The Canon EOS R10: Still the Ideal Beginner’s Camera?

Choosing your first camera matters—it shapes your learning curve and affects the quality of your early work. In 2025, the Canon EOS R10 remains a solid entry point, balancing ease-of-use with versatility in genres like sports, wildlife, family portraits, and weddings.

Coming to you from Jacek Sopotnicki, this practical video covers why the Canon EOS R10 continues to be relevant, even as newer models and competitors emerge. The EOS R10’s compact design and strong ergonomics make it a comfortable fit for extended shoots. Its fully operational touchscreen and intuitive autofocus joystick simplify tasks that might feel overwhelming for beginners. Yet, the EOS R10 isn't perfect. Its lock button can inadvertently activate when pressing record, which could disrupt your workflow. Battery life is another downside, delivering only around 350 shots per charge—manageable but limiting for longer sessions without additional batteries.

Still, the EOS R10 impresses with its burst shooting, achieving 15 frames per second with its mechanical shutter—a standout feature for capturing action without rolling shutter distortion. Although the buffer fills quickly, this is typical at this price point. The camera's autofocus is excellent for still photography, rapidly locking onto subjects, though video autofocus occasionally loses track, particularly in busy scenes.

Key Specs

• Sensor: 24.2 Megapixel APS-C

• ISO: 100-32,000 (extendable to 51,200)

• Internal Recording: 4K UHD at up to 60 fps, 1080p at up to 100 fps

• External Recording via HDMI: 1080p

• Media: Single SD UHS-II card slot

• Display: 3.0-inch Free-Angle Touchscreen

• Autofocus: 651 Phase Detection points

• Connectivity: USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

• Battery: LP-E17 Lithium-Ion

• Weight: 15.1 oz with battery and media

Video performance is robust, delivering detailed 4K footage at 30 fps, though there is noticeable rolling shutter with fast movement. The higher frame-rate 4K mode reduces rolling shutter but introduces a 1.56x crop—something to keep in mind for wider shots. A valuable feature for video creators is the inclusion of 10-bit recording, uncommon among competitors at similar prices. However, switching between regular video and slow-motion can be cumbersome, requiring manual readjustment of settings.

Sopotnicki contrasts the EOS R10 with its closest competitors: Sony's older but reliable a6400, Nikon’s Z50, Fujifilm’s X-S20, and Sony’s higher-end a6600. Each offers unique strengths, from Sony’s superior autofocus reliability to Fujifilm’s attractive color profiles and image stabilization. But what consistently makes the EOS R10 attractive is its combination of excellent color rendition straight from the camera and its comfortable, beginner-friendly handling. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Sopotnicki.