Best Cameras for under $1000
Two friends this week mentioned that they’re looking at get a new camera as an upgrade from just phone photos. So I thought I’d put together a few budget-dependent suggestions.
You could get a DSLR like a Canon Rebel and have an excellent choice of relatively cheap lenses. But with mirrorless cameras you generally get a smaller, lighter camera, which is great if it means you take the camera with you more often. Plus a mirrorless camera gives you a live preview of your image in the viewfinder, so it’s easier to get the settings right for each image.
Firstly, a couple of suggestions if you’re not bothered about changing lenses. You just want a camera that’s better than your phone, with a few more controls. I’d look at the Sony Rx100 VA ($1000) and the Panasonic LX100ii ($800). Both are small but have relatively large sensors and fast lenses. Or a used Fujifilm X100F, which is a beautiful camera but with a fixed (rather than zoom) lens, which personally I prefer.
If you want to have the option of changing lenses in the future, here’s what I’d recommend:
$500
There aren’t many options for new mirrorless cameras under $500. At the time of writing, B&H only lists the Canon EOS M6. The Canon EOS M50 mk2 is a significantly better camera though for $100 more. There is also the Olympus OM-D EM10 mk4 at $600 which has a smaller sensor but a much larger range of lenses to choose from.
The future of both systems is unclear though and I’d be tempted to look for an older used model from Sony or Fujifilm. The Sony A6000 has been around for years but is still an excellent camera. The Fujifilm X-T20 or X-E3 should fall within reach too, and both Fujifilm and Sony have an excellent range of lenses and strong ongoing support.
$750
$750 gets you the Sony ZV-E10, Sony 6100 or a refurbished Nikon Z50. The ZV-E10 has newer technology than the 6100 and a nice design, but no viewfinder. Excellent video specs too. I’m not familiar with the Nikon Z50 but it looks like a good all-rounder and I love the ergonomics of the new Nikons. So the ZV-E10 wins for size and weight, but the Z50 gives you a viewfinder so probably feels more like a ‘proper’ camera if you don’t mind the larger size.
$1000
At $1000 a lot more options open up, including the Sony A6400 and Canon RP. I’d be torn though between the Fujifilm X-S10 and Nikon Z5. Either would be great purchases. The Z5 includes a full-frame sensor (as does the Canon RP) so should be a little better in low light, but the X-S10 would be a better choice for video as well as being an excellent stills camera.
Buying used
I don’t think that eBay has the bargains that it used to, at least not often, but buying used obviously does save some money. There are dedicated Facebook market groups for each of the major camera brands, but I’d look at either the online stores KEH.com or MPB.com, or the New York stores B&H and Adorama. All assign a rating for the condition of the camera, and have reasonable return policies if you’re unhappy with the purchase. You can also get ‘open box’ equipment from B&H and Adorama which can be virtually a new camera at a slightly reduced price.
The image quality from any of these cameras will depend more on the lens you use than on the camera itself. Most come with a ‘kit lens’ which is usually fine but not great. A small 35mm or 50mm prime lens will give you better quality and personally I find them more enjoyable to use. So if you’re looking at a camera in a store, consider the lens you might want to use with it, but also the size and weight (you’re much more likely to use a small camera more often), how it feels in your hand, and how you get on with the viewfinder (particularly if you wear glasses). Those will make more difference than technical details unless you have a particular need like time-lapse or slow-motion video where one camera might have a clear advantage over another.
