Mirrorless cameras are becoming increasingly popular in the world of photography. This guide to the best Canon mirrorless cameras to buy will help you navigate this new world to find the right model for you!
Even a historical manufacturer of reflex cameras like Canon has converted to the world of mirrorless: first that of APS-C models and later also with Full Frame models. This step was in fact necessary to remain competitive in a market that is always saturated with new products and with numerous brands ready to battle. In this guide to the best Canon mirrorless cameras to buy we will focus on what they are the mirrorless cameras of the historic Japanese manufacturer, presenting and briefly analyzing the main features of the most interesting models.
Canon has decided to split its mirrorless offering into two independent series: EOS M and EOS R, both of which break away from the old SLRs by introducing two different bayonets. There EOS 1000 it is dedicated to mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensor; is the oldest mirrorless series and Canon at the time decided to introduce a new dedicated bayonet which unfortunately is not compatible with the EF lenses of reflex cameras. The EOS M series includes extremely compact mirrorless cameras with many different bands, to cover different needs. Full Frame mirrorless are instead identified with A Canon EOS series, also equipped with a new bayonet which, however, is backwards compatible with the EF lenses through a convenient adapter. Also in this case, the various models try to cover a wide range of the market to meet different needs.
Some mirrorless and optics of the EOS M system
Best Canon Mirrorless to Buy | Full Frame
DSC R5
- Sensor: Full frame, 36 x 24 mm (3:2) da 45 MP
- Internal stabilization: Yup
- Range ISO: 50 – 102400
- Exposure times: 30 s – 1/8000 s
- Exposure compensation: +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps
- Exposure mode: M, S, A, P
- Light meters: Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
- Autofocus: 5940 points (Phase difference detection system with image sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF) sensitivity up to -6 EV, 100% vertical and 90-100% horizontal coverage, Eye Focus
- Gust: Up to 12 frames per second (20 with electronic shutter)
- Video quality: fino a 8K 30p RAW, 4K 120p 4:2:2 10 bit
- Connectivity: USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C, HDMI Mini, Mic-in, Audio-out, Wi-Fi 5-2.4 GHz, Bluetooth
- Touchscreen display: 3.15-inch, 2.1 million dot LCD (articulated)
- Electronic viewfinder: OLED coverage 100%, 0.76x, resolution 5.76 million dots
- Weight: 650 g
- Dimensions: 138,5 x 97,5 x 88 mm
- Memory card: 1x CFexpress tipo B, 1x SD / SDHC / SDXC e UHS-II
- Battery: Rechargeable lithium battery LP-E6NH (supplied) / LP-E6N
This is the most advanced mirrorless on the market from a video point of view. Thanks to the ability to shoot up to 8K 30p resolution in RAW format, but even 4K 120p 4: 2: 2 10-bit are still rare to find. And then we have HDR, 10-bit, everything you could want to produce the highest quality video. The photographic part is also well developed with a speed of 12 fps and a good ISO sensitivity. That’s not bad considering we have a 45 MP sensor. The price is very high as it is a professional range product in practice.
DSC RP
- Sensor: Full frame, 36 x 24 mm (3:2) da 20.1 MP
- Internal stabilization: yes, up to 8 stops when combined with optical stabilization
- Range ISO: 50 – 204800
- Exposure times: 30 s – 1/8000 s
- Exposure compensation: +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps
- Exposure mode: M, S, A, P
- Light meters: Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
- Autofocus: 1053 points (phase difference detection system with image sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF) sensitivity up to -6.5 EV, 98% vertical and 100% horizontal coverage
- Gust: 20 FPS x 120 RAW, 1000 JPEG
- Video quality: fino a 4K (3840 x 2160p) 60p, FHD fino a 120 fps
- Connectivity: USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C, HDMI Type C, Mic-in, Audio-out, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.2
- Touchscreen display: 3-inch, 1.62 million dot LCD (articulated)
- Electronic viewfinder: 100% coverage, 0.76x, resolution 3.69 million dots
- Weight: 680 g
- Dimensions: 138 x 97 x 88 mm
- Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-II)
- Battery: Li-Ion (Canon LP-E6NH, capacity 15.33 Wh)
Canon EOS R6 is a mirrorless really balanced, both on the photo and video side. The resolution is not very high, but the burst is really fast and then you can shoot great videos in 4K 60p. There is also a sensor stabilization system.
DSC R6
- Sensor: Full frame, 36 x 24 mm (3:2) da 30.3 MP
- Internal stabilization: no
- Range ISO: 50 – 102400
- Exposure times: 30 s – 1/8000 s
- Exposure compensation: +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps
- Exposure mode: M, S, A, P
- Light meters: Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
- Autofocus: 5655 points (Phase difference detection system with image sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF) sensitivity up to -6 EV, 100% vertical and 88% horizontal coverage, Eye Focus
- Gust: up to 8 frames per second
- Video quality: fino a 4K (3840 x 2160p) 30 FPS
- Connectivity: USB 3.1 Type C, HDMI Type C, Mic-in, Audio-out, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth
- Touchscreen display: 3.15 inch LCD, 1024 x 680 pixels (articulated)
- Electronic viewfinder: 100% coverage, 0.76x, resolution 3.69 million dots
- Weight: 660 g
- Dimensions: 136 x 98 x 84 mm
- Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-II)
- Battery: Li-Ion (Canon LP-E6N, capacity 13.42 Wh)
Canon EOS R is a mirrorless made of ups and downs: on the one hand it sports excellent specifications, on the other there are some shortcomings that have not been well received; first of all the absence of stabilization on the sensor which is not lacking in competing models. In general, however, it must be said that the sensor of about 30 MP can be adapted well to different photographic genres and the advanced AF system based on the proprietary Dual Pixel technology can guarantee excellent performance (clearly the over 5000 AF points are not directly accessible to the user, but they are used by the camera algorithms), especially in the video field.
Best Canon Mirrorless to Buy | APS-C
DSC M6 Mark 2
- Sensor: APS-C, 22.3 x 15 mm (3:2) da 32.5 MP
- Internal stabilization: no
- Range ISO: 100 – 51200
- Exposure times: 30 s – 1/16000 s (with electronic shutter)
- Exposure compensation: +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps
- Exposure mode: M, S, A, P
- Light meters: Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
- Autofocus: 5481 points (phase difference detection system with image sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF) sensitivity up to -5 EV, 100% vertical and 88% horizontal coverage
- Gust: up to 14 frames per second (with AF)
- Video quality: fino a 4K (3840 x 2160p) 30 FPS
- Connectivity: USB 2.0 Type C, HDMI Type C, Mic-in, Audio-out, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth
- Touchscreen display: 3 inch LCD, 720 x 480 pixels pixel (articulated)
- Electronic viewfinder: sold separately
- Weight: 408 g
- Dimensions: 119 x 70 x 49 mm
- Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-II)
- Battery: Li-Ion (Canon LP-E17, capacity 7.48 Wh)
It is about a top of the range pocket: fast, light and powerful, Canon EOS M6 Mark II will not make you miss a beat and above all it will not weigh on your back since it is about the size of a modern smartphone. We get very close to the performance of the EOS R, only the electronic viewfinder is missing which has been separated to make everything more compact. The sensor is one of the densest in the APS-C landscape, however the burst speed remains high. It is certainly a good buy for an advanced amateur photographer, even if the EOS M optics system is not very thriving.
DSC M50
- Sensor: APS-C, 22.3 x 15 mm (3:2) da 24.1 MP
- Internal stabilization: no
- Range ISO: 100 – 51200
- Exposure times: 30 s – 1/4000 s
- Exposure compensation: +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps
- Exposure mode: M, S, A, P
- Light meters: Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
- Autofocus: 143 points (phase difference detection system with image sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF) sensitivity up to -2 EV, 100% vertical and 88% horizontal coverage
- Gust: up to 7.4 frames per second (with AF)
- Video quality: fino a 4K (3840 x 2160p) 25 FPS
- Connectivity: USB 2.0 Type C, HDMI Type C, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.1
- Touchscreen display: 3 inch LCD, 720 x 480 pixels pixel (articulated)
- Electronic viewfinder: coverage 100%, 0.70x, resolution 2.36 million dots
- Weight: 390 g
- Dimensions: 116 x 88 x 58 mm
- Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-II)
- Battery: Li-Ion (Canon LP-E12, capacity 6.30 Wh)
Even if not very young, this Canon EOS M50 can still give excellent satisfactions. It is a mid-range product that integrates everything you need for Shoot in different photographic styles thoughtlessly. L’autofocus is a bit subdued compared to today’s standards, but in any case it should not cause problems if the subjects to be chased are not too dynamic. The integrated viewfinder is of good quality. The strong point is certainly once again the compactness and portability. For a while longer it deserves a place in the guide to the best Canon mirrorless cameras to buy.
DSC M200
- Sensor: APS-C, 22.3 x 15 mm (3:2) da 24 MP
- Internal stabilization: no
- Range ISO: 100 – 25600
- Exposure times: 30 s – 1/4000 s
- Exposure compensation: +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps
- Exposure mode: M, S, A, P
- Light meters: Multi-Area, Semi-Spot, Spot
- Autofocus: 143 points (phase difference detection system with image sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF) sensitivity up to -2 EV, 100% vertical and 88% horizontal coverage
- Gust: up to 4 frames per second (with AF)
- Video quality: fino a 4K (3840 x 2160p) 25 FPS
- Connectivity: USB 2.0 Type C, HDMI Type C, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.1
- Touchscreen display: 3 inch LCD, 720 x 480 pixels pixel (articulated)
- Electronic viewfinder: coverage 100%, 0.70x, resolution 2.36 million dots
- Weight: 299 gg
- Dimensions: 108 x 67 x 35 mm
- Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS-II)
- Battery: Li-Ion (Canon LP-E12, capacity 6.30 Wh)
Basically a copy of the EOS M50, castrated from the viewfinder. Canon EOS M200 is a extremely compact mirrorless, suitable for those who want good image quality without committing to buy expensive and difficult to use equipment. In practice it is the direct descendant of the old compact, only with a significantly improved image quality thanks to the APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses.
Best Canon Mirrorless to Buy | See you next month!
In the coming months there will surely be news regarding Canon mirrorless cameras, so periodically check out this guide to the best Canon mirrorless cameras to buy, if only to stay up to date! For further doubts and advice you can consult our guides that widely cover the offer of the major brands in the photographic sector, for example the best Nikon mirrorless cameras. See you soon!