebel camera.. it's small and light. In fact, several have said that it's even lighter than it appears to be.

Others are touting this new Digital SLR camera as an advanced wave of technological innovation. I am not sure that is such an accurate statement, because it appears to do the things that other beginners' DSLR cameras do, only it does it with less girth (it's smaller).

In this camera review, you will discover several reasons to consider this camera as your next purchase (or not), especially if you are new to the DSLR world.

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Review

The Canon EOS SL1 (known as 100D outside the United States) is a consumer digital SLR aimed at beginning DSLR users and camera hobbyists. It is quite obvious that it is targeting the market equal to mirror-less model cameras that are smaller than DSLR cameras.

As such, the SL1 does a good job. Canon has significantly reduced the body size of the camera while maintaining the sensor size equal to the other traditional Rebel models.

It has a resolution of 18 megapixels, equivalent to the last 4 cameras in this series. However, the sensor has been upgraded with a hybrid auto-focus system that uses phase-detect AF points which is good for those who use Live View for single shots and others who love to shoot video.

It must also be noted that, in addition to the aforementioned targeted smaller mirror-less camera market, this camera might also be considered in place of the Canon Rebel T3 (1100D) which was just released in 2011. While this move is quite a bit faster than the previous upgrade of the lowest level DSLR in the Canon lineup, the improvements make it worthy of attention to those interested in moving into the digital SLR world with a small investment.

Image Credit - author - one of the first images taken with my new Rebel 100d

Camera Comparison

Canon EOS Rebel SL1

Canon EOS Rebel T3

Canon EOS Rebel T4i

18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor

12.2 MP CMOS (APS-C) sensor

18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor

DIGIC 5 Processor

DIGIC 4 Processor

DIGIC 5 Processor

ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 (25600 with boost)

ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400

ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 (25600 with boost)

3" LCD articulating screen with 1,040,000 dot resolution

3" LCD fixed position screen with 230,000 dot resolution

3" LCD articulating screen with 1,040,000 dot resolution

4 frames/sec continuous shooting

3 frames/sec continuous shooting

5 frames/sec continuous shooting

Video: multiple formats as high as 1080p and 30 fps

Video: 720p at 29.97 or 25 fps

Video: multiple formats as high as 1080p and 30 fps

Dimensions: 117 x 91 x 69mm (4.61 x 3.58 x 2.72")

Dimensions: 130 x 100 x 78mm (5.12 x 3.94 x 3.07")

Dimensions: 133 x 100 x 79mm (5.24 x 3.94 x 3.11")

User Rating: 4.6 stars

User Rating: 4.7 stars

User Rating: 4.6 stars

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You can see just how much smaller the SL1 is than even the traditional Rebel models.
With respect to the Canon EOS M (mirror-less), it is just a few centimeters wider and taller.

EOS Rebel 100D Review

Rebel SL1 Image Quality Detail

This was taken the first day I used my new Rebel 100D. When I transfer images to the computer, I usually look at a section of the photo with 100% zoom.

When I did that with this and several other pictures, I was quite impressed with two things. First, the dark purple of these flowers has always given me trouble with chromatic aberration (color ghosting around the edges of the purple area), but, as you can see, this picture is pretty clean.

Second, look at the detail of the dew drops. It's very sharp.

There is actually a third point that needs to be mentioned here. The new kit lens is pretty darn good compared to the older, non-STM version. You can get close to macro closeness and still be able to focus. In this shot, I was no more than 6 inches from the flower, shooting at 40mm. The flower cluster is only about an inch and a half across, and you can see the result. I feel that it is very good image quality.

Eye Detail - Pet Portrait

As a photographer, you should always aim for the sharpest focus in the eye of your subject.

In this photo of my dog, Colby, you can see that the insert is very sharp. Couldn't ask for better than this. I am quite impressed so far with this camera and lens combination.

Original photo:

• Camera: Canon Rebel 100D (SL1)


• Lens: Canon EFS 18-55mm STM


• Focal Length: 37mm


• Aperture: f/5.0


• Shutter speed: 1/400


• ISO 400

Sample photo with Canon eos Rebel SL1

Here is another macro-type shot taken with my new Canon Rebel camera.

For this shot, I simply held a piece of black card stock behind the flower to mask out the bush that was crowding the flower.

Again, I am impressed with the performance of the camera and the lens.

I had the camera set to Av (aperture priority) on the mode dial. The aperture was f/11, the ISO was set to 400, and the camera chose a shutter speed of 1/40 second. There is no apparent blur, which leads me to believe that the IS (image stabilization) of the lens works well, since I can't hold my other camera very steady at that shutter speed.

Sample Photo - Canon Rebel 100D

Here is the data regarding this sample picture: Mode dial set to P (Program), Aperture was f/5.6, Shutter Speed was 1/80sec, ISO was 100, and the lens was at 31mm.

You can barely see the house in the top, right corner, because it is over-exposed, but the rest of the picture is pleasing and correctly exposed.

Love Birds?

This just proves you should always have your camera ready.

I was standing at the kitchen window, waiting for my coffee to finish brewing, camera on the counter, and the female landed on the branch near the feeder. I grabbed the camera to take her picture, and just then the male came along, and what you see happened just as I snapped the shot.

Dumb luck? Nope. I believe one should always be ready for the unexpected.

The picture is not perfectly sharp, but the birds were moving. So, I think it's acceptable quality for this type of shot.

I did crop the picture just a bit, but that is totally possible with an 18-megapixel image. There is plenty of information to work with.

The geeky stuff:
*18-55mm Kit Lens
*55mm focal length
*ISO 400
*f/5.6
*1/60 sec