I’m a Canon enthusiast. My first equipment was all Canon-made, so I know exactly what the best Canon camera for beginners should bring to the table. I’m excited to show you my selection!
Overview
| Camera | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS Rebel T8i | Overall Choice | ~$980 |
| Canon EOS R100 | Best Budget Option | ~$600 |
| Canon EOS R8 | Best Lightweight Full-Frame Camera | ~$1,500 |
| Canon EOS 6D Mark II | Best Full-Frame DSLR Camera | ~$1,000 |
| PowerShot G5 X Mark II | Best Compact Camera | ~$860 |
| PowerShot SX740 HS | Best Point-and-Shoot Option | ~$500 |
| Canon EOS RP | Best for Traveling | ~$1,000 |
| Canon EOS 250D Rebel | Best Value Option | ~$580 |
| Canon EOS 90D | Best APS-C Camera | ~$1,200 |
9 Best Canon Cameras for Beginners
1. Canon EOS Rebel T8i
✅ Stunning Image Quality
✅ Great low-light Performance
✅ Eye-Detection Autofocus
❌ 4k Video is cropped
❌ Battery life could be better for extensive shooting days
If you’re stepping into the realm of DSLRs, the Canon Rebel T8i is a great choice due to its user-friendliness and powerful features.
Even though this camera is fairly cheap, the image quality is absolutely stunning! Actually, it really surprised me when I first laid my hands on it. Also, the performance in a low-light environment is exceptional for this level!
This camera is just a great allrounder. Let it be bird photography or portraits – this camera nails it.
It has just enough features not to overwhelm a beginner to photography, yet enough to give him many interesting options. You definitely can’t go wrong with this one! (Just make sure to buy a battery pack as well!)
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | APS-C 24 Megapixels 6000 x 4000 |
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 (expands to 51200) |
| Shutterspeed | 1/4000 sec |
| Focus Points | 45 |
| Measurements | 515 g (1.14 lb / 18.17 oz) 131 x 103 x 76 mm (5.16 x 4.06 x 2.99″) |
2. Canon EOS R100
✅ Affordable yet professional
✅ Lightweight and Compact
✅ Dual Pixel CMOS for amazing Autofocus
❌ A bit limiting settings for professionals
❌ Struggles with fast movement
If you’re on a budget, this camera will seal the deal. For just about $500, you can get an amazing camera that will satisfy every beginner’s dream.
What stood out to me was the featherweight body, which was a joy to carry on long walks, ensuring I didn’t tire out before finding the perfect shot. And due to the sharp and versatile 24.1 MP CMOS sensor, the photos looked extremely good as well!
Also, the autofocus was surprisingly good! Of course, as a professional, I’m a bit spoiled by high-end cameras with endless settings. But for beginners, the simplicity of the R100 may be just perfect!
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | APS-C 24 Megapixels 6000 x 4000 |
| ISO | 100-12800 |
| Shutterspeed | 1/4000 sec |
| Focus Points | 143 |
| Measurements | 356 g (0.78 lb / 12.56 oz) 116 x 86 x 69 mm (4.57 x 3.39 x 2.72″) |
3. Canon EOS R8
✅ Just 1 lbs!
✅ Full-Frame Sensor
✅ 4K at 60fps video capability
❌ No in-body stabilization
❌ Battery life could be better
The R8 is really cool if you want a lightweight and compact camera while still having all the benefits of a full-frame camera!
I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Canon EOS R8. Right off the bat, I was impressed by how light and snug the camera felt in my hands — a big plus for shooting on the go. The OLED EVF is crisp, and the vari-angle touchscreen adds that extra flexibility when composing shots from tricky angles.
And for once — navigating the menu system was intuitive! No complex settings, menus, or similar. Especially great for beginners, love it!
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | Full-Frame 24 Megapixels 6000 x 4000 |
| ISO | 100-102400 |
| Shutterspeed | 1/4000 sec |
| Focus Points | 1053 |
| Measurements | 461 g (1.02 lb / 16.26 oz) 133 x 86 x 70 mm (5.24 x 3.39 x 2.76″) |
4. Canon EOS 6D Mark II
✅ Exceptional image quality in various lighting conditions
✅ User-friendly interface that's perfect for learning
✅ Robust build quality, weather-sealed
❌ No 4K Video Recording
❌ No EF-S lens compatability
I wholeheartedly recommend the Canon EOS 6D Mark II to any beginner for its intuitive design that bolsters the learning curve in photography.
The 26.2-megapixel sensor ensures that every detail is captured with precision, something beginners and enthusiasts alike will adore. The full-frame advantage is distinct, and it becomes particularly noticeable when shooting in challenging lighting.
It also has Wi-Fi connectivity, which is great for beginners!
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | Full-Frame 26 Megapixels 6240 x 4160 |
| ISO | Auto, 100-40000 (expands to 50-102400) |
| Shutterspeed | 1/4000 sec |
| Focus Points | 45 |
| Measurements | 765 g (1.69 lb / 26.98 oz) 144 x 111 x 75 mm (5.67 x 4.37 x 2.95″) |
5. PowerShot G5 X Mark II
✅ Super Slim Design
✅ Good Image Quality with 20.1 MP
✅ Perfect for on the go
❌ Small Battery
❌ USB Charging is a bit challenging
If you’re traveling a lot and don’t have much space for your photography equipment, have a look at the PowerShot G5 X Mark II.
Due to its very slim design, the camera fits in almost any pocket, yet it still provides great image quality with over 20 MP, and the low-light performance is surprisingly good for its size!
Only the battery is a bit low due to the minimalistic design, but other than that, this is one of my favorite cameras for on-the-go!
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) 20 Megapixels 5472 x 3648 |
| Shutterspeed | 1/2000 sec |
| Normal Focus Range | 5 cm (1.97″) |
| Measurements | 340 g (0.75 lb / 11.99 oz) 111 x 61 x 46 mm (4.37 x 2.4 x 1.81″) |
6. PowerShot SX740 HS
✅ Impressive 40x Zoom
✅ 4K Video capability
✅ Built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
❌ No touchscreen
For fans of simple point-and-shoot cameras, this is always my recommendation. It provides a solid upgrade from any smartphone, and most hobbyists will be satisfied.
Especially the 40x optical zoom is rather impressive, and with 4K video quality and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, it makes every aspiring photographer happy.
It lacks a touchscreen, which would be the icing on the cake for a beginner point-and-shoot camera, but navigating the menu is quite intuitive as well.
You definitely can’t go wrong with this one for an absolutely reasonable price!
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | 1/2.3″ (6.17 x 4.55 mm) 21 Megapixels 5184 x 3888 |
| ISO | Auto, 100-3200 |
| Shutterspeed | 1/3200 sec |
| Focal length | 24–960 mm |
| Measurements | 299 g (0.66 lb / 10.55 oz) 110 x 64 x 40 mm (4.33 x 2.52 x 1.57″) |
7. Canon EOS RP
✅ Great Portability for a Full-Frame Camera
✅ Great image quality, even in dim light
✅ Easy to navigate for Beginners
❌ Single Card Slot
❌ 4K Video is cropped
If you want to be serious about photography, you need a full-frame camera. But they are quite clunky and heavy most of the time. That’s where the EOS RP comes into play!
This camera is incredibly lightweight for its class and really intuitive for any beginner to use.
As expected, the image quality is great, and it can handle almost every low-light situation. This makes the camera perfect for long walks outdoors or for traveling!
A second card slot would be nice for long hikes, but that’s probably just a me-problem due to taking thousands of pictures of the sunset…
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | Full-Frame 26 Megapixels 6240 x 4160 |
| ISO | Auto, 100-40000 (expands to 50-102400) |
| Shutterspeed | 1/4000 sec |
| Focus Points | 4779 |
| Measurements | 485 g (1.07 lb / 17.11 oz) 133 x 85 x 70 mm (5.24 x 3.35 x 2.76″) |
Canon EOS 250D Rebel SL3
✅ Really affordable for a good DSLR
✅ Intuitive Touchscreen Interface for Beginners
✅ Great Lightweight Build
❌ Professionals might miss advanced features
❌ Compatibility issue with external speed flashes
For just about $500, you can get yourself a top-notch DSLR camera! Which makes it the absolute best-value camera on this list.
It has everything a photography beginner needs, providing an intuitive interface and even a touchscreen (love this!).
Of course, some professional features are missing for its cheap price, but that’s just what a beginner needs. Simplicity.
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) 26 Megapixels 6000 x 4000 |
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 (expands to 51200) |
| Shutterspeed | 1/4000 sec |
| Focus Points | 9 |
| Measurements | 449 g (0.99 lb / 15.84 oz) 122 x 93 x 70 mm (4.8 x 3.66 x 2.76″) |
Canon EOS 90D
✅ Razor-sharp images with its high-resolution sensor
✅ Swift action capture thanks to rapid shooting speeds
✅ Versatile video recording options, including crisp 4K
❌ Overwhealming Features for Beginner
❌ High-End price for a Beginner-Non-Full-Frame Camera
If you prefer an APS-C camera over a full-frame one, this is the one to get. As we save money on the sensor size, we get amazing specs on all other ends.
We have extremely sharp and high-quality images, great shooting speed, and, of course, good low-light performance.
Even for video recording, we have 4K quality and great options. Talking of options, I’m actually concerned it could be too much for a beginner. But if you’re a curious and fast learner, this might be for you!
Most Important Specs:
| Sensor | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) 33 Megapixels 6960 x 4640 |
| ISO | Auto, 100-25600 (expands to 51200) |
| Shutterspeed | 1/8000 sec |
| Focus Points | 45 |
| Measurements | 701 g (1.55 lb / 24.73 oz) 141 x 105 x 77 mm (5.55 x 4.13 x 3.03″) |
Buying Guide
If you’re just starting out and don’t know what the important specs are, let me help you out with this quick guide:
Sensor Size
This describes the size of the sensor. Professionals most likely use Full-Frame cameras, but you might go with a smaller option (like APC-C) to save money.
Megapixels
The more, the better. Choose at least 18MP. This allows for clear, detailed photos, handy for printing or cropping.
Autofocus
Points: Look for a camera with a high number of autofocus points. More points increase accuracy when capturing subjects.
ISO Range
ISO: A camera with a range of at least 100-6400 ensures flexibility in various lighting conditions.
Handling
Ergonomics: The camera should feel comfortable in your hands and have intuitive controls for a beginner.
Video Capability
Go with 1080p or 4K resolution, depending on what you need.
Connectivity
Most cameras nowadays have Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection for easily sharing photos to devices or social media.
Price
Set your budget at around $500-1000. Of course, the more money you spend, the better your equipment will be.
My Opinion on the Best Canon Camera for Beginners
I absolutely love Canon for its low entry barrier for new photographers. If I had to recommend one brand to start off with, it would be Canon.
Overall, I would recommend the Canon EOS Rebel T8i. It is a great tradeoff between good specs, an APS-C sensor size, and a good price for beginners.
If you have a few bucks more to spend, go with the Canon EOS 90D, as it’s one of the best APS-Cs you can get. Or – if you want to go full-frame – have a closer look at the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.
Now you have everything to decide on your first Canon camera! I’m sure you will love the options I listed. If you want to have a look at other recommendations or guides, have a look at these:
Also, have a look at our Pinterest, to stay up-to-date with the latest photography trends!
Do you have other recommendations for the best canon camera for beginners in 2024? Let us know in the comments down below!
