Best Budget DSLR This 2021 – Review and Buyer’s Guide

This is your ultimate budget DSLR camera that is almost flawless despite its affordable price tag. It is almost at the same price range as Nikon D5600 but there are almost no cutbacks done in its creation. As a matter of fact, it offers a complete package not just for beginners, but so as for intermediate and advanced users. Besides the option for a Guided UI and Creative Assist mode, experienced individuals aren’t left out with the advanced features it can offer.

“Though its viewfinder only comes at 9-point phase-detection points, its Live View comes with 3,975 selectable AF points that are well distributed across the frame,” said SolidSmack Photography Editor Evangeline Summers. “SL3’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF system is very efficient in recognizing, locking, and following the focus to the subject on the screen with just a single tap of your finger.”

Even better, the fully articulating LCD display is touch-sensitive. And while it comes with just a decent 5fps max burst shooting, it offers a 4K/25fps capability which is something of a shocker at this price range. Further, its 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS sensor is backed with a DIGIC 8 processor which allows it to deliver exquisite detail and color rendition capabilities.

“Its dynamic range is just right; just the right amount of details in dark and bright spots. It is really not something of a deal-breaker since it is comparatively almost the same as the performance of SL2. However, it has a great improvement in the noise control and level even at the highest ISO settings,” said Summers.

Just like T7, D5600 gives what you deserve for your buck. It costs a bit higher but we think it gives a good deal as it gives what you miss in other cameras. 

“It is very compact in form but it doesn’t come short with the size of its LCD display which comes at 3.2 inches. It also has a touchscreen function and it is a fully articulating type. It is a bit of a surprise since most of its rivals in this category slashed it just to give you that cheap camera body,” said Summers.

It can shoot good stills at a very pleasing level of sharpness even at high ISO levels. The details are great and the camera can offer good exposure and white balance.

There is also a more generous AF system to aid you. It comes at 39 points with 9 of them being cross-type. Also, the autofocus in Live View also offers a good experience. Given the nature of D5600 as a DSLR at a very low price, the responsiveness of the Live View touch focus and shooting is something to celebrate.

EOS Rebel T7i is another budget DSLR from Canon that ticks “almost” all the big boxes on your checklist. This starts with the AF system.

“While it uses Dual Pixel CMOS AF for its Live View mode just like SL3, it made a step forward by proving a 45-point cross-type phase-detect AF system in the viewfinder,” Summers said. “This makes its overall AF system more powerful and faster than its competition. We can recommend it for beginners due to the simplicity of its controls and buttons. Just like SL3, it comes with a Guided UI option which can be very helpful for novice users.”

On the other hand, while it has a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen LCD display that can be of great help in shooting videos, the video itself only comes at a maximum resolution of 1080p at 60fps. It even comes with a reasonable max burst at 6fps and a satisfactory 27 RAW max buffer capacity. It can also last up to 600 shots, allowing it to meet the standard of a quality DSLR these days.

Together with its 24.2MP APS-C sensor and DIGIC 7 processor, Rebel T7i gives justice to your shots with the right color and crisp. It can even offer a good dynamic range, giving you controls over your RAW files in case you want to enhance them in the future. Sadly, all of these things come at a higher price than SL3 which is one of the reasons why it landed in this spot. Yet, if you want a more aggressive AF, it should fit your needs.

Besides being one of the cheapest DSLRs on the market, there is a lot of reason why the D3500 deserves to be featured again and again. According to Summers, with its price and user-friendly features, it is a perfectly tailored camera unit for a very specific demographic: beginners.

According to Summers, D3500 boasts of a glorious “Guide Mode” on the dial which can be the perfect solution for those who are new to using such type of a camera.

“Not only it will give you a virtual tutorial of the functions of the camera, but it will also allow you to adjust it depending on your need. With this, you have the option between the basic assistance or the tutorial for more advanced features of the camera,” she said.

Nonetheless, it isn’t the only thing D3500 can introduce with pride. Despite being tagged as a “beginner cam,” it is equipped with just the right set of features to allow it to deliver quality stills and videos. It can even deliver more than 1,500 shots, allowing it to last for an entire day of activity.

“D3500 will give you 24.2 MP APS-C sensor which is very reliable to get crisp images with rich tones,” Summers added, “Also, its burst rate is still great at 5 FPS given that it is an entry-level cam that is reasonably priced. So, with this bad boy, you got the most affordable, most beginner-friendly DSLR ever.”

As anticipated, however, it doesn’t come with an IBIS but it is compatible with a wide range of F-mount Nikon lenses. On the other hand, its viewfinder comes with 11 AF points (1 cross-type) which are somehow placed at the middle section of the frame. Yet, for a beginner’s need, the focusing is positive, effective, and fast enough.

Further, the focus points in the Live View mode don’t fail. You can move the points using the buttons on the camera and despite being a strenuous task compared to the comfort of having a touch focus, it still does the job better than we expected. After all, it only uses a contrast-detect AF and it is incredibly cheap so it really is a shocking thing Nikon has still managed to pull off a decent AF system in this camera.

EOS Rebel T7 is probably one of the budget DSLRs that really give what you pay for. It made a few cutbacks on some, well, major areas. But it is really hard to complain. After all, it is even cheaper than the new GoPro cams so for non-picky users, it will certainly meet the right set of criteria.

It starts with the NFC and Wi-Fi. With this, it can be an upgrade for smartphone users who are looking for a good shareability function in cameras. However, the absence of the touchscreen function is one of the things that makes it a stranger from those who would be upgrading from smartphones. There is a good number of buttons that users can explore, nonetheless.

There are also some good improvements in Rebel T7. Compared to its sibling T6 with an 18 MP sensor, T7 now boasts a 24 MP sensor. The thing about it however is the fact that it is paired with a Digic 4+ processor which is a bit old. Together with its 9-point AF system which is also a relic, do not expect the fastest AF in low-light areas though we need to mention that it still works fine in other conditions.

On a positive note, Rebel T7 can deliver great results. According to Summers, there are “sufficient details in the stills and the colors have the right saturation and contrast.” Yet, she reiterated that there is a caveat here due to its processor. It can only offer ISO 12800 as the maximum setting which can affect its performance in low-light conditions.