The Best Camera Under 1000 Dollars
- Best Camera Under 1000: Canon EOS RP
- Best Camera Under 1000: Nikon Z5
- Best Camera Under 1000: Sony a7R II
- Which Best Camera Under 1000 is Right for You?
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: 26.2MP Full-frame CMOS sensor
- ISO: 100 - 40,000 (expandable to 50 - 102,400)
- Lens Mount: Canon RF Mount
- Speed: 5.0 fps
- Autofocus: 4779 points
- Video: 4K/24p & 1080p/60p
- Size/Weight: 133 x 85 x 70 mm / 485 grams
- Battery Life: 250 shots
- Stabilization: No
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: 24.3MP Full-frame CMOS sensor
- ISO: 100 - 51,200 (expandable to 50 - 102,400)
- Lens Mount: Nikon Z Mount
- Speed: 4.5 fps
- Autofocus: 273 phase-detection points
- Video: 4K/30p & 1080p/60p
- Size/Weight: 134 x 101 x 70 mm / 675 grams
- Battery Life: 470 shots
- Stabilization: Yes
- Touchscreen: Yes
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Sensor: 42.4MP Full-frame CMOS sensor
- ISO: 100 - 25,600 (expandable to 50 - 102,400)
- Lens Mount: Sony E Mount
- Speed: 5.0 fps
- Autofocus: 399 phase-detection points
- Video: 4K/30p & 1080p/60p
- Size/Weight: 127 x 96 x 60 mm / 625 grams
- Battery Life: 290 shots
- Stabilization: Yes
- Touchscreen: Yes
Photo by AaronAmat via iStock
If you are shopping around for a new camera but on a tight budget, finding the best camera under 1000 dollars can undoubtedly be a difficult task. With so many excellent budget-friendly cameras on the market today, how are you supposed to figure out which one is ideal for you?
That’s where this guide comes in! Below, we share three of the most popular cameras under 1000 dollars. We examine the key features, check out the pros and cons, and tell you who will benefit most from shooting with each camera.
One fantastic resource where you can find loads of all three cameras in stock, and a place I have bought and sold countless gear is MPB. They are a trustworthy and reliable online platform that sells used photo and video kit at unbeatable prices.
Furthermore, all of their cameras are carefully hand-inspected by experienced product specialists and backed by warranties, allowing you to make your purchases confidently and worry-free. You can also trade-in your old gear or sell it to MPB and use the proceeds towards new-to-you-gear. Overall, it’s an easy-to-use online platform perfect for getting outfitted with the equipment you want and need!
Now, without further ado, let’s dive in and discover which best camera under 1000 dollars will help take your photo and video skills to the next level!
Table of Contents
Best Camera Under 1000: Canon EOS RP
If you are a fan of Canon, their best camera under 1000 dollars is the Canon EOS RP. It’s an intermediate-level mirrorless camera that launched in March 2019. At its core, it’s powered by a 26.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and a Digic 8 image processing engine.
The first thing that stands out about this best camera under 1000 dollars is its size. It is one of the most compact and lightweight full-frame cameras ever built. Its portability makes it a popular choice for on-the-go shooters like travel, street, and adventure photographers.
Image quality, particularly in JPEGs, is another strong point of the EOS RP. Photos have good overall sharpness, and colors look great straight out of the camera, thanks to Canon’s award-winning color science.
For video, it shoots both 4K and 1080p Full HD. The footage looks terrific at both resolutions, but, unfortunately, during 4K recording, a 1.7x crop factor is applied. If you want to capture wide shots, I recommend pairing it with a wide-angle lens like the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM.
A few more outstanding features of the EOS RP are its responsive autofocus system, excellent ergonomics, and the fact that it has both microphone and headphone jacks.
Here’s an in-depth look at the key features and specs of this best camera under 1000 dollars:
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Best Camera Under 1000: Nikon Z5
The Nikon Z5 is an enthusiast-level mirrorless camera perfect for beginner photographers. It was released in July 2020 and pairs a 24.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with a powerful Expeed 6 image processing engine.
The Z5 has a nearly identical look and feel to its professional siblings, the Nikon Z6 and Nikon Z7, but comes at a substantially lower price. Furthermore, the image sensor and image processor work together to create beautiful, high-quality photos and videos.
Our favorite thing about this camera is how easy it is to set up and use. The layout of the buttons and controls is well thought out, and the menu systems are intuitive and extremely easy to navigate. Moreover, the autofocus is accurate, and the AF joystick makes selecting a focus point a piece of cake.
Other notable features include in-body image stabilization, a large electronic viewfinder, and dual memory card slots. If you want a versatile all-around lens to pair with it, my top choice would be the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S.
Here’s an in-depth look at the key features and specs of this best camera under 1000 dollars:
Best Camera Under 1000: Sony Alpha a7R II
And finally, the best camera under 1000 dollars for professional photographers is the Sony Alpha a7R II. It debuted in August 2015 and has been succeeded by both the Sony Alpha a7R III and the Sony Alpha a7R IV. With that said, it remains a capable camera today, especially for landscape photography.
First off, the a7R II features a high-resolution 42.4-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and an advanced Bionz X image processing engine. It is one of the highest resolution full-frame mirrorless cameras ever produced and has a maximum resolution of 7952 x 5304 pixels. The high pixel count comes in handy when editing and enlarging your pictures.
Also, its low-light performance is off the charts thanks to the large BSI CMOS sensor and wide ISO range. This improves image quality immensely when working indoors or shooting at sunrise or sunset. Additionally, the low-light AF is super speedy and has no problems locating and tracking moving subjects.
More features worth mentioning are the silent shooting mode, 4K video capabilities, and solid in-body image stabilization. The stabilization technology further improves low-light results and helps during handheld video recording. Lastly, my two favorite lenses to use with this camera are the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS and the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS.
Here’s an in-depth look at the key features and specs of this best camera under 1000 dollars:
Which Best Camera Under 1000 is Right for You?
Photo by Imgorthand via iStock
While those are three of the best cameras under 1000 dollars, they certainly aren’t the only ones out there. If you still haven’t made up your mind, and want to check out some other options, here’s a list of more amazing cameras under 1000 dollars currently available at MPB!
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