Entry-level digital SLRs are perfect for photographers who've gone beyond the basics and want to take photography a bit more seriously.
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Best DSLR
The point about DSLRs is that they deliver a big step up in image quality from a compact camera, much more manual control and the ability to change lenses to tackle a huge variety of projects.
Best of all, entry-level DSLRs are remarkably cheap. Obviously, the more features you want the more you pay, but do you actually need them? Our top camera is one of the cheapest – but it's still a serious camera that's a massive step up from a compact camera and is likely to do everything you want for a long time to come, especially if you're still learning.
There are four makers competing for your money. The two biggest are Nikon and Canon, but don't rule out Pentax DSLRs either, and we've included a Sony SLT camera, even though it's not strictly an SLR – it still looks like one, handles like one and does all the same things.