If you’re looking for a camera for beginners, we recommend Canon cameras. They are respected and celebrated for a reason. And they have an excellent range of entry-level cameras. They’re perfect for people taking their first steps in photography. We’ve got nine of the best entry-level cameras from Canon. And we have all the details you need to make the right choice. The Canon EOS Rebel T8i (850D) places at the top of our list. It’s a great introductory camera for anyone entering the world of photography. [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here.]
What Are the Best Canon Cameras for Beginners?
Here’s a quick roundup of the top nine Canon cameras we have picked for beginners. These options cover many different features and price points. Jump to our guide at the end for why to buy a Canon and what to look for in a beginner’s camera.
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i (850D) is an excellent all-rounder. It has fantastic features for photography and video. And Canon keeps the controls simple. So true beginners can make the most of it. Plus, it offers good value for money with the kit lens. So we think it’s the best Canon camera for beginners. The Canon EOS Rebel gives you a variety of exposure controls. There’s fully automatic, which is ideal for first-timers. But you can gradually take control using the semi-auto shooting modes. There are shutter priority and aperture priority modes. The 24.1 MP sensor isn’t groundbreaking in the wider world of digital cameras. But it’s excellent image quality for enthusiastic beginners. You see a significant jump in quality from smartphone cameras. The images have more detail and vibrant color rendering. The autofocus system is superb for an entry-level camera. It uses 45 phase-detection points. And they track your subject across the frame. You also have eye detection for humans and animals. So you can have fun shooting portraits and wildlife photography. Video is another feature beginners will love. The Canon EOS Rebel T8i gives you 4K footage. It’s perfect for getting started with videography. And the rotating screen makes it easy to film yourself for vlogs. DSLR cameras tend to have bulkier camera bodies. But the ergonomically designed Rebel T8i fits in your hand comfortably. So you get used to it quickly. You have an electronic and optical viewfinder. The electronic option is handy. But it reduces the battery life significantly. The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is the perfect mirrorless camera for beginners. It’s affordable for a mirrorless camera. And it has all the functions and features to excite a young photographer. This makes it one of the best Canon cameras for beginners. The crop-size (APS-C) sensor has a resolution of 24.1 MP. This gives you excellent-quality images. And the 100-51200 ISO range means you have fantastic low-light performance. The DIGIC 8 image processor also helps to uphold quality. And it improved the performance of the autofocus system. The Canon EOS M50 Mark II also gives you wonderful 4K video. And you can shoot at 120 fps for slow-motion footage. You also get a continuous shooting speed of 10 fps for stills with autofocus. The rotating electronic viewfinder makes vlogging easy. The Canon EOS Webcam Utility app transforms your Canon camera into a webcam. And you can also use the camera for live streaming on Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram. The Canon EOS M200 is an excellent entry-level camera for photography newbies. It’s a compact camera that’s easy to use. And the results will increase your enthusiasm for photography. You get the superb image quality you expect from Canon cameras. And they squeezed an APS-C sensor into a compact and lightweight body. The 24.1 MP is impressive for a point-and-shoot camera. Vloggers and streamers will also love the Canon EOS M200. You have 4K video format for movies. There’s also a cool 4K time-lapse option. And there’s a rotating screen for selfies. So you can shoot in vertical mode. And your footage fits perfectly on a smartphone screen! The autofocus has face and eye detection, helping you with portraits and vlogs. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity makes transferring and sharing images and videos easy. And the Canon Camera Connect app allows you to shoot remotely. The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (EOS 250D) is another excellent entry-level DSLR camera. It comes with an 18-55mm lens. So it allows you to shoot portrait, landscape, and street photography. And its usability and performance make it one of the best Canon cameras for beginners. The 24.1 MP sensor and DIGIC 8 processor combine to give you fabulous photos. It provides excellent detail and color rendition. And Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus is fast and accurate. It features eye detection to help with portraits and wildlife photography. Some younger users might find the optical viewfinder hard to get used to. But it can help new photographers compose their shots. And you do have a vari-angle screen to help with settings and in-camera editing. The max continuous shooting speed of 5 fps is slow by modern standards. But the 4K video is more than adequate for beginner filmmakers. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options are also great for sharing images and videos online. The Canon PowerShot SX70 HS is a bridge camera. It has all the functions of a DSLR camera. But it’s as easy to operate as a compact. The lens is fixed. So you don’t need to fork out extra cash to buy more parts. And this model has excellent performance. This all makes it one of the best Canon cameras for beginners. The sensor has an image resolution of 20.3 MP. That’s lower than other options on the list. But the DIGIC 8 processor maximizes performance. So you still get incredible photos. The fixed Canon zoom lens gives you 65x magnification. This transports you to the heart of the action. It’s one of the best Canon cameras for beginner sports and wildlife photographers. And the in-body image stabilization reduces camera shake when you’re zoomed in. You also have 4K video with a bonus time-lapse feature. There’s a 10 fps burst mode. And you get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Plus, you have the option of an optical viewfinder and an LCD screen. The Canon EOS RP is a full frame digital mirrorless camera. We often don’t associate full frame cameras with the beginners’ market. But this is a good choice for new photographers. The specs are excellent for beginners. But it comes at a higher price. The full frame sensor gives you an image resolution of 26.2 MP. The image quality is fantastic. And the optical image stabilization gives you five stops of shake reduction. The result is sharp photographs. The autofocus system is excellent, using 143 AF zones that give you 88% frame coverage. It locks in less than a second and tracks your subject as it moves across the frame. And it performs superbly in low-light settings. So you can stay focused when shooting at night. The continuous shooting speed is slow, only giving you 5 fps. But the 4K video is great. You also have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. And you can use the camera as a webcam. The fully-articulating screen helps with that too. The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a bit old in the tooth. But it remains one of the best Canon cameras for beginners. It’s a classic DSLR camera with all the features a new photographer needs to get started. It’s simple, usable, and affordable, making it the perfect entry-level camera. The 20.2 MP isn’t groundbreaking. But you see a vast improvement in image quality from smartphone cameras. And the 100-16000 ISO range gives you plenty of freedom to try new types of photography. The autofocus system still holds up. It uses a 65-point cross-type system that quickly finds and locks on your subject, so you don’t miss the shot. And the Dual Pixel CMOS AF allows you to shoot video with full autofocus capabilities. Beginner videographers will be disappointed to see there’s no 4K video. The Full HD video is respectable. But it can’t compete with newer Canon cameras when it comes to video. This model is aimed at keen stills photographers. And they’ll be happy to hear it’s still one of the best Canon cameras for beginners. In many regards, the Canon EOS Rebel T7 (200D) has been surpassed by the newer Rebel models. But the Rebel T7 is still a great camera for beginners. It offers all the specs and features you expect from an entry-level camera. The Canon EOS Rebel T7 more than holds its own with image quality. The 24.1 MP can go head-to-head with any camera on this list. And the DIGIC 4+ processor ensures you get the best quality. The max burst speed is only 3 fps, which is slow by any standard. And the lack of 4K video does expose this camera’s age. But the full HD footage is still great fun for aspiring filmmakers. And Wi-Fi connectivity makes sharing images on social media easy. You can use the Canon EOS Rebel T7 as a webcam. You can connect it to your computer with a USB. And you have remote shooting options when you use the Canon Camera Connect app. (Available for iOS and Android phones.) Unfortunately, the battery life isn’t fantastic. The Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II is another great camera for beginners. There are some excellent Canon cameras in the compact range. And the PowerShot G7X MII has excellent specs and image stabilization. This makes it one of the best Canon cameras for beginners. The camera houses a one-inch sensor. But despite its small size, you get 20.1 MP of image resolution. The fixed zoom lens has excellent optical quality. And it’s a zoom lens with 4.2x magnification. Plus, the image stabilization mechanism keeps your photos sharp at full zoom. The lens has a max aperture of f/1.8 when you’re at the smallest focal length. And the max aperture only changes to f/2.8 when you’re fully zoomed in. That gives you excellent options when light conditions aren’t ideal. The continuous shooting speed of 8 fps is respectable for a pocket-sized camera. It’s ideal for capturing sports or fast action. The video is only Full HD, not 4K. But the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options mean you can share your photos and videos only within seconds. The rotating screen is ideal for taking selfies or vlogging. And you have an option for vertical video recording. So your vlogs fit perfectly on your social media account. It’s compact, lightweight, and affordable. The battery life is also respectable. So as a point-and-shoot, it’s one of the best Canon cameras for beginners.
Why Choose a Canon Camera?
Canon is one of the biggest and best camera manufacturers in the world. They consistently produce cameras of outstanding quality… But you also have other big hitters, like Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm. Why should you pick Canon over the others? Quite simply, Canon has the best selection of cameras for beginners. They have DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and compact cameras. And they have all these options at the beginner level. Nikon has the D3500, one of the best cameras for beginners. But that DSLR is the main option in their beginner line. Sony and Fujifilm have some mirrorless options for beginners. But the range is limited. And Sony cameras can be on the pricey side. Canon offers the perfect gateway into photography. Their beginner-grade cameras have all the features you need to learn photography. And their extensive model list means you can upgrade with Canon as your skills progress. They have options from beginner to professional-standard cameras.
What to Look for in a Beginner Camera?
Buying a beginner digital camera isn’t easy. There are lots of things to consider. And the lists of features and specs can be a maze of information. First, you must consider the type of photography you want to get started with. Then you can find the specs that match your intent. Here are some of the main features you should look at.
Type of Camera: Canon has several different camera types in its beginner range. They have DSLR, mirrorless, and compact cameras. DSLRs are traditional cameras known for their reliability and classic functionality. Mirrorless cameras tend to be smaller than DSLRs. And they have more modern features like electronic viewfinders and electronic shutters. Compact cameras offer something simple. They have fixed lenses, are easy to use, and fit in your pocket. Sensor Resolution: The resolution of the image sensor plays a huge part in the camera’s image quality. Other features also play a role in photo quality. But looking for the sensor resolution gives you a good sign of what you can expect. Resolution is measured by the number of megapixels (MP) on the camera sensor. And the higher the MP, the better the image quality. This isn’t always true. But it is a general rule with beginner cameras.
ISO Range: The ISO setting determines the sensor’s sensitivity to light. The quality is better if you set the ISO to a low number, but you need more light to get proper exposure. A higher ISO allows you to shoot in darker situations. But you experience more digital noise. A wide ISO range gives you more shooting options. You can shoot in daylight at lower levels. But the higher range allows you to shoot in low-light situations. It’s useful for night photography or shooting concerts. Autofocus: It’s a helpful feature if you want to try sports or wildlife photography. The camera focuses for you, allowing you to concentrate on getting the picture you want. An autofocus that tracks your subject is also beneficial for fast-moving photography. Extra Features: Younger photographers might prefer an electronic viewfinder over an optical one. And you also want to look out for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options. They make transferring and sharing photos really easy.
Conclusion
Finding the best camera for beginners isn’t easy. There are lots of things you need to consider. You have different types of cameras. There are cameras for photos and cameras for videos. And you have to consider your budget. But no matter what you’re looking for, you can be sure Canon has something that suits you. They’re one of the most well-known and respected manufacturers. And there are plenty of Canon cameras for beginners. The Canon Rebel T8i (850D) is our top pick for a Canon camera for beginners. It’s the best all-rounder, with excellent specs for photos and videos. There’s the Canon EOS M50 II if you’re into vlogging. And the Canon EOS M200 is ideal if you want something compact.
