Our list highlights the best Canon camera for photography. Furthermore, we also discuss the pros and cons of some other exceptional Canon models for photography.
Canon is arguably the best camera brand in the world. The company manufactures all types of cameras ranging from budget-friendly compact cameras to the very expensive mirrorless and DSLR cameras. It caters to the need of every photographer no matter you are a professional or trying to establish yourself in the industry.
You can find a Canon camera for all photography niches such as wedding photography, wildlife photography, street photography, sports photography, fashion photography, portrait photography, architectural photography, and so on.
Then you can also buy a versatile Canon camera that you can use in almost any situation. Therefore, there is something for everyone, depending on your experience level and niche, if you decide to choose a Canon camera.
What is the Best Canon Camera for Photography?
Canon is renowned for making some of the best DSLRs in the world. However, it has also released some terrific mirrorless cameras of late, giving tough competition to companies like Sony and Nikon. For instance, the recently introduced Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 are easily the best mirrorless cameras in the world right now. The Canon EOS R5 offers stunning performance both in video and image format thanks to its incredibly powerful full-frame sensor. But – you need to have at least $6000 to afford it.
You need not worry if you have a limited budget. Our list also includes some very affordable compact and DSLR cameras. For example, the Canon EOS M50 is a superb lightweight and small travel and general-purpose camera. You can buy it for a bargain price due to the arrival of its success, the EOS M6 Mark II.
Now, the following is our list of the top 10 best cameras for photography by Canon.
1. Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera: The Best Canon Camera for Photography
Canon EOS R5 is Canon’s flagship mirrorless camera. It is an expensive camera but its impressive specs, techs, and features justify the price. According to experts, it is the company’s best ever camera for images as well.
The EOS R5 boasts features like a 45 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. Similarly, the unbelievably fast DIGIC X image process is hard to beat. The continuous shooting speed of 20fps is also the highest in the current mirrorless models. As a result, there is no chance of you missing even the slightest of action.
The biggest highlight of the camera is its lightning-fast Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus with 1053 autofocus points. Its autofocus is currently the best on the market. The obvious outcome is extremely clear, sharp, and beautiful images. Another thing that makes it such a great stills camera is the fantastic 8 cross in-body image stabilization.
The camera also has a neat design. It features an excellent electronic viewfinder and a 3.15-inch tilting touchscreen. Furthermore, not many cameras have 8K video resolution even in 2021.
Even such a great camera as EOS R5 has some limitations. In this case, it is the highly cropped 8K video. Similarly, the camera heats up while shooting in 8K as well. Therefore, it may not be the ideal camera for professional videographers or those who regularly shoot at high volume. However, it is still a fantastic model for those who don’t need intense power or high video resolution to record their videos.
Canon has put in a lot of effort to make this camera photographers’ favorite. It is nearly a perfect camera albeit a very expensive one. But – it is worth it is the price if you can afford it and only want to use Canon cameras.
2. Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera: Best Canon Camera for Photography and Video
Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless is getting quite old with time. However, it is still a very powerful multipurpose camera for taking captivating images and capturing stunning videos. Available for around $700, it is also one of the most affordable yet highly useful mirrorless cameras on the market.
The Canon EOS M50 is an ideal choice for newcomers who are looking to venture into vlogging or manual shooting. It comes with a slick vari-angle touchscreen coupled with a superb electronic viewfinder. Therefore, it is a very easy camera for beginners to operate.
Just like all Canon cameras, M50 also has an excellent autofocus system. The 143-point AF combined with the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus is not only brisk but precise as well. Besides, it is a breeze to select AF areas on the screen thanks to the touch and drag option.
The camera also has a 4K video resolution and 10fps continuous shooting speed that are impressive for such a cheap camera. It also delivers great images with the help of the Digic 8 + image processor. In fact, it was the first ever camera to have Digic 8 processor.
The camera has a very limited native lens line-up besides having a plastic body. However, you can use an adapter to mount EF lenses on the camera. Another minor complaint about the camera is the Plasticky finish.
You must choose Canon EOS M50 if you are looking for cheap cameras for photography. It is a stellar little camera that is easy, flexible, and fun to use.
3. Canon PowerShot G5X Mark II: The Best Canon Camera for Photography under 1000
Released in 2019, Canon PowerShot G5X Mark II is still a very new camera. Therefore, it incorporates some advanced features that you can only find in high-end mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
It is a tiny and lightweight camera. However, don’t be fooled by its low price or small size. It comes with a 20.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and Digic 8 + image processor. As a result, it can capture stunning images at a blistering pace of 30fps and 20fps when shooting in RAW or JPEG respectively.
Unlike PowerShot G5X, the G5X Mark II also offers a 4K video resolution to the users. Similarly, the low light performance has also improved quite considerably. The camera also excels in brilliant sunlight because of its superb ND filter.
You are also in a bit of luck if you like to use a viewfinder instead of a rear LCD screen. The G5X Mark II has a pop-pop electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million dots, a very good resolution for such a small camera. Another additional feature of the camera is the flash which compensates for the lack of an EVF.
4. Canon EOS 90D DSLR Camera: Best DSLR Camera for Photography
Canon EOS 90D has save DSLR cameras from a slow and painful death. It is a fantastic DSLR model with an impressive set of features and functions.
It is one of the first APS-C cameras to boast a 32.5 megapixel sensor. The sensor along with Digic 8 + imager processor delivers very beautiful images. The camera is also perfect for videographers thanks to uncropped 4K video at 30fps. While the image processor and the sensor are the same as Canon EOS M6 Mark II, the EOS 90D is not as fast as its mirrorless counterpart. It only has a continuous shooting speed of 11fps which is still quite remarkable.
The camera has a 45-point autofocus which is not as good as that of Canon EOS R5. However, it is still quite a powerful autofocus with the ability to quickly and accurately track the subjects.
What sets EOS 90D apart from other DSLR models is the excellent new metering sensor. It performs brilliantly in all situations perfectly exposing areas of shadow and light.
The camera also has the best battery life of all DSLRs. It has a CIPA rating of 1300 shoots but it is capable of shooting much more than that. You cannot get so many shots per charge from an average mirrorless camera.
When it comes to the noise performance, it is not the best mainly because of the high-resolution crop sensor. However, you can easily resolve this problem in the post-production.
All in all, Canon EOS 90D is a wonderfully versatile camera for people who still want to enjoy the DSLR experience.
5. Canon EOS M6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera: Highest Resolution for an APS-C Sensor
Canon EOS M50 has been the best affordable mirrorless camera in the town. However, the arrival of Canon EOS M6 Mark II has almost eclipsed its highly popular predecessor. It is a small and lightweight camera, best for traveling and photographing all day long. It does not have a viewfinder but you can always attach one if you want to.
EOS M6 Mark II also has the highest resolution among APS-C cameras at 32.5 megapixels. The high megapixels when paired Digic 8 + image processor produces images of the highest quality with clear details and impressive sharpness. Similarly, the 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen also makes it a great camera for videos. The biggest selling point of the camera is the uncropped 4K video. Even some of the high-end cameras don’t offer uncropped 4K video.
The camera offers 14fps continuous shooting speed and thus, it is a great choice for fast action such as wildlife and sports photography.
All in all, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II a y success of the EOS M50. It has all the features, functions, and specs to help you take brilliant photos in all situations.
6. Canon EOS Rebel SL3/EOS 250D DSLR Camera: Best Camera for Photography Students
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is yet another great DSLR model on our list. Available for only $700, it is also one of the best cheap cameras for photography at the moment. It adopts the same approach of being an entry-level camera that can also serve professionals equally well, just like its predecessor, the Canon EOS 2000D.
EOS Rebel 250D, however, becomes an even more capable entry-level camera because of some minor upgrades. Despite being a cheap camera, it offers a 24.1 megapixel APS-C sensor. Similarly, a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen and 4K video are also rare in such an affordable camera. The touchscreen in particular is very responsive, making it a delight to use the camera.
The camera delivers pristine image quality and the autofocus performance is also satisfactory. The 9-point autofocus system is outdated without any doubt but it is sufficient for a beginner in our opinion. Similarly, the battery life is also excellent. The body itself is small, lightweight, and very easy to hold.
Another advantage of having EOS Rebel SL3 is its compatibility with a wide range of accessories and lenses.
The Canon EOS SL3/250D is quite a capable camera that has a lot to offer to the beginners.
7. Canon PowerShot ELPH 180: Among the Best Cameras for Photography under 300
Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 is a perfect family camera for photography. It combines great value and style, making it a great model for people not looking for a fancy camera. It does not offer features like 4K video, full-frame image quality, or deep learning autofocus. However, ELPH 180 is a simple, effective, decent, and more importantly, an inexpensive camera that can meet most of your basic photography needs.
It is a very small and lightweight camera that you can easily slide into your pocket. Furthermore, it is also an ideal choice if you are switching from a smartphone to a true camera. It offers a very fine zoom lens with a massive 8x zoom range.
Despite being small and cheap, the camera features a 20 megapixel sensor besides a host of rather impressive functions. The picture quality is not that great but adequate for a casual family vacation.
Another great thing about the camera is the excellent low light performance courtesy ISO range of up to 1600. In short, Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 is a small and cheap yet very attractive and useful camera for families.
8. Canon EOS-1D X Mark III: Best Camera for Sports Photography
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is the best Canon camera for photography for many reasons. It offers unrivaled performance in terms of image and video quality. It is a superlative camera that leaves some of its direct competitors in the dust.
With 20fps continuous shooting speed, it is a great camera for sports and wildlife photography. The camera is 90g lighter and more ergonomic than its predecessor, the EOS-ID X Mark II. It is also very easy to operate thanks to the two new smart controllers. You can also navigate focus points quite conveniently as the camera also features a very smart optical sensor.
The camera comes with the Canon’s latest Digic X image processor, three times faster than Digic 9 + image processor. It also features a completely new sensor. Both the sensor and the image process combine to deliver exceptional images and 4K video at 50fps. Similarly, it also delivers unlimited buffer and superfast burst rate.
The best feature of the camera is the highly advanced 191-points AF. The AF is faultlessly accurate and extremely fast. It incorporates deep learning algorithms for subject learning and detection. The autofocus can rival the AF systems offered by some of the most advanced mirrorless cameras.
Understandably, such an advanced camera would be quite expensive. Furthermore, it does not have in-body image stabilization which is a shame.
In general, Canon EOS-ID X Mark III is a very powerful and capable camera. It can easily outshine almost all other cameras, both DSLR and mirrorless.
9. Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III: Ideal Camera for Vloggers
The Canon G7X range has been quite popular among vloggers. However, it is also a terrific camera for photography. Now, Canon has upped the game even further by the introduction of Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III.
The latest implementation in the G7X series features a 20.1 megapixel sensor, uncropped 4K video, and microphone output. Therefore, you can considerably enhance the sound quality of your videos. Similarly, the camera also allows you to stream your video directly to YouTube. What else can you expect from a budget camera?
Another important feature of the camera is USB charging. Now, you can charge it on the go and wherever you want if you have a USB charging device with you.
The effective in-body image stabilization and the tilting touchscreen are some of the other benefits of G7X Mark III.
The major downside of the camera is the lack of a built-in viewfinder. However, you can attach an external viewfinder with the camera.
10. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV: One of the Best Cameras for Photography
Finally, we have Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. It is perhaps the most popular DSLR ever produced. The camera offers so many features that it is hard to keep track of all of them. Professionals have been using this camera for a long for taking both images and videos.
Being a DSLR camera, the 5D Mark IV comes with a lag-free optical viewfinder, something pros prefer over an electronic viewfinder for taking images. Similarly, it has a much longer battery life than most mirrorless cameras. The camera can also handle bigger lenses more easily.
The best feature of the camera is, of course, the 61-point autofocus system that is not only fast but quite accurate as well. The Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus considerably enhances the performance of Live View as well. Furthermore, the 30.4 megapixel sensor combined with Digic 8 + image process is enough to produce superior quality images.
The 5D Mark IV also excels in low light conditions because of its excellent ISO range
The two main problems with the camera are only 7fps continuous shooting speed and highly cropped 4K videos.
Keep in mind that it is not a specialist camera. On the other hand, it is a robust and versatile camera that you can put to any use.
How to Buy the Best Canon Camera for Photography?
It is never easy to buy a new camera no matter what you photography niche or experience level is. We have tried our best to make life easier for you by compiling the above list. These are the absolute best Canon cameras in terms of taking beautiful stills and images. However, there are still many things to consider when you decide to shop for a new camera.
Sensor Size
The first of those things is the sensor size. A bigger sensor will always produce better photos than a smaller one. Similarly, the higher the resolution, the superior will be the image quality. However, it is not a hard and fast rule. The sensor size also determines how good the low light performance of a camera will be. In this case, the lower resolution cameras excel in dark conditions because they are more sensitive to light.
Bigger sensors that are full-frame sensors with high resolution tend to be expensive. The majority of the cameras use smaller APS-C sensors with some level of cropping. Also, remember that lenses for full-frame cameras are more expensive than APS-C cameras.
ISO
ISO refers to how sensitive the camera sensor is to light. You need a camera that can take images at high ISO, preferably greater than 1600, if you want excellent results in low light without a flash. Similarly, it must be able to produce beautiful shots while shooting at high ISO.
Lenses
The best Canon camera for photography, especially DSLRs, are compatible with a wide variety of lenses. You may need different types of lenses for different situations. Therefore, the camera you are interested in must be able to handle all of them. For instance, you won’t like to carry multiple cameras to your next wildlife photography tour. It is not only impracticable but very exhausting as well.
Autofocus
Great photography largely depends on a lightning-fast and accurate autofocus. You can easily ruin a great image just by missing the focus. Therefore, the first thing you must check while buying a new camera is the quality of the autofocus system. All the cameras on our list feature Canon’s renowned and extremely brilliant Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus.
RAW Images
Some cameras only save files in JPEG format. However, you must look for a camera that can save the file in both JPEG and RAW format. The sensor records a lot of things and only the RAW format can store all this information. It makes things easier and flexible for you during the post-processing. The JPEG, on the other hand, loses a lot of data when it compresses images.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is another important consideration. The camera should feel comfortable in your hand. It should also be easy to use and handle. Ergonomics include plenty of things such as size, weight, durability, and menu layout. Preferably, the camera should be small and lightweight with an easily accessible menu buttons. Not to mention, it must be durable because you don’t want to spend thousands on a camera every year.
Manual Mode
Finally, you should also check how good the manual mode of the camera is. A good manual mode provides you with full creative freedom over the image exposure. You can control everything from ISO, shutter speed, and aperture yourself, giving you more control over the final result. Automatic and semiautomatic modes are good for beginners. However, you must learn how to use manual mode at the earliest if you want to take images that can captivate your audience.
Final Thoughts
Concluding our guide to the best Canon camera for photography, we can confidently say that Canon EOS R5 is the absolute winner. However, all the aforementioned cameras can help you take splendid photos in different conditions. Some of them are specialist cameras while others are versatile cameras. Therefore, you can choose one that suits your needs and falls within your budget.
The best Canon camera for photography at a glance.
| Image | Model Name | Resolution | Image Processor | Continuous Shooting Speed | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Canon EOS R5 |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon EOS M50 |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon PowerShot G5X Mark II |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon EOS 90D |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon EOS M6 Mark II |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon EOS Rebel SL3 |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon EOS-1D X Mark III |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III |
|
|
| Check Price |
 | Canon EOS 5D Mark IV |
|
|
| Check Price |
The R5 has a Digic X processor. Not Digic 8+
Yes, it has DIGIC X Processor.