We have compared all the models of brands such as Canon, Nikon and Sony in search of the best professional SLR cameras of 2021 and we have found them. If you want to know both the winning camera and the rest of the finalists, keep reading.
Because choosing the best professional SLR camera is not just about looking at the one with the best features. You have to know how to see beyond and analyze the system as a whole. Also, keep in mind that although we give you our TOP 10, it will be you who has to choose the best SLR for you and everything will depend on what you are going to use it for. Know more about soccer ball.
The first question you have to ask yourself is what are you going to use the camera for? To do commercial photography, capture landscapes, fashion reports, travel sessions. In these cases, the resolution will be more important to you than the continuous firing speed. On the other hand, if you work as a professional in sectors such as sports photography or photo journalism, speed, autofocus and low-light performance will be much more important to you than the number of pixels.
But what if you’re a hybrid videographer or photographer? In this case you should look at professional mirrorless cameras where resolution takes a backseat and we look for features like 4K and 8K recording, uncropped shots, maximum recording times, frame rate and codecs. You might be interested in frisbee golf set.
What to think about before choosing your SLR
- Are you going to change the system? If so, we recommend that you investigate whether all your lenses and accessories are compatible or whether adapters are available. And it is that changing to a system that you already have is much easier (and cheaper) than starting from scratch.
- What lenses will you need? Think about your work and what kind of photography you are going to do. Depending on that, you will have to use one type of lens or another and knowing if the characteristics of the professional SLR camera that you are tempted to buy meets them is very important (if you do not want to spend a fortune on new lenses).
- DSLR or Evil ? Although it seems that mirrorless cameras (evil or mirror-less) are taking over the world, professional DSLR cameras still have their charm. Stop to think about what type of system you like the most or which one you are most used to and keep it in mind.
- Video or photos? If you are an off-road photographer who shoots videos and takes photos, your options to choose from will be more limited. And it is that although DSLR cameras can record video with high quality, mirrorless currently have the advantage in this point.
- How much budget do you have? Something that you will also have to take into account is the budget you have, since professional SLR cameras start at a much higher price compared to amateur cameras. A good option could be to buy second-hand reflex camera models, thus being able to save both money and waste. On the other hand, if you have an old SLR camera that you are no longer going to use, you can sell it and give it a second life, and thus get money to buy your new camera.
Our particular top 8 of the best professional SLRs
1. Nikon D850
We start our search for the best professional DSLR with the Nikon D850, a camera built for the highest resolution . In fact, despite being a DSLR (as opposed to mirrorless fashion) it doesn’t feel like an old camera at all, considering it was released in 2017. It has a big, chunky body that fits perfectly at hand and is ideal when we want to use large lenses. If we had to highlight something about the Nikon D850 as the best professional SLR camera, it would be its versatile nature, since it feels robust, fresh and exciting to use .
Specifications of the Nikon D850
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 45.7MP
- Lens mount: Nikon F
- Screen: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, 2.3 million dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps
- Maximum video resolution: 4K
- Approx. price: €2,700
What we like
- Large and bright viewfinder
- Sophisticated AF system
- superb resolution
what not
- slow focus
2.Canon EOS R6
The combination of speed, video and low-light performance is why the Canon EOS R6 has earned a place in our search for the best professional DSLR of 2021. This AI-powered Canon model offers a top speed of 20fps shooting and an autofocus that will get better the more you use it. As for its resolution, do not get carried away by its 20.1 MP, as this favors the Canon EOS R6 when shooting in low light environments. Thanks in part to its standard ISO range of 100-102,400 expandable to 50-204,800. In short, this is one of the best SLR cameras out there today, which prioritizes speed, cost, and low-light performance over resolution.pure and hard like other models.
Canon EOS R6 Specifications
- Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: Full Frame CMOS
- Megapixels: 20.1MP
- Screen: 3-inch fully articulating touch screen, 1,620k dots
- Continuous shooting speed: mechanical shutter 12fps and electronic 20fps
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch OLED EVF, 3,690k dots, 100% coverage
- Maximum video resolution: 4K UHD
- Approx. price: €2,800
What we like
- Mind-blowing autofocus
- excellent stabilization
what not
- Few megapixels on average
- 4K recording limits
3. Sony A7R IV
If you want megapixels The A7R IV is what you are looking for. This full-frame mirrorless camera finds its way into our search for the best professional DSLR of 2021 by having nothing more than 61 megapixels and being able to shoot at 10fps . And there are those who will not need more, but just in case you can also record Sony 4K video. Without a doubt, the Sony A7R IV is the best option for when we are looking to take pictures with the highest quality levels, especially for its price. In short, an impressive combination of resolution, speed and 4K video .
Specifications of the Sony A7R IV
- Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 61MP
- Lens mount: Sony
- Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.44 million dots
- Viewfinder: EVF, 5.76 million dots
- Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps
- Maximum video resolution: 4K
- Approx. price: €2,800
What we like
- Compact for full frame
- Highest full frame resolution to date
- Still capable of 10fps
what not
- Poor balance with larger goals
4. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
High resolutions, fast frame rates and great 4K video performance make the EOS 5D Mark IV a contender for the best pro DSLR in its price range (because yes, there are way more expensive ones on this list). If we were to blame it for anything, it would be excessive clipping in 4K mode when shooting wide scenes. This does not mean that the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is a very efficient, durable and versatile camera . Especially for its Dual Pixel AF technology that provides agile autofocus performance.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Specifications
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 30.4MP
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Screen: 3.2-inch touchscreen, 1.62 million dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps
- Maximum video resolution: 4K
- Approx. price: €2,850
What we like
- Responsive touch screen
- Impressive Live AF
what not
- 4K video cropping
5.Nikon Z7II
If you are a fan of Nikon and mirrorless cameras in equal parts, we are sure that you already knew the Nikon Z7 II. This updated version of the original Z7 does not stand out in any way compared to the rest of the cameras, but it does its job in all other sections remarkably well . And it is that in some aspects in which this camera has evolved are in its dual processors and dual memory card slots. Details that have made a great camera like this even better.
Specifications of the Nikon Z7 II
- Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: Full Frame CMOS
- Megapixels: 45.7MP
- Monitor: 3.2-inch tilting touch screen, 2,100K dots
- Continuous shooting speed: 10fps
- Viewfinder: EVF, 3,690k dots, 100% coverage
- Maximum video resolution: 4K UHD uncropped up to 30p, 4K UHD cropped up to 60p
- Approx. price: €4,100
What we like
- excellent image quality
- excellent handling
- 5-axis IS system
- Best-in-class build quality
what not
- Lower EVF resolution than rivals
- Non-Variable Tilt Angle Display
6.Canon EOS R5
As a still camera, the Canon EOS R5 is simply Canon’s best professional DSLR in terms of value for money. This model perfectly combines design, functionality and professional-level autofocus. If you are an off-road photographer straddling photography and video, this will be one of your favorite cameras. It has to be said that it is not perfect in everything , but when you consider the combination of its resolution, frame rate and video capabilities combined, it is an excellent camera.
Canon EOS R5 Specifications
- Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: Full Frame
- Megapixels: 45MP
- Lens mount: Canon RF
- Screen: 3.15-inch vari-angle touch screen, 2,100k dots
- Viewfinder: OLED EVF, 5,690k dots, 100% coverage, 0.76x magnification
- Maximum continuous shooting speed: 12fps mechanical shutter, 20fps electronic
- Maximum video resolution: 8K
- Approx. price: €4,500
What we like
- The best AF on the market
- The best full frame IBIS
- 8K video is amazing
what not
- Video recording limitations
- Standard 4K is fine
7. Nikon D6
If you have had the Nikon D5 in your hands you will notice a satisfying and familiar change when you use it to take your first photographs. And it is that among the novelties of the Nikon D6 we find a new 105-point AF system, continuous shooting at 14 fps and a silent mode at 10.5 fps . In addition, one of the reasons why we have included this model among the candidates for the best professional SLR camera is because Nikon has taken this last “professional” part seriously. And it is that the connectivity and productivity options of this camera are amazing. So if you are a fan of Nikon and have their entire collection of lenses, you should consider making the jump to the D6 model.
Specifications of the Canon Nikon D6
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 20.8MP
- Autofocus: 105 AF points, all cross-type
- Screen: 3.2 inches, 2,360,000 dots
- Maximum continuous shooting speed: 14fps
- Videos: 4K
- Approx. price: €5,200
What we like
- robust construction
- Professional connectivity and workflow
- 14fps shooting and 4K video
what not
- Your speed is not cheap
- The AF system has not yet been fully tested
8. Sony A9 Mark II
If you specialize in sports photography, the Sony A9 II is the best SLR on this list. This model has the fastest and fiercest full frame you can find , plus incredible speed and autofocus performance. As if that didn’t seem like much, the Sony A9 Mark II stands out in terms of connectivity and this mirrorless camera has nothing to fear from other professional DSLR cameras
Specifications of the Sony A9 Mark II
- Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: Full Frame
- Megapixels: 24.2MP
- Lens: Sony E mount
- Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1.44 million dots
- Viewfinder: EVF
- Maximum continuous shooting speed: electronic shutter 20fps, mechanical 10fps
- Maximum video resolution: 4K
- Approx. price: €5,400
What we like
- Amazing burst shots
- Incredible autofocus
- Unmatched connectivity
what not
- Menus are not practical
And so far the search for the best professional SLR camera for 2021 . But there are no cameras? You may be wondering… Yes, there are models like the Sony A1 and the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III that literally deserve to be in the top spot. For their respective prices of €6,800 and €7,500, they are a bit out of our budget (unless we look for these second-hand SLR models ). And remember the most important thing! We have given you a top, but the best reflex camera will be the one that suits you as a professional.
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