What is best dslr camera: The best DSLR camera for 2023: top choices for all budgets

Which are the best DSLRs you can buy in 2023?

Looking for the best DSLRs? We’ve picked out the finest DSLRs we’ve tested, with beginner and advanced models from Canon, Nikon and Pentax.

The best DSLRs are still some of the best cameras you can buy. Mirrorless may be where all the new tech is, and where the professional models are dominating, but there’s still a place for the humble DSLR. We’ve picked out our absolute favourite DSLRs we’ve tested in this guide, with representation from the big three of the market: Canon, Nikon and Pentax.

You may be wondering what the difference is between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. We’ve gone into it in detail in our guide to DSLRs vs mirrorless, but in brief, DSLRs have an internal mirror mechanism that allows them to field an optical viewfinder. Mirrorless cameras don’t (hence the name), and therefore rely on an electronic viewfinder. It used to be the case that DSLRs were also more rugged and weatherproof than mirrorless cameras. This isn’t really the case any more, with mirrorless having caught up in this department, but a good DSLR is generally still an excellent outdoor camera.

The other big advantage of DSLRs, however, is one that’s getting truer with every passing year: they’re cheaper. As more new fancy mirrorless models arrive, the discounts on DSLRs stack up, and this is especially the case on the second-hand market.

We’ve picked our favourite DSLRs from the past decade for this list, some that can be bought new, others than can be picked up for cheap if you don’t mind buying use. We’ve got representation from Canon, Nikon and Pentax here – make sure once you’ve picked your camera that you pick up some of the best Canon EF lenses, best Nikon lenses or best Pentax lenses, depending on your choice.

Before we get into the list, let’s look in a little more detail at how you might go about choosing the right DSLR for you.

How to choose the best DSLR: sensor sizes

There are two main sensor sizes to be aware of when choosing a DSLR. These are APS-C and Full-Frame.

APS-C sensors are smaller – they’re sometimes referred to as ‘crop sensors’, and give a 1.5x (Nikon), or 1.6x (Canon) view when compared to full-frame.

What this crop factor means is the lens you have on the camera has a longer effective focal length. For example, a 100mm lens on a Nikon APS-C DSLR will give you an effective focal length of 150mm due to the 1.5x crop factor.

Full-frame sensors give a similar sensor size to 35mm (36x24mm) film, hence being called full-frame, as the full-frame sensors are roughly the same size as the frame of a 35mm film.

Usually with full-frame DSLRs what you see through the viewfinder, and certainly the rear LCD in a Live View setting, is exactly what the full-frame sensor is seeing.

So, whether you like the benefits of the APS-C format or prefer to shoot full-frame, if you’re in the market for a DSLR we can help. Here’s our round-up of the best DSLRs you can buy.

Best beginner DSLR: Nikon D3500

The Nikon D3500 with Nikon’s 18-55mm kit lens attached.

At a glance

• 24.2MP APS-C sensor
• ISO 100-25,600
• 1080p Full HD video at up to 60fps
• 11-point AF system
• 3-inch, 920K-dot LCD screen
• Around £449 / $649 with 18-55mm VR lens

Nikon’s entry-level DSLR hits a rare sweet spot of capability versus affordability (at £399 body only). It sports a 24MP APS-C sensor with a sensitivity range up to ISO 25,600, and can shoot at a more than reasonable 5 frames per second.

Its Guide Mode makes the camera easy to use for beginners, while full manual control is also available – so this is clearly a camera that you won’t outgrow as your photography skills develop. As we said in our review, this is a camera that does pretty much everything beginners will need it to. There’s no weather-sealing, and no vari-angle screen, but otherwise this is a really solid package.

Although the sensor has the same effective 24.2MP resolution as Nikon’s earlier D3400 and D5600 cameras, the sensor in the D3500 is an updated version. It does away with an optical low-pass filter to help to maximise the ability of the sensor to resolve fine detail images.

The D3500 is also notable for its a great body design, deep grip and an intuitive layout of controls that make it straightforward to use. You’ll also find a range of Nikon lenses available, with Nikon ‘DX’ lenses being specifically designed for the the camera’s APS-C sensor.

Pros

• Superb battery life
• Beginner-friendly modes
• Good image quality

Cons

• No vari-angle LCD
• Not weather sealed

Read our Nikon D3500 Review

Best lightweight DSLR: Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3

Like most beginner DSLRs, the Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3 generally comes with a kit lens.

At a glance

• 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-25,600
• 4K video at 24/25fps
• 9-point AF (3,975-point AF in Live View)
• 3-inch, 1040K-dot vari-angle touchscreen LCD screen
• 449g (body with battery)
• Around £600 / $749 with 18-55mm IS lens

One of the smallest DSLRs around, the EOS 250D strikes a great balance between portability and usability… not to mention a stunning AF system when in Live View! It’s the smallest and lightest DSLR with a multi-angle screen; weighing in at just 449grams with battery and measuring 122x93x70mm.

The EOS 250D’s Dual Pixel AF system offers 3,975 user-selectable focus points across the whole screen when shooting in Live View mode – a very impressive feature on a budget DSLR. The camera has a 24MP APS-C sensor and offers 4K video recording. The 250D’s DIGIC 8 processor also supports a range of improvements in Live View AF, along with Eye AF, an Auto Lighting Optimizer, a Digital Lens Optimizer and Highlight Tone Priority.

It’s equipped with a novice-friendly Guided Mode and image quality is very good, delivering vibrant colours and plenty of fine detail. The vari-angle touchscreen makes composing, focusing and shooting very straightforward, or you can shoot via a traditional optical viewfinder, with its more basic 9-point AF.

Other notable features include in-camera editing for both JPEG and RAW files, along with Canon’s well-implemented Bluetooth 3 and Wi-Fi connectivity for pairing the camera with smartphones (via the Canon Camera Connect app), which lets you to share images and control the camera remotely. Entry-level DSLRs face fierce competition from compact mirrorless models these days, but the EOS 250D remains a fantastic little camera.

Pros

• Impressively comprehensive autofocus
• Useful Guided Mode
• Vari-angle LCD

Cons

• 4K 25p video isn’t great

Read our Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3 review

Best DSLR for travel: Canon EOS 850D / Rebel T8i

Canon EOS 850D in use, tested by Andy Westlake

At a glance

• 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-51,200 (extended)
• 7.5fps continuous shooting
• 4K video recording
• Fully articulated touchscreen
• Around £999 / $749 body-only

This may be an unusual thing to say, but Canon probably doesn’t want you to buy this camera. The firm would probably much rather you pick up one of its similarly specced (and similarly priced) APS-C mirrorless options, like the EOS R7 or EOS R10. And indeed, there are many compelling reasons to do so – however, the EOS 850D is still widely sold, and remains a compelling option for those who want a lightweight, travel-friendly camera in the DSLR format.

The EOS 850D (or Rebel T8i in the US) was something of an anomaly even on release. When we reviewed the camera in 2021, our technical editor remarked that it was the first time he’d had cause to review a new DSLR since 2017. Still, the EOS 850D brought a lot of likeable features to the table, many of which make it feel a lot more up to date than some of the older DSLRs on this list. Face-detection autofocus while using the viewfinder is very welcome, as is the faster 7fps burst rate, not to mention the addition of 4K video (albeit with that infamous Canon crop).

The fact that it’s able to benefit from recent technology also means that Live View focusing on the 850D is much better than most other DSLRs. In fact, the EOS 850D is arguably better to use in Live View than it is with its rather small and inaccurate viewfinder. This is… odd for a DSLR, especially given that viewfinders are meant to be their big USP.

While it’s not quite as slimline as the EOS 250D, the EOS 850D only weighs 515g and packs in a lot more features. This makes it a great choice for travel, and you shouldn’t have too difficult a time picking up a few lightweight EF lenses to go with it. This alone makes it a much better buy than the camera that was its mirrorless equivalent at the time, the EOS M50. And also, frankly, the RF-S lens selection for the R7 and R10 is still currently pretty poor, making the EOS 850D a really quite compelling alternative.

Pros

• Lightweight and travel-friendly
• Sophisticated autofocus system
• Works well in Live View

Cons

• Poor, rather bland viewfinder
• Rear control dial a bit small and fiddly

Read our Canon EOS 850D review

Best DSLR for enthusiasts: Canon EOS 90D

The Canon EOS 90D handles well, and is an excellent APS-C all-rounder.

At a glance

• 32.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-25,600 (expandable to ISO 51,200)
• 10fps continuous shooting (11fps in Live View)
• 220k pixel RGB+IR metering sensor
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Eye Detection AF
• 3-inch, 1040K-dot LCD screen
• Around £1,250 / $1,199 body only

The EOS 90D has been designed to excel at all genres of photography and video, but is particularly handy for sports and wildlife photographers who demand a camera that can rattle out a continuous burst and resolve excellent detail from a high resolution 32.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor.

This well-made camera can shoot at 10fps with autofocus tracking when using the viewfinder and 11fps when using Live View with fixed AF, and there’s also Canon’s Eye Detection AF with tracking for stills and movies. You can also record 4K video (using the full width of the sensor) at 25/30p or Full HD video at up to 120fps, which is great for shooting slow-mo sequences.

The EOS 90D incorporates a 220,000-pixel RGB+IR exposure sensor, which helps it to dissect and analyse scenes effectively for consistent and accurate exposure metering. Evaluative metering is linked to all AF points, with partial and spot metering covering approximately 6.5% and 2% of the viewfinder respectively.

A rear 3-inch, 1040k-dot vari-angle (which aids creative framing and composition) touchscreen displays a good, clean feed to assist composition and video recording in Live View. Images are well displayed in playback mode too. Colours are faithful and you get four thumbnail views to quickly search through hundreds of images on the memory card. As we said in our review, an extra card slot would have been nice, but otherwise there isn’t much to fault on this excellent camera.

Pros

• Excellent image detail
• Uncropped 4K video
• Satisfying ergonomics

Cons

• One card slot
• Dated viewfinder AF system

Read our Canon EOS 90D Review

Best DSLR for sports and action: Nikon D500

The Nikon D500 has an astonishing top ISO value of 1,640,000.

At a glance

• 20.9MP APS-C DX-format sensor
• ISO 100-25,600 (extendable to 50-1,640,000)
• 4K video (cropped), Full HD video at up to 60fps (full width)
• 153-point AF system
• 10fps continuous shooting
• 3-inch, 2.36million-dot tiltable LCD screen
• Around £1,050 / $1,120 (used) body-only

While this pro-quality APS-C camera (which came out back in 2016) is no longer considered to be ‘cutting edge’, it’s still a remarkably well-featured camera. Its 20.9MP DX-format sensor affords an impressive standard sensitivity range of ISO 100-51,200, and a frankly staggering extended range of ISO 50-1,640,000, with great noise performance.

It can shoot at 10fps, and keep going for at least 30 frames in RAW format, and 90 or more in JPEG mode, with an SD card. If you place an XQD card in the second slot, and it’ll keep shooting at full speed for 200 frames in RAW.

The D500 uses a 153-point AF system that covers almost the full width of the frame and around half its height. Metering employs a 180,000-pixel RGB sensor that also feeds subject-recognition data to the AF system. Nikon specifies that both systems will work in staggeringly low light: at -3EV for metering and at -4EV for autofocus.

The D500 gives the impression of being built like a tank. The magnesium-alloy body has a bombproof feel to it, and a well-designed grip means that it fits perfectly in your hand. Almost every square inch of the body is covered by buttons and dials, which give direct access to all the key functions – so much so, that there’s rarely any need to access the menus.

Overall, the D500 is one of the most accomplished crop-sensor DSLRs ever made and it shines best when it’s used as a conventional DSLR for shooting fast-moving subjects. When we first wrote our review, we found the price to be a stumbling block, but these days the D500 is available for much more reasonable outlays on the second-hand market.

Pros

• Excellent, reliable autofocus
• Does well at high ISO settings
• Well-optimised grip

Cons

• Quite heavy for APS-C
• Poor AF speed in Live View

Read our Nikon D500 Review

Best value full-frame DSLR: Pentax K-1 Mark II

Pentax’s DSLRs may not be flashy, but they’re rugged and reliable.

At a glance

• 36MP full-frame sensor
• ISO 100-819,200
• 1080p Full HD video at up to 60i
• 33-point AF system (25 cross-type points)
• 3.2-inch, 1,037,000-dot tilting TFT LCD screen
• Around £1,800 / $1,800 body only

Pentax has resolutely stuck with DSLRs, and this attractive camera (originally announced in early 2018) includes a 36MP full-frame sensor. It also features a flexible tilt-type LCD monitor, a SAFOX 12 autofocusing system with 33 sensor points (25 of which are cross-type points), an optical viewfinder offering 100% field of view, a weatherproof and dust-proof body, dual SD card slots, Full HD video recording and a built-in GPS module. It tops our list of the best Pentax DSLRs, and presumably will for a while yet.

The flagship K-1 Mark II features an anti-aliasing, filter-free design to help to optimise its image resolving power. It also comes with the 5-axis, Pixel Shift Resolution System II to help keep shots sharp when handheld. The Pixel Shift Resolution System II was an upgrade from the original K-1 system with a new mode that can be used when shooting handheld. Pentax’s parent company Ricoh claims the Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode can be used in conjunction with the camera’s shake-reduction mechanism to create high-resolution shots without any evidence of camera shake.

An incorporated accelerator unit was designed in the K-1 Mark II to help when shooting in low-light to produce images with low levels of noise and high detail. ISO sensitivity was also increased to ISO 819,200, with the promise of improved noise reduction even at such high ISO levels. In practice though, you’re best off not pushing it above 51,200, as images above this are simply too compromised to be useful.

The K-1 Mark II camera also benefits from the wide range of Pentax K-mount lenses that’s available. There are over 150 lenses made for the system, giving you incredible optical opportunities for shooting a wide range of subjects.

Pros

• Extremely solid weatherproofing
• Powerful ‘Shake Reduction’ stabilisation
• High-quality 36MP images

Cons

• Burst mode tops out at 4.4fps
• High ISO settings are unusable

Discover more about the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Best full-frame DSLR for enthusiasts: Nikon D780: 

The Nikon D780 is a comparatively recent DSLR, and benefits from up-to-date features.

At a glance

• 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-12,800 (extendable to 50-204,800)
• 51-point AF system (15 cross-type points)
• 12fps continuous shooting in Live View
• 3.2-inch, 2,360K-dot tilting touchscreen LCD
• Around £2,000 / $2,200 body only

On its arrival in 2020 the D780 was the long-awaited successor to the Nikon D750 and it showed that there was life in the DSLR yet. It’s superbly built with extensive weather sealing, handles brilliantly, and gives excellent results in any conditions. As we said in our full test and review of the D780, it will provide top-level service to photographers who want to keep using their F-mount lenses and still prefer an optical viewfinder.

The D780 offers a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor that gives excellent noise performance, as well as offering uncropped 4K UHD video recording, and an impressive ISO range from 50 to 204,800 (extended). On the rear of the camera you’ll find a 3.2-inch 2,360K-dot tilting touchscreen, and there’s also in-camera USB charging.

As well as having a low-pass filter to eliminate moiré and backside-illuminated structure to maximise its light gathering capabilities across its ISO range, the sensor has 273 on-chip phase detection pixels to enhance its focusing performance in Live View. Again, this is said to be crossover technology from the Nikon mirrorless camera line-up.

The D780 also deploys Nikon’s EXPEED 6 image processor which, amongst other things, helps to shoot at 7fps via the viewfinder. A shutter speed range of 30-1/8000sec should pretty much over all subjects and the 180K-pixel RGB sensor inherited from the D850 helps to feed info to the AF system for accurate and precise tracking of subjects. For DSLR fans the D780 offers a superb array of shooting options and choices for capturing all manner of subjects.

Pros

• Excellent Live View focusing
• Superb weather sealing
• Sensor performs well across the board

Cons

• No pop-up flash
• No joystick

Read our Nikon D780 Review

Best high-resolution DSLR: Nikon D850

A full-frame DSLR, the Nikon D850 is enduringly popular with wildlife photographers.

At a glance

• 45.7MP full-frame sensor
• 153-point autofocus system
• ISO 64-25,600 (expandable to 32-102,400)
• Up to 7fps continuous shooting
• 3.2-inch, 2.26million-dot LCD screen with touchscreen control
• Around £2,500 / $2,700 body only

This brilliant professional all-rounder DSLR provides a winning combination of high resolution and speed. Its 45.7MP full-frame sensor produces fine results at high ISOs and the autofocus is incredibly responsive and accurate. The build quality and handling should also satisfy the most demanding of users. It’s an absolutely sensational camera capable of tackling any type of subject.

The camera also offers excellent battery life and has an impressively low ISO speed of 32 available (extended), that goes up to 102,400 (extended). You can record 4K UHD video at 30fps, which uses the full width of the sensor.

The D850 inherited almost all of the AF features of the Nikon D5 DSLR that was primarily aimed at sports photographers, but the D850 is capable of capturing much more than sports action. It uses a backside illuminated sensor, which helps to increase the efficiency of the sensor, (thus improving low light performance), and improves peripheral image quality at the edges of pictures. It also has no anti-aliasing filter, which allows for finer detail capture in images.

The D850 still holds its head up very high amongst the best Nikon cameras (including mirrorless models), even though it launched back in 2017. Because Nikon put a lot of top-line technology into the D850 it remains a great choice for many photographers – wedding, sports, nature, fashion, portrait, landscape and more. In our full review and test, we summed up by saying, ‘The D850 is an absolutely sensational camera’, and that holds true in 2023. In full-frame DSLR terms, it’s still a star.

Pros

• Rugged, reliable, highly capable
• Excellent image quality
• Snappy shooting speed

Cons

• Touchscreen functionality limited
• Has held its price

Read our Nikon D850 Review

Best professional DSLR: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is the latest in a line of DSLRs that revolutionised video.

At a glance

• 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor
• Dual DIGIC 6 & DIGIC 6+ processors
• ISO 100-32,000 (expandable to 50-102,400)
• 7fps continuous shooting
• 61-point AF system (41 cross-type points)
• 3. 2in, 1,620k-dot, fixed touchscreen LCD
• Built-in Wi-fi, NFC and GPS
• Around £2,800 / $2,700 body only

Canon’s workhorse EOS DSLR ticks all the right boxes for both enthusiast and professional photographers and continues the long-standing legacy of the groundbreaking 5D-series of cameras. It handles well, is built to a robust standard and saw the addition of long overdue features such as Wi-Fi, GPS and touchscreen LCD control.

The 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor gives excellent results, and autofocus is impressive for both Live View and normal shooting, thanks to the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. This sensor-based phase-detection AF system supports Servo AF when shooting stills in Live View, thus opening up the opportunities to pinpoint focus on a subject and track it as it moves through the frame, while the shutter button is half-depressed.

The camera has an ISO range of 100-32,000, which can be further extended to 50-102,400. The camera offers 4K video shooting at 24fps, 25fps and 30fps and up to 7fps continuous shooting is available, but that drops when you enable Dual Pixel Raw. During Dual Pixel Raw shooting, a single RAW file saves two images into the file. Thus Dual Pixel Raw files contain a normal image as well as parallax information, which can be measured and subject distance information extrapolated.

It’s the EOS 5D Mark IV’s 30.4MP sensor that steals the limelight. When we fully tested the camera, we found that the sensor’s performance at high ISOs, combined with its radically improved dynamic range, made it markedly better than its 5D Mark III when it came to returning high levels of detail to shadowed areas in post-production and shooting images with less noise in low-light.

Pros

• Hugely impressive dynamic range
• Robustly built
• Price has come down

Cons

• Vicious 1.74x crop on 4K video
• No clean HDMI out

Read our Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Review

Further reading:

The 12 Best Nikon DSLR Cameras Ever

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Best DSLR Camera of 2022

They say pictures say a thousand words, and that they live the longest in your memory when you have a picture of that special moment. So you have to ensure that you have the best DSLR camera that you can take on all your adventures and photographic assignments. But first, what does DSLR mean? The letters DSLR actually tell us a lot about your cameras’ design. The D is really obvious: it’s a Digital camera. The S and the L stand for Single Lens because at the beginning the SLR design cameras had one lens on the top to look through, and one lens to shoot through. And finally, the R stands for Reflex, which it’s a shortened version of reflection. Meaning that after the light passes through the lens, it hits a mirror inside the camera that bounces the light through a prism and into the viewfinder you use to frame the shot. However, we note that in many modern cameras only part of that light goes directly to the OVF or optical viewfinder, while part of it hits a separate autofocus sensor. When you take a picture, you hit the shutter button and that whole mirror assembly flips up, meaning the light goes straight into your sensor. So instead of coming in and hitting the mirror and going up to the OVF, the image goes straight through to your sensor to record your photograph.

A DSLR camera is considered a key part of a professional photographer’s kit. The best DSLR cameras offer the best image quality available, along with a rugged build and excellent battery life. There are a lot of modern DSLR cameras on the market today, for experienced hobbyists and professionals alike. So to help you find the right one for you, we’ve put together a list of the best DSLR cameras that you can find in 2022.

Nikon D850

The Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR is still one of the best cameras in the world. His high resolution allows photographers to capture fast action in 45.7 megapixels. It boasts several remarkable advancements such as dynamic range sensor design, autofocus sensitivity, speed light, control battery, life silent photography in live view mode, shutter and mirror mechanisms, and much more. With up to 7fps at 45.7 megapixels you can always keep up with the action. Thanks to the total width, a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, a 153-point / 99 cross-type AF system and the resolution of this camera’s backside illuminated CMOS sensor. You can also record 16×9 4k Ultra HD videos. This best DSLR camera features the XSpeed 5 that quickly processes all 45.7 megapixels of data for lower noise and wider dynamic range. High-speed continuous shooting at about 9 fps tonal, texture details, and full-frame 4k HD movie recording using the Nikon Snapbridge app you can transfer your images to a compatible smartphone or tablet. The D850 features a host of fantastic specs, available at a better price than ever. It’s a superb versatile all-rounder which is well suited to professionals and advanced enthusiasts who want to photograph lots of different types of subjects.

SPECIFICATIONS
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 45.4MP
Autofocus: 153-point AF, 99 cross-type
Screen type: 3. 2-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 2,359,000 dots
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps
Movies: 4K
User level: Expert
PROS

– Stunning image quality.

– Excellent performance.

– 4K UHD video capture at 30fps.

– 8K time-lapse functions.
CONS

– Slow Live View AF speed.

– Fairly noisy at very high ISO settings.

– Expensive body investment.

The Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR at Amazon

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV full-frame digital SLR camera promises phenomenal performance anywhere. It offers high-resolution still and 4k video files with utmost clarity and detail. This best DSLR camera features a 30.4 megapixel full-frame sensor, with a 61-point AF system and a lot of operational enhancements to deliver detailed images and accurate performance. Thanks to the Digic 6 plus image processor that provides continuous shooting at up to 7fps, this DSLR camera delivers enhanced fast operation. It features built-in wi-fi that makes it easy to share and transfer images. This lightweight camera also features an easy-to-navigate touch panel LCD that allows the camera to become an extension of you for an amazing performance. The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV features a powerful and instant subject and light analysis system which uses its own RGB plus IR light sensor with approximately 150,000 pixels resolution that provides the camera with immense image analysis in an instant. As a bonus feature, this DSLR camera for photography has a built-in GPS that helps photographers tag their images with critical location data and also adjusts the time and time stamp on the camera automatically. Naturally, those 4K video options are a little limited, with the frame-rate topping out at 30fps and no options to shoot in a flat gamma profile. But if you’re mainly looking for a powerful DSLR for stills photography, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV takes images with a high dynamic range, good color accuracy, and little loss of detail even at high ISO levels, which is great for nighttime shoots.

SPECIFICATIONS
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 30.4MP
Autofocus: 61-point AF, 41 cross-type
Screen type: 3.2-inch touchscreen, 1,620,000 dots
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps
Movies: 4K
User level: Expert
PROS

– Great image quality.

– Sturdy-feeling, comfortable-to-use design.

– Advanced AF system.
CONS

– Bulky, heavy construction.

– 4K video options are limited.

– Expensive compared to rivals.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV at Amazon

Pentax K-3 Mark III

The Pentax K-3 Mark III camera features a thorough dustproof and weather-resistant magnesium alloy construction with 95 seals on the body to prevent water droplets or dust from invading. It boasts a newly designed optical viewfinder that provides a hundred percent field of view and 1.05 times image magnification. This viewfinder offers a wide viewing angle that is comparable to full-frame cameras and the brightness is increased by 10. Thanks to the improved reflectance on the pentaprism. This best DSLR camera boasts a top ISO sensitivity of 1.6 million that can capture images in low light and can achieve excellent descriptive power in the entire sensitivity range. The Pentax K-3 Mark III camera features a multi-dimensional image space filter that reduces noise while leaving fine contours. This filter allows it to maximize the resolution performance so that it can deliver sharp details of the subject. This top-rated DSLR camera features high-speed continuous shooting of up to 12 images per second with AFS and up to 11 images per second with AFC. It features a shake reduction mechanism that is equipped with the Pentax SR2 and it provides up to 5.5 shutter step image stabilization so that you can get blur-free images when using telephoto lenses or in low-light areas. This pretty heavy and durable DSLR camera features dual SD card slots that allow for simultaneous capture as well as customized image placement. It boasts also a newly developed mirror shutter drive mechanism and image processing engine that produces 12fps image capture making it perfect for fast action movement. It has a high-resolution touchscreen LCD very efficient for faster engagement to the menu system. The touch LCD also provides improved image review capabilities and you can wipe and pinch between images. The Pentax K-3 Mark III camera, perfect for travel, is a rugged durable and dependable camera that can even be used in the harshest of environments.

SPECIFICATIONS
Sensor: APS-C BSI CMOS
Megapixels: 25.7MP
Autofocus: SAFOX 13 101-Point Phase-Detection
Screen type: 3.2-inch touchscreen, 1,620,000 dots
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 12 fps (11 fps with continuous AF)
Movies: MPEG-4, H.264
User level: Expert
PROS

– Excellent image quality.

– Magnesium body with dust and splash protection.

– Wide-spread autofocus.

– High-magnification optical viewfinder.

– Feels well-built and very comfortable to use.
CONS

– Heavy and bulky.

– The display doesn’t tilt or pivot at all like most modern mirrorless systems.

– Omits built-in GPS.

– External battery charger not included.

– Buffer fills quickly at 10fps.

The Pentax K-3 Mark III at Amazon

Canon EOS 90D

The Canon EOS 90D is probably the best Canon camera for amateur photographers. It features a 32.5 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor – the highest yet for an APS-C camera – and Canon’s latest Digi-8 chipset that is far from an average camera. The 90D packs in an amazing 270,000 pixel RGB and infrared meter sensor for more precise autofocus. But the increased pixel density does appear to have had an effect on the EOS 90D high ISO performance. The Canon EOS 90D can take great-looking images right across its ISO range, but if detail is important in low light, you’ll be better off with a tripod and a lower ISO setting. This top-rated DSLR camera is well-built and feels rigid which is important for any active photographer or videographer. Even in terms of button placement everything just feels right. The main control pad with a dial around it is there for a quick running-through option, and a dedicated joystick just above the main control allows the photographer to adjust autofocus settings quickly. The Canon EOS 90D boasts a 10fps continuous shooting capability and its uncropped 4K video capture doesn’t reduce the angle of view for 4K video. Now, you don’t get an instant crop factor when you switch to 4K video, and your wide lenses do actually stay ‘wide’! The EOS 90D is a state-of-the-art enthusiast DSLR. The M6 Mark II is smaller, cheaper, and offers faster burst shooting. But by focusing on key areas like battery life, handling and a fully articulating rear screen, Canon has made the EOS 90D a strong and versatile alternative for anyone who prefers the DSLR shooting experience.

SPECIFICATIONS
Sensor: APS-C CMOS
Megapixels: 32.5MP
Autofocus: 45-point AF, 45 cross-type
Lens mount: Canon EF-S
Screen type: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps
Movies: 4K UHD
User level: Intermediate


PROS
– Excellent pixel count.

– 10fps continuous shooting.

– Uncropped 4K video.

– Optical viewfinder.

– Vari-angle touchscreen.


CONS
– Limited buffer capacity.

– Losing detail by ISO 1600.

– No sensor-based stabilization.

– Limited buffer capacity.

– Not much gain from 32MP.

The Canon EOS 90D at Amazon

Nikon D780

The Nikon D780 is a hybrid of a full-frame DSLR and a mirrorless camera like the original Nikon Z6. And while it’s still relatively expensive, the D780’s slight price drop since it landed in 2020 means it’s now a top pick for anyone who wants to combine the benefits of mirrorless tech and DSLRs. But the Nikon D780 is considered a full-frame 24.5 megapixels DSLR camera (it’s got ‘the’ mirror) and as the update to the D750. This top-rated DSLR does have two memory card slots unlike Nikon’s current mirrorless offerings, and the battery life as with many DSLRs is amazing. Also, although it has the on-sensor AF system of a mirrorless camera and the same live view performance, the D780 does not offer the seamless, automatic transition between viewfinder and rear screen shooting that a mirrorless camera does. On a mirrorless camera, an eye sensor detects when you put the camera to your eye or take it away again and switches displays instantly and automatically. On the D780 you have to press the live view button manually. But the rear screen is very good. It has a tilting mechanism rather than a vari-angle pivot, perfect for horizontal shots, and keeps the screen on the same optical axis as the lens. The Nikon D780 is pretty efficient at continuous shooting (7fps in viewfinder shooting and 12fps in live view) with a silent shooting option too. The Nikon D780 is designed for both stills and movies. It also keeps the cost down for you by allowing uncropped 4K video downsampled from 6K data capture.

SPECIFICATIONS
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 24. 5MP
Lens mount: Nikon F mount
Screen type: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, 2,359,000 dots
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 12fps
Max video resolution: 4K
User level: Intermediate/pro


PROS
– Fast live view AF.

– Tilting touchscreen.

– Uncropped 4K video.

– Dual UHS-II card slots.


CONS
– Dual AF systems.

– Manual live view swapping.

– Pretty big and heavy.

The Nikon D780 at Amazon

How to Choose a SLR Camera: 12 Easy Steps

Sofia Rozanovskaya

How to choose a SLR camera? A DSLR can be quite expensive, especially if you’re looking for a high-end device. The market is teeming with DSLRs of various brands, models, and they all boast a plethora of features. It is especially difficult to choose the first DSLR (digital reflex camera) that will fit the bill. However, in the future, it will be much easier for you. Before making a purchase, please read our complete guide on how to choose a DSLR.

Before you finally decide on the model and brand of your future SLR camera, be sure to read the following articles:

1. • What determines the perfect photograph?
   • Which camera should a beginner photographer choose?
   • Professional cameras (always SLR cameras)
   • Canon vs. Nikon: what’s the big difference, which is better? (Part 1)
   • Canon vs. Nikon: what’s the big difference, which is better? (Part 2)

1. Why you need a SLR. Depending on your tasks, different models will suit you. For home and entertainment – one camera model; for studio and wedding photography – others. Sometimes it turns out to combine a fairly simple camera model with a good lens, and it completely satisfies the needs of its owner.
2. Determine your budget. Price is often the deciding factor when choosing a SLR camera. You must remember that not only the carcass is important, but also the camera lens. So keep this in mind when planning your budget. Additional costs include: spare battery, memory cards, filters, flash, tripod, bag or case. General recommendations: when buying your first camera, consider options with a kit lens in the kit, sometimes in stores there are offers of 2 lenses + carcass. It is always more profitable than buying separately.
3. Year of manufacture of the camera. Digital technology is essentially outdated within a couple of months after being released to the market. The relevance of the camera model is an important parameter. The exception is the legendary options that do not fall in price even after many years. At one time, such a camera was the Nikon D300. Try to buy what came out recently. Less problems with firmware, choice of accessories and so on.
4. The number of megapixels. Despite the fact that professionals have repeatedly explained the insignificance of this parameter, and everything above 10 MP is excellent, nevertheless. Quantity is not the most important, but for cropping and printing in large format it is very convenient. However, 18 mp is enough for the eyes.
5. Full frame or cropped? Since the price of full-frame cameras is much higher than cropped ones, then if the budget allows you, take a full-frame one, if not, then don’t bother. Please note that lenses are also available for full frame and cropped.
6. Ability to shoot in RAW. Today, probably all cameras have the ability to shoot in RAW. Photo editing is a treasure!
7. Camera weight and size. Again, it comes down to usage. Weight and dimensions always matter, except when cameras are always on a tripod in the studio. The large size and weight are especially felt when traveling and when the shooting day is long.
8. Zoom. If you have a compact ultrazoom, then you will have a hard time with a simple SLR camera, where the usual zoom is 3x (lens 18-55). Large zoom lenses for SLR cameras cost a lot and have a number of technical features.
9. Video recording capability. Some people need a SLR camera primarily for shooting video. An important parameter, when buying, specify the possibility of connecting a microphone and its cost. Many entry-level cameras take video, but you can’t connect a microphone for better sound. Also consider the maximum number of frames per second. The HD function will also not be superfluous.
10. Objective (lenses). If you have lenses from another manufacturer, this does not mean that you need to stick only to this brand. There are many adapters on the market to expand your choice. Lenses are an important part of a camera, and they cost a lot. However, this is the case when saving is inappropriate, as quality suffers. For starters, whale lenses are suitable, those that come with the camera, but in the future it will be right to buy a lens, just for your needs. If you have or have a DSLR, you may already have a range of compatible accessories you need. You may not have known, but Zenit and other Soviet photographic equipment are the same SLR cameras, only film ones. Lenses from them can also be used on modern technology using adapters.
11. Brand. Can I choose from nikon or canon ? But there are at least a few other great manufacturers: Sony, Pentax, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Samsung, Olympus. The final quality of the photo depends only on you as the photographer.
12. Think ahead. Maybe it’s sometimes worth spending a little more money on a model that will keep up with your needs and allow you to grow and learn, instead of buying a cheaper entry-level model that will become obsolete very soon? Sadly, entry-level models drop in price quickly and may not be useful in the long run.

Tips on how to choose a SLR camera:

• Lenses (lens) – a very important part of a SLR camera.
• Try before you buy! It just seems that the DSLR works wonders. Try shooting in a store and you’ll see that sometimes it doesn’t matter what you shoot with. In inexperienced hands, even on a DSLR, very ordinary photos will be obtained, the same as on a regular digital camera.
• Essentially, any camera that has an interchangeable lens and allows full manual operation is a winner.
• With proper and careful use, lenses do not age. Usually, old lenses from the same manufacturer can be used with more modern models. If something does not fit, you can always find an adapter.
• Happy shopping and creative photos!

Sofia Rozanovskaya

Popular

SLR vs mirrorless camera: what’s the difference?

It is difficult for a novice photographer to understand the difference between a SLR and a mirrorless camera: articles on the Internet are written too complicated, and advice from consultants in stores is confusing. So we decided to take matters into our own hands. Let’s take a look at the differences between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera together and talk about the benefits of each type.

SLR camera

SLR cameras (SLR and DSLR) are equipped with powerful optics, a digital sensor and have fairly simple control mechanisms. The main difference is the presence of a mirror viewfinder.

The principle of operation is simple: light enters the lens, passes through the aperture, is reflected in the mirror and enters the viewfinder, where the photographer sees the resulting image without any processing.

Pros and Cons of a 9 SLR Camera0055

Among the advantages of the camera are:

• High quality images. Frames are characterized by maximum detail, low noise and shallow depth of field;
• Large selection of lenses. A variety of interchangeable lenses opens up new possibilities for shooting;
• Long battery life. With a viewfinder that consumes little power, DSLRs allow you to take thousands of photos without constant recharging.

There are few downsides to the device. Users note only the large dimensions and heavy weight of the device.

Mirrorless camera

Such models appeared on the market later than mirror ones, but their merits have already been appreciated by professional photographers and ordinary amateurs. Manufacturers have also moved forward, gradually equipping models with new features and lenses.

The mirrorless camera has interchangeable lenses and modern functionality. The main difference is the lack of mirrors and the presence of a display instead of an optical viewfinder. Light enters the lens and is transmitted to the sensor, after which the future frame is displayed on the screen with the applied exposure settings, ISO, etc.

Mirrorless devices are smaller and lighter due to the absence of a large number of mechanical parts. At the same time, the image quality is no worse – APS-C format sensors are installed in cameras, which provide a shallower depth of field

Among the shortcomings, a low level of battery life is distinguished, so we recommend purchasing a spare battery in case of long shooting.

Who will suit mirrorless models

Like this camera:

• professional photographers who are looking for a compact alternative;
• beginners or hobbyists who are ready to try a new device for shooting.

Key differences between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras

Consider 7 key parameters on which the choice depends:

1. Autofocus . In this regard, DSLRs are superior to mirrorless models: they are excellent at focusing on fast-moving subjects;
2. Shooting speed . The burst shooting speed of the devices is about the same. However, the lack of mirrors allows for more frames per second;
3. Stabilization . Both types of cameras have built-in stabilization, which eliminates blur from shaky hands. However, mirrorless cameras have a built-in five-axis stabilization system that many DSLR models cannot boast of;
4. Lenses . The range of additional lenses with which to experiment with images is wider for DSLRs, although today lens manufacturers for mirrorless cameras are trying to keep up;
5. Image preview . In the optical viewfinder of a SLR camera, you can see the object that captured the lens at the moment the shutter button was pressed. On the screen of mirrorless models, a future shot is displayed with the settings already applied;
6. Battery life . This is one of the most important characteristics when choosing a camera. When using the optical viewfinder, the battery life of SLR models lasts longer. Otherwise, the amount of energy used is the same;
7. Dimensions . As we emphasized earlier, mirrorless cameras are lighter due to the lack of a mirror system, and therefore more comfortable to use.

What to choose: mirrored or mirrorless?

So, let’s sum up. SLR cameras have appeared on the photographic equipment market for a long time, and the principle of shooting differs little from film cameras. Mirrorless – modern devices that have advanced functionality.