While Canon produces a wide range of imaging products, from printers to MRI machines, it's probably best known as one of the world's leading manufacturers of cameras. Canon's long history of producing high-quality lenses and cameras has made it a favorite among professional photographers and enthusiasts. It also offers a variety of more accessible and affordable cameras for users of all experience levels. Canon cameras generally have great ergonomics, accessible controls and user interfaces, and class-leading autofocus systems.
We've bought and tested over 100 cameras in our lab, and below, you'll find our top recommendations among Canon's extensive camera lineup.
Updates
- 03/21/2024 Canon EOS R7 updated
- 02/16/2024 Canon EOS R6 Mark II updated
- 01/30/2024 Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D updated
- 12/07/2023 Canon EOS Rebel T7 / EOS 2000D updated
- 08/30/2023 Canon EOS R10 reviewed
Best Canon Cameras
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Best Canon Camera
Travel Photography7.9Landscape Photography8.2Sport & Wildlife Photography8.3Raw Photo Performance8.6Vlogging7.8Studio Video9.2Action Video5.8The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is the best Canon camera for photography. It takes everything that made the original Canon EOS R6 great and adds a higher-resolution sensor, faster e-shutter burst shooting, uncropped 4k video, and no recording time limit. All of that combines to make one of the most versatile cameras for advanced photo and video work at this price point.
The biggest downside is that lens selection is still a bit limited compared to more established lens ecosystems. Canon's strict third-party licensing means fewer overall lens options as they slowly build out the native RF lens lineup. However, you can adapt any EF lens perfectly using the EF-EOS R lens adapter, though you'll have to buy the adapter at an additional cost. Still, if you're looking for a camera that can take stunning images with a set-it-and-forget-it autofocus system, excellent ergonomics, and advanced video specs, the R6 Mark II is hard to beat for enthusiast-level shooters.
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Best Mid-Range Canon Camera
Travel Photography8.1Landscape Photography7.6Sport & Wildlife Photography8.7Raw Photo Performance7.5Vlogging7.7Studio Video9.0Action Video5.7If the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is out of your price range, the Canon EOS R7 is one of the best APS-C cameras that Canon has to offer. There are more portable APS-C cameras out there, but the R7 is a remarkably versatile camera. With quick 15 fps burst shooting and a highly sophisticated autofocus system borrowed from the pro-level Canon EOS R3, it's a fantastic choice for action photography. It's also very well-rounded for video work, with in-body image stabilization (IBIS) and 4k recording at up to 60 fps.
The R7 suffers from the same problem as the R6 and other R-series cameras in that lens selection is still somewhat limited for the RF mount, but you can always adapt EF/EF-S DSLR lenses if you have them. Speaking of DSLRs, if you don't mind giving up some of the R7's advanced video specs, the Canon EOS 90D is a great alternative with a higher resolution and longer battery life. It's also cheaper than the R7, though it's even bulkier and falls short of mirrorless models for video work.
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Best Entry-Level Canon Camera
Travel Photography7.8Landscape Photography7.8Sport & Wildlife Photography8.4Raw Photo Performance7.5Vlogging7.6Studio Video8.3Action Video4.9The Canon EOS R10 is the best entry-level camera in Canon's mirrorless lineup. In typical Canon fashion, it's lightweight with an accessible user interface and controls, good ergonomics, and a fully articulated screen. It's a bit more portable than the Canon EOS R7 but doesn't feel as premium or sturdy, with no weather-sealing. You also lose out on more advanced features like IBIS and dual SD card slots.
Still, the sensor captures excellent image quality, and the camera uses essentially the same autofocus system as its higher-end sibling, so it can accurately track moving subjects. It's also a surprisingly capable video camera, with 4k recording at up to 60 fps, albeit with a significant crop at 60 fps, and internal 10-bit capture in its HDR PQ mode, despite lacking more advanced features like Log recording. Ultimately, this is the best Canon camera for beginners and budding hobbyists, offering a great balance of features for its price.
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Best Budget Canon Camera
Travel Photography7.9Landscape Photography7.5Sport & Wildlife Photography8.0Raw Photo Performance7.4Vlogging8.0Studio Video8.1Action Video4.9The Canon EOS R50 is one of the best budget mirrorless cameras on the market. Its highly portable, lightweight design makes it a great everyday or travel camera. It's also one of the best Canon cameras for beginners, thanks to simple controls and intuitive auto modes. Image quality is great for its class, using the same sensor as the Canon EOS R10 above, and it has a very effective autofocus system, albeit less advanced than higher-end models.
Unlike the older Canon EOS M50 Mark II, the R50 uses the RF lens mount, so you can pair it with both APS-C and full-frame RF lenses, making it a good camera to grow with as a photographer. That said, if you aren't fussed about lenses or future-proofing, the M50 Mark II is still a good budget camera, and you can find it even cheaper. However, it isn't the best Canon camera for video, with very limited 4k video capabilities compared to the new and improved R50.
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Best Canon DSLR Camera
Travel Photography7.0Landscape Photography7.7Sport & Wildlife Photography7.3Raw Photo Performance8.1Vlogging3.7Studio Video7.5Action Video3.4While mirrorless cameras have largely won the camera wars, Canon still offers some fantastic DSLRs, including the full-frame Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, which is one of the best Canon cameras for photography. The 5D series has long been a favorite among professional photographers, and for good reason. If you need something lightweight and portable, you'll want to look elsewhere, but this camera is built to withstand heavy use day in and day out, and it's got a battery life to match for long shooting days. Canon's excellent ergonomics are also on display here, with a roomy grip and plenty of physical controls you can customize.
At 30.4 megapixels, the sensor gives you plenty of leeway to crop and edit your photos, and it has excellent dynamic range and noise handling for low-light situations. The EF mount also includes a well-established lineup of lenses to suit all kinds of photography styles and needs. And if the camera's price tag is too steep for you, you can step down to the Canon EOS 6D Mark II or find a deal on older models in the 5D series, which still provide sturdy builds and pro-level image quality.
Compared To Other Brands
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Intuitive menu systems.
Canon's menu systems are easy to navigate and laid out intuitively. Creative shooting modes and guide modes make it easy for new users to pick up a camera and start shooting. -
Great ergonomics.
Most Canon cameras are comfortable to use, with easily accessible controls and roomy handgrips that allow you to maintain a secure hold. -
Impressive photo autofocus performance.
Most Canon cameras, especially newer mirrorless models, have fantastic autofocus systems with sophisticated AI and tracking capabilities. -
Wide array of models for different user needs.
With plenty of releases over the last several years, Canon has built an extensive lineup of camera bodies to suit various uses, experience levels, and budgets.
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Short battery life on some models.
While battery life can vary drastically with real-world usage, some of Canon's interchangeable-lens mirrorless and compact models struggle with battery life. -
Heat management.
Some of Canon's compact and interchangeable-lens mirrorless offerings can overheat somewhat frequently, especially when recording 4k video, which can interrupt your recording sessions. -
Limited third-party lens options for the RF-mount.
Canon has been reticent in allowing third-party manufacturers to produce RF-mount lenses, leaving fewer lens options.
Canon vs Nikon
Canon and Nikon have long been rivals, going back to the days of film photography. But Canon's head start in mirrorless gives the brand an edge when it comes to selection—you're more likely to find a Canon camera that suits your needs because they have more cameras on offer in a wider range of budgets. High-end Canon mirrorless cameras have also brought autofocus technology to near perfection. On the other hand, Nikon's S-Line of premium mirrorless camera lenses includes some of the best glass around, and Nikon's ergonomics are top-notch.
Canon vs Sony
Sony is right behind Canon in global market share, and both brands offer plenty of excellent cameras at various prices. Both have also pushed the boundaries of what autofocus is capable of. Though handling is highly subjective, Canon cameras generally have superior ergonomics. On the other hand, Sony's E-mount has a wider lens selection than Canon's RF-mount, with more compatible third-party lens options.
Canon makes cameras that cater to photographers of almost every experience level, but they typically share some common features. They're often comfortable to shoot with and easy to use, with straightforward menu systems, ergonomic designs, and intuitive control layouts. Most feature fully articulated touchscreens, as well. Good image quality is almost guaranteed with any modern camera, but Canon shooters often prize the brand's warm, straight-out-of-camera colors. Canon's Dual Pixel autofocus system has also become one of the best on the market. That said, Canon has only recently started introducing unlimited video recording time limits, and because the RF mount is still relatively new, lens support is somewhat lacking, especially when considering third-party options.
Lineup
Canon has various model lineups to suit different users and their needs.
Mirrorless
- EOS R(X) Series: Mirrorless full-frame and APS-C cameras using Canon's RF lens mount, with smaller model numbers indicating a higher level of overall capability. Generally, single-digit models indicate enthusiast and professional models, while double-digit model numbers indicate consumer and budget models.
- EOS M(X) Series: Mirrorless interchangeable-lens crop-sensor models that use Canon's EF-M lens mount, with smaller model numbers indicating greater overall capability.
DSLR
- EOS (X)D Series: Enthusiast and professional-oriented full-frame DSLRs designed to work with EF-mount lenses, with lower model numbers indicating a higher level of overall capability.
- EOS (XX)D Series: Enthusiast-oriented crop-sensor DSLRs designed to work with EF-S lenses but are compatible with EF lenses. Higher model numbers indicate newer generations, which generally have a greater level of overall capability.
- EOS Rebel/Kiss/(XXX)D Series: Entry-level crop-sensor DSLRs designed to work with EF-S lenses but are compatible with EF lenses designed for full-frame cameras. This product lineup uses SL(X) prefixes for the smallest DSLRs.
Supercompact/Compact/Bridge
- PowerShot G(X) Series: Enthusiast-oriented compact cameras with built-in zoom lenses. Lower model numbers indicate a higher position in the model hierarchy.
- PowerShot SX(XXX) Series: Compact and bridge cameras with built-in superzoom lenses.
- PowerShot ELPH Series: Compact point and shoots aimed at novice users.
Recent Updates
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Apr 08, 2024: We've reviewed the picks in this article, including their price and availability, to ensure they're still accurate and relevant to users.
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Mar 07, 2024: We've updated the text throughout the article for added clarity.
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Feb 08, 2024: Removed the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II to simplify the scope of picks.
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Dec 11, 2023: Renamed the Canon EOS R10 from 'Best Mid-Range Canon Camera' to 'Best Entry-Level Canon Camera' and renamed the Canon EOS R7 from 'Best Upper Mid-Range Canon Camera' to 'Best Mid-Range Canon Camera' to more accurately reflect their respective market positions.
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Oct 17, 2023: Reviewed article to ensure picks are still relevant.
Conclusion
Canon cameras are often well-built, with good handling and impressive image quality. Canon's newer mirrorless offerings have some of the best autofocus on the market. That said, Canon's refusal to allow third-party lens manufacturing for its RF-mount is a big downside of its mirrorless system, particularly for those looking for alternative or budget lenses. Overall, though, Canon is a staple in the camera market that has proven capable of adapting to ever-evolving consumer demands, with plenty of cameras to suit every budget and experience level.