8 Best Canon Cameras for Photography in 2024

You can’t go wrong with a Canon camera. Canon is the biggest camera brand in the world, producing some of the best and most popular cameras of all time. Even today, they have the best cameras for everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. 

We know Canon is an excellent brand, but finding the best Canon camera can still be difficult. You need a camera that matches your skill level, compliment your style and the type of photography you want to produce, and is within your budget. 

The Canon EOS R8 is our pick as the best Canon camera. It has everything modern photographers are looking for in a digital camera. The still production is excellent, and it delivers fantastic video footage too. The other advanced features like autofocus are some of the best in the business. 

Keep reading if you want to learn more about the R8 and all the best Canon cameras.

What is the Best Canon Cameras?

The best Canon camera meets your needs as a photographer. If you’re a beginner, your Canon camera should help you master the basic and develop your skills. Intermediate users might want more advanced features like a fast burst or video recording. Pros need a reliable machine that delivers top-quality media. 

Our selection of Canon cameras has all these bases covered. We have cameras for small and big budgets. There are mirrorless and DSLR cameras. Photographers, vloggers, and videographers are all catered for. You’ll also find cameras for beginners, pros, and everyone in between. 

Here’s an overview of all the best Canon cameras and why we like them. We look at each camera in more detail in the following section. You can also find a buyer’s guide at the end if you need more information about Canon cameras. 

8 Best Canon Cameras

Now we’ll examine each camera in a bit more detail, exploring all the important specs and features. By the end, you’ll know which Canon camera is the perfect match for your photographic ambitions.

The Canon EOS R8 has it all. A powerful sensor and processor for beautiful images? Check. High-resolution video recording? Check. An advanced AF system for consistently sharp shots? Check again. We’ll go into more detail so you can see exactly why the R8 tops our list. 

A full frame CMOS sensor gives you a 24.2 MP resolution. That isn’t recording breaking for a full frame, but the picture quality is excellent. Due to the larger pixel six compared to a 24 MP resolution on an APS-C model, you get better low-light performance and a wider dynamic range. 

The native ISO range gives you a 102,400 ceiling, which is enough for most people. But if you’re really struggling for light, you can expand it to 204,800. Expanding the ISO also gives you a low setting of 50, which helps to maximize image quality in bright light. 

Canon’s trademark Dual-Pixel CMOS autofocus system is praised the world over. On the R8, it uses 1,053 focus points that give you 100% coverage. It’ll locate your subject even if they’re hiding in the corner. 

Sophisticated subject detection abilities make sure the R8 always locks on correctly. It can detect humans, animals, and vehicles. For humans, it also has face and eye-detection settings, so your portraits are always perfectly sharp. 

In-camera compositing gives you even more creative options. Modes like Move-Subject HDR, HDR Night, and Depth Composition allow you to create images like no other camera. You can produce stunning images without photo editing software. 

Moviemakers will love the 4K video recording. It’s over-sampled from 6K, so you get even better detail. You also get a max 4K frame rate of 60 fps, giving you incredibly smooth high-resolution footage. There’s no 30-minute time limit, so you can use it for long-form recording too. 

Practical features like the rotating touchscreen and accurate digital viewfinder make it a joy to use. It’s one of the lightest full frame cameras there is. And USB charging allows you to power up when you’re on the go. 

If you’re a beginner just starting your photography journey, the Canon EOS R100 is the perfect camera. It’s compact, lightweight, and affordable. But it also delivers fantastic results, allowing you to learn the basics and develop your skills. 

It has an APS-C sensor, which is smaller than the full frame sensor of the R8. Despite the smaller size, it still has a 24 MP resolution. The images are bright and clear, with sharp detail and true-to-life colors. 

A 100 – 12,800 native ISO range gives you decent low-light options. But you can expand it to 25,600 if you need more flexibility. You also get very little digital noise until the very top of the range. 

The autofocus is excellent for an entry-level camera. It’s fast and responsive when focusing and has face and eye-detection modes. It also tracks moving subjects, so you don’t lose focus with models that won’t sit still. 

A 6.5 burst isn’t great for a mirrorless camera, but you can still capture fast action in high resolution. You also get full AF coverage when shooting in burst mode. 

The 4K video recording is perfect for aspiring filmmakers. The quality of the footage is excellent, but the 4K is cropped. You don’t have this problem when shooting in Full HD, and you get quicker frame rates. You can also use the R100 as a webcam when hooked up to a computer. 

One downside is the fixed LCD screen. It’s bright and clear, but you can’t move it. This is inconvenient if you want to shoot selfies or vlogs. But other than that, the R100 is the perfect Canon camera for beginners. 

Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to transfer media to other devices. It’s a quick and easy process, and you don’t need to fiddle about with lots of cable. 

A compact mirrorless with excellent video features, the Canon EOS R10 is the perfect choice for vloggers and content creators. 

It has an APS-C camera and the 24.2 MP sensor produces gorgeous still images. The ISO range (100 to 51,200) offers plenty of wiggle room for low-light photography.

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF is excellent for a camera at this level. It uses 651 focus zones for fast and accurate focusing. There are face and eye-detection modes. The motion tracking is also excellent if you’re shooting sports photography. It’s even reliable in low-light conditions.

The R10 also gives you good burst shooting options. You get a respectable 15 fps when using the mechanical shutter. But you can increase the speed to 23 fps when you switch to the electronic shutter.

Vloggers, content creators, and filmmakers will love the 4K video capabilities. The high-resolution footage looks fantastic, especially when you use the 60 fps frame rate. 4K is uncropped, and there’s no 30-minute time limit. You can also keep the power flowing using a USB cable for long-form recording. 

A fully rotating touchscreen helps you record yourself. And custom control dials give you a smoother user experience. It’s also a compact mirrorless, so it’s an easy fit for any decent camera backpack. 

A considerable upgrade from the original R6, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is the best Canon camera for intermediate users. It isn’t a pro-grade camera, but it isn’t far off. It’s a powerful machine with an excellent set of advanced features. 

A full frame CMOS sensor gives you 24.4 MP images that are bright and beautiful. While the MP count isn’t super high, the larger pixel size gives you increased dynamic range and low noise when shooting in low light. 

You can expand the ISO range from 100 – 102,400 to 50 – 204,800. The high range allows you to shoot in very low-light situations, and the 50 ISO setting helps you maximize image quality in bright sunlight. 

The R6 II gives you a 12 fps burst with the mechanical shutter. And that’s 12 fps at full resolution. Switch to the electronic shutter, and you get a rapid 30 fps RAW shooting. If that’s not fast enough, a 40 fps mode captures 20 MP images. There’s a dip in image quality, but you’ll never miss a thing. 

With 100% frame coverage and lightning-fast reaction times, the autofocus is one of the best in the business. It can identify, lock, and track fast-moving subjects. And it has head, face, and eye-detection modes. It can also detect animals if you’re shooting pet portraits or horse racing. 

Videographers will love the uncropped 4K footage that’s oversampled from 6K. You also have a 60 fps frame rate at full resolution, so the footage is extra smooth. There’s also an extended time limit when recording in Full HD, so you can record up to six hours without interval. 

The vari-angle touchscreen helps you shoot vlogs and self-portraits. The R6 II also doubles as a high-resolution webcam, which is great news for live streamers. 

It’s lightweight with a comfortable ergonomic design, especially for a full frame camera. Its weather-sealing makes it a robust camera suitable for shooting outdoors even in bad conditions. 

The Canon EOS R5 is the ultimate hybrid camera for professionals. The image processing powers are simply incredible. And the video features are out of this world. It’s also packed with the most advanced features and functions. The R5 is a multimedia beast.

The R5 has a powerful full frame sensor. With a resolution of 45 MP, you can expect images of the highest quality. Canon’s DIGIC X processor backs the sensor, and together they give you smooth and fast RAW shooting.

As with the R6 II, you can also expand the ISO range of the R5 to reveal a setting of 50 ISO. 45 MP images at 50 ISO are genuinely impressive by any standards. 

The video features set the R5 apart from its competitors. We’re accustomed to seeing cameras with 4K resolution. But R5 records video with an 8K resolution. That’s cinema-quality video production. It’s uncropped and shot at 30 fps. You also have a 120-fps frame rate in 4K. It’s a videographer’s dream!

Built-in 5-axis image stabilization gives you sharp images in low light. Counteracting camera shake, you can use slower shutter speeds with a reduced risk of blur. 

The AF system is fast and precise for photos and videos. You get 1,053 focus points that give you 100% coverage of the frame. It tracks subjects and has face and eye detection. There’s a 20 fps burst with the electronic shutter. 

The camera body is weather-sealed for outdoor shoots. The camera has dual memory card slots. And it has the latest wireless connectivity features. The Canon EOS R5 is a complete mirrorless camera for professionals.

The Canon EOS Rebel T7 is not one of Canon’s latest cameras. In fact, it’s one of a dying breed of DSLR cameras. But despite the age, you can still buy a T7 brand new with a kit lens at a bargain price. 

Entry-level DSLRs like the Rebel T7 are perfect for beginners or casual photographers. They are simple and easy to use but allow you to learn the basics of photography. 

A 24.1 MP sensor delivers lovely images with clear detail and accurate colors. The ISO range is a bit limited, only reaching 12,800 when expanded. But you can still capture decent images in low-light settings. 

The AF system is a bit rudimentary compared to newer mirrorless cameras. But it still has face detection and subject tracking, so you can capture sharp shots in testing circumstances.

Video is limited to Full HD rather than 4K, but you can still record clear footage at 30 fps. It also doubles as a webcam when hooked up to a computer and the EOS Utility webcam software. 

The fixed LCD screen is frustrating, but the optical viewfinder is more accurate than most electronic viewfinders at this level. Proper photographers still prefer an optical viewfinder. 

Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to transfer images directly to other devices. You can also use the camera remotely when synced with your smartphone and the Canon app. 

I’m sure we’re all aware that DSLRs are on the way out. But the Canon EOS 6D Mark II is still a top camera for photography purists. It doesn’t have some advanced features you find on the high-end mirrorless cameras, but it still delivers fantastic results.

With a 26 MP full frame sensor, the 6D II produces stunning images. You and expand the ISO to 50 to give yourself the best possible image quality when you have enough light. 

The top end stretches to 102,400, handling low light with very little digital noise. Images remain clear until the very top end of the scale. 

Traditional photographers will love the classic pentaprism viewfinder. And it has a fully articulating touchscreen for composing using Live View if you prefer. 

A 6.5 fps burst is fairly modest by today’s standards, but it does capture full resolution images with full AF coverage. 

Videographers might need to look elsewhere. You can record Full HD footage with a smooth 60 fps frame rate, but the camera lacks 4K recording. It does, however, have webcam functionality for video calls and live streaming. 

Those accustomed to mirrorless cameras might find this full frame DSLR bulky. There’s no denying it’s bigger and heavier than its mirrorless counterparts, but the ergonomic design is excellent. Many photographers still love the heft of a DSLR camera. 

The Canon EOS R3 is a high-performance mirrorless camera for professional photographers. It’s big for a mirrorless camera, but with that extra size comes more power. 

The full frame sensor has a fairly modest 24.1 MP resolution. But the camera’s DIGIC X processor is one of the best in the business, delivering impressive RAW shooting. 

Low-light shooting is one of the R3’s strengths, giving you very little noise even when the ISO is expanded to 204,800. An EV -7.5 low-luminance limit gives you fast and accurate focusing even in the dark. 

The AF system is just as impressive in the daytime. Using 1,053 automatic focus zones, it finds your subject and tracks them as they move. 

Eye control is a fantastic feature you won’t find on many other cameras. You can focus using your eye when looking through the electronic viewfinder, which is pretty incredible. 

Built-in image stabilization gives you even better low-light performance, offering up to eight stops of shake compensation. 

You can shoot in burst using the mechanical or the electronic shutter. The former gives you a max speed of 12 fps, while the latter gives you a rapid 30 fps. 

The video features are also very impressive. You can record glorious 6K footage with a 60 fps frame rate, delivering truly cinematic video. You can also shoot brilliant 4K slow-motion footage at 120 fps. 

Shooting with such a high resolution uses up a lot of memory, but thankfully the R3 has two SD card slots. 

Other useful features include the vari-angle touchscreen, multi-controller button, and the multi-function shoe. It also has a larger battery, so it outlasts other pro-grade mirrorless cameras. 

Buyer’s Guide for Canon Cameras

Now we take a closer look at what sets Canon apart from the competitors. We hope this helps you find the perfect Canon camera to match your ambitions. 

Why Choose a Canon Camera?

In the photography world, seeing the name Canon is reassuring. It’s the biggest camera brand out there and has produced some of the best cameras of all time. 

The quality of Canon cameras is consistently excellent. From their entry-level cameras to the professional models, you know a Canon camera delivers what it should. 

Canon’s prices are competitive. They are not especially cheap, though they do have some affordable options. But Canon cameras are fairly priced compared to their competitors. 

Their cameras also have all the best modern features. All their EOS mirrorless cameras shoot at least 4K video, while some offer 6K or 8K recording. 

You can expect fast burst shooting from all their mirrorless cameras thanks to the electronic shutter. And the Canon Dual-Pixel AF is the best in the business. 

Another reason for Canon’s popularity is how they cater to photographers at all levels. They have basic entry-level models that help you learn the ropes and improve. There are cameras for vlogging and social media content. And the intermediate cameras bridge the gap to their high-performance professional cameras. 

Canon vs Nikon

The Canon vs Nikon debate has been raging for decades. They both have a similar history, gaining popularity in the days of film. They both then dominated the DSLR market, before dedicating themselves to mirrorless cameras. 

Fujifilm, Sony, and Olympus/OM Systems are other top rivals to Canon. But Nikon is the second biggest after Canon and has a similar output in terms of the cameras they produce.

Like Canon, Nikon produces cameras for all users: beginners, pros, and everyone in between. The Nikon Z series of mirrorless cameras is a direct competitor to Canon’s R series. 

Deciding which is best isn’t easy. Really, it comes down to your objectives, style, and taste. 

You can read our full article examining the Canon vs Nikon debate. You can also check our list of the best Nikon cameras if you want to compare.

Key Features of Canon Cameras

Canon’s Dual-Pixel CMOS autofocus system is considered by many to be the best in the business. You’ll find it in all Canon’s mirrorless cameras. You won’t find the exact same AF system in each camera, as quality and modes vary depending on the level of the camera. But overall, it’s fantastic.

Even entry-level cameras have subject-tracking and face/eye-detection capabilities. This system has also been designed to work just as well with video recording, so video makers will appreciate it too. 

All Canon RF lenses work well with the Dual-Pixel AF system. You might lose some AF performance if you use a third-party lens, adaptor, or extender. 

The back button focus features can really improve the user experience of a Canon camera. It’s a button on the back of the camera that triggers the AF. That means you don’t have to hold down the shutter release button half way. This gives you better control over focusing and your shutter. 

The introduction of an electronic shutter gives Canon cameras even faster continuous shooting speeds. The mechanical shutter is a metal curtain that sits in front of the sensor. When using burst with this shutter, it opens and closes at a quick rate. 

However, when you use the electronic shutter, the actual shutter stays open and the sensor turns on and off. As there are no moving parts, the electronic shutter can capture more pictures in the same amount of time. 

One problem with the electronic shutter is distortion. Fast-moving subjects can appear distorted in your final images. This doesn’t happen with the mechanical shutter. 

Canon Lenses

Another reason to choose a Canon camera is the selection of lenses you have available. As well as making incredible cameras, Canon makes some of the finest lenses in photography. 

The Canon EF range is one of the biggest and most diverse collections of lenses there is. These lenses are compatible with Canon DSLR cameras.

You’ll find affordable lenses as well as pro-grade lenses. The collection also contains lenses for every type of photography, including macro, portrait, and wildlife photography. 

Canon now produces RF lenses for their mirrorless cameras. This line has not been in production as long as the EF line, meaning the collection isn’t as numerous. But the overall quality is just as good. 

They already have specialist lenses for every type of photography. And they have more modern features like custo control rings and different focus controls. 

We have articles on the best Canon EF lenses and Canon RF lenses. You can also see more of our niche Canon lens articles below. 

• Best Canon Lenses for Street Photography
• Best Canon Lenses for Sports Photography
• Best Canon Lenses for Videography
• Best Canon Lenses for Landscape Photography
• Best Canon Lenses for Wildlife Photography
• Best Canon Lenses for Night Photography
• Best Canon Lenses for Car Photography

Conclusion: The Best Canon Cameras

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, a Canon camera is a good choice. Canon has cameras for every type of photographer, and you can use their gear for any type of photography. 

The Canon EOS R8 is our top Canon camera right now. It’s a superb full frame mirrorless is outstanding features for photography and videography. But as we’ve seen, you have plenty of options if the R8 isn’t the Canon camera for you.