How important is resolution?

Resolution is an overall measure of how many pixels make up an image and thus a good indicator of image sharpness/clarity, and will matter largely depending on what you're shooting and for what purpose. For amateurs, particularly those on a budget, it's not as much as a concern, but for pros looking to wow their clientele with beautiful footage, high resolution is absolutely crucial.

What features do I need?

This again depends largely on your use case, but most photogs will benefit from high-quality zoom functionality, a large, clear viewfinder for previewing the action, and manual balance, exposure, and focus adjustment controls.

What does EOS stand for in regards to Canon cameras?

EOS means Electro-Optical System and is a brand name Canon uses for a series of its SLR and mirrorless cameras. Eos also refers to the goddess of dawn in Greek mythology, reflecting what Canon believed was a " new-generation SLR camera ."

The 4 Best Canon Cameras of 2023

Canon cameras are known for their excellent image quality, among many other attributes. These are our favorites.

The Rundown

Best Design:

Canon PowerShot SX70 at Amazon

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Best DSLR Kit:

Canon EOS Rebel T7 Kit at Amazon

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Best Point-And-Shoot:

Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II at Walmart

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Best Splurge:

Canon EOS 80D at Walmart

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in this article

Our Picks
What to Look for in a Canon Camera
FAQ

4.3

Canon

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What We Like

Top-notch build quality
Excellent ergonomics
Blazing fast autofocus
Great Canon color
Long-lasting battery life

What We Don't Like

Average video and image quality
Screen collects smudges and is difficult to clean
4K video is slightly cropped

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Review

As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And there is no better example of this than with the Canon Powershot SX70, a bridge camera capable of making faraway shots seem as though they were taken up close, thanks to its 65x Optical Zoom (equivalent to about a 21mm to 1,365mm lens). It has Dual Sensing image stabilization of up to 5 stops to capture the emotion on someone’s face or city vistas. The 20.3 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS guarantees image clarity no matter the light level, and it refocuses rapidly to keep up with your speed. The autofocus is boosted by the DIGIC 8 Image Processor, which also assists in shooting 4K UHD video at a frame rate of up to 30 fps: expect lifelike videos, albeit those that are easy to crop into still images.

Lightweight and ergonomic, the SX70 is aimed squarely at serious wildlife photographers and casual users who want to ensure photos of families and friends appear professionally shot. Our expert reviewer found that Auto mode is an excellent way for beginners to ease in, while more experienced people can switch gears to manual.

_{Resolution: 20.3MP | Sensor Type: BSI-CMOS | Max ISO: 3,200 | Optical Zoom: 65x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth}

4.2

Amazon

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What We Like

Affordable, entry-level DSLR camera
Easy to use
Good image quality

What We Don't Like

No articulating or touch display
Some Wi-Fi connectivity problems
Incompatible with some third-party triggers and flashes

Canon EOS Rebel T7 Kit Review

Canon's EOS Rebel line is always an excellent option for entry-level photographers, and the Canon EOS Rebel T7 Digital SLR Camera Kit is no exception. This package comes with everything a beginner could need when pursuing photography as a hobby or profession. The EOS Rebel T7 DSLR is a stalwart option, featuring a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor, a DIGIC 4+ image processor, and a 3.0" 920k-Dot LCD monitor. The only issue our reviewer noted is that the LCD doesn't articulate. It's also capable of full HD 1080/30p recording when the action gets more dynamic.

The included Canon 18-55mm II lens is a fantastic starter for a variety of shots. A wide-angle lens and a 58mm 2x telephoto pro lens are included in the kit, too, for when you're ready for something a little trickier. Two SanDisk 32GB SDHC memory cards and a card reader ensure you'll have plenty of space to store all the shots you'll be taking, and the deluxe padded camera case, extra battery pack, and AC/DC charger are perfect for longer excursions. Finally, the 50-inch tripod gets you ready (and steady) for effortlessly still shots.

_{Resolution: 24MP | Sensor Type: CMOS | Max ISO: 12,800 | Optical Zoom: 1.6x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC}

4.2

Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II Digital Camera

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What We Like

Great looking compact camera body and lens
Remotely connect by Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth
Nice touch panel interface

What We Don't Like

Autofocus tracking doesn't always work well
Touch panel hard to see in bright light and is needed to use the camera
3x lens has a limited zoom range

Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II Review

The G9 X Mark II is just about the crown jewel of the PowerShot line, a proper successor to the regular old G9 X. The 1.0-inch, high-sensitivity CMOS sensor shoots and records at 20.1 megapixels and the camera polishes those photos with Canon's celebrated Digic 7 image processing. The f/2.0 lens sits very unassumingly on the camera, which is already a slim package with a pocket weight of 7.3 ounces.

There's added wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and even built-in NFC compatibility to connect and transfer media to other NFC devices readily. There's a 3-inch touchscreen on the back for control and photo review, and the lens brings a full 3x optical zoom. Our reviewer noted that the zoom range isn't that impressive, though. That said, it shoots in various video modes from mp4 to raw, full HD video, and the shutter speed clocks in at 8.2 fps for faster-moving subjects.

Finally, there are a variety of onboard controls, from styling filters to file converters, that will ensure that whenever you get those gorgeous photos off the device, they'll be ready for whatever you need to do.

_{Resolution: 20MP | Sensor Type: BSI-CMOS | Max ISO: 12,800 | Optical Zoom: 3x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth}

Courtesy of Amazon.com

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What We Like

Faster auto-focusing and location selection
High resolution and fast shutter speed
1080p video recording

What We Don't Like

Expensive

The EOS 80D is a cousin to the more well-known Rebel series. The 45-point all-cross-type AF system allows for faster auto-focusing and location selection, depending on whether you’re shooting through the viewfinder or via the back screen. Speaking of the viewfinder, Canon is calling this one an Intelligent Viewfinder as they’ve engineered it to include 100 percent viewability (no more hidden dead spots). The APS-C sensor offers 24.2 megapixels of resolution, and the body shoots at a blistering seven fps.

The Dual Pixel CMOS AFe technology allows you to translate that high resolution and fast shutter speed to the video capabilities, which gives you shooting capabilities at 1080p resolution. There’s an ISO range of 100 to 16,000, and a DIGIC 6 image processor is on board for further refining what you shoot. The 7560-pixel RGB+IR color tracking functions allow for a truer, brighter rainbow of image response. And even though this package doesn’t come with a lens, it is compatible with the whole family of Canon DSLR lenses.

_{Resolution: 24MP | Sensor Type: CMOS | Max ISO: 16,000 | Optical Zoom: 1.6x | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC}

What to Look for in a Canon Camera

Design

Selecting the right design for your needs is essential. Don’t lug around a bulky DSLR if you only intend on using the included lens; consider other options, such as a compact, lighter camera with a fixed lens. Be sure to choose a design you won’t mind carrying around — and remember that bigger isn’t always better. A compact camera like the point-and-shoot ELPH 190 can weigh as little as 4.34 ounces, while a more full-sized superzoom camera like the SX70 HS weighs 1.34 pounds, which is still reasonable for outdoor use with a camera that powerful.

Zoom

Will you be zooming in on distant subjects with your new camera? If so, consider a camera with powerful zoom functions. If you’re considering purchasing a DSLR or mirrorless model, know that the included lens typically isn’t too powerful compared to the built-in 50x zoom in some compact cameras. More professional users will want to pick up a 2x telephoto pro lens to capture close-ups.

Sensor and Processor

All of the cameras on our list come with enough megapixels to make anyone happy with poster-sized prints, but consider the quality of each sensor and what you wish to do with it. For example, while some of our offerings are excellent at shooting video, others focus their strengths on still photographs. One of our top picks, the PowerShot SX70, has a 20.3MP CMOS sensor, which sounds similar on paper to the 20MP ELPH 190 sensor, but there's a world of difference because the former has a DIGIC 8 Image Processor while the latter has a DIGI 4+. So it's not just the raw megapixel count but also the processor that makes a difference.

FAQ

How important is resolution?

Resolution is an overall measure of how many pixels make up an image and thus a good indicator of image sharpness/clarity, and will matter largely depending on what you're shooting and for what purpose. For amateurs, particularly those on a budget, it's not as much as a concern, but for pros looking to wow their clientele with beautiful footage, high resolution is absolutely crucial.
What features do I need?

This again depends largely on your use case, but most photogs will benefit from high-quality zoom functionality, a large, clear viewfinder for previewing the action, and manual balance, exposure, and focus adjustment controls.
What does EOS stand for in regards to Canon cameras?

EOS means Electro-Optical System and is a brand name Canon uses for a series of its SLR and mirrorless cameras. Eos also refers to the goddess of dawn in Greek mythology, reflecting what Canon believed was a "new-generation SLR camera."