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We've highlighted our favorite model from each of the categories we cover in the chart above, but read on if you want to know more about your options in today's market. It's no secret that smartphones have seriously hurt the demand for entry-level point-and-shoot cameras. These slimline shooters pack zoom lenses, which set them apart from smartphones, but for the most part use dated CCD sensor technology, which limits image quality when shooting at high ISO settings and cuts the maximum video quality to p.
But if you're looking for a small camera to carry on vacation or nature walks, you still have a few inexpensive alternatives to a smartphone.
For the most part video is still p, and you'll also see some cameras with small electronic viewfinders, Raw shooting capability, and very quick autofocus. Pure image quality is better than a smartphone, with the real advantage being the zoom lens. There are also several models that are waterproof available in this price range. Entry-level isn't just for pocket models. Photographers who want a camera that's easy to use, and not obscenely expensive, may want to reach for a mirrorless model or SLR instead of a point-and-shoot.
Our favorite models for folks more interested in making a good image and less interested in learning about f-stops include some options in our overall top ten, such as the Sony a, Canon T7i, and Olympus TG But there are others too. I often recommend the small Canon G9 X , a relatively inexpensive 1-inch pocket model that offers palpable benefits over a smartphone in terms of image quality, and a comfortable touch interface.
When shopping for a starter camera, ask yourself some questions about what you want. Take a look at the size, as a camera isn't any good if you're not going to use it.
But also think about connectivity—you probably want to copy images to your smartphone easily—and price. Ease of use isn't a huge hurdle these days—everything has an auto mode—but models with guided interfaces will let you take some sort of control over how your photos turn out, without having to know too much technical jargon.
You don't have to get a digital camera to get a camera. Film is still an option, with instant models being extremely popular. Instant formats take away the hassle of getting film developed, and make it easy to share physical images with friends and family immediately after they've been captured.
For a complete rundown on what instant cameras and film formats are sold today, check out our list of the Best Instant Cameras. You can also buy a new 35mm or medium format camera. You don't have as many options for getting film developed as you used to—if you're in a major city it'll be easy to find a lab, but you may have to resort to mail order if you're not close to a metropolis. You can find old film SLRs and compacts in thrift shops and online stores pretty easily. If you're intent on buying a new model, Lomography still makes a bunch of different ones, from toy models like the Sprocket Rocket , which captures panoramic shots with exposed sprockets, to premium options like the medium format LC-A After all, you can get an interchangeable lens model for the same price.
But these slim, premium shooters target a very specific market—photographers who already own a mirrorless camera or SLR and a bunch of lenses, but want something small as an alternative option. Sony changed that in with its revolutionary RX, which brought the 1-inch sensor class into the spotlight. A 1-inch sensor has roughly four times the surface area of the chips used in premium smartphones and entry-level point-and-shoots.
That leads to significantly clearer images, especially at high ISO. The industry has settled on 20MP of resolution for this sensor type, which delivers an excellent balance of image quality and noise control. With the larger sensor comes a shorter zoom. For the most part, you'll see models with short 2. These lenses tend to capture a good amount of light throughout their range and the optics required to do that necessitate a large front element and short zoom range.
We're starting to see longer zooms in this category, but with narrower aperture and lenses that top out at 10x coverage mm. A narrow aperture isn't as good for low light as models with short zooms and big f-stops, but is a better choice for travel, when you want a pocket camera with an ample zoom range.
The 1-inch sensor size typically nets solid image quality through ISO , and even to ISO if you opt to shoot in Raw format, so use in dim light is still possible. There are also models out there with even larger image sensors and shorter zooms or no zoom at all. You can get a small camera with an SLR-sized APS-C image sensor and a fixed focal length lens, and there are even a couple of options out there with larger full-frame sensors.
You can opt for a fixed-lens camera that's sized and shaped a lot like an SLR—a bridge camera. If zoom is what you're after, a bridge camera may be your best bet, although understand that they won't handle dim light as well as an SLR. There are also premium bridge models with larger 1-inch sensors and shorter zooms.
They still have a considerable size advantage over SLRs with comparable zooms—just think about carrying an interchangeable lens camera and two or three lenses to cover a mm, mm, or mm coverage range. They tend to be more expensive than an SLR, and certainly more than bridge models with smaller sensors, but do better at higher ISO settings and sport lenses that gather more light. If you put a premium on a lightweight camera, and want the versatility that a long zoom design delivers, look at a bridge model with a 1-inch sensor.
Just be prepared to pay a premium. We've rounded up The Best Bridge Cameras for your perusal. Not surprisingly, I find bridge models to be just about perfect for globetrotters. They pack a wide zoom range, so you don't have to fumble with lens changes. And if you opt for a premium 1-inch model you can shoot in varying types of light. But you may want a different kind of camera to take with you on your journeys. If you want something more pocket-friendly, a point-and-shoot can do the trick. But be prepared to get a little spendy to get something worthy of your exotic destinations.
For the rough-and-tumble crowd, I recommend the Olympus TG-5 due to its bright lens and tough build. If you're more of a video person, don't forget about GoPro. If you don't mind carrying something larger, a good mirrorless camera and a couple of lenses will fit easily into a small bag and net images and videos worthy of sharing with friends and family back home. The Sony a remains our favorite affordable option, but there are alternatives like the Fujifilm X-E3 that are a bit more stylish. For more, see our story on The Best Cameras for Travel.
For a long time we've looked at mirrorless cameras and SLRs as two distinct classes. And while that distinction still has merit at the higher end of the spectrum, for entry-level photographers the lines are blurred. We've been disappointed that features common in mirrorless models, including tilting touch-screen displays and wireless connectivity, have been very slow to make their way to SLRs.
Likewise, while Canon has made significant improvements in video autofocus in its pricier SLRs, consumers are better off with a low-cost mirrorless model if they want fast, seamless autofocus when recording moving pictures. If you're not familiar with the term, the mirror that mirrorless cameras lack is the one that directs light to an optical viewfinder from the lens.
SLRs, of course, still offer that. Getting rid of the mirror box allows for a slimmer design with fewer moving parts, as well as more accurate autofocus. And, with the latest spate of models, autofocus is fast. So fast that you won't miss shooting with an SLR. Like SLRs, different manufacturers support different lens formats. If you buy a Sony mirrorless camera, you'll stick with Sony E and FE lenses , and if you opt for Fujifilm you're locked into the X lens system.
The exception is the Micro Four Thirds system, which is a lens format shared by Olympus and Panasonic, and utilized by more specialized cinema cameras made by companies like Blackmagic. The MFT sensor format is a 4: The fixed-mirror design and EVF allow the video focus system to use the same sensor as the focus for stills, which delivers autofocus on the same level as with mirrorless cameras when recording moving pictures.
Traditional SLRs struggle when it comes to video autofocus. Contrast-based methods require that the focus point move just beyond the point of crisp focus and come back to it in order to lock on, which can be distracting when refocusing to follow a moving subject. SLR makers have worked to improve this, utilizing lenses with Pulse or Stepping Motors, which are quieter and smoother during focus, but they're still not on the same level as most mirrorless cameras.
You'll get the back-and-forth effect with entry-level mirrorless models that rely entirely on contrast for focus. But it's not as noticeable as you get with SLRs, and by the time you've moved up to a midrange price point—which is actually in line with the price of entry-level SLR models—you start to see on-sensor phase detection. We've rounded up both our favorite mirrorless cameras and SLRs. If you're buying in this range, you need to take a serious look at the lenses and accessories available for each system, and weigh the pluses and minuses of different image sensor formats.
Mirrorless cameras have gotten better and better in terms of tracking autofocus in recent years. Top-tier models track subjects and fire off images as quickly as comparable SLRs. To help you decide which camera is best for you, we've pulled together our favourite, more affordable DSLRs, mirrorless and compact cameras into one handy list that will cater to all your photographic needs — and you'll find today's best camera deals on each model below. Of course, just because it's easy to buy a cheap camera doesn't mean there's no point in buying a more advanced camera.
There are many good reasons to do so. But if you just need something that will give you all the essentials — that's capable, reliable and able to produce fantastic images — without breaking the bank, you're in the right place. Whether you just want a budget camera to slip into your pocket, or something that will allow you to access a world of lenses and camera accessories to take your photography in new directions, read on for our pick of the best cheap cameras — and see the best camera deals for each one, too.
DSLR Sensor: Nikon DX Screen: The entry-level model in Nikon's DSLR range looks a lot like the previous Nikon D before it, but subtle design tweaks have produced improved on a winning formula to produce a camera that's small and light, yet comfortable to grip. It's an entry-level model but it has a The Guide mode will help beginners get started and understand the basic principles, and the D has all the manual controls you need to learn about photography as you improve your skills. The cheapest deals include a non-VR kit lens but we'd recommend paying that little bit extra for the VR version.
Read more: The best Nikon cameras. APS-C Megapixels: Canon EF-S Screen: Yes, optical Continuous shooting: Full HD p User level: The only significant area where the camera is a little behind is with its 9-point AF system; if you want something a little more capable here, the older EOS D model or Nikon's point D alternative would be worth considering. Canon EOS D review. Canon has deliberately designed the EOS D down to a price, even to the point of using a single paint colour for all the buttons, integrating the power switch into the mode dial and using a plastic lens mounting plate.
It uses Canon's old megapixel sensor rather than one of its newer 24MP sensors, while the kit lens is quite basic and lacks both stabilisation and quiet USM autofocus. And if you do get bitten by the camera bug, you'll already have a foothold in Canon's huge DSLR, lens and accessory system.
Mirrorless Sensor: Micro Four Thirds Megapixels: Micro Four Thirds Screen: Canon EOS 80D review. We rave about the Fujifilm X-T3 no. Launched without much of a fanfare, we reckon this camera is actually a bit of a classic. We also like the retracting mm kit lens, which is smaller than most kit lenses and covers a slightly wider angle of view. Claiming the X-T shoots 4K video is a bit silly, though, because it can only do this at 15fps — and no-one is going to shoot video at such a low frame rate.
Nevertheless, when it comes to cheaper options, this is one of the best cameras you can buy. Fujifilm X-T review. Micro Four Thirds Megapixels: Olympus has been pretty quiet recently as many of its rivals have been busy launching or announcing full frame mirrorless cameras.
Art Filters. Sony E Monitor: Electronic Max video resolution: While the latter two models can satisfy enthusiasts and those keen on shooting 4K video, the A serves as a more affordable introduction to the system — one that still absolutely holds its own against even pricier cameras. Thanks in part to a point phase-detect AF system spread broadly across the frame, it's particularly adept at tracking moving subjects, with its 11fps burst shooting option helping you to get the decisive moment. The 1. Compact Sensor size: EVF Continuous shooting: One of the problems with big sensors is that you need big lenses to go with them, so they don't tend to fit in your pocket.
Panasonic has changed that, though, with the LX II. It pairs a Micro Four Thirds sensor that isn't much smaller than the ASP-C sensors in mode DSLRs with a miniaturised lens assembly, which powers down in to a camera body that's slim enough to carry anywhere.
The camera is a new iteration of the original LX, which was beginning to show its age.