You're ready. It's time to upgrade from your beloved compact, point-and-shoot camera to something more professional. But you're not necessarily looking to spend hundreds of extra dollars on multiple lenses, external lighting, or expensive accessories.
What you need is a high-end digital SLR camera that offers a wide range of compatibility, solid reach, and enough all-inclusive features to take you from beginner to expert level.
We've rounded up the D-SLRs with the lowest prices and the best grades from this past year to bring you the most affordable options under $900. These picks may not have made our Editors' Choice list (with the exception of one), but they all earned solid ratings of at least a three from our analysts.
Take a look at our selection, and happy shooting!
FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP:
Pentax K-r
$699.95
The entry-level Pentax K-r boasts fast continuous shooting and does a good job in low-light, but this D-SLR ships with a kit lens that is anything but sharp and lacks autofocus capability during video recording.
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Sony Alpha 35 (SLT-A35K)
$699.99
The Alpha 35 is a fast-shooting entry-level D-SLR that is capable of grabbing photos in subpar lighting conditions. It is held back by a so-so electronic viewfinder, which makes it a tough sell compared to D-SLRs with traditional optical finders.
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Canon EOS Rebel T3i
$899.99
The Canon EOS Rebel T3i is a fast, high-performing digital SLR, but it isn't as good as its predecessor, the Editors' Choice-winning T2i, which, thankfully, is still available.
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Canon EOS Rebel T3
$599.99
The Canon EOS Rebel T3 is a decent entry-level D-SLR, but spending just a little more can get you a better-performing compact interchangeable lens camera with a smaller build.
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Nikon D5100
$899.99
The Nikon D5100 offers a fantastic mix of still-image and video-recording quality, along with plenty of features, including top-notch in-camera effects. This well-rounded shooter is an easy Editors' Choice for under-$1,000 D-SLRs.
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