Best SLR Camera on a Budget

Picking out the best SLR camera can extremely challenging. There is so much information out there that it's difficult to wade through it all.

Remember a couple years ago when a good point and shoot camera could be more than $500 and you waited til it was on sale? Well, now you can get an entry level digital SLR camera for about the same price.

So anybody looking to upgrade their photography equipment or pursue a budding interest in photography can easily find an SLR camera that meets their needs and their budget. These entry level SLR cameras are great if you're pursuing photography as a hobby and interested in upgrading your equipment to an SLR with a couple of lenses.

Maybe you're the "family photographer" or you love to document your vacations through photographs. Maybe you're interested in taking a photography class to improve your skills overall. Or maybe you're a student looking to explore the field of photography?

No matter who you are or what your focus is, you can find an SLR camera that's right for you. Here are a handful of beginner friendly SLR cameras. Make sure you also get an 18-55mm lens with any of these camera bodies.

Nikon D5000

According to Nikon, this 12.3-megapixel camera has a Live View monitor for fresh picture-taking perspectives. Nikon's image processing offers continuous shooting at up to 4 frames-per-second to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly as well as image
stabilization. You can record HD movie clips and it has 19 Auto-Exposure Scene modes. It's got built in Image Sensor Cleaning that keeps your images 'speck' free.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i

According to Canon, this camera includes a 15.1 Megapixel sensor, a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD with anti-reflective and scratch resistant coating, HD video capture at resolutions up to 1920 x 1080. It's got a View Live function that helps with photo composition and an HDMI port allows for connections to high definition TVs and monitors for easy viewing of your stills and video. And the Creative Auto function lets beginners learn about photography.

Canon EOS Rebel XSi

Here's another great Canon with a 12.2-megapixel sensor featuring Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System for spot-free photos, Live View Function, 3.0-inch LCD monitor, and compatibility with SD and SDHC memory cards. It has an Auto Optimization feature that helps in tricky lighting conditions and a Live View function.

Pentax k200D

According to Pentax it has an easy-to-use interface with 10.2 mega-pixels and a 2.7-inch wide-view LCD. Auto Picture and Scene modes that offer shooting ease, while advanced modes, such as the Sv mode, allow photographers to grow with the camera. Custom Image functions that allow users to select between six preset options and further adjust image processing. An improved Dust Reduction system and a Shake Reduction (SR) system for sharp, blur-free images even under difficult shooting conditions.

Nikon D3000

According to Nikon this digital SLR has 10.2-megapixel, image stabilization to reduce camera shake for sharper hand-held pictures, and a 3-inch LCD monitor. Nikon simplifies picture taking of portraits, sports, landscapes, and more, with icon-identified Scene Modes that improve your photos automatically. The image processor works with a Scene Recognition System for precise automatic exposures and the on-board Guide Mode helps new users get up to speed.

With the abundance of beginner-friendly and budget-friendly cameras available, don't you think it's time to take your photography to the next level? These SLR cameras will help you easily upgrade your photographs without much effort. For more information on SLR cameras check out Best SLR Camera.