Picking one of the best budget DSLRs is an ideal way to get into photography without spending a fortune. As the cost of living crisis exacerbates, everyone is feeling the pinch, but it’s important to remember that we can still enjoy our hobbies. It just pays to be smart about it, and make savings where you can.
DSLRs are a fantastic starting point for a budget-conscious photographer. Digital single-lens reflex cameras (to give them their full name) aren’t as fashionable nowadays as the best mirrorless cameras, which are increasingly where the main technological advancements are being made.
However, DSLRs are based on a tried-and-tested design that has been refined over several decades. With mechanical shutters and optical viewfinders, they provide an immediate and immersive shooting experience, and they often come with excellent weather sealing.
Also, the fact that DSLRs have been around for so long, and are in many cases descended directly from even older analog film cameras, means that the range of compatible bayonet-mount lenses they offer is frankly enormous. Systems like Canon EF and Nikon F – which you’ll see a lot of on this list – have huge catalogs of compatible lenses, not to mention tons of accessories like tripods, ball heads, and filters. Plus, with manufacturers’ focus on mirrorless systems, the lenses are only likely to get cheaper as time goes on. DSLRs aren’t just affordable up front – they are a smart budget choice for thinking long-term.
You don’t get the super-fast autofocus systems of mirrorless cameras, nor the dizzying, high-resolution video specs. However, if you don’t need to be on the cutting-edge of imaging tech – and most people don’t – DSLRs are a superb camera choice. Here are the best budget models you can buy…
Best for beginners
This is Canon’s most entry-level DSLR, designed to be a solid starting point for anyone’s journey into photography. As such, it is extremely basically kitted out – with just 3fps burst mode and a simple 9-point autofocus system. Read more below
Best for most people
If you are looking for the most modern features in a DSLR, then the Pentax KF is most likely your only option, with no other brand actively developing new DSLRs. Read more below
Best for video
The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (sold as the EOS 250D in Europe) may not be the firm’s cheapest DSLR, but if you’re willing to pay the extra bucks, you do get quite a bit more for your money. Read more below
Best for enthusiasts
If you want to use a proper camera over your smartphone the Nikon D5600 is the perfect camera for photography enthusiasts with 24MP stills and 1080p Full HD video capabilities. Read more below
Best weather sealed
If your looking for a great budget DSLR that also the best weather sealing to take on the most extreme weather condition, look no further. Read more below
Jon spent years at IPC Media writing features, news, reviews and other photography content for publications such as Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera in both print and digital form. With his additional experience for outlets like Photomonitor, this makes Jon one of our go-to specialists when it comes to all aspects of photography, from cameras and action cameras to lenses and memory cards, flash diffusers and triggers, batteries and memory cards, selfie sticks and gimbals, and more besides.
An NCTJ-qualified journalist, he has also contributed to Shortlist, The Skinny, ThreeWeeks Edinburgh, The Guardian, Trusted Reviews, CreativeBloq, and probably quite a few others we’ve forgotten.
The best budget DSLRs in 2024
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This is Canon’s most entry-level DSLR, designed to be a solid starting point for anyone’s journey into photography. As such, it is extremely basically kitted out – with just 3fps burst mode and a simple 9-point autofocus system, it’s not going to win any awards for speed.
The fundamentals, however, are solid – it’s got a 24.2MP APS-C sensor that produces images of decent quality for the price. In our review, we found that the EOS Rebel T7 (sold as the EOS 2000D in Europe) outperformed its entry-level rivals in image quality lab tests.
The EF-S lens mount means you have a huge catalog of lenses to play with. This will be useful, as the kit lens bundled with the camera is not much to write home about. Fundamentally though, this budget DSLR does everything required to justify its price, and any starting photographer will find it a solid platform to learn on.
A similar Canon EOS Rebel T100 / EOS 4000D model is also available but has a lower resolution 18MP sensor, and a smaller 2.7in screen.
If you are looking for the most modern features in a DSLR, then the Pentax KF is most likely your only option, with no other brand actively developing new DSLRs. Pentax fans will notice a long list of similarities between the older Pentax K-70 and this new Pentax KF, although the new camera brings a higher-res LCD screen and a slightly lower weight.
Aimed at enthusiast photographers, the Pentax KF hits all the basics of photography very well, and for a very reasonable price. Combining a Hybrid AF, with 4.5 stops of image stabilization, a built-in flash, bulb mode, and an articulating screen, this is a very versatile photographer's camera.
Built with Pentax's renowned reliability, the Pentax KF is rugged weather sealed with water and dust proofing and provides dependable cold-proof performance down to as low as 14°F (-10°C).
The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (sold as the EOS 250D in Europe) may not be the firm’s cheapest DSLR, but if you’re willing to pay the extra bucks, you do get quite a bit more for your money. Unlike the EOS 2000D, the EOS 250D sports a vari-angle touchscreen, an autofocus system that uses Canon’s Dual Pixel sensor technology, and the ability to shoot 4K UHD video. This is all quite a jump – and it comes in one of the smallest, lightest DSLRs on the market. Not bad!
The EOS 250D also costs a little more, generally speaking, than the Nikon D3500, and it’s more or less a matter of preference as to which one you go for. The clincher may be whether 4K is a deal-breaker for you – if you aren’t bothered about video, the cheaper camera may be the better bet. Otherwise, this is a superb choice.
Screen: 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.037 million dots
Viewfinder: Optical pentamirror, 95% coverage
Max burst speed: 5fps
Max video resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 at 60/50/30/25/24p
User level: Intermediate to enthusiast
Reasons to buy
+
Impressive Live View AF
+
Vibrant, detailed images
Reasons to avoid
-
No 4K video
-
Discontinued
While this camera has joined the Nikon D3500 in being consigned to the discontinued graveyard, it’s still widely available and makes for a great intermediate choice if you’ve got a slightly higher budget. The autofocus system is streets ahead of other cameras on this list, with 39 points, including 9 of the more accurate cross-type points, and it performs surprisingly well in Live View, which is great for video (no 4K though, sadly).
As noted in our review, we particularly love the design of the D5600, which blends the lightness of mirrorless with a DSLR’s graspability. An enthusiast DSLR without the bulk commonly associated with the term, this is a solid intermediate choice.
While Canon and Nikon may be the biggest names in DSLRs, don’t count out Pentax just yet. The brand’s revival by Ricoh has seen a run of quietly competent DSLRs, garnering a reputation for comprehensive weather-sealing that has made them popular among outdoor photographers, and they tend to be cheaper than equivalent cameras from the Big Two. The Pentax K-70 is a great choice for budget users who like to take their cameras out in rough conditions.
Something to be aware of is that the range of contemporary lenses is much slimmer than you’d get for EF or F mounts. K-mount may be old, but not many lenses are being made for it nowadays. The AF system also lags behind the advanced systems employed in Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
Jon spent years at IPC Media writing features, news, reviews and other photography content for publications such as Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera in both print and digital form. With his additional experience for outlets like Photomonitor, this makes Jon one of our go-to specialists when it comes to all aspects of photography, from cameras and action cameras to lenses and memory cards, flash diffusers and triggers, batteries and memory cards, selfie sticks and gimbals, and much more besides.
An NCTJ-qualified journalist, he has also contributed to Shortlist, The Skinny, ThreeWeeks Edinburgh, The Guardian, Trusted Reviews, CreativeBLOQ, and probably quite a few others I’ve forgotten.
