Our guide to the best Canon camera you can buy right now
(Image credit: Canon)
How we test
Canon is a huge name in the camera industry for a reason: it makes some of the best DSLR, mirrorless and compact cameras available. Naturally, there’s no one Canon camera that fits all, and so we’ve broken down our top recommendations for every kind of photographer and filmmaker, including level of experience.
The best Canon DSLR overall
(Image credit: Future)
1. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
The best feature-packed Canon DSLR overall
Specifications
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 30.4MP
Autofocus: 61-point phase-detect AF points
Screen type: 3.2-inch fixed touchscreen, 1620k-dots
Continuous shooting speed: 7fps
Movies: 4K/30p
User level: Intermediate/expert
Reasons to buy
+Superb image quality
+Advanced AF system
+Good connectivity options
Reasons to avoid
-Limited 4K video options
-Relatively low native ISO
Canon’s 5D range continues to be popular among traditionalists. And for good reason: these high-specced DSLRs offer a huge number of features in a body that handles superbly. Here we have an excellent 30.4MP sensor which, although lower in resolution than the likes of the Nikon D850, still gives you plenty of scope to create fantastic shots in a range of conditions.
>>>MH-25A Charger for Nikon EN-EL15 EL15A EL15B D7100 D810 D7000 D800E
Our tests also found that the 61-point AF system performed well in low-light and was also impressively quick, if not quite up to the standard of the latest mirrorless models. 4K video recording is available, but this being a slightly older model, it’s limited to 30p. While autofocusing is whip-smart, the 5D Mark IV can only manage 7fps burst shooting, which puts it behind many newer models. But if you’re shooting landscapes, portraits, still life – in short, anything which doesn’t move too quickly – you’ll find it an excellent photographic companion.
>>>>>>LP-E6NH Battery for Canon EOS R R5 R6 Ra
Buy it if:
✅ You want a well-rounded DSLR: Improved in every way, the Mark IV is one of the most well-rounded and complete DSLR cameras we’ve tested.
✅ You want excellent autofocus: Dual Pixel AF is a huge upgrade from the 5D Mark III, with instantaneous focusing and excellent tracking.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You have a tight budget: Performance upgrades come at a price, and the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV represents a significant investment compared to rivals.
❌ You record a lot of video: 4K video is a welcome presence, but the 1.64x is prohibitive and there’s no support for 4K output via HDM
The best Canon camera overall
2. Canon EOS R5 Mark II
The best Canon camera for most people
Specifications
Sensor: Full-frame stacked CMOS
Megapixels: 45MP
Autofocus: 1,053-area AF, eye-control AF
Screen type: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, 2.1m-dots
Continuous shooting speed: 30fps
Movies: 8K 60fps
User level: Expert
Reasons to buy
+Stacked sensor minimizes rolling shutter
+Near-perfect autofocus
+AI-powered in-camera upscaling and editing
Reasons to avoid
-Limited buffer performance versus pricier EOS R1
-Costs a fraction more than rivals
Canon has built on its best-ever camera for photograpghy, the EOS R5, with a stellar upgrade – the EOS R5 Mark II. We still get 45MP stills and 8K video, plus a rugged body that fits well in the hand, but that’s about where the similarities end. That 45MP full-frame sensor is now a stacked sensor which massively improves the camera’s control over rolling shutter, while a second processor improves the camera’s overall speed and unleashes some all-new features, including in-camera image upscaling. You can pick a JPEG / HEIF image shot with the EOS R5 Mark II and upscale it 400% to 180MP, with super-impressive results.
We’ve used the EOS R5 Mark II extensively, especially action photograph and video for which it shines. New autofocus modes are able to detect specific sports that include soccer and basketball and intelligently select where to focus, including for one of up to 10 stored faces. Canon’s eye control AF is also a revelation – tracking where you’re looking in the viewfinder to know which subject you’d like to focus on.
Buy it if:
✅ You want Canon’s most versatile pro camera: With a new stacked sensor, the EOS R5 Mark II is as capable as it is shooting stills as it is video, and a big update of the EOS R5.
✅ You shoot action: Superb autofocus, image stabilization and eye-control AF, together with that stacked sensor, combine to great effect for high-speed subjects.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You’re on a tight budget: The EOS R5 Mark II’s body-only cost is slightly more than rivals and a lot more than the now discounted EOS R5, and that’s before you get to Canon’s pricey lenses.
❌ You shoot mainly stationary subjects: Many of the EOS R5 Mark II improvements impact high-speed performance for high-speed subjects. If you’re a landscape photographer, the EOS R5 could be a better option.
The best budget Canon camera
3. Canon EOS R10
The best budget Canon camera
Specifications
Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: APS-C CMOS
Resolution: 24.2MP
Autofocus: 651-area Dual Pixel AF
Viewfinder: EVF, 2.36 million dots
Monitor: 2.95-inch articulating touchscreen, 1.04 million dots
Continuous shooting speed: 15fps
Movies: 4K
User level: Beginner
Reasons to buy
+Compact and lightweight
+Modern autofocus abilities
Reasons to avoid
-No in-body image stabilization
-Crop on 4K/60p footage
If you can look past the old-school sensor, we think Canon’s EOS R10 is one of the best entry-level mirrorless cameras for beginners. Fitted with Canon’s powerful Digic X chip, it also benefits from truly modern autofocus abilities. In testing, the processor and AF tracking together proved remarkably powerful. Continuous shooting speeds of 15fps with the mechanical shutter also mean the EOS R10 is a winner if you want to experiment with action photography. Low-light abilities are limited by the lack of in-body image stabilization, but image quality proved decent during our tests, with plenty of detail hiding in the shadows. Video skills are solid too, with 4K footage oversampled at 30fps.
With dual control dials and a dedicated AF joystick, we found that the EOS R10 also made it straightforward for learners to get hands-on with creative shooting. Its lightweight body will also feels comfortably familiar for anyone coming from a DSLR, with the articulating touchscreen making it an easy switch for smartphone photographers. Provided Canon comes out with more native APS-C lenses to grow with, the R10 hits the top spot for beginners.
Buy it if:
✅ You’re a beginner: We rate the Canon EOS R10 as the best beginner camera you can buy right now, thanks to its usability, affordability and powerful autofocus.
✅ You want a small, affordable hybrid: It’s built more for stills than video, but the EOS R10 can still record uncropped 4K/30p footage oversampled from 6K.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a lot of lens choice: Lens availability is a limiting factor for the EOS R10, with few native APS-C glass options available at present.
❌ You shoot a lot of action: Burst speeds are decent, but the limited buffer depth is restrictive when shooting RAW images of action or wildlife.
The best premium Canon camera
4. Canon EOS R3
The best premium Canon camera
Specifications
Sensor size: Full-frame
Resolution: 24.1MP
Viewfinder: 5,760K dots
Monitor: 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 4,300K dots
Autofocus: 1,053-point AF
Maximum continuous shooting rate: 12fps (mechanical shutter), 30fps (electronic)
Movies: 6K at 60p
User level: Expert
Reasons to buy
+Seriously speedy sensor
+Powerful AF features
+Impressive video specs
Reasons to avoid
-Big for a mirrorless model
-Relatively low resolution
Styled more like a sports DSLR than the handier EOS R5, the Canon EOS R3 is every bit a professional mirrorless camera. It has fewer megapixels than the EOS R5, because it’s built for speed instead of outright resolution – and if the former is your priority, it’s the best Canon camera you can get. During our extensive time testing the EOS R3, we found it one of the best sports and wildlife cameras we’ve ever tested.
At its core is a 24.1MP stacked CMOS sensor, which we described in our review as a “purring photographic engine”. It can shoot full-quality raw images at a remarkable 30fps, as well as 6K/60p raw video internally without any noticeable rolling shutter. We were also mightily impressed by its autofocus system, and reassured by the tough magnesium alloy build. In short, the EOS R3 is the pinnacle of mirrorless speed. It’s undeniably big and expensive, but if you need an uncompromising Canon camera and can afford to pay the premium, you won’t be disappointed.
Buy it if:
✅ You’re a pro sports photographer: The EOS R3 is built for speed, shooting full-res RAW files at 30fps, with a big buffer depth and rapid autofocus system.
✅ You want a mirrorless hybrid: The EOS R5 shoots sharper 8K video, but the R3 captures oversampled 4K/60p footage with fewer overheating issues.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You need high-res stills: It’s a speed demon, but rivals like the Nikon Z9 and Sony A1 offer fast burst speeds at higher resolutions than the R3’s 24MP.
❌ You want a discreet camera: Unapologetically made for pros, the size of the EOS R3 means it isn’t a camera that goes under the radar.
The best compact Canon camera for vlogging
5. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
The best compact Canon camera for vlogging
Specifications
Type: Compact
Sensor size: 1.0-type
Resolution: 20.1MP
Effective focal length: 24-100mm
Viewfinder: None
Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen
Max movie resolution: 4KSize,
weight: 105.5 x 60.9 x 41.4mm, 304g
Reasons to buy
+Tilting touchscreen
+Effective stabilization
+Mic input
Reasons to avoid
-No viewfinder
Long popular with vloggers, Canon’s G7X range has kicked it up a notch with its latest implementation. In our tests, we found the Mark III’s 20.1MP one-inch sensor to be very capable. It’s also equipped with uncropped 4K video recording and a microphone socket, features requested on its compact cameras for a very long time.
This means you can elevate the sound above and beyond the internal mic’s offering, a feature we found particularly useful during our vlogging tests. Impressively, the G7 X III can stream directly to YouTube, so you can live vlog whatever’s happening around you, without having to downgrade to using your smartphone. USB charging is another great feature which means you can give it power bursts on the go, which is particularly helpful if you’ve been shooting a lot of 4K video.
Buy it if:
✅ You want a compact vlogging tool: With a mic input, YouTube livestreaming support and a 1-inch sensor that shoots 4K, the Mark III is made for video.
✅ You value physical controls: Although it’s small, the well-built G7 X Mark III benefits from good handling and four physical control dials.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You like using a viewfinder: Its video focus means the G7 X Mark III skips the viewfinder in favor of a responsive flip-up touchscreen.
❌ You want reliable metering: Image and video quality is generally very good, but the G7 X Mark III’s metering system frequently overexposes.