Purchasing one of the best cheap cameras is a great way to kickstart a photography hobby. Cameras are typically expensive, with even some so-called "entry-level" models costing well over $1,000. But a good starter camera needn't break the bank: this guide focuses on good quality cameras costing less than $500, providing a great way to test the water and see if photography is for you.
We've included a selection of different types of cameras, all of which have been chosen and tested by our team of experts and professional photographers. You'll find compact, mirrorless and DSLR cameras on our list, so hopefully you'll find something that suits your needs.
If you're just starting out, the cameras we've chosen here will have more than enough bells and whistles to put you in good stead. You don't need full-frame cameras, ridiculously high megapixel counts, expensive lenses or fancy features to learn how to frame a good shot, after all.
We recommend checking out our guide to the best beginner cameras for the most straightforward units if you're just starting out — but you should also see our guides to the best cameras and best mirrorless cameras if you've developed your skills and you're ready for the next step. We also have guides to the best zoom lenses and best lenses for astrophotography for those looking to go the extra mile.
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 cheap cameras we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.
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
The Sony A6000 is over 10 years old now, and it's been succeeded by several different camera models (we're up to the Sony A6700 now), but it's still a very capable little device. Despite its age, it's still part of Sony's lineup, offering a viable entry point for people who don't need the more expensive features of the newer models. We still think it's one of the best compact mirrorless cameras ever made.
This APS-C mirrorless camera combines fantastic design and handling with excellent image quality and a really useful autofocus. At under $500, the A6000 is excellent value for money. While it obviously lacks some features — like 4K video — this won't matter if you're mainly picking up a camera to practice your still image shooting skills and improve on your craft.
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. ★★★★
DSLR photography is still alive and well and you could do much worse than the Canon T7/2000D if you're just starting out. If you are looking for a beginner DSLR camera, this reliable and intuitive unit is a great option — and it's budget-friendly considering you're investing in a good and reliable brand name too.
Canon's line-up is absolutely packed with varying models, both in DSLR and mirrorless variety — and you'll find plenty newer than the T7/2000D. While this one might not have the most impressive specs and the bells and whistles of some of the new models, it's still a very capable DSLR which we think makes a fantastic starting point for anyone looking to jump into photography. If you've previously been shooting on your phone, you'll be amazed by the different a DSLR camera can make to your shots.
The added benefit of this camera being slightly older is you can now secure great bundle deals online. We've frequently seen deals giving you can get the camera, a lens and various accessories for under $500.
| 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. ★★★★
GoPros are well known and well-loved for their versatility and reliability — especially if you're shooting on the move or want to get footage while you're on your latest adventure. Now the Hero 12 Black is out, you can pick up its predecessor for much less than it originally was — certainly under $300. That's excellent value from a small camera that's perfect for taking action photos.
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 might not be the best choice for all types of photography — if you're into shooting landscapes or portraits, we'd probably recommend you opt for a DSLR or mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. But if you're all about the action, and particularly if shooting video is important to you, this is a seriously capable little camera.
The GoPro Hero 11 Black comes with a 50-piece accessory bundle, which includes 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 is a 4K mirrorless camera that's one of the very best for beginners and ideal for content creators or vloggers. These units are fitted with several features that make filming a doddle and will elevate your content creation to new heights.
Firstly, it's great to carry around given its lightweight and compact design, and the 5-axis image stabilization system will help keep your footage free from any shaking if you're filming while on the move or just walking. You can also spin the screen fully to take selfies much more easily — and you can also watch yourself while you're recording. The useful automatic face detection also ensures you will always be the main focus in your content.
It's worth noting, however, that video recording is limited to 10 minutes, so if you're looking to record long vlogs, it might not be the best choice for you. But with 4K video at 30fps at this price range, it's still a very valid option. In terms of stills, its 20.3MP sensor does a great job, and it packs in useful functions like the Frame Marker, which helps you mark out your desired aspect ratio for different social media platforms.
An added bonus is that it comes with high-quality built-in microphone, so you won't even need to add an external mic for filming quick videos on the fly. Keep an eye out for good-value bundles like this one from Best Buy which includes a lens, tripod and grip along with the camera.
| 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. ★★★★
Small enough to fit in your pocket and light enough to carry it just about everywhere you go, we think the Panasonic Lumix ZS80 is a great choice in our lineup of best cheap cameras. It's an ideal travel camera, especially when you're backpacking or otherwise traveling light: it takes up next-to-no extra space at all.
This is a fixed point and shoot camera, however, so you won't be able to upgrade your kit at any point with additional lenses. But with a powerful optical zoom (up to 30x), it shouldn't be too much of an issue for most users. That zoom equates to 24-720mm, which is an incredible range; perfect for capturing wildlife in particular.
The Lumix ZS80 is a delight to use and it's very easy to get to grips with. You can pick it up and be ready to shoot in a matter of seconds, and with excellent automatic settings you don't need to worry about setting aperture, white balance or fiddling with any advanced settings.
You can also shoot 4K video and select single frames from recorded video to store as 8MP images — a nifty feature to stop you missing out on those high-speed action shots. We think this is a great feature-packed model for photography newbies on a budget.
| 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. ★★★★
If you consider yourself to be rather clumsy, the Olympus Tough TG-6 may be a good choice for you: Designed to be rugged and to withstand drops and bumps, this is a very durable camera that's also very capable of taking a good photo.
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. While its photo quality isn't quite as impressive as the Sony A6000 further up this list, it does a great job for a compact camera — and it's bolstered by some rather impressive features, including the ability to shoot 4K video at up to 120fps. That's seriously impressive at this price range.
It also has five dedicated underwater shooting mode, including an underwater microscope. If you're a keen swimmer, snorkeler or scuba diver, then, it may be worth adding to your adventure kit to capture some wonders under the waves.
| 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.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
