Budget Gear on Photo Video Gear

Canon EOS R100 Review: The $479 Mirrorless Camera and What Canon Left Out to Hit That Price

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Canon EOS R100 is the cheapest way into Canon’s RF system. It launched in May 2023 at $479 for the body and $599 with the RF-S 18-45mm kit zoom. It’s small, it weighs about 356 grams with battery and card, and it has a viewfinder, which is more than many phone-replacement cameras offer.

It’s also a camera defined by what it doesn’t have. Knowing those gaps is the key to deciding whether it’s for you.

Canon EOS R8 Review: R6 Mark II Image Quality in Canon's Lightest Full-Frame Body

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Canon EOS R8 has a simple pitch. Take the sensor, processor and autofocus from the R6 Mark II, put them in a much smaller and cheaper body, and leave out the expensive extras. It launched in early 2023 at $1,499 for the body, about $1,000 less than the R6 II, and weighs about 461 grams with battery and card.

That makes it one of the cheapest ways into modern full-frame, and one of the lightest.

Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Review: The Cheapest Way to 400mm on Canon Mirrorless

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most telephoto zooms that reach 400mm cost thousands and weigh well over a kilo. The Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM costs about $650 and weighs around 635 grams. It’s light enough to carry on a hike, cheap enough to buy on a whim, and a lot sharper than the price suggests.

That’s why it became one of Canon’s most popular RF lenses. It’s the default “first long lens” for R50, R10, R8 and R6 Mark II owners who want to try birds, kids’ sports or airshows without committing serious money.

Nikon Z5II Review: Flagship Autofocus Turns Nikon's Entry Full-Frame Camera Into a Bargain

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Entry-level full-frame cameras used to mean old technology at a lower price. The Nikon Z5II doesn’t play that game. Announced in April 2025 at $1,699 for the body, it gets the Expeed 7 processor and subject-detection autofocus from the Z8 and Z9, a back-side illuminated 24.5MP sensor, and one of the brightest viewfinders in its class.

The original Z5 from 2020 was a sensible budget camera with slow autofocus and cropped 4K. The Mark II is a much bigger jump than the name suggests.