The best Canon cameras for shooting video

Which are the best Canon cameras for video? Shooting video used to require a dedicated cine camera, but all the models in the current Canon EOS and PowerShot ranges can now shoot high-quality movies as well as top-notch stills. Consequently, more photographers are discovering how easy it is to enhance their storytelling with great video, while videographers are finding new ways to shoot more creative footage with mirrorless and compact cameras as B-cams.

Here we look at the best Canon cameras to use for shooting different types of video, calling on the expertise of Mike Burnhill, John Maurice and Aron Randhawa, product specialists at Canon Europe, as well as the experiences of Canon shooters.

For those filmmakers who require the most flexibility for grading and editing, RAW video is also offered by a number of hybrid EOS cameras. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is capable of recording 6K 60p ProRes RAW externally, for example. The successor to the Canon EOS R6 also offers a host of cinema-level functions, including 1/6-speed slow motion and electronic focus breathing correction, in a body that's equally adept at shooting stills.

With these points in mind, here are the best Canon cameras for video, whether you're a stills photographer looking to branch out into moving images, a filmmaker or videographer looking for a second camera, or new to shooting films.

Travel filmmaker Kevin Clerc took the EOS R5 C on a shoot in Madeira, and says it felt ready to go straight out of the box. "I travel a lot, so I really appreciate how light and discreet the EOS R5 C is. But for me, the best feature is the switch to go between photo and video modes. Video mode unlocks different features, so you really feel as if you have two cameras in your hand. I now don't need another stills camera on time-lapse shoots.

"In-camera waveform has proven so reliable for accurate exposure and was particularly helpful on my travels when it wasn't possible to use an external monitor. I also use manual focus and having the option to mount Canon Cine lenses via the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R has been an incredible experience."

With its advanced autofocus capabilities, which can not only detect and track vehicles and animals, but also faces and eyes – even behind masks – the Canon EOS R3 ensures both stills and videos are always in sharp focus.

Muhammed also appreciates the camera's small size, which means he can work without drawing attention to himself. "The camera doesn't intimidate anyone, so I can shoot unnoticed. It makes my life easier and there's no sacrifice in image quality."

"Shooting in 8K gives lots of scope for post-capture cropping of video and stills," adds Mike. "Alternatively, you can use 4K HQ mode to create 4K footage with incredible detail."

Firmware updates have introduced new features to the EOS R5. "For example, you can now record 8K 30p ProRes RAW when paired with an Atomos Ninja V+ Monitor & Recorder," explains Mike. "Switching from an internal to external recorder unleashes unlimited 8K recording – essentially until the battery runs out or the card fills up – and allows the system to run cooler, whatever the ambient temperature."

Other benefits for self-shooting filmmakers include false colour warnings which provide a clear indication of the exposure of a shot, and the gimbal-like stability offered by the trio of In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS), lens IS and Movie Digital IS working together to curb camera shake.

The EOS R6 Mark II can also shoot for longer. "There's no 30-minute clip limit and the camera stays cooler as a result of better heat efficiency," John explains. "These improvements open the camera up for longer format content, such as interviews and live events like weddings and music performances. It also has a five-second movie pre-recording function, which is really useful when you're filming unpredictable subjects.

"In addition to saving 4K 60p internally, the EOS R6 Mark II is capable of recording 6K in ProRes RAW to an Atomos Ninja V+," adds John. "There's also the option of using professional XLR microphones via an optional adapter on the camera's Multi-function shoe. So the EOS R6 Mark II is a really good option if you need a smaller camera on a multi-cam production. But equally, it gives flexibility and a flavour of high-end full-frame cinema cameras to independent filmmakers."

This compact EOS R System camera can even be set to 4K/60p UHD Crop mode, which applies a 1.81x crop to the image. "This gives you extra reach while maintaining the same resolution, so it's essentially like adding an additional teleconverter," John points out. As well as offering cropped 4K, the EOS R7 can record standard 4K and 'Fine' 4K, which oversamples the 7K sensor output to produce more detailed clips. Full HD at up to 120p gives silky slow-motion playback of fast action.

The EOS R7 features the same sophisticated subject detection and tracking technology as the EOS R3 and EOS R5, so it can keep track of animals and athletes on the move. It also inherits the combined three-way shake reduction of IBIS, lens IS and Movie Digital IS, which combats camera movements to deliver smooth footage – whether you're tracking a moving subject or filming a vlog handheld.

"Canon has added functionality in this second iteration to make life much easier for vloggers," adds Mike. "The three major advantages of the EOS M50 Mark II over the EOS M50 are improved face and eye tracking autofocus; vertical shooting, which is ideal for platforms such as TikTok, where you still make the most of the 4K resolution; and it now also has the ability to livestream to YouTube."