Canon EOS 100D vs Sony SLT-A68: An In-Depth Entry-Level DSLR Face-Off

Choosing a dependable entry-level DSLR or DSLR-style camera can be a tough call these days. Two notable contenders that often appear on enthusiast radars are Canon’s EOS 100D (also known as EOS Rebel SL1) and Sony’s SLT-A68. Both improved upon their predecessors but arrived with markedly different philosophies, making for an interesting comparison by 2024 standards.

Having extensively tested both cameras - including lab measurements, field shooting across various genres, and direct side-by-side evaluations - I’m excited to unpack how these two cameras stack up across image quality, handling, autofocus, and overall usability for different photography styles.

Let’s dive deep, lens capped, to discern which might suit your needs best.

Getting a Feel for the Physical Cameras: Size, Ergonomics, and Controls

Right out of the gate, the Canon 100D stakes its claim as one of the smallest DSLR bodies ever produced. Weighing only 407g with dimensions of 117x91x69mm, it’s a compact powerhouse that fits well into smaller hands or crowded travel bags. The Sony A68, on the other hand, weighs in heavier at 610g and measures a bulkier 143x104x81mm, reflecting its SLT (Single-Lens Translucent) mirror technology design, which is somewhat between a DSLR and mirrorless in ergonomics.

This size difference is more than a trivial footnote - it directly affects how the cameras handle in practice. The A68’s pronounced grip offers more confidence during extended use or when paired with heavier lenses, especially telephoto zooms favored in wildlife or sports photography. The Canon’s dimensions prioritize portability and discretion, ideal for travel or street photographers preferring a low-profile setup.

Moving to the top view controls, the Canon 100D sports a very streamlined, minimalist layout that emphasizes simplicity - great for beginners who want to learn exposure controls without being buried under buttons.

By contrast, the Sony A68 presents a more traditional DSLR-esque control scheme, including a dedicated top LCD screen and more shortcut buttons, affording granular control for photographers seeking direct access to settings without delving into menus. Note: The presence of a top screen on the A68, which the 100D lacks, can be a decisive usability factor in certain shooting environments, such as bright outdoor conditions where rear LCD visibility diminishes.

Sensor and Image Quality: More Pixels, More Detail?

The Canon 100D features an 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor sized at 22.3 x 14.9 mm, while the Sony A68 boasts a higher-resolution 24MP APS-C sensor, measuring a larger 23.5 x 15.6 mm, taking advantage of a subtly bigger sensor area - from about 332 to 367mm².

In practical terms, the Sony’s sensor delivers a measurable boost in detail, especially when tightly cropping landscapes or studio portraits. This advantage is backed by its superior DxO Mark scores: an overall score of 79 compared to Canon’s 63, with notably better color depth (24.1 vs. 21.8 bits) and dynamic range (13.5 vs. 11.3 EV). What this means in the field is Sony’s superior ability to capture finer tonal gradations and preserve highlight and shadow detail, a boon for high-contrast situations such as landscape sunsets or concert low lighting.

The Canon sensor shines with respectable low-light ISO performance, rated up to ISO 12800 native and boosted to 25600, though image noise becomes quite noticeable beyond ISO 3200 in my tests. Sony’s top native ISO also hits 25600, but its improved sensor and processor combination yields cleaner images in dim conditions - critical for night or wildlife photographers shooting handheld in shadowy twilights.

Live View, Screen, and Viewfinder: Modern Viewing Experiences

Both cameras offer live view functionality as a modern convenience, yet their display implementations diverge.

The Canon 100D takes a 3-inch fixed touchscreen LCD with 1,040K-dot resolution. The touchscreen interface is a rarity for DSLRs of its time and affords quick, intuitive focus point selection and menu navigation, an excellent feature for beginners or on-the-go shooters.

Sony’s A68 sports a smaller 2.7-inch tilting screen without touchscreen capabilities and a lower 461K-dot resolution. While less modern in interface, the tilting design helps when shooting awkward angles, such as macro from low or high perspectives.

Viewing through the eyepiece further highlights their fundamental design difference: Canon relies on a traditional pentamirror optical viewfinder with 95% frame coverage and 0.55x magnification, whereas Sony uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with full 100% coverage and a higher 0.57x magnification.

The electronic viewfinder offers real-time exposure previews, histograms, and focus peaking - tools that notably improve composition and focus accuracy for landscape and studio shooters but sometimes suffer from slight lag or reduced visibility in bright environments. Optical EVFs, meanwhile, provide a natural viewing experience with zero delays but lack the digital aids.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Tracking Speed and Accuracy

For many photographers, particularly in wildlife and sports, autofocus (AF) is king. Here the Sony A68 impresses with its 79-point autofocus system featuring 15 cross-type points, teamed with phase-detection AF thanks to the SLT technology’s semi-transparent mirror. This grants swift, reliable autofocus tracking, even in continuous AF mode.

Canon’s 100D is more modest, offering only a 9-point AF system with a single cross-type sensor centered in the frame - a historically entry-level formula that struggles in fast action or low contrast subjects by 2024 standards.

When it comes to burst shooting, the higher AF capabilities of the A68 couple with an 8fps continuous shooting rate, over twice the Canon’s 3.0fps. Practically, this makes capturing decisive moments in sports or wildlife much more feasible on the Sony.

In-Field Image Samples: What Do They Really Look Like?

No technical spec sheet can replace one critical question: how do the images actually compare when shooting side-by-side under real-world conditions?

Canon 100D front Canon 100D screen back Sony A68 front Sony A68 screen back

I put both cameras through their paces, from delicate portraits to sweeping landscapes and fast wildlife action.

• Portraits: Both deliver pleasing skin tones typical of their brand identities - warm and natural on Canon, slightly more neutral on Sony. The Sony’s higher resolution and cleaner mid-ISO noise provides a bit more detail in hair and eye catchlights. However, neither camera supports the more modern Eye AF or animal eye detection autofocus systems.
• Landscapes: The Sony’s superior dynamic range manifests in richer shadow detail and retained highlights on bright clouds. The Canon 100D produces respectable but slightly flatter files that need more aggressive post-processing.
• Wildlife and Sports: The Sony A68’s faster burst rate and AF tracking trump the Canon, yielding many more keepers from fast action sequences.
• Street and Travel: Here the Canon’s smaller size and lighter weight mean less conspicuous shooting and easier carrying all day, a critical advantage for urban photographers.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photography

Video enthusiasts will be slightly restricted with both. The Canon records full HD up to 30fps with H.264 and Motion JPEG codecs, while the Sony supports 1080p up to 60 interlaced fps using MPEG-4, AVCHD, and XAVC S formats, offering more frame rate flexibility and better codec options.

Both have built-in microphones but lack headphone outputs, limiting on-the-fly audio monitoring. Neither supports 4K capture or advanced video features like log profiles or in-body stabilization (though the Sony does have sensor stabilization).

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

On endurance, Sony’s A68 offers a robust 510 shot battery life rating, superior to Canon’s 380 shots per charge. The difference is notable for extended outings or professional workflows reliant on reliability.

Both cameras utilize single SD card slots, but the Sony also supports Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo format for backward compatibility. None offer dual slots, an important consideration for pros needing redundancy.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Making the Most of Your Investment

Canon’s EF and EF-S lens mount features an extensive selection of over 320 lenses, a time-tested ecosystem spanning affordable optics to professional L-series prime and zoom lenses. This breadth of choice aids beginners growing into specialized genres.

Sony’s A68 uses the Sony/Minolta Alpha mount, supporting around 143 native lenses. While respectable, it lags Canon’s diversity, particularly in specialized prime lenses or third-party support.

Connectivity and Extras: The Little Things Matter

Both cameras offer Eye-Fi compatibility for wireless image transfer, but have no native Bluetooth or NFC connectivity, a drawback amid 2024 standards emphasizing mobile integration.

USB ports support only USB 2.0 speeds, and both provide full-size HDMI out for external monitors.

Neither camera boasts weather sealing or environmental protections, so users must exercise caution in harsh conditions.

Overall Ratings and Genre-Specific Scores

For those who prefer quick, quantified comparisons, here’s a snapshot summary of overall and genre-specific performance based on extended testing and DxO Mark metrics.

• The Sony A68 generally ranks higher in most performance areas, particularly autofocus, burst shooting, and dynamic range.
• The Canon 100D shines in portability and ease of use, often favored by casual shooters or those prioritizing pocket-friendly build.

Strengths and Weaknesses Summarized

Who Should Choose Which?

Consider the Canon EOS 100D if:

• You want the lightest, most portable entry-level DSLR for travel or street photography.
• You prefer intuitive touchscreen controls and a beginner-friendly interface.
• Your photography is mostly casual or lifestyle-oriented with occasional portraits and landscapes.
• You already own Canon lenses or want access to an established, vast lens selection.
• You’re budget-conscious and want good image quality without needing pro-level AF or burst.

Consider the Sony SLT-A68 if:

• You seek faster autofocus with superior tracking for wildlife, sports, or fast action.
• You value higher resolution with better dynamic range for landscape or studio work.
• You need longer battery life and more robust burst shooting capability.
• You’re comfortable with a somewhat bulkier body in exchange for grip and control.
• Video shooting is part of your workflow requiring smoother frame rates.

Final Thoughts: More Than Just Specs

After long hours shooting both in controlled environments and unpredictable field conditions - from cramped city streets to sprawling wildlife preserves - the choice ultimately rests on your specific photographic needs.

The Canon 100D remains a compact, friendly DSLR that’s a reliable travel companion and learning tool, while the Sony A68’s stronger autofocus, higher resolution, and longer endurance make it a contender for more demanding entry-level users willing to tolerate its size.

Neither camera breaks new ground by 2024, but both offer solid value for passionate photographers seeking budget-conscious ways into interchangeable-lens photography.

Choosing between them is less about ranking “better” and more about matching a camera’s strengths with your photography style and ambitions. Whatever your choice, these two cameras represent thoughtful designs reflecting their brand philosophies and era-specific innovations.

Happy shooting - and may your images always have that perfect focus.

This comparison was distilled from extensive hands-on testing including side-by-side shooting, lab sensor measurements, and real-world workflow trials in diverse conditions - helping you decide with clarity and confidence.