Canon EOS 100D/Rebel SL1 Review: Digital Photography Review

Camera Menus

The menu system of the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 is pretty similar to other recent EOS DSLRs, and uses Canon's familiar layout whereby camera settings are separated across a series of sensibly ordered, color-coded tabs. The range of options is pretty extensive, offering a decent level of customizability for an entry-level DSLR.

	This is the full, 11-tab menu as seen in P, Av, Tv, or M modes. Most of the other settings on the mode dial present a simplified sub-set of these tabs with fewer options available. When you change the power switch to Video mode, two video menu tabs replace the Live View tab, as shown below.

Shooting section (red)

The shooting menus provide access to image quality settings and adjustments. They are also context-sensitive, with different options provided depending on which shooting mode you're in. In the novice-oriented Auto and scene-based exposure modes you get a simplified sub-set of menus compared to P, Av, Tv and M modes. Switch to movie mode and two new tabs appear in the red shooting menu section. Attach an external flash and you gain an additional set of submenu options to control its output.


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Shooting tab 1
Quality	• JPEG Large Fine • JPEG Large Normal • JPEG Medium Fine • JPEG Medium Normal • JPEG Small 1 Fine • JPEG Small 1 Normal • JPEG Small 2 • JPEG Small 3 • Raw+JPEG Large Fine • Raw	- JPEG Large = 5184 x 3456 - JPEG Medium = 3456 x 2304 - JPEG Small 1 = 2592 x 1728 - JPEG Small 2 = 1920 x 1280 - JPEG Small 3 = 720 x 480 - RAW = 5184 x 3456
Beep	• Enable • Touchscreen mute • Disable	Enables beep for AF confirmation and self timer. You can enable/disable beep for touchscreen operation only.
Drive/Self-timer mode	• Single shooting • Continuous shooting • Silent single shooting • Silent continuous shooting • Self-timer: 10 sec/remote • Self-timer: 2 sec • Self-timer: continuous (2-10 sec)
Release shutter without card	• Enable • Disable	Allow shot to be taken without memory card inserted.
Image review	• Off • 2 sec • 4 sec • 8 sec • Hold
Lens aberration correction	• Peripheral illum. Enable Disable • Chromatic aberration Enable Disable	Corrects vignetting and chromatic aberration depending on the attached lens.
Red-eye reduction	• Enable • Disable
Shooting tab 2
Expo. comp./AEB	• +/–5 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps (C.Fn I-1) • Bracketing - 3 frames in up to 2EV steps.	Configures auto exposure compensation and bracketing.
Flash control	• Flash firing Enable Disable • E-TTL II meter Evaluative Average • Flash sync speed in Av mode Auto 1/200-1/60 sec auto 1/200 sec (fixed) • Built-in flash function setting Flash mode E-TTL II Manual flash Shutter sync 1st curtain 2nd curtain Flash exposure compensation +/– 2.0 EV • External flash function setting Only with flash connected • External flash C.Fn setting Only with flash connected • Clear flash settings Clear built-in flash setting Clear external flash setting Only with compatible flash Clear ext. flash C.Fn setting Only with compatible flash
ISO Auto	• Max.: 400 • Max.: 800 • Max.: 1600 • Max.: 3200 • Max.: 6400
Auto Lighting Optimizer	• Off • Low • Standard • High	Press Info button to disable during manual exposure
White balance	• AWB • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • White fluorescent light • Flash • Custom
Custom WB	• Set custom WB	Select image for custom WB.
WB Shift / BKT	• Shift: B9–A9, M9–G9 • Bracket: BA+/–3, MG+/–3	Configures WB shift and WB bracketing.
Shooting tab 3
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Picture Style	• Picture Style Auto Standard Portrait Landscape Neutral Faithful Monochrome User Def. 1 User Def. 2 User Def. 3 • Detail set Sharpness (0-7) Contrast (-4-+4) Saturation (-4-+4) Color tone (-4-+4)	Press Info button to access Detail Set mode
AF operation	• One shot • AI focus • AI servo
Metering mode	• Evaluative metering • Partial metering • Spot metering • Center-weighted average
Dust Delete Data	• Cancel • OK
Long exposure noise reduction	• Off • Auto • On	When enabled, NR is applied to exposures of 1 sec. or longer
High ISO speed NR	• Off • Low • Standard • High • Multi shot NR	In Multi shot mode, 4 successive images are captured and merged to average out noise. The camera must be set to a JPEG only mode.
Live view tab
Live View shoot.	• Enable • Disable
AF method	• + Tracking (face detect) • FlexiZone - Multi • FlexiZone - Single • Quick mode	Multi AF mode uses a 31 point AF area. Quick mode employs phase detect AF with live view disabled during focus acquisition
Continuous AF	• Enable • Disable
Touch Shutter	• Enable • Disable	Enable to release shutter by pressing the screen.
Grid display	• Off • Grid 1 • Grid 2	- Rule of Thirds Grid - 6x4 grid
Aspect ratio	• 3:2 • 4:3 • 16:9 • 1:1
Metering timer	• 4 sec • 16 sec • 30 sec • 1 min • 10 min • 30 min

In movie mode, the live view tab is replaced by two movie-related tabs.


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Movie tab 1
AF method	• + Tracking (face detect) • FlexiZone - Multi • FlexiZone - Single	Multi AF mode uses a 31 point AF area.
Movie Servo AF	• Enable • Disable	With movie servo enabled, lens operation may be audible
AF w/shutter button during movie rec.	• One shot • Disable
Grid display	• Off • Grid 1 • Grid 2	- Rule of Thirds Grid - 6x4 grid
Metering timer	• 4 sec • 16 sec • 30 sec • 1 min • 10 min • 30 min
Movie tab 2
Movie rec. size	• 1920 x 1080 (30/25fps) • 1920 x 1080 (24fps) • 1280 x 720 (60/50fps) • 640 x 480 (30/25fps)	Selects movie recording size and frame rate. Frame rates of 30/60fps are recorded in NTSC mode, 25/50fps in PAL.
Sound recording	• Sound recording Auto Manual Disable • Rec. level (1-5) • Wind filter Disable Enable • Attenuator Disable Enable	Sound recording levels are displayed underneath the settings. Attenuator can be enabled to reduce distortion in very loud environments.
Video snapshot	• Enable • Disable • Snapshot length 2 sec. movie 4 sec. movie 8 sec. movie • Album settings Create a new album Cancel OK Add to existing album Make selection	Short videos of pre-determined length can be saved and grouped into albums.

Picture Style

The Picture Styles are a range of pre-programmed image parameter sets intended to deliver the best results in different situations. Each Picture Style has its own preset mapping for tone and color response as well as providing the ability to tune sharpness, contrast, saturation and color tone for each. For instance the default sharpening for the Standard Picture Style is level 3, if you prefer a more subtle effect you can just adjust it downwards. Sharpness has 8 levels, contrast, saturation and color tone all have have 9 levels.

Playback Section (blue)

The playback menus is where you'll find controls for post-capture editing, image rating, slideshow operation and image navigation options.


Option	Values / Actions	Notes
Playback tab 1
Protect images	• Select images • All images in folder Select folder • Unprotect all images in folder • All images on card Ok Cancel • Unprotect all images on card	Protect mode, allows you to browse images either in a single image or thumbnail view and mark each image as protected (or un-protect). This simply sets the read-only flag on the SD card file system.
Rotate	(Left/Right to select image, SET to rotate)	This option allows you to rotate an image on-screen by 90 or 270 degrees. It doesn't actually rotate the JPEG file, but marks its orientation.
Erase images	• Select and erase images • All images in folder Select folder • All images on card OK Cancel
Print order	• Select images • By folder Mark all in folder Clear all in folder • All images • Set up Print type Standard Index Both Date On Off File no. On Off	Allows you to create a DPOF print order file, for use with compatible printers or photo finishers.
Photobook Set-up	• Select images • All images in folder Select folder • Clear all in folder Select folder • All images on card OK Cancel • Clear all on card OK Cancel	Allows you to create an EOS Utility-compatible photobook.
Creative filters	• Grainy B/W • Soft focus • Fish-eye effect • Art Bold effect • Water Painting effect • Toy camera • Miniature	Press Set to access filter choices and then a second time to adjust individual filter settings
Resize	• M (8MP) • S1 (4.5MP) • S2 (2.5MP) • S3 (.03MP)
Playback tab 2
Cropping	• Select image, press 'set' to crop, adjust crop using onscreen controls.
Histogram disp	• Brightness • RGB
Image jump w/ main dial	• 1 image • 10 images • 100 images • Date • Folder • Movies • Stills • By Image Rating (1 star to 5 star)
Slide show	• Select files All images Date Folder Movies Stills Rating • Set up Display time 1 sec 2 sec 3 sec 5 sec 10 sec 20 sec Repeat Enable Disable Transition Effect Off Slide in 1 Slide in 2 Fade 1 Fade 2 Fade 3 • Background music Only if music files are avail. • Start
Rating	• 0 - 5 stars
Ctrl over HDMI	• Disable • Enable	Allows control of camera over HDMI using compatible remotes

GearShop

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 DSLR Camera, Body Only●	$599.00	Buy on GearShop
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 DSLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-S IS STM Lens●		Buy on GearShop

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touchscreen and Full HD Movie Mode (Body Only)	$599.00
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM Lens	Too low to display
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touchscreen and Full HD Movie Mode (Body Only)	$599.00
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM Lens + Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens	Too low to display
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens with EF-S 55-250mm IS Lens + 32GB Card + Battery + Case + Filter + Tripod Kit	$849.95
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm EF-S IS STM Lens + Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens	$799.00
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens (Import) for Canon EOS 7D, 60D, 70D, Rebel SL1, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i, T5i, XS, XSi, XT, & XTi Digital SLR Cameras + 6pc Bundle Accessory Kit	$177.77
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens with EF-S 55-250mm IS Lens + 32GB Card + Battery + Case + Flash + Tele/Wide Lenses Kit	$849.95
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II Telephoto Zoom Lens (Import) for Canon EOS 7D, 60D, EOS Rebel SL1, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i, T5i, XS, XSi, XT, & XTi Digital SLR Cameras + 10pc Bundle Deluxe Accessory Kit	$186.00
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon EOS 1D, 1DS, 1DX, 5D Mark II/III, 6D, 7D, 40D, 60D, EOS Rebel SL1, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i, T5i, XS, XSi, XT, & XTi Digital SLR Cameras + 6pc Bundle Accessory Kit	$429.95
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR Camera & EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens with EF 75-300mm III Lens + 64GB Card + Battery + Backpack + 2 Lenses + Accessory Kit	$799.95

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Comments

Total comments: 18

This looks like a great camera but I have Canon EOS Rebel T31 and absolutely love it. Alright, call me old fashion or old school but all those attachments associated with digital cameras scare me to death so a neighbor recommended the Canon EOS Rebel T3i as a good choice for a beginner photographer like me. There are so many brands and types of digital cameras in the market today that it is stressful for me to even think about buying one.
I did buy the Canon EOS Rebel T3i http://www.squidoo.com/canon-eos-canon-eos-rebel-t3i-camera-review-best-price but not without a lot of stress.

0 upvotes

This camera really is tiny. Compared to Sony's a230, which was the smallest of its time, it is about the same size, but he SL1 can shoot 4fps compared to 2.5, and has a much bigger buffer, and has 18mp instead of 10.2, and has a touhscreen, etc.

I think this is a great camera for the size and pice.

0 upvotes

40mm 2.8 STM is a full frame lens and it become 64mm equivalent if we use it with EOS 100D. So you really cant use for street photography. It is really perplexing to me why Canon is not making any pancake lens for EFS, like M22mm F2 (equvalent to 35mm full frame) they made for EOS M. They can easily modify that lens to be used with 100D. The combined small form factor with any 24, 28 or 35mm equivalen pancake lens EFS will be a big selling boost for 100D and other Canon APC SLRs.

I think Canon should rethink in their lens line up strategy.

1 upvote

Despite what the review says the 40mm 2.8 STM (pancake) lens is an EF lens, not an EF-S lens. (at least when I last looked at mine)

Now as a result of Canon just announcing the 55-250 IS STM lens, Canon will have three EF-S STM lenses. But it did not when this review was written.

0 upvotes

The Multi Shot Noise Reduction is a real killer of a feature.

4 super fast frames merged into one image for a clean (noiseless) low light photo.

This feature is on the Fuji X series (the X10 has it) and now here on the 100D.

1 upvote

The size is quite similar to my sony alpha 55. I was quite deceived when they decided to grow up the 57 and further models. Really don't know why. It's a great positive point in my opinion for this camera...
http://camerasize.com/compare/#448,238

Comment edited 34 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

I rented one of these in May to take on a short vacation rather than drag my much heavier camera along. I debated renting one of the mirrorless models, but this had just been announced and seemed like an interesting choice. I used it almost entirely with the 40mm pancake lens. It was terrific. Barely noticed it hanging around my neck. I owned an original Digital Rebel way back when - this kit is noticeably smaller and lighter. The touch screen really helps when you're used to a camera with lots of dedicated buttons.

There's more on my blog about it with a few shots. This was from the point of view of a photographer who shoots Manual or Av, so there's nothing about the picture modes. It's here: http://www.addrummimages.com/2013/05/19/new-orleans-and-the-canon-sl1/

For geeky info about size and weight, I did a follow-up post here: http://www.addrummimages.com/2013/05/25/canon-sl1-followup/

FWIW...
Tony

0 upvotes

Hi Yonsarh, I've been thinking the same! Back to film....But I don't think this will happen. The camera companies have spent so much in digital photgraphy. Even the "super-cameras" like Hasselblad did it. Although you still can buy Hasselblad cameras which use film....So, I don't know. I alwys loved to work in the dark room, developing my own films and print the pics myself. My tool; a Hasselblad EL/M, build in 1973, with a 100 mm Zeiss-lens. Big fun!!!!! We'll wait and see.. :-)

0 upvotes

No, in the future, the sensor price will so cheap that it will cost less than a dollar and camera image sensor will be used on everywhere. So we could expect end of digital photography and people will eventuallly come back to film again.

1 upvote

I wonder how it is that the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 has a DPreview Gold Award (an overall score of 78%), whereas the more sophisticated 60D has only managed a Silver Award in your Review (with an overall score of 79%)??!!

1 upvote

If you haven't noticed 100D is entry level while 60D is mid level. DPreview warns that different categories scores are not directly comperable.

3 upvotes

I have noticed this too with other cameras and it doesn't make sense to me. Why don't you standardize your rating system.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

1 upvote

What is the meaning of the percentile and gold award anyway? I am trying to find the legend on the percentile and award but the explanations is nowhere.

Comment edited 47 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Its funny how this is considered a radical, minaturised design, yet its the same size as the 450D/500D was 4-5 years ago. The internal functions, pentaprism, sensor size have been similar all along.

The biggest change has been the flip screen. Who uses that regularly?

3 upvotes

I just upgraded from an EOS 400D to the 100D. The 100D *is* definitely a smaller camera.

Comment edited 15 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

I'm trawling through to find out what AF points this has, apart from the hybrid sensor...

Any takers?

0 upvotes

Same as Rebel T5i, T4i, T3i - 9-points.
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_rebel_sl1_18_55mm_is_stm_kit#Specifications

0 upvotes

>>>>>>Autofocusing with a USM or other lens in either mode is still difficult, however, and fraught with cumbersome seeking during video and long autofocus lag for stills <<<< Does that mean a Sigma 18-->200 zoom, for example??

0 upvotes

Total comments: 18

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