The best DSLR cameras available in the market are included from ₹20K to ₹1 Lakh which are budget-friendly. Choosing your first DSLR camera may seem daunting with all the different models, the jargon and the similar cost of the cameras. This is something that I've experience myself. After experimenting with a few of these cameras, and after reading a number of reviews I've compiled the following basic list that matches the camera to your budget and level of expertise, eliminating the "over-thinking" and getting you started taking photos.
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Best under ₹30K: Nikon D3500 — has excellent battery life, and beginner friendly guide mode.
- Best value under ₹30K: Canon EOS 2000D, lowest priced camera which comes with Wi-Fi connection.
- Best mid-range (₹30K to ₹60K): Canon EOS 77D — The flip touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity along with the quick autofocus makes it a perfect option for the mid-range.
- If you are looking for video, the Canon EOS 200D II (₹60K to ₹1L) is the lightest 4K dual pixel AF DSLR camera.
- Best overall performance (₹60K – ₹1L): Nikon D7500 — This camera has a 51-point AF and 4K video recording capability as well as great low-light performance.
- All the cameras detailed feature APS-C sensors, which are a vast improvement in quality over any of the smartphone cameras.
- To get a quick comparison of all 7 cameras, click on here.
| Camera | Price | Resolution | Video | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon SLR DSLR | $600 - $800 | 12 - 16MP | HD/CEIL | Newcomers, professionals, and videographers |
| Nikon D3500 | ₹25,000–₹30,000 | 24.2 MP | Full HD | First-time buyers, stills |
| Canon EOS 2000D | ~₹24,342 | 24.1 MP | Full HD | Low Budget Camera for Beginners |
| Canon EOS 77D | ₹50,000–₹60,000 | 24.2 MP | Full HD | Enthusiasts, vloggers |
| Canon EOS 750D | ₹40,000–₹50,000 | 24.2 MP | Full HD | Selfie/vlogging beginners |
| Nikon D3500 Dual Kit | ₹45,000–₹55,000 | 24.2 MP | Full HD | Versatile shooting angles |
| Nikon D7500 | ₹70,000–₹90,000 | 20.9 MP | 4K UHD | Wildlife, sports, night shots |
| Nikon D5600 | ₹60,000–₹75,000 | 24.2 MP | Full HD | Beginners wanting flip screen |
| Canon EOS 200D II | ₹65,000–₹80,000 | 24.1 MP | 4K | Lightweight, video-first |
The primary drawback of SLR cameras is the lack of a screen to view the image. The major issue with SLR cameras is the absence of a screen to check the image.
Also Read: Capture More Than Photos with These Top Dashcams
Best DSLR Camera under 30k Rs. can be chosen according to your requirements. These are the best options for newbies who are not certain whether they want to invest a lot of money on a camera that is not doing what they anticipate it to do, and they don't want to waste their cash. Both feature a good APS-C sensor, putting you ahead of any smartphone camera to begin with.
1. Nikon D3500 — Top Pick
Price: ₹25,000 – ₹30,000The D3500 without a doubt is the best pure photography camera available in the price range of ₹30,000. But for those who are new to the DSLR world, the Guide Mode guides them through the different shooting scenarios, step-by-step.
- Display: DxOMark 1st generation BSI CMOS
- Continuous shooting: 5 fps
- Uses of the battery: 300% more than the competition — best in class
- ISO range: 100–25,600
- Replayable videos: 100% HD 1080p
- Aquatic weight: ~250g (kit) which makes it very portable
It's recommended for anyone who wants to get great still photos, great battery life and those that do not require a flip screen or 4K video.
2. Canon EOS 2000D
Price: ~₹24,342The lowest priced camera on this list and one that's pretty decent. It's been a Best seller for years, because produces clean and well exposed images, with no learning curve.
- Sensor Size: 24.1MP (APS-C CMOS)
- Processor: DIGIC 4+
- Replayable videos: 100% HD 1080p
- ISO range: 100–6,400 (expandable to 12,800)
- Design: Retro style and base is low cost and available in a range of colors. Rear camera: 25 MP with digital zoom and 3D Set-Up technology.
Ideal for the student and the hobbyist that wants a good camera, but at the least cost.
Some good improvements for this price such as flip screens, quicker auto-focus and better processors. After their first year most serious amateurs go to these types of cameras.
1. Canon EOS 77D — Best Mid-Range
Price: ₹50,000 – ₹60,000The EOS 77D is right in the middle of the range of beginner and semi-professional cameras - it performs at a higher level than beginner cameras, but is not as sophisticated as a pro-level camera. When looking through the flip touch screen, this is a vlogger's dream and is a great help when shooting from unnatural angles.
- Picture Resolution: 2,048 x 1,536 pixels (3,136,448 effective pixels)
- New processor: DIGIC 7 (definitely faster than the entry level Canon models)
- Continuous shooting: 6 fps
- Video: Continuous autofocus (CF-AF) and full HD 1080p for smooth video footage.
- Battery Life: 300 hours (hibernation) / 120 hours (standby)
- Can be used as a vari-angle flip touch screen.
Best suited for: Shooting stills and video, anyone that wants to improve their skills.
2. Canon EOS 750D (Rebel T6i)
Price: ₹40,000 – ₹50,000The 2015 release of the 750D is a very fine car, and has aged very well. If you value a flip screen, a solid picture and don't require the latest processor that the 77D has, this is the one for you.
- Picture Resolution: 2,048 x 1,536 pixels (3,136,448 effective pixels)
- Processor: DIGIC 6
- Video: Full HD (1080p)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi + NFC
- The screen comes with an optional 10.1" flip touchscreen.
It's designed for people who take vlogs and selfies on a limited budget – or for those who are just doing it for fun.
3. Nikon D3500 Dual Lens Kit
Price: ₹45,000 – ₹55,000It's this D3500 body from Canon coupled with an 18-55mm kit lens as well as a 70-300mm telephoto lens. Offering a wide range of coverage from wide to far with just two lenses, you won't need to purchase lenses separately.
- Sensor: 24.2 MP APS-C
- Battery life: 1,500 shots
- Replayable videos: 100% HD 1080p
- Kit includes: 18–55mm + 70–300mm lenses
Best for buyers: Camera buyers who are new to photography and want to use different lenses for different tasks, but can't afford to purchase a lot of different lenses.
But it's here that DSLR cameras start to really get the show on the road with 4K video, cutting-edge autofocus and super high ISO numbers for low-light shooting. These are the types of cameras that won't have to be replaced many times.
1. Nikon D7500 — #1 Top Camera
Price: ₹70,000 – ₹90,000The D7500 is in the middle of the pack on this list with the best all-round camera. Highly recommended for those who love and are semi-professional photographers, it's capable of everything when it comes to night photography, sports and wildlife with 51-point autofocus and incredible Hi-ISO performance.
- Video: 4K UHD
- Range of Focusing: 12- to 300 cm (4.7 to 98.4 inches) and infinity
- ISO range: 100–51,200 (expandable to 1,640,000)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
This is ideal for: Wildlife photography, sports, night photography and all those who are ready to put in the effort to become a more advanced shooter.
2. Nikon D5600
Price: ₹60,000 – ₹75,000D5600 features a full articulating flip touchscreen (available only on the D5600), which makes it much easier to use, even for less tech-savvy users. If versatility in framing and simplicity of connecting to the phone is important to you, it's a Nikon.
- Sensor: 24.2 MP APS-C
- ISO range: 100–25,600
- Replayable videos: 100% HD 1080p
- 100% articulating flip touchscreen.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
- Has auto-focus (39 point)
Ideal for: Nikon newcomers looking for a high-end flip-screen camera experience and with high-quality images.
3. Canon EOS 200D II (Rebel SL3)
Price: ₹65,000 – ₹80,000The 200D II is Canon's lightest DSLR, and may well be the finest value for money, at this price point, when it comes to 4K. It's easier to shoot video with the Dual Pixel CMOS AF than a camera with a more traditional contrast-based AF.
- Sensor: 24.1 MP APS-C
- Processor: DIGIC 8
- Video: Dual Pixel AF with 4K (uncropped) video.
- Preserves the extremely compact and light weight design.
- The screen comes with an optional 10.1" flipping touch screen.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
Travel photographers and video makers who desire hassle-free 4K videos and portability will find this ideal.
Whether a DSLR or mirrorless camera is the better option is a personal decision for many. For personal preference, many people are opting for either a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
🎯 My Hands-On Experience
I began with the Nikon D3500 — and I really didn't think that I'd like it as much as I did. I realized immediately the battery life, which I managed to do for a full "two days of shooting" with no problem; which equated to an entire weekend trip out of doors. No charging issues in the day, which can be an issue with the mirrorless models at this price.
Guide Mode was the one that I used thoroughly the first two months. Not a dumbed down thing, a teaching thing – there it explains why a choice of setting is being made NOT just what to do. After a month or so, I was using it no longer and only shooting in Manual and Aperture Priority.
I switchoed later on to the Canon EOS 200D II—this was primarily for video. The Dual Pixel AF really did come in handy here: when shooting video, my D3500 can't quite keep up with the smooth and confident face tracking. If you're after a video body, and money permits, go for the base-level bodies - the 200D II will be worth the extra investment.
As an additional hint, regardless which camera you buy, ensure that you get a class 10 SD card (32GB or 64GB) and an additional battery. The two additions combined cost less than ₹1500 and will be a blessing for the shootings which are prone to interrupts.
🎯 Final Verdict: Which Camera Should You Buy?
This is the time to choose a camera and you can't go wrong. There are two filters to work through; your budget is the first one but the second and more important one is what you're going to use it for. It's a short version:
- For pure beginners and on a budget, the Nikon D3500 (under ₹30K) can't be beaten as far as battery life and image quality are concerned.
- For beginners videographers or vloggers: Canon EOS 750D or the Dual Kit of D3500 (₹40K-₹55K).
- Growing enthusiasts: Canon EOS 77D (₹50K – ₹60K) – the overall best for this price range.
- On the serious end of things, or for the semi-pros: Nikon D7500 (₹70K+) The most capable camera here to take on tougher challenges.
- If you are a travel or video shooter then go for Canon EOS 200D II — 4K, light weight and superb AF.
The ideal camera is the one that you're going to take and use. Invest as much as you can, and only invest in a step up in gear when you're at the limits of your current gear and not before.
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