What is the best camera for under 500 dollars? Shooting at an aperture of f/1.8 means that you can capture candid shots in low light without having to resort to flash, and if youre close enough to your subject, you can get that coveted blurred background look too. Being lightweight and compact is another bonus, as it makes the Rebel T7 / 2000D easy to travel around with. Thankfully, Olympus MFT cameras perform competitively, being almost on par with APS-C cameras, meaning youll be able to forgo the flash for a good while after sunset. Face recognition and 10 fps (!) Overall, this is a great mirrorless camera + zoom lens option, thats more than worthy of your hard-earned cash! As is typical with Sony cameras, theres a button for everything and a few that can even be customised to suit your needs. As a DSLR option, it offers excellent image quality even if you stick with the kit lens. Shooting in this way in conjunction with the tilting LCD screen, with the camera held at hip level allows for discrete photography and totally candid subjects. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II with 14-42MM Lens, mirrorless cameras for beginners and professionals, sitting in front of the computer editing the photos. This can be engaged manually or automatically and enables you to use a wide aperture in bright light. Well, batteries are affordable, so probably not since you can buy a couple. Insta360s One R platform is a modular camera system consisting of a battery, control module, and camera brick. So if youre looking for something lightweight yet powerful and with plenty of future opportunities for add-ons and upgrades, mirrorless may be the way to go. The third mod for the Insta360 One R platform adds a premium 19MP 1-inch sensor with a 14.4mm equivalent f/3.2 lens, delivering class-leading photography performance. While a budget of around $500 may not have been enough to get a decent camera a few years back, thanks to advances in technology and the drop in relative material prices, its now possible for photographers to pick up amazing products while still remaining on a tight budget. 8fps (both JPEG and RAW) and accurate AF will make sure even fast-moving subjects can be captured with ease. Heres what to do with your old one, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Each camera in our list has been chosen based on its combination of specs, usability, system and features. However, the APS-C sized sensor of the 2000D gives it the edge when it comes to capturing detail. (105 x 61 x 42 mm) Weight: 11.2 oz (318 g). Depending on your needs, the Insta360 One R can be tailored to capture practically every type of content imaginable. Having a companion camera that offers up to 10x optical zoom while only taking up about as much space as five stacked iPhone 12 Minis is a huge benefit, too. Being super compact comes with some sacrifices, though. Even at extremely high ISOs, the Canon G7X Mark II can produce a great-looking image | 1/500 f/1.8 ISO10,000. I say compact, but entry-level DSLRs are more like a jacket pocket size. The Mini 40 has a 60mm equivalent f/12.7 lens, which is a good everyday focal length, great for portraits and general use. Smartphones and other compact cameras often have smaller sensors than 1 inch, and this usually means they struggle in low light. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"That depends a little on your preferences. As a small mirrorless camera, the M100 is compatible with equally lightweight Canons EF-M lenses. Sonys tried and tested 20.2MP 1-inch Exmor R sensor combined with the Bionz X processor delivers clean and sharp images, with an ISO sensitivity range of 125-12,800. If you want something highly portable that takes better pictures than your smartphone with no fuss, this could be the best camera for you. Its milled lens ring and dial with flashes of anodized red around the controls also give it a classy feel. Speaking of the menu system, this is the only area that really lets the camera down. But it does offer some modern features such as smartphone pairing via NFC and WiFi for easy transferring of photos to phones and printers. Megapixels: 24.2 Sensor Size: APS-C Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.6 x 1.3 in. It has to be said that the top mirrorless cameras under $500 do offer a considerable step up in technology from the dinosaur-like DSLRs. They give you the best bang for your buck and stand you in good stead as you grow with your photography skills. (You can see examples of whats possible in my review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, which has the same sensor as the E-M10 Mark II.). This makes it a great option if youve only got $500 to spend, but still want a camera with you at all times (thats much better than your smartphone). Firstly, its a great-looking camera. At only 22.8 oz (645 g) with the lens attached, the Nikon D3400was a joy to use, and I found myself reaching for it far more than my phone when I wanted to take a snap of the kids. On the Sony a5100, you can use the control wheel next to the screen to control exposure compensation, shooting modes, ISO and aperture basically, everything you need to take a well-exposed photo, or get creative with under/over-exposing your subject. Coming from a DSLR costing 5x the price, I did of course miss all the bells and whistles of my pro-level camera, but this compact DSLR still did a fine job. I dont care if you have the latest iPhone or Pixel smartphones the Sony RX100will wipe the floor with them! As you zoom the lens (whether with the dedicated control slider or with the lens ring set to one of the two zoom functions), the aperture changes from f/1.8 at the lenss widest point, to f/2.8. Canons entry-level DSLR cameras are famed for their ease of use. It seems that finding the most affordable way to document memories and create better art is a popular topic! The Nikon D5300 was released 2 years before the D3400, but that doesnt mean it lacks the latest technology. Video recording is limited to Full HD, which may disappoint some. This camera is compatible with a wide range of Nikkor lenses, making it a good system to invest in as youll have plenty of lenses to upgrade to as your experience grows. If youve only got 500 bucks to spend, ignore the more recent versions of this camera and stick with the one that rewrote the rule book for what is capable with a compact camera. I tested a Nikon D3400 over the holidays and was very impressed with its performance (see my Nikon D3400 review). Theres also the option of buying an older flagship camera at a discount, many of which were 'camera of the year' award winners when they were first released. What camera has the best image quality? Something that tends to put people off instant film cameras is the overall cost, but thankfully Fujifilms Instax Mini film is among the most affordable per print. Well, two reasons. Theres no right or wrong here I love the shooting process with DLSRs as much as I do with mirrorless cameras. Before you read any further, let me just say that if you can find the above Nikons in stock, I think you should consider them before this Canon. The ISO range runs from 100-12,800, which is less than the D3400s 25,600 maximum ISO. Insta360 has also developed an Aerial Mod, which will attach the One R system to a drone for capturing an immersive simulated flying experience. With the selfie-friendly rotating screen, a skin smoothing/background blurring feature, interchangeable camera jackets, Creative Filters (e.g. Having an aperture this fast allows you to shoot without a flash in low light, without having to resort to higher ISOs which may bring about a noisy image. Later down the line, if you want to invest in other Canon lenses, youll find theres a greater selection with Canon, and often at cheaper prices. This may be quite a niche camera, but if you do find yourself going on adventures or perhaps you have small children and need a camera for the whole family to enjoy, this could be the one. That depends a little on your preferences. grainy film, vintage, fish-eye, etc.) Its also shock, drop, and waterproof, meaning it can truly go anywhere you can. If youre going to be spending $500 on a digital camera, youll want the images to be much better than your smartphones, and thankfully this is the case here. Nikon Snap-Bridge technology is built-in to the D3400, allowing you to transfer images in real-time via Bluetooth over to a smartphone or tablet. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 is a basic instant film camera that takes aim at a youthful market with a keen eye for retro chic. Borrowing from the classic Olympus OM film cameras of old, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIfeatures well-placed dials that mimic professional-level DSLRs. The maximum aperture range may seem a little tame at f/2.8, but it still delivers beautiful out-of-focus highlights, sharp details, and rich tones in good light. The second reason is that I wanted to include a Canon entry-level DSLR just to give you another option on which to build your camera system. For something a little heftier, we like the Nikon D3400. (22 x 36 x 77.5 mm) Weight: 240 g (8.46 oz. The popularity of the Nikon D3400 with 18-55mm lens has mainly been due to its price for less than $500, youre getting a helluva lotof camera for your money! Pro Tip: If theres a lot of noise in your image (due to using a higher ISO), try changing it to black and white using your image editing program of choice usually noisy photos look much better with the colours removed. Theres already a solid range of EF-M lenses available for the M100, but where it gets especially interesting is if you invest in an M Mount Adapterto shoot with EF and EF-S lenses. The lack of dynamic range is consistent with its 1 sensor size, but the Sony RX100 does a good job at nailing exposure and white balance, so theres not much need for post-production. HyperSmooth allows you to capture professional-looking videos while on the move, whether youre walking and talking to the camera or riding a mountain bike at speed. Those keen to get started with a 'proper camera' wont be put off by the lack of mod-cons like an articulated touchscreen or 4K video recording. For this reason, I wont go into a full review of the Canon T6 (aka the EOS 1300D)here. If you cant find the above Nikon D3400 in stock, the next best bet is the Nikon D5300 with 18-55mm lens in some ways, its actually better. Autofocus during video isnt possible with DSLRs at this price point. The cameras selected above all offer excellent build quality, image quality, handling and value for money often performing far better than youd expect for their sub-$500 price. If youre lucky enough to find the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II for around $500, snap it up despite the lack of an International warranty at this sale price, its a reliable, solidly built camera that wont let you down. We would have loved to see a flip-out or articulated screen here, but the 2000D still offers a bright 3.0-inch fixed display for composing images. The camera has a fixed 3-inch LCD screen on the back. There are a few GoPro cameras to choose from at this point, but the GoPro Hero 9 Black is the first GoPro to feature a front-facing display, which is really helpful when composing self-shot images and videos. The Canon G9X Mark II is a fantastic, stylish and pocketable point-and-shoot with a 20.1MP 1-inch sensor. New York, As a unique feature to the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, Dual Sensing IS helps to reduce blur caused by camera shake. TechRadar is supported by its audience. The 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit zoom performs well and complements the tiny Sony a5100 body perfectly. Please check your entries and try again. The dynamic range performance when editing a RAW file is impressive, providing a good degree of post processing latitude at low ISOs and no more noise than is expected at higher ISO settings. So whatever your visual needs, here's our ranked list of the best cameras you can buy for under $500. (If youre looking for something newer, check out our review of the OM-D E-M10 Mark III.). This is a camera aimed squarely at budding photographers and on that front, it certainly doesnt disappoint. Nikon offers a range of entry-level DSLRs with similar specifications, making the choice of which to buy rather difficult. Read our in-depth Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 review. For under $500 you can find a reasonably good DSLR, mirrorless camera or compact camera. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Each type has its advantages. A new processor allows for better face detectionand provides snappier shooting and operation speeds than the previous model. Read on below to see my reviews, including what I consider to be the best camera under $500 of the year so far. The TZ100s 3-inch rear touchscreen is fixed and the controls are a little limited, due to the lack of space around the body. It still offers that excellent 24MP sensor for rich, vivid and detailed RAW and JPEG files. The Sony RX100 is a great camera for beginners with a simple, effective AUTO mode, but it also offers full manual controls for those who wish to learn. The 20.2MP sensor coupled with the 28-100mm f/1.8-4.9 zoom lens (3.6x zoom) is all youll ever need for most situations. Its also arguably the best budget camera you can buy for travel. It has control and mode dials, as well as a zoom lever positioned around its large shutter button for composing images and adjusting settings. The 18-55mm lens is versatile and delivers great results, but as mentioned before, Id recommend you invest in the Nikon 35mm f/1.8Gto get the most from your camera purchase later down the line. Im a big fan of entry-level DSLR cameras. Aside from autofocus that blows DSLRs out the water, the Sony a5100produces vivid, punchy and detailed JPEGs and RAWs at 24 MP, meaning you can print 300 dpi enlargements at around 20 x 13.3 in. It has a flash that sits next to the Instax logo on the front, which fires every time you press the shutter, regardless of the lighting conditions. For something a little heftier, we like the Nikon D3400. There are also many more exotic lenses, featuring larger apertures (f/1.2, etc) and crazy wide angles. (If you absolutely need the latest model, check our review of the RX100 VI and RX100 VII.). However you plan to use your Canon EOS M100, youre in for a lot of fun. Another thing I love about the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II, and the reason for my preference of it over the other best mirrorless cameras under $500 on this list, is its handsome styling and ergonomics. This helps you to take candid photos of your subject, who usually wont notice the camera since its held much lower. Canon and Nikon offer a lot of bang for your buck in their DSLRs under $500 they know that if they can get new consumers in to their brand at a reasonable price point, theyll usually have them for life. The Sony RX100 is another top pick for beginners on a budget, as it has a great Auto mode that you can start out on before learning all the manual settings."}}]}. Compact cameras are exactly that compact. Weighing in at only 266g (9.4 oz. This may seem slightly underpowered considering the resolutions and focusing capabilities of many smartphones today. My money would be with the Nikons above, but for diehard Canon fans, the T6 is also a solid investment.