Digital SLR: How to buy the best digital SLR Best advanced digital SLRs
Digital SLRs help you indulge a passion for photography
Choosing an advanced consumer digital SLR
If your budget can stretch, there are many high-quality digital SLRs to consider.
Check our Which? reviews of the best digital SLRs, featuring DSLRs ranging in price from affordable entry-level models to more expensive top-of-the-range cameras.
Sensor sizes on advanced digital SLRs
Sometimes spending more on a digital SLR can mean buying a camera with a larger, high-quality image sensor. This can make the camera more sensitive in low light, producing impressive shots that are free from grainy image noise.
Top-of-the line professional DSLRs are known as 'full-frame' cameras, and these have the largest image sensors of all, allowing for superb detail and low image noise even at higher ISO settings.
A larger sensor also affects the zoom range of the lens you attach because it can slightly limit an effect called focal-length multiplication.
For example, attaching a 14-42mm lens kit can give you an overall zoom range of 28-84mm in the case of some cheaper digital SLRs. With a full-frame DSLR, you get exactly the focal length of the attached lens – a 14-42mm lens will have an overall zoom range of 14-42mm.
Superior functionality with advanced digital SLRs
Though an entry-level digital SLR has all the same manual settings as an advanced model – for example, aperture and shutter speed priority modes, adjustable white balance and exposure bracketing – more expensive models tend to give an extra degree of control.
Sometimes this can mean more dedicated buttons on the body of the camera itself, saving you from having to access the menu system to change camera settings.
Advanced digital SLRs tend to offer greater flexibility in changing the metering, exposure bracketing, ISO levels and other picture settings to achieve precisely the picture you have in mind.
Another key advantage of top-end digital SLRs is their performance speed. The Canon EOS 7D, for example, can capture up to eight shots per second at full resolution.
High-resolution digital SLRs
It’s common to see the price tag of a digital SLR hiked up considerably because of its high resolution, measured in megapixels (Mp). Keep in mind that high resolutions don’t in themselves guarantee great picture quality. In some cases, high resolutions can be problematic when photographing in very low light.
A digital SLR with a high resolution is useful if you frequently enlarge your photos when printing, or if you’re interested in digitally zooming and cropping images.
These days, most new cameras offer a resolution of at least 10Mp. This still offers plenty of scope for enlarging your prints or digitally cropping pictures, so don't feel obliged to pay for higher resolutions unless you'll really make use of them. It’s also worth remembering that high-resolution images take up much more space on a memory card, email or hard drive.
The 18Mp Canon EOS 7D sits at the top end of Canon's line of consumer cameras
Best advanced digital SLR brands
Most major camera manufacturers produce top-of-the-range consumer digital SLR cameras for enthusiastic amateur or semi-professional photographers.
Check our guide to the best camera brands for more information on specific camera manufacturers.
Canon advanced digital SLRs
Canon has a number of digital SLRs for advanced photographers to consider.
At the professional end of the scale you can find full-frame models such as the Canon EOS 5D, though digital SLRs in this price bracket are a considerable investment, costing around £2,000 for the body alone.
At the top of Canon's line of consumer DSLRs sits the Canon EOS 7D, an 18Mp camera with an HD movie mode.
Models such as the Canon EOS 40D and Canon EOS 50D represent the mid level of the consumer digital SLR market – the price tags are still quite considerable, but these are quality models that have performed well in our extensive testing.
Those on a smaller budget who are still looking for advanced DSLR functionality might want to consider the Canon EOS 550D, which also offers an 18Mp resolution as well as full-HD video recording.
Nikon advanced digital SLRs
Nikon also produces a range of more expensive digital SLRs for high-end consumer and semi-professional needs.
Cameras such as the Nikon D700 have advanced features, but come with a higher price tag to match. This full-frame DSLR has a huge professional-quality image sensor that really comes into its own with wide-angle photos.
If you're looking for a DSLR that can also record HD videos, the Nikon D300S is worth considering, though it's a pricier model than many of the entry-level DSLRs that now offer HD videos.
Models like Sony's Alpha 700 aren't cheap, but they help you take impressive pictures
Sony advanced digital SLRs
The Sony alpha 700 is an outstanding top-end digital SLR that's packed full of features and very fast in operation.
The alpha 700 is dwarfed in price by the full-frame Sony alpha 900, a serious piece of kit with a price tag to match.
Olympus advanced digital SLRs
Those on a generous budget may wish to consider the Olympus E-30, or the top-of-the-range Olympus E-3 camera. These advanced digital SLRs from Olympus have all the features to help keen amateur or semi-professional photographers get the best out of their digital photography.
Panasonic advanced digital SLRs
Panasonic hasn’t made much of an impact on the digital SLRs market to date, but it’s making waves with its new micro four-thirds standard.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 isn't a digital SLR exactly, as it lacks an internal mirror and optical viewfinder. But it's certainly a model for those on a more generous budget, and it allows for full-HD movie recording.
For more on the micro four-thirds camera class, see our online video report on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. We also have a full review of this camera’s predecessor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1.