What Is a Good Beginner Drone With Camera

While the best mirrorless cameras offer many of the same features as DSLRs these days, including a lot of lenses available and excellent image quality (often in a smaller body), there are still many reasons to opt for a DSLR. They're often more affordable, have better battery life, and there is an extensive range of lenses that has built up over many years. DSLRs often have a great grip and comfortable ergonomics, and always have a viewfinder, which some cheaper mirrorless cameras won't offer.

What is a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR)?

DSLRs have been around since the 1980s. These are interchangeable lens cameras that give you full creative control over your photography. You can buy a collection of lenses and other accessories to use with them, which will help you develop your skills. There's still the option to point and shoot, but for the amount of money you'll be paying, it's worth knowing your stuff. You may need a bag to carry around all the kit because the camera bodies and lenses can be big.

What's the difference between DSLR and mirrorless cameras?

If you're stuck between choosing a DSLR and a mirrorless camera, it's worth understanding the difference between them. Mirrorless cameras let light through directly to the sensor all the time and then digitally preview the image on the electronic viewfinder or LCD screen. In contrast, the mirror in a DSLR camera reflects light from the lens to the viewfinder. This means that when you look through the viewfinder, you are seeing exactly what the camera "sees". When you press the shutter button, the mirror flips out of the way, the shutter opens and the light hits the image sensor, capturing the final image.

Which is a better brand, Nikon or Canon?

When shopping around, you'll notice there are two main brands for DSLR cameras, Nikon and Canon. These brands have a long history of camera manufacturing and are clear leaders in SLR technology. Both offer a wide range of lenses to suit many budgets, so either is a good option if you're picking a camera and lens system to stick with when developing your photography.

Key features to look out for

Firstly, you should start looking for a DSLR that fits within your budget. They range from under £300 right up into the many thousands. If you already own a collection of lenses, then it could be a good idea to buy the body based on that. But if not then you should start with buying a DSLR that comes with a kit lens (this will be a reasonably versatile zoom) and build your collection from there. It's also worth thinking about battery life before you buy, especially if you intend to use it a lot. The average battery life for a DSLR is about 600 shots, though this number can be much higher or lower. Connectivity may also be important if you want to easily transfer files from the camera to your phone or computer using wi-fi or NFC (near field connectivity).

What's the difference between lenses on a camera?

Different lenses will be useful for taking different types of photo. You'll need to know what aperture and focal length you'll need when looking to buy a new lens.

Aperture
The maximum aperture refers to how much light the lens can let through to the sensor. Aperture is expressed in f-numbers like f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8 – the smaller the number, the more light entering the camera (and the more expensive the lens will be). Then, it's time to think about focal length.

Focal length
Focal length is represented in millimetres (mm) but doesn't refer to the length of the lens itself. These measurements indicate how much of the scene will be captured and how large individual parts of the scene will be.

Choosing lenses
There are lenses that are a fixed focal length (known as "prime" lenses) and those that have a variable focal length (zoom lenses). As a general rule of thumb, between 14-24mm is ultra-wide, 24-35mm is wide, 35mm-70mm is referred to as standard, and everything from 70-300mm is telephoto. However, this can vary depending on the size of your sensor.

Do more megapixels mean better photo quality?

Not necessarily. You'll see the number of megapixels (MP) when comparing models, but the quality of megapixels matters just as much as quantity. More pixels doesn't always mean more detail, as some would have you believe. If you're planning on making large prints of photos, megapixels can matter, but it won't be important if you're just sharing snaps on social media. A higher amount will mean a larger sharp print can be made from the image, though. The DSLRs on our list are between 20 and 25MP, which is more than enough. It's important to remember that megapixels aren't the be-all and end-all, the size of the image sensor and the type of lenses available will have more of an impact on the image quality.

Manual controls explained

DSLRs allow you to control everything manually, including the shutter speed (how quickly the shutter opens and closes), the aperture (the opening that controls the amount of light that passes through the lens and falls on the image sensor), and ISO (the sensitivity of the sensor). Most models will come with a range of preset scene modes – landscape, portrait, night etc – to help you get the shot without having to tweak any manual settings, but playing around with manual settings is the best way to get creative and learn more about photography.

Is a DSLR camera good for video?

If you're looking to shoot video too, a DSLR is a great option. Many of these cameras can be highly versatile and deliver high-quality results. Consider the resolution the camera is capable of when you're looking at your options. Some will shoot in HD and others will be able to record 4K videos.

How we test cameras

The GHI tests cameras in the same way you'll use them. We test cameras with the kit lens (or one provided for testing if it doesn't come in a kit), so it'll be important to remember that buying different additional lenses will improve different aspects of the photos you take. We look at how quickly they turn on and how fast they are to be ready for the next shot, how well images fare in a number of different conditions including low-light, natural light and close-up, how well they take photos of people and how clearly videos come out too, among many other factors. We've tested over 100 different cameras available at the moment to help you decide which ones are really worth buying and why. Our top seven picks in this roundup are all below £1,000 and cater to both beginner and intermediate photographers.

Nikon amazon.co.uk

£489.00

Score: 90/100

This Nikon model is aimed at the keen amateur looking for a versatile, easy-to-use camera offering plenty of features and creative control. It has a long battery life and can be constantly connected via Bluetooth to your smartphone and transfer your photos as they take them. It has both a viewfinder and a large 3.2in fully-articulated touchscreen to help you frame your shots.

Key Specifications
Type: DSLR
Dimensions: 16.5 x 22 x  13.6cm
Weight: 655g
Resolution: 24.2MP
Battery life: 970 shots
Screen: 3.2in LCD touchscreen

Nikon D5600 Review

Canon amazon.co.uk

Score: 88/100

Aimed at photographers looking for an uncomplicated and relatively inexpensive introduction to DSLRs, this camera has a simple and robust body. You'll have access to Canon's extensive lens range too. It has impressive autofocus, a user-friendly design, and effective image stabilisation. It also has wireless connectivity built-in which makes it easy to sync your camera with your smartphone to share photos.

Key Specifications
Type: DSLR
Dimensions: 9.99 x 13.1 x 7.62 cm
Weight: 750g
Resolution: 24.2MP
Battery life: 600 shots
Screen: 3in LCD touchscreen

Canon EOS 800D Review

EOS 77D

Canon amazon.co.uk

Score: 86/100

This model has an excellent touchscreen interface with a helpful quick control panel and clear optical viewfinder. Shots are impressive in low and high lighting conditions. Useful features include wireless connectivity to quickly send photos to Canon's smartphone app and a really fast 45-point autofocus. Unfortunately, it lacks an exposure control dial which would improve manual control. And it only films video in HD, as opposed to 4K. If you just plan to take photos though, it's worth considering.

Key Specifications
Type: DSLR
Dimensions: 9.99 x 13.1 x 7.62cm
Weight: 540g
Resolution: 24.2MP
Battery life: 600 shots
Screen: 3in LCD touchscreen

Canon EOS 77D Review

D7500

Nikon amazon.co.uk

£1,182.67

Score: 84/100

The photos this DSLR produces make it well worth the price tag. On test, outdoor photos were particularly vivid and sharp. Close-up shots were also impressive, capturing the smallest of details. It also records video in high-quality 4K too. But the stand-out feature of the camera is the incredible battery life which lasts for up to 950 shots and records up to 80 minutes of video. It is quite a heavy device, though.

Key Specifications
Type: Compact
Dimensions: 10.4 x 13.55 x 7.25
Weight: 720g
Resolution: 20.9MP
Battery life: 950 shots
Screen: 3in LCD touchscreen

Nikon D7500 Review

EOS 2000D

Canon amazon.co.uk

£409.00

Score: 82/100

Ideal for beginners, this DSLR has an accessible price tag and good picture quality. Shots in natural light and photos of people boasted striking colours and details. We found the outdoor shots impressive too. Despite its intimidating looks, it is very easy to use. There are some drawbacks, though. It lacks a premium build quality, and the zoom on the bundled lens was also not as smooth as we'd like.

Key Specifications
Type: Compact
Dimensions: 10.13 x 12.9 x 7.76cm
Weight: 475g
Resolution: 24.1MP
Battery life: 500 shots
Screen: 3in LCD

Canon 2000D Review

EOS 250D

Canon amazon.co.uk

£629.00

Score: 82/100

This device is ideal for both photography enthusiasts looking for a more portable DSLR, and for beginners who need a camera that can produce brilliant shots without fiddling around loads of settings. The 4K video recording and still image quality is great, with its portrait and outdoor shots being the most impressive. Our biggest gripe was the battery life, which lasts for just 320 shots when using the screen on the back. But if you stick to using the viewfinder it can last over 1,000.

Key Specifications
Type: DSLR
Dimensions: 9.26 x 12.24 x  6.98cm
Weight: 449g
Resolution: 24.1MP
Battery life: 320 shots
Screen: 3in LCD touchscreen

Canon EOS 250D Review

K-70

Pentax amazon.co.uk

£679.00

Score: 78/100

This DSLR takes good photos and is simple to use. The images taken of people were especially impressive, plus shots outdoors were colourful and vibrant, capturing a lot of small details. The HD video wasn't as impressive, though, and sometimes flickered. We also weren't impressed by the battery life either, which only lasted for 480 shots (compared to 600 shots from a lot of other DSLRs).

Key Specifications
Type: DSLR
Dimensions: 9.3 x 12.55 x 7.4cm
Weight: 688g
Resolution: 24.2MP
Battery life: 480 shots
Screen: 3in LCD

Pentax K-70 Review

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What Is a Good Beginner Drone With Camera

Source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews/tech/g689051/best-dslr-cameras/

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