Canon is undoutably the leading camera manufacturer in the world, with 2021 sales statistics showing it garnered almost half of all global sales. This high sales figure may be due to its extensive line up of cameras, from simple point and shoots, to compact APS-C cameras, to professional mirrorless cameras. Here we'll take a look at Canon's line up, but focus on only compact cameras, from their 1-inch sensor compacts to their APS-C sensor cameras (DSLR and mirrorless), and guide you which compact Canon camera is the best for your buying budget.
Canon G Point-and-Shoot Compact Cameras
Canon's line of point-and-shoot cameras offer everything from the simplest compact camera to more advanced manual mini-cameras. In an age where smartphones are taking over the photography industry, these little cameras over a slight edge in terms of image quality and configurability. The options below are geared more towards professionals or enthusiast photographers since they typically offer the larger 1-inch and APS-C sensors, something not yet usually found in compact cameras.
Canon's PowerShot series has always been popular for travel and casual photography, and with the G7X Mark III, newbies into photography and videography can jump in without too much fiddling. This compact camera captures 20.1 Megapixel images with it's larger 1.0” stacked CMOS sensor. It's fixed lens can zoom in up to 4.2x times, and has a built in Image stabilizer. Most importantly for vloggers, it can capture 4K 30P or FHD 120p video.
Next up in the Canon G compact series is the PowerShot G5 X Mark II. This has slightly similar specs as the G7X, with it's 20.1 MP 1-inch sensor. However, this cameras has 5x optical zoom with image stabilizer, also captures 4K 30p / FHD 120p video, and even has a pop-up electronic viewfinder.
The top of the line in Canon's Powershot series is the G1 X Mark III. Not only can this capture higher resolution images (24.2 Megapixels), it sports a CMOS (APS-C) sensor which is usually only found in professional DSLR or mirrorless cameras. It also has better construction with it's weather resistant body, so it's a great camera for vlogging outdoors.
Canon EF-S Cameras
The Canon EF-S line is part of Canon's DSLR EOS line, specifically for APS-C cameras. This means that they have a smaller sensor size than professional DSLR cameras, but are still popular because of their relatively compact size factor.
EF-S cameras such as the Rebel T7 or EOS 7D can also make use of EF lenses which are meant for the larger full-frame Canon EF cameras, so some photographers may start with the Rebel beginner camera, upgrade their camera lenses first, then upgrade their camera bodies later on.
While the EF-S cameras are now much older and losing popularity due to the rise of mirrorless cameras, they are still a viable option for beginners or photography enthusiasts who don't want to spend too much on their cameras. Below are some popular EF-S camera options.
The Canon Rebel T7 (also known as the 2000D) is affordable and effective. Starting at around $500, it can capture up to 24.1 megapixel images, and while it's not as fast or advanced as flagship DSLRs, it's WiFi is a popular feature for beginners who want to share photos they've captured with friends and family.
The Canon EOS 90D is a step up from the Canon Rebel series. The 90D in particular can capture up to 32.5MP images with its APS-C sized sensor, and also allows for video recording of 4K/30p. As with more modern cameras, it sports a vari-angle touch screen and has built in WiFi for easy connection to your smartphone.
The
Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a prosumer-level APS-C camera, and and is a capable sport camera as well. The 7D Mark II captures 20.2 MP images at 10 frames per second and can go up to ISO 16000. Although it belongs to the APS-C line of cameras, its quality put this camera just below the full-frame 5D line of cameras.
Canon EF-M Cameras
The Canon EF-M line is Canon's first foray into the mirrorless camera system, and these cameras are generally smaller and lighter compared to their DSLR cameras. Their smaller size is also due partly to their use of APS-C cropped sensors. These cameras are popular for vlogging and travel. Check out the EF-M cameras below.
The Canon EOS M200 is a compact option for beginners looking to get into the mirrorless Canon system. This popular vlogging camera is able to capture great images as well with its 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor. It also has a touchscreen LCD which articulates 180° for selfie vlogging. It's a very compact camera, with its flash being hidden away and only firing when it's in use.
The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is the bigger brother to the M200, and has similar features with its 24.1 MP APS-C sensor, but the M50 goes a step further with its electronic viewfinder (EVF) and deeper grip. This makes the M50 better suited for travel photography or street photography. The M50 Mark II also has a built-in flash above it's EVF.
The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is the most premium option in the Canon EOS M line. It has better build quality and higher image resolution with 32.5 Megapixels. It can capture images at up to 14 frames per second, and has AF/AE tracking. This little camera is able to capture 4K UHD 30P or Full HD 129P. While it does not have a built-in viewfinder, the Electronic Viewfinder EVF-DC2 accessory offers a 2.36 million-dot resolution.
Canon RF-S Cameras
In 2022, Canon announced the R7 and R10, the APS-C cameras for its latest mirrorless R mount system. Just like the older EF-S cameras, the RF-S lens cameras can take both RF and RF-S lenses, so these cameras are a good option if you want to get into the Canon R mount system and later upgrade the camera bodies. Check out the R7 and R10's specs below.
The Canon EOS R10 is the entry level camera for starters into the R camera system. It has a 24.2 megapixels APS-C, and can even shoot 15 fps for its mechanical shutter. Although it's an entry level camera, it inherits the auto focus subject tracking capabilities of the more advanced R3 camera.
The Canon EOS 7 inherits all the features in the R10, but sports a newly developed APS-C sensor that captures up to 32.5 megapixel images with a native ISO range of 100-32000. This is the camera to get for Canon user's looking for the cropped advantage of longer focal lengths, while using the superior RF L lenses.
Canon Mirrorless Cameras vs Canon Compact Cameras
With the above plethora of choices, it can be difficult to determine if one should go with a traditional compact point-and-shoot camera, or with an interchangeable lens system camera. If you're not much for changing lenses or learning about manual photography and favor portability and ease of use, you can choose can choose compact cameras such as the
Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III or the
Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II. Else, if you are more into customizability and professional quality images and videos, go for any of the interchangeable lens camera systems (EF-S, EF-M or RF).
Canon EF-S vs Canon EF-M
The EF-S and EF-M are now the older APS-C interchangeable lens systems that Canon now offers. The main difference is that the EF-S is a DSLR system, while the EF-M is a mirrorless system. If you're on a tight budget and don't mind older and bigger cameras that have a proven formula, go with the EF-S Canon EOS Rebel T7 or Canon EOS 90D If you prefer smaller cameras with the latest technologies, go with the EF-M Canon EOS M50 Mark II or Canon EOS M6 Mark II.
Canon EF-M or Canon RF
With the recent announcement of the Canon R7 and R10, the Canon EOS M mount is effectively discontinued, which means we probably won't see an update on the EOS M6, M50 or the M200, and that we'll probably see more developments related to the RF mount for APS-C cameras. However, this does not mean that EF-M cameras are not a good choice for a beginner camera.
The Canon EF-M Mount with cameras such as the M50 would still make a viable option to start with mirrorless cameras as this system as there are numerous video tutorials online, as well as third party lens options from Sigma, Tamron, and affordable manual lenses from China as well.
However, the RF line represents the future development for Canon, and this probably be their main focus for the next decade. Ultimately, for those looking for an already established system, the EF-M cameras are still viable, while the Canon EOS 7 or Canon EOS R10 are best for those looking to upgrade to a full-frame RF camera in the future.
Conclusion
The best compact camera is not necessarily the one with the most advanced features, nor is it the least expensive option. It's the camera that suits your needs at the present time. If you're already set on choosing from Canon's camera lineup, you have to decide first if you're ok with a fixed lens camera (the G PowerShot line), or prefer more customizability with their interchangeable lens systems. If you're going with interchangeable lenses, the DSLR (EF-S) line is the tried and true formula, while the mirrorless lines (EF-M and RF) are the next generation systems.
While you're here, have a look at these other camera gear recommendations:
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