TopRecs researches, analyzes, and tests so we can recommend products and services we stand by. We only earn money if you purchase a product through our links. We are independently owned and the options expressed here are our own.
Best auto-focus Canon camera with a 100-51,200 ISO range, Digic X Image Processor, 45MP CMOS sensor, 12fps burst speed, 8K capability, and Image Tracking with Deep Learning Technology.
Pros
° Autofocus capability ° High-speed processing ° 8K capability ° Impressive ISO range ° Lightweight ° Weather-sealed
Most versatile Canon camera with 100-32,000 ISO range, Digic 6 Plus processor, 30.4MP CMOS sensor, 7fps burst speed, 4K motion JPEG videos, and webcam software integration.
Pros
° Good ISO range ° Powerful CMOS sensor ° Webcam software integration ° Lightweight ° Wi-Fi enabled
Most powerful Canon camera with a 100-102,400 ISO range, Digic X Image Processor, 20.1MP CMOS sensor, 16fps burst speed, Head Detection Technology, 5.5K raw-video capability, and webcam software integration.
The best eye-control autofocus camera with 100-102,400 ISO range, Digic X Image processor, 24.1MP CMOS sensor, 30fps burst speed, and in-body image stabilization.
Pros
° Good Autofocus ° Stable images ° Good burst speed ° 4k and full HD capability ° Object tracking
Cons
° It doesn’t shoot 8K videos ° Not as weather-sealed as higher-end options
HOW WE TESTED
We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in a space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
So many factors come into the picture when choosing a professional camera. For starters, you’ll need to consider an option with good picture quality, fast processing, high resolution, high ISO range, and an impressive burst mode.
Your professional camera should also be portable-ready, preferably under 3.5 pounds, and weather-sealed to enable you to continue shooting in harsh weather conditions, and that’s where Canon cameras come in.
Canon has built a reputation of being a professional-tailored camera brand since launching in 1984. Its cameras rarely miss a detail, and they promise intuitive usage and multiple shooting modes to allow you to add artistic touches to your images.
The only issue is that Canon stocks a variety of cameras, which can be overwhelming, and that’s where this guide comes in. We’ll share the best Canon cameras for professional photography that promise different specs and results.
This guide is focused on the camera body. We'll address Canon lenses in an upcoming article.
The Canon EOS R5 C is a versatile option for any category of professional photography.
EOS R5 Body
Canon EOS R5 is arguably Canon’s best autofocus camera due to its dual-pixel CMOS AF II sensor, which promises precise Autofocus. The camera body promises high-quality images thanks to its 45MP full-frame CMOS sensor.
It boasts a burst speed of up to 12fps with the mechanical shutter and an impressive 20fps with the electronic shutter.
The EOS R5 camera body shoots video at a whopping 8K RAW and 4K up to 120fps all with Auto Focus.
It enjoys a high-speed ISO range of 100-102,400 promising high-quality low-noise capture in low light.
The camera employs Digic X Image Processor, an imaging-integrated circuit with noise-reduction capability, and utilizes sensor-shift 5-axis image in-body stabilization to promote steady pictures.
Even better, it has image tracking potential with Deep Learning Technology and comes dust and water-resistant sealed.
The Canon EOS R5 is an ideal camera body for all professional photographic endevours including portraits, journalism, sports, weddings, landscape, fine art, cinematography and more.
This camera body is only 1.63 pounds (with a battery and CFExpress card), consequently lightweight, and comes with two memory card slots (one CFExpress card, one SD card) to enable you to expand its storage.
With all these specs combined we find the Canon R5 to be the best bang for your buck.
EOS-1D X Mark III Body
The EOS-1D X Mark III is Canon’s most powerful professional camera. You can tell from its object tracking capability, a product of Canon’s deep learning technology.
Another way this camera body shows its power is through its high-speed continuous processing of 16fps in viewfinder mode and up to 20fps in live-view mode.
The camera body is also unrivaled in its long-range ISO 100-102,400, which is expandable to 819,200. Its 20.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor lets you shoot quality photos as Digic X Image Processor facilitates quick processing.
Remarkably, the camera body allows you to take 5.5K raw videos.
The bonus is that it integrates with the EOS utility webcam camera to allow you to turn it into a professional webcam. Plus, it’s weather-sealed to enable you to continue shooting in adverse weather.
Its drawbacks are that it’s slightly weighty (5.65 pounds), expensive, and features a fixed LCD.
EOS 5D Mark IV Body
EOS 5D Mark IV is Canon’s most versatile digital camera. It employs a 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor for fast capturing in any condition and allows a constant-shooting speed of 7fps, slower than the other Canons in this review.
The good thing is that it offers you HD, Full HD, and 4K motion JPEG video options and capabilities. It comes with a 32GB SD card and a 32GB compact flash card.
It enjoys a long-range ISO of 100-32,000, which you can expand to 10,2400 and integrates with the EOS webcam software that allows you to use it as a webcam.
This Canon camera body employs Digic 6 Plus for fast, efficient image processing. It allows Wi-Fi connectivity and weighs 1.76 pounds, thus lightweight.
Its drawbacks are that its LCD is fixed and not angle-tilted, and like EOS R5 C Body, its 4K videos are cropped.
EOS 6D Mark II Body
You don’t have to spend a lot to own a professional Canon camera, and the EOS 6d Mark II is proof of that. This budget-friendly camera body enjoys a 2.6MP full-frame sensor for high-quality capture. The camera generally promises quality photos and 1080p videos.
This 3.45-pound camera offers you a burst speed of 4000.00 and up to 60fps in full HD. It features a 3-inch vary-angle for ease of operation.
It is armed with Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus for high-focus detection, 45-Point Autofocus for precise focus, and a Digic 7 Image Processor for fast image processing.
It has an ISO range of 100-40,000, enabling you to shoot good images in low light surroundings. You can shoot full-HD and time-elapsed videos.
The camera body is weatherproof and dust-resistant, which is impressive. The concerns, nonetheless, are that it only shoots full HD videos and not 4K and is slightly bulkier.
EOS R3 Body
We conclude our list of best Canon cameras for professional photography with the best Canon eye-control autofocus camera. EOS R3 is Canon’s first EOS camera to feature eye-control Autofocus and remains the best.
Its improved dual-pixel CMOS autofocus allows head-detection, face-detection, and even animal detection. The Digic X Image Processor, on the other hand, facilitate fast image processing as its 100-102,400 expandable ISO range promise low-noise shooting in low light conditions.
This camera body allows you to shoot both 4K and full HD, and you can enjoy a burst speed of 12fps with the mechanical shutter or 30fps with the silent electrical shutter. Plus, it relishes in-body image stabilization to promise steady shots.
Its drawback is that it’s not as weather-sealed as most high-end Canon camera bodies and doesn’t shoot 8K videos.
Considering Your Professional Photography Needs
What matters most to your specific field of photography? Are you on the red carpet where fast burst of the shutter matter? Or are you in the field where weather and the elements are battling against your camera body? Knowing where you plan to use your camera will help guide you to selecting the best fit.
Closing Thought
Above are the best Canon cameras for professional photography. They differ in specs, budget, and performance, but they are all tailored for passionate photography professionals like you. So, consider one that matches your photography needs, style of photography, and budget.
Our Top Recs
Best Bang for the Buck
Canon EOS R5
Bottom Line
This Canon camera body is the best bang for your buck. The R5 C brings all of the modern tech you'd expect of a pro camera, mirrorless, wifi, touch-screen. It's shoots full-frame 8K60 Cinema that internally records 12-bit Cinema RAW Light footage. The electronic RF mount allows you to use all of your favorite Canon RF mount lens.
This is a full-frame image sensor go-to camera for photographers of all varieties. Product photographers, vloggers, wedding photographers, portrait photographers. Everybody loves this camera. Like all Canons, it's dependable and durable. It's a true DSLR so it's a little heavier when compared to the EOS R5 C, which is mirrorless.
Here we have a workhorse. The CanonEOS-1D X Mark III body is top recommendation for best overall for a reason. It is hands down the most powerful professional camera that we reviewed. It's shoots full-frame 8K60 Cinema that internally records 12-bit Cinema RAW Light footage. The electronic RF mount allows you to use all of your favorite Canon RF mount lens.
If your buying your first professional camera, this is the one for you. You will need a full-frame image sensor go-to camera for photographers of all varieties. Product photographers, vloggers, wedding photographers, portrait photographers. Everybody loves this camera. Like all Canons, it's dependable and durable. It's a true DSLR so it's a little heavier when compared to the EOS R5 C, which is mirrorless.
