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10 Best DSLR Cameras in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

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Nikon D610 dslr body

If you love capturing memories and sceneries, having a DSLR camera in 2024 is a must. Although it isn’t as technologically advanced as a mirrorless camera, if you can forgo that, many impressive options available in the market can offer you great features.

A DSLR has a classic and chunky design that is loved by many. And if you want to experience the excellent results of a DSLR camera, you may need to try one immediately. You won’t find any latest models, but if you don’t mind the old yet top ones available, there is a variety of options for you. 

The online marketplace is crowded with hundreds of DSLR cameras available. Which one should you get? Whether you are a novice or a professional photographer, choosing the right camera is essential to get your desired outcome.

To help yourself out, read below for our reviews on the top ten DSLR cameras in 2024. Also, dig into the buying guide to know more.

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A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024 Update)

Image Product Details
Winner
Canon EOS Rebel T7 Canon EOS Rebel T7
  • Excellent image stabilization
  • Perfect for wide coverage
  • Great shooting speed
  • Second place
    Nikon D3500 DSLR Nikon D3500 DSLR
  • Good sensors
  • Various modes available
  • Responsive and fast camera
  • Third place
    Nikon D7500 DSLR Nikon D7500 DSLR
  • Comes with a variety of modes
  • LCD screen offers great help
  • Excellent ISO range
  • Canon EOS 90D DSLR Canon EOS 90D DSLR
  • Great bursting speed
  • Good battery life
  • Comes with many useful accessories
  • Nikon D780 DSLR Nikon D780 DSLR
  • Excellent full-frame DSLR
  • Image sensor takes excellent pictures
  • Touchscreen LCD shows great results
  • The 10 Best DSLR Cameras

    1. Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera – Best Overall

    Canon EOS Rebel T7

    Brand: Canon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Wide Angle
    Skill level: Professional

    If you are a professional or even a newbie with little know-how in photography, the Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera may work wonders for you. This product has many features that make it on top of our list. For instance, one of the unique features includes excellent image stabilization that ensures all your photos and videos come out great and are not blurry.

    The Optical Viewfinder is pretty excellent too. It ensures that you get 95% viewing coverage, allowing you to capture as much as possible. The quality level of JPEG is basic, but the built-in NFC and Wi-Fi technology make the whole photography experience quite high-tech and advanced.

    This best overall DSLR camera comes with a 24.1-megapixel CMOS sensor for high performance. It also has a competitive shooting speed that beginners can easily handle. This camera is affordable, but it weighs slightly more than most similar products.

    Pros
    • Ideal for both professionals and beginners
    • Excellent image stabilization
    • Perfect for wide coverage
    • Great shooting speed
    Cons
    • Basic JPEG

    2. Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera – Best Value

    Nikon D3500 DSLR

    Brand: Nikon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Close-up
    Skill level: Professional

    Nikon is one of the most popular brands making one of the finest DSLR cameras for years. The D3500 by Nikon is no less and offers excellent value for money. 

    This camera is an excellent point-and-shoot camera and is relatively easy to use. It has a comfortable and compact design that allows you to carry it with you on travels and events.

    We also love that this product has almost a 15 times larger sensor than most smartphones have these days. This feature makes this DSLR camera perfect for capturing sharp and clear images.

    The built-in flash and the four-image processor ensure excellent results as well. You can experiment with many shooting modes such as Landscape, Special Effect, and Night Portrait to capture an image according to your taste.

    This best DSLR camera for the money helps you capture 1080-pixel HD videos with a simple button that even the most novice photographers can smoothly operate. This fast and responsive camera doesn’t have a touch screen, but if you are learning photography for the first time, you might find that helpful.

    Pros
    • Excellent design with a compact structure
    • Good sensors
    • Various modes available
    • Responsive and fast camera
    Cons
    • Doesn’t have a touch screen

    3. Nikon D7500 DSLR Camera – Premium Choice

    Nikon D7500

    Brand: Nikon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Converter
    Skill level: Professional

    Do you have enough budget to purchase a good-quality DSLR camera? If you have been saving a lot of money for ages, you can easily enjoy the premium option by Nikon, D7500. This is a high-end camera and pretty expensive, but it features many excellent shooting modes to add versatility to the results.

    From Candlelight and Beach mode to Night Portrait and Pet Portrait, the different options elevate your photography performance and help you work on various projects. In addition, the camera comes with class-leading image quality and an excellent ISO range.

    It also features an LCD screen with superior touch functionality. In addition, there are 15 different types of sensors, and the camera has an excellent shooting capability, resulting in a clear and precise outcome.

    This camera is also great for capturing videos. The 4K ultra-HD camera accurately records your video and audio, and the built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi make the whole experience pretty smooth and advanced.

    Pros
    • Comes with a variety of modes
    • LCD screen offers great help
    • Excellent ISO range
    • Strong video recording capabilities
    Cons
    • Pricey option
    • May not suit most beginners

    4. Canon EOS 90D DSLR Camera

    Canon EOS 90D

    Brand: Canon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Zoom
    Skill level: Professional

    Whether you like capturing videos or stills, the Canon EOS 90D DSLR camera may tick all the right boxes for you. It is one of the first models that came out with a 32.5-megapixel APS-C sensor known to work best while cropping images and creating large prints.

    The camera also features an uncropped video recording capability and a high-performing processing engine. The burst shooting speed is also far more than most similar cameras.

    Most mirrorless cameras have short batteries, but this one has a 1,300-shot battery, ensuring you enjoy the product’s performance for a long time. If you like capturing a broad range of a certain product, this DSLR camera may strike your fancy.

    This DSLR camera is available in a bundle that includes various accessories, an SD memory card, a filter kit, a dust blower, and even a microfiber cloth. The only two downsides of this option are the absence of a sensor-based stabilization and poor JPEG noise reduction.

    Pros
    • Excellent sensor to capture video and stills
    • Great bursting speed
    • Comes with many useful accessories
    • Good battery life
    Cons
    • Poor noise reduction quality
    • No available sensor-based stabilization

    5. Nikon D780 DSLR Camera

    Nikon D780

    Brand: Nikon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Telephoto
    Skill level: Professional

    The Nikon D780 DSLR camera is an excellent combination of a mirrorless camera and a full-frame camera. Although this DSLR is a little pricey, it does have many outstanding features to compensate for the high price. It features a remarkable 24.5-megapixel illuminated image sensor that gathers light efficiently and takes detailed videos and photos.

    This DSLR also has a dual autofocus system that captures photos using the viewfinder you can see on the LCD’s touchscreen. The electronic shutter allows you to experience silent shooting at an incredible pace.

    You can connect this camera wirelessly through the SnapBridge app. Also, since the shutter speed of this camera is slow, you can capture long exposures without having a remote.

    Pros
    • Excellent full-frame DSLR
    • Image sensor takes excellent pictures
    • Touchscreen LCD shows great results
    • Excellent for long-exposure photography
    Cons
    • Expensive option

    6. Canon EOS 6D DSLR Camera

    Canon EOS 6D

    Brand: Canon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Wide
    Skill level: Amateur

    The next recommendation on our list is the Canon EOS 6D DSLR camera for beginners. If you are just venturing into the art of photography and video-making, you may need a camera that is easy to use but has all the critical features to make your experience extraordinary. In that case, the EOS 6D DSLR is a perfect choice.

    Although it is a comparatively heavy camera, its 26.2-megapixel full-frame sensor allows you to capture images effortlessly. It also has a compatible lens and an Optical viewfinder to accelerate and create beautiful outcomes every time.

    The DSLR camera has a full HD 60-pixel camera for video making and a phase detection feature for beginners. We also love the large LCD touch screen that allows you to see the results of your efforts. Excellent image stabilization ensures that all your pictures turn out crystal clear every time.

    This DSLR camera may not be one of the compact and stylish options on the list. However, if you want to learn the art of photography without getting overwhelmed, we can’t recommend this option enough.

    Pros
    • Ideal for beginners
    • Image stabilization results in great stills
    • Compatible lens
    • Big LCD touch screen
    Cons
    • Heavy camera
    • Doesn’t have a compact design

    7. Olympus Evolt E520 DSLR Camera

    Olympus Evolt E520

    Brand: Olympus
    Color: Black
    Lens: Interchangeable
    Skill level: Professional

    One of the best qualities of the Olympus Evolt E520 DSLR camera is its lightweight design. The camera is so easy to hold, making it convenient for you to capture pictures and videos for a long time.

    This recommendation also has a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor that captures every detail efficiently. The enhanced image stabilizer ensures that all images turn out crystal clear every time. We also love the face detection feature and the shadow adjustment quality that results in a perfect shot review.

    This DSLR camera is compatible with Microdrives and CompactFlash Type I and II. It also has many shooting modes, including, Underwater wide, Landscape, Fireworks, and Panorama. You can experiment with various modes and create images that add versatility to your album.

    The Olympus Evolt E520 camera is an efficient product with lots to offer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an LCD screen which might be necessary for many of you.

    Pros
    • Lightweight design
    • Excellent image stabilization quality
    • Comes with many unique modes
    • Affordable camera to start with
    Cons
    • Doesn’t feature an LCD screen

    8. Canon EOS-1D X Mark III  DSLR Camera

    Canon EOS-1D

    Brand: Canon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Zoom
    Skill level: Professional

    Is sports photography your cup of tea? The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III camera might be your best companion if you like covering sports enthusiasts and events. This recommendation features a high-quality 20.1-megapixel sensor and a low-pass filter, producing excellent results and generating great images and videos every time.

    The camera also has an excellent ISO range and uses a unique Deep Learning technology to detect faces and subjects’ heads. It also has a fast and accurate auto focus feature that captures a subject from various positions.

    Another excellent quality of this DSLR camera is its high-speed shooting that captures photos smoothly and professionally. Although this camera is a lot more expensive than all the recommendations on this list, we think if you want to invest in professional photography, there is no harm in saving up some money for this product.

    Pros
    • Ideal for sports photography
    • Good-quality sensors and low-pass filter for accuracy
    • Comes with an excellent ISO range
    • High-speed shooting to capture fast subjects
    Cons
    • Very expensive

    9. Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR Camera

    Pentax K-1

    Brand: Pentax
    Color: Black
    Lens: Zoom
    Skill level: Professional

    There is no doubt that Pentax makes one of the most solid DSLR cameras on the market. The Pentax K-1 Mark II is a robust product with unique weather-sealed construction and a practical sensor-shift stabilization feature. The body of this camera is made of magnesium alloy, ensuring its excellent durability and longevity.

    The K-1 Mark II camera features a hand-held shift resolution that allows you to combine four images into one with enhanced sharpness and color rendition. It also has an efficient engine accelerometer that reduces image noise and improves image sharpness with fast focus.

    Compared to other cameras, this one has low battery life. However, if you are a DSLR fan looking for a premium-quality and big camera with a traditional touch, we think this product has a powerful appeal.

    Pros
    • Robust and weather-resistant body
    • Offers excellent sharpness and color rendition
    • Traditional design for DSLR fans
    Cons
    • Short battery life

    10. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera

    Canon EOS 5D

    Brand: Canon
    Color: Black
    Lens: Wide Angle
    Skill level: Professional

    Our last recommendation is the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR camera with some mind-blowing specs for both professional and new photographers. This camera was released in 2016 and is still strong, courtesy of its impressive specs. The 30.4-megapixel full-frame sensor is ideal for versatile shooting options, and an excellent ISO range allows you to capture images in any light.

    You can use this camera to record a 4K JPEG video and attain results according to your desire. The camera offers multiple options for video, giving you the authority to choose the quality yourself.

    This camera has an LCD monitor with a touch screen, but it doesn’t move. Instead, it stays in one place, limiting its usage. This camera has a fast shooting speed and a high-performing image processor for enhanced image quality.

    You can use this camera to use modes such as automatic and landscape and add a new angle to your photography skills.

    Pros
    • Strong specs to use
    • Excellent ISO range
    • Multiple video quality options
    • High-performing image processor
    • Comes with many modes
    Cons
    • Touch screen doesn’t move

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    Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best DSLR Cameras

    If you have wanted to invest in a DSLR camera for a long time, this is the right time to buy one. We have shared many recommendations below, but you may feel overwhelmed if you haven’t purchased a camera before. Fret not, as this buyer’s guide will help you make the correct decision quickly. 

    close up Canon DSLR with 85mm prime lens
    Image Credit: ShareGrid, Unsplash

    What Is a DSLR Camera?

    As the most popular cameras available, DSLR cameras are versatile and take professional images, producing high quality. DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex and mostly comes with a digital sensor to record all the photos.

    There are many reasons why people opt for a DSLR camera instead of other options. A DSLR often has a robust construction and features that allow you to capture videos and images according to your preference.

    DSLRs have big sizes with many buttons. This makes them quite convenient to use. Also, you can easily get both entry-level and professional cameras in the market, meaning the variety available can capture the needs of many.

    How Does a DSLR Work?

    Two things are present in a DSLR camera: its body and lens. You can interchange them according to your skill levels. For instance, most professionals own more than one lens and carry a variety of cameras as well.

    When it comes to explaining the works of a DSLR, there is no rocket science involved. Whenever the light hits your camera’s lens, it travels through the lens mount towards its body and then the primary mirror.

    After that, the mirror reflects the light to the viewfinder and the viewer’s eye, allowing you to see your subject clearly. All DSLR cameras have an autofocus feature, a unique trait in these cameras.

    All DSLR cameras have a proper shutter mechanism that helps expose the image correctly. Using a DSLR camera isn’t a difficult task as long as you know its functions and are aware of the basics of photography.

    canon dslr with zoom lens
    Image Credit: Maxime Doré, Unsplash

    Choosing the Best DSLR Camera

    Here are some imperative factors to consider when selecting the perfect DSLR camera.

    Brand

    Most amazing DSLR cameras are either manufactured by Canon or Nikon. Both these brands offer excellent quality and features in their products that people often feel confused when selecting one.

    While many non-branded cameras are available as well, they lack the durability and specs that these two brands offer. Also, both Canon and Nikon have excellent customer service and are known to generate a fantastic range of products each year.

    Durability

    When selecting the best DSLR for your use, it is essential that you consider its body’s structure and material. There is no point in investing in a camera that is lightweight but simultaneously lacks a robust construction. If you are into adventure or frequent traveling, getting a camera that can stay as long as you want and withstand all external factors is essential.

    Features

    You will come across both high-end and low-end DSLR cameras. Some have many features, making them perfect for professionals, while there are many with basic components and only ideal for novice photographers.

    Depending on your skill level, choose a camera that meets your requirements. Specific cameras have an excellent ISO range, various shooting modes, and great lenses to work with. Then many cameras offer a large LCD screen and a flexible casing for better results.

    Low-priced DSLR cameras often lack specific settings and modes. If you are a beginner, you might want to start your journey with a simple DSLR and then slowly jump to a high-end one for a more advanced experience.

    canon DSLR
    Image Credit: wilsan u, Unsplash

    Other Accessories

    Specific DSLR cameras only come with a body, and you may have to buy accessories such as their lens and case yourself. On the other hand, some options come in a bundle, meaning you get all the basic accessories with the camera at a specific price.

    In that case, evaluate your options before digging into a product. Sometimes buying things in a bundle often costs less than purchasing every part separately.

    Expert Recommendations

    Don’t forget to go through expert recommendations before selecting a DSLR camera. Also, read through customer feedback and experiences to grab the best deal.

    landscape photography using dslr
    Image Credit: Ben Griffiths, Unsplash

    How to Keep Your DSLR Safe

    It is hard to believe that you would buy a DSLR camera after every month. For some people, it is a luxury item, so it is essential to look after it. Here are some tips to follow to keep your DSLR safe.

    • Always invest in a camera bag. Make sure that it is durable and waterproof so that your DSLR stays safe at all times.
    • When storing your camera, remove the lens and other parts to avoid any interaction between them. Keep the lens in a separate pocket so it stays scratch-free.
    • Keep your camera bag in an area with room temperature. Intense heat can damage the battery and may also impact its structure.
    • Use a microfiber cloth to clean the camera and its lens frequently. Ensure to store the camera in a dust-free place to prevent any accumulation.
    • Finally, replace the camera strap as soon as you realize it’s in terrible condition. A strap holds the camera when you are out and about, and a little delay increases the chance of the camera falling.

    hummingbird divider Conclusion

    It is always wise to chase your dreams, and if photography is your life goal, we recommend you invest in a high-quality DSLR camera. Whether an experienced photographer or a beginner, many types of cameras at various price ranges are available in the market. Some offer extensive and advanced features, while others consist of basic ones that allow you to learn the skill quickly.

    We love all the recommendations above, but specific options are our top favorite. On number one is the Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera for its enhanced features, durable structure, and responsive performance.

    Our second favorite DSLR camera is the D780 by Nikon. This is a little expensive but has some great reviews and is ideal for long exposure photography.

    Choose a camera you would use for a long time, depending on your skill level, budget, and specifications. Please dig into our recommendations again to choose your final pick. 


    Featured Image Credit: Aung Khant Maung, Unsplash

    About the Author Jeff Weishaupt

    Jeff is a tech professional by day, writer, and amateur photographer by night. He's had the privilege of leading software teams for startups to the Fortune 100 over the past two decades. He currently works in the data privacy space. Jeff's amateur photography interests started in 2008 when he got his first DSLR camera, the Canon Rebel. Since then, he's taken tens of thousands of photos. His favorite handheld camera these days is his Google Pixel 6 XL. He loves taking photos of nature and his kids. In 2016, he bought his first drone, the Mavic Pro. Taking photos from the air is an amazing perspective, and he loves to take his drone while traveling.