Canon 500D vs R100

The Canon EOS 500D (called Canon T1i in some regions) and the Canon EOS R100 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in March 2009 and May 2023. The 500D is a DSLR, while the R100 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Both cameras are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The 500D has a resolution of 15.1 megapixels, whereas the R100 provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 500D		Canon R100
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF mount lenses
15.1 MP – APS-C sensor		24 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/20p Video		4k/24p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)		ISO 100-25,600
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots		3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3.4 shutter flaps per second		6.5 shutter flaps per second
400 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
129 x 98 x 62 mm, 520 g		116 x 86 x 69 mm, 356 g

Check 500D offers at
ebay.com
Check R100 price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 500D and the Canon EOS R100? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 500D and the Canon R100. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon R100 is notably smaller (21 percent) than the Canon 500D. Moreover, the R100 is markedly lighter (32 percent) than the 500D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 500D nor the R100 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 500D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	520 g	400	n	Mar 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
2.		Canon R100	116 mm	86 mm	69 mm	356 g	400	n	May 2023	EUR 579	amazon.com
3.		Canon 450D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	524 g	500	n	Jan 2008	EUR 699	ebay.com
4.		Canon 550D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	530 g	440	n	Feb 2010	EUR 649	ebay.com
5.		Canon 600D	133 mm	100 mm	80 mm	570 g	440	n	Feb 2011	EUR 549	ebay.com
6.		Canon 650D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	EUR 799	ebay.com
7.		Canon 700D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	580 g	440	n	Mar 2013	EUR 599	ebay.com
8.		Canon 750D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	555 g	440	n	Feb 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
9.		Canon 760D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	EUR 749	ebay.com
10.		Canon 1200D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	EUR 399	ebay.com
11.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
12.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	EUR 849	ebay.com
13.		Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	EUR 479	ebay.com
14.		Canon R10	123 mm	88 mm	83 mm	429 g	450	n	May 2022	EUR 979	amazon.com
15.		Canon R50	116 mm	86 mm	69 mm	375 g	230	n	Feb 2023	EUR 829	amazon.com
16.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	EUR 399	ebay.com
17.		Canon SX740	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	299 g	265	n	Jul 2018	EUR 399	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The R100 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 40 percent) than the 500D, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the R100 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 8) than the 500D (DIGIC 4), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the R100 offers a higher resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 15.1 MP of the 500D. This megapixels advantage translates into a 26 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the R100 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 4.69μm for the 500D). However, it should be noted that the R100 is much more recent (by 14 years and 2 months) than the 500D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the R100 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon R100 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the R100 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 500D are 23.8 x 15.8 inches or 60.4 x 40.2 cm for good quality, 19 x 12.7 inches or 48.3 x 32.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.8 x 10.6 inches or 40.2 x 26.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The R100 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 500D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS R100 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 500D	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	1080/20p	21.7	11.5	663	63
2.		Canon R100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4k/24p	24.1	13.9	2197	84
3.		Canon 450D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	none	21.9	10.8	692	61
4.		Canon 550D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	784	66
5.		Canon 600D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	793	65
6.		Canon 650D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
7.		Canon 700D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	681	61
8.		Canon 750D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.7	12.0	919	71
9.		Canon 760D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
10.		Canon 1200D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
11.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
12.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
13.		Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
14.		Canon R10	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4k/60p	24.1	13.8	2085	84
15.		Canon R50	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.1	13.9	2168	84
16.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	924	50
17.		Canon SX740	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1050	51
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the R100 provides a better video resolution than the 500D. It can shoot movie footage at 4k/24p, while the 500D is limited to 1080/20p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the R100 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 500D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the R100 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the 500D (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the R100 has a higher magnification (0.58x vs 0.54x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 500D and Canon R100 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 500D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.4/s	Y	n
2.		Canon R100	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	6.5/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 450D	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 550D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.7/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 600D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.7/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 650D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
7.		Canon 700D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
8.		Canon 750D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
9.		Canon 760D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
10.		Canon 1200D	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
11.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9/s	Y	Y
12.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2/s	Y	Y
13.		Canon M100	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1/s	Y	n
14.		Canon R10	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	Y	n
15.		Canon R50	2360	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/4000s	12.0/s	Y	n
16.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9/s	Y	Y
17.		Canon SX740	none	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0/s	Y	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the R100 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon R100 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 500D writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the R100 uses SDXC cards. The R100 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the 500D cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 500D and Canon EOS R100 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 500D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon R100	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon 450D	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon 550D	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 600D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 650D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 700D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 750D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon 760D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon 1200D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Canon M100	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
14.		Canon R10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
15.		Canon R50	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
16.		Canon SX730	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
17.		Canon SX740	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y

It is notable that the R100 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 500D does not provide wifi capability.

The R100 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the 500D has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 500D was succeeded by the Canon 550D. Further information on the features and operation of the 500D and R100 can be found, respectively, in the Canon 500D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon R100 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon 500D better than the Canon R100 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 500D:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2009).

Advantages of the Canon EOS R100:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 15.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 8 vs DIGIC 4).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4k/24p vs 1080/20p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.58x vs 0.54x).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 920k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6.5 vs 3.4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (116x86mm vs 129x98mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 164g or 32 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (40 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 14 years and 2 months of technical progress since the 500D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the R100 is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 3 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 500D and the Canon R100 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 500D and the R100 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon 500D	..	+ +	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	EUR 699	ebay.com
2.		Canon R100	3/5	o	4.5/5	79/100	..	3.5/5	May 2023	EUR 579	amazon.com
3.		Canon 450D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	EUR 699	ebay.com
4.		Canon 550D	..	+ +	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	EUR 649	ebay.com
5.		Canon 600D	3/5	o	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	EUR 549	ebay.com
6.		Canon 650D	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	EUR 799	ebay.com
7.		Canon 700D	..	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2013	EUR 599	ebay.com
8.		Canon 750D	5/5	..	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	EUR 699	ebay.com
9.		Canon 760D	5/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	EUR 749	ebay.com
10.		Canon 1200D	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	EUR 399	ebay.com
11.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
12.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	EUR 849	ebay.com
13.		Canon M100	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Aug 2017	EUR 479	ebay.com
14.		Canon R10	4/5	..	4.5/5	87/100	4/5	4.5/5	May 2022	EUR 979	amazon.com
15.		Canon R50	4/5	+ +	4.5/5	84/100	..	4.5/5	Feb 2023	EUR 829	amazon.com
16.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	EUR 399	ebay.com
17.		Canon SX740	..	+	3.5/5	..	4/5	4/5	Jul 2018	EUR 399	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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