Best Budget DSLR Cameras

Our experts pick the best budget DSLR cameras that money can buy.

Canon EOS Rebel XSi

Street Price: $600

The slightly more capable brother of Canon’s true budget SLR offering, the Rebel XS, the Rebel XSi debuted in 2008 yet holds strong even today as one of the best no-nonsense SLRs on the market. You can’t take movies with it (unlike virtually every other camera in this overview), but the XSi is so technically proficient in the most critical areas that, in combination with a good set of lenses, it will deliver photographs on par with some of the best cameras available.

Check out our Canon EOS Rebel XSi Review.

Olympus Evolt E-620

Street Price: $700

Part of the “Four-Thirds” movement that preceded the Micro Four-Thirds format, the Olympus Evolt E-620 is one of the smallest SLRs on the market, yet also one of the most ergonomically satisfying. Only the trained eye will notice the extra image noise of this or any current Four-Thirds camera, and the rest will join what has already become a very large E-620 fan club.

Check out our Olympus E-620 Review.

Nikon D40

Street Price: $400

We knew it beforehand, and our research of only confirms it – the Nikon D40 is currently one of the best bargains in camera land. Debuting in 2006, and now available only on the used market, the D40 gets much love from critics and owners alike because it’s lightweight, easy to use, ergonomically pleasing, and capable of perfectly wonderful photographs. You won’t get nifty recent innovations such as Live View, but for newcomers to the SLR environment, folks on a budget, and hardcore picture-takers who love simplicity, the D40 remains a highly viable option.

Check out our Nikon D40 Review.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Street Price: $800

If you’re set on a high-grade DSLR that also does movies, but desperately want to keep your spending well under the $1000 mark, it’s really a two-horse race – the Rebel T1i or the Nikon D5000. The T1i’s appeal lies in the fact that much of its innards are derived from the much pricier, more sophisticated EOS 40D. Its fifteen megapixel sensor is probably overkill, but this is nevertheless a solid SLR that, if released even a couple years ago, would have set you back a couple grand.

Check out our Canon EOS Rebel T1i Review.

Nikon D5000

Street Price: $800

Like the Rebel T1i above, the Nikon D5000 borrows much from its upscale sibling, the highly respected D90. It also boasts nifty features such as an articulated screen, and sports extremely impressive low-light, low-noise numbers. The decision between this and the T1i will often come down to one simple question: Do you prefer Canon or Nikon cameras?

Check out our Nikon D5000 Review.

Also check out our picks for the Best Premium and Luxury DSLR Cameras.