Best Canon DSLR cameras
Canon's name is synonymous with a plethora of the best cameras on the market. In the DSLR market it's the key player, and has outsold its nearest rivals for several years. Loyal customers help contribute to this success, yet Canon's world-class range of up-to-date products ensures there's always something worth coming back for.
Although the company hasn't - at least as yet - announced a compact system camera (CSC), there are plenty of rumours that one will surface some time during 2012.
So which Canon camera is best for you? We give you the lowdown on the Canon range of DSLRs and compact cameras.
Best Canon DSLRs explained
The Canon EOS DSLR range encompasses three sensor sizes: APS-C, APS-H and full-frame (35mm).
The Canon-produced APS-C format sensor can be found in the company's range of consumer cameras. However, its size differs from the Sony-made sensors found in Nikon and Pentax cameras. As such, these (ever so slightly) smaller-sensor Canon DSLR cameras have a 1.6x crop factor.
This means that on an APS-C format Canon camera a 100mm lens produces images similar to a 160mm on a full-frame camera, whereas 100mm on a Nikon/Sony/Pentax DSLR offers a 150mm equivalent.
Canon also makes a full-frame DSLR series that's a great option for professionals or serious amateurs. The 36 x 24mm sensor size - the same size as traditional 35mm film - is ideal for producing the utmost in image quality, and offers greater depth of field control than small sensors.
The APS-H sensor is a Canon-only venture. The 1.3x crop (ie a 100mm lens provides a 130mm equivalent) is roughly halfway between APS-C and full-frame sizes - it's this balance between final image quality and a smaller overall kit that makes it ideal for many on-the-go pros.
In terms of lenses, all Canon DSLRs use the EF-mount. However, it comes in two flavours: the original EF and the more recent EF-S version. EF lenses are the pricier, often pro-spec lenses designed to produce an image circle large enough to cover a full-frame sensor or 35mm film. EF-S lenses are designed for the smaller-sensor APS-C format Canon DSLRs.
EF-S lenses are designed to fit with a shorter distance between the lens's rear element and the compatible host camera's sensor than their EF equivalents. This means an image circle only large enough to cover APS-C sensors is produced.
But also, due to their design difference, mounting an EF-S lens on a larger-sensor Canon DSLR would result in damage, due to a clash between the camera's mirror and the rear lens element. This isn't applicable the other way around, so new photographers using a post-2003 Canon EOS DSLR with an APS-C sensor size needn't worry about compatibility.
Best Canon DSLR - APS-C and APS-H sensors
Best Canon DSLR - APS-C sensor
Canon EOS 1100D
Price: £310 (body only), 12MP, HD video: 720p
Canon's entry-level EOS 1100D, known as the Rebel T3 in the US, is designed with new photographers in mind. It's Canon's most affordable EOS DSLR by quite a margin, which makes it best for those on a budget who are looking to step into first-time DSLR use.
A 12 megapixel APS-C sensor delivers decent images, whether using the full array of manual controls or the point-and-shoot Creative Auto mode.
Read our Canon EOS 1100D review
Canon EOS 600D
Price: £550 (body only), 18MP, HD video: 1080p
The 'middle ground' of Canon's consumer range, the EOS 600D (or T3i as it's known in the US) has a very similar 18MP sensor to the found in the higher-spec 60D and 7D models, which makes the 600D great value for money.
Best for enthusiasts, families and creatives, one of the 600D's standout features is its 3-inch, 1040k-dot, vari-angle LCD screen. Not only is this display a higher resolution than you'll find on any competitor DSLR camera, but the ability to manoeuvre it into any given angle is a great feature to have.
Read our Canon EOS 600D review
Canon EOS 60D
Price: £800 (body only), 18MP, HD video: 1080p
The Canon EOS 60D is best for enthusiasts seeking a more rugged camera than the likes of the 600D. Although the Canon website doesn't make as much of a song and dance about the 60D's body as it ought to, this is among the key reasons to buy this camera.
Part sealed for protection against the elements, the 18MP EOS 60D is a step closer to a sturdy professional camera outfit.
Read our Canon EOS 60D review
Canon EOS 7D
Price: £1,100 (body only), 18MP, HD video: 1080p
When the Canon EOS 7D was launched, it was touted as a camera "designed by photographers for photographers". Its launch came prior to the 60D's announcement and, at the time, looked to be a potential replacement for the longer-running 60D series. Although the 60D and 7D have a very similar 18MP APS-C sensor as in the 600D, the 7D's higher price and additional features such as full environmental sealing make it Canon's highest specified EOS DSLR with an APS-C sensor.
A focusing system with 19 cross-type focus points mean the camera zips onto subjects in portrait or landscape orientation, and the 8fps continuous shooting mode is far quicker than the 60D's 5.3fps burst. The Canon EOS 7D is best for demanding amateurs, but is easily good enough to be used professionally.
Read our Canon EOS 7D review
Best Canon DSLR - APS-H sensor
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
Price: £3,500 (body only), 16.1MP, HD video: 1080p
A great choice for professional sports and wildlife photographers, the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV's 1.3x crop factor gives EF lenses (EF-S lenses aren't compatible) that extra reach compared to the full-frame EOS models found further up the range. Add a 10fps burst mode and 45-point autofocus system with 39 cross-type sensors and there's no doubting this is an exceptional camera for shooting moving subjects.
The sheer level of customisation available is phenomenal - it's great for professional photographers who know exactly how they want to set up their focusing system's responsiveness.
Read our Canon EOS 1D Mark IV unveiled story
Best Canon DSLR - Full-frame sensor
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Price: £1,520 (body only), 21.1MP, HD video: 1080p
There's rumour that the Canon EOS 5D Mk II will be replaced in the not so distant future, since its 2008 launch makes it older than any other current EOS model. However, this has one big plus point - price! The Canon EOS 5D Mk II costs less than any other full-frame DSLR on the market, including the Sony A850 or Nikon D700.
So if you've always wanted to experience shooting with a full-frame camera then there's no better introduction than this superb camera. (Note, it takes EF lenses only, not EF-S).
Read our Canon EOS 5D Mark II review
Canon EOS 1DX
Price: £5,300 (body only), 18.1MP, HD video: 1080p
The most recent Canon EOS announcement, the 1DX replaces both the 1Ds Mark III and 1D Mark IV cameras, and is due for release in March 2012. The introductory £5,300 body-only price is far from cheap, but from what we've seen this is one special camera.
The 18.1MP full-frame sensor can churn out images at 12fps (14fps in High Speed mode) and offers other mind-bending features such as extended sensitivity up to ISO 204,800 and a 61-point autofocus system. The Canon EOS 1DX is suited for us by professional photographers working in the studio, out in the field or a mix of both. A true workhorse. (Note: it takes EF lenses only, it's not EF-S compatible).
Read our hands-on Canon EOS 1DX review
Best Canon compact cameras
When it comes to compact cameras, there's a Canon model to suit all tastes. Divided into the IXUS and PowerShot ranges, the former is best for point-and-shoot use, while (generally speaking) the latter is best for more demanding users demanding higher-end features and in some case manual control.
However, it's not as clear-cut as that: some of the low-end PowerShot models are less significant than some IXUS models, plus a number of the latest high-end IXUS models offer manual controls and settings that blur the boundaries between the two ranges.
In the US, the IXUS range is known as the PowerShot Digital ELPH series - confirming that, in some cases, the camera's name won't always dictate its ability.
To find out which IXUS or PowerShot is best for you, read our Best Canon IXUS and Best Canon PowerShot articles.
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