Best entry-level digital SLR cameras of 2015

It's time for you to get a D-SLR. You may have outgrown your compact point-and-shoot, or perhaps your current interchangeable lens camera is just plain old. Regardless of your motivation, deciding on a new D-SLR can seem like a research project of its own—but it doesn't have to be that difficult. If you don't have any lenses or accessories for a system, you have the ability to start fresh. And if you do have lenses laying about—even from your old 35mm SLR—there's a chance that they'll work just fine on a new digital body.
Here's the good news—if you have a 35mm Canon EOS autofocus D-SLR, a 1980s or

newer Nikon, a Minolta Maxxum camera, or any sort of Pentax K-mount camera, your

existing lenses will work on a modern digital SLR—with a few exceptions for oddball

lens designs here and there, and the occasional limitation. If you're wondering why

there are no Minolta cameras on the list, fear not—Sony bought its camera division a

few years back, and the Alpha mount has survived. Nikon users with manual focus

lenses need to take a bit of care and research to make sure that a particular lens will

fit on new cameras, but any autofocus Nikkor will work, although only AF-S lenses will

autofocus on the entry-level bodies.


Now, if you don't have legacy equipment laying around, your choices are broad. Nikon

and Canon lead the pack in popularity, along with the sheer number of lenses and

other accessories. Sony only offers consumer D-SLR models with electronic

viewfinders, which may be a dealbreaker for traditionalists who will accept nothing

less than an optical finder. The current Pentax lens lineup is pretty light on the zoom

lens selection—although what they do offer is pretty good—but is rife with options for

compact prime lenses. For more information on what to look for when deciding on a

D-SLR, be sure to check out our buying guide, and then feel free to peruse the

cameras which have rated highest in our tests. This roundup is heavy on entry-level

and midrange models—but we've also reviewed the full spate of pro-level full-frame

cameras. If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line camera, take a look at our list of

the best full-frame D-SLRs, and we've also put a list of our favorite mirrorless cameras

together if you're after the SLR-like image quality, but want a smaller camera.




FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP

APS-C Sensor Size (Less Than $1,000)

Nikon D5300 

$799.95, body onlyat Amazon
The Nikon D5300 D-SLR is a modest upgrade from the previous model, but it's just as worthy, making it our Editors' Choice for entry-level D-SLRs.

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 
$649.99, body onlyat BUYDIG.com
Canon's high-performing EOS Rebel SL1 is the tiniest digital SLR you can put your hands on, but it may be too small for some hands.

Nikon D3300 
$649.95 with 18-55mm lens$496.95
at Dell
The Nikon D3300 is a solid entry-level camera for shooters moving up to a D-SLR, but it's not quite worthy of being named Editors' Choice. Read the full review ››

Pentax K-50 

$699.95 direct, body only $294.95
at Amazon
The Pentax K-50 is a fully weather-sealed D-SLR camera with an big optical viewfinder and fast burst shooting capability. It's available to order in any of 120 color combinations, but its video functionality is behind the times.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II 

$1,799, body onlyat Dell
The Canon EOS 7D Mark II shoots at 10fps, offers pro-level video recording, and is built like a tank. It's our Editors' Choice for high-end APS-C D-SLRs.

Nikon D7100 

$1,199.95 direct, body only$796.95
at Dell
If you're in the market for a serious D-SLR, but don't want to go full-frame, the Nikon D7100 is the way to go; it's our Editors' Choice camera in its category.

Pentax K-3 

$1,299.95, body only$624.95
at Amazon
The Pentax K-3 is the most refined K-mount SLR to date, offering fast autofocus and superb image quality. Its video autofocus implementation isn't the best, but it still manages to snag our Editors' Choice award.

Sony Alpha 77 II 

$1,199.99, body onlyat Amazon
The Sony Alpha 77 II has one of the quickest autofocus systems we've seen on an SLR and can shoot at 12fps, making it our Editors' Choice.

Canon EOS 70D 

$1,199, body only$999.00
at Amazon
The Canon EOS 70D delivers the smoothest Live View focus we've seen in a traditional D-SLR, but it can struggle to lock that focus in dim light.

Nikon D750 

$2,299.95, body onlyat Amazon
The Nikon D750 delivers pro-level performance at a reasonable asking price, making it our Editor's Choice for full-frame DSLRs under $2,500.