7 Best DSLR Under $1000 (2024)

In the world of photography, there is no shortage of different options to choose from when it comes to camera equipment. From compact point and shoot cameras to super zoom cameras, DSLR cameras have become popular among hobbyists and professional photographers.

However, buying a DSLR camera can be an expensive proposition for newbies. Most entry-level DSLR cameras cost around $2000 or more and that’s before you even add any lenses to it! But don’t give up just yet.

There are some cheaper alternatives out there that offer almost the same level of quality without breaking the bank. Here are 7 best dslr under $1000 in 2024

1. Canon EOS REBEL SL3

Best feature to consider: Good Scenery Photographs with Optical Built-in Viewfinder

 

 

Specifications:

• Released in 2019
• Pixel dimensions of 6000 by 4000
• Sensor size of 22.3 by 14.9 millimeters
• CMOS with Dual-Pixel Autofocus. Built-in phase-detection pixels on an image sensor

Reasons to buy: 

• Design for ergonomics
• Touchscreen interface that can move in every direction, bright and responsive.

Reasons to avoid:

• It's a bit cumbersome to bring along on a trip.
• A somewhat slow rate of shooting in continuous mode.

 

Summary:
The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is a very reasonably priced digital single-lens reflex camera. It is designed for beginner photographers and is ideal for aspiring photographers looking to take their hobby to the next level. 

The SL3 comes equipped with autofocus system, which allows for quick and accurate autofocus across the entire frame. Furthermore, the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is a top-tier choice among DSLRs for making movies.

It comes with 4K video recording mode that allows users to record smooth, high-definition videos with ease. As far as image quality is concerned, the Rebel SL3 produces beautiful photos with rich colours and sharp details. 

It also features a large 3.0-inch LCD screen that allows users to frame their shots and review their images with ease. The SL3 is a well-rounded DSLR camera that is sure to please a wide range of photographers, from beginners to experts. With its robust feature set and great image quality, it is one of the best DSLR under $1000.

 

2. Nikon D5600 DSLR

Best feature to consider: Autofocus that's quick to respond

 

Specifications:

• Type: DSLR
• Sensor: DX-Format 24.2 Megapixels
• Crop sensor mount for the lens: F mount
• ISO range: 100-25,600
• Viewfinder size/resolution: Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
• Video capability: 1080p
• 1 pound and 4 ounces total, with the battery and memory card
• Dimensions (only the body): 4.9 by 3.9 by 2.8 (in)
• SD is the type of memory card.

Reasons to buy: 

• When using the live view function, users were able to control the shutter with a touch of their finger.
• Impressive level of detail and photo quality.
• Touchscreen that can tilt

Reasons to avoid:

• There is no 4K video.
• SnapBridge from Nikon is hit-or-miss at times.

 

Summary:
If you’re looking for a versatile DSLR camera that offers good image quality, then the Nikon D5600 DSLR is the best nikon camera under 1000 now. It is designed for photographers of all skill levels and is ideal for beginners looking for their first DSLR camera. 

The D5600 comes with a 24.2-megapixel sensor that is great for shooting both still images and videos. As an added bonus, it supports Nikon's SnapBridge app for remotely transferring photos to compatible mobile devices.

As far as image quality is concerned, the D5600 produces photos with good colour and contrast. However, it lacked in low-light performance. The D5600 also features a fully articulating touchscreen that is useful for shooting portrait and landscape oriented images. 

Overall, the Nikon D5600 is a great camera for beginners looking to get their hands on their first DSLR camera.

 

3. Sony A77II

Best feature to consider: High Resolution Sensor with 24.0 Megapixels

 

Specifications:

• 24MP APS-C CMOS Sensor 
• ISO 50 to 25600 
• Sensor-shift Image Stabilization 
• Fully Movable 3.00" Screen 
• 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
• Continuous shooting at 12 fps and Full HD at 60 fps Video Recording
• Wi-Fi is built in.
• Weather Sealed Body

Reasons to buy: 

• Built-in Electronic Viewfinder
• Microphone Input for External Use
• Video recording in Full HD 60 frames per second

Reasons to avoid:

• A Lack of a Touch Screen
• Poor battery life: only 480 shots

 

Summary:
The Sony A77II is a fantastic choice if you want a top-tier DSLR camera but don't want to spend a fortune on it. Studio photography enthusiasts and seasoned pros alike will find this to be an excellent option.

The A77II comes with a 24.3-megapixel sensor and has a shooting speed of 12 frames per second with autofocus. It also features a large 3-inch tiltable touchscreen display that allows users to review their shots easily and compose images from different angles. 

The A77II is one of the best DSLR cameras for still photography and produces images with excellent colour and contrast. It also has an ISO range of 100-25,600, which is great for shooting in low-light environments. 

However, the A77II’s LCD display could have been better. Other than that, the A77II is a great DSLR camera that offers all the features you’d expect from a flagship camera. If you can afford the extra $400, it’s worth it.

 

4. Nikon D800E

Best feature to consider: High Resolution Sensor with 36.0 Megapixels

 

Specifications:

• Full frame, 36-megapixel, CMOS sensor
• Between ISO 100 and ISO 6400, an optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter is not applied. (expands to 25600)
• 3.20-inch fixed-type screen pentaprism optical viewfinder
• 4fps of uninterrupted shooting.
• 900 gram and 146 mm x 123 mm x 82 mm Body Dimensions With Weather Sealing

Reasons to buy: 

• Durable batteries (900 shots)
• Microphone Input for External Use
• Autofocusing with 11 points activated at f/8
• Large Screen Size: 3.20 Inches

Reasons to avoid:

• Can't Get a Wireless Signal
• There is no touch screen available.
• Big Body Weight: 900g

 

Summary:
The Nikon D800E is a fantastic choice if you're looking for a professional-level DSLR camera and don't mind spending a bit more. It is a full frame camera under 1000 with fantastic option for studio photography and is made for both amateur and professional photographers. 

The D800E sports a 36-megapixel sensor and can shoot in both JPEG and RAW formats at a rate of 4 frames per second. Additionally, it has a TFT Color LCD with a 170 degree viewing angle that enables users to quickly analyze their photographs and change the angle at which they are composed. 

One of the best DSLRs for still photography, the D800E creates images with superb color and contrast. Additionally, it features a 50–25,600 ISO range, which is excellent for photography in dim light.

 

5. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

Best feature to consider: Olympus' new Live View Boost setting makes focusing and framing simpler in low light.

 

Specifications:

• There is a 20-megapixel Live MOS sensor within (Four Thirds)
• 5-axis in-body picture stabilization powered by the TruePic VIII processor (up to 4.5 stops)
• A contrast-detect AF system with 121 points
• Screen may be flipped down for easy access.
• Display screen for aiming
• 4.5 fps burst shooting with autofocus
• Charging through USB
• Per-charge Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 360-degree shooting (with LCD)

Reasons to buy: 

• LCD screen that folds out and can take selfies
• Precision gains in C-AF operation
• The Olympus Image Share app is used in conjunction with the E-M10 IV's built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to capture and share images.

Reasons to avoid:

• There is no microphone input.

 

Summary:
If you're looking for a small, lightweight camera that offers good image quality for a decent price, then the OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is worth considering. 2016 saw the introduction of Olympus' OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. It's an improved and more advanced version of the previous model.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a small Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera with an 20MP sensor, built-in Wi-Fi, and best 4k dslr under 1000 for video capture. 

It has a tilting touchscreen LCD screen and an improved viewfinder. It can take up to 42mm lenses, has live view and movie mode shooting abilities. It's also available in silver and black color options.

6. Canon EOS Rebel T7

Best feature to consider: The T7's image quality is superior to its predecessor's.

 

Specifications:

• Sensor size of APS-C, 24.1 megapixels (22.3 x 14.9 mm)
• With a pixel size of 3.72 micrometers and a ratio of 3:2, this camera is ideal for landscape and portrait photography.
• The EF mount for Canon lenses
• Eye-level SLR viewfinder with a fixed pentamirror, capable of capturing 14-bit JPEG and RAW images (95 percent coverage)
• Equipped with 9 separate focusing points and a time-to-focus relay,
• ISO 100-6,400, 63-zone metering sensor (12,800 expanded)
• Varying between 1/4000 and 30 seconds, the shutter speed

Reasons to buy: 

• Spot, evaluative, partial, and center-weighted metering modes are all available on the T7's 63-zone dual-layer metering sensor, as they are on other consumer-level DSLRs.
• When shooting in good light, the EOS Rebel T7's image quality shines, producing vivid colors and crisp details. When the illumination isn't ideal, image quality drops slightly, as is the case with most DSLR cameras in this price range.
• The movie-recording experience with the Rebel T7 exceeded expectations. Autofocus is quick and precise, even when panning a zoom lens. Even though it can be difficult to maintain a perfectly steady hand while shooting with a handheld camera, the resulting footage looks fantastic.

Reasons to avoid:

• A slow, continuous shooting mode
• Lack of a Touch Screen
• No tilting LCD 
• No support for 4K video

 

Summary:
As a beginner's first digital single-lens reflex camera, Canon's EOS Rebel T7 is hard to beat in top cameras under 1000. It has an 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor, and a 3" LCD screen. 

The Rebel T7 has built-in WiFi and NFC as well as a host of customizable settings.

In addition to high-resolution still images, the camera can record full HD video in the 1080p format. In addition to its low price, the Rebel T7 has a number of pluses that make it a good value for anyone looking to get started in photography or move up from a point-and-shoot camera. 

First and foremost is its sensor size: the Rebel T7 has an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor, which means it will produce images with higher resolution than any of the models on this list—and produce sharper images than you'd get from most point-and-shoot cameras as well. That should help you get more detail out of your pictures once you start cropping in on your images, which is always important for any photographer. 

It's also got an APS-C sensor size, which means that the Rebel T7 will have slightly less field of view than full-frame cameras (though it should be clearly visible in frame when shooting wide angle). Finally, it's got fast autofocus thanks to its phase detection AF system.

7. Pentax K-70

Best feature to consider: Capable of autofocusing even in dim conditions

 

Specifications:

• APS-C CMOS sensor, 24.2MP
• A 3" screen that can be angled
• Captures 1080p video at 921,000 dots

Reasons to buy: 

• Tilt/swivel LCD screen can be angled in a forward direction, making it ideal for taking self-portraits.
• Vision in the dark with the LCD's night-vision-friendly red-light mode, your night vision will be barely disrupted.
• Numerous customizable noise-canceling settings.
• Every lens has built-in stabilization, and its correction range has expanded to 4.5 stops, putting it in the premium segment.

Reasons to avoid:

• The Wi-Fi network was sluggish, had a little range, and was hampered by a clumsy and unintuitive interface.
• Battery life is below par for a DSLR.
• Not a touchscreen.

 

Summary:
The Pentax K-70 is a terrific choice if you're looking for the best camera under $700 DSLR with excellent value. It is a fantastic option for studio photography and is made for both amateur and professional photographers. 

The K-70 has a 24-megapixel sensor and can shoot in both JPEG and RAW formats at a speed of 6 frames per second. Additionally, it has a sizable 3-inch TFT LCD screen that lets users to readily evaluate their pictures and compose images from various perspectives. 

One of the top DSLRs for still photography, the K-70 creates images with superb color and contrast. Additionally, it features an ISO range of 100-204,800, which is excellent for photographing in dimly lit areas.

 

1. What is the difference between dslr and mirrorless?

There are a few key differences between DSLR and mirrorless cameras. First, DSLR cameras typically have larger sensors that allow for higher resolution pictures.

Second, mirrorless cameras typically have smaller bodies and lenses than DSLRs, which makes them more portable.

Third, DSLR cameras typically have larger mirrors that can be flipped to facilitate filming in different angles.

Fourth, DSLR cameras typically have faster autofocus speeds than mirrorless cameras.

However, there are also some key similarities between DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Both types of cameras typically have interchangeable lenses and screens, which allows you to customize your camera to suit your needs. They also both tend to be heavier than mirrorless cameras due to their larger sensors and lenses.

Finally, both types of cameras can capture high-quality footage thanks to their large sensors and fast autofocus speeds.

2. Is it worth investing in DSLR?

DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex. The DSLR is an interchangeable lens camera that uses mirrors, not a single lens, to capture images.

The mirror and lens system makes it possible for the photographer to see through the viewfinder as if they were looking through a pair of binoculars. This feature allows the photographer to frame the image exactly how they want.

If you are interested in taking pictures but don’t have a lot of money to spend, then DSLR cameras are an excellent investment. They provide great quality photos while also being relatively affordable.

Of course, DSLR cameras aren’t perfect. They can be difficult to use at first and you may end up buying more accessories than you need. But if you stick with it, you will soon feel comfortable using your new camera and producing some amazing results!

3. What accessories do you think are needed for a DSLR camera?

There are a lot of accessories that you need for your DSLR camera, such as a lens, tripod, video recorder, remote control and many more. That’s why when you buy the best dslr under $1000, you maybe spend more money on the other things to create a good image or video.

The lens is your main tool when it comes to taking photographs. You need to make sure that you get the right one for the type of photography that you want to do.

For instance, if you plan to take portraits, you should get a lens with a wide focal length. This will allow you to capture more of your subject’s face in each shot.

A tripod is essential for taking long exposures or time-lapse photographs. It’s also useful for taking pictures that are blurry because it helps to steady the camera and keep it from moving too much.

Finally, you will want a video recorder if you want to record videos on the go or share them online.