Best cameras for beginners on Amazon
What are some of the best cameras for beginners? As a beginner, finding the best camera can be quite a hassle. There are numerous factors to consider, such as price, lenses, control settings, video capabilities, megapixels, and so on. The best camera for beginners should typically have both automatic and manual modes. This will help learners practice their technical abilities while also having the Auto mode as an alternative option.
What to look for when buying a camera for a beginner?
- Price: As a newbie on the photography journey, you may be reluctant to part with a boatload of cash to buy a camera when you’re still finding your footing. Fortunately, there are tons of affordable camera models for beginners in the stores.
- This means you’re bound to find a camera that is not only affordable but decently functional.
- Simple Controls: Imagine getting a camera with so many technical controls that frustrate you into giving up. What a nightmare! To avoid this, go for a camera that has easy-to-use control and simple automatic modes.
- Megapixels: Megapixels have a considerable impact on the quality of the image a camera produces. Most of the best cameras for beginners come with APS-C sensors, which will range between 16MP to 24MP. The higher the camera sensor on the scale, the better the megapixel quality.
- Manual Modes: As you go further on your photography journey, you will want to try out manual modes, so go for cameras with manual focus and manual exposure features.
- Video: Social media platforms such as Instagram and Tik Tok continuously increase the priority placed on videos. Fortunately, most of the cameras for beginner photography provide 4k video or full HD 1080p.
- Interchangeable lenses: The kit lens can limit your photography, looking into other lens types that different manufacturers offer. Nikon and Canon offer a vast array of DSLR lenses, and most are quite affordable.
Best Cameras for Photography Beginners
Now that you know what to look out for, here’s a curated list of the best cameras for beginners.
Nikon D3500
Amazon’s Choice
Price: $659.00
- Type: DSLR
- Pros
- 24.2Megapixels
- Max burst speed: 5fps
- Max video resolution: 1080p (Full HD)
- Interactive ‘Guide’ shooting mode
- Performs well
- Cons
- Basic, looking moderate controls
- LCD has no touchscreen or tilt.
The Nikon D3500 takes the top spot on our curated list of best cameras for beginners. It is a basic yet impressive DSLR model. There is no need to worry about figuring out the complexity of using a DSLR with this camera. This is because it comes with an exceptional ‘Guide’ shooting mode conveyed through the rear LCD screen. This guide mode functions as a completely interactive guide to the camera settings and photography in general.
The camera controls are simple and easy to use. However, because of its price, the Nikon D3500 lacks several advanced features. For instance, the Custom Settings menus available in other Nikon DSLR series are absent in the D3500.
In addition, the movie capture modes and the autofocus in Live View are rather draggy. Nonetheless, the Nikon D3500 is one of the best cameras for beginners for the price it goes for. In addition, it is quite striking for an entry-level DSLR.
Fujifilm X-T200
Price: $899.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 24.2 Megapixels
- Screen: 3.5in vari-angle touchscreen, 2,760k dots
- Max continuous shooting speed: 8fps
- Max video resolution: 4K
- Classy design
- Lightweight
- Simple external controls
- Cons
- A little complex to understand at first
The Fujifilm X-T200 is compact-sized and lightweight, but it has the appearance of a vintage 35mm SLR film camera. This beginner/intermediate level camera comes with a 1:6 aspect ratio ideal for excellent video capturing. It is particularly great for Instagram content creators and photography newbies.
The huge 3.5-inch vari-angle touchscreen has an exceptional resolution, which surpasses many of its competitors. With an electronic viewfinder and the ability to shoot 24-megapixel stills and videos in 4k, the X-T200 is a popular favorite.
Although the camera’s 15-45mm kit lens is electrically powered and may not be easy for everyone to work with, it is still impressively compact. It provides a wider angle view than many kit lenses. Its unique wide angle makes it perfect for landmark and interior shots.
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D / EOS 200D Mark II
Amazon’s Choice
Price: $699.00
- Type: DSLR
- Pros
- 24.1 Megapixels
- Screen: 3in vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots
- Max burst speed: 5fps
- Max video resolution: 4K UHD at 25p
- Excellent View shooting
- Bigger than its mirrorless competitors
- Lightweight
- Cons
- High Priced
The price of this camera may be quite on the high side, but it delivers its worth. The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (also known as EOS 250D / EOS 200D Mark II) has 24.1MP resolution, excellent live shooting, fast Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocus, completely-articulating touchscreen display, and a premium APS-C sensor. The EOS Rebel SL3 also comes with NFC connectivity and WIFI. All these features are packed into what is probably the smallest DSLR body available on the market.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Amazon’s Choice
Price: $799.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 20.3 Megapixels
- Screen: 3-inch 180-degree tilting touchscreen, 1,037k dots
- Max shooting speed: 8.7fps
- Max video resolution: 4K UHD
- New 20MP sensor
- 5-axis in-body stabilization
- Cons
- Costly Disposable Lenses
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV has significantly enhanced in-body image stabilization, a new flip-down, tiltable monitor, and a 20MP sensor. It also provides a 4K video and an aesthetically pleasing body.
This camera is an entry-level powerhouse which makes it a fantastic option for novice photographers. Due to its small size, it can be easily carried around. In addition, it can do almost everything users need it to do. This powerful, stylish camera from Olympus is a keeper and one of the best cameras for beginners.
Canon EOS M50 / Mark II
Amazon’s Choice
Price: $699.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 24.1 Megapixels
- Screen: 3in vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040k dots
- Max burst speed: 10fps
- Max video resolution: 4K UHD
- Built-in electronic viewfinder
- Excellent vari-angle touchscreen
- Simple exterior controls
- Cons
- Limited 4k capabilities
- Awkward kit lens
A major selling point of the Canon EOS M50 is the viewfinder; because most mirrorless cameras within its price range don’t come with a viewfinder. The EOS M50 is compact-sized and loaded with many technical features. However, the camera 4k video mode has several surprising limitations, and it’s retracting 15-45mm kit lens is rather cumbersome to use.
While these constraints are considerable issues, the Canon EOS M50 is still a nice-looking simple-to-operate camera. It also works perfectly as a mirrorless substitute for the Canon Rebel SL3/EOS 250D, as they both have similar features.
Sony A6000
Price: $698.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 24.3MP Megapixels
- Screen: 3in tilting screen, 921k
- Continuous shooting speed: 11fps
- Max video resolution: Full HD
- Lightweight and compact
- Electronic viewfinder
- Cons
- No 4K video
- Old model
- Limited tilting screen.
The Sony A6000 is quite old, but it still qualifies as one of the best entry-level camera models ever made by Sony. It comes with a 24.3MP image sensor that provides remarkably good resolution. However, the electronic viewfinder 440k-dot resolution is slightly below the current standards, and the 921k-dot tilting screen may feel rather limited.
The A6000 cannot record videos in 4k and lacks the high-tech AF of Sony’s newest A6000-series cameras. If these limitations are manageable for you, then go ahead and get the camera. Apart from being a stylish compact camera, it offers a good autofocusing system, solid image quality, continuous shooting, and a durable body. These features are all very substantial, considering how much the camera is sold for. Therefore, it suits well into our list of best cameras for beginners.
Nikon Z 50
Price: $759.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 20.9MP Megapixels
- Monitor: 3.2-inch tilting, 1.04m dots
- Continuous shooting speed: 11fps
- Max video resolution: 4K UHD at 30p
- 4K video and 11fps shooting
- Cons
- No in-body stabilization
- High priced
This camera is rather small, but it possesses a good grip and decent external controls. It’s retracting 16-50mm kit lens is impressive not only because of its pancake lens dimensions but general performance as well. Some of its other remarkable features include 11fps shooting and 4k video capability.
The Nikon Z 50 is incredible value for money, particularly when purchased as a twin-lens kit. It may be quite pricey for novice photographers, but it offers simplicity, great features, and durability. In addition, its Z mount is similar to the one on bigger cameras so that photographers can use full-frame Nikkor Z lenses, regular Nikon DSLR lenses, and dedicated Nikkor Z DX lenses through the FTZ adapter.
Olympus PEN E-PL10 & E-PL9
Price: $599.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 16.1MP Megapixels
- Screen: 3.0-inch 1,040k tilting touchscreen
- Continuous shooting speed: 8.6fps
- Max video resolution: 4K
- Stylish design
- 16.1Megapixels
- Cons
- No Viewfinder
The Olympus PEN E-PL10 & E-PL9 share a lot of technical similarities. The only major difference between both models is the interface design. Vloggers and fashion content creators will love this camera because it has a 180-degree selfie/vlogging screen and 4K video shooting.
Although it is quite lightweight and small-sized, the camera build is solid enough to be used for travel/ street photography. When paired with the Olympus 14-42mm EZ ‘pancake’ kit lens, it ramps up its shooting power. With this beginner camera, users get chic retro style alongside practical function and build.
Panasonic Lumix GX9
Price: $797.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 20.3MP Megapixels
- Screen: 3in tilting, touchscreen, 1,240,000 dots
- Max burst speed: 9fps
- Max video resolution: 4K
- 4K Photo modes
- Tilting electronic viewfinder
- Cons
- Limited physical controls
The Lumix GX9 can shoot 4k videos and has an array of remarkable 4k photo modes that let users extract high-grade stills from the 4k footage. This stylish camera comes with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount that offers a wide range of lens choices. It also possesses excellent imaging capabilities.
In addition, the Lumix GX9 has Post Focus modes, which allows you to select a focus area even after the image has been shot. However, due to its compact size, the physical controls are limited, and users will have to use the touchscreen menus to change many settings. Fortunately, the Intelligent Auto mode can help handle that process; this is particularly helpful for beginner photographers.
Panasonic Lumix G100
Price: $597.00
- Type: Mirrorless
- Pros
- 20.3 Megapixels
- Screen: 3-inch vari-angle, 1,840k dots
- Max continuous shooting speed: 10fps
- Max video resolution: 4K UHD
- High-Quality Video and stills
- Audio-recording capacity
- Cons
- No in-body stabilization
- No headphone jack or USB-C
The Lumix G100 offers a simplicity that will be welcomed by both vloggers and photographers alike. It can capture high-quality stills and videos via its easy-to-use button layouts. For beginners and people who don’t want to bother with shooting technicalities, this camera is a great choice because it easily produces good shots.
The Panasonic Lumix G100 is loaded with “proper camera tech” and a suitable viewfinder. This gives it a solid leg over the other cameras within its range. For novice photographers and social media vloggers, this camera is a perfect choice.
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Conclusion
Apart from considering the specs and features of cameras, it is also necessary to factor in the type of photography you’re interested in. Are you capturing landscape shots or are you into portraits, or are you more of a vlogger?
Furthermore, when you purchase a camera, you’re buying into a whole network of gear, not just one product. From lenses to mounts, the brand of camera you buy determines what kind of gear is available for you.
Finally, beginners should go for an interchangeable lens camera while making sure they are mirrorless and a DSLR model. This is because of the manual modes that enhance photography learning.
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