Best DSLR camera 2020: take better photos today with DSLRs from beginner to professional

You would be easily forgiven for thinking that mirrorless cameras were the only thing manufacturers cared about right now. However, there’s still an enormous market for traditional DSLRs - and the good news is that there’s still plenty of excellent choices available to buy. 

Whether you’re a beginner keen to make your first step into a more serious photography hobby, or you’re already a working pro, you can find a DSLR that should happily meet your needs. 

Picking out just one to be considered the “best” is a pretty difficult task, however. For a start, no two DSLR customers have exactly the same needs. Picking out a top-spec, top-dollar pro-level DSLR makes absolutely no sense for somebody just starting out, while somebody with more experience would be easily frustrated by an entry-level model. It could also be that you sit somewhere in the middle of the two, in which case, a mid-range all-rounder is probably what you need.

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With that in mind, despite its age, our pick of the best all-rounder remains as the Nikon D500. It’s a solid mix of functionality in a well-designed body at a decent price. What’s not to like? A newer option is the Canon EOS 90D, which has a lot of similar functions, but will require a higher budget.

Recently, there hasn’t been too many DSLR releases. Most of the manufacturers - even those that were a little reticent to join the mirrorless revolution - have been concentrating on newer technologies. That said, there have been some interesting new releases, often utilising some of those newer technologies. For example, Nikon’s latest full-frame DSLR, the D780 could easily be compared to the Nikon Z6 mirrorless model (more on that below).

Another new(ish) model is the Canon EOS 90D, which would easily fit into the bracket of “all-rounder” for those looking for something capable of a bit of everything. Similarly to the D780, it shares some of its technology with a mirrorless model - in this case the EOS M6 Mark II.

If you’re somebody new to serious photography, the classic DSLR holds a lot of appeal. They look like “real” cameras, and thanks to being older technology, they aren’t generally as pricey as their mirrorless rivals. For beginners, good options include the Canon EOS 250D, or the Nikon D5600.

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 How to buy the best DSLR

When you’re first thinking of a DSLR, you might want to consider what it is you want to achieve with your photography. Maybe you’re thinking about trading up from a compact camera or a smartphone because you want to get a bit more serious about your photography. In which case, an entry-level DSLR can really help boost your skills. 

Maybe you’ve already been using a DSLR for some time and feel ready to make the next step. In which case, take a look at mid-range options which give you more space to grow and will elevate your photography even further. 

If you’re a working professional, or just a high-level enthusiast, you’ll want the ultimate camera which offers both fantastic high image quality as well as great usability. 

If you’re a beginner, take a look at cameras like the Canon EOS 800D, and the Nikon D5600. There’s also the newer Canon EOS 250D. All of these models give you a good balance of giving you much better image quality than your phone can muster, while hopefully not being too overwhelming when you’re just at the beginning of your photography journey. 

Perhaps you want something a bit more complicated. Have a look at the Nikon D500, Canon EOS 7D Mark II and the Canon EOS 90D. These are superb all-rounders which can handle different kinds of subject - perfect for the hobbyist. If you want to consider diverting from the two big hitters, take a look at the Pentax KP - particularly if you have a loft full of old glass available to use.

Full-frame DSLRs are generally found in the professional category, but for the enthusiast you have the option of the Canon EOS 6D Mark II. If you want the best of the best, look towards the Nikon D850, which after several years on the market is still the one to beat. There’s also the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, or possibly the Sony A99 II, too.

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The slow march against the DSLR from the mirrorless battalion has been held back by the marvellous D850. The camera which is doing more for DSLR sales than probably any other model at the moment, the D850 is a superb all-rounder for the professional who shoots a little bit of everything. 

Advanced enthusiasts will also get a kick out of how well it handles a variety of different subjects. With a high-resolution 45.4 megapixel sensor, 4K video capture, a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, a 153-point / 99 cross-type AF system that pretty much just nails it every time, and a sturdy body, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with what the D850 can deliver.

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If you’re looking to trade up from an entry-level Canon model, the 7D Mark II could be the camera of your dreams. It’s a superb all-rounder which features a 20.2 megapixel sensor and a host of excellent features to suit a variety of needs. 

It’s great for wildlife, sports and action photography with its fast 10fps shooting speed, while other subjects such as portraits and landscapes are also ideally suited for it. The 65-point AF system does an excellent job too, while the body is sturdy, well-built and is great to use. 

On the downside, the screen is fixed and there’s no wi-fi built in. The latter is disappointing for both quick sharing of shots and for remotely controlling the camera. 

The D780 is, in many ways, a Nikon Z6 (mirrorless) camera inside a traditional DSLR body. It’s clearly been designed for those who crave the traditional handling and feel of a DSLR camera, rather than flipping to mirrorless. If you’ve got a whole cabinet full of DSLR lenses too, you’re also more likely to crave a DSLR for your next model, too. 

Here, we’ve got something very impressive. It uses the same sensor and processor as the Z6, but thanks to the larger body, we’ve got room for dual memory card slots and a lot more direct control dials and buttons. There’s also nifty features like 4K video recording, charging via USB and 12fps shooting. 

Overall this is a fantastic all-rounder for those who want a full-frame model which sticks to the traditional DSLR formula. Right now, you pay a price premium or it over the Z6, but if you’ve got a load of lenses to bring with you, that extra investment will likely be worth it.

Quite probably the best APS-C DSLR currently available to buy on the market, this solidly built camera is the perfect choice for those who like to shoot a little bit of everything. It’s got a fast frame rate, which makes it ideal for sports, action and wildlife, while it can also handle landscapes, portraits and events with aplomb. 

It’s aimed primarily at advanced hobbyists, but it’s easily good enough to be used by professionals - especially as a second camera. 

It’s best if you can buy the camera with the 16-80mm kit lens, which is so much more than just your average kit optic, offering a wide f/2.8-4 maximum aperture range and producing high quality images. 

If you find yourself lusting after a D500, but don’t quite have the funds available, consider instead the D7500. 

It shares many of the same specifications as its older brother, including the same sensor and processor combination but with a few compromises to help keep the price lower. 

A chunky and nicely textured body makes the D7500 a nice camera to hold and use, with some modern touches like a fully articulating touch-screen to satisfy those used to smartphones and the like. 

The trade off for the lower price includes an autofocusing system that’s not quite on par with the D500, but still very good. You also don’t get the opportunity to shoot quite as fast, with 8fps available, but it’s still very useable for those who don’t shoot action every day.

Canon updates its line of entry-level DSLRs fairly regularly, so you can almost always guarantee that the latest tech is available even for beginner models. The 800D (known as the T7i in the States) inherits some great specifications from those higher up in Canon’s line, including a snappy 45-point AF system. There’s also an excellent touch-sensitive articulating screen, a decent Live View performance, and, most importantly, high image quality. 

If you’re looking for a solidly built and well-rounded entry-level camera, the 800D is the ideal choice - if you’re looking to tighten the purse strings a little more, the 1300D is also a great beginner friendly option. 

One of the only DSLRs to make its debut in 2019, this mid-range model is an update from the once very-popular 80D. 

If you’re still very much interested in DSLR photography - if for example you already own an entry-level Canon model - this is the obvious step up choice for you. It’s also not a bad option for those looking to move up from some entry-level mirrorless cameras, too. 

DSLRs still have mirrorless rivals beat when it comes to battery life, and the 90D gives you a whopping 1300 shots per charge, making it ideal for situations where you can’t stop to charge. 

There’s also a host of other appealing features here, such as a super high resolution 32.5 megapixel sensor, uncropped 4K video recording and an optical viewfinder which offers a 100% view of the scene.

While you can probably find better mirrorless cameras than the 250D at its price point, if you’re keen to stick with a traditional DSLR, this is a good one to go for. 

If you’re looking for your first “proper” camera, but don’t want to go too mahoosive, this also has the honour of being the world’s smallest DSLR (to feature an articulating screen). It’s still got a good range of dials and buttons, so it doesn’t feel too cramped though. 

On the downside, the viewfinder - which is optical - only offers a 95% view of the scene, so you could find some subjects just edging a little out, while the 4K video recording is subject to a crop making it less than ideal for vloggers. 

Still, if you’re mainly a photographer, this is a good choice to get you started.

The D5600 is an excellent option for your first DSLR, especially if your budget can stretch to investing in some additional lenses to go alongside the kit optic. 

One of the most interesting specifications of this camera is that it’s fitted with Snapbridge - that’s a low-powered always-on Bluetooth connection which automatically transfers your shots to your phone for instant sharing on Instagram etc. What could be better than impressing your friends with DSLR quality shots while on the go? 

Aside from bragging rights, you get a high-resolution 24 megapixel sensor, an articulating touch-sensitive screen and a 39-point AF system. 

The 5D line of Canon professional cameras has long been respected and with good reason. The latest iteration of the successful model brings with it all the respected features of its predecessors, but builds on it to result in one seriously impressive model. It has a 30.4 megapixel sensor, and has a new innovation in the form of “Dual Pixel RAW” which allows you to shift the focus ever so slightly after you’ve taken the shot. 

Ideal for weddings, portraits and commercial photography, the only let down of the 5D series is that it’s not particularly geared for action and high speed photography. For those type of photographers, take a look at the 1DX Mark IV - but be prepared to pay an extra premium for it. 

It took Canon five years to bring us an upgrade to its entry-level full-framer, during which time the camera market was almost unrecognisable, with more compact system cameras (including full-frame models) than ever before.

Never-the-less, for those who like to stick to the tried and tested way of doing things, the 6D Mark II is a good option for those looking for their first full-frame DSLR. 

You get a 26.2 megapixel full-frame sensor, a much-improved AF system (when compared to the original 6D) and an articulating touch-sensitive screen. There are some things which seem to be lacking for a modern camera, such as 4K video, but if you’re more into your stills than your movies, you may not be overly bothered by that. 

This is not a particularly exciting model, but it performs well in a good range of situations and being compatible with a huge range of optics makes it a good choice for those firmly fixed on the idea of the DSLR.

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