The best Canon camera for 2024: Canon's finest DSLR, mirrorless and compact cameras

Canon EOS R5 Mark II on a red background
(Image credit: Canon)

Canon continues to command a huge market share of the camera industry and for good 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.

There are some superb Canon cameras included below. If we had to pick one model as our favorite, it would have be the EOS R5 Mark II. The full-frame professional-level mirrorless camera is Canon's more versatile camera ever, capturing epic 45MP stills and crisp 8K video, all supported by excellent autofocus and reliable in-body image stabilization. We think it’s also one of the best professional cameras overall.

That said, the EOS R5 Mark II won’t be the right fit for everyone – even pros who don't need its speedier performance resulting from its stacked sensor and twin processors could save a packet by opting for its predecessor, the EOS R5, while there are entirely different options for beginners. Our guide is designed to give you a full view of what’s on offer in Canon’s catalog right now. We’ve tested each option extensively, to help divide them based on how they handle and perform in the real world.

Top 3 picks

You can use the summary round-up below for an instant overview of the best Canon cameras. When you find a model that ticks the right boxes, click the link beneath each entry to read more of our review feedback.

Best by use-case

Written by
Tim Coleman
Written by
Timothy Coleman

Tim is TechRadar’s Cameras Editor. He’s worked in the photo video industry for more than 15 years, as both a photographer and journalist. During that time, Tim’s been lucky enough to use a wide range of Canon equipment, from travel compacts to professional flagships. As a result, he’s developed an expert practical knowledge of Canon’s different camera families and lens systems. He notes, "Canon continues to produce class-leading mirrorless cameras for both stills and video. One important factor to bear in mind is the availability of lenses. There are still relatively few native lenses available for Canon's RF mount, especially the crop sensor cameras like the EOS R10.”

The best Canon camera for 2024

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Below you'll find in-depth summaries for all of the best Canon cameras in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best Canon camera overall

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 EOS R5 Mark II sample images

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.

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.  

For outright speed, including sustained burst shooting sequences, the pricier EOS R1 is the camera to pick. For practically every other professional, the EOS R5 Mark II is the smart choice. There's too many incredible features to cover here, so find out more in our in-depth review. Put simply, we've been blown away by what is Canon's most versatile and capable camera ever, even if costs a fraction more than Nikon Z8 and Sony A7R V rivals. 

Read our in-depth Canon EOS R5 Mark II review

The best budget Canon camera

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

Canon EOS R10 sample images

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.

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.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS R10 review

The best premium Canon camera