Worldwide smallest DSLR from Canon vs EOS-M
Image Source: Dpreview.
And here it is the smallest DSLR ever made! It is the new Canon EOS 100D/Rebel SL1. Price specs and preorders are up at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. So is that the right weapon for Canon to battle against the mirrorless system cameras?
Dpreview posted that size comparison between the previous Rebel T4i vs the new SL1 and the Canon own EOS-M mirrorless camera. The size reduction on the width has been noticeable but the camera is still almost as thick as the T41 making it rather bully compared to the EOS-M. And I doubt you can get any smaller than this as the limit is represented by the flange distance between mount and sensor. I don’t know what to think about a camera like the SL1. It is almost too small for a DSLR (can’t hold it well while looking into the viewfinder) and too big to fit in your pocket. What’s your opinion?
bonzo
3 months ago |Any proof for your statement?
Dpreview seems to be be quite happy with the ergonomics:
“Make no mistake though, upon first impression we find it impressive that Canon has been able to whittle away so much size and weight from a DSLR while still allowing it to operate like just about any recent Rebel camera.”
This might be a threat to NEX. Reasonably small body, APS sensor, lots of lenses….
KaiserX
3 months ago |Actually, yes, there is proof…
“…they’re targeting this camera towards women and it will be available at retailers everywhere–even Walmart.” -Canon marketing
Enjoy that girly Walmart special.
MdB
3 months ago |Yes while being almost exactly the same size as an a55. Canon copying Sony again, minus the innovation.
EOS-M is a 3 year old NEX-3 without a tilt screen
SL1 / 100D is a 3 year old a55 without the tilt screen, GPS or 10fps.
Honestly these are just sad.
kickars
3 months ago |No, this Canon is smaller than A55. In fact, it’s even smaller than A35/37. The only morden DSLR is similar in size is Pentax’s 5 year old K-r.
Nexer
3 months ago |I have to agree with bonzo, about the potential threat, and I use/own a NEX-5N with optional hi-rez viewfinder (which even with focus peaking still requires focus assist for manual focus).
The potential advantages I could see of the new Canon are optical viewfinder, much wider range of native mount autofocus image-stabilized lenses, faster autofocus, and more accessible (less menu-driven) controls.
What’s sad is believing that the native mount lens options for Sony can measure up to Canon or Nikon.
Sören
3 months ago |Well, the OVF in these small bodies are not the greatest thing on earth.
In small bodies, I prefer a good EVF, whereas a large and bright OVF is better than a EVF.
Eric Tastad
3 months ago |I agree. Pentax ist* DS was basically the same size 8 years ago, and the K-2000/K-m from 4 years ago were also about the same size and had the creative filters, etc. This is Canon finally admitting a smaller DSLR is a good idea, but goes to show that Canon knows how to market better than Pentax/Sony/Other brands. Sony has gotten better in the marketing department, but sadly, many photographers just don’t care about a camera if it doesn’t say CaNikon on it.
madmax
3 months ago |What threat? No near the size of a regular mirrorless and very big lenses too. Also is not any cheap and quality -all plastic, monoaural micro input (!) (this is a deal breaker for serious videographers)- is quite poor.
Sky
3 months ago |100D is smaller than some of m4/3 mirrorless, while offering optical viewfinder, APS-C sensor and GIGANTIC choice of lenses comparing to anything m4/3 have.
alexander
3 months ago |still much to big!
Tom
3 months ago |Well, at least you’re not saying that it’s too small, that opinion seems to be in vogue elsewhere. Not sure why people aren’t shooting their DSLRs by holding the lens, perhaps this is why camera shake is such an issue!
It is still on the large side but I love shooting my E-620 (this is smaller) and matches the weight which is what nearly everyone comments on! If they weren’t repackaging the same camera from several years ago I’d say well played Canon but they are and at a time when SLR sales will come from OVF lovers… this won’t appeal to them/me.
kickars
3 months ago |If Canon could make the flip up flash shorter, the whole camera would be much thinner. Coz the so called limitation from its flange distance isn’t what makes this camera that thick. It’s really the flash on the top.
IMO, small/compact DSLRs would work if you have attachable grips. So, when you use small lenses, you can just hold it as any range finders or mirrorless. However, it will also give you the freedom to hold the camera with big zoom lense with some kind attachable grip. Well, that’s how those old SLRs work. I don’t see why the same ‘modular design’ can’t be applied to morden DSLRs.
Nobody ever complained about Pentax’s MX series being too big due to the K-mount… In fact, they were famous for being tiny. Sure morden DSLR need an rear screen which makes up some of the thickness. But, by how much? 5mm the max. And autofocus lenses can be small enough too. Just have a look at Pentax’s Limited range, even its FA Limiteds.
It’s just like cars getting bigger and bigger all the time. MK1 Golf vs. MK6 Golf. But, that doesn’t mean VW can’t produce small cars. Now, they made something called ‘Up!’ which is about the same size as MK1 Golf…
Mr.Tritium
3 months ago |Pure bullshit. Making the flip-up flash shorter will make almost NO DIFFERENCE. Look at this pic:
http://4.static.img-dpreview.com/files/news/5148234552/EOS-100D-SIDE-RIGHT-w-EF-S-18-55mm-IS-STM.jpg?v=2028
Canon has to develop a new DSLR mount with a shorter focal flange, ideally < 30mm. The pentax 110 mount had a 27mm flange, so it possible.
kickars
3 months ago |Can we at least keep our language clean?
The pic you showed me proves exactly what I said. The thickest point of the camera is between the rubber ring of its view finder and the forward tip of the flash. Unless you don’t don’t want the rubber ring, there’s nothing you can do to shorten the thickness from the view finder side. The only way to make the maximum of the thickness smaller is trying to reduce the length of its flash.
narutogrey
3 months ago |What he is trying to say is that shortening the flash will make no difference because the camera will always have either a lens or a body cap on it (except when cleaning the sensor or switching lenses). The thinnest lens or a standard body cap already protrudes more than the flash tip overhang.
Sky
3 months ago |wow, as if these few mm would make such a huge difference.
It still won’t be pocketable,just like most of mirrorless with lenses aren’t pocketable, so in the end: who cares?
You might, but in real world: difference is insignificant. While you loose the greatest advantage: an enormous choice of lenses unavailable in ANY mirrorless system.
Keith Cooper
3 months ago |Well, I never had a problem holding and using an OM2 or OM4, so I’m curious as to how it will handle – mind you, my 50/1.2 zuiko and 24/2.8 are nowhere near the size of my Canon primes, so the balance might not be there.
Looking forward to a full frame version
kuishinbou
3 months ago |The issue is not just the size or the Style…a Rebel series camera cannot compete with a Sony or a Fuji mirrorless camera because the image quality is very poor in comparison. Even the 7D has terrible image quality in comparison, and it is considered to be a step above DSLR. Unfortunately, Canon is missing the boat and losing in several due to their lack of innovation and give-the-bare-minimum approach: they will be inferior in size, style, innovation, and image quality. Although I am a Canon user, I may not be for very much longer…
cosinaphile
3 months ago |instead of improving the m system in terms of focus speed and lens catalog they are cowardly creating this dwarf… which does not really innovate where size is concerned
its small and bulky , instead of big and bulky
fuji went to mirrorless and had slow focus issue in the beginning , to their credit
they improved so mow the xe1 and x100 s has very good af
olympus ep1 didnt have the fastest af for all it innovation , but olympus stuck with it and the blazing fast ep3 and omdem5 are the result
nikon 1 system ….fast ass focus
so is canon , market leader over everyone else ,saying we dont have the know how
or desire to create a proper working canon m ?, that is pathetic , cowardly and unacceptable in such a camera company , …..just sayin
shy
3 months ago |A small “system” does not mean a small body. A small system also requires small objectives, primes for example. DSRL market has produced over the years larger and heavier objectives, including primes. A small system proposal will gain benefit proposing small objectives. I personally don’t feel attracted to “Mike Wazowski” designs, like Nex design, “huge eye on tiny body”
Sky
3 months ago |Canon got some small lenses, including tiny pancake. They also got some small flashes.
Deal done
Mark
3 months ago |Canon seems clueless these days. This camera seems totally useless to me. I hope, for their sake, that they have something else up their sleeve, otherwise they might just go the way of Kodak. I love Canon, but I haven’t seen anything intersting from them in a while.
stag
3 months ago |The camera looking useless to your eyes doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re clueless, nor that they’re going the way of Kodak. This is just one model in their (rather extensive) lineup, so of course they have something else up their sleeves. In short: Relax!
curiouspeter
3 months ago |What does this tell us about Canon’s commitment to mature their mirrorless offerings?
jlabate
3 months ago |Nice to see once again technology moving towards smaller versions of things. But it looks like this new Canon has about reached the limit for an SLR. The depth is not that much smaller than a Rebel’s.
The specs list the optical finder showing 95%/0.87X. Nothing appealing about that. You may or may not like EVF’s but typically they show a bright 100% at good magnification. And there are all the other advantages of EVF’s too like live histograms, grids, magnification options, focusing peaking, levels, etc. Plenty appealing about that.
curiouspeter
3 months ago |Well said. Pentamirror OVFs with low magnification are worthless. Users are much better served by good EVFs. I don’t understand why people are still buying low-end DSLRs. They should either get a mirrorless or something like 5D3/6D/7D for speed and/or sensor size.
hexx
3 months ago |precisely, that’s what I’ve been saying since the introduction of NEX/X-series.
Sky
3 months ago |Well, at least it got a viewfinder – most of mirrorless don’t offer this, or they have some horrible TFT EVF that’s perhaps bright, but pixelated and laggy.
So I’d say that the OVF is a plus. They could always go for a camera with no viewfinder at all. Somehow mirrorless people find it perfectly fine after all.
Mike
3 months ago |Whatever guys. This camera makes the EOS M & NEX obsolete. It is barely larger and has vastly superior ergonomics, especially when paired to APS-C lenses.
Ethan
3 months ago |Yes it will make smaller, lighter, quieter, evf, 10fps, hybrid af, higher DR, low noise, cameras a thing of the past. Man i will miss my nex camera.
Oh wait.
donthasslethehoff
3 months ago |How does this make the NEX obsolete? The NEX’s video quality, framing with a screen natively and smaller form factor make it appealing. Focus peeking also make it a more interesting choice.
Good on Canon for making their DSLR smaller. Pity they couldn’t find a way to make it better.
Sky
3 months ago |And whole 13 AF lenses… wow… so appealing… perfect tool for a photographer!
narutogrey
3 months ago |Being more than twice as big as both the EOS-M and NEX-7/6 is “barely larger”? It may have better ergonomics than the EOS-M, but the NEX-7/6 both seem to have better grips and hand placements. The SL1 looks like they just shrunk a traditional DSLR grip.
hexx
3 months ago |good joke
dick ranez
3 months ago |looks like another bicycle for fish
camaman
3 months ago |This is just Canon milking the old DSLR cow to the last drop!
In 2 years they will sing how mirrorless is the best choice for consumers. And all the consumers that don’t follow the market will think Canon invented mirrorless and is leading the innovation.
Joto
3 months ago |Impressive achievement from canon from size perspective. Smaller than gh3! The problem is the big lenses.
carpandean
3 months ago |Not that impressive when you compare features with a GH3. The GH3 has enthusiast (or higher) level features (weather sealing, numerous direct control dials, etc.), as well as handy features like the swivel screen. The GH3 is better compared with the 60D (or higher) and that’s not even considering its video capabilities. The G5 also has more/better features than the 100D/SL1, but it’s at least a closer comparison.
Canon stripped down their DSLRs as much as possible and it’s still just the size of the largest, most feature-rich mirrorless bodies. And then you add the lenses. Even if they expand the EF-S line, which they won’t (not as a complete lineup), it’s still a bigger system.
I moved to an E-M5 for its combination of system size and performance, and in no way would consider this a competitive product for my $$.
It will be fine for those who know that they want that “DSLR look and responsiveness”, but don’t actually know (or want to know) anything about cameras. The EF-S kit lens will stay stuck on the front and it won’t be too much to take to little Johnny’s soccer game. I suppose that it’s also not bad for a cheap/small back-up camera (not for professional work) for someone already invested in a Canon system.
Sky
3 months ago |Yes, GH3 got more features, but it’s also more expensive and lacks OVF. Two different categories. GH3 is just a toy for video people who can’t afford a real gear. 100D is a portable camera for photographers who care about lenses and want to have a secondary camera for travels while still taking a fully-fledged body with themselves.
Both got their own place on the market.
skyrim
3 months ago |And 100D is a toy for photo people who cannot afford a real photo gear.
rmrfstar
3 months ago |It’s the size of the lenses, stupid.
ISO 1638400
3 months ago |A baby dinosaur is still a dinosaur.
Sky
3 months ago |And toy is still a toy.
Mousse D
3 months ago |Guys, what some of you seem to miss, is the Canon Pancake that was announced not long time ago. Combined with that lens, this bundle doen’t seem too unattractive?
Micheal
3 months ago |I just see the words ‘compromise’ all over the place. The whole reason I invested in a MTF body + two primes, is so that I can travel with a camera in my pocket, and leave the D800 at home.
Homer J
2 months ago |Now Canon users can do the same and use their lenses.
I own 1Dx for work and use a fuji x-pro 1 for most of my other things. The 100D and a small prime might make an attractive every day portable camera for Canon users looking for something more portable that can use their lenses (and who don’t want to use the eos m).