Sony a100 vs Canon EOS Rebel XS

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony a100 and Canon EOS Rebel XS. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony a100 is manufacturered by Sony but Canon EOS Rebel XS is from Canon. Both Sony and Canon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Both these cameras are DSLR cameras. No difference there.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony a100 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Canon EOS Rebel XS has a "Canon APS-C"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Canon)

Resolution

Sony a100 has a 10 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Canon EOS Rebel XS has 10,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Canon EOS Rebel XS has a 0 % larger resolution than Sony a100. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Both of these cameras offer the exact same ISO range. They both have 100 to 1600.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony a100
Lens compatibility chart for Canon EOS Rebel XS

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony a100 can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds and Canon EOS Rebel XS can shoot up to 3 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

Though, neither Sony a100 or Canon EOS Rebel XS can shoot movies so if that is a functionality that you are really looking for you should look elsewhere.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Sony a100 weighs 638 gr (equal to 1.41 lb) which is 27% heavier than Canon EOS Rebel XS and its 502 gr (or 1.11 lb).

Sony a100 vs Canon EOS Rebel XS Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony a100 and Canon EOS Rebel XS, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Name	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Manufacturer	Sony	Canon
Release Date and Price	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Release Year	2006	2008
Release Date	2006-06-05	2008-06-10
MSRP	899 USD	599 USD
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Camera Type	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Camera Type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)	APS-C (approx 22.3 x 14.9 mm)
Sensor Type	CCD	CMOS
Resolution	3872 x 2592 pixels	3888 x 2592 pixels
Megapixels	10 MP	10,1 MP
Image Processor	Bionz	DIGIC 3
Image	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
ISO Range	100 - 1600	100 - 1600
White Balance Presets	7	6
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift)	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	0 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW
Optics & Focus	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous	Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous
Focus Points	9	7
Lens Mount	Sony A See Compatible Lenses	Canon EF Canon EF-S See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	APS-C Sensor 1.6x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 38 mm 50 mm becomes 80 mm 100 mm becomes 160 mm 200 mm becomes 320 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Articulated LCD	No	Fixed
Screen size	2.5”	2.5”
Screen dots	230000	230000
Touch screen	No	No
Screen type	N/A	TFT LCD
Live view	No	Yes
Viewfinder Type	Optical (pentamirror)	Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	95%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.83× (0.55× 35mm equiv.)	0.81× (0.51× 35mm equiv.)
Viewfinder Resolution	N/A	N/A
Photography features	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Frames per second	3 fps	3 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/4000 seconds	1/4000 seconds
Built-in Flash	Yes	Yes
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	13 meters
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Spot	Multi Center Weighted Partial
Exposure Compensation	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV steps)	+/- 2 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Video recording	No	No
Video format	N/A	N/A
Video resolution	N/A	N/A
Built-in Microphone	No	No
Built-in Speakers	No	No
Storage	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Memory Card	Compact Flash	SD/SDHC
Connectivity	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
HDMI Output	No	No
Microphone Port	No	No
Headphone Port	No	No
Wireless	No	No
Remote Control	Yes (Wire (Optional))	Yes (E3 connector)
GPS	No	No
Body & Dimensions	Sony a100	Canon EOS Rebel XS
Enviromentally sealed	No	No
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	Lithium-Ion (NP-FM55H) & charger	Lithium-Ion LP-E5 battery pack
Battery Life (CIPA)	750 shots	N/A
Width	133 mm	126 mm
Height	95 mm	98 mm
Depth	71 mm	65 mm
Weight	638 gram	502 gram