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While the best mirrorless camera models catch up, full-frame DSLRs have long been the cameras of choice for photographers who strive for optimum image quality and performance. And nowadays, several very different models can be purchased at a reasonable price (especially with some for the Best cheap camera acts we’ve ever seen). So what are the Best Full Frame DSLRs?
We think The Best full-frame DSLR right now is the Nikon D780, which offers a brilliant balance between price and features and is perhaps one of the best DSLR cameras. Compared to APS-C and smaller image sensors, full-screen sensors ensure that individual pixels can be physically larger, allowing them to collect more light. This offers the possibility for relatively noise-free images, even at high ISO settings.
Alternatively, camera makers can pack full-frame sensors with more megapixels for a beautiful display of fine details and texture. Full-frame cameras also provide a much tighter depth of field for portrait photography and still life photography – creating a beautiful ‘bokeh’ background that makes your photos look professional if you use them with fast lenses with a large aperture.
Best Full-Frame DSLR Cameras List
So there are many reasons for creative photographers to opt for a full-frame DSLR, but value for money varies significantly from model to model. That’s why it’s worth examining the full range of what’s on to make sure you get The Best model for your needs.
Nikon D780
A great value full frame DSLR packing up-to-date tech
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 24.4MP
- Screen: 3.2in tilting screen, 2,359,800 dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 12fps
- Max video resolution: 4K
- User level: Enthusiast/professional
The Nikon D750 was one of the best all-around DSLRs ever made, and the D780 is even better. Modernizing the older camera with uncut 4K video, a touchscreen, and a host of small but valuable improvements, the Nikon D780 is either living proof that there is still life in the DSLR, or the most fitting swan song imaginable. As you’d expect from a company that’s been in the business as long as Nikon, the D780 steers like a dream and is a pleasure to use, and thanks to advanced features like fast phase-detection live-view AF, it’s just as proficient in live-view as when you use the viewfinder (if anything, even better). If the price is a little too high for you, Nikon will be selling the D750 for a while, so consider that for another excellent all-rounder DSLR.
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Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
The best of DSLRs and mirrorless? It can be done, and now it has!
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 20.1MP
- Screen: 3.2in fixed touchscreen, 2.1million dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 16fps (mechanical shutter) / 20fps (Live View + mechanical or electronic shutter)
- Max video resolution: 4K
- User level: Professional
After Sony threw down a colossal gauntlet with the A9 II, many photographers wondered if there could really be serious competition, especially in the world of DSLRs. The answer turned out to be a resounding yes, as Canon presented the incredible EOS-1DX Mark III. With so many advanced features, it’s hard to get started: deep learning AF that gets better the more you use it, an amazing Smart Controller that makes using the camera an infinitely better experience, and 4K video without cropping (finally, Canon…)! These mirrorless attributes are in a body that also has the benefits of a DSLR, such as an optical viewfinder. The best of both worlds? No doubt about it. One of the best cameras out there, period? You’d be hard-pressed to argue otherwise.
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Nikon D6
The best upgrade for Nikon professionals, but outclassed by rivals
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 20.8MP
- Screen: 3.2in fixed touchscreen, 2.359million dots
- Viewfinder: Optica
- Max burst speed: 14fps (mechanical shutter)
- Max video resolution: 4K
- User level: Professional
Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re a professional photographer, shoot primarily (or exclusively) and already own a lot of Nikon glass, buying the D6 is a no-brainer. This workhorse of a camera does everything you need and more, with a powerful photo-taking machine in a rugged, impact-resistant body. It shoots and shoots, accurately and reliably. With professional cameras like this, however, it’s worth seeing them in the context of the competition – and if you’re looking to upgrade to a professional model for the first time, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III and the Sony A9 II both offer more interesting feature sets, with better video specs and faster frame rates.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II
For top performance without spending over the odds, this is The Best buy
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full-frame
- Megapixels: 26.2MP
- Lens mount: Canon EF
- Screen: 3.2in touch, pivot 1,040,000 dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 6.5fps
- Max video resolution: 1080p
- User level: Enthusiast
It took Canon six years to update the original 6D, but the Mark II is well worth the wait. Both versions deliver lush image quality, but the new version adds a whole host of improvements in operation, as well as a higher number of megapixels and a processor of the latest generation. Major upgrades include two new autofocus systems, with the main AF module having 45 phase-detection points, all of which are cross-type. The older camera only had 11 AF points with one cross sensor.
Autofocus is much faster for live image and video thanks to the Mark II’s Dual Pixel AF image sensor, which enables hybrid phase/contrast detection. A small problem with shooting with a viewfinder is that the AF points only fill a relatively central part of the image and that the viewfinder itself does not provide 100% image coverage. However, the new, fully articulated touchscreen looks excellent from every angle and works as a treat for automatically selecting AF points and navigating through the intuitive ‘Quick’ menu.
Further improvements include a sportier maximum burst speed of 6.5 fps instead of 4.5 fps, 5-axis stabilization for movie recording, and the addition of NFC and Bluetooth to the existing Wi-Fi and GPS. All in all, the Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a blast. And of course, if you want a groundbreaking alternative, the new Canon EOS RP is a mirrorless version of the 6D Mark II. Overall, this is one for the Best Full Frame DSLR that you can buy right now.
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Canon EOS 5DS R
More megapixels than any other full-frame DSLR
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 50.6MP
- Screen: 3.2in fixed, 1,040,000 dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 5fps
- Max video resolution: 1080p
- User level: Professional
The appearance and operation of the EOS 5DS R are almost identical to the older EOS 5D Mark III, which is not a bad thing. However, Canon has redesigned the newer body to be stiffer yet lighter, and there is a new shutter that reduces vibration. The EOS 5DS R is simply epic for capturing details and texture. Some Canon lenses from Canon did not reach the approved list for use with this camera because they are not sharp enough to do this justice.
The interaction is that images with high ISO cause relatively much noise, and it is likely that Canon has limited the standard ISO range to a maximum ISO 6,400 setting. Hence, it is not always The Best option when shooting in low light something for you. The model was launched alongside the more affordable EOS 5DS, which is mostly the same model, with the difference that the effects of the optical low-pass filter are not eliminated. Overall, this is one for the Best Full Frame DSLR right now.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Jack of all trades and master of most of them
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 30.4MP
- Screen: 3.0in fixed touchscreen, 1,620,000 dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 7fps
- Max video resolution: 4K
- User level: Professional
The EOS 5D Mark IV is the newest generation sensor from Canon and builds on the bones of the EOS 5D Mark III in several important ways. For example, the metering system and the 61-point autofocus module are updated with all AF points that support f / 8 lens-teleconverter combinations. The autofocus in Live View is also excellent thanks to Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. Weather seals have also been improved, while a new touchscreen quickly cuts you through menu choices, and Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS have all been added.
It may not be The Best 4K camera, thanks to a substantial crop factor and the somewhat inefficient Motion JPEG format, but the 5D Mark IV still delivers excellent results when it comes to video. The image quality is undeniably attractive, with high ISO images that are more detailed than those of the EOS 6D and yet are free from noise. Although it lacks the second card slot, the Canon EOS R is furthermore a mirrorless version of the 5D Mark IV. Overall, this is one for the Best Full Frame DSLR that you can buy.
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Nikon D610
Not the newest DSLR but superb value for money nonetheless
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 24.3MP
- Screen: 3.2in, 921k dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Continuous shooting speed: 6fps
- Max video resolution: Full HD
- User level: Enthusiast
The Nikon D610 is still the cheapest full-frame Nikon DSLR, and if you don’t need the latest features, it’s worth considering. Of course, it may not have all the great tricks of the D750 (below), such as a tilting screen or Wi-Fi, but you still get a 24.3 MP full-frame sensor, two card slots, Full HD video and one (fixed) 3.2 in LCD. The image quality is excellent, and the autofocus system works very well, even though this is not the newest module that Nikon offers. The D610 would be a great first-time full-frame camera or a suitable backup body for a more advanced model. Overall, this is one for the Best Full Frame DSLR to buy.
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Nikon D750
Versatility, value and excellent image quality
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 24.3MP
- Screen: 3.2in tilting screen, 1,228,800 dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 6.5fps
- Max video resolution: 1080p
- User level: Enthusiast/professional
For all-around capacities, the D750 has proven to be our favorite Nikon DSLR. The 24MP sensor has an optical low-pass filter to protect against more patterns and artificial colors, and this is linked to an EXPEED 4 processor, while the bodywork is finished with a tilting rear screen and dual card slots. Inside, Nikon has equipped the camera with a 51-point AF system, Wi-Fi, and the option to take pictures at a highly respectable 6.5 fps high-ISO image quality is about as noise-free as the Canon EOS 6D. Still, its 51-point autofocus system of the D750 is in the offing. The image quality is lush in all respects, and the overall performance is spectacular, given the relatively low price of the camera. This is perhaps the Nikon DSLR with The Best price you can get now.
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Nikon D850
With a 45.7MP sensor, fast burst shooting and 4K video, the D850 truly does it all
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 45.7MP
- Screen: 3.2in tilting touchscreen, 2.6million dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 7fps
- Max video resolution: 4K
- User level: Professional
It’s hard to imagine a camera that has had just as much impact as the D850 in recent years, and it certainly has strong competition. While most DSLRs have high-resolution images or speed and sensitivity as a priority, the D850 manages both, with its 45.7MP sensor, 7 fps burst recording mode, and the same 153-point AF system that won many fans when it first entered the D5 goes through a long list of impressive specifications. Many reasons make it one for the Best Full Frame DSLR that you can buy.
With a great 4K video that this is considered The Best camera for filmmaking by some users, along with excellent build quality and all the adjustments you need, and you can see how likely it will appeal to a landscape photographer, such as a wedding or event shooter. At present, perhaps the only sign is that Nikon also has several excellent full-frame alternatives that cost a little less, such as the compact D750 and the D810 that it replaces. But still, if it is the latest technology, versatility, and quality of both photos and videos that you are looking for, there is nothing nice about it right now.
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Pentax K-1 II
A tough DSLR with real finesse under its thick skin
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 36.4MP
- Screen: 3.2in pivoting screen, 1,037,000 dots
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Max burst speed: 4.4/6.4fps
- Max video resolution: 1080p
- User level: Enthusiast/professional
Pentax usually makes extra efforts when it comes to building quality. The K-1 Mark II feels typically robust, solid, and reliable and has a full set of weather seals. The number of megapixels is impressive at 36.4 MP, and the tilting LCD on the back is comparatively high, but it is not a touch screen. Going better than some of the latest Canon DSLRs, the Pentax has a 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization system that works for photos rather than just for movie recording.
Not only for beating camera shake with a connected lens, but the stabilization system also has advanced modes for anti-aliasing correction and for improving the capture of fine details. This is based on shifting the sensor by small amounts through a series of four exposures to create a super-high-resolution image. There is also an ‘Astro-tracer’ mode, which uses the built-in GPS module, the electronic compass, and horizontal/vertical tilt sensors, together with the stabilization system, to prevent celestial bodies from appearing through the sky in long exposures stripes.
Thesensor-based autofocus for live view and movie recording, on the other hand, is relatively weak, and the resolution of movies comes with 1080p. For still images, the full-frame burst speed is a 4.4fps pedestrian. However, this increases to 6.4 fps in APS-C crop mode, which also increases the effective range of telephoto lenses, albeit with a decrease in the number of megapixels. Overall, this is one for the Best Full Frame DSLR that you can buy.
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Sony Alpha 99 II
Huge resolution, huge speed, huge achievement
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor: Full frame
- Megapixels: 42.4MP
- Screen: 3in pivoting screen, 1,228,800 dots
- Viewfinder: EVF
- Max burst speed: 12fps
- Max video resolution: 4K
- User level: Enthusiast/professional
Larger and more robust than the compact system camera A7R II, the A99 II is, strictly speaking, not a DSLR, but close enough in design and intentions to be considered alongside them. It offers a more confident operation and feels better balanced with most full-frame lenses. There is a hybrid autofocus system, but unlike that of the A7R II, it includes phase detection on both the image sensor (399 points) and a separate AF module (79 points).
Five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization functions, as well as a 2.36MP OLED electronic viewfinder, while the rear screen offers full articulation instead of just vertical tilt. The camera also features blisteringly fast 12fps continuous shooting, complete with autofocus tracking and live measurement. In recent years, Sony’s attention has shifted from its SLT bodies to its A7 and A9 camera systems for a compact system, and this questions the future of the system. Although it may not be The Best Sony camera, this is still one for the Best Full Frame DSLR to buy.
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