Our top choice is the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (also known as the 250D). This may not be the absolute cheapest DSLR available. But it is by far the best value camera for your money. We were blown away by its high-resolution (24.1 MP), 4K video, and fantastic battery life for a great price. [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here.]
Best Cheap Canon Cameras in 2022
Take a look at our top choices in the table below. Read through to the bottom if you want an in-depth overview of each camera! The EOS Rebel SL3 (250D) is the smallest DSLR on Canon’s palette. But that doesn’t mean it compromises on quality or functions. It is built from high-grade plastic. And despite its size, the grip is comfortable and steady. This camera contains one of Canon’s newest sensors, which has a resolution of 24 MP (megapixels). Together with the DIGIC 8 processor, it offers clean and colorful images. And photos have low noise levels. The real wonder of autofocus (AF) comes when you switch on Live View or video mode. This camera includes Canon’s fantastic Dual Pixel system. It combines contrast detection and phase-detection focus points, 3975 of them. They cover virtually the whole frame. And you can focus on and track subjects seamlessly and quickly. The controls are excellent. You get extensive button coverage on top of the flip-out touchscreen. The menus are intuitive and logical. Of course, the 250D also offers a Wi-Fi connection for remote control and data transfer. This camera is not as cheap as the T100 (4000D). But it also gives you notably more features. This includes higher image resolution and better video recording (4K vs 1080p). We recommend the SL3 if you’re looking for a small but competent DSLR. The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is the smallest and cheapest mirrorless camera you will find from Canon. It is not the biggest upgrade from the first iteration in the M50 series. But the earlier M50 model is close o the same price. The 24 MP sensor lets you take professional-level photographs. Plus, there are manual controls for photo settings. This makes it a great camera for casual photographers transitioning into serious photography. I am a fan of its eye-tracking autofocus. It lets you take sharp portraits with ease. And the camera includes Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus system. This assures you get accurate and fast focus every time. The PowerShot G7 series is one of Canon’s top compact camera lines. Powershot cameras are point-and-shoot cameras that have had their own line since 1996. The PowerShot G7 Mark II boasts a lot of advanced features. It gives you full manual controls and RAW shooting. These are features you need if you are taking photography seriously. It’s sturdily built. But it’s still very small and light, weighing just 304 grams. One of its best selling points is the lens. It doesn’t have an extreme zoom of 40x, like the SX740 HS. But the G7 Mark II lens is of outstanding quality. It lets a ton of light into the sensor. It has a starting aperture of f/1.8 that slightly decreases to f/2.8 at the telephoto setting. The zoom range is 24-100mm, which is 4.2x zoom. And you can also shoot videos up to 1080p at 60 fps for 30 minutes on this camera. Autofocus works great. You don’t have to worry about getting blurry shots. The G7 X III is capable of shooting 8 RAW files every second continuously with autofocus. It can even shoot up to 30 fps in RAW burst mode. But to use this feature, you need to get an SD card fast enough to handle the writing speed. Are you searching for a professional-quality, tiny camera? If so, this is the right choice for you. It’s pretty expensive in its category. But it’s still in the same price range as entry-level DSLRs. The EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) is Canon’s second cheapest EOS camera. It’s about $150 more than the 4000D. (We don’t recommend buying the all-plastic and featureless 4000D.) It offers you a great starting point for your way into the world of DSLRs. You get plenty of resolution on the 24 MP sensor. The processor is a little dated. But it still delivers beautiful photos with an acceptable noise floor. Autofocus is somewhat lacking. It only has nine points and only contrast detection in Live View. But its performance is decent. Ergonomics-wise, you get the solid feel of a DSLR. And there are enough buttons to control the device quickly. This camera lets you shoot 1080p video for 30 minutes. In our opinion, this is a camera worth investing in. It’s a good fit if your budget is limited, but you want the flexibility of EF-mount lenses. The Canon EOS M200 is a lightweight and compact camera perfect for a casual photographer. It has a 24 MP sensor and interchangeable lenses. So you can photograph at a high level. Plus, you get 4K video abilities. This means you can take sharp photos and videos with this compact camera. The M200 has both face and eye detect autofocus. So it is an ideal camera for those holidays or parties where you want to photograph your friends and family. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth abilities mean you can share these images with people easily. This portable camera makes it easy to take great pictures. You can do so either quickly or with more consideration. The tilting screen adds to these qualities. It is an ideal camera for hard-to-shoot places like concerts or crowded events. This camera isn’t much heavier than a smartphone at 299 grams. Canon designed it to fit your everyday needs and features a few great extras. It has a 40x digital zoom and 4K video abilities. So it goes above and beyond for a point-and-shoot that fits inside your pocket. Speed and super sharp image quality are what you sacrifice for such a small camera. But the results are still amazing for a camera that is so small. Surprisingly, Canon has even fit a tiltable screen into this compact camera. This is not a camera for people who want to take photography seriously. But it may be a good stepping stone for people who don’t have time to learn the manual controls of photography. The Canon EOS RP is the cheapest full frame mirrorless camera from Canon. It may be expensive for this list. But it is one of the cheapest cameras with the newest photo tech. The best part is that it is one of the lightest and most compact mirrorless cameras. It may not have the highest resolution, with 26.2 MP. But this is still enough for sharp image quality. Pair this camera with the super sharp RF lenses available. And the Canon RP gives stunning results suitable for professionals. You also find a range of extra features, like 4K video and the ability to shoot 4 fps with continuous autofocus. The autofocus also lets you focus on the eye and the subject’s pupil! This ensures sharp focus on any portrait you take. The Canon 6D Mark II is at the bottom of this list due to its price. But realistically, this is one of the best cameras on our list. It is the cheapest professional DSLR Canon in its full frame range. It has Canon’s Dual Pixel technology. This means fast and reliable autofocus, even in challenging situations like low-light environments. This Dual Pixel autofocus is available for video as well as photos. So you get super-clear Full HD video. Other features include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities. These streamline your photography workflow, making your life easier. The camera’s size and weight also make your life easier. Transporting it around won’t break your back! I wouldn’t say it’s Canon’s top-of-the-range camera. But it can perform at a higher level than most Canon DSLRs. Canon has created a camera situated perfectly as an entry-level full frame DSLR.
Different Types of Cheap Canon Cameras
If you’re unsure what camera is best for you, we have split up each group into these smaller sections. Read below to find out what camera type would match your style.
A Beginner DSLR
Inexpensive Mirrorless Cameras
As technology evolves, there is less and less need for a mirror in cameras. What do you get with advanced mirrorless cameras? Better sensors, longer-lasting batteries, nicer screens, electronic viewfinders, and hybrid AF systems, to name a few. You can buy them with or without kit lenses. This system provides excellent backward compatibility. And it undoubtedly has good future lens options as well. In this case, we recommend the EOS Rebel T7 (2000D). Canon offers some reasonably priced and desirable mirrorless cameras. Both of these cameras take on EF-M lenses. And you can use any EF or EF-S lens on them with Canon’s EOS M mount adapter. You can choose between the smaller and cheaper Canon EOS M50 Mark II and the full frame Canon EOS RP.
Entry-Level to Professional Cameras
Compact Cameras
The entry-level EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) is best for beginners. And the pro-level Canon 6D Mark II is such a great bargain! And these cheap canon cameras still fit in your back pocket! We recommend the PowerShot G7 Mark II.
Conclusion
We can see some great options available for a reasonable price. We are lucky to live in a time when digital camera technology has progressed. And we can get fantastic results from a compact-size camera! Make sure you understand each camera’s pros and cons before buying one. Think about how you will use the camera and what you want. If you’re a beginner looking to take photography seriously, we recommend the Canon Rebel SL3. It’s our top choice because of big-value features like 4K video and excellent battery life.
