While mirrorless cameras have overtaken the market in recent years, there's still a lot to love about the traditional DSLR, from an optical viewfinder to unrivaled battery performance to ergonomics that have defined the shooting experience for generations of photographers. You can also generally find DSLRs for cheaper, especially if you look for used options on eBay or at retailers like Adorama, B&H Photo Video, KEH Camera, and MPB.
While it can be tempting to go right for a high-end model, it's important to get a handle on the basics when you're just starting out. It's also worth noting that while the camera body matters, lenses will make the biggest difference in your photography. The standard kit lenses that most beginner DSLRs are bundled with are fine to start with, but if you're serious about improving the quality of your images, you'll want to save some room in your budget for lenses once you find out which focal length suits your shooting style. That said, finding a new DSLR camera has become very difficult as most models have been discontinued. The lens mounts they're built on also aren't supported anymore, so you'll most likely need to rely on the second-hand market long term.
We've bought and tested over 125 cameras, and below, you'll find the best DSLR cameras we've tested for beginners. If you're curious about mirrorless options, take a look at our picks for the best cameras for photography, the best mirrorless cameras, and the best mirrorless cameras for beginners instead.
We've independently purchased over 125 cameras and tested them using a standardized methodology. All the results are available to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs, with objective, data-driven reviews. We keep every product in our lab inventory to ensure we can go back, retest models, and verify that all the information we provide is still accurate.
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Best DSLR Camera For Beginners
Travel Photography7.5Landscape Photography7.4Sport & Wildlife Photography6.9Raw Photo Performance7.6Vlogging5.9Studio Video3.5Action Video2.5Body Type:DSLRMirrorless:NoSee all our test resultsSensor Size:APS-CThe Nikon D5600 is the best DSLR camera for most beginners. It's a very competent little camera that should give beginners everything they need to get into the hobby. It's fairly well-built with a fully articulated screen. Its intuitive user interface and relatively simple controls are also quite accessible to newcomers. Although it has a slower max burst rate and a less advanced autofocus system than the Canon EOS 90D below, it can get the job done for most beginner photographers.
Beyond that, its high-resolution APS-C sensor can capture high-quality images, and the camera is compatible with both Nikon DX (APS-C) and FX (full-frame) lenses, making it easy to upgrade your kit as your skills grow. Just be aware that the D5600 has been discontinued, so you'll likely have to browse the used market to find one. Despite that, this is a great choice if you're looking for a mid-tier starter DSLR that won't cost you a fortune.
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Best Cheap DSLR Camera For Beginners
Travel Photography6.9Landscape Photography6.8Sports & Wildlife Photography6.0Vlogging2.1Studio Video4.0Action Video2.3Raw Photo6.9Body Type:DSLRMirrorless:NoSee all our test resultsSensor Size:APS-CThe Canon EOS Rebel T7/2000D is among the cheapest interchangeable-lens cameras you can still buy brand new. If you don't want to risk buying a used camera, the Rebel T7 offers a no-frills shooting experience for those on a tight budget. Ease of use and simplicity are the name of the game here, with pared-down controls that anybody can get a handle on. However, you won't find an articulated screen as you do on the Nikon D5600 above; its burst speeds are also even slower, and its sensor doesn't produce as much dynamic range.
This camera still has a high-resolution 24.1 MP sensor that captures great images. Plus, it's compatible with all the same EF/EF-S lenses as its siblings, so you can always improve your photography by investing in better lenses, which you'll be able to keep using if you switch to a more advanced model down the line. Ultimately, if you're looking for a cheap DSLR to get you started, it doesn't get more accessible than the T7.
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Best Full-Frame DSLR Camera For Beginners
Travel Photography7.2Landscape Photography7.3Sport & Wildlife Photography7.0Raw Photo Performance7.4Vlogging5.9Studio Video5.5Action Video3.4Body Type:DSLRMirrorless:NoSee all our test resultsSensor Size:Full FrameThe Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a great full-frame option if you want a bigger sensor without paying pro-level prices. It isn't quite as tank-like as its higher-end stablemate, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, but it's still very well-built. You get a weather-sealed body and plenty of physical controls, which makes adjusting settings on the fly easy once you know your way around. Its autofocus system is solid, even if it's not the best at tracking subjects, and the full-frame 26.2 MP sensor delivers great photos, with better low-light performance and dynamic range than the APS-C crop sensors used on the other models on this list.
Video is the biggest trade-off, since this camera can't record 4k at all. You also don't have a second SD card slot and a headphone jack, both of which matter more to working pros than to someone starting out. If you treat this as a photography camera first, it makes a lot of sense at the price.
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Best Video DSLR Camera For Beginners
Travel Photography7.5Landscape Photography7.3Sport & Wildlife Photography7.9Raw Photo Performance7.4Vlogging7.3Studio Video8.2Action Video4.1Body Type:DSLRMirrorless:NoSee all our test resultsSensor Size:APS-CEven if mirrorless cameras are better-suited for this use, the Canon EOS 90D is the better pick if video matters to you. Stepping down to a crop sensor costs you less image quality than you'd think, since its 32.5-megapixel APS-C sensor captures plenty of fine detail. Autofocus is very good, and it's actually newer than the Canon EOS 6D Mark II's, so you get face and eye detection for more precise focus. 4k recording is available here as well. Like most Canon DSLRs, the interface and controls are highly intuitive, which helps whether you're new to photography or coming from another camera.
The body is well-built and weather-sealed, and a top display keeps your settings visible at a glance. The battery life is excellent, too. The crop sensor also works in your favor for action and wildlife, since it gives your telephoto lenses extra reach. Low-light performance is where you fall behind the full-frame pick above. For the money, you still get a long list of high-end features.
Notable Mentions
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Nikon D850:
If you're looking for an even higher-end DSLR than the Canon EOS 6D Mark II, it doesn't get any better than the Nikon D850. This pro-level tank of a camera is built to withstand heavy use and features a fantastic 45-megapixel sensor. That said, this is a huge camera and overkill for most beginner photographers.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 18, 2026:
We overhauled this list because most of the models we previously listed are no longer available in stores. The Nikon D5600 moves up to our top pick, the Canon EOS 6D Mark II is our full-frame pick, and the Canon EOS 90D is our video pick. We removed the Canon EOS Rebel T8i/850D, the Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D, and the Nikon D3500 as they're no longer available.
Jan 06, 2025:
We verified that the article is up to date and reviewed the text for accuracy.
Oct 04, 2024: We adjusted the introduction slightly for clarity and reviewed the picks in the article for any inaccuracies.
Jul 08, 2024: We've reviewed the article and the picks to verify that the information is accurate and up to date.
May 10, 2024: We brushed up some of the text throughout the article to make sure it's easy to read and up to date.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best DSLR cameras to buy for beginners, according to their needs. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability (no cameras that are difficult to find or almost out of stock in the US).
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our reviews for interchangeable-lens DSLR cameras, arranged in order of ascending price. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There is no single perfect camera. Personal taste, preference, and shooting habits will matter more in your selection.