DSLR Camera Bodies and Kits

Body only or kit: what arrives with the camera

A kit pairs the body with a starter zoom such as an 18-55 mm lens, which on an APS-C sensor frames like roughly 27-88 mm on a full-frame camera. That range covers family snapshots and travel without a second lens. Choose body only if you already own lenses for the mount. Savings bundles add a bag, memory card, filters or a tripod, so check the title for exactly what is included, since accessory quality varies. Some listings here are mirrorless or cinema bodies, and the title says which.

Sensor size, megapixels and autofocus

Most DSLRs in the 18 to 26 megapixel range use an APS-C sensor, while full-frame bodies gather more light and give shallower depth of field but need larger, heavier lenses. Beyond about 24 megapixels extra resolution matters only for big prints or heavy cropping. The focus system matters more for action: a dedicated phase-detection sensor behind the mirror tracks moving subjects through the viewfinder, while live view on many DSLRs relies on slower contrast detection. A 3-inch rear screen is the norm, and a tilting one helps with low-angle shots.

Questions about DSLR Camera Bodies and Kits

Is the kit lens good enough to start with?

For daylight snapshots, travel and family photos, yes. Kit zooms are light and versatile but have modest maximum apertures, so low-light and portrait work benefits from adding a fast prime later, such as a 50 mm lens.

Will my old lenses fit a new DSLR?

Only if the mount matches. Canon EF and Nikon F lenses fit their own makers' bodies, and lenses made for APS-C cameras either do not mount or crop the image on full-frame bodies. Check the mount name in the title before assuming compatibility.

Do more megapixels give better pictures?

Not by themselves. Sensor size, lens quality and autofocus shape results more than resolution. Around 24 megapixels is ample for sharp prints and web use, and higher counts mainly add file size and demand more from your lenses.