For quite some time now, if you've wanted to get serious about your photography your best option is to have invested in a DSLR camera. These cameras are designed for users at all technical levels, and they have traditionally offered three main advantages over smartphones and compacts: a large sensor, plenty of manual control, and the option to change lenses to suit the scene and subject.
Today, mirrorless cameras are incredibly popular as they manage to offer the benefits described above but, usually, in an even more compact and lighter package. The reason for this is that they lack the mirror common to DSLRs (hence the name), and most replace the optical viewfinder with high-resolution, electronic alternatives too. They may use smaller and lighter lenses too, which further helps to reduce size and weight.
If you want to know more about how they compare, read this: Mirrorless vs DSLR: 10 key differences. Or, if you want to know more about different camera types in general, check out our step-by-step guide: What camera should I buy?
While mirrorless cameras are grabbing all the headlines at the moment, don't think DSLRs are dead and buried.
A DSLR is still the cheapest way to get a camera with interchangeable lenses and a viewfinder (you'll find most entry-level mirrorless cameras don't have viewfinders). At the other end of the scale, almost all professional sports, press and wildlife photographers choose full-frame DSLRs over every other camera type.
That said, there are some cracking mirrorless cameras out there at the moment that are taking the place of DSLRs in pro photographers' kit bags, including the Nikon Z7, Fujifilm X-T3, Panasonic Lumix G9 and Sony Alpha A7R III.
In between entry-level and full-frame DSLRs are a whole range of models aimed at different users, different levels of experience and different budgets. Here's our pick of the best DSLR cameras you can buy right now.
Before we get onto our top 10 picks of the best DSLRs you can buy right now, let's take a look at this great value option. Nikon's D7200 may be showing its age in a few places, but its still loaded with all the core features every enthusiast needs to take their imaging to the next level. The 24.2MP sensor produces great images, while the 6fps burst shooting option and excellent 51-point autofocus system make it easy to grab shots of moving subjects. On top of that you get Full HD video to 60p along with Wi-Fi and NFC.
Best DSLR cameras in 2019
If you're looking for the ultimate DSLR right now (or any camera for that matter), then the Nikon D850 is it. This full-frame monster of a camera might be on the pricey side, but for the cash you get a stunning camera that won't disappoint. The huge 45.4MP sensor delivers images with stunning detail and noise performance even at high ISOs, while the highly sophisticated 153-point AF system is borrowed from Nikon's flagship D5. Add in 7fps burst shooting and a host of advanced features, wrap it in a durable magnesium alloy body and you've got a camera that's pretty much at the top of its game for any subject you want to shoot. A brilliant piece of kit.
Like the sound of the D850, but want to go mirrorless? Well, while not strictly a mirrorless version of the D850, Nikon's newer Z7 mirrorless camera shares the same 45MP resolution as the D850, but features some clever tech of its own, including an all-new lens mount.
Watch our hands-on video below (Nikon D850 review):
Canon's EOS 5D series of cameras has a rich heritage – the original EOS 5D bought full-frame photography to the masses, the Mark II unleashed Full HD video capture for the first time on a DSLR, and while the Mark III became a firm favourite amongst photographers for doing everything it did so well. The EOS 5D Mark IV pretty much tweaks and improves on everything before it, with a newer 30.4MP sensor and advanced 61-point AF system along with 4K video recording. It's still a brilliant DSLR that was until recently our top pick, but the arrival of the D850 means it slips a place down to number two.
Nikon has taken its flagship D5 DSLR and most of its high-end features and distilled all of this into a smaller, but still very durable metal body. The full-frame sensor is replaced by an 20.9MP APS-C sized chip that allows the D500 to shoot at a rapid 10fps and deliver a great high ISO performance. A brilliant all-rounder with a high-performance 153-point AF system means it excels at fast action like sports and wildlife photography, but still has the chops to shoot landscapes and portraits. If the cost is a bit steep, then take a look at the D7500 below.
The D7500 is cheaper than the D500, and while it doesn't offer quite the same pro-spec performance and build quality, it packs the same excellent 20.9MP sensor inside an even more compact and affordable body. The new camera may not get the 153-point AF system from the D500, but the enhanced 51-point system in the D7500 still puts a lot of rival systems in the shade, while the 4K video capture, tilt-angle touchscreen display and 8fps burst shooting are some of the other highlights. If you're on a bit of a tighter budget, take a look at the 24.2MP D7200 - it may have been surpassed by the D7500, but it's still one of the best enthusiast DSLRs out there.
Watch our video review of the Nikon D7500 below
The EOS 80D is Canon's high-end enthusiast DSLR, and while it might be getting on a bit – it's one of the oldest DSLRs in the Canon line-up – it's still a great buy. It features a fast and effective 45-point autofocusing system, while the clever Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for Live View shooting delivers snappy focusing speeds. The camera's handling is excellent, promoting creative shooting as well as making setting adjustments quick and easy. It also has a high-quality 24.2MP sensor that is able to capture a good level of detail while keeping noise under control. A great enthusiast DSLR that packs a decent performance.
At the opposite end of the spectrum to some of the full-frame DSLRs here, the D3500 is super affordable, has one of the sharpest APS-C sensors out there, and a neat retracting kit lens (there are two versions, spend the extra $20/£20 and get it with VR, Nikon's image stabilization system). It's proof that you don't have to pay a fortune to get a great camera, and we say its value for money makes it just as impressive as much more advanced (and much more expensive) alternatives. It has a great 24MP sensor and although the controls are designed to be simple for novices, in the right hands the little D3500 is a match for cameras costing far more. If you're looking to get more creative with your photography, and looking for your first DSLR, the Nikon D3500 is hard to beat.
Costing a bit more than the Nikon D3400, but offering quite a bit more in the way of features, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i (known as the EOS 800D outside the US) is a great entry-level DSLR. The sensor impresses, as does the 45-point autofocus system backed up by excellent live view AF, while the graphical interface will certainly make this camera even more appealing to new users. The absence of 4K video and the quality of the exterior materials disappoint, but this aside, if you're looking for a well-rounded and easy to use camera for your first DSLR the EOS Rebel T7i / EOS 800D is certainly a very good bet.
Like the look of Nikon's D850 further up the top, but don't want to shell out quite that much? Then look no further than the 24MP full-frame D750. It doesn't have that magnificent 45MP sensor that the D850 does, but its 24MP alternative still delivers top-quality results – especially at high ISO settings. The D750 also features a very respectable 6.5fps continuous shooting speed, together with a handy tilting screen and a pretty attractive asking price. Wi-Fi allows you to get your shots online without any hassle too, although as an older model there's no 4K video nor a touchscreen.
Still one of the best options for sports and action photographers, the EOS 7D Mark II has performance and speed as its primary focus. To that end, it combines a 20.7MP APS-C sensor with Canon's excellent Dual Pixel CMOS AF system for smooth autofocus in live view and during video recording, together with a 10fps burst shooting mode and a 65-point AF system. It also boasts excellent ergonomics and a rugged, weather-resistant body, which makes it a fine choice for anyone who tends to shoot outside in variable conditions, whether it's for sports, wildlife, nature or landscapes.
It may not be the smallest or most affordable way into Canon's vast EOS DSLR ecosystem, and has recently been updated by the Rebel SL3, but we'd sooner choose the Rebel SL2 – also known as the EOS 200D – over the company's more junior and older offerings. Its strong feature set includes Canon's excellent Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, which delivers swift autofocus during videos and in live view, while the LCD screen flips out and responds to touch – and it's 2019, after all, so why settle for anything less? Despite its small size, handling is great too, making it a solid choice for those with small or larger hands alike. What's not to love? Other than the understandably plasticky body and lack of 4K video, not much at all.
Also consider...
It's been on the market for some time but we still have a soft spot for the D5300 – and the fact that it can still be bought brand new is testament to just how relevant it continues to be. It provides first-time DSLR users with a stronger set of specs than the average entry-level DSLR, with a 3.2in LCD that flips all the way out to face the front, together with a 39-point AF system, Full HD video recording to 60p and 5fps burst shooting. Of course, none of that would matter if the image quality wasn't up to scratch, but fortunately it is; the 24.1MP APS-C sensor has been designed without the optical low-pass filter to help as much detail to get into images as possible, and results at high ISO settings remain strong.
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