An optical finder and a mature lens catalog, both sold used
A DSLR puts a mirror and a pentaprism between the lens and the eye, so the viewfinder shows the scene by light rather than by panel — no lag, no refresh rate, and no preview of the exposure either. That finder is described by two published figures worth reading: coverage, the percentage of the frame actually visible, and magnification. The autofocus system works from a dedicated module below the mirror, and makers publish the number of points and how many of them are the more precise cross type; in live view the same camera falls back to focusing from the sensor, which is a different system with different behavior. Sensor format and resolution read as they do anywhere, and the mount carries catalogs that are now largely complete rather than growing — which is precisely why this shelf is worth attention: a mature mount means a deep second-hand supply and lenses at prices a current system does not match. Stabilization, where present, is usually in the lens rather than the body and is quoted in stops under a named protocol. Then the practical pair: card slots, and the video modes, which on most bodies here are a secondary capability listed with their limits. We compare sensor format and resolution, mount, viewfinder coverage and magnification, autofocus points and types, card slots, stabilization location and video modes.
24.1 MP APS-C CMOS · ISO 100-6400 (H: 12800) · 9-point AF · optical viewfinder, about 95% coverage · Wi-Fi and NFC · EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
Canon’s entry DSLR with a 24.1 MP APS-C sensor, an optical viewfinder and the stabilized 18-55mm kit lens, sold by Amazon.com for about $499. It is also sold as the EOS 2000D outside the US.
Best for: A beginner who wants to learn on an optical viewfinder, or anyone with old Canon EF lenses to reuse.
≈ $499
24.1 MP APS-C, 9-point AF and the stabilized kit lens.
The EF mount takes decades of Canon lenses.
For learning on an optical viewfinder or using old EF lenses, yes.
The EOS 2000D.
Canon EF and EF-S, not EF-M.
f/3.5 at 18 mm and f/5.6 at 55 mm.
Mirrorless for modern autofocus; DSLR for an optical viewfinder and cheap used lenses.
Canon offers EOS Utility Webcam Beta software.
A DSLR makes sense for its optical viewfinder and its lens catalog; for modern autofocus, look at mirrorless.
Each amount in a write-up is what the listing showed when that page was written. The figure next to the product is pulled in as you read, and it is the one that counts.
