Camera Bag

Digital Camera Buying Guide - Models

Model Selection

Digital cameras are categorized below by their overall quality and their size. Dozens of web-sites were researched to accurately determine the quality of each camera below. Look for the models which have the major features you need and pick the ones of highest quality. Those are the best ones for your needs.

Click on a size to matching digital camera models. Click on a camera model name to see detailed information about it, including specifications and reviews.

DSLR Advanced Icons

All digital SLR cameras provide advanced features including high-ISO, full-manual controls, custom white-balance, a hot-shoe, long shutter-speeds for night photography, fast shutter-speeds for action photography and more. For this reason, the table below omits the following icons which are common to all DSLR cameras:

SLR
High ISO
Manual Controls
Custom White-Balance
Hot Shoe
Action photography
Night photography

To distinguish between DSLR camerasThey would otherwise have the same basic set of icons., icons describing advanced features are used in the table below. Remeber that all the icons listed above apply to all DSLR cameras. A brief defintion of these icons can be expanded by clicking on the title below. The detailed definition of each of these icons appears in the icon glossary.

Advanced Icons

	Brand / Model		Date
Excellent +	Pentax K-5 IIs	16 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Automatic Level: Corrects for some degree of tilt to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2012-09-10
Excellent	Canon EOS 5D Mark III	22 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash Type I memory.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2012-03-02
Excellent	Nikon D3100	14 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2010-08-19
Excellent	Nikon D3X	25 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash memory.Neocamera detailed review	2008-12-01
Excellent	Nikon D4	16 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash Type I memory.Accepts XQD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2012-01-06
Excellent	Nikon D5100	16 MegapixelsSmall Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2011-04-05
Excellent	Nikon D600	24 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed reviewNeocamera hands-on review	2012-09-18
Excellent	Nikon D7000	16 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2010-09-15
Excellent	Nikon D800	36 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringWeatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Accepts Compact Flash Type I memory.Neocamera detailed review	2012-02-07
Excellent	Nikon D90	12 MegapixelsLarge Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.720p HD Video: 1280 x 720 resolution or more but less than 1920 x 1080.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Accepts Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2008-08-27
Excellent	Olympus E-5	12 MegapixelsMedium 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 and 100% coverage.Unlimited Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more until memory is full.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.720p HD Video: 1280 x 720 resolution or more but less than 1920 x 1080.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Accepts Compact Flash memory.Neocamera detailed review	2010-09-14
Excellent	Olympus Evolt E-620	12 MegapixelsSmall Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Unlimited Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more until memory is full.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Accepts Compact Flash memory.Accepts xD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2009-02-24
Excellent	Pentax K-5	16 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Automatic Level: Corrects for some degree of tilt to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2010-09-20
Excellent	Pentax K-5 II	16 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Automatic Level: Corrects for some degree of tilt to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2012-09-10
Good	Canon EOS 7D	18 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash memory.Neocamera detailed review	2009-09-01
Good	Nikon D3200	24 MegapixelsSmall Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2012-04-19
Good	Nikon D5200	24 MegapixelsSmall Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed review	2012-11-06
Unrated	Canon EOS 1D X	18 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Unlimited Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more until memory is full.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash memory.	2011-10-18
Unrated	Canon EOS 5D Mark II	21 MegapixelsLarge Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash memory.	2008-09-17
Unrated	Canon EOS 60D	18 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2010-08-26
Unrated	Canon EOS 60Da	18 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2012-04-03
Unrated	Canon EOS 6D	20 MegapixelsLarge Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Built-In GPSAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2012-09-17
Unrated	Canon EOS Rebel SL1	18 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2013-03-21
Unrated	Canon EOS Rebel T2i	18 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2010-02-08
Unrated	Canon EOS Rebel T3	12 MegapixelsSmall Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.720p HD Video: 1280 x 720 resolution or more but less than 1920 x 1080.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2011-02-07
Unrated	Canon EOS Rebel T3i	18 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2011-02-07
Unrated	Canon EOS Rebel T4i	18 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Short Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2012-06-08
Unrated	Canon EOS Rebel T5i	18 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Short Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2013-03-21
Unrated	Nikon D300S	12 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.720p HD Video: 1280 x 720 resolution or more but less than 1920 x 1080.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash memory.Accepts Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and SD memory.	2009-07-31
Unrated	Nikon D700	12 MegapixelsLarge Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash memory.	2008-07-01
Unrated	Nikon D7100	24 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2013-02-20
Unrated	Nikon D800E	36 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size over 0.7 and 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringWeatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Accepts Compact Flash Type I memory.	2012-02-07
Unrated	Olympus Evolt E-30	12 MegapixelsSmall Viewfinder: Effective size below 0.5 with less than 100% coverage.Unlimited Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more until memory is full.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Level: Measures camera tilt and helps to keep the horizon level.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Live-View: Lets DSLR cameras use the rear LCD as an EVF.Accepts Compact Flash memory.Accepts xD memory.	2008-11-05
Unrated	Pentax K-30	16 MegapixelsLarge 100% Coverage Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 and 100% coverage.Short Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Automatic Level: Corrects for some degree of tilt to keep the horizon level.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Weatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Runs on standard AA batteriesAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.	2012-05-21
Unrated	Pentax K-r	12 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Short Fast Continuous Drive: 5 FPS or more.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.720p HD Video: 1280 x 720 resolution or more but less than 1920 x 1080.Spot MeteringDepth-Of-Field Preview: Improve perception of DOF before shooting.Runs on standard AA batteriesAccepts Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and SD memory.	2010-09-09
Unrated	Sigma SD1 Merrill	15 MegapixelsLarge Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.6 and 0.7 with less than 100% coverage.Spot MeteringWeatherproof - Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.Accepts Compact Flash Type I memory.	2011-05-20
Unrated	Sigma SD15	4 MegapixelsMedium Viewfinder: Effective size between 0.5 and 0.6 with less than 100% coverage.Long Slow Continuous Drive: 2 FPS or more for at least 5 seconds.Spot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and SD memory.	2010-02-20

Back to choosing basics Proceed to

Built-in stabilization. Stablizes all lenses at no extra cost.	Built-in dust-reduction. Reduces dust accumulation from the image sensor.
Weather-proof. Seals protect from dust, humidity and light splashing.	Spot metering. Available in addition to multi-segment and center-weighed or average.	Depth-of-field preview. Stops down the aperture with the press of a button.
Level. Indicates the camera tilt, to take level pictures.	Automatic level. Corrects slight camera tilt for level pictures.	Live view. LCD shows 100% coverage, correct exposure, color and allows autofocus.
An extra-large viewfinder with less than 100% frame coverage.	An extra-large viewfinder with 100% frame coverage.
A large viewfinder with less than 100% frame coverage.	A large viewfinder with 100% frame coverage.	A small viewfinder with less than 100% frame coverage.
A medium viewfinder with less than 100% frame coverage.	A medium viewfinder with 100% frame coverage.
Unlimited 2 to 4 FPS continuous drive.	Long duraction 2 to 4 FPS continuous drive.	Short duraction 2 to 4 FPS continuous drive.
Long duration 5 FPS or more continuous drive.	Short duration 5 FPS or more continuous drive.