digital slr camera 3 inch tft lcd pricelist

New DSLRs are a rarity these days, with the camera giants now focusing almost entirely on mirrorless models. But there is one company that remains a fan of the old-school camera format: Pentax.

The classic camera brand, owned by Ricoh Imaging, recently announced the Pentax KF DSLR, which is a mildly updated version of its Pentax K-70 from 2016. As an update it is very mild indeed , with the new features including a new LCD screen and some new film simulations.

But it is the first "new" DSLR we"ve seen in a while and comes with a solid set of features, including a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, weather-sealed body and in-body image stabilization. It"s just a shame those things are joined by dated features like a single USB card slot and a (gasp) microUSB port.

Still, if you"re a fan of the DSLR format and are looking to buy new rather than second-hand, the Pentax KF is one of the last remaining options, with Canon and Nikon both winding down production of their main DSLR models.

The best DSLR cameras are still a great investment for photographers in 2022. While the best mirrorless cameras are at the cutting-edge of photographic tech, top DSLRs still benefit from big sensors, solid battery lives and best-in-class handling. These features make them fantastic tools for beginners and professionals alike – and they remain the cheapest way to get a camera with a built-in viewfinder.

We’ve reviewed pretty much every DSLR available today and ranked our recommendations in the list below. What"s the best DSLR you can buy right now? The Nikon D3500 sits at the top of our list. We think it"s the best DSLRs for beginners on a budget, with an excellent 24MP sensor and a straightforward interface that’s easy to experiment with.

That said, if you’re happy to spend more on a powerful DSLR for both stills and video, we think the Canon EOS 90D is one of the most versatile options around. So too is the Nikon D780, a truly modern full-frame hybrid DSLR and perhaps the last of its kind.

Whatever your budget and skill level, you’ll find a fitting option among the best DSLR cameras below. Our guide includes some of the best options for beginners and novice photographers. It also features useful tips to consider when shopping online, as well as direct links to the best deals available right now.

While experienced photographers should look further down this list for their DSLR match, the Nikon D3500 is the ideal choice for beginners who are looking to sharpen their photographic skills. Despite its age, the D3500 still has one of the finest APS-C sensors out there, and also comes with a neat retracting kit lens. Talking of this lens, it"s worth spending the extra $20/£20 and to get the "VR" version (Vibration Reduction), as this is Nikon"s image stabilization system.

In our tests, we were impressed by the Nikon D3500"s battery life and its ease of handling. Most importantly, the results delivered by the camera"s excellent sensor were top-notch.

If you’re buying your first DSLR camera on a tight budget, a simpler, slightly older model is the way to go. Canon’s entry-level EOS Rebel T7 (known as the 2000D outside the US) fits that bill: the specs won’t blow anyone away, but we found it easy to use, it gets the basics right and, because it’s a few years old, offers fantastic value.

There are several compromises, of course. Burst shooting is limited to a lazy 3fps and the dated autofocus system features just nine points. Live View focusing is sluggish and you’ll need to look elsewhere if you want a touchscreen. And, as you’d expect, the plasticky shell does not feel premium.

The EOS 90D is quite the step forward for the EOS DSLR line. It"s the first model of its kind to sport a 32.5MP APS-C sensor, which is a generous amount of resolution for both cropping and making large prints. Unlike the earlier 80D, it also has uncropped 4K video recording, while a new processing engine and faster burst shooting are also highlights. The 1300-shot battery provides far more juice than you"ll get from the average mirrorless camera, while protection against dust and water is also a bonus.

The D780 is effectively 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 our top pick for anyone who wants to combine the benefits of mirrorless tech and DSLRs.

Building on the solid foundation of the D750, which will remain on sale (see no.8), the D780 has the same 273-point on-chip phase-detection autofocus system as the Z6. However, it also brings an impressive 2,260-shot battery life, if you prefer to shoot through its optical viewfinder.

We discovered in our review that image quality is among the best around, while its 4K video skills are boosted by the inclusion of modern features like Face and Eye detection. As a relatively new DSLR, it"s still quite pricey, but if that isn"t an issue for you, then it"s one of the best full-frame all-rounders you can buy.

Nikon has also furnished it with the same 180k-pixel RGB metering sensor and the tilting screen on the back is just as large at 3.2 inches in size, although not quite as detailed, and it"s all wrapped up inside a weather-sealed body. In our tests, we were impressed by a number of things, including battery life, image quality and handling. It"s a great all-rounder for those with a healthy amount of budget.

Canon"s best budget DSLR, the Rebel SL3 – also known as the EOS 250D outside the US – mixes a strong feature set with great handling, despite its small size. The Nikon D3500 (see no.1) is even smaller still, but lacks this camera"s flip-out LCD screen, which is particularly handy if you want to shoot video.

The Rebel SL3 also adds 4K shooting to its now discontinued predecessor, although this is cropped and rolling shutter is often noticeable. Still, as we discovered in our in-depth test, it does offer pleasing JPEGs, a superb 1,070-shot battery life and compatibility with a huge range of EF lenses and other accessories that most mirrorless cameras lack. If those features are top of your camera wishlist, then this beginner-friendly DSLR remains a compelling choice.

Although it"s a full-frame DSLR, the entry-level EOS 6D Mark II is impressively user-friendly. While the chassis can feel rather plasticky, the 26MP sensor housed within is stellar, and offers Canon"s trusty Dual Pixel CMOS AF system when using live view mode.

Canon"s EOS 5D series of cameras has a rich heritage – the original EOS 5D brought full-frame photography to the masses, the Mark II unleashed Full HD video capture for the first time on a DSLR, and the Mark III became a firm favorite among photographers for doing everything it did so well.

The EOS 5D Mark IV pretty much tweaks and improves on everything before it, with a 30.4MP sensor and advanced 61-point AF system along with 4K video recording, all of which we found to perform well in our tests. And with a 5D Mark V successor looking increasingly unlikely, it will continue to be one of the most compelling DSLRs at this price point.

The Canon EOS Rebel T8i (know as the EOS 850D outside the US) is the successor to one of our favorite DSLRs for beginners. And while it"s not a radical leap forward from the Rebel T7i / EOS 800D, a camera that"s now difficult to find, it does offer a near-identical shooting experience that"s built around Canon"s excellent Dual Pixel phase-detection AF system, which we found to be a good performer in our review.

If we"re talking about the best DSLRs, then it"s hard to walk past Canon"s latest and greatest – the EOS 1D X Mark III. Designed specifically for the pros who need speed, performance and quality together in one neat package, the 1D X Mark III pretty much covers all it all. It can easily handle any situation you want, whether in the sports arena, shooting wildlife or for a photojournalist in a war zone.

Launched in 2018, the well-equipped Nikon D5600 remains an appealing mid-range package for both beginners and more experienced users. It might lack a stand-out skill, but its combination of a 24.2MP sensor, an articulating touchscreen, a decent 39-point AF system and neat proportions mean it’s still well worth a look.

It"s hard to think of another DSLR that wows like the D850 does, even after several years on the market. It"s on the pricey side for sure, but this is justified by the things we discovered in our tests, including excellent image quality, bags of features and a rugged, weather-resistant magnesium alloy body. The 45MP sensor is still one of the highest in terms of resolution in any DSLR, while the 7fps burst mode is unusually high for a camera with such a sensor.

Add to that a cracking AF system, wonderful handling and great 4K video, and its versatility should be easy to appreciate. 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.

The more recent Canon EOS 90D (see no.2 above) is undoubtedly the better and more modern DSLR. But if you"re looking for a mid-range option on a budget then it"s EOS 80D predecessor is worth keeping an eye out for. This 2016 model is tricky to find new now, but if you find a restored or second-hand model, you"ll be rewarded with the impressive quality from the 24.2MP sensor we discovered in our tests, which is ably backed up by a 45-point autofocus system.

It might be over four years old, but Canon’s entry-level Rebel T7i (or EOS 800D outside the US) is still a very solid option for beginners. Some of its specs look a little dated next to the latest mirrorless options, such as 6fps burst shooting and video that maxes out at 1080p, but the Rebel T7i nevertheless offers plenty for photographers who are keen to get to grips with the heft and handling of a DSLR.

With the Nikon D780 still available to buy new, should full-frame fans still consider the D750? The answer is yes, because the D780 wasn"t a replacement for this camera, but more a pricier alternative for those who want the latest mirrorless tricks in DSLR form.

If you"re looking for a good value full-frame DSLR that"s almost half the price, then this 24MP model remains a great option to look for on the second-hand market. In our tests, we found that the sensor still produces top-quality results, particularly at high ISO settings, and you also get a very decent 6.5fps continuous shooting speed, together with a handy tilting screen.

A DSLR remains the cheapest way to get a camera with interchangeable lenses and a viewfinder (you’ll find many entry-level mirrorless cameras don’t have viewfinders). But what else should you consider when choosing one?

The size difference is often also related to sensor size. More affordable DSLRs tend to have APS-C size sensors, while pro-friendly ones like the Nikon D850 are full-frame cameras. You can see a diagram showing the difference below.

Not sure how to decide between a beginner DSLR and a mid-range model? Paying a bit more for the latter will usually get you increased shooting flexibility, which could see you keep the camera for longer and save you money in the long run. The extra features you tend to get are improved continuous shooting speeds (handy for shooting sport or wildlife), superior high ISO performance (useful in lower light), and sometimes an extra memory card slot.

If you’re just looking to step up from your smartphone or point-and-shoot camera, though, then an entry-level DSLR will give you the image quality boost and manual controls you need to grow into your new hobby. Finally, a quick word of advice if you don’t have any lenses – buy your new DSLR with a kit lens, as it’s cheaper to do this than buy them separately.What is a DSLR camera exactly?Like most modern cameras, a DSLR allows you to record still images to a memory card. What makes a DSLR camera different is the way that it directs light to the sensor inside. DSLR stands for digital single-lens reflex camera. Breaking that down, the ‘digital’ refers to the sensor. This can be anything from a standard APS-C sensor, all the way through full-frame to the much larger medium format.

‘Single-lens’ is fairly self-explanatory: it means that DSLR cameras use one and the same lens to frame, focus and shoot photographs. Almost all cameras do this nowadays, but the terminology is a hangover from the days when retro rangefinder and twin-lens-reflex models used multiple lenses to achieve the different functions.

‘Reflex’ refers to perhaps the most important component of a DSLR camera. It means that a mirror inside the body directs the light which comes down the lens. When you’re framing a shot, this light is sent to the optical viewfinder, giving you a true analogue impression of the scene. But when you press the shutter button to start an exposure, this mirror will flip up. In an analogue SLR camera, this would expose the film inside. In a DSLR, it allows the digital sensor to capture the available light.

Besides the optical viewfinder, another benefit of this reflective system is that DSLR cameras have to be larger than their mirrorless equivalents. This might sound like a downside, but it means DSLR cameras can benefit from famously good ergonomics. DSLR cameras also support interchangeable lenses, so you can switch to more suitable glass when you need to shoot a different scene – from a prime lens to a zoom lens, for example. And because the format has been around for so long, you should have no trouble finding compatible lenses and accessories.

Buying a camera these days is a big investment, so every camera in this guide has been tested extensively by us. These days, real-world tests are the most revealing way to understand a camera"s performance and character, so we focus heavily on those, along with standardized tests for factors like ISO performance.

To start with, we look at the camera"s design, handling and controls to get a sense of what kind of photographer it"s aimed at and who would most enjoy shooting with it. When we take it out on a shoot, we"ll use it both handheld and on a tripod to get a sense of where its strengths lie, and test its startup speed.

In various lighting conditions, we also test the camera"s different autofocus modes (including Face and Eye AF) in single point, area and continuous modes. We also shoot a range of photos of different styles (portrait, landscape, low light, macro/close-up) in raw and JPEG to get a sense of metering and its sensor"s ability to handle noise and resolve fine detail.

If the camera"s raw files are supported by Adobe Camera Raw, we"ll also process some test images to see how we can push areas like shadow recovery. And we"ll also test its ISO performance across the whole range to get a sense of the levels we"d be happy to push the camera to.

Battery life is tested in a real-world fashion, as we use the camera over the course of the day with the screen set to the default settings. Once the battery has reached zero, we"ll then count the number of shots to see how it compares to the camera"s CIPA rating. Finally, we test the camera"s video skills by shooting some test footage at different frame-rates and resolutions, along with its companion app.

We then take everything we"ve learned about the camera and factor in its price to get a sense of the value-for-money it offers, before reaching our final verdict.The 10 best DSLRs today