Last update:May 6, 2022
One of the questions that readers of this medium ask me the most is «What is or are the best SLR cameras?« either “Mario, what SLR camera do you recommend?”.
Normally the answer will depend on each case, as 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 that exist today.
That is why this guide in which I will present you the ones that for me are the best dslr cameras for beginners and hobbyists day by day.
Although they are all cameras for amateur photographers, you will see that some are extremely cheap while others have a somewhat higher price for being classified as semi-professionals.
That said, if you are a little hesitant, any of the 16 cameras that I include in this guide will be perfectly worth it.
If you have a loose 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 Economic options that I include in this list with which many amateur photographers are achieving incredible results.
And if you are looking for a camera to give as a gift, here are more gift ideas for photographers.
What are the 16 best SLR cameras in 2022?
INSIDE THIS ARTICLE… 📖
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 benefits 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. As you read this article, you should therefore ask yourself which of all the cameras that I mention is going to be yours, the one that is closest to what you are looking for in a SLR camera.
- Second: What do you want? What are you looking for? It is important to be clear about which benefits matter more to you than others. Are you interested in the camera having 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 much weight? Does it have to be, above all, economic? These questions will help you rule out cameras and keep the one that most closely matches the use you want to make of it.
- Third: Don’t be intimidated by terminology and technicalities. I recommend you leave this document open while you read, because in it I explain in a simplified way all the terms and specifications of cameras that can scare you 😉
The best DSLR cameras for amateur photographers
And I add the “for amateurs” because it could include more cameras, much more powerful, but a good camera for a hobbyist is a camera whose use has to be simple and straightforward, easy to learn, without complications.
You need a simple SLR camera that will make it easy for you to take impressive photos, and not a complex and heavy camera that will take away your desire 🙂
Also, it has to be a camera whose price is very affordable.
Where to buy your brand new DSLR camera?
I have tried almost all the well-known stores and my favorite, right now, is without a doubt Amazon.
For being the one that offers the best price while 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 which 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 EOS4000D
Definitely the most affordable SLR camera. With the 4000D, the folks at Canon have broken a record for an affordable DSLR, as well as being one of the best DSLRs a hobby photographer can own today.
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 mobile phones, 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 SLR photography world for the first time.
The camera, as I said at the beginning, is an excellent option for those who start in SLR photography with a rather tight budget.
Right now on Amazon you can find it for a price that is below 400 EUR on Amazon.
Nikon D3500
The D3500 is one of the most successful Nikon brand camera models, especially recommended for anyone who wants to take their first steps in SLR photography with a prestigious brand like this one.
What stands out from this camera is its sensor with 24 megapixels, 11 focus points, ISO sensitivity of up to 25,600, editing and retouching of photos and videos from the camera itself without the need to go to a computer, video recording in Full HD 1080p (with a interesting “slow motion” option), Wi-Fi connectivity to shoot from the smartphone and automatically transfer the 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 an included lens, and less than the quality of the Nikon D3500.
If you want to buy it, you have it on Amazon, for less than 600 EUR.
Canon EOS 90D
It is a camera aimed at an enthusiastic amateur photo user who enjoys photography and video alike.
It is especially aimed at fans of nature or sports photography, as it is a sealed and fast camera, designed for action.
Now, if you live the action in the first person, maybe it is better that you contemplate a GoPro camera or similar 😜).
Its main features are its robust and sealed body, its 32.5MP APS-C sensor, its 10fps, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, 4K recording and it has a folding touch screen.
Right now you can find it on Amazon for about 1,100 EUR approx.
Nikon D5600
If you want to go one step further as an amateur photographer, the Nikon D5600 may be a good candidate.
In addition to a lightweight body, a 24-megapixel sensor, it offers its owner an impressive 39 focus points that make fast focusing much easier, a 3-inch rotating touchscreen LCD screen to see you well while taking self-portraits or photos / videos with a partner or in family, an ISO that goes up to 25,600, ideal for photographing in low light conditions, shooting speed of up to 5 photos per second, and some other extra such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC connectivity, etc.
A more than ideal camera for the enthusiast photographer looking for a top-tier hobby SLR that will last a long time.
Depending on the objective you want to incorporate, you can buy the Nikon D5600 for a price between 900 euros and something.
Canon EOS2000D
On 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 the mobile or tablet and control the shot remotely, and a 3-inch screen (somewhat larger than that of 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 “off-roader” that, with its sealed body, withstands all conditions of dust, rain and humidity without flinching.
Its sensor offers 24 megapixels, which for an amateur DSLR is outrageous, along with an overwhelming ISO sensitivity of 102,400 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 EUR approx. 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 cameras that has revolutionized the market the most.
Because it is a mirrorless camera, the Sony A6000 is a camera that weighs infinitely less than traditional SLRs, 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 low weight for a camera with these features.
Obviously, this camera assumes full compatibility with a wide range of Sony brand lenses with this camera mount.
Although the Sony A6000 initially came out for a price of around 1,000 EUR, right now you can get it for around 800 EUR approx.lens 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 digital SLR cameras that I know of that combine very advanced features with a strikingly tiny SLR body (for a SLR camera).
In fact, I think the Canon 250D holds the title of the world’s lightest DSLR.
And believe me, when you really like photography and want to spend a lot of time with your SLR camera, you start to appreciate the fact that it weighs little 🙂
Despite its small weight and being a camera for the amateur user, the Canon 250D has some features that bring it closer to an almost “professional” intermediate range.
It has 24 megapixels, a folding screen, ideal for selfies or to photograph 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.
In case all this…