Best entry-level cameras for beginner photographers

November 9, 2015Matt Golowczynski

If you’re a beginner photographer or are looking to make the leap from a compact to your first interchangeable lens camera you will want a camera that offers you the best combination of image quality and features, with room to grow as you learn. To help you along we’ve rounded up the best entry-level cameras on the market…

If you’ve never bought a camera before but you want to start taking your photo taking more seriously, there’s a good chance you may not know quite which option will best satisfy your needs.

Do you go for a DSLR from one of the esteemed photographic manufacturers or perhaps a mirrorless system from a company with its roots in electronics? And how do the specs of current models compare with one another?

The good news is that even many basic models now offer plenty to play with, and with so many capable options it’s unlikely you’ll end up with a ‘bad’ camera.

The vast majority of these produce images that can withstand substantial enlargements, and with advanced AF systems, high-resolution displays and wireless connectivity becoming the norm, shooting with today’s models is more enjoyable and convenient than it’s ever been.

We’ve hand-picked ten of the finest cameras currently available that would fit the needs of the entry-level user, and looked at not only where they shine but what you may want to consider before parting with your cash. Read on and find your perfect entry-level camera.

SEE MORE: Best DSLRs under £500

BEST ENTRY-LEVEL CAMERAS

Canon EOS 100D
Canon EOS 750D
Nikon D3300
Fujifilm X-M1
Sony a6000
Olympus E-PL7
Nikon D5500
Pentax K-50
Panasonic GF7
Sony a5000

Best entry-level cameras: Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1

Price on Amazon US $399.00 ($499.00 with 18-55mm kit lens) / Price on Amazon UK £279.00 (£319.00 with 18-55mm kit lens)

Launched at the same time as the EOD 700D, the EOS 100D manages to equal most of that camera’s functionality but delivers them in a cheaper and significantly smaller body.

In fact, despite being Canon’s smallest and lightest DSLR to date, it still offers everything you’d expect, such as a DSLR-style grip, a mode dial and full compatibility with Canon’s EF and EF-S optics.

There’s also a useful touchscreen LCD that can be used for focusing, selecting menu options and reviewing images, along with a 4fps burst mode and Full HD video recording with continuous focusing.

Furthermore, for the benefit of first-time users, Canon has also found space for a guide mode to teach you about the camera’s various settings, meaning you can leave the manual at home.

Overall, definitely one of the best-value DSLRs currently available and ideal for those on tighter budgets.

Pros
– Size and weight makes it a great take-anywhere option
– Very well specified for such an affordable model

Cons
– 4fps a little on the low side
– No articulating LCD

SEE MORE: Best budget camera: 6 top options under £350 / $450

Best entry-level cameras: Canon EOS 750D / Rebel T6i

Price on Amazon US $749.00 ($749.00 with 18-55mm kit lens) / Price on Amazon UK £485.19 (£475.00 with 18-55mm kit lens)

The EOS 750D ramps things up from Canon’s more junior DSLR offerings, but still manages to squeeze in under the £500 mark.

Not only do you benefit from a 24.2MP APS-C sensor – contrasted with an 18MP alternative in the EOS 100D and 1200D – but you also gain a faster 5fps burst mode, the latest DIGIC 6 processing engine and a more advanced 19-point AF system, with each point being cross type for enhanced sensitivity.

Other benefits that make it more a finer competitor to the likes of the the Nikon D5500 include built-in Wi-Fi and an articulating LCD touchscreen. Furthermore, not only do you get Full HD video with continuous focusing as you record, but you can even use an external microphone if video becomes your thing and you want more professional audio.

Pros
– LCD both Vari-angle and touch sensitive
– All-cross-type AF system bodes well for focus sensitivity

Cons
– 5fps good but bettered by some other models here
– Viewfinder only offers 95% coverage

SEE MORE: Canon 760D vs 750D vs 700D – 9 things you need to know

Best entry-level cameras: Nikon D3300

Price on Amazon US $na ($446.95 with 18-55mm kit lens) / Price on Amazon UK £269.99 (£329.99 with 18-55mm kit lens)

Ever since the D40 released back in 2006, Nikon has tweaked and honed its entry-level DSLR formula – and the D3300 is a culmination of all of these achievements.

Among a largely expected feature set it boasts a handful of interesting additions. It is, for example, one of only a handful of entry-level models to lack an anti-aliasing filter in front of its sensor, which theoretically means it delivers sharper images than other cameras with the same megapixel count.

It also splits from its contemporaries by being bundled with a battery that claims to deliver 700 images on a full charge, a figure that’s not only higher most rivals, but a number of more expensive models too.

Elsewhere, the camera’s 5fps burst mode is perfectly respectable for a DSLR of its class, while Full HD recording to 50/60p and a 3in, 921k-dot LCD screen deliver what’s expected. Sadly there’s no Wi-Fi and the LCD is fixed in place (and not sensitive to touch) but at this price you can’t really argue with what it does offer.

Pros
– No anti-aliasing filter
– Excellent value for money

Cons
– No Wi-Fi
– LCD not articulated or touch-sensitive

SEE MORE
Canon 1200D vs Nikon D3300 vs Pentax K-500 – which is best?
Nikon D3300 vs D3200 vs D3100: which camera should you buy

Best entry-level cameras: Fujifilm X-M1

Price on Amazon US $399.95 ($499.99 with 16-50mm kit lens) / Price on Amazon UK £319.00 (£329.98 with 16-50mm kit lens)

Entry-level mirrorless cameras tend to prioritise simplicity over the more refined stylings of models higher up, but the X-M1 proves that you can still have a smart, retro-styled compact that’s designed specifically with the first-time user in mind.

Crucially, it inherits the acclaimed X-Trans CMOS 16.3MP sensor from Fujifilm’s more advanced models, while Wi-Fi, 5.6fps burst shooting, Full HD video recording and a tiltable LCD screen are also all on board.

Its analogue dials on the top plate and a leather-like covering around the front improve handling and user experience, while the provision of a hotshoe allows you to mount an external accessory such as a flashgun to broaden shooting possibilities.

True, it may not be the newest camera around, but it’s age has helped to push its asking price down to a very reasonable point.

Pros
– Same or similar features to higher-end X-series models
– Great value for money

Cons
– No electronic level
– Lower pixel count than much of the competition (but the sensor still produces high-quality images)

SEE MORE: Fuji cameras: the full and complete range explained

Best entry-level cameras: Sony A6000

Price on Amazon US $478.00 ($628.00 with 16-50mm kit lens) / Price on Amazon UK £439.00 (£484.99 with 16-50mm kit lens)

While Sony’s a5000 and a5100 duo appear more designed for first-time users than the a6000, the latter camera still wins a place on our list on account of a more impressive set of specs for not much more than the a5100 (made even more tempting by a current £50 cashback offer).

As with the a5100 it offers a 24.3MP APS-C sensor and a hybrid AF system that impressed us for both speed and accuracy in our review, while a tilting touchscreen, Wi-Fi and NFC control all make it easier and more fun to use.

Where it surpasses its sibling, however, is with a built-in, high-resolution electronic viewfinder that’s particularly useful in brighter shooting conditions, as well as a burst rate whose 11fps speed races past the a5000’s 5fps.

With the further provisions of a hotshoe that accepts flashguns and other accessories, and also an app-based method of expanding the camera’s functionality, it goes on to provide plenty of growing room as you become more confident and want to experiment with more creative shooting.

SEE MORE: Sony cameras – the full and complete range explained

Pros
– Great AF system
– Very fast burst mode

Cons
– LCD not as big or high in resolution as on some other cameras
– 360-shot battery life could be better

The post Best entry-level cameras for beginner photographers appeared first on Digital Camera World.