In this article, I’ll discuss five cameras that challenge the notion that high quality equals a hefty price.
Whether you want to upgrade from your phone camera, create online content, or take up professional photography, these five cameras are affordable solutions that punch above their weight.
Top 5 Budget Cameras That Punch Above Their Weight
If you have a tight budget but want high-quality photos and video, check out these cameras that offer great value for your money.
1. Canon R50
Credit: Canon USA
The Canon R50 is highly user-friendly, making it ideal for a beginner photographer who wants to learn, improve, and grow.
This camera has a 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor with a DIGIC X image processor.
Instead of a regular auto mode where the camera takes complete control, the Canon R50 has an intelligent auto mode. The difference is that you can tell the camera about your preferences, and it will find the best settings to give you the closest result.
The touchscreen makes it very comfortable to use, and it rotates so you can use the camera for self-portraits or vlogging. However, the internal mic is not great, so you might need an external microphone if you want to use it for vlogs.
The Dual Pixel autofocus is AI-based and can track all types of subjects. If you like to take action shots, it can handle up to 15 fps – although the buffering is a bit slow if you’re shooting in raw.
As for the video, the R50 records 4K up to 30p with no crop, 10-bit HDR video, and digital stabilization. The battery life can take up to 90 min of video.
The image quality and the true-to-life colors are amazing for such a budget-friendly camera.
2. Nikon Z30/Z50
Thilo Parg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You’re probably wondering why I named two cameras here. Well, they share most of the same specs, and therefore, they both offer great value for money.
They feature a 20.9 MP BSI CMOS camera sensor with an EXPEED 6 image processor.
They record at 4K up to 30 fps and 1080 up to 120 fps. The burst mode shoots 11 fps, and the battery life changes only by ten extra frames on the Z30.
Both the Z30 and the Z50 have a Hybrid PDAF with 209-point autofocus, so they both work great in this regard.
The biggest difference between the cameras is the design. The Z50 has an electronic viewfinder, which is very appreciated by photographers who are used to working with DSLRs or other technologies.
On the downside, the screen only tilts, and the overall size is slightly bigger and heavier than the Z30.
The Z30 is lighter and more compact but doesn’t have a viewfinder. On the plus side, its screen is fully articulated, which makes it better for vloggers and content creators.
Another difference is the release date. If you want a newer camera, you should go for the Z30, which was released in 2022, while the Z50 was released in 2019.
Whichever one you choose, you’ll be getting an affordable camera that punches above its weight.
3. Sony ZV-E10
Credit: Milo Deckert
This super compact camera will make you ditch your phone whenever you want to take a photo or video.
It has a 24MP APS-C sensor that performs particularly well in low light.
One of the strongest features of this camera is the audio recording of your videos. So, it’s an excellent camera for vloggers and content creators. It also has a fully articulated screen.
Its excellent autofocus is fast and reliable, and it has eye and face-tracking functionality.
When shooting in burst mode, it reaches ten fps, and the buffer can take up to 44 raw files in a row, or 166 jpegs.
As far as battery life is concerned, you’ll notice the difference compared to other cameras in this list when recording video, but not so much when taking photos.
The video resolution is 4K at 24 and 30 fps with cinema profiles.
4. Canon R100
Credit: Canon UK
Regarding value for money, the Canon R100 is one of the best cameras on the market today. Its sensor is a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS, which delivers great image quality.
Despite its compact size, the Canon R100 is a solid and durable camera. Unlike other cameras on the list, it has a built-in flash.
On the downside, the back LCD screen is fixed without touch capabilities, but it is high quality. You can use the camera remotely through your phone, which allows you to use it with a touchscreen.
Like the R50, this one also has intelligent auto mode, which means that you can quickly get the desired results even if you’re not yet adept with the manual mode.
The dual-pixel autofocus is fast and reliable, although it’s not AI-powered like the one in the R50.
The burst rate is 6.5 fps, which isn’t as fast, but it has a great buffer, as it can take up to 100 JPGs in a row.
For video, the R100 records in FullHD at up to 120 fps. It also handles 4K recording but cropping the frame.
In conclusion, the specs aren’t comparable with those of cameras intended for more professional use. However, as a casual shooter, this is one of the best options for this budget.
5. GoPro Hero 12
GoPro cameras are often the first choice of many creators for on-the-go filming and shooting. The GoPro Hero 12 is the most recent model, and it has an improved battery life.
This camera was designed to capture high-quality video and images. Its Type 1/1.9″ CMOS sensor records video at 5.3K at up to 60 fps and 4K at up to 120 fps.
You can also record slow-motion (8x slow-mo—2.7K at 240p) and HDR video.
The still frames you can get from the video have a resolution of 24.7MP. However, the photos taken as such have a 27MP resolution, and you can shoot raw and jpeg.
The camera is also waterproofed for 33ft (10m) without housing.
If you want to travel or capture action footage, this is an excellent camera with an affordable price tag.
