Best beginner cameras 2025: Canon, Sony, Nikon, Olympus and more
New to photography? Start off on the right foot with the best beginner cameras, in time to capture February's planetary parade and March's breathtaking blood moon.

Now's a great time to begin your photography journey, especially if you're interested in astrophotography. The lunar eclipse on March 13-14 promises to be seriously striking, and it's the perfect opportunity to put a new camera through its paces. But with so many models on offer, which camera do you go for? We have rounded up the best beginner cameras, with models from Sony, Nikon, Olympus and more.
All of our picks have been put through their paces by our expert reviewers and freelance contributors. These cameras are powerful enough to let you get some great shots, but they boast plenty of beginner-friendly features so you don't feel lost. And if you are shooting for the stars, you can also catch the planetary alignment on February 24, another must-photograph spectacle.
Our guide cuts through the jargon and, on top of talking you through each camera, we've included the answers to some frequently asked questions. Alternative, if you're a more experienced user, we have got a guide to the best cameras and if you're upgrading your existing kit, we also have the best camera tripods, best travel tripods and best camera backpacks.
The quick list
We've summarized our picks for the best beginner cameras below, including their main features and specs. If you want more in-depth information on a particular camera, click the links to read more.
Best overall
The Nikon Z fc combines throwback styling with modern mirrorless camera technology in a neat APS-C package that we rate highly.
Best for content creators
The Fujifilm X-T30 II is a stylish, affordable and simple-to-use mirrorless camera that can help to produce color-rich images.
Best for travel
The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a great option if you're looking for a stylish travel-friendly camera that takes detailed photos.
Best mid-range model
For a beginner or enthusiast photographer looking to take their image-making a step on from a compact or bridge model, the Nikon D5600 is still to this day one of best out there.
Best for versatility
The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is a lightweight and remarkably easy-to-use camera that doesn't disappoint when it comes to image quality.
Best Micro Four Thirds camera
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 K IV is an entry-level camera with a stylish design and 4K video capabilities.
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Best for autofocus and tracking
If you're looking for an APS-C camera and have the budget for it, the Sony A6700 is a great option.
Best for simplicity
The Nikon D3500 is the brand’s latest entry-level DSLR camera, perfectly suited to those wanting to start learning the craft of photography.
Best for portability
The Canon EOS M200 is a good choice if you’re a novice looking for a compact, affordable camera with a good LCD screen and a helpful navigation menu.
A good option for content creators
The Panasonic Lumix G100 is a compact and lightweight camera that can shoot 4K video and lets you edit images in-camera.
The best beginner cameras we recommend in 2025
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The best beginner camera overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a stylish camera: The design is really pleasing.
✅ You want a camera with a touchscreen: This one has a very responsive screen.
✅ You want a sturdy camera: This camera shines through its excellent build quality.
❌ You're on a budget: The camera itself isn't cheap, and the extra lenses can further increase the cost.
❌ You want the highest-quality optics: More advanced users will look to upgrade quickly.
🔎 The Nikon Z fc is a beautifully-designed beginner camera with some impressive specs. ★★★★½
Design: We absolutely love the retro aesthetic of the Nikon Z fc. It captures a wonderful feel of nostalgia while also managing to look high quality and premium. But don't let that old-fashioned appearance put you off: Inside, the Z fc is all about packing in the latest tech.
This lightweight mirrorless camera wonderfully blends together the old and new, making it a joy to use thanks to its user-friendly button layout that's very easy to learn your way around. Just bear in mind, though, that this camera isn't weatherproof, so it's not a great choice if you plan to be out in bad weather.
Performance: As we mention in our Nikon Z fc review, we've been very impressed with the performance of this camera. Beginners will be delighted to hear it's really easy to set up and use; you can start shooting mere seconds after turning the camera on, which is great for capturing fleeting moments. This also reduces the barrier to entry for newcomers to the field of photography, who might get frustrated by a complex setup process.
What we were truly stunned by is how good the autofocus is on the Nikon Z fc. It's seriously quick to focus on a subject, even in low light conditions. It's also great for tracking fast-moving objects like wildlife or sporting events, making this camera a very versatile pick.
Functionality: We liked the touchscreen's responsiveness and were surprised at how quiet the focusing and shutter sound is; it's perfect for taking candid photos discreetly. The ISO performance is also much better than we'd expected for an entry-level model. Overall, the Nikon Z Fc perfectly balances functionality and accessibility with a charming retro appearance.
- Read our full Nikon Z fc review
Attributes | Notes |
---|---|
Design | Good build quality. |
Performance | Ready to shoot in less than a second. |
Functionality | Responsive touchscreen. |
Best for content creators
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You're often on the go: This camera is light and compact, perfect for travelling with.
✅ You want fast autofocus: It has a very quick autofocus.
❌ You go on long shoots: The battery life isn't great on this camera.
❌ You want an articulated screen: This one is tilt-only, which could be an issue for vloggers.
🔎 For taking everyday snaps, travel photography or even landscape photos, the Fujifilm X-T30 II will see you right for years to come, with an affordable price tag to boot. ★★★★½
Design: Similarly to the Nikon Z fc above, one of our favorite things about the Fujifilm X-T30 II is its vintage design. Behind the gorgeous retro aesthetic, this camera is full of great features and packs a performance punch.
The X-T30 is a good choice for photographers who travel a lot thanks to its light and compact build. It easily fits into a small camera bag and won't weigh you down, so you can keep your camera on you and pull it out at any time.
One drawback of this camera is that the screen only tilts rather than being fully articulated. If you frequently use a gimbal or want to shoot low to the ground, the comparable Canon Rebel SL3/250D with its articulating screen might be a better option for you.
Performance: In our Fujifilm X-T30 II review, we praised how fast the camera is. With a super-fast operating speed, you can be ready to snap a photo in less than a second after starting up. It's a vital feature particularly if you're shooting wildlife or events — and means you're less likely to miss a crucial moment.
We're also very impressed with how quiet the X-T30 II is. Its focus is almost silent, although we did notice a bit of 'focus hunting' in some situations: It wasn't the fastest to focus when presented with a mixture of shadow and light.
In terms of ISO, we're pleased to say that the Fujifilm X-T30 II performs diligently: we've spotted almost no real noise all the way up to ISO 1600.
Functionality: The Fujifilm X-T30 II is designed with beginners in mind. It has 18 user interface aids to help newcomers get to grips with the camera, and there are a number of different presets, giving you the best settings for a number of different scenarios. You can also easily change things like white balance, clarity and color depth within the camera, which cuts out some post-processing and editing after shoots.
We should also mention that the X-T30 II makes it super easy to transfer photos from your camera: Simply download the Fujifilm Camera Remote app and you can send photos to your smartphone in just a few clicks.
- Read our full Fujifilm X-T30 II review
Attributes | Notes |
---|---|
Design | Very light and compact. |
Performance | Better than expected ISO performance. |
Functionality | Offers in-camera editing. |
Best for travel
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You're a content creator: It packs plenty of features, including live-streaming.
✅ You take portraits: This camera has excellent face tracking and autofocus.
❌ You want to listen to sound as you record: There is no headphone socket.
❌ You want to shoot 4K: The sensor crops 4K video considerably.
❌ You've got large hands: The buttons on this camera are very close together.
🔎 The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a great option if you're a content creator looking for a reliable and stylish travel-friendly camera that takes detailed photos. ★★★★
Design: The M50 Mark II has had numerous worthwhile upgrades since the release of its predecessor, the M50. The changes made to the autofocus and auto-shooting are perhaps the most noticeable, making this camera even better for beginners.
The M50 Mark II stands out thanks to its eye-catching appearance, especially the white model we tested. It's compact and feels a bit delicate, but despite its small size, it's easy to grip and surprisingly comfortable to hold. While this might seem trivial, people with larger hands might find it harder to use as the buttons are fairly close together, which could become fiddly.
Performance: In our review of the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, we were seriously impressed with its performance. Featuring a 24.1MP sensor, it's capable of taking beautiful and colorful images. We found it performs better in the daytime, so if you're an aspiring travel or nature photographer, this is a great choice.
However, because the M50 doesn't have in-body image stabilization (IBIS), shots in low light or at low shutter speeds can be a little shaky. If you use a tripod you'll be able to deal with this issue, but it's worth bearing in mind that this is not the best camera to shoot astrophotography with.
Functionality: Making the Canon EOS M50 Mark II perfectly suited to streamers is its live streaming functionality, which can be used to stream directly to YouTube. There's a microphone input, making it easy to record quality audio, too, but disappointingly there's no headphone socket, so listening back to your footage directly from the camera isn't doable.
There are some further limitations, such as the M50 Mark II's battery life being rather less than we'd have liked. Streaming or recording film in particular will deplete it rather quickly, which isn't ideal for vloggers or filmmakers. And while the camera does have 4K video recording, its output is heavily cropped.
But considering the price point of the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, we still think this camera is well worth considering. And particularly if still photography is your focus, most of these issues won't be a problem for you.
- Read our full Canon EOS M50 Mark II review
Attributes | Notes |
---|---|
Design | Small and user-friendly. |
Performance | No image stabilization. |
Functionality | Impressive face detection and tracking. |
Best mid-range model
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a touchscreen: It has an excellent tilting screen.
✅ You use autofocus: This camera has a quick autofocus function.
✅ You want all the bells and whistles: This has a good live view and touch shutter release.
❌ You want to shoot video: This camera doesn't have 4K video capabilities.
❌ You're on a budget: This camera is on the expensive side.
❌ You want an intuitive camera: The interface can be fiddly at times.
🔎 The Nikon D5600 has great image quality and is slightly more affordable than some of the newer SLR or mirrorless cameras on the market. ★★★★
Design: The Nikon D5600 is something of a relic, being one of the last remaining DSLR cameras on the market. It's a bit long in the tooth, then, but you shouldn't let that put you off: This is still a very capable camera that can give some more modern cameras a good run for its money.
In terms of design, the D5600 is rather chunky — at least in comparison to today's range of mirrorless cameras on the market. But it's a very ergonomic camera that feels lovely to hold in the hand, largely thanks to it having some depth to hold onto. It also feels solid and well-built.
We've found its buttons and controls to be well thought-out too. They're easy to navigate and to learn your way around. We're also big fans of the articulating touch-sensitive screen. In our Nikon D5600 review, we praised its responsiveness and noted it's easy to use, even in bright sunlight.
Performance: We were taken by the D5600's ability to produce colorful and beautiful images in different settings and situations. However, as it doesn't offer 4K recording, vloggers, content creators and those who want a camera primarily for video will find this isn't the camera for them.
There are a variety of lens options to choose from for the D5600, but it comes with an AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. It's not the sharpest or most durable of lenses, but it's adaptable and takes excellent images, making it a great choice for beginners.
Functionality: The menu on this camera enables you to pick between shooting in JPEG or RAW formats, and you can control the ISO speed too. We highly praise the D5600s connectivity — it boasts WiFi, Bluetooth and a standard SD card slot and an HDMI slot for connecting it to external screens.
We loved the live view mode, which allows you to press on the screen to mark where you want the camera to focus. This is an especially attractive feature for beginners.
Overall, this camera offers great image quality and beginner-friendly features at a more affordable price.
- Read our full Nikon D5600 review
Attributes | Notes |
---|---|
Design | Older camera, but still keeps up with newer models. |
Performance | Outstanding picture quality. |
Functionality | Features a functional tilting touchscreen. |
Best for versatility
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a portable camera: At under 1 lb, this camera is one of the lightest on this list.
✅ You shoot video content: It can shoot 4K and has a great live mode.
❌ You want a mirrorless camera: This is a DSLR model.
❌ You want to add different lenses: The APS-C lens lineup is a lot smaller than the full-frame lens lineup.
🔎 The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is an easy-to-use beginner camera that doesn't disappoint when it comes to image quality. ★★★★
Design: The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (known as the Canon 250D in the UK) has a very similar sensor and image system to Canon's EOS M mirrorless camera series. It also has an optical viewfinder, essentially a small screen in the same housing, which many users prefer over viewing their images on an electronic viewfinder.
This camera is easy to use and feels sturdy while remaining smooth and comfortable to hold. In our Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D review, we found it to be a great option for aspiring photographers and videographers looking for a compact and lightweight camera they can carry around wherever they go.
Performance: Whether you're looking for a capable stills camera or something for videography, we think the Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D is a great choice. In terms of video, it's capable of recording at 4K, and there's a live mode that lets you stream directly from the camera if that's your jam.
For stills, the 250D has a fantastic ISO range for its price bracket — which is particularly useful if you're thinking of getting into astrophotography. In a nutshell, ISO basically introduces more light into a shot, so the higher the ISO, the brighter the image will be. This camera has a range of 100 to 25,600 ISO, and while noise is introduced at high ISOs (that's normal) we were impressed overall with how the Rebel SL3/250D performed.
Functionality: The Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D has a built-in tutorial mode for beginners which talks you through everything you need to know about setting up the perfect shot. It can of course be disabled when you get to grips with everything, but it's a great way to learn the basics.
The camera has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity which makes transferring your photos to a PC or smartphone a breeze. You can also do some basic editing within the camera, as there are various effects and filters you can add to your images after they've been captured.
- Read our full Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / 250D review
Attributes | Notes |
---|---|
Design | Sturdy and comfortable to hold. |
Performance | Quite a straightforward setup. |
Functionality | Easy transfer to smartphone or tablet. |