5 Best Cheap Beginner Cameras in 2020. All Under $500
Best cameras under $500 in 2020
The quality of your photography is not dependent on how much you spent on your camera. You can be a great photographer using just the cell phone in your pocket, even as a beginner just starting out. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get the best beginner DSLR camera. A DSLR simply offers tools and abilities that a phone cant give you. If you’re looking to get started in photography as a hobby for cheap these 5 entry level cameras are a fantastic value for how powerful they are. And they are much cheaper than the professional DSLR versions. This list is for those beginners who want to seriously get into photography and want the best option for their budget. This guide will show you the best cheap affordable cameras for beginners in 2020.
These are the best budget starter cameras to help grow your career. Many photographers use this same kit to shoot excellent images.
How did I pick the best cameras for under $500 price? I judged the cameras on several things. The cameras obviously have to be cheap enough to fit within the max price of $500.Then I judged the cameras for their technical abilities. The most important is ISO performance (or how well the camera can see in low light) its the only thing that affects your photos that keeps getting better with technology. Then I judged lens selection for the cameras and brand support. Lastly, I judged the extras. Things you don’t need but may help future proof your camera and add value.
None of the cameras below are point and shoot. Every model includes an optical zoom lens and has great image quality. Each camera has automatic shooting modes available to get you shooting now as well as advanced pro options for you to discover your full creative potential no matter your shooting level without compromise.
NOTE: Because of the nature of retail, some of the prices for the cameras may fluctuate slightly from the listed amount. This article also contains amazon affiliate links which means I will receive a commission for any camera you choose to buy, at no cost to you.
#1 Nikon D3500 $447
The Nikon D3500 is the best value for beginners for the money. The D3500 has the best ISO performance. With a max of 51,200 it's more than enough to cover you in just about every situation. As a beginner, you will never need to shoot with that high of an ISO. Personal note I’ve never gone above ISO 16,000 in my professional wedding photography. Nikon has been around for decades and has built a great range of cameras and lenses for beginners of any budget that will never leave you wishing you had more options. It also has the best battery life of any of the DSLR cameras on the list being able to achieve 1200 photos. And not that it matters but the D3500 has more than 4 more megapixels than the next closest camera on the list. The D3500 dslr also has low power bluetooth built-in which can automatically upload the photos you take on your camera to your phone so you can edit and share on the go! Once you play with this camera it's easy to see why it takes the top spot on my list for beginners and a no brainer if you're on a budget.
#2 Sony A5100 $448
The Sony A5100 is physically the smallest mirrorless camera on the list making it the best camera for beginners who want to travel a lot with their cameras. The camera also has the best digital file quality of all the budget cameras listed. Sony has really taken off in recent years because of the quality of their digital files for both photos and video. Making it a top choice for beginner youtube travel vloggers on a budget to get good shots. So if you're starting a youtube channel and want to choose the best camera for cheap that still has lots of options for beginners, the Sony A5100 is one of the best cameras for you. Sony has more range and flexibility to edit within adobe lightroom than any other camera. It is mirrorless which lets you see an accurate representation of how the photo will look before the photo is taken which is a huge plus over the canon and Nikon dslrs. Unfortunately, Sony focused on the professional market for their lenses which means their glass is some of the best however it is not cheap. The A5100 also has wifi built in which should be standard for all cameras in 2020 for the price. So being paired with such a compact body makes it the best camera option at this price for those beginners who travel a lot and want to take the best photos and video they can for the price range.
#3 Fuji X-A5 $499
The Fuji X-A5 is the newest and most recent of the cameras on the list and is the best option for the beginner looking for a specific look within their budget. The Fujifilm X-A5 is the only other camera aside from the D3500 that has a max ISO of 51,200. Having the best ISO performance makes this mirrorless camera a great value. The Fuji X-A5 also has the best and newest sensor technology. With the brand new x-trans sensor the X-A5 replicates color, contrast, and most importantly skin tones much more closely to how film does. What that means for you is that if you love the look, feel, and warmth of film at an affordable cost, than the Fuji X-A5 will produce photos out of the camera that will be much more pleasing to look at and require less editing which is good! It lets you get your portrait photos or concert videos up on instagram quicker! Fuji also has been investing heavily in the future of their camera systems and the future. Coming out with new lenses all the time they are catching up to Canon and Nikon quick! But the best thing about Fuji that any beginner needs to know is that their engineers listen to the photographers who give them feedback if there are improvements to be made. So instead of just coming out with a new camera body, they update the existing camera's firmware. This means over time your camera gets incredible upgrades like faster autofocus or more shooting modes and abilities. If you're on a budget and want to buy a camera that will last, this may be the best choice for you.
The Canon rebel T7 DSLR is nowhere near the entry level camera that the Nikon D3500 dslr is, BUT it has some perks that may make you consider it a good option! First of all the EOS T7 is not only an affordable camera for beginners on a budget but also very easy to use. The cameras ISO (low light performance) goes up to 12,800 which is not the best on this list but still higher than any beginner needs to go and for the money still high enough. My first DSLR the Canon eos rebel XT had a max ISO of 1600, way to low for any camera you would buy today. If you're going to shoot primarily in the day/evening time you will be more than fine! I also think that comparing ISO to ISO the canon looks better than the Nikon. The biggest thing that Canon has going for it over Nikon is that Canon has the best lens selection for any budget with their cameras. It’s much more robust than other cameras. Especially when it comes to entry level budget lenses like the 24mm 2.8 or telephoto lenses for shooting sports or wildlife. So consider the price and your budget for lenses when thinking about upgrading cameras in the future. The Canon Eos Rebel T7 also has wifi built-in which I love. Being able to send a photo to my phone to do a quick edit and then share is simply the best!
The Panasonic Lumix G7 is the best fit for anyone who loves intermediate or advanced video options as much as photography. The G7 is the cheapest camera for filmmaking. For the price, the G7 has the best features for videographers that you won't find anywhere else. Like 4K Photo mode which records 4K video at 30 photos per second and let you pick a choose the perfect moment afterward. This is a great option for beginners as you learn to find the right moment. That's a feature that the best DSLR don't have. The Lumix may be the newest kid on the block but the selection of budget third party lenses and an assortment of new features great for beginners that no other camera has made it a real contender against some of the more established names in photography. So if you want a great affordable camera that has more than just beginner features and has equally good video capabilities in one package, the Panasonic Lumix G7 is the right buy for you! And while the Sony A5100 is good for vlogging the G7 has a little more to offer for those who want excellent video.
Do you have one of these cameras? What are your thought? Leave a comment below with your experiences. Im sure fellow readers would love to hear what you have to say!!