Best Beginner Camera for 2024
- Best All-Around Beginner Camera: Canon EOS R10
- Best Beginner Camera for Content Creators: Sony ZV-E10
- Best Beginner Camera for Portability: Canon EOS M200
- Best Beginner DSLR Camera: Nikon D3500<
- Best Beginner Micro Four Thirds Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV&
- More of the Best Cameras for Beginners
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- ISO: 100 - 32,000 (expandable to 100 - 51,200)
- Lens Mount: Canon RF Mount
- Speed: 23.0 fps
- Autofocus: 651 focus points
- Video: 4K/60p & 1080p/120p
- Size/Weight: 123 x 88 x 83 mm / 426 grams
- Battery Life: 450 shots
- Stabilization: No
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Weather-Sealed: No
- Used Canon EOS R10 Price: $699 - $739
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
- ISO: 100 - 32,000 (expandable to 50 - 51,200)
- Lens Mount: Sony E Mount
- Speed: 11.0 fps
- Autofocus: 425 focus points
- Video: 4K/30p & 1080p/120p
- Size/Weight: 115 x 64 x 45 mm / 343 grams
- Battery Life: 440 shots
- Stabilization: No
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Weather-Sealed: No
- Used Sony ZV-E10 Price: $514 - $584
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: 24.1MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- ISO: 100 - 25,600
- Lens Mount: Canon EF-M Mount
- Speed: 6.1 fps
- Autofocus: 143 focus points
- Video: 4K/24p, 1080p/60p & 720p/120p
- Size/Weight: 108 x 67 x 35 mm / 299 grams
- Battery Life: 315 shots
- Stabilization: No
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Weather-Sealed: No
- Used Canon EOS M200 Price: $404 - $449
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- Camera Type: DSLR
- Sensor: 24.2MP DX-Format APS-C CMOS Sensor
- ISO: 100 - 12,800 (expandable to 100 - 25,600)
- Lens Mount: Nikon F Mount
- Speed: 5.0 fps
- Autofocus: 11 focus points
- Video: 1080p @ 60, 30, & 24 fps
- Size/Weight: 124 x 97 x 70 mm / 365 grams
- Battery Life: 1550 shots
- Stabilization: No
- Touchscreen: No
- Weather-Sealed: No
- Used Nikon D3500 Price: $304 - $419
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: 20.3MP Live MOS MFT CMOS Sensor
- ISO: 200 - 25,600 (expandable to 100 - 25,600)
- Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds Mount
- Speed: 15.0 fps
- Autofocus: 121 focus points
- Video: 4K/30p & 1080p/60p
- Size/Weight: 122 x 84 x 49 mm / 383 grams
- Battery Life: 360 shots
- Stabilization: Yes
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Weather-Sealed: No
- Used Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV Price: $569 - $654
If you are a beginner photographer, videographer, or digital content creator looking for information to help you buy the perfect camera for your needs, you’ve come to the right place!
In this ultimate beginner photography camera guide, we’ll break down the five best beginner camera options for 2024 and beyond. Additionally, thanks to websites like MPB, buying a used digital camera has never been cheaper and easier.
Who is MPB? It’s a trustworthy and innovative photography company offering high-quality used photo and video gear at affordable prices. Better yet, every camera and lens it sells is hand-inspected by highly-trained product specialists with years of experience and backed by a six-month warranty, allowing you to make your purchases confidently and worry-free.
What truly sets MPB apart, though, is its state-of-the-art online platform. It’s a revolutionary tool that has helped us save thousands of dollars buying, selling, and trading photography equipment over the years, and we believe it can do the same for you. With that in mind, it’s time to determine which beginner camera is right for you!
Check out the video above by Simon d’Entremont to discover more about which best beginner camera is right for you.
Table of Contents
Best All-Around Beginner Camera: Canon EOS R10
The Canon EOS R10 is an entry-level mirrorless camera released in 2022. Its combination of excellent photo and video features is why it holds the top spot on our list. Still photos boast outstanding image quality and bold and bright colors. At the same time, it has 4K video capabilities and can record slow-motion movies directly in the camera.
Moreover, it was the first APS-C camera in the Canon EOS R lineup. As an APS-C camera, it’s more compact and portable than full-frame cameras, which is ideal for new photographers. Throw in its fast, accurate, and reliable Dual Pixel II autofocus, and it’s easy to see why the R10 is the best beginner camera in stores in 2024.
To learn more, visit our full Canon EOS R10 review. Now, here’s a closer look at the Canon EOS R10 specs and key features:
Best Beginner Camera for Content Creators: Sony ZV-E10
The Sony ZV-E10 came out in 2021, and it’s held the title of best beginner camera for digital content creators ever since. What do we mean when we say content creators? We are specifically talking about hybrid photographers who create photo and video content for posting to social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, etc.
It beats the Canon R10 because of its superior video performance. It records uncropped 4K video from the full width of the sensor and has a fully articulating rear LCD, advanced audio controls, and live streaming capabilities. Overall, it’s also the best beginner camera for video. The ZV-E10 is a Sony E-mount mirrorless camera.
To learn more, visit our full Sony Alpha ZV-E10 review. Now, here’s a closer look at the Sony ZV-E10 specs and key features:
Best Beginner Camera for Portability: Canon EOS M200
If size and portability are your top priority, you will love the Canon EOS M200. It’s an ultra-portable Canon EOS M mirrorless camera that debuted in 2019. Remarkably, when paired with a compact lens like the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM, it’s smaller and lighter than many point-and-shoot cameras.
Its size makes the M200 a great camera for travel photography, day-to-day use, and children. Furthermore, built-in Wi-Fi lets you instantly transfer pictures and video clips to your mobile devices. As a video camera, it can record 4K video (with a 1.7x crop factor) and has a cool time-lapse movie mode.
To learn more, visit our full Canon EOS M200 review. Now, here’s a closer look at the Canon EOS M200 specs and key features:
Learn More:
Best Beginner DSLR Camera: Nikon D3500
Despite the rapid rise of mirrorless cameras, DLSRs remain a popular choice for beginners because of their unbeatable prices. That said, the Nikon D3500 is the best beginner camera for people on a budget. It first hit shelves in 2018 and is one of the most sold Nikon DSLR cameras ever.
Nikon designed it specifically for beginners, and its various automatic and semi-automatic shooting modes are perfect for learning the basics of photography. In addition, its simple button layout and intuitive menu system make it easy for new photographers to quickly and easily adjust camera settings.
To learn more, visit our full Nikon D3500 review. Now, here’s a closer look at the Nikon D3500 specs and key features:
Best Beginner Micro Four Thirds Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Lastly, the best beginner camera for people searching for a micro four thirds camera is the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. It launched in 2020 and is the only camera discussed in this article with in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The IBIS boosts its low-light performance and handheld video quality, making it a good camera for action and adventure photographers.
While the E-M10 Mark IV comes in black and silver, the silver model is particularly popular because it mimics the look and feel of old-school film cameras. Its stylish design and solid photo and video specs make it a trendy camera for beginners in 2024.
To learn more, visit our full Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review. Now, here’s a closer look at the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV specs and key features:
More of the Best Cameras for Beginners
While those are some of the best beginner cameras on the market today, they aren’t the only ones. Check out the list below to compare and contrast them with other popular DSLR and mirrorless cameras for beginners. All of them are currently available at MPB.
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