Buyers' guide: Best DSLR cameras under Rs 30,000

I'm looking for an intermediate-level DSLR camera for under Rs 30,000. I am an amateur in photography --­ and I'm also not well-versed with the different kinds of lens, so please suggest a camera that's simple to use during holidays and for social gatherings.
-- Bipin Kumar, Harikrishnan Menon, Santosh Singh, Anil Sachdev
Given your budget, you can expect to pick up an entry level DSLR, or a mirror-less camera ­ both of which give you the flexibility to use different lens, whether fixed-focus for portraits, wide-angle for sceneries, superzooms for wildlife, etc.Alternatively, you could opt for a 'bridge' camera that comes with a fixed lens, but allows you to click good pictures with the help of pre-set options.
Bridge: These cameras are bulkier than entry-level point and-shoots. Some models are defined by their protruding lens that give you zoom in excess of 40x, and there are other models that give you a decent amount of manual control over factors like shutter speed, aperture and exposure.
You can consider the following bridge cameras:
Nikon Coolpix P610: 16MP, 60x optical zoom; price Rs 22,000 Canon PowerShot SX60 HS: 16MP, 65x optical zoom; price Rs 29,500 Sony DSC-RX100: 20MP, 3.6x optical zoom; price Rs 26,500
The huge optical zoom on the P610 and the SX60 HS make them ideal for holiday photos and sceneries, while the RX100's control ring around its lens allows for manual control over exposure compensation, white balance, shutter speed and aperture, letting you experiment with your shots.
Mirror-less cameras:
Like DSLRs, these shooters come with interchangeable lens, give you full manual control, are quick to focus, and give you a better output than point-and-shoot cameras. On the downside, you don't get an optical viewfinder and will have to make do with a digital display to frame your shots. Also, when compared to DSLRs, you get a limited choice of lens, but the accessories are more than adequate for most photo needs. Also, here you can expect to pick models that are not as bulky as DSLRs.
You can consider the following mirror-less cameras:
Nikon 1 J4: 18MP, 10-30mm stock lens; price Rs 23,500 Sony ILCE-3500J: 20MP, 18-50mm stock lens; price Rs 22,500
The Nikon 1 J4 is a compact, mirror-less camera with a stock lens that gives you 3x optical zoom, while the Sony 3500J's lens gives you an effective zoom of 2.77x. Additional lens can be picked up for both cameras depending on your need.
DSLRS: These shooters are the most advanced of the lot and use an optical view finder (with a mirror system) to give you a more accurate representation of what the camera sensor will capture. The larger sensor in these devices also result in better photographs.
Besides, the level of manual control is unparalleled, allowing users to experiment with what they capture. You get a wide range of lens for these cameras, although their bulk and heft might not make them extremely easy to carry everywhere. The cameras in this category are:
Nikon D3200: 24MP, 18-55mm stock lens; price Rs 24,000 Nikon D3300: 24MP, 18-55mm stock lens; price Rs 29,000 Canon EOS 1200D: 18MP, 18-55mm and 55-250mm; price Rs 28,500
Lenses: Here you can opt for the slightly older Nikon D3200 to save up for an additional lens, or you can buy the current-gen Nikon D3300. Both these cameras come with a Guide mode to help beginners learn the nuances of photography. The Canon EOS 1200D is also a great buy, primarily because it comes with two lens including the 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens