Many photographers still favour the best DSLRs over the newer, shinier mirrorless alternatives. For some, the combination of an optical viewfinder and a big chunky grip just can’t be beat, and whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photo-taking enthusiast, the best DSLRs still have plenty to offer. At AP, we review every DSLR that comes out — while that’s a rarer thing these days, we still see a new DSLR every so often, such as the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome, released in 2023.
All of the cameras on this list are here because they’ve impressed our team of experts in a full testing and review process. Some can be bought new, others will need to be picked up second-hand, but all of them are capable of producing brilliant images. With models from Canon, Nikon and Pentax here, make sure once you’ve chosen a camera that you pick from the , or , as appropriate.
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 i.