2017 Roundup: Interchangeable Lens Cameras around $500

yes the SL1/100D is the smallest...in the UK the SL1 is £289GBP body only
the Nikon D5500 body is £550...so not in the same class...the D3300 is the same price as the SL1..apart from the better D3300 sensor the SL1 out speks it with very slightly better AF..much better AF in live view and a very well implemented 3.2inch touch screan ...i run a 5D as a main camera and a SL1 for a small DSLR .....i was VERY interested in the D750 so think the D3300 will do for the compact body ..but had picked out some older but very good nikon lenses then realised they will not AF on a small Nikon body ..so i hit that on the head and waiting to see what the Canon 6Dmkii has to offer when it arrives

Also D5500 is much better than D3400 b/c D5500 has:
- Wireless, Bluetooth, Smartphone_remote control
- fully articular LCD
- Better and larger LCD screen
- Touch screen
- 3 times more of the number of Focus Points of d3400
- Microphone Port
- Timelapse Recording
- AE Bracketing

D3400 has none of above. NIKON can add some features/function to d3400 via FW update such as last two items, that's about it.

I will go for d5500 if I ever consider d3400 b/c it does NOT worth the saving.

P.S.

Also, SONY Cameras have Android subsystem to let you to download APPs to the camera, and some of them are very useful, take a look:

https://www.playmemoriescameraapps.com/portal/

As well, SONY also provide APIs for users who want to write own APPs for the cameras, Check it out:

https://developer.sony.com/develop/cameras/

Yup, the IR remote feature is pretty unique. Where most cameras can only control the shutter, you can almost control the entire camera by remote on some cameras. Example:

https://www.amazon.com/JJC-RM-DSLR2-Wireless-Replaces-RMT-DSLR2/dp/B00BEGFOA0/

@Dr Blackjack: I think you've answered the question I asked in my earlier comment about what's been updated in this roundup since the last update. The answer seems to be "nothing".

But that may or may not be a US version, depending on who is selling it. If it's a US version (not grey market) Nikon has very strict rules about pricing, even for companies selling on Amazon, if they are acquiring their cameras (which are being resold) through proper channels. Yes, there are probably some for $396 with lens, but are these US versions or grey market? My guess based on the price is it's grey market equipment, which there is nothing really wrong (same hardware and performance) but you just don't get the US warranty. Plus it also affects resale value, but we won't go into grey market. Furthermore, if it was a US model for less than $396, wouldn't DPR not then include it in this round-up? I believe they use MSRP pricing, which is what you can pretty much expect to pay to get a US-model (or a model that's appropriate for the country) that has an OEM warranty.

It's not gray market, it's the current standard price just about everywhere. Nikon USA is selling them for 399, Best Buy for 399, Amazon for 396, and B&H has it at 396. None of those places try to trick you with gray market items. Adorama has them refurbished for 359.

I agree... I prefer mirrorless cameras but if it was between a camera with only an LCD and one with an optical VF, I'd probably go with the latter... OF course, what I'd do is buy a last generation mirrorless used for a great deal (like Em10) but if I were forced to buy new....

Thanks Richard, in regard to EVF contrast, I know you mention this in the reviews for any camera in general, but do you have a personal rough ranking how different cameras compare? Or would it be even possible to measure it?

I've checked the specs for several recent Olympus, Sony, Fuji and Leica cameras and in none the display type of the EVF is mentioned, which I assume means they are all LCD? Interestingly, the original E-M5 also seems to be the only mirrorless camera with an OLED back display.

I'd get an Em10 mk I or II, whatever you can afford.... Go used and you can definitely find one for well under your $500 budget.

The Olympus camera+lens kit I mentioned is under $500 at B+H (or was when I posted).

My friend bought the 3400 from Costco and is happy.

I bought a D3400 after reading your comments - basically to put some lenses I still owned to use. Its my main camera now due to its size and ease of use. Funny how much more elaborate and expensive gear stays at home now. ;)
Snapbridge works fine now btw. (Basic GeoTagging is very efficient and small pics to share online work fine, I shoot raw for everything else anyway). Very nifty

i can understand that pov, perhaps future reviews targeting the 500 dollar price point can mention older models that could make sense for certain users with specific needs not addressed by cameras in the list

Hey Richard, I'll write an article about buying value leading used cameras as long as there is a way to update and discuss "recommendations" with the community. :) Many of us keep a pulse on used markets. We are market mavens and it could be valuable for the community to have such a resource. For example, the under $100 range is particularly interesting.

Most people who buy used gear know what they are looking for (or have a friend that knows that). It's very complicate to dive into that, as usually they are looking for specific things, and a general review simply can't address that well.
For example, an used EOS 5D (mk 1) with an used 85/1.8 USM lens can produce much more outstanding results for someone looking into portrait (a student, hobbyist on a budget etc) that anything you can buy new for the same money. It will not have wi-fi though for easy uploading your images on FB, though :) ...

The sell price of a product is the price used by most of sellers. It's not so complicated. I can tell you the price in France, Spain, States or any other country. Usually it matchs because the company fix it. And usually . Yes, we can choose the easy way, or we can choose the practical way.
But in a buying guide, the price is as much important as all the technical/expert opinion of the camera.

So, which is the best option a6000 or fujifilm x-a3? We can't know. I would say the A6000, but this site is telling me that the x-a3.

I suppose the a6000 is better because it's the best value in the next range. My comment was to give an opinion to improve this site. I dont get your comment Santana saying fan boy....

I didn't say fanboy, I said fan of Sony and fan of Fujifilm, there's nothing wrong with being a fan of a particular brand's way of doing thing. Fanboys on the other hand are idiots who will criticize all other brands in an effor to justify their own's shortcomings. I am a fan of certain attributes and no maker as yet has come up with a camera that makes me think they are the best, I love fuji's jpegs but don't like their colour array and prefer nikon's imaging pipeline (sony sensor > nikon processor) in terms of handling and controls I like panasonics (g85) and don't mind their menus but prefer Canon's menu's and their implementation of touch screen interface control. Unfortuntaly I don't like anything Sony has produces as yet other than their sensor obviously.

" Usually it matchs because the company fix it. "

Several camera companies exert a lot more control over enforcing their MSRP than others, and that too varies by country, so what you're saying isn't really very accurate. For instance you'll never see Olympus stuff under MSRP in the US unless it's during one of the frequent Oly approved $50-200 off sales, whereas Panasonic prices tend to be all over the place.

Then you start talking about grey market prices and imports and eBay and and... Never mind older models that may or may not be discontinued and on clearance, etc etc. I can see why they simply go by MSRP at DPR.