Top 10 Best Canon Cameras for 2021

Canon makes cameras for every budget, every style of photography and every kind of user. It is perhaps best known for its DSLR cameras, including entry cameras for beginners to high-spec, high-resolution cameras for professional photographers, but there is much more in the Canon range than this. (In addition, you will also see the best camera offers below.) Canon also embraces the mirrorless camera revolution. It started with its compact EOS M mirrorless cameras, which run alongside its DSLR series, but for 2021 it released its first full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R.

When a camera maker as big as Canon comes in mirrorless camera systems it’s time to take them seriously! The DSLR and mirrorless cameras from Canon have interchangeable lenses and that gives you a lot of flexibility when taking photos, but it is not what everyone needs. Sometimes a fixed lens or ‘compact’ camera is a better choice, either because it is smaller, cheaper or designed to perform a specific task. Canon has two compact cameras: the PowerShot cameras are designed for photographers who are interested in functions, controls and a wide range of subjects, while the Ixus models are designed for style, simplicity, and compactness.

To help you determine which Canon is best for you, we’ve included them all in our list of Best Canon Cameras. Let’s get started!

Best Canon Cameras Comparison Table

Canon Rebel SL2/EOS 200D

• Type: DSLR
• Sensor: APS-C
• Megapixels: 24.2MP
• Lens mount: Canon EF-S
• Screen: 3.0in touch, pivot 1,040,000 dots
• Viewfinder: Pentamirror
• Max burst speed: 5fps
• Max video resolution: 1080p
• User level: Beginner/intermediate

Canon makes a confusing number of entry-level reflex cameras! The latest models are the EOS 4000D and 2000D, but these are very clearly built to a price, and we recommend to go for the older but better EOS Rebel SL2/200D. It’s smaller than the other two, but beats it based on specifications, with Canon’s newest 24.2-megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor and a variable, high-resolution touchscreen. This is all the more amazing because this is also the smallest DSLR from Canon, so it is not only powerful but also very portable. The Rebel SL2/200D is very user-friendly, and although the simple 9-point autofocus system and the continuous recording speed of 5fps by Canon models are easily exceeded, it is more than powerful enough to get you started with your career as a photographer.

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Pros:

• Very small and light for a DSLR
• 24.2MP Dual Pixel AF sensor
• Fully articulated touchscreen

Cons:

• No 4K video

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Canon EOS R

• Type: Mirrorless
• Sensor: Full Frame CMOS
• Megapixels: 30.3MP
• Monitor: EVF, 3.69m dots, 100% coverage
• Max burst speed: 8fps
• Viewfinder: EVF
• Max video resolution: 4K UHD
• User level: Enthusiast/professional

The Canon EOS R has had a mixed reception, perhaps because it takes time for users to find out where it fits, but we count with the combination of resolution, features, professional quality and competitive prices, it will be its own hole in the market! On paper, it looks a bit like a mirrorless version of the Canon EOS 5D IV digital SLR (below), but there are some important differences. One is that it has a much more advanced autofocus system with an amazing 5,655 focal points, another is that it has a completely new lens mount that brings the promise of new and exotic lens designs. What we really like is that Canon has also made lens adapters that fit your existing Canon EF and EF-S lenses, so it’s easy to add the EOS R to an existing Canon system. Overall, this is one of the best canon cameras that you can buy right now.

Pros:

• Great customization
• Dual Pixel AF
• Great in low light

Cons:

• No in-body image stabilization

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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

• Type: DSLR
• Sensor: Full frame
• Megapixels: 30.4MP
• Screen: 3.0in fixed touchscreen, 1,620,000 dots
• Viewfinder: Optical
• Max burst speed: 7fps
• Max video resolution: 4K
• User level: Professional

Many people say that mirrorless cameras (like the EOS R above) are the future and that DSLRs are dead, but do not listen! The DSLR design still has many advantages, including a bright, clear, optical viewing system without delay, better operation with larger lenses and much better battery life. Professionals, in particular, are very careful with changes and it is likely that the EOS 5D IV DSLR will be the best choice for professionals and is one of the best canon cameras overall. It is not a specialized camera designed to do a single type of job, but a robust and powerful all-rounder that can assign its hand to virtually any professional assignment. The 61-point autofocus system is fast and powerful and Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology makes live image autofocus fast and snappy. The resolution of 30.4 megapixels is not the highest but offers an excellent balance between resolution and performance in low light and low noise.

Pros:

• A great 61-point AF system
• 30.4MP sensor
• Fast live view autofocus

Cons:

• Big crop factor for 4K video

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Canon EOS M50

• Type: Mirrorless
• Sensor: APS-C size
• Megapixels: 24.1MP
• Screen type: 3.2in vari-angle touchscreen LCD, 1.04million dots
• Viewfinder: EVF, 2,36million dots
• Max burst speed: 7fps
• Max video resolution: 4K
• User level: Beginner

The mirrorless Canon EOS M range was a bit of a mixed product in the past because users are trying to figure out how it fits the DSLR range of Canon and for what type. With the EOS M50, however, we believe that Canon has reached the right spot, with a camera that is user-friendly for beginners, but has an electronic viewfinder (so you do not just depend on the back screen for taking pictures) and is offered at an affordable price. The EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM kit lens has a retraction mechanism to make the camera smaller when not in use, and there is a small but handy selection of other EOS M lenses that you can use with this camera. Hobbyists may want a wider lens choice, but if traveling is your thing and a few lenses are all you need, the EOS M50 is one of the best canon cameras right now.

Pros:

• Fast Dual Pixel CMOS AF
• Vari-angle touchscreen
• Built-in electronic viewfinder

Cons:

• Limited lens range

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Canon EOS 80D

• Type: DSLR
• Sensor: APS-C
• Megapixels: 24.2MP
• Lens mount: Canon EF-S
• Screen: 3.0in touch, pivot 1,040,000 dots
• Viewfinder: Pentaprism
• Max burst speed: 7fps
• Max video resolution: 1080p
• User level: Enthusiast

If you choose a camera as a student of photography or another graphic art, you will need a camera that is powerful enough and versatile enough to stay with you if you handle a variety of assignments and maybe go in directions that you did not have. t expected. This is where the Canon EOS 80D is perfect. It is unfortunately not the cheapest DSLR from Canon, because the prices have remained strong, but it offers an excellent range of all-round functions. These include Canon’s 24-megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor, a fully hinged touchscreen on the back, 7 fps continuous shots for sports and action, a secondary info panel on the top plate and many customization options. If sport and action are your specialties, check out Canon EOS 7D II below, or if you are a fan and can spatter more money, the EOS 6D II (below) gives you a full-frame sensor. But if you want a powerful camera with a smaller budget, the EOS 80D is our recommended choice if you want one of the best canon cameras.

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Pros:

• Upmarket features and handling
• Fully articulated touchscreen
• A good set of features

Cons:

• Prices are staying high

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Canon EOS 6D Mark II

• Type: DSLR
• Sensor: Full frame
• Megapixels: 26.2MP
• Lens mount: Canon EF
• Screen: 3.2in touch, pivot 1,040,000 dots
• Viewfinder: Pentaprism
• Max burst speed: 6.5fps
• Max video resolution: Full HD (1080p)
• User level: Enthusiast

The EOS 6D II is the replacement for the original EOS 6D, Canon’s cheapest back-to-basics full-frame DSLR. It is, unfortunately, a lot more expensive, but the 6D II is technically much more advanced. The advantage of a full-frame sensor is that it delivers superior image quality, partly because you tend to get more megapixels, and partly because the pixels (photosites) are larger and can catch more light. The 26-megapixel sensor in the 6D II offers a handy advantage over 24-megapixel cameras, it has a powerful 45-point AF system for viewfinder photography and Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF for live view photography and has a decent continuous speed of 6.5 fps recording speed. What we really like is the streamlined handling and control layout and the fully hinged rear screen. If you can pay the extra on the APS-C format EOS 80D (above), the EOS 6D II would be our best recommendation as one of the best Canon cameras for enthusiasts.

Pros:

• Full-frame image sensor
• Fully articulated touchscreen
• Novice-friendly but powerful too

Cons:

• Full HD video, not 4K

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Canon EOS 7D Mark II

• Type: DSLR
• Sensor: APS-C
• Megapixels: 20.2MP
• Screen: 3in 1,040,000 dots
• Viewfinder: Pentaprism
• Max burst speed: 10fps
• Max video resolution: 1080p
• User level: Enthusiast/professional

If you like sports and action photography, you need a camera that can keep up with fast-moving subjects, and that means a fast and powerful autofocus system and high frame rates for continuous shooting – and the EOS 7D II has both. For viewfinder photography, it offers an excellent 65-point wide field autofocus system with ‘intelligent’ tracking, and for live view shots, Canon’s proven Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. The resolution is ‘only’ 20.2 megapixels, but that is a fairly small difference compared to the 24 megapixels offered by most rivals, especially because it allows the excellent 10fps continuous recording speed. The buffering capacity for raw files is a bit low at about 31 images, but you can capture unlimited JPEGs in a burst. There are rumors about a new EOS 7D III in the pipeline, but nothing concrete yet.

Pros:

• Built for speed and action
• Robust construction
• Good as a ‘second’ pro camera

Cons:

• No touchscreen or Wi-Fi

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Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III

• Type: Premium compact
• Sensor: APS-C
• Megapixels: 24.2MP
• Lens: 24-72mm (equiv.) f/2.8-5.6
• LCD: 3in articulating, 1,040k dots
• Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360k dots
• Max burst rate: 9/7fps
• Max video resolution: 1080
• User level: Intermediate/professional

If you are looking for a cheap family camera, go ahead – we strongly recommend the Ixus 185 below. The PowerShot G1 X III is a completely different animal aimed at enthusiastic and expert photographers who want the image quality and controls of a DSLR in a camera that fits in a pocket. Many creators have tried it, but none has come any closer, because Canon has found a way to cram its 24.2-megapixel APS-C Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor into a body barely larger than Canon’s ordinary PowerShot cameras. Fitting the sensor was only half the battle because the designers of Canon also had to figure out how a zoom lens with a DSLR size fits into a pocket camera. The result is a retracting 24-72mm f / 2.8-5.6 lens that combines remarkable miniaturization with an equally remarkable edge-to-edge image quality. All this advanced design and advanced technology are natural (of course) and the 3x zoom range can be a limitation, but this is still one of the best canon cameras on the market.

Pros:

• APS-C sensor and image quality
• Pocket-sized, weather-sealed body
• DSLR-level photographic controls

Cons:

• 200-shot battery life

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Canon PowerShot SX70 HS

• Type: Superzoom compact
• Sensor: 1/2.3in
• Megapixels: 20.3MP
• Lens: 21-1365mm (equiv.) f/3.4-6.5
• Screen: 3in articulating, 922k dots
• Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360k dots
• Max burst speed: 10/5.7fps
• Max video resolution: 4K UHD
• User level: Beginner

Ultra-zoom or ‘bridge’ cameras continue to capture the imagination of camera buyers. They promise a stunning zoom range and control options in DSLR style at a relatively affordable price. If you can get a camera with this kind of zoom range, why would you ever need a camera with an interchangeable lens? Even the SX70 HS has its limits. It offers a massive 1365 mm equivalent focal length at the maximum zoom setting and a pretty good extra wide angle setting of 21 mm on the other side, but you still need an SLR or mirrorless camera if you want to use an ultra-wide macro or fast prime lenses. The other limitation of this type of camera is that it is dependent on small 1/2.3-inch sensors, so although the quality is fine for casual use, it is not up to the standards of professional cameras. That aside, the SX70 HS offers a great zoom range, it can be handled well, and it’s a great way to tackle a wide range of topics without the bulk or cost of a DSLR.

Pros:

• A very good zoom range
• Relatively compact for its type
• Vari-angle screen

Cons:

• Only 5.7fps with servo AF

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Canon Ixus 185

• Type: Compact
• Sensor: 1/2.3in
• Megapixels: 20MP
• Lens: 28-224mm f/3.2-6.9
• Screen: 2.7in, 230k dots
• Max burst speed: 3fps
• Max video resolution: 720p
• User level: Beginner

Not everyone needs professional functions, full-frame picture quality, 4K video, and interchangeable lenses. Sometimes you are just looking for a decent, simple and effective small camera that you can slide into a pocket and that the whole family can use. Oh, and let’s not forget cheap. The small Ixus 185 certainly succeeds in the latter test and at the same time delivers a number of rather impressive specifications. One of the main advantages of a compact camera for pointing and recording on a smartphone is that you get a zoom lens and that on this camera has a huge range of 8x, from 28-224 mm. It uses a small 20-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor, so the image quality will be sufficient rather than great, but it’s fine for family snaps and it can go up to ISO 1600 for indoor shooting or in low light. It even looks pretty smart, so the Ixus 185 is very attractive and one of the best canon cameras at low budget.

Pros:

• Very easy to use
• 8x zoom
• Amazing value

Cons:

• Small, low-res rear screen

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Conclusion

Canon cameras are known for their impressive image quality, with color reproduction being a particularly large aspect. They have a wide range of available camera models and even the smallest models have many functions. Our list of Top 10 Best Canon Cameras enlists the 10 best cameras by the company that you can buy right now. We’ll keep updating this list regularly so that you don’t miss out any opportunity of buying the best canon camera as per your needs and budget.

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