If you intend to take your photography seriously, either as a professional or just as a hobby, at some point you will have to spring for a DSLR. Short for Digital Single Lens Reflex, DSLR refers to cameras that offer the photographer a greater degree of control and flexibility over the images they take compared to standard digital cameras. Though DSLR’s can be quite expensive, luckily there are plenty of affordable options on the market to choose from, and we’re here to help you narrow down the best DSLR camera under 1000.
Our Best DSLR Cameras Under $1000 For 2020
Last update on 2020-05-26 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Buyer’s Guide
Lenses
One of the advantages of shooting with a DSLR is the ability to use different lenses. Different photo shoots will call for different lenses, which vary in terms of focal length. For instance, if you are trying to take very close up images of flowers or insects, you will most likely want to use a macro lens. In the opposite situation, you would most likely spring for a telephoto lens if your subject is very far away from your camera.
To get the most out of your camera, it’s a good idea to have a variety of different lenses you can use in different shooting situations; the downside to this is that lenses can often cost as much if not more than the DSLR itself. However, many DSLR “kits” can be found for under $1,000 these days that come with a few different focal lenses.
Sensor
The image sensor is the part of a DSLR that processes light and is responsible for capturing the image once the shutter is pushed down. When it comes to DSLRs, you really only have two options in this department: full frame or APS-C, commonly referred to as a crop sensor. Cameras that use a crop sensor will generally be less expensive, while full frame sensors are considered to be of higher quality as they allow more light in and will provide clearer image quality, especially in low light situations.
Shutter Speed
The power of a DSLR lies in what is known as the photography triad, which refers to the ability to manually control shutter speed, ISO and aperture. We’ll get into the second two elements next, but let’s start with shutter speed. Shutter speed refers to how quickly the camera’s shutter opens and closes when you take a picture. The length of time that it remains open controls how much light enters and how long it takes the camera to capture an image.
In most situations, you will be using a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second or faster, as to not let in too much light or cause the image to blur from small movements in your hand. However, in low light situations or for the special effect we often will need a much slower shutter speed. The range of shutter speeds each camera is capable of will vary. Some cameras will allow you to have very long shutter speeds, up to 30 seconds or a minute, while others may top out at a lower value.
ISO Sensitivity
ISO, which stands for International Standards Organization, is a measurement system that pertains to a camera’s sensitivity to light. The lowest number, generally 50 or 100, indicates the smallest amount of light the camera can sense, with the highest number representing the highest sensitivity to light. The upper limit of a camera’s ISO can fall within a wide range, with some models capping out around 800 while others go all the way up to 10,000 or even much higher. For everyday purposes, we won’t generally go over a thousand or two, but for nighttime photography or it can be necessary to have a much higher value.
Aperture
Aperture is another important element of the photography triad and is used to control how much light enters the camera’s lens. When you adjust the aperture, the camera’s iris will either open larger or get smaller. The size of the aperture is measured in f-stops, with larger f-stops representing a smaller aperture and vice versa. The number of f-stops available on each DSLR will vary some but most will feature a range from 1 up to 32, though most of the cameras in our price range won’t go that high. Different lenses can be used to supplement the f-stop range as well. To have the most control over your image, you will want as wide a range of f-stops as possible.
Video Mode
Another common feature that you’ll find on many modern DSLR’s is the capability to record video footage. While this won’t be an important feature to everyone, it can definitely add a lot of value to a camera and make it a more versatile creative tool. In fact, DSLR’s have become a standard in contemporary film production in recent years and many customers who are looking to buy one will be intending to use it primarily for videography. All the photographic advantages of a DSLR like the depth of field and manual control will apply to video work, and most of what you’ll find will be capable of shooting HD footage.
Advanced Features
The features discussed above are fairly standard and should be present on basically all DSLRs to some degree, but there are a number of advanced features that may or may not be important to you. These include extra bells and whistles like Wifi connectivity so you can post your pictures to the internet from your camera, HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Panoramic modes, scene recognition modes, burst mode and automatic exposure and focus adjustments. You may also want to consider the accessories that come included with your cameras, such as camera bags, memory cards, lens filters, extra batteries and external flashes.
The Best DSLR Cameras Under $1000 Reviewed
Canon EOS Rebel T7i US 24.2 Digital SLR Camera
- 242 Megapixel CMOS (APS C) sensor
- Built in Wi Fi, NFC and Bluetooth Lens used: EF S 18 55 millimeter f/4 56 IS STM (at focal length of 55 millimeter)
- High Speed continuous shooting at up to 60 fps Weight Approx 1877 ounce / 532 grams (including battery pack and SD memory card) Approx 1711 ounce / 485 gram (body only)
- Metering Range: EV 1 20 (room temperature, ISO 100, evaluative metering)
Last update on 2020-05-26 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Nikon D7500 DX-Format Digital SLR Body
- Class leading image quality, ISO range, image processing and metering equivalent to the award winning D500
- Large 3.2” 922k dot, tilting lcd screen with touch functionality. Temperature: 0 °c to 40 °c (+32 °f to 104 °f) humidity: 85 percentage or less (no condensation)
- 51 point AF system with 15 cross type sensors and group area AF paired with up to 8 fps continuous shooting capability
- 4k ultra hd and 1080p full hd video with stereo sound, power aperture control, auto ISO, 4k UHD time lapse and more
- Built in WiFi and Bluetooth for easy connectivity through the Nikon snap bridge app
Last update on 2020-05-26 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Canon Rebel SL3 with 18-55mm Lens Black
- Mounting Type: Bayonet
- Turn your Canon camera into a high-quality webcam--Learn more: canon.us/livestream
Last update on 2020-05-26 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pentax K-70 24MP DSLR with 18-55mm WR Lens and Extended Warranty
- 24.24 effective Megapixel, APS C AA filter less CMOS sensor with Iso from 100 204800
- Dustproof and weather resistant with In body “SR” shake reduction mechanism
- Vari angle LCD monitor with night vision red light LCD display
- Built in Wi Fi for use with image Sync app
- Pixel shift resolution with motion Correction AA filter Simulator: Moiré reduction using "SR" unit and pixel shift resolution with motion Correction
Last update on 2020-05-26 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
D5600 DX-format Digital SLR w/ AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
- AF S DX 18 140mm f/3.5 5.6G ED VR Lens
- 24.2MP DX Format CMOS Sensor
- 3.2 inches 1.037m Dot Vari Angle Touchscreen; Battery : EN EL14a Rechargeable Li ion Battery
- Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
- SnapBridge Bluetooth and Wi Fi with NFC
Last update on 2020-05-26 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Canon EOS 80D Digital SLR Camera Body Only
![Canon Digital SLR Camera Body [EOS 80D] with 24.2 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS Sensor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF - Black](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ArYn43YbL._SL75_.jpg)
- The EOS 80D camera’s Intelligent Viewfinder helps bring the thrill of SLR photography with each use
- The Intelligent Viewfinder displays AF points and AF mode, has a grid display, a horizontal electronic level, plus numerous other points of information
- For next level AF operation, the EOS 80D camera has a wide area, 45 point, all cross type AF system with low luminance performance to EV 3 and 4 types of AF area selection modes
- The 24.2 Megapixel (APS C) CMOS sensor captures high resolution images and has refined individual pixels that enable high ISO speeds (16000 for still photographs, 12800 for movies)
- Canon’s remarkable shutter combined with ability to shoot up to 7.0 fps during continuous shooting ensures quick performance.Dioptric Adjustment: 3.0 to +1.0 m 1 (diopter)
Last update on 2020-05-26 at 02:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
After weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each of the cameras on this guide, we’ve determined that there are two winners, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i and the Nikon D7500. those two are the best DSLR Camera under $1000. There is a lot of competition in the mid-range DSLR market, but the T7i and the F7500 manage to blow it out of the water with a ton of great features like excellent image quality, wide range ISO sensitivity, high quality video mode. All in all, both Nikon and Canon offer a ton of value for the money and you would be hard pressed to find a better DSLR in its price range.
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