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Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses finally get the AI camera feature we were promised, but there’s a catch
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When the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses launched they did so without many of the impressive AI features we were promised. Now Meta is finally rolling out these capabilities to users, but they’re still in the testing phase and only available in the US.

During their Meta Connect 2023 announcement, we were told the follow-up to the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses would get some improvements we expected – namely a slightly better camera and speakers – but also some unexpected AI integration.

Unfortunately, when we actually got to test the specs out its AI features boiled down to very basic commands. You can instruct them to take a picture, record a video, or contact someone through Messenger or WhatsApp. In the US you could also chat to a basic conversational AI – like ChatGPT – though this was still nothing to write home about. 

While the glasses’ design is near-perfect, the speakers and camera weren’t impressive enough to make up for the lacking AI. So overall in our Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses review we didn’t look too favorably on the specs. 

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Collection is stylish looking on this person's face

Press the button or ask the AI to take a picture (Image credit: Meta)

Our perception could soon be about to change drastically, however, as two major promised features are on their way: Look and Ask, and Bing integration.

Look and Ask is essentially a wearable voice-controlled Google Lens with a few AI-powered upgrades. While wearing the smart glasses you can say “Hey Meta, look and…” followed by a question about what you can see. The AI will then use the camera to scan your environment so it can provide a detailed answer to your query. On the official FAQ possible questions you can ask include “What can I make with these ingredients?” or “How much water do these flowers need?” or “Translate this sign into English.” 

To help the Meta glasses provide better information when you’re using its conversational and Look and Ask features the specs can also now access the internet via Bing. This should mean the specs can source more up-to-date data letting it answer questions about sports matches that are currently happening, or provide real-time info on what nearby restaurants are the best rated, among other things.

Still not perfect

Orange RayBan Meta Smart Glasses in front of a wall of colorful lenses including green, blue, yellow and pink

(Image credit: Meta)

It all sounds very science fiction, but unfortunately these almost magical capabilities come with a catch. For now, the new features – just like the existing conversational AI – are in beta testing. 

So the glasses might have trouble with some of your queries and provide inaccurate answers, or not be able to find an answer at all. What’s more, as Meta explains in its FAQ any AI-processed pictures you take while part of the beta will be stored by Meta and used to train its AI. So your Look and Ask snaps aren’t private.

Lastly, the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses beta is only available in the US. So if you live somewhere else like me you won’t be able to try these features out – and probably won’t until 2024.

If you are in the US and happy with the terms of Meta’s Privacy Policy, you can sign up for the Early Access program and start testing these new tools. For everyone else hopefully these features won’t be in beta for long, or at least won’t be US-exclusive – otherwise we’ll be left continuing to wonder why we spent $ 299 / £299 / AU$ 449 on smart specs that aren’t all that much better than dumb Ray-Ban Wayfarers at half the cost.

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The top-rated Wyze home security camera drops to a record-low price at Amazon
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Beef up your home security with this fantastic deal that we've just spotted at Amazon. For a limited time, you can get the top-rated Wyze Cam Spotlight on sale for just $ 39.77 (was $ 52.96). That's the lowest price we've ever seen and a fantastic deal for an outdoor smart security camera.

Today's best home security camera deal

Wyze Cam Spotlight: $ 52.96 $ 39.77 at Amazon
Save $ 13.19 – We’ve just spotted the top-rated Wyze Cam Spotlight on sale for a record-low price of $ 39.77. The weather-resistant outdoor security camera features a spotlight that automatically comes on when motion is detected and includes two-way audio, a siren, and night vision.

The top-rated Wyze Cam is an outdoor security camera that features a spotlight. This automatically comes on when motion is detected and sends alerts to your phone through the compatible app. The weather-resistant camera includes two-way audio so you can hear and speak with visitors, and works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free control. You're also getting night vision and a siren button that you can use to scare off unwanted guests.

The Wyze Cam is rarely discounted, and we don't know how long Amazon will have the home security camera at this price, so we'd snap up this deal now before it's too late.

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You can find more home security sales with the best cheap home security camera deals that are currently available.

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Best camera phone 2020: the top smartphone snappers around
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It's 2020 and the best camera phones feature 108MP sensors, while some phones have as many as five snappers around the back and the Samsung Galaxy S20 is pegged to capture up to 8K video – 8K!? 

All this breakthrough technology is fantastic, but it also makes picking the right camera phone more confusing than ever.

The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are Apple's finest camera phones to date, showcasing the ways Apple's imaging software has finally caught up with the competition. There's a dedicated night mode and an ultra-wide angle camera on all three, and the 4K video they capture is nothing short of stunning when the light is right. 

Want to know more about dual-cameras? Check out our video below.

This year, Google's off to a shakier start. The once camera phone champion introduced a second camera on its Pixel 4s, so they now have a zoom lens to get you closer to the action. That said, Google's straggling behind in one key area – ultra-wide photography. 

The third, GoPro-style all-encompassing camera is missing. Still, its new Astrophotography mode can capture night skies, stars and even entire galaxies, and the main camera is still a corker.

What's more, it's all to play for with Huawei in hot political water. The Chinese tech giant's only 2019 flagship available in the UK is the P30 Pro, with the new Mate 30 Pro unreleased in Europe. As for the US – no Huawei devices are currently being sold there.

At TechRadar we put smartphone cameras through rigorous testing in different lighting conditions, scenarios, and snap people, pets, plants and more to work out how each camera fares in the real world.

Beyond the specs and capabilities of the cameras, there are a number of aspects you'll also want to consider. For example, getting a high-storage option or one that supports a microSD card will be helpful if you capture lots of 4K video, and flagging fundamental shortcomings like battery life so you don’t find yourself out of juice before the day is done.

So to help you, we've compiled this list of the best camera phones, that we've tested extensively, to help you when it comes to choosing your next camera phone.

iPhone 11 Pro

The iPhone 11 Pro doesn’t just feature the best smartphone camera Apple’s ever made, it’s also the best camera phone money can buy for a certain type of user. It’s reliable – you take a shot and it’s likely going to be a good one, even in middling light. Dynamic range is strong, and with three cameras, it’s versatile too.

The primary camera features a 26mm focal length, perfect for grabbing everyday snaps. The ultra-wide camera takes a step back so you don’t have to, getting more in the frame with its 13mm focal length. As for the telephoto camera, as with the iPhone XS, it zooms into your subject with a 52mm focal length – perfect for portraits. 

While there’s no manual mode and the 12MP resolution is meagre on paper compared to some of the competition, results still impress, and Apple has introduced a new night mode which can hold the shutter open for incredible low light photography.

This can’t beat the Astrophotography feature on the Pixels when steadied on a surface or a tripod, but handheld, it’s up there with the best of them. 

Add to the mix a beautifully consistent color and tonal profile across all three cameras, and if you’re an Apple fan looking for a camera champ, this is as good as it gets.

Read our full iPhone 11 Pro review

Google Pixel 4

The Pixel 4 is probably the most mixed bag in our list; on the one hand, it’s a fantastic camera phone with capabilities even DSLR users can only dream of, made possible by the almost 5-minute long-exposure Astrophotography mode. On the other hand, however, it’s a pricey flagship with poor battery life and no ultra-wide camera.

If you’re thinking about picking one up, therefore, we’d urge you to go for the Pixel 4 XL if you hope to make it through a full day as this bigger Pixel 4 lasts that bit longer. 

Both phones have the same excellent dual-camera, and it’s a corker. Despite its main sensor being just 12.2MP, similar to the iPhone 11 Pro, it grabs beautifully balanced pictures almost every time.

The Pixel 4s also introduce a handy exposure control when taking a shot, so you can boost shadows separately to overall brightness, ensuring detail pops even in darker spots and can stay tapered in highlights. 

When the light drops, get the phone on a steady surface, point it at the sky, and it will engage its acclaimed Astrophotography mode, capturing night skies, stars and even galaxies on a clear night.

Despite this win though, one notable omission on the new Pixels is an ultra-wide camera, so if you know you’ll want to capture GoPro-style super-wide shots, you might want to look at any other phone in our best camera phone list.

Read our full Google Pixel 4 review

Huawei P30 Pro

The Huawei P30 Pro has got to be pretty special, given the fact it still clings onto a top three spot despite launching at the beginning of 2019.

Its excellence comes down to its 'periscope' telephoto lens which takes astounding optically zoomed-in shots at a distance, and its fantastic low light performance, that actually bests the iPhone 11 Pro and Google Pixel 4s in automatic mode, though not always in night mode.

There were a lot of cameras to test on this phone, including four on the back: a 40MP main lens, an 8MP telephoto lens, a 20MP ultra-wide lens, and then a ToF (time-of-flight) camera to sense depth for portrait photos.

The Huawei P30 Pro camera also uses an RYYB (red yellow yellow blue) sensor instead of the industry-standard RGB (red green blue) sensor to capture more light, and it shows. The snaps we took for our review had more detail and less shadow than most of the competition, yet they didn't look completely overexposed. 

It's all amazing for a smartphone, but not entirely perfect. We did notice some purple fringing in areas, and the camera software controls aren't always responsive when switching between ultra-wide, 5x zoom, 10x zoom and digital 50x zoom. But the fact that you can get insanely close to objects with a 50x zoom and also shoot at night as if all of the lights were on really sets a new bar for camera phones.

Read our full Huawei P30 Pro review

Xiaomi has broken the mould with its penta-camera Mi Note 10. The phone’s 108MP sensor, made by Samsung is a world-first, toppling resolution records and packing more pixels than virtually any DSLR or mirrorless cameras – let alone any smartphone. 

As with all the 48MP cameras introduced in 2019, the Mi Note 10 uses quad-pixel technology, or ‘pixel binning’ to grab standard shots. This technique combines four pixels into one, so a 48MP sensor would create a 12MP image, and the 108MP sensor on the Mi Note 10 produces a 27MP image. The reason for this combining is to capture broader dynamic range and better low light performance by using information from multiple pixels to create a super pixel. If the light is right, however, you can ramp up the resolution and capture full 108MP images for jaw droppingly detailed shots – nothing else comes close to the Mi Note 10 in this respect

The main camera absolutely nails it, and in good light, beats out the competition in many respects, but the reason this megapixel-monster isn’t higher on our list is because the additional cameras can be inconsistent. While we love the fact it packs an optical 2x zoom, 5x zoom and an ultra-wide angle, as well as a dedicated macro camera, if quality if your focus, shoot with the main 108MP module most of the time.

Read our full Xiaomi Mi Note 10 review 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus

Samsung’s smart dual-aperture main camera introduced on the Samsung Galaxy S9 is back, flipping between f/1.5 and f/2.4 without breaking a sweat. This time, on the Note 10 Plus, it’s combined with a 12mm ultra-wide camera that lets you grab wider shots than virtually any other camera phone around.

That isn’t the only addition to the Note 10 Plus – this time, there’s a time-of-flight sensor, as found on the Huawei P30 Pro, and this captures depth information for improved background defocus and bokeh when shooting in Live Focus (portrait) mode.

Samsung’s camera UI is also incredibly comprehensive, with a pro mode that can keep the shutter open for in excess of 30 seconds, as well as an improved night mode, which tries to take down the likes of Huawei and Google.

Unfortunately, this is where it drops the ball by comparison, but despite good, not sensational night shots, the Note 10 is still a seriously good camera phone, and its clever S Pen can even act as a remote shutter for the times you prop your Note on a surface and snap stepped-back group shots.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus review

iPhone 11

Unlike the iPhone 11 Pro, the vanilla iPhone 11 misses out on a telephoto camera, instead packing an Asus ROG Phone 2-style wide + ultra-wide dual snapper around the back. 

Still, we’re delighted to see the new long exposure night mode fires up when shooting in low light on this lower-cost model.

This means the iPhone 11 can see in the dark, even when you’re hand-holding the phone, and the photo quality across its primary and ultra-wide cameras is fantastic. Another area all the iPhones in our list excel is video capture; they all shoot 4K resolution video at up to 60fps, and do so across all their lenses. 

With smooth transitions between lenses and iMovie on board for basic edits, if we were going to pick up a smartphone for some easy-to-use, high-quality filmmaking, it would be any of the iPhones on our list.

Read our full iPhone 11 review

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus features a triple-lens camera for a traditional wide-angle, telephoto and ultra-wide setup. The primary 12MP camera takes excellent photos with the same dual-aperture tech featured on every Samsung flagship since the S9, and just like the Note 10, there’s an ultra-wide camera too, grabbing a GoPro-esque angle-of-view. Instantly, we’re off to a versatile start.

Another highlight of the S10 Plus is video, which, just like the iPhone, impresses thanks to fantastic image stabilization and the ability to capture up to 4K resolution at 60fps. It can also shoot full-resolution video across all its cameras, and a world-first, the S10 Plus supports HDR10+ video capture.

This prevents highlights from being overexposed, while also pulling out more detail from shadows. While still a work in progress, it’s exciting to see manufacturers other than just Sony experimenting with HDR video.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review

Oppo Reno 10X Zoom

The Oppo Reno 10X Zoom is the third smartphone in our list to feature a periscope camera that shoots with a roughly 5x optical zoom. Its main camera captures detailed stills at 12MP by default, but that can be bumped up to 48MP when the light is right. Additionally, there’s an ultra-wide camera which snaps with a 16mm focal length. 

This versatility when it comes to shooting with phones packing big optical zooms can’t be overstated. Ideal for concerts and sports events, the Reno can grab 20 burst shots close-up, so you can make sure you grab that decisive moment, and bin the pictures that don’t make the cut.

The Reno 10X Zoom was lacking a few features when it launched; you couldn’t shoot video with the ultra-wide or zoom cameras for example. In addition, photography enthusiasts would have felt the absence of RAW capture.

That said, there’s a competent pro mode for manual shooting, and a night mode too, which helps keep it competitive, even if it can’t topple the likes of the P30 Pro.

Read our full Oppo Reno 10X Zoom review

OnePlus 7T Pro

The OnePlus 7T Pro’s triple camera array features a primary 48MP half-inch sensor and a wide f/1.6 lens. This is the same sensor as found in the Oppo Reno 10X Zoom, and indeed the OnePlus 7 Pro. There’s also an 8MP telephoto camera that packs a roughly 3x zoom – more than most of the competition, plus a 16MP ultra-wide camera that shoots with a 117-degree field of view. 

Shooting modes are plentiful, and OnePlus has also included a new action cam-esque super steady mode. This drops the resolution down to 1080p and reduces low-light performance, but locks footage for some of the steadiest video capture we’ve ever seen from a smartphone. 

The 7T Pro’s primary and telephoto lenses both feature OIS, and there’s a new Super Macro mode on the ultra-wide camera too. This enables focus as close as 2.5cm from an object, which grabs stunning levels of detail and incredibly shallow depth of field. 

While the low light performance can’t quite topple the top dogs in our list, given the OnePlus 7T Pro’s price, it’s unequivocally great value for money across-the-board, especially when you factor in all the other fancy specs it packs.

Read our full OnePlus 7T Pro review

Sony Xperia 5

If you’re a videographer, or a wannabe videographer who fancies a phone with pro-grade video recording controls, then the Sony Xperia 5 is the only choice for you.

Sure, other phones like the P30 Pro have manual video capture, but the Xperia 5 takes it to another level, introducing smart features like rack focus, so at the press of a button you can pan between two focal points you set yourself.

The Xperia 5 even lets you change the video camera’s shutter angle, shoot in 21:9 aspect ratio, and capture footage with a beautifully flat color profile that’s perfect for color grading in pro apps like DaVinci Resolve.

All this pro video capture is done in the Cinema Pro app, but even the standard camera app shoots brilliant footage, with 4K HDR recording that’s very nicely stabilized. 

We’ve been harping on about video, but the Sony Xperia 5 is a competent stills smartphone too thanks to its wide, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras, and its realistic night mode which doesn’t artificially brighten things up as much as the competition.

Where it drops the ball, and the reason it isn’t higher on our list, is dynamic range – it can struggle with bright spots, but irrespective, it’s definitely Sony’s finest camera phone to date, and a top choice for filmmakers.

Read our full Sony Xperia 5 review

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Nikon D6: everything new in the flagship DSLR sports camera
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DSLRs had taken a back seat to mirrorless cameras in the past few years, with many speculating they will not be resurrected by camera makers. However, Canon has put those speculations to rest, having announced the EOS 1D X Mark III in January, after releasing an enthusiast-level EOS 90D in August last year. And that's not even going to be the last if rumors are to be believed. 

Nikon, too, has just released the D780, and quickly followed it up with its professional sport shooter. And the timing couldn't have been better. 2019 marked the 20th anniversary of the Nikon single-digit D series, which launched in 1999 with the Nikon D1. And now, we have what the company calls the "the most advanced digital SLR to date".

With the 2020 Olympic Games coming up this year, we're going to see the professional, sports-focused DSLR flagships from Canon and Nikon face off again, just like the old days. In the red corner, there's the newly released Canon 1DX Mark III. And, in the opposite corner is the Nikon D6, which has only just been announced.

The Canon shooter is pretty much a hybrid of DSLR and mirrorless tech, with some of the best features we've seen from the latest mirror-free models, like advanced autofocus, alongside traditional DSLR traits like the optical viewfinder and lengthy battery life. The Nikon competition also offers similar features, in a very different package.

Nikon D6: release date and price

Like its predecessor, the Nikon D5, and its new Canon counterpart, the D6 is not going to be cheap. It will begin shipping in April 2020 and carry a hefty price tag of $ 6,500 / £6,299, with Australian pricing yet to come. That puts it pretty much in same territory as its main rival, the just-released Canon 1D X Mark III, which is also vying for the camera bags of professional sports photographers.

Nikon D6: design 

Nikon was kind enough to supply a small picture of the D6 in its development announcement back in September. It was presumably a mock-up, rather than a final rendering but, even then, we knew it would resemble the D5 physically.

The chassis remains that quintessential chunky design to incorporate a big battery and accommodate the dual shooting layout for both vertical and horizontal capture.

The magnesium alloy body is completely weather-sealed, making it "as tough as the professionals who use it". 

It should come as no surprise to see Nikon keep to a very similar form factor as the D5's for the D6 – after all, expecting pros to get used to a drastically new way of working is a big task. The square shape of the D5 allows it to incorporate a battery grip for extended battery life, and we expect the D6 to blow its mirrorless rivals out of the water for longevity by doing the same thing. 

Also announced as being in development at the same time as the D6 was a new 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR telephoto lens, which looks set to be a bit of a beast – the Nikon D6 will have to be large enough to balance well with such lenses, which are popular with sports and wildlife shooters.

Nikon D6: sensor and processor

The beating heart of the Nikon D6 is the 20.8MP full-frame sensor, which is lower in resolution than the D5's although marginally higher than the 1D X Mark III's 20.1MP pixel count. Despite the lower resolution, the new sensor has been designed to deliver high quality images that can be captured at a maximum speed of 14fps when shooting with E-type lenses (those with an electromagnetically controlled diaphragm). Switch to shooting via the rear LCD display – or the silent shooting mode – and you'll get a top of 10.5fps at full resolution with autofocus tracking. 

There are also the options of shooting 30fps which will restrict image sizes to 8MP, or heading higher to 60fps to get 2MP files. This burst of speed has been made possible by a brand new Expeed 6 engine.

Nikon D6: autofocus

Nikon has revamped the autofocus system from the ground up, delivering what the company promises is a much faster, more precise AF system. Instead of the older 153-point array, the D6 now features a 105-point all cross-type system with every single point now selectable individually. Each uses what Nikon calls a "triple-sensor arrangement", although details on how this works is as yet unclear.

While the centre point can focus down to -4.5EV, the others are all good for down to -4EV. With an ISO range matching its older sibling, the D6 seems set to be the new low-light king.

Nikon D6: video features

The Nikon D5 was the first Nikon DSLR to be capable of recording high-definition 4K/UHD movies in-camera, and the D6 carries on in that tradition. However, the camera was built for stills and, like the D5, offers 4K/30p video, albeit with focus peaking and an MP4 recording option.

Nikon D6: card slots and connectivity

Dual memory card slots are pretty much a given. The Nikon D5 can be bought with either 2x XQD slots, or 2x CF slots, but Compact Flash is pretty old hat now, so Nikon has made both slots in the D6 compatible with XQD and CFExpress. This backward compatibility is perfect for those who already have a stack of XQD cards in their possession, considering how expensive CFExpress cards are.

A USB-C port is available for quick wired transfer of files, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also available. However, that's never really quick enough for the pros who need to deliver images with the shortest turnaround time possible. For them, there's a 1000BASE_T Ethernet port for wired transfer which, according to Nikon, is now 15% faster than the one on the D5.

On paper, the Nikon D6 doesn't sound as quick as the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III, however we're yet to test both cameras extensively and see how they do against each other in the real world. We look forward to pitting them against each other in the arena and we'll share our thoughts with your as soon as we've done so.

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Best Canon camera 2020: 10 quality options from Canon’s camera stable
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Trying to decide the best Canon camera for you? With a wealth of options from DSLRs to compact cameras, it can be a tricky decision – but luckily, we've rounded up the finest options from its lineup, including both brand new models and the best value older ones.

Whether you're just taking your baby steps or shooting assignments for commercial clients, or (more likely) you're somewhere in between, there's a very good chance that an option with Canon's EOS or PowerShot branding would fit your requirements as well as your budget.

The company is perhaps best known for its EOS DSLRs, but it maintains a collection of powerful compact cameras and has also now notched up many mirrorless offerings that rival their DSLR cousins for performance. It's also spent the last few years bolstering its Cinema EOS line with video-centric options fit for broadcast-quality filming, and has just recently entered the full-frame mirrorless market with its EOS R camera.

So which are the best Canon cameras from its seemingly unlimited sea of options? Here are the ten finest models you can currently buy.

By providing so many options across all levels, it’s easy to see both a logical first camera or an upgrade if you’re an existing Canon user

Best Canon cameras 2020 at a glance:

  1. Canon EOS RP
  2. Canon EOS 250D
  3. Canon G7X Mark III
  4. Canon EOS R
  5. Canon EOS M6 Mark II
  6. Canon EOS M50
  7. Canon 90D
  8. Canon 800D
  9. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
  10. Canon G5X Mark II

Best Canon cameras in 2020:

It arrived a little later than its more expensive full-frame mirrorless sibling but the EOS RP takes top spot for being the Canon's best mirrorless camera by virtue of its affordability and its topnotch performance. It's compact and easy to use, so even beginners will be able to quickly find their way around the EOS RP. However, its small size does occasionally make the camera feel overbalanced when using larger lenses.

And while it does have 4K video recording, it comes with a 1.6x crop factor and you won't be able to use Canon's trusted Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system unless you shoot in 1080p Full HD resolution. Besides that, though, the EOS RP has excellent AF performance, produces vibrant and sharp images, boasts a wonderfully responsive rear LCD touchscreen and can be used with existing EF lenses with a lens adaptor.

Canon 250D

Canon’s EOS 200D was an entry-level DSLR with enthusiast aspirations. Its successor builds on that approach, adding a few straightforward updates to create an even more competent beginners’ camera which nails the basics. Battery life is excellent, the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system performs consistently well and image quality is good. In the hand, the body is small, light and good to hold, while a responsive touchscreen makes the 250D a pleasure to use. Sure, its dated 9-point AF system isn’t revolutionary and the upgrades are probably too slight to justify a switch from the 200D, but with a mount on top that plays nice with a vast number of lenses and accessories, the 250D is a capable all-rounder that has plenty to offer first-time buyers.

Long popular with vloggers, Canon’s G7X range has kicked it up a notch with its latest implementation. There’s still a very capable 20.1MP one-inch sensor, but now it’s also equipped with uncropped 4K video recording, and, something which had been requested many times, a microphone socket. 

That means you can elevate the sound above and beyond the internal mic’s offering, if you want to. Furthermore, the G7X III can stream directly to YouTube, so you can live vlog whatever’s happening around you, without having to downgrade to using your smartphone. USB charging is another great feature which means you can give it power bursts on the go, particularly prudent if you’ve been shooting a lot of 4K video. 

As we found in our review, Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera is something of a hit-and-miss affair, but for some Canon users looking to step up to something more capable, it may just be ideal. 

While the model retains much of what makes the EOS DSLR line special, Canon has thrown in a superb electronic viewfinder with a 3.69-million dot resolution. We’re also very encouraged by the new lenses that have been released so far, although Canon has continued support for its exhaustive EF lens system through three separate adapters. 

It would have been nice to see an AF lever, sensor-based image stabilisation and an additional card slot to make the model truly competitive, but the camera is at least blessed with excellent autofocus, good handling and very sound image quality. If you’re a user of older EOS 5D or double-digit models and you’re looking to step up the the very latest in Canon’s full-frame tech, you should find adopting the EOS R to be a pain-free affair.

The Canon EOS M50 has, for a while now, been one of our favourite Canon mirrorless cameras for many reasons, but with the arrival of the EOS M6 Mark II, there's a new king in town. It's compact and a great choice for a travelling companion and, if the idea of no viewfinder puts you off, you can easily attach one.

That tiny body houses a 32.5MP APS-C sensor (the same one that's in the Canon EOS 90D listed below) and, working with a Digic 8 image processor, offers up to 14fps continuous shooting – great for sports, wildlife, street photography and so much more.

Unlike the EOS RP mentioned above, 4K video is uncropped, utilizing the entire width of the sensor, and there's also a microphone input socket and a screen that faces all the way forward – this one's for the vloggers.

It may have been superseded in Canon's line-up by the EOS M6 Mark II, but the EOS M50 remains a great value mirrorless choice. A great option for beginners looking to take their first steps into manual shooting or vlogging, the M50 combines an excellent electronic viewfinder with a slick, vari-angle touchscreen that makes it make it very approachable for novices. Similarly, the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus is brisk and the option to touch and drag on the display makes AF area selection a cinch. Slight downsides are the limited battery life, plasticky finish and somewhat meagre native lens line-up, although it's possible to mount EF lenses with an adaptor. The EOS M50 was also Canon’s first camera to benefit from the Digic 8 processor, which helps to deliver consistently great images. Throw 4K video into the mix – albeit with an outdated 1.6x crop – and you’ve got a small, stellar smartphone upgrade that’s flawed, yes, but also flexible, fun and easy to use.

Canon EOS 90D

Just when most people assumed that DSLRs were going to die a slow death, Canon decided to prove otherwise. The EOS 90D is the first camera of its kind to boast a 32.5MP sensor and, alongside a Digic 8 processor, gives the snapper the ability to capture 4K video at up to 30fps which, thankfully is uncropped. While it's the same sensor and image engine pairing as the EOS M6 Mark II mentioned above, the EOS 90D doesn't quite have the speed of its mirrorless cousin, instead topping out 11fps when shooting continuously in live view mode.

There's a new metering sensor under the hood as well and its performance is excellent, exposing areas of light and shadow to near-perfection. However, we did find that due to the high pixel density on the crop sensor, noise performance isn't the best but for the most part that can be taken care of during post production.

The battery has a CIPA rating of 1,300 shots but our tests showed the camera is capable of well over that, which is way more than what you'd get from the average mirrorless camera. All in all, a wonderfully versatile snapper for anyone who prefers the DSLR experience.

Canon EOS 800D

Released in 2017, the Canon EOS 800D is now a little long in the tooth, but it remains a stellar option for those looking to upgrade from a point-and-shoot and learn the ropes of DSLR photography. It'll mainly appeal to those who covet the traditional qualities of a DSLR, namely good handling and strong battery life. Video is limited to 1080p, but stills photography is the 800D’s strong suit: its 24.2MP sensor still impresses, delivering rich, detailed images even at higher ISOs, while the Dual Pixel Live View AF system works brilliantly. There’s 6fps burst shooting, too, and the EF-S lens mount unlocks access to Canon’s vast glass catalogue. It’s also a very accessible camera, thanks to a clear interface, logical control layout and polished touchscreen. Yes, it feels a little dated beside the latest mirrorless equivalents and the cheap, plasticky finish is a slight disappointment, but for novices who want a solid step up that can deliver the core DSLR camera experience, the 800D remains a very reliable choice.

The 4K-shooting EOS 5D Mark IV has traditionally been used by photographers and filmmakers alike, and goes up against the likes of the Nikon D850 and a handful of flagship mirrorless competitors. Being over three years old means that it might appear a little behind in a number of areas on the spec sheet, but the EOS line has always prioritized wide appeal and reliability over class-beating specs. To that end, we get a 30.4MP full-frame sensor with a Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for smooth focusing during live view and video, together with 7fps burst shooting, great high-ISO performance and a sturdy body that’s the result of many tweaks and refinements from previous EOS 5D generation cameras. 4K video is subject to a crop factor, however, and the use of the Motion JPEG makes for fairly hefty video files, but this is not a deal-breaker – particularly as the Full HD options are more than enough for most people.

Canon has managed to pack a lot into this little pocket rocket, combining a stacked CMOS sensor with a Digic 8 imaging engine. This gives the PowerShot G5 X Mark II the ability to capture stills at a blitzing pace of 30fps when shooting RAW, or 20fps when shooting conventionally.

ISO performance has been improved over the previous iteration of this camera and 4K video capture added. For those who prefer a viewfinder to using the rear LCD screen, the pop-up EVF has a darn good resolution of 2.36 million dots. Despite packing in an EVF, Canon has even managed to add a flash to the camera. There's even an ND filter available on board if you happen to be shooting in brilliant sunlight.

Noise performance is pretty good for a camera with a 1-inch sensor, although the 4K video quality isn't something to write home about, particularly when compared to the likes of Sony's latest Cyber-shot RX100 range. Despite that, the G5 X Mark II is an excellent choice for a compact, provided you've got the spare change for it.

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Best Canon camera 2020: 10 quality options from Canon’s camera stable
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Trying to decide the best Canon camera for you? With a wealth of options from DSLRs to compact cameras, it can be a tricky decision – but luckily, we've rounded up the finest options from its lineup, including both brand new models and the best value older ones.

Whether you're just taking your baby steps or shooting assignments for commercial clients, or (more likely) you're somewhere in between, there's a very good chance that an option with Canon's EOS or PowerShot branding would fit your requirements as well as your budget.

The company is perhaps best known for its EOS DSLRs, but it maintains a collection of powerful compact cameras and has also now notched up many mirrorless offerings that rival their DSLR cousins for performance. It's also spent the last few years bolstering its Cinema EOS line with video-centric options fit for broadcast-quality filming, and has just recently entered the full-frame mirrorless market with its EOS R camera.

So which are the best Canon cameras from its seemingly unlimited sea of options? Here are the ten finest models you can currently buy.

By providing so many options across all levels, it’s easy to see both a logical first camera or an upgrade if you’re an existing Canon user

Best Canon cameras 2020 at a glance:

  1. Canon EOS RP
  2. Canon EOS 250D
  3. Canon G7X Mark III
  4. Canon EOS R
  5. Canon EOS M6 Mark II
  6. Canon EOS M50
  7. Canon 90D
  8. Canon 800D
  9. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
  10. Canon G5X Mark II

Best Canon cameras in 2020:

It arrived a little later than its more expensive full-frame mirrorless sibling but the EOS RP takes top spot for being the Canon's best mirrorless camera by virtue of its affordability and its topnotch performance. It's compact and easy to use, so even beginners will be able to quickly find their way around the EOS RP. However, its small size does occasionally make the camera feel overbalanced when using larger lenses.

And while it does have 4K video recording, it comes with a 1.6x crop factor and you won't be able to use Canon's trusted Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system unless you shoot in 1080p Full HD resolution. Besides that, though, the EOS RP has excellent AF performance, produces vibrant and sharp images, boasts a wonderfully responsive rear LCD touchscreen and can be used with existing EF lenses with a lens adaptor.

Canon 250D

Canon’s EOS 200D was an entry-level DSLR with enthusiast aspirations. Its successor builds on that approach, adding a few straightforward updates to create an even more competent beginners’ camera which nails the basics. Battery life is excellent, the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system performs consistently well and image quality is good. In the hand, the body is small, light and good to hold, while a responsive touchscreen makes the 250D a pleasure to use. Sure, its dated 9-point AF system isn’t revolutionary and the upgrades are probably too slight to justify a switch from the 200D, but with a mount on top that plays nice with a vast number of lenses and accessories, the 250D is a capable all-rounder that has plenty to offer first-time buyers.

Long popular with vloggers, Canon’s G7X range has kicked it up a notch with its latest implementation. There’s still a very capable 20.1MP one-inch sensor, but now it’s also equipped with uncropped 4K video recording, and, something which had been requested many times, a microphone socket. 

That means you can elevate the sound above and beyond the internal mic’s offering, if you want to. Furthermore, the G7X III can stream directly to YouTube, so you can live vlog whatever’s happening around you, without having to downgrade to using your smartphone. USB charging is another great feature which means you can give it power bursts on the go, particularly prudent if you’ve been shooting a lot of 4K video. 

As we found in our review, Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera is something of a hit-and-miss affair, but for some Canon users looking to step up to something more capable, it may just be ideal. 

While the model retains much of what makes the EOS DSLR line special, Canon has thrown in a superb electronic viewfinder with a 3.69-million dot resolution. We’re also very encouraged by the new lenses that have been released so far, although Canon has continued support for its exhaustive EF lens system through three separate adapters. 

It would have been nice to see an AF lever, sensor-based image stabilisation and an additional card slot to make the model truly competitive, but the camera is at least blessed with excellent autofocus, good handling and very sound image quality. If you’re a user of older EOS 5D or double-digit models and you’re looking to step up the the very latest in Canon’s full-frame tech, you should find adopting the EOS R to be a pain-free affair.

The Canon EOS M50 has, for a while now, been one of our favourite Canon mirrorless cameras for many reasons, but with the arrival of the EOS M6 Mark II, there's a new king in town. It's compact and a great choice for a travelling companion and, if the idea of no viewfinder puts you off, you can easily attach one.

That tiny body houses a 32.5MP APS-C sensor (the same one that's in the Canon EOS 90D listed below) and, working with a Digic 8 image processor, offers up to 14fps continuous shooting – great for sports, wildlife, street photography and so much more.

Unlike the EOS RP mentioned above, 4K video is uncropped, utilizing the entire width of the sensor, and there's also a microphone input socket and a screen that faces all the way forward – this one's for the vloggers.

It may have been superseded in Canon's line-up by the EOS M6 Mark II, but the EOS M50 remains a great value mirrorless choice. A great option for beginners looking to take their first steps into manual shooting or vlogging, the M50 combines an excellent electronic viewfinder with a slick, vari-angle touchscreen that makes it make it very approachable for novices. Similarly, the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus is brisk and the option to touch and drag on the display makes AF area selection a cinch. Slight downsides are the limited battery life, plasticky finish and somewhat meagre native lens line-up, although it's possible to mount EF lenses with an adaptor. The EOS M50 was also Canon’s first camera to benefit from the Digic 8 processor, which helps to deliver consistently great images. Throw 4K video into the mix – albeit with an outdated 1.6x crop – and you’ve got a small, stellar smartphone upgrade that’s flawed, yes, but also flexible, fun and easy to use.

Canon EOS 90D

Just when most people assumed that DSLRs were going to die a slow death, Canon decided to prove otherwise. The EOS 90D is the first camera of its kind to boast a 32.5MP sensor and, alongside a Digic 8 processor, gives the snapper the ability to capture 4K video at up to 30fps which, thankfully is uncropped. While it's the same sensor and image engine pairing as the EOS M6 Mark II mentioned above, the EOS 90D doesn't quite have the speed of its mirrorless cousin, instead topping out 11fps when shooting continuously in live view mode.

There's a new metering sensor under the hood as well and its performance is excellent, exposing areas of light and shadow to near-perfection. However, we did find that due to the high pixel density on the crop sensor, noise performance isn't the best but for the most part that can be taken care of during post production.

The battery has a CIPA rating of 1,300 shots but our tests showed the camera is capable of well over that, which is way more than what you'd get from the average mirrorless camera. All in all, a wonderfully versatile snapper for anyone who prefers the DSLR experience.

Canon EOS 800D

Released in 2017, the Canon EOS 800D is now a little long in the tooth, but it remains a stellar option for those looking to upgrade from a point-and-shoot and learn the ropes of DSLR photography. It'll mainly appeal to those who covet the traditional qualities of a DSLR, namely good handling and strong battery life. Video is limited to 1080p, but stills photography is the 800D’s strong suit: its 24.2MP sensor still impresses, delivering rich, detailed images even at higher ISOs, while the Dual Pixel Live View AF system works brilliantly. There’s 6fps burst shooting, too, and the EF-S lens mount unlocks access to Canon’s vast glass catalogue. It’s also a very accessible camera, thanks to a clear interface, logical control layout and polished touchscreen. Yes, it feels a little dated beside the latest mirrorless equivalents and the cheap, plasticky finish is a slight disappointment, but for novices who want a solid step up that can deliver the core DSLR camera experience, the 800D remains a very reliable choice.

The 4K-shooting EOS 5D Mark IV has traditionally been used by photographers and filmmakers alike, and goes up against the likes of the Nikon D850 and a handful of flagship mirrorless competitors. Being over three years old means that it might appear a little behind in a number of areas on the spec sheet, but the EOS line has always prioritized wide appeal and reliability over class-beating specs. To that end, we get a 30.4MP full-frame sensor with a Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for smooth focusing during live view and video, together with 7fps burst shooting, great high-ISO performance and a sturdy body that’s the result of many tweaks and refinements from previous EOS 5D generation cameras. 4K video is subject to a crop factor, however, and the use of the Motion JPEG makes for fairly hefty video files, but this is not a deal-breaker – particularly as the Full HD options are more than enough for most people.

Canon has managed to pack a lot into this little pocket rocket, combining a stacked CMOS sensor with a Digic 8 imaging engine. This gives the PowerShot G5 X Mark II the ability to capture stills at a blitzing pace of 30fps when shooting RAW, or 20fps when shooting conventionally.

ISO performance has been improved over the previous iteration of this camera and 4K video capture added. For those who prefer a viewfinder to using the rear LCD screen, the pop-up EVF has a darn good resolution of 2.36 million dots. Despite packing in an EVF, Canon has even managed to add a flash to the camera. There's even an ND filter available on board if you happen to be shooting in brilliant sunlight.

Noise performance is pretty good for a camera with a 1-inch sensor, although the 4K video quality isn't something to write home about, particularly when compared to the likes of Sony's latest Cyber-shot RX100 range. Despite that, the G5 X Mark II is an excellent choice for a compact, provided you've got the spare change for it.

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