Best DSLR cameras for beginners

Nikon D5300

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: Excellent photo quality, a great feature set, and speedy performance put the Nikon D5300 ahead of the pack.

The bad: The default settings could be better and Live View is still really slow to use.

The cost: $400 to $482 (body only)

The bottom line: The Nikon D5300 is a great choice as a general-purpose DSLR.

Nikon D5600

Cnet rating: 4 stars out of 5

The good: This has excellent photo quality for its price, and performance that keeps up with kids and pets.

The bad: It may be too small for larger hands and the timer turns off after every shot in single-shot mode.

The cost: $879 to $950 (with 18-140mm lens)

The bottom line: Lightweight and compact with everything the family photographer needs, the Nikon D5600 maintains its position as a great general-purpose DSLR for its price class.

Canon EOS Rebel T7i/800D Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: The Canon EOS Rebel T7i/800D delivers reasonable photo and video quality and respectable performance in a time-tested body.

The bad: Relatively large compared to other cameras in its class, and its photos aren’t as sharp as competitors’.

The cost: $729 to $849 (with 18-55mm lens)

The bottom line: For a step up in photo quality or performance from a phone or compact, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i/800D remains a fan favorite.

Nikon D3400

Cnet rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The good: The Nikon D3400 delivers the image quality and speed that a first-time DSLR buyer should expect.

The bad: A lot of the small annoyances from previous models remain, including tiny autofocus points in the viewfinder and a non-persistent self-timer mode. Plus, its Bluetooth-only wireless solution isn’t very good.

The cost: $399 to $500 (with 18-55mm lens)

The bottom line: Very good photo quality for its class plus performance fast enough to capture kids and pets make the Nikon D3400 A solid choice for a first DSLR.