Best DSLRs under £1000

November 16, 2015Matt Golowczynski

We’ve rounded up ten of the best DSLRs under £1000 and sifted through their specs to find out where they impress and where they fall short next to their rivals.

The mirrorless market may have flourished in recent years but manufacturers still invested in DSLRs have maintained a strong focus on keeping these models fresh and technologically relevant.

Canon and Nikon are still, by some margin, the sector’s largest players, but Pentax has also continued to impress with well-specified offerings at highly competitive price points.

Sony has done the same with its lightweight yet capable DSLR-like SLT models, while Sigma’s unique Foveon technology and expertise in optics makes it DSLRs also worth considering.

Backed by extensive lens and accessory ranges, the latest generations of DSLR have bought features such as weather-sealing, highly advanced autofocus systems, dual card slots and Wi-Fi down to a price point lower than ever, and it’s possible to find a raft of capable models under the £1000 mark.

If you’re on a budget and you’re looking for the best DSLR for your needs, read on to find out the pros and cons of the current crop of models.

NOTE: all prices are body only unless otherwise indicated.

SEE MORE
Best DSLRs under £500
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Best DSLRs under £1000: the contenders

Nikon D7200
Nikon D7100
Nikon D5500
Pentax K-3
Pentax K3-II
Canon EOS 750D
Canon EOS 760D
Canon EOS 700D
Canon EOS 70D
Sony A77 II

Best DSLRs under £1000: Nikon D7200

Price on Amazon US $1096.95 / Prize on Amazon UK £849.00

The Wi-Fi-enabled D7200 may only be a gentle upgrade over the previous D7100, but Nikon has wisely chosen to maintain a winning formula and just make it that little bit better.

The 24.2MP DX-format sensor at its heart omits an anti-aliasing filter for high detail retention, while the 51-point AF system boasts 15-cross-type points for enhanced sensitivity.

The 3.2in LCD is slightly larger than the average 3in types we’re used to seeing at this level, while the standard 6fps burst rate can be boosted to 7fps at a 1.3x crop setting – ideal for more distant nature and wildlife shots.

Being a relatively new model it’s not quite as temptingly priced as the Sony’s A77 II, but it’s significantly cheaper than Canon’s equivalent flagship APS-C model, the EOS 7D Mark II.

Not only does it stand as Nikon’s most capable DX-format DSLR to date, but it’s also a great stepping stone towards the company’s full-frame FX-range of bodies.

Pros
– Weather-sealed, magnesium-alloy body
– Advanced 51-point AF system, including 15 cross-type sensors

Cons
– LCD fixed in position
– Standard 6fps burst shooting bettered by cheaper models

SEE MORE
Nikon D7200 vs Canon EOS 700D
Nikon D7200 vs D7100

Best DSLRs under £1000: Nikon D7100

Price on Amazon US $796.95 / Prize on Amazon UK £705.00

If you’re a Nikon shooter but not too fussed about owning the very latest D7200, Nikon’s previous D7100 is a great-value alternative – something that quickly becomes apparent when you compare the specs of the two.

Not only does it offer a very similar 24.1MP sensor resolution to that camera, but it equals it in providing 6fps burst shooting (expandable to 7fps in the 1.3x crop mode), dual card slots, a sturdy magnesium-alloy body and 51 AF points saturating a large proportion of the frame.

Video shooters will also be pleased to note the inclusion of both microphone and headphone ports, together with a choice of frame rates including 24/25p.

While it lacks the D7200’s Wi-Fi and NFC features, and its battery life, burst depth and AF system may not be quite as capable, for little over £700 you still get an awful lot of camera for your money.

Pros
– Plenty of options for video recording
– Large, high-resolution rear display

Cons
– No Wi-Fi or NFC
– Screen lacks tilt and touch functionality

SEE MORE
Canon EOS 70D vs Nikon D7100
Nikon D7100 vs D300s
Nikon D7100 vs Olympus PEN E-P5
Nikon D7100 vs Nikon D5200

Best DSLRs under £1000: Nikon D5500

Price on Amazon US $746.95 / Price on Amazon UK £499.00

The D5500 may be cheaper, smaller and lighter than its D7100 and D7200 siblings, but it still manages to offer a 24.2MP sensor without an anti-aliasing filter and full HD video recording, all driven by the latest EXPEED 4 processing system.

While its 3.2in LCD offers a slightly lower 1037k-dot resolution than the ones on the D7100/D7200, it not only has the advantage of being fully articulated but it can also be controlled by touch.

The 5fps burst mode and 39-point AF system with subject tracking also show it to be no slouch when it comes to shooting action, while built-in Wi-Fi allows you to send images to a smart device with ease. Sadly, it omits the GPS system that featured on the D5300 it replaced.

Although the camera comes in body-only and standard 18-55mm kit options, it’s also available as a kit with the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR. This should be of particular interest to first-time DSLR owners who don’t own any other lenses, as its effective focal range of 27-210mm should cover most eventualities.

Pros
– Excellent value for money
– Built-in Wi-Fi

Cons
– Relatively small buffer limits Raw continuous shooting
– No GPS system

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

Best DSLRs under £1000: Pentax K-3

Price on Amazon US $639.95 / Prize on Amazon UK £579.00

Despite being one of the oldest DSLRs out of the ten here, the K-3 does well to hide its age with a stellar spec sheet – at a very keen price too.

The former flagship model in Pentax’s K-series, its weather-sealed, magnesium-alloy body contains a 24.35MP APS-C sensor, which can have anti-aliasing effects turned off and on as desired.

This is joined by 8.3fps burst shooting, a pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage of the scene and a 27-point AF system that boasts 25 cross-type points and sensitivity down to an impressive -3EV.

The outside of the camera is just as impressive, with a USB 3.0 port – still a rarity on DSLRs of any level – joining microphone and headphone ports for video recording, while dual SD card slots provide a wealth of storage options, from overflow and backup settings to sorting Raw images on one and JPEGs on the other, or alternatively images on one and videos on the other.

Pros
– Highly specified
– Weather-sealed body

Cons
– No Wi-Fi or NFC
– Screen is fixed in place and not responsive to touch

SEE MORE
Canon 1200D vs Nikon D3300 vs Pentax K-500 – which is best?

Best DSLRs under £1000: Pentax K-3 II

Price on Amazon US $898.73 / Price on Amazon UK £na (£670 average elsewhere)

Pentax designed the K-3 II to succeed the previous K-3, so we see (almost) all that camera’s specs with a handful of additional functions.

Chief among these is a GPS system which not only tracks location but also works in conjunction with the camera’s Shake Reduction system for the benefit of astrophotography, moving the camera’s sensor with the earth’s rotation to capture stars as points and not trails.

There’s also a Pixel Shift Resolution mode that captures four images and blends them together for a single shot with enhanced resolution.

The camera also boasts improved AF and Shake Reduction systems over its predecessor, as well as automatic horizon correction and panning detection.

The only drawback is that, to accommodate the GPS unit, the camera has lost the previously seen built-in flash, so it’s worth figuring out which is more important if your decision comes down to these two.

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

Pros
– Excellent choice for astrophotographers
– Weather-resistant construction

Cons
– Not a great improvement over the K-3
– No built-in flash

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