Top 5 best powerful cameras in 2018 for taking amazing photos

Top cameras for begginers

1. Canon EOS Rebel SL2 / EOS 200D + EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM

The best all-round DSLR right now, with a beginner's focus but plenty of growing space

Pivoting touchscreen

Kit lens maximum aperture only f/4

AF system only has nine points

Best all-rounder Canon's latest entry-level model has a vari-angle touchscreen at its rear as its main shouting point, and this lets you frame up images and Full HD videos from all kinds of awkward positions (and even take selfies without bother). We also love the fact that you can start from a simple Guided user interface when you're just cutting your photographic teeth and then switch to the standard setup when you get more confident and want more options to hand. On top of that, you get Wi-Fi and NFC to keep you connected to smart devices without cables, 5fps burst shooting, the latest DIGIC 7 processing system and Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF system that keeps autofocus swift in live view and smooth when shooting videos, all in addition to over thirty years' of lens options to use alongside. Canon has squeezed a lot of goodness into the EOS 200D's body, so it deserves to be high up on your shortlist.

2. Nikon D3400 + AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

Nikon's junior DSLR offering is a lightweight, wirelessly connected option with access to decades' worth of optics.

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Effective Guide mode

Good optics rate

Audible when focusing

No touchscreen

Best basic DSLR If you're after a no-frills DSLR that takes great shots without costing a fortune, the D3400 is what you're after. While it's not the most significant update on the older D3300, it's a sound option if you don't fancy paying extra for things like a tilting LCD screen and touch-sensitive panel. What Nikon focuses on here is getting the basics right. So, the 24.2MP sensor comes without an anti-aliasing filter, for example, which helps it to record a little more fine detail in images that would be otherwise the case. There's also an 11-point AF system, which gives you two extra points over Canon's EOS 200D (above) and Full HD video recording to 60p. The Guide mode will also help you out when you're getting started, but perhaps the most impressive feature is battery life: at 1,200 shots per charge, it trounces all of its rivals, which typically only offer between 400-600 shots. Great for travelling and holidays, but a perfect all-rounder too.  

3. Pentax K-70 + HD DA 18-50mm f/4-5.6 DC WR RE

Rugged build and great specs make the K-70 a great alternative to more mainstream models

Image stabilisation

Robust and weather-resistant

Autofocus noisy and sluggish

Somewhat heavy

Best value entry-level DSLR The K-70 is a little pricier than some of the other options here, but it's arguably the best value entry-level DSLR you can buy right now, as it features so much you just won't find in any other DSLR at this price point. The standard pentamirror viewfinder you tend to find on every other similar DSLR, for example, is in fact a larger, brighter pentaprism on the K-70, while burst shooting is at 6fps and the maximum shutter speed very respectable at 1/6000sec. Perhaps more importantly, image stabilisation is built into the camera rather than the lens itself, which means you benefit from this with all mounted lenses, and the whole thing is wrapped up in a weather-resistant, freezeproof body. It's not the lightest model, and you won't quite get the same swift video autofocus as you do with Canon's EOS 200D, but if you want the best specs-to-price ratio at this level, the K-70 is a mighty fine choice.

4. Panasonic Lumix GX80 + Lumix G VARIO 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S.

If size is key, this tiny mirrorless camera with an equally compact kit lens is a perfect partner

4K video recording

Electronic viewfinder

Limited long exposures

Restricted tilt-screen range

Best for portability The diminutive GX80 can be adapted to the needs of any user, from the beginner that just wants to rely on the leave-it-to-the-camera Intelligent Auto option, to the photographer that want complete control over all exposure settings like shutter speed and aperture. This is also the only option in this selection that features 4K video recording, in contrast to the Full HD options found elsewhere (although you do also get Full HD recording here, for times when you don't need 4K). The built-in electronic viewfinder makes it a great option for using in harsh sunlight or darker conditions, while the tilting screen makes it easy to shoot from ground level. Together with Panasonic's tiny Micro Four Thirds lenses, this makes it a great choice for travelling or holidays.  

5. Nikon D5600 + AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

A more advanced DSLR for those who have a slightly bigger wallet.

Advanced AF system

Performs well at high ISOs

Not the cheapest entry-level camera

Snapbridge not great

Best advanced DSLR Perhaps less suited to absolute beginners, the D5600 lacks the D3400’s interactive Guide shooting mode, but it’s still easy to use with full Auto, Scene and Effects modes, and plenty of manual exposure control too. The 39-point AF system saturates the frame to a greater extent than the systems on the DSLRs above, which makes it even better for following moving subjects and for more precise control in general, while the 3.2in touchscreen is more generously sized than most others. Autofocus isn’t as accomplished as in the Canon EOS 200D or any of the compact system cameras here (particularly for video), but overall performance is still excellent.