Digital SLR: How to buy the best digital SLR Best cheap digital SLRs
An affordable digital SLR can help you to take great photos
Buying a cheap digital SLR
If you’re new to using a digital SLR and you’re looking for an entry-level model that won’t be too hard on your wallet, there’s a wide range of cameras from various manufacturers to choose from.
Even cheaper digital SLRs will have all the manual controls you'd expect – you can experiment with aperture and shutter speed priority modes as well as full manual control.
Automatic modes and various scene modes can help first-time digital SLR users get accustomed to using the camera before trying out more advanced controls.
Sensor sizes on digital SLRs
Cheaper digital SLRs tend to have slightly smaller image sensors than the most expensive models. This can have a small effect on image quality, particularly in challenging low-light conditions, though pictures taken with a budget digital SLR will still be far superior to what you can achieve with most compact cameras.
A smaller sensor also affects the zoom range of the lens you attach because of 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 digital SLRs. This effect is less pronounced with much more expensive DSLR models.
Further expenses with digital SLRs
Ultimately, the flexibility of a digital SLR means they can be as cheap or expensive as you want them to be. For example, you may wish to spend extra on accessories such as an additional flash or tripod to assist your photography.
If you’re content to stick to using the packaged lens kit sometimes available when you first buy your digital SLR, there's little need for further expense.
Most digital SLR users will want to upgrade to different lenses for various photography situations. A good-quality lens can improve the standard of your photos significantly, but always factor in such additional costs when considering a digital SLR.
Check our expert Which? advice on buying a digital SLR lens for more on picking the right lens for your camera.
Best cheap digital SLR brands
Digital SLRs are naturally a much more expensive alternative to compact digital cameras, but there’s a growing range of more affordable entry-level DSLRs to tempt photographers on a budget.
Entry-level DSLRs like the Canon EOS 1000D are affordable models to consider
Canon cheap digital SLRs
As well as its strong range of top-end digital SLRs, Canon has some cheaper cameras to consider such as the older Canon EOS 450D. This is to be replaced by the newer Canon EOS 550D, which has an HD movie mode as well as a significantly higher price tag.
If you're after an entry-level Canon digital SLR that also has an HD movie mode, the Canon EOS 500D is well worth considering.
If you're after something even cheaper, the entry-level Canon EOS 1000D is a superb compact digital SLR that fared very well in our expert testing.
Nikon cheap digital SLRs
There's a number of good-value Nikon digital SLRs that are worth considering. The Nikon D80 is an older model that can still be tracked down at a good price, while the newer Nikon D90 offers an HD video mode.
Two newer entry-level DSLRs from Nikon are the Nikon D3000 and the Nikon D5000. The Nikon D3000 is the cheaper of the two, though for a little extra money the D5000 offers a rotatable Live View lens and a higher resolution.
The Olympus E-620 is a cheap DSLR that performed well in our tests
Olympus cheap digital SLRs
Olympus has a range of entry-level digital SLRs such as the Olympus E520 and Olympus E620. Though these models are certainly a financial step up from a compact digital camera, they’re much cheaper than advanced digital SLRs.
Together with Panasonic, Olympus has developed the micro four-thirds camera system as a compact alternative to a DSLR.
Micro four-thirds cameras allow for interchangeable lenses, but have smaller, lighter bodies and lenses.
This style of camera has no internal mirror, and an electronic rather than optical viewfinder, but offers a high-quality option for those who don’t want a bulkier digital SLR.
The Olympus Pen E-P1 was the first micro four-thirds camera to be released by Olympus. The newer Olympus E-PL1 camera retains much of its predecessor's design, but with an added pop-up flash.
Panasonic cheap digital SLRs
Panasonic hasn't had much of a presence in the digital SLR market to date, though its few efforts have largely been successful.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10 is an outstanding entry-level digital SLR, but this older model is quite tricky to find these days.
Panasonic also offers the more compact micro four-thirds standard of cameras as an alternative system to a digital SLR.
The first micro four-thirds camera to be released by Panasonic was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1. Even smaller is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, which offers an HD movie mode.
The Sony alpha 230 is the most affordable of Sony's latest DSLRs
Sony cheap digital SLRs
Sony has a good reputation for producing some terrific top-end digital SLRs, but models such as the Sony alpha 350 offer a great entry-level option for budget digital SLR users.
Sony has also developed some appealing affordable DSLRs such as the Sony alpha 230 and the Sony alpha 330.
A little higher up the price spectrum, the Sony alpha 380 offers an increased resolution, but has much the same features as its cheaper sister models.
For the latest Which? Best Buys plus full reviews of more than 40 models, see the Which? reviews of digital SLRs
