First Camera / Beginner Photography — EOS R100 (2023): The R100 does the basics well at the lowest possible price point. Its main value is as a gateway into the Canon RF ecosystem — the lenses you buy now will work on any Canon body you upgrade to later. Modest ambitions, reliably met.
Compact Street & Travel Photography — X-E4 (2021): The X-E4 is for photographers who want the minimum camera that still delivers maximum image quality. If you love shooting from the rear screen and want the smallest possible X-mount body, this is your camera. If you need a viewfinder or IBIS, look at the X-S20 or X-T30 II.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
EOS R100 (2023)
X-E4 (2021)
A7 IV (2021)
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the eos r100 is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R100 (2023) | X-E4 (2021) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 | £699 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS IV | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 26.1MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/240p slow-motion, F-Log | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Phase-detect, 425 points, face/Eye detection | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6.5fps mechanical | 8fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~460 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 356g (body, battery, card) | 364g (body only) | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 121.3 × 72.9 × 32.7mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | None — rear screen only (EVF accessory available) | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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