Just because a camera is cheap, doesn’t mean it’s bad. New releases cause prices to fall.
There are marketing departments working to make you believe old cameras are obsolete. My view is that they are just as good as the day they were released.
Cameras are separated by type. They are roughly ordered by cost.
Below are my top recommendations for each price point and type of photography or videography. They’ll offer good value and usability.
Cameras for fun everyday photography, travel, street, and portraits are the cheapest. They get more expensive when faster autofocus is needed for sports/action/wildlife or for recording 4k video.
Toys Cameras
I think the most popular recent example would be the Kodak Charmera. I don’t like them because there are different designs sold in blind boxes.
There are also cameras designed for kids. One I have is the Vtech KidiZoom Ceator Cam.
The common factor is limited controls and a low resolution camera sensor. The most capable cameras can record 1080p30 video. Others might be limited to 720p, 480i, lower, or no ability to capture video.
Point and Shoots
- Does it have a built-in flash?
- Does it use SD cards. (Avoid CompactFlash or xD Picture Cards)
Crop Sensor DSLRs
Canon T4i, T5i Nikon D3200, D3300
Micro Four Thirds
Micro Four Thirds has the best selection of lenses under $200.