Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / 250D Reviews & Specifications

The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is a great option for beginners that are looking to get serious about photography. It’s comfortable to hold, fun to use, and has a useful guide mode to help you learn photography’s basics in real time. The optical viewfinder is small but adds flexibility and image quality is solid. Video quality is sub-par and users may eventually grow out of the simplified controls, but for its intended market, the SL3 is good value for money and will reward you with great photographs.

There are two cheaper DSLRs in the Canon range than this one – the EOS Rebel T100 / 4000D and the EOS Rebel SL7 / EOS 2000D – but we reckon this EOS SL3 / 250D is a better buy than both of them. It does cost more, but it’s worth paying the extra. The two cheaper Canons are built down to a price and lack features you’re almost certainly going to want later, while the Rebel SL3 / 250D has Canon’s top APS-C sensor, very good Live View autofocus and 4K video in the perfect package for beginners.

While the 250D / SL3 still offers a lot for the money, I’d look out for potential bargains on the older 200D / SL2 if you remain smitten on DSLRs, or if you fancy a full-time live view camera, go for the mirrorless EOS M50 instead.

The EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D blends a number of tried-and-tested features with a mount that accepts an endless array of lenses, and its small size, battery life and general performance are all solid. It’s only a minor, and frankly not very exciting, update to the Rebel SL2 / EOS 200D, but this is at least reflected in the modest premium over that model.

The Rebel SL3 is a fine DSLR camera but doesn’t stand out next to Canon’s new mirrorless options.

The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is one the smallest SLRs available, but its autofocus system struggles with fast-moving subjects.

There are better mirrorless cameras available at this price – for example, Canon’s own EOS M50 or the Fujifilm X-T100. But for beginners who fancy learning their trade on a DSLR, with all of the handling and battery life benefits this brings, the 250D is a solid choice. It’s not quite as much of a bargain as the Nikon D3500, but you do get 4K video, a great range of lenses and some very decent performance in most shooting situations. Vloggers will also very much appreciate that vari-angle touchscreen too.

An ideal starter’s DSLR that can take lovely photos so long as you work within its limitations.

So all in all, the improvements made to the new Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3 are something of a mixed bag. It still remains our first choice of entry-level Canon DSLR camera, sitting above the EOS 4000D/2000D models in terms of price and capability, but if you don’t need the rather limited 4K video recording, the previous EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 model is still worth a look if you can find one. And if you like the idea of the EOS 250D’s improved live view mode, the mirrorless EOS M50 takes things even further and would be our choice instead.

If you want a DSLR and not a mirrorless camera, the EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D makes a very good choice for beginners and anyone looking for something small. It’s easy to use and produces high quality results.

The Canon EOS 250D offers Canon’s reliable and pleasing colour reproduction in one of the most compact DSLR bodies available with a vari-angle screen. The small size, and easy to use design should make it appealing to beginners, but it’s more advanced controls and shooting options should make it appeal to those who want a more compact Canon DSLR. There’s 4K video recording, and good noise performance, but there are also a number of limitations that you’ll need to be aware of, including no silent shooting, and only 9 AF points when using the optical viewfinder.

Ideal for beginners looking to learn, vloggers wanting decent Full HD capture (including to camera with a 3.5mm mic), or progressing photographers looking to learn more. Picture quality is great, the price is accessible and this entry-level model shows why Canon is so strong in this suit.

Get the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 if you want a basic DSLR that’s small, lightweight, easy to use, takes good pictures, and has great battery life.