Best Entry-Level DSLRs 2011

Best Entry-level DSLRs 2011

Entry-level DSLRs: best for full image-making control on a budget

‘Entry-level' DSLR cameras, as they're so often called, are great for first timers looking to take more control over their image making. But ‘entry-level' needn't mean ‘low spec', as these DSLRs are often highly specified and their larger sensor sizes will help you create images miles beyond what a compact camera's capable of.

That blurred background you'll so often see in professional shots is easier to achieve with a DSLR sensor, and that's one good reason many will look to step into the interchangeable lens market. The other big factor is that manual control over an exposure puts you in the driving seat of how a shot will look. Plus all DSLR cameras can shoot Raw files, kind of like a ‘digital negative' that can then be ‘pushed and pulled' around in post-production software to make exposure, brightness and colour adjustments without affecting the overall image quality.

The fact there are so many lenses to choose from also means you can take umpteen perspectives on the world using your entry-level DSLR, always making the best of the scene at hand.

Each manufacturer listed in our best entry-level DSLRs list uses a different lens mount, so once you've invested in your first purchase it's easier to take steps up the ranks for more advanced features in more pro-spec bodies.

Here're four of the best entry-level DSLRs to grace the shops' shelves during 2011...

1. Canon EOS 1100D (Rebel T3i)

£390 with 18-55mm lens

Canon's 1100D (or T3i as it's known Stateside) supersedes 2010's popular 1000D. This entry-level DSLR is already proving popular, and for good reason: there's something luscious about the images straight from the camera's 12MP sensor.

Add a 2.7in LCD screen, 720p HD movie mode, a 9-point AF system and bags of Scene modes.

Even if the Canon isn't the most highly specified on paper it's great in use and has a huge arsenal of glass to choose from Canon's substantial lens catalogue.

Click to read our full Canon EOS 1100D (Rebel T3i) review...

2. Pentax K-r

£398 with 18-55mm lens

It's arguable whether the K-r is an ‘entry-level' DSLR thanks to so many features, but it is the model that opens Pentax's current range.

With a 12.1MP CMOS sensor that can pull off burst shooting up to 6fps, a 3in, high-res 921k-dot LCD screen and an 11-point AF system (nine of which are cross-type sensors) this Pentax blows a number of its competitors out of the water. Plus it won't cost you more than its nearest rivals - it's a bargain!

Click to read our full Pentax K-r review...

3. Sony Alpha SLT-A35   

£444 with 18-55mm lens

Ok, so we're ‘cheating' a bit here as the Sony A35 isn't technically a DSLR - it's an SLT (Single Lens Translucent) camera. This means you get an electronic viewfinder (EVF) rather than an optical one, so purists may be sceptical. But tech-hungry folk will love the A35's incredible 16.2MP image quality that's streets ahead of its competitors.

A small size and 5.5fps burst mode with continuous autofocus keep the impressive specs up - even though it's an entry-level model, it sure packs a punch in the features department.

Click to read our full Sony Alpha SLT-A35 review...

4. Nikon D3100

£400 with 18-55mm lens

The D3100 has helped to shape up the current entry-level market thanks to its GUIDE mode to make using the camera all the easier for newcomers. This mode shows text and visual examples to explain what modes are and do, taking the tax out of learning your way around the camera.

The D3100's 14.2MP CMOS sensor and EXPEED 2 imagine engine make for detailed stills plus the D-Movie mode can capture 1080p HD movies. At around £400 Nikon's entry-level DSLR is affordable and competitively priced.

Click to read our full Nikon D3100 review...

TIP: Use Old Lenses

When choosing the best entry level DSLR for your needs consider the old film-based SLR lenses you already have, because many will still work on digital models. Canon's EF-mount goes back decades, Pentax's K-mount is some 35 years old, Minolta lenses fit Sony Alpha and Nikon's F-mount is 60 years strong.

Buying Guide Links:

Compacts
Advanced Compacts
Bridge/Superzoom compacts
Compact System Cameras
Entry-level DSLRs
Mid-Price DSLRs (Under £1000)
Advanced DSLRs