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One of the questions that most readers of this medium ask me is « What is or are the best SLR cameras? « or «Mario, what SLR camera do you recommend?» .
Normally the answer will depend on each case, since there is an ideal camera for each photographer.
However, I have been able to test many models and with this experience I have formed a fairly solid opinion regarding the different digital cameras available today.
That is why this guide in which I will present what for me are the best digital SLR cameras for beginners and amateurs today.
Although they are all cameras for amateur photographers, you will see that some are extremely cheap while others have a slightly higher price because they are classified as semi-professionals.
That said, if you're a bit undecided, any of the 11 cameras that I include in this guide will be perfectly fine for you.
If you have a comfortable budget, you may want to go for a semi-professional, but if it is the first time you step into the "SLR world", or if you have a rather tight budget, I recommend that you opt for any of the Inexpensive options that I include in this list with which many amateur photographers are achieving incredible results.
And if what you are looking for is a camera to give as a gift, here are more gift ideas for photographers.
WHAT ARE THE 11 BEST SLR CAMERAS IN 2023?
BEFORE CHOOSING A CAMERA
Before choosing between these best SLR cameras (or others) I need you to keep in mind three very simple, but important things, if we want to do things right:
- First: There is no best camera. Each brand and each model offers some features or others. Yes, there are recommended digital cameras and they are the ones I am going to mention, but you should know that the best camera does not exist. While you are reading this article, you should therefore ask yourself which of all the cameras that I am talking about is going to be yours, the one that comes closest to what you are looking for in an SLR camera.
- Second: what do you want? What are you looking for? It is important to be clear about which benefits are more important to you than others. Are you interested in the fact that the camera has a rotating screen? Does it need to be a camera to record video ? Should it be very, very light so that you can always carry it with you without feeling too heavy? Does it have to be, above all, economical? These questions will help you rule out cameras and choose the one that is closest to the use you want to make of it.
- Third: Don't be intimidated by the terminology and technicalities. I recommend you leave this document open while you read it, because in it I explain in a simplified way all the terms and specifications of cameras that might scare you ?
THE BEST DSLRS FOR HOBBYIST PHOTOGRAPHERS
And I add "for amateurs" because it could include more cameras, much more powerful, but a good camera for an amateur person is a camera whose use has to be simple and plain, easy to learn, without complications.
You need a simple DSLR that will make it easy for you to get amazing photos, not a complex and heavy camera that will make you feel like it ?
Also, it has to be a camera whose price is very affordable.
WHERE TO BUY YOUR BRAND NEW DIGITAL SLR CAMERA?
I have tried almost all the known stores and my favorite, right now, is without a doubt Amazon.
For being the one that offers the best price at the same time as maintaining a level of guarantees, customer service and returns that I have not seen so far in any other store.
Well, with this in mind, and without further ado, let's see what are the best digital SLR cameras of the moment. They are not ordered, but they are the ones that I recommend the most without a doubt.
CANON EOS 4000D
Definitely the most affordable SLR. With the 4000D, the folks at Canon have broken a record for a budget SLR camera, as well as being one of the best SLRs an amateur photographer can currently own.
The Canon ESO 4000D boasts all the features that a decent camera should have today: 18 megapixel resolution (more than enough), Wi-Fi connectivity to transfer photos or control the camera in real time from your mobile.
Speaking of mobiles, the camera comes with an app that is installed on the mobile phone and with which the user can advance in the use of his Canon 4000D camera, step by step, while the app teaches and guides him in each of the phases.
A very interesting function for those who try the world of SLR photography for the first time.
The camera, as I said at the beginning, is an excellent option for those who are new to SLR photography and start with a rather tight budget.
Right now on Amazon you can find it for a price that is around 400 EUR on Amazon.
NIKON D3500
The D3500 is one of Nikon's most successful camera models , especially recommended for anyone who wants to take their first steps in SLR photography with a prestigious brand like this.
This camera stands out for its 24-megapixel sensor, 11 focus points, ISO sensitivity of up to 25,600, editing and retouching of photos and videos from the camera itself without having to go to a computer, video recording in Full HD 1080p (with a interesting “slow motion” option), Wi-Fi connectivity to shoot from your smartphone and automatically transfer photos to it (without cables), and a host of other features.
Best of all is its price, which, as you will see below, is quite difficult to find in SLR cameras with a lens included, and less than the quality of the Nikon D3500 .
If you want to buy it, you have it on Amazon, for just over 600 EUR.
CANON EOS 2000D
In a rung above the 4000D we find the Canon EOS 2000D.
A 24-megapixel sensor, 9 autofocus points, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity to transfer photos to your mobile or tablet and control shooting remotely, and a 3-inch screen (somewhat larger than the Canon EOS 4000D). are its main strengths.
In addition, it costs less than 500 euros, quite reasonable for its benefits. You can check the updated price here.
PENTAX K-70
The phrase "high performance at a low price" describes this camera perfectly.
It is a true "all-rounder" that, with its sealed body, can withstand all dusty, rainy and humid conditions without flinching.
Its sensor offers 24 megapixels, which for an amateur SLR is outrageous, along with a staggering 102,400 ISO sensitivity with which you can take hyper-sharp photos even at night or when there is too little light.
Pentax is a great brand with more than 100 years of experience behind it and SLR camera models famous for their robustness and durability.
So if you opt for this camera, you will have a camera for a long time.
You can buy the Pentax K-70 for less than 1200 EURapprox. with an 18-55mm lens.
SONY A6000
Technically this camera is not an SLR as such, but would fall into the category of "mirrorless" cameras.
Even so, I have included it in this list because it has been one of the ones that have revolutionized the camera market the most.
Because it is a mirrorless camera, the Sony A6000 is a camera that weighs infinitely less than traditional SLRs, while maintaining the advantage of having interchangeable lenses among other advantages.
Among the strengths of the Sony A6000 I will highlight its 24 megapixel resolution, its optical stabilizer with which you will ensure completely sharp photos and, above all, an incredibly light weight for a camera with these features.
Obviously, this camera assumes full compatibility with a wide range of Sony brand lenses with the mount of this camera.
Although the Sony A6000 initially came out for around 1,000 EUR, right now you can get it for less than 600 EUR, target included.
CANON EOS 250D
One of the main drawbacks of SLR cameras is usually their excessive weight and bulky dimensions.
The Canon 250D is one of the very few DSLRs I know of that combine very advanced features with a remarkably tiny (for an SLR) SLR body.
In fact, I think the Canon 250D holds the title of the world's lightest SLR.
And believe me, when you really like photography and want to spend a lot of time with your reflex camera, you start to appreciate that it weighs little ?
Despite its small weight and being a camera for the amateur user, the Canon 250D has some characteristics that bring it closer to an almost "professional" intermediate range.
It has 24 megapixels, a folding screen, ideal for selfies or for photographing from complicated angles (it is also touchscreen), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to connect it with the tablet or smartphone or to be able to shoot from a distance.
As if all this were not enough, the Canon 250D is the very few SLR cameras in this price range that incorporate 4K video.
The Canon 250D is one of my most frequent recommendations, and it couldn't be missing from this list of the best SLR cameras ? .
If you decide on it, you can buy it for approximately 750 EURwith an 18-55mm in kit.
CANON EOS 850D
If you are looking for a compact camera that stands out for its lightness (515 g), and very complete in terms of features, this Canon EOS 850 has some characteristics that make it a good long-term travel companion.
It is designed for an amateur who enjoys photography above all, but also to venture into the world of video.
It comes with a 24.1 MP sensor, supports 4K video recording, offers immediate connectivity via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, burst shoots at up to 7fps, has an impressive 45-point cross-type AF system , tilting touch screen, HDMI output and compatibility to use as a webcam.
The price of the Canon EOS 850D at the moment is around 1,200 EURwith an 18-135mm lens.
NIKON D7500
This is not an SLR but more of an all-round beast.
Its features make it worthy of a more professional rank , but it is officially classified as an "advanced" or semi-pro hobbyist user camera.
Among its features, I think it is worth mentioning its 20.9 megapixels, its ISO range from 100 to 51200 (expandable up to 1640000), its 51 autofocus points (15 of them crosswise) that make it one of the most fast when it comes to focusing, its sealed body, 4K video recording and its shooting speed in burst mode of 8 photos per second.
Another interesting detail of this digital camera is the size of its sensor, which without being a "Full Frame" sensor, is a significantly large sensor for an SLR camera of this range. And we already know that a large sensor means photos with a higher level of photographic quality.
If you like this camera, you can find it on Amazon for about 1,100 EUR, a bargain for what it means to have this camera.
SONY ALPHA 7II
Another "mirrorless" proposal from Sony, this time from an almost professional category, since it is a "Full Frame" camera.
These types of cameras are characterized by having a large sensor, which means a superior photographic quality, generally reserved only for the professional field in cameras of EUR 2,000 and up.
Another "bestial" aspect of the camera is its stabilization.
Today, the fact that a camera offers any type of optical stabilization is already a luxury.
Well, the Sony Alpha 7 II offers a stabilization of… attention… 5 axes.
A whole engineering feat that has an impact on incredibly stabilized photographs.
Sony Alpha 7 II, available here the body for about 700 euros.
PENTAX KP
If you are one of those who enjoy taking the camera on excursions, trips and in sometimes extreme circumstances, the Pentax KP is your camera.
It is a very compact and robust camera with advanced features.
It has an incredible ISO range between 100 and 819,200 and very good noise levels, a 27-point (25 cross) AF system, and is resistant to dust, splashes and temperatures down to -10º.
It also has options such as the possibility of bracketing both focus and movement directly from the camera, a high-speed electronic shutter of up to 1/24000, or continuous shooting of up to 7fps.
In addition, it is one of the few that, within a still reasonable price, offer a magnesium alloy body, tilting screen, a high level of customization of the different control buttons, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
For the rest, the camera boasts all the features that any camera in its range should offer: 5-axis image stabilizer, dual memory card slot, and the 24-megapixel resolution that cameras in this range usually characterize.
Finally, it should be noted that it offers the possibility of changing the grip, something that is undoubtedly very interesting to have a camera that fits perfectly in our hands.
The Pentax KP is available right now for around 1,400 EUR.
PENTAX K-3 MARK III
We leave this beast for last, which due to characteristics and price is not one of the most recommended to start with. The Pentax K-3 Mark III is a sealed, stainless steel chassis and magnesium alloy body, GPS, Wi-Fi and a shake reduction system.
ASTROTRACER function, ideal for astronomical photography, offers excellent image quality and advanced resolution technology that translates into magnificent definition.
Multiple exposure, HDR, Time Lapse, 4K videos, ISO up to ISO 51200 and double card slot are just some of its features. The price, the only drawback, is around 2,000 euros.
CHOOSE YOUR REFLEX CAMERA
There you have it, 11 of the best SLR cameras with which you can immerse yourself in this world, all of them are from brands that enjoy a very good reputation and some, in addition to their features, have the advantage of having a very affordable price.
If you find yourself a bit indecisive, watch out for the "analysis paralysis" syndrome.
Many users spend months and months deciding on a camera, and in the course of that time they forget that what they are really passionate about is not choosing a model among the best SLR cameras, but taking pictures.
