Though some may complain it was late to the party, Canon used the closing years of the last decade to jump into the full-frame mirrorless market with both feet. Its first-generation R system cameras combined solid build quality and innovation, and Canon further evolved its new mirrorless range via both firmware updates and new releases.
But the EOS R and EOS RP didn’t headline Canon’s full-frame mirrorless range for long. While 2020 was something of a lost year for many brands, Canon seized the opportunity to launch some of its most revolutionary cameras in decades. We’re talking about the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R6, of course, but we’re also talking about the EOS C70, its new RF-mount cinema camera. And in 2021 we were introduced to the incredible Canon EOS R3.
In addition to these new cameras, Canon has also quietly improved its EOS M range of APS-C-format mirrorless cameras.
But, of course, Canon still makes some great DSLRs and compact cameras, as well. In this guide we’ll round up our picks for the best Canon cameras for a range of different subjects. For a deeper dive into the many different camera types and features available, check out our range of camera buying guides.
- Best Canon cameras for professional photography
- Best Canon cameras for beginners
- Best Sony cameras
- Best Nikon cameras
Which Canon cameras are full-frame
- Canon EOS R3
- Canon EOS R5
- Canon EOS R6
- Canon EOS R
- Canon EOS RP
- Canon 5D Mark IV
- Canon 6D Mark II
- Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
- Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
- Canon EOS 5DS
- Canon EOS 5DS R
Canon’s full-frame cameras are split amongst its EOS R system mirrorless cameras and its DSLR cameras. The full-frame EOS R system begins with the ‘entry-level’ EOS RP and is topped by the flagship EOS R5, which offers 45-megapixel resolution and 8K video.
Among Canon’s DSLRs, the flagship EOS-1D X Mark III and popular EOS 5D Mark IV top the range, with the EOS 6D II at the bottom as its ‘entry-level’ full-frame model. Older full-frame DSLRs like the Canon EOS 5DS, EOS 5DS R and EOS-1D X Mark II still remain within Canon’s product listings.
What Canon camera do professional photographers use?
For years, many professional photographers shot with Canon’s EOS 5D and EOS-1D X range of DSLRs. But in recent years many professionals have been migrating over to Canon’s mirrorless EOS R system. Many pros still shoot with the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, but the Canon EOS R3 has proved a worthy alternative. Meanwhile, professionals also use the Canon EOS R5 for its resolution and 8K video capability.
What does EOS stand for in Canon cameras?
EOS stands for Electro-Optical System. The term was coined by Canon Inc in 1987. To date, Canon has released nearly 100 cameras under the EOS moniker.
Best Canon camera for beginners
Though aimed at novices, the Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3 also provides plenty of room to grow making it the best Canon beginner camera.
We based this choice on its value for money and range of features. It’s a great all-rounder for the beginner photographer. But Canon has a wide range of entry-level cameras that suit different needs and specialities. For more options, check out our guide to the best Canon cameras for beginners.
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / 250D
Specification
- Camera type: DSLR
- Announced: 10th April 2019
- Sensor: 24.1Mp APS-C CMOS
- Lens mount: Canon EF-S
- AF System: 9-point phase detection, Dual Pixel CMOS AF (via Live View or Video)
- Viewfinder: Pentamirror 95% coverage optical viewfinder
- Screen: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen with 1,040,000 dots
- Max video resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) at 23.98, 25fps
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 122.4 x 92.6 x 69.8mm
- Weight: Black/Silver 449g, White 451g
The Canon EOS 250D, known as the EOS Rebel SL3 and the EOS Kiss X10, is designed for beginner photographers, however, it has a bit more to offer than the Canon EOS 2000D (EOS Rebel T7) and EOS 4000D.
Like many other DSLRs it has an APS-C sized (24.1Mp Dual Pixel CMOS) sensor but it’s the world’s smallest, lightest DSLR with that sized sensor. It’s also boasts 4K video technology and a vari-angle touch-screen.
Quite simply put, it’s a great little camera with well-integrated touch controls and Wi-Fi connectivity. It also offers tons of versatility to experiment with your photography with clever features such as its built-in timelapse mode.
It’s also a capable little camera that can get subjects sharp quickly and captures attractive images with a good level of detail. In fact, it’s the best entry-level DSLRs around at the moment.
Canon has paired the SL3’s sensor with its Digic 8 processing engine. As well as enabling 4K movies recording, this powers a maximum continuous shooting rate of 5fps (frame per second), 4K time-lapse mode and 4K image grab from movies.
In addition, the standard sensitivity range for stills is ISO 100-25,600, with an expansion setting of ISO 51200. With Full-HD movies, the native range is ISO 100-12, 800 (expandable to ISO 25600). In 4K movie mode, the maximum level is ISO 6,400.
Read our Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D Review
Price when reviewed
£530
$599.99 Check current price
For
- APS-C format sensor
- Phase detection autofocus system in video mode
- Vari-angle touchscreen
Against
- Switch between using the viewfinder and screen isn’t seamless
- Viewfinder AF system has just 9 AF points
Canon EOS R10
Specification
- Camera type: Mirrorless
- Announced: 24th May 2022
- Sensor: 24.2Mp APS-C format (22.3 x 14.9mm) CMOS
- Processor: Digic X
- Lens mount: Canon RF
- Sensitivity range: ISO 100-32,000 expandable to ISO 51,200
- AF system: Dual Pixel CMOS II AF phase detection with up to 4503 positions and 651 automatically selectable points
- Subject detection and tracking: Humans (Eyes/Face/Head/Body), Animals (Dogs, Cats and Birds) or Vehicles (Racing cars or Motor bikes)
- Viewfinder: 0.39-type 2,360,000-dots OLED EVF
- Screen: Touch-sensitive vari-angle 2.95-inch LCD with 1.04 million dots
- Video resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) at up to 60p with 64% crop, 4K (3840 x 2160) at up to 30p from 6K, Full HD: (1920 x 1080) at up to 120p
- Max continuous shooting rate: Mechanical shutter: 15fps for up to 460 Jpegs or 29 raw files, Electronic shutter: 23fps for 70 Jpegs or 21 raw files
- Shutter speed range: Mechanical: 30-1/4000 sec, Bulb, Electronic: 30-1/16000 sec
- Built-in flash: GN 6m @ ISO 100
- Battery: Li-ion LP-E17, Viewfinder: Approx. 260 shots, Screen: Approx 430 shots
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 122.5 x 87.8 x 83.4mm
- Weight: 429g including battery and memory card
One of two new mirrorless APS-C cameras Canon introduced into its EOS R system in May 2022, the Canon EOS R10 offers a great balance of ease of use and plenty of capability and specifications to grow with.
Although it sits below the R7 in Canon’s mirrorless camera line-up, the Canon R10 has a lot of features in common with the flagship model. For example, although its sensor has a lower resolution with 24.2MP rather than 32.5MP, it features the same Dual Pixel CMOS AF II technology. This means that the Canon R10 uses phase detection focusing and every pixel is capable of being used by the focusing system. As a result, you can focus anywhere across the image.
Further performance enhancements in comparison with cameras like the Canon EOS 850D (Canon EOS Rebel T8i) and Canon EOS 6D Mark II are enabled by the use of the Digic X processor in the R10. This enables a maximum continuous shooting rate of 23fps (frames per second) with the electronic shutter and 15fps with the mechanical shutter.
The Canon EOS R10 is the real deal. It’s very compact, yet has a good grip and both a viewfinder and a flip out screen. Yes there’s is a crop if you shoot 4K at 60p video, but it can also shoot uncropped 4K video at 30p which is down-sampled from 6K, plus you still get phase detection focusing.
Read our Canon EOS R10 first look Review
Price when reviewed
£1350
€1649.99 Check current price
For
- Phase detection focusing and intelligent subject detection
- Same mount as Canon R3, R5 and R6
- Small and light
Against
- Limited RF-S lens range
- No in-body stabilisation
Best Canon camera for sport
For sport you need speed and power, and there are no better Canon cameras for sport than the powerful EOS R3 and EOS-1D X Mark III.
Canon EOS R3
Specification
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Announced: 14th September 2021
- Sensor: 24.1Mp Full-frame BSI stacked CMOS
- Processor: Digic X
- Lens mount: RF
- Sensitivity range: Stills: ISO 100-102,400 expandable to ISO 50-204,800, Video: ISO 100-25,600 expandable to 100-102,400
- Metering: 384-zone metering with Evaluative metering (linked to All AF points), Partial metering (approx. 5.9% of viewfinder at centre), Spot metering: Centre spot metering (approx. 2.9% viewfinder at centre), Centre weighted average metering
- Shutter speed range: Mechanical shutter: 30- 1/8,000 sec and Bulb, Electronic shutter: 30-1/64,000 sec
- Still file formats: Raw + Jpeg/HEIF
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: Mechanical shutter / 1st curtain electronic: 12fps for 1000+ Jpeg or 1000 raw, Electronic shutter: 30fps for 540 Jpegs or 150 raw images
- Main video resolutions: 6K DCI (17:9) 6000 x 3164 (59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, 24, 23.98fps) raw, 4K DCI (17:9) 4096 x 2160 (59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, 24, 23.98fps) intra or inter frame / light inter frame 4K UHD (16:9) 3840 x 2160 (119.9, 100, 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, 23.98 fps) intra or inter frame Full HD (16:9) 1920 x 1080 (119.9, 100, 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25, 23.98 fps) intra or inter frame Full HD (16:9) 1920 x 1080 HDR (29.97, 25 fps) inter frame
- Video conatiner formats: MP4, raw (CRM)
- Colour sampling: 6K raw 12bit, 4K/ Full HD – 4:2:0 8-bit or 4:2:2 10bit
- Log: Canon Log 3
- Autofocus system: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II phase detection with 1,053 points
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch 5.76million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 120fps display and 0.76x magnification
- Screen: 3.2-inch 4.15-million dot vari-angle touchscreen
- Stabilisation: In-body image stabilisation (IBIS) that works with lens IS and enables up to 8-stops of shutter speed compensation
- Storage: Dual slots, 1x CFexpress, 1x SDXC UHS-II
- Dimensions: 150x 142.6 x 87.2mm
- Weight: 822g body only, 1015g with card and battery
While Canon says that the EOS R3 sits below the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III in the company’s line-up, there can be little doubt that the new 24.1MP full-frame mirrorless camera will attract the attention of many of the flagship DSLR’s users. It’s aimed at the same pro sports and news photographer audience and has a fabulous feature set to keep them happy.
Canon used a full-frame backside-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor inside the Canon EOS R3 and paired it with the Digic X processing engine to deliver quick data readout and minimise rolling shutter. It offers an excellent blend of resolution, noise control and file size with blistering AF performance.
What’s more, the R3 can shoot raw or Jpeg files at up to 30fps with full exposure metering and autofocus (AF) tracking when the electronic shutter is selected. It’s a great choice of camera for sport, action and news photography.
The R5 and R6 were significant introductions for Canon when they launched in 2020. They gave significant depth to the EOS R system. But the addition of the EOS R3 takes things up a notch with its ability to shoot at 30fps, Eye Control AF and a high-resolution vari-angle touchscreen. It’s also the first double-gripped mirrorless camera, and while Canon says that it sits below the EOS-1D X Mark III, the R3 looks set to poach a few flagship DSLR sales and convert more professional photographers to mirrorless technology.
Canon has shown us a vision of the future for mirrorless cameras and while the R3 is beyond the budget of many photographers, the AI that it employs will trickle down to more affordable cameras.
Find the latest deals on the Canon EOS R3 at Amazon UK and Amazon US.
Read our Canon EOS R3 Review
Price when reviewed
£5880
$5999 / €6689.99 Check current price
For
- 24Mp full-frame sensor with full AF coverage
- 12fps/30fps continuous shooting with continuous AF
- Eye Control AF
Against
- 6K raw video requires lots of storage capacity
- Control layout different from EOS-1D X mark III and existing R-series cameras
- Less durable buttons than on the 1D X III
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Specification
- Camera type: DSLR
- Announced: 7th January 2020
- Sensor: Full-frame (24x36mm) 20.1Mp CMOS
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Processing engine: Digic X
- Sensitivity range: Stills: 100-102400, expandable to ISO 50-819,200, Video: ISO 100-25600, expandable to ISO 100-204,800
- Autofocus system: Viewfinder: phase detection with 191 points, 155 cross-type AF at f/4 including 1 dual cross type at f/2.8, Live View: Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Face+Tracking and 3,869 points
- Max continuous shooting rate: Viewfinder: 16ps, Live View: 20 fps with mirror locked up with exposure and AF tracking
- Max video quality: 4K raw (5496×2904) at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94fps, 4K DCI (17:9) 4096×2160 at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94fps intra or inter frame
- Viewfinder: Optical, pentaprism type with 100% coverage, 0.76x magnification and 20mm eyepoint
- Screen: Fixed 3.2-inch / 8.01 cm TFT with 2,100,000 dots
- Storage: Dual CFexpress 1.0 Type B
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 158 x 167.6 x 82.6mm
- Weight: 1250g body only
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is Canon’s flagship DSLR and its the best professional DSLR currently available.
Its AF system, which is designed with pro sports photographers in mind, is superb and the 1D X Mark III can shoot at up to 20fps to capture once in a lifetime moments.
Thanks to its 20.1Mp full-frame (36x24mm) CMOS sensor, which has a new High Detail Low-Pass Filter, and the Digic X (8) processing engine, the 1D X Mark II controls noise very well up to around ISO 51,200.
The EOS-1D X Mark III is also Canon’s most advanced interchangeable lens video camera outside the Cinema EOS series. It can shoot 4K 12-bit video with raw internal recording. It can even record raw and MP4 video simultaneously to two separate memory cards.
In addition, 4K video can be video can be oversampled at 5.5K (5472×2886) and recorded as 12-bit CRM files highly-detailed footage.
As a twin-gripped camera, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is big and heavy but it’s also very robust.
Find the latest deals on the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III at Amazon UK and Amazon US.
Read our Canon EOS-1D X Mark III Review
Price when reviewed
£6499
$6499 Check current price
For
- 16/20fps continuous shooting with a massive burst depth
- Excellent AF system
- Great new Smart Controllers
Against
- Huge price
- Fixed screen is frustrating in Live View and video mode
- Big and heavy
Best Canon camera for portraits
Solid low-light performance along with great exposures and colour rendition make Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless offering the best Canon camera for beginners.
Canon EOS R
Specification
- Sensor: 30.3Mp full-frame CMOS sensor
- Sensitivity: ISO 100-40,000 with expansion settings taking it to ISO 102,400
- Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 5,655 AF positions
- Processor: Digic 8 processing engine
- Video: 4K (3840 x 2160) enabled at 29.97p and 23.98p in NTSC or 25p and 24p in PAL
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 8fps
The Canon EOS R is a very capable camera. In the right hands, it captures plenty of detail with good exposure and attractive colours. And while it’s AF system isn’t the best (nor the worst) at tracking fast-moving subjects, it focuses with confidence in low light conditions.
This is helped along by the EOS R’s AF system, which is sensitive down to an impressive -6EV. That means it can focus in near darkness. And in our tests, it could do just that.
What’s more, the Digic 8 processing engine enables Canon to claim that the R has the World’s fastest AF system, with focus acquisition at just 0.05secs.
- Read our Canon EOS R review
Honorable Mention – Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Sitting beneath the 5D Mark IV in Canon’s full-frame DSLR line-up the 6D Mark II is attractively priced and a solid upgrade on the original 6D. The sensor is new and brings a 6million-pixel jump in resolution yet thanks to improvements in technology that the passage of almost five years brings and the Digic 7 processor the standard sensitivity (ISO) range has also expanded to ISO 100-40,000.
The 6D Mark II is a well-rounded camera that has just about everything enthusiast photographers could want. The touch-control is excellent and the vari-angle screen is a real bonus for shooting from creative angles.
In addition, the always-on Bluetooth connection makes controlling the camera via your smartphone, or transferring images to share a doddle.
Read our Canon EOS R review
Price when reviewed
£1599
$1799 Check current price
For
- Excellent touch-control
- Good AF system
- High-quality electronic viewfinder
Against
- No mode dial or mini-joystick
- 1.7x crop in 4K video mode
- Single memory card slot
Best Canon camera for landscapes
Landscape photographers want maximum resolution and plenty of detail, and with the EOS R5 Canon now has a full-frame mirrorless offering to meet those needs.
Canon EOS R5
Specification
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Announced: 9th July 2020
- Sensor: 45Mp Full-frame Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
- Processor: Digic X
- Lens mount: RF
- Sensitivity range: Stills: ISO 100-51,200 expandable to ISO 50-102,400, Movies: ISO 100-25600, expandable to ISO ISO 51,200
- Metering: 384-zone metering with Evaluative metering (linked to All AF points), Partial metering (approx. 6.1% of viewfinder at centre), Spot metering: Centre spot metering (approx. 3.1% viewfinder at centre), Centre weighted average metering
- Shutter speed range: 1/8000sec-30 seconds and Bulb
- File formats: Raw + Jpeg/HEIF, MP4
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: Mechanical shutter: 12fps, Electronic shutter: 20fps
- Maximum video resolution: Uncropped, internal raw recording 8K video at up to 29.97fps in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265), Uncropped internal recording 4K video at up to 119.88fps in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265) 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ, 4K output over HDMI at up to 59.94fps
- Autofocus system: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II phase detection with 5940 points in stills and 4500 points in movie mode
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch 5.76million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 120fps display and 0.76x magnification
- Screen: 3.15-inch 2.1-million dot vari-angle touchscreen
- Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Advanced Animal AF (recognising dogs, cats and birds) supported in all video modes with 100% coverage and up to 1053 ‘AF segments’
- Stabilisation: In-body image stabilisation (IBIS) that works with lens IS and enables up to 8-stops of shutter speed compensation
- Storage: Dual slots, 1x CFexpress, 1x SDXC UHS-II
- Dimensions: 135.8 x 97.5 x 88mm
- Weight: 650 g / 738 g with card and battery
The Canon EOS R5 leaves little doubt that Canon is now serious about the mirrorless camera market. It has phenomenal specification with features like a 45Mp full-frame sensor, phase detection autofocusing that covers the whole frame, eye AF for humans and animals that works in video and stills mode and a class-leading viewfinder paired with a vari-angle touchscreen. And of course, the ability to shoot 8K video.
But what will appeal most to landscape photographers is the new full-frame sensor with 45 million effective pixels. Canon has introduced a new version of its Dual Pixel CMOS AF sensor design, called Dual Pixel CMOS AF II and this helps deliver some impressive autofocus functionality in the EOS R5.
Interestingly, although the Canon R5 has a lower resolution than the 50.6Mp Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R, a newly designed optical low pass filter means that Canon is claiming that it can actually resolve more details than these cameras.
Honorable Mention – Canon EOS 5DS / 5DS R
With a staggering 50.6-megapixel sensor, the 5DS and 5DS R capture a stunning amount of detail. What’s more, Canon introduced a new anti-alias cancellation technology in the 5DS R that helps this further.
If you’re looking to produce large prints from one of these cameras – which is probably one of the main reasons you’d want to buy one of these – you can produce 300ppi prints from the 5DS and 5DS R that measure 73.6×49.1cm.
To process images of this size presents a huge challenge to manufacturers, and Canon has employed its Dual DIGIC 6 processors to keep the 5DS and 5DS R running smoother and employ a moderately fast burst rate of 5 frames per second.
So from purely a detail and image size perspective, the Canon EOS 5DS or 5DS R is the best Canon camera for landscapes. But they come at a high cost. Alternatively, you might consider the EOS 5D Mark IV or EOS 6D Mark II.
Read our Canon EOS R5 Review
Price when reviewed
£4199
$3899 Check current price
For
- 45Mp full-frame sensor with full AF coverage
- 12fps/20fps continuous shooting with continuous AF
- Uncropped internal 8K video recording for up to 20 minutes
Against
- 8K video will require lots of storage capacity
Best Canon camera for wildlife
Canon’s innovative Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Advanced Animal AF system delivers the goods for wildlife photographers.
Canon EOS R6
Specification
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Announced: 9th July 2020
- Sensor: 20Mp Full-frame Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
- Processor: Digic X
- Lens mount: RF
- Sensitivity range: Stills: ISO 100-102,400 expandable to ISO 50-204,800, Movies: ISO 100-6,400, expandable to ISO 204,800
- File formats: Raw + Jpeg/HEIF, MP4
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: Mechanical shutter: 12fps, Electronic shutter: 20fps
- Maximum video resolution: 4K video at up to 60fps, Full HD at up to 120fps. 4K video crop: 1.07x at 25p (1.19x with the Digital IS on), 1.52x at 60p
- Autofocus system: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II phase detection with 6,072 points in stills and 4968 points in movie mode
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch 3.69million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 120fps refresh rate
- Screen: 3-inch 1.62-million dot vari-angle touchscreen
- Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Advanced Animal AF (recognising dogs, cats and birds) supported in all video modes with 100% coverage and up to 1053 ‘AF segments’
- Stabilisation: In-body image stabilisation (IBIS) that works with lens IS and enables up to 8-stops of shutter speed compensation
- Storage: Dual slots, 2x SDXC UHS-II
- Dimensions: 138.4 x 97.5 x 88.4mm
- Weight: 598g / 680 g with card and battery
It may not have a class-leading resolution but the Canon EOS R6 is a phenomenally good stills camera. Its autofocus system is fantastic and it can keep track of fast subjects moving in random directions with ease while shooting at 20 frames per second. In addition, the build quality and handling is extremely good, making it a delight to use.
Like the Canon EOS R5 launched at the same time, the Canon EOS R6 has a Dual Pixel CMOS AF II sensor which means that there’s phase-detection autofocusing available whether you’re shooting stills or video. Canon is claiming a world record for autofocus speed at 0.05sec for the R5 and R6.
What’s more, the whole sensor is covered with autofocus (AF) points and in stills mode, there are up to 6,072 points available for selection. There’s also face, eye and animal AF tracking available, which combined with the 12fps (frame per second) maximum continuous shooting rate with the mechanical shutter and 20fps maximum shooting rate with the electronic shutter, is likely to appeal to keen wildlife, sport and action photographers. And the fact that the AF functions all work in video mode (including Eye AF) is great news for videographers too.
Within a few moments of shooting with the Canon R6, we realised that the Face + Tracking AF system is astonishingly good. It’s simply brilliant when it’s combined with the Subject detection (which can be set to Human or Animal) and Eye detection. For example, it was able to spot, focus on and track the black eyes in the black feathers of Canada geese when I could hardly make them out myself.
It also manages to distinguish between humans and animals very well, and it identifies eyes even when they are very small in the frame. Read our full Canon EOS R6 review for more detail.
Read our Canon EOS R6 Review
Price when reviewed
£2500
€2899.99 Check current price
For
- Similar 20Mp full-frame sensor to the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III
- 12fps/20fps continuous shooting
- Superb autofocus system
Against
- Slight crop in 4K video mode
- 6Mp lower resolution than the Canon EOS 6D Mark II
- Serious heat generation issues with 4K video
Canon EOS R7
Specification
- Camera type: Mirrorless
- Announced: 24th May 2022
- Sensor: 32.5Mp APS-C format (22.3 x 14.8mm) CMOS
- Processor: Digic X
- Lens mount: Canon RF
- Sensitivity range: ISO 100-32,000 expandable to ISO 51,200
- AF system: Dual Pixel CMOS II AF phase detection with up to 5915 positions and 651 automatically selectable points
- Subject detection and tracking: Humans (Eyes/Face/Head/Body), Animals (Dogs, Cats and Birds) or Vehicles (Racing cars or Motor bikes)
- Viewfinder: 0.39-type 2,360,000-dots OLED EVF
- Screen: Touch-sensitive vari-angle 2.95-inch LCD with 1.62 million dots
- Video resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160) at up to 60p, Full HD: (1920 x 1080) at up to 120p
- Max continuous shooting rate: Mechanical shutter: 15fps for up to 224 Jpegs or 51 raw files, Electronic shutter: 30fps for 126 Jpegs or 42 raw files
- Shutter speed range: Mechanical: 30-1/8000 sec, Bulb, Electronic: 30-1/16000 sec
- Built-in flash: No
- Battery: Li-ion LP-E6N, Viewfinder: Approx. 500 shots Screen: Approx 770 shots
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 132.0 x 90.4 x 91.7mm
- Weight: 612g including battery and memory card
The Canon EOS R7 boasts a new 32.5MP sensor sensor that’s paired with the company’s latest Digic X processing engine. This combination enables a maximum continuous shooting rate of 15fps (frames per second) with the mechanical shutter and 30fps with the electronic shutter. Those rates are both possible at full resolution and with full autofocus and metering capability.
In addition, the Canon R7 has intelligent subject detection and tracking, which uses deep learning algorithms to enable the camera to detect and focus on people, animals and vehicles. It uses hierarchical detection, prioritising the eyes (when eye detection is enabled in the menu) the heads then bodies when detecting humans or animals.
As you’d expect, there’s also Touch & Drag AF, which allows you to set the AF point by touching or dragging on the screen with your finger.
The response of the R7’s AF system can also be refined to suite the subject or shooting conditions by adjusting the parameters in the Case Studies section of the AF menu tab.
While the Canon EOS R7 is pitched as a mirrorless equivalent to the EOS 7D Mark II, some may feel that the EOS 90D is a more direct comparison. However, the R7 makes some significant steps-up, not least Canon’s latest AF system with the addition of the subject detection and the ability to shoot at up to 30fps with the electronic shutter or 15fps with the mechanical shutter. There’s also full-sensor 4K video at up to 60P, C-Log and ports to connect both a microphone and a pair of headphones.
Read our Canon EOS R7 Review
Price when reviewed
£1350
$1499 / €1649.99 Check current price
For
- Phase detection focusing and intelligent subject detection
- 32.5MP APS-C sensor
- Same mount as Canon R3, R5 and R6
Against
- Limited RF-S lens range
- Unique control arrangement
- Lack-lustre viewfinder and screen specification
Best Canon cameras for video
Despite its early teething problems with overheating, was there ever any doubt that the EOS R5 and its 8K video and 4K at 120p capabilities make it the best Canon camera for video?
Canon EOS R5
Specification
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Announced: 9th July 2020
- Sensor: 45Mp Full-frame Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
- Processor: Digic X
- Lens mount: RF
- Sensitivity range: Stills: ISO 100-51,200 expandable to ISO 50-102,400, Movies: ISO 100-25600, expandable to ISO ISO 51,200
- Metering: 384-zone metering with Evaluative metering (linked to All AF points), Partial metering (approx. 6.1% of viewfinder at centre), Spot metering: Centre spot metering (approx. 3.1% viewfinder at centre), Centre weighted average metering
- Shutter speed range: 1/8000sec-30 seconds and Bulb
- File formats: Raw + Jpeg/HEIF, MP4
- Maximum continuous shooting rate: Mechanical shutter: 12fps, Electronic shutter: 20fps
- Maximum video resolution: Uncropped, internal raw recording 8K video at up to 29.97fps in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265), Uncropped internal recording 4K video at up to 119.88fps in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265) 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ, 4K output over HDMI at up to 59.94fps
- Autofocus system: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II phase detection with 5940 points in stills and 4500 points in movie mode
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch 5.76million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 120fps display and 0.76x magnification
- Screen: 3.15-inch 2.1-million dot vari-angle touchscreen
- Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Advanced Animal AF (recognising dogs, cats and birds) supported in all video modes with 100% coverage and up to 1053 ‘AF segments’
- Stabilisation: In-body image stabilisation (IBIS) that works with lens IS and enables up to 8-stops of shutter speed compensation
- Storage: Dual slots, 1x CFexpress, 1x SDXC UHS-II
- Dimensions: 135.8 x 97.5 x 88mm
- Weight: 650 g / 738 g with card and battery
For video, the main headline for the Canon R5 is that it can shoot raw 8K 12-bit video at up to 29.97fps. It’s also possible to shoot in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265).
In lay terms, an 8K video frame is equivalent to a 35Mp image and shooting in 4:2:2 10-bit with Canon Log means there should be plenty of scope for adjusting/grading footage post-capture. It also means that the EOS R5 can be used alongside other cameras, including Canon’s cine range, and the footage can be made to match.
What’s more, the footage is captured using the full width of the sensor so the video isn’t cropped.
Alternatively, 4K video can be recorded at up to 119.88fps in 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log (H.265) or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ (H.265) 4:2:2 10-bit in Canon Log or 4:2:2 10-bit HDR PQ. That should be great news for slow motion video fans.
If you prefer to record 4K video to an external storage device, there’s an HDMI connection that can cope with recording at up to 59.94fps.
The Canon R5 also has an HQ (high quality) mode that can be activated for 4K recording. This sets the camera to use the 8K technology and downsample the output to 4K.
Honorable Mention – Canon EOS 90D
This might be a controversial choice for some people. One might think the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV should be sitting here. While the 5D Mark IV boasts good video quality, the fact that the screen is fixed rather than tilting or articulating seems a little out-dated and limiting.
There’s also no Log mode to record flatter footage for grading, nor focus peaking or a zebra display option. The 5D Mark IV is an excellent all-rounder for shooting stills but some videographers maybe frustrated by the missing features.
Enter the Canon EOS 90D. Sitting in the middle of Canon’s DSLR range, the 32.5-million-pixel APS-C format 90D has a very capable 45-point (all cross-types) autofocus system. The 90D introduced 4K recording capability at 29.97 and 25fps, and in Full HD you can record at frame rates up to 119.88fps. What’s more, its Full HD footage is very good with the live view AF system enabling smooth focus transitions during recording.
The Dual Pixel CMOS AF system that operates in live view and video mode is very good. It’s not quite as fast as the best systems in a compact system or mirrorless camera, but it’s pretty snappy and positive. When the menu option is set to slow AF adjustment subjects move smoothly into focus making professional-looking movie footage.
Are there more capable cameras for video out there? Yes, of course. But if you’re already a Canon user with Canon lenses and you want the best Canon camera for video on a budget, the EOS 90D will really surprise you.
- Read our Canon EOS 90D review
Read our Canon EOS R5 Review
Price when reviewed
£4199
$3899 Check current price
For
- 45Mp full-frame sensor with full AF coverage
- 12fps/20fps continuous shooting with continuous AF
- Uncropped internal 8K video recording for up to 20 minutes
Against
- 8K video will require lots of storage capacity
Best Canon camera for vlogging
With 4K video capability, a mic port and a handy vari-angle touchscreen, the PowerShot G7 X Mark III is the best Canon camera for vlogging.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
Specification
- Camera type: Compact
- Sensor: 20.1Mp 1-inch type Stacked CMOS
- Lens: 24-100mm (35mm equivalent) f/1.8 – f/2.8
- Viewfinder: 0.39-inch type 2,360,000-dot OLED
- Screen: 3-inch 1,040,000-dot tilting touchscreen
- Autofocus system: AiAF (31-point, Face Detection or Touch AF with Object and Face Select and Track), 1-point AF (any position or fixed centre)
- Sensitivity range: ISO 125-12,800 expandable to ISO 25,600
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 105.5 x 60.9 x 41.4mm
- Weight: 304g with battery and memory card
While Canon didn’t really market the PowerShot G7 X Mark II at vloggers, it proved a popular choice with those users. It has a magical combination of a comparatively large sensor, a bright lens with a useful focal length range equivalent to 24-100mm, a flip-up touch-screen and a compact form. It’s ideal for slipping in your pocket to take everywhere and for using at arm’s length.
Now Canon has announced the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III. And although in some ways it doesn’t make a massive upgrade on the previous camera, there are a couple of features that could make it very popular indeed.
Firstly, whereas the Mark II’s maximum video resolution is Full-HD (1920 x 1080) at 59.94 / 50 / 29.97 / 25 / 23.98 fps, the PowerShot G7 X Mark III is capable of shooting 4K video 3840 x 2160 at 29.97 / 25fps without cropping. In addition, it can shoot Full HD (1920 x 1080) footage at 119.9 / 100 / 59.94 / 50 / 29 .97 / 25 fps. Those upper frame rates make high-quality slow-motion video possible.
And in an unusual move, there’s an option to shoot movies with a vertical movie aspect.
Crucially, there’s also a 3.5mm mic port. This could be used, for instance, to connect a Rode Wireless Go for cable-free audio recording.
The clincher, however, is that the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is able to live-stream video. That’s big news. Instead of having to shoot on your phone or use a complex set-up, you can shoot directly to Youtube using a dedicated camera.
There’s also a clean HDMI output should you want it.
- Read our full Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Review
Read our Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Review
Price when reviewed
£700
$699.99 Check current price
For
- Live-streaming possible
- No cropping in 4K video mode
- Excellent blend of touch and button/dial control
