5 Best Canon Cameras for Beginners [December 2023]
- By Sebastiaan van 't Hoog
- Updated 7 december 2023
We all know that choosing a Canon camera is difficult, especially as a beginner. Buying a beginner camera is a big investment and no one wants to buy the wrong one. Fortunately, Canon has a lot of choice.
Everyone should buy a beginner camera, I’ve been there too. With more than half a decade of experience, I have bought a lot of new cameras, so I know exactly what to look for when buying a Canon camera as a beginner.
In this article, you are guaranteed to find the right Canon camera for beginners and you will also find the best price. You can find everything here, so you can take the most beautiful photos as quickly as possible!
The best cameras listed
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. You can support me without any additional fees. I used some of the products mentioned, not all.
What is the best Canon for beginners?
With years of experience as a photographer, I of course started with a beginner camera, I didn’t know what to look for at all. Based on experience, I now know exactly what to look for when buying a beginner camera.
Of course I haven’t put every random camera on the list, I’m not going to recommend 10-year-old cameras when there are much better ones for a good price.
In general, I pay attention to resolution, video specs, and autofocus, but other aspects also attract my attention; everytinh will help you take beautiful photos, without too much hassle.
A camera alone won’t get you very far, we all know that, so I also recommend some affordable lenses. I will tell you what good telephoto, portrait, and landscape lenses there are.
Let’s start right away with the first camera!
Best Canon camera for beginners
Canon R50
Sebas' take
We are of course talking about Canon cameras for beginners, and to get straight to the point let’s start with the best. The Canon R50 is without hesitation the best beginner camera that is also affordable.
With the 24 MP sensor and 4K video capabilities, you can take beautiful photos and videos. The R50 is also perfect for nature photography, with the AI autofocus that can recognize the eyes of birds, you will capture all the action.
All in all, one of the best Canon cameras for beginners.
Holidays: Get $100 off your Canon R50!
Outstanding features
- 24MP APS-C sensor
- 4K30p video
- Deep learning autofocus
- RF mount
- 15fps burst mode
- Lightweight and compact
What I like/dislike about the Canon R50
Like
- There are countless points to mention about the R50, let me start at the beginning. It is a very small and compact camera so you can take it with you wherever you go
- With the deep learning autofocus, almost all photos are sharp. I tested it myself because it is the same system as Canon’s professional cameras
- The burst mode is good for all types of photography, whether you want to shoot birds or portraits as a beginner, the R50 will not disappoint
- You can use the deep learning AF during video too, making this a cut above its competitors from other brands
Dislike
- When you use the burst mode, the buffer will fill up fairly quickly, so you have to wait a while before you can take photos again
Best beginner lenses for the Canon R50
There are a lot of RF(-s) lenses available for the Canon R50, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good beginner lens in between.
Canon RF 50mm F/1.8 – Budget lens for portraits with a blurred background.
Canon RF 55-210mm – A budget telephoto lens, which is good for nature photography to get up close.
Canon RF 18-45mm – A lens good for landscapes and portraits, the perfect focal length.
Want to know more? Read the review! – Canon EOS R50 Review, Tests & Comparisons
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Best affordable camera for beginners
Canon R100
Sebas' take
When we talk about affordable cameras, we are talking about cameras under $500 dollars. Then the Canon R100 is Canon’s best beginner camera. It costs just under $500, making it the cheapest Canon RF camera.
That does not mean that the specifications are bad because you have a good 24 MP sensor, 4K video, and good Dual Pixel AF autofocus. In that respect, the R100 is very similar to the older M50 II, but with the new mount.
All in all, the Canon R100 is Canon’s cheapest camera for beginners.
Outstanding features
- 24MP sensor
- 4K UHD video
- HD120p slow motion
- Dual Pixel AF autofocus
- Canon RF mount
- Future proof
What I like/dislike about the Canon R100
Like
- Just like with the R50, I have good things to say about the Canon R100, such as the 24 MP sensor that produces good image quality, provided you connect a good lens to the camera
- The camera is the same size as the Canon R50, and therefore the smallest Canon RF camera. So you can take it with you everywhere
- If you think the autofocus is bad then you are wrong, I’ve used the Dual Pixel AF system for years and it works like a charm, you can focus really quickly on all subjects
- The user interface is specially designed for beginners, so you can quickly find all the necessary functions without too much hassle
Dislike
- The burst mode is not as impressive as Canon’s other beginner cameras, with a speed of 6.5 photos per second you will miss a lot of action
- The autofocus is also not optimal for fast action, the R100 cannot recognize subjects through deep learning
Best beginner lenses for the Canon R100
There are a lot of RF(-s) lenses available for the Canon R100, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good beginner lens in between.
Canon RF 50mm F/1.8 – Budget lens for portraits with a blurred background.
Canon RF 55-210mm – A budget telephoto lens, which is good for nature photography to get up close.
Canon RF 18-45mm – A lens good for landscapes and portraits, the perfect focal length.
Today's best deal
Best Canon beginner camera under $1000
Canon R10
Sebas' take
Actually, the Canon R10 is already a step higher than the previous two cameras, because here we are going to a slightly more refined camera for beginners. With a 24 MP sensor, this camera also takes beautiful photos and videos.
The 4K video in 60fps is an exceptional feature of the Canon R10, the previous cameras did not have this option at all. So if you want to get started and are a little more serious, the Canon R10 is the best Canon beginner camera under $1000.
Holidays: Get $100 off your Canon R10!
Outstanding features
- 24MP sensor
- 4K60p video
- 4K30p oversampled video
- 23fps burst mode
- Deep learning auto focus
- Compact size
What I like/dislike about the Canon R10
Like
- Another camera that is perfect for beginners, especially if you want to get a little more serious with photography and videos. The video qualities are fantastic because the 4K30p is oversampled from 6K
- The burst mode is exceptional because you can shoot up to 23 photos per second with autofocus functionality. You can even shoot up to 460 JPEGs in succession with the 15fps mode
- If you are still skeptical about the deep learning autofocus, I can reassure you, it is really a must for action photography. I tested it in real life and never want to go back to the old one
- The Canon R10 is a fairly small camera, but it fits well in the hand. In addition to the R50, it is a bit larger, but this also makes it more stable
Dislike
- The buffer is on the small side if you shoot 23fps, because you can then shoot 70 JPEGs or 21 RAWs in succession
Best beginner lenses for the Canon R10
There are a lot of RF(-s) lenses available for the Canon R10, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good beginner lens in between.
Canon RF 50mm F/1.8 – Budget lens for portraits with a blurred background.
Canon RF 55-210mm – A budget telephoto lens, which is good for nature photography to get up close.
Canon RF 18-45mm – A lens good for landscapes and portraits, the perfect focal length.
Best beginner Canon camera for action
Canon R7
Sebas' take
If you plan to photograph birds or capture other fast movements, you need the Canon R7. It is a much sought-after camera that is therefore often sold out. That is of course not without reason, because the specs are really fantastic.
The 33 MP sensor is a lot better than the other cameras on the list and especially the burst mode and autofocus cannot be compared. Canon’s R7 is so unique that there are almost no competitors from other brands.
All in all, the Canon R7 is the best beginner Canon camera for fast action.
Holidays: Get $100 off your Canon R7!
Outstanding features
- 33MP sensor
- 30fps burst mode
- 4K60p video
- Built-in stabilization
- FHD120fps slow motion
- Weather resistant
What I like/dislike about the Canon R7
Like
- I will start at the beginning, namely the resolution. This is the only beginner camera on the list that has a resolution of 33 MP, giving you about 50% more resolution than the other cameras
- The burst mode is more than fast enough for all situations you will encounter, whether it’s a bird in flight or a footballer scoring a goal
- Deep learning autofocus is really very useful in the above situations, the Canon R7 recognizes subjects such as birds and people, after which it can focus accurately
- The R7 is also the only beginner camera that has built-in stabilization, which helps you take photos with a slower shutter speed, but if you use a telephoto lens it is also nicer to look at.
Dislike
- The buffer is a disappointment on the one hand because you can shoot ‘only’ 51 RAWs with the 15fps mode and ‘only’ 42 RAWs with the 30fps mode. After 2-4 seconds you have to wait for the buffer
Best beginner lenses for the Canon R7
There are a lot of RF lenses available for the Canon R7, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Canon 50mm F/1.8 – Perfect portrait lens that blurs the background.
Canon 100-400mm – Best telephoto lens on a budget, get close to the subjects.
Canon 15-30mm – Good landscape lens that is very wide to capture everything.
Best full-frame beginner camera from Canon
Canon R8
Sebas' take
I just said the Canon R7 was unique, but the Canon R8 is an even more unique camera on this list. It is Canon’s only entry-level camera with a full-frame sensor.
You will wonder why that is important, I can tell you that the full-frame quality is a lot better than the APS-C sensor quality. That has nothing to do with resolution but with the size of the sensor.
The Canon R8 is therefore the best full-frame Canon camera for beginners.
Holidays: Get $200 off your Canon R8!
Outstanding features
- 24 MP full-frame sensor
- 4K60p video
- FHD180p slow motion
- Oversampled video
- Beginner user interface
- Weather resistant
What I like/dislike about the Canon R8
Like
- There are only good points to mention about the Canon R8, but I’ll take it step-by-step. The user interface is designed for beginners, so you can quickly learn what each function does
- I just mentioned it, but the full-frame sensor is truly superior when it comes to image quality and noise. In dark conditions, the R8 can take photos that the APS-C cameras have difficulty with
- The pre-burst mode is also a first, as the R8 can take 15 photos before you even press the button. This way you really don’t miss any action if you’re just not paying attention
- As with the other entry-level cameras on the list, the R8 has deep learning AF, allowing it to recognize subjects such as cars, people, animals, and much more
Dislike
- When you shoot videos, the camera can overheat fairly quickly, that’s because the camera is very small, so the heat cannot move
Best beginner lenses for the Canon R8
There are a lot of RF lenses available for the Canon R8, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Canon 50mm F/1.8 – Perfect portrait lens that blurs the background.
Canon 100-400mm – Best telephoto lens on a budget, get close to the subjects.
Canon 15-30mm – Good landscape lens that is very wide to capture everything.
Want to know more? Read the review! – Canon EOS R8 Review, Tests & Comparisons
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In conclusion
Now that you know exactly what the strengths and weaknesses of each beginner Canon camera are, you should be able to make a choice. You really need to know what kind of photos or videos you want to take because that’s what you should base your choice on.
If you photograph a lot of action, such as birds in flight or events, then it is better to look at the slightly more expensive cameras. For example, the R7 and R8 have a larger buffer and better burst mode. Both are important factors.
If you only photograph portraits or landscapes, you can also get by with a slightly cheaper Canon camera. I don’t want to say that you shouldn’t use the R50 and R10 for action, they can do that just fine. You just have to take into account the limits.
Who is Sebastiaan?
Hi! I am Sebastiaan, the writer of this blog. With years of experience as a professional photographer, I want to share my expertise with you. From recommending cameras and lenses to giving tips that make a world of difference, that’s what I enjoy doing most.
9 Best cameras under $1000