1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best for beginners
4. Best for action photos
5. Best for vlogging
6. Best for everyday use
7. Best for durability
8. How we test
Photography can feel like an expensive hobby, with many cameras selling for well over $1000. But you'll be pleased to know, you can get one of the best budget cameras for $500, without compromising on performance. We have also compiled a list of the best beginner cameras for some of the most novice-friendly models, which can be a little more expensive than $500.
All the cameras in this guide have met our high testing standards, offering a high-quality and relatively low-cost starting point for new photographers. Unless you're a pro photographer, you're unlikely to need the full range of specs that come with more expensive full-frame cameras. Once you get to know your camera, you can get great results, even when using a cheaper piece of kit. If you're a pro, have a look at our guides to the best cameras and best mirrorless cameras to find your next model.
Although the cameras below might not have quite the same extensive capabilities and technology that top-of-the-line premium models do, they're perfect for learning or developing photography skills, no matter your ability.
Jacob Little is a photographer, writer and communications professional based in Bristol and Cornwall. His main inspirations come from outdoor adventure, travel, rural living and wild ways and crafts. Passionate about weaving the core principles of storytelling into his images, he approaches brand and copywriting work in much the same way. Conveying a compelling narrative is one of the main drivers behind much of his work.
The quick list
Skim through our top picks below, or scroll further down to read our full reviews of each product.
Best overall
Despite being nearly 10 years old, the Sony A6000 still holds its own as one of the best compact cameras on the market. And its age means that you can now grab it at a bargain price.
Best for beginners
The Canon T7/2000D is a great option for beginners looking for their first DSLR camera since it's a straightforward and reliable camera that comes at an affordable price.
Best for action photos
Rugged and tiny, the GoPro Hero 11 Black is ideal for sports and outdoor photography, offering 5K video, 27MP still images and a host of accessories.
Best for vlogging
With 4K video, 5-axis image stabilization and a high-quality mic built into the body, the Panasonic Lumix G100 would make a great choice for vlogging and other content creation.
Best for everyday use
Fitting neatly in a pocket and offering an impressive 30x optical zoom, the Panasonic Lumix ZS80 makes a fantastic everyday camera to carry around with you.
Best for durability
Cameras don't come much more resilient than the Olympus Tough TG-6. It's waterproof, crush-resistant and offers 4K underwater shooting for all your outdoor adventures.
The best budget cameras we recommend in 2024
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Best overall
✅ You value image quality: This camera offers excellent 24.3MP still images with high levels of color fidelity.
✅ You're looking for quality on a budget: By buying this slightly older model, you can benefit from high-quality Sony technology and reliability without the huge price tag.
❌ You mainly want to shoot video: One of the biggest downsides of this camera is the lack of 4K video, so there are better options out there for videographers.
🔎 Sony A6000: A reliable camera that offers high image quality for those on a budget, but it's not the most up-to-date and the lack of 4K video may be a deal-breaker for some. ★★★★½
If you're after a reliable compact camera, you could do much worse than the Sony A6000. It might be almost ten years old, but it's still widely considered one of the best compact cameras out there.
Combining great design and handling with superb image quality and autofocus, the A6000 is great value for money. It doesn't have 4K video, but that won't matter if you primarily shoot stills and can do without the latest tech.
You can bag a used version of this camera for as little as $350 if you're lucky, and package deals, including lenses, are also available. It's worth shopping around to ensure you find the best deal, as the price often changes from retailer to retailer. Amazon has a range of options including lenses and used cameras.
Users love the image quality, ease of use, weight, and autofocus feature, according to Amazon reviews. The battery life leaves something to be desired but at such a low price, it's not usually a dealbreaker.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | APS-C mirrorless camera |
| Performance | High image quality and great color rendition |
| Functionality | Lacks 4K video |
Best for beginners
✅ You're looking for your first DSLR camera: This camera is straightforward and easy-to-use for beginners, making it a great entry point into the world of DSLR shooting.
✅ You're on a budget: It's a more affordable and accessible option than the newer DSLR models.
❌ You want to shoot high-quality video: Like the Sony A6000, this camera lacks 4K video.
❌ You want a camera you can grow with: While it's a good choice for beginners, you may find yourself needing to upgrade further down the line.
🔎 Canon T7/2000D: An ideal choice for beginners looking for an easy way to get into DSLR photography, but with limited scope for future development. ★★★★
If you're interested in taking up DSLR photography, look no further than the Canon T7/2000D. Intuitive and reliable, this small-budget camera is a great option for beginners.
It's far from the newest model in Canon's lineup, and it doesn't have all the specs you'll find in more expensive DSLRs, but it's perfectly functional and a good tool to build on your photography skills. With the Canon brand name, you can also rest assured you're getting a durable piece of kit.
The added benefit of this camera being slightly older is you can now secure great bundle deals online, meaning you can get the camera, a lens, and accessories for under $500.
Over 1000 users have rated the Canon T7/2000D a healthy 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 76% of reviewers giving it the full 5 stars. Users like how compact the camera is, also rating the ease of use and picture quality as reasons to buy.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Easy-to-use DSLR camera |
| Performance | Reliable and durable |
| Functionality | Slightly older tech without 4K video |
Best for action photos
✅ You enjoy outdoor pursuits: The GoPro is unmatched when it comes to sport and action photography. It is waterproof and small enough to mount on your helmet, bike handlebars or even your drone.
✅ You want something light and portable: The GoPro Hero 11 will slip easily into any pocket, making it perfect for taking out and about with you.
❌ You're looking for something more traditional: This is a tiny action camera that works alongside a phone app, so it may not suit photography purists.
🔎 GoPro Hero 11 Black: A tiny and waterproof action camera that offers impressively high image quality for its size. It's perfect for outdoor pursuits, or just as a highly portable camera to take on day trips. ★★★★
GoPro is a household name when it comes to action shooting, known for their high image quality and resilience. Since the Hero 12 Black came out in September 2023, it's become easy to pick up the Hero 11 for around the $300 mark, and we think that the value you get from this little camera is incredible.
As with all products from GoPro, it's completely waterproof up to 33 feet, and it's built to last, so you can truly take it anywhere on your adventures.
The GoPro Hero 11 Black comes with a 50-piece bundle with loads of accessories including an SD card and various mounts, straps and tripods to capture any live-action moment perfectly. In terms of features, the Hero 11 is a great option — think 5K video, fantastic stabilization, time-lapse options and more. While it's mostly thought of as a video camera, you can shoot 27MP stills as well.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Waterproof 27MP action camera |
| Performance | Captures sharp 5K video and high-res photos |
| Functionality | Comes with a range of mounting accessories |
Best for vlogging
✅ You're a content creator: The Panasonic Lumix G100 is designed specifically with vlogging and content creation in mind, so you won't need additional accessories such as an external mic to make great content.
❌ You need to shoot long-form video: While the 4K video quality is excellent, you are limited to filming 10 minutes at a time.
🔎 Panasonic Lumix G100: This camera puts content creation at your fingertips and comes in several affordable bundles, but you'll need to look elsewhere for shooting videos over 10 minutes. ★★★★
The Panasonic Lumix G100 impresses with its compact design packed with great features. With 4K video capability (although only for 10 minutes) up to 30fps and 5-axis image stabilization system, it's a versatile piece of kit great for budding vloggers and content creators.
The automated selfie mode also makes it easy to shoot videos of yourself while the camera does all the focusing work for you. The built-in microphone is of equally high quality, so you don't even need to add an external one to film videos (but the option is there if you need it).
To top it all off, you can get fantastic bundle offers on this camera, like this deal at Best Buy which gets you a camera, a lens and a tripod grip for $599.99.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Micro four-thirds mirrorless camera |
| Performance | 4K video with excellent in-built mic |
| Functionality | 5-axis image stabilization |
Best for everyday use
✅ You're looking for something beginner-friendly: This camera should be relatively easy to get the hang of and doesn't require you to buy additional lenses.
✅ You want to shoot photos from a distance: The 30x optical zoom allows you to get right in close to your subjects without sacrificing any image quality.
❌ You're looking to further develop your photography skills: As a compact digital camera, this doesn't have as much scope for honing your skills as a DSLR or mirrorless camera would, so you may outgrow it.
🔎 Panasonic Lumix ZS80: This straightforward camera has an impressive zoom and would be a good choice for beginners or for any other photographer who needs something lighter to carry around with them day-to-day. ★★★★
Another excellent budget buy from Panasonic, the ZS80 is an easy-to-use, lightweight camera with great features.
It has a pleasing retro design and comes complete with 4K video capabilities and a handy touchscreen that makes it easy to scroll through the various menus. The 30x optical zoom is particularly impressive for a compact digital model. It may well appeal to people like wildlife photographers who want to zoom in close to their subjects without losing image quality in the process.
Since it fits easily in a pocket, it makes a nifty everyday camera that still produces good-quality results on the go. And for less than $500, you can't ask for much more than that!
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Compact digital camera |
| Performance | Offers 20MP photos and 4K video |
| Functionality | 30x optical zoom and touchscreen |
Best for durability
✅ You want to take photos in or near water: The Olympus Tough has an even higher waterproofing level than GoPro and is designed to be able to shoot underwater, so it's perfect for watersports or fishing.
✅ Your kids will want to have a go: This camera can handle being dropped and knocked about.
❌ You want top-quality photos: The 12MP photos produced by this camera aren't as good as some of the other offerings on the list, but it's great for 4K video.
🔎 Olympus Tough TG-6: One of the most resilient cameras you can buy, the Olympus Tough will make a nice starter camera for anyone who enjoys outdoor adventures with their family. ★★★★
As its name indicates, the Olympus Tough TG-6 is a great buy for anyone looking for a hardy budget camera due to its ultra-resilient casing.
This camera is waterproof for up to 50 feet (even more than the GoPro Hero 11), shockproof up to seven feet, and its shell can withstand more than 100 kg of crushing force, so you won't have to worry about dropping it or lending it to your kids to try when you're out and about. It can also handle freezing temperatures, so it truly is a camera for any and all weather conditions.
And it's not just impressive in its resistance, either; it offers 4K video shooting at 120fps and five underwater shooting modes, including a neat underwater microscope, so you can capture all your adventures above and below the surface in stunning detail.
Over 2000 users on Amazon have given this camera an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, noting that they like the versatility of the camera, with lots of settings that can be adjusted depending on the sort of image you are trying to capture.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Extremely waterproof and crush-resistant |
| Performance | Impressive 4K video at 120fps |
| Functionality | Underwater shooting modes |
How we test the best budget cameras
When it comes to buying the best cameras and our recommendations for what to buy, we make sure to test and review each product, so you're guaranteed an honest and up-to-date opinion. We test cameras based on construction, design as well as function and performance in the field.
Where we haven't personally tested and reviewed a camera, only models that have been carefully researched and approved make the cut. Our experts are keen photographers and won't recommend a product that they themselves wouldn't like to use. With this in mind, we've noted the things we don't like as much, as well as the good aspects of each product, to help you make an informed choice. We also suggest alternatives if what you're reading isn't for you.
We also look at how easy each camera is to operate, whether it can shoot high-quality images and videos, and if a camera has up-to-date technology or not. Sometimes, we like to make suggestions for a suitable alternative to a recommendation and look at any additional kit that would enhance the photography experience.
We only have expert staff and knowledgeable freelance contributors test out cameras, to ensure a fair, hands-on review from someone experienced in the field. This means that you get an informed and accurate review of cameras, including their price point, class, and destined use. So, for example, we wouldn't compare a 60MP full-frame mirrorless camera to a little crop-sensor DSLR as it wouldn't be appropriate, even if each camera was the best performing in its class.
Space.com operates with complete editorial independence to ensure you get the best buying advice on cameras possible. Whether or not you purchase an instrument or not, we strive to make all of our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.
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