What is the Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners?
- Features of a Good Beginner Camera
- The Case for Used Photography Equipment
- Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Low Cost
- Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Medium Cost
- Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Higher Cost
- Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Special Mention
- Lenses and Other Equipment from MPB
- Final Thoughts
- Beginner Photography Primer: Types of Cameras Used for Photography
- The Most Versatile Focal Length
- Should I Still Buy a DSLR?
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What is the best cheap camera for photography beginners? Besides that question, where does one find the best cheap camera for photography beginners?
As we look for the best digital camera for beginners, we’ll discuss some features that a good beginner camera should have, and then we’ll give some examples that qualify for consideration as top choices.
The cameras we’ll show you come from the best online platform for pre-owned photography gear, MPB. We’ll also show you why using the online platform MPB is a great choice for anyone searching for a good beginner camera. Really, photographers of all levels, from absolute beginners to established professionals, can find incredible cameras and lenses.
Table of Contents:
Features of a Good Beginner Camera
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Before embarking on the trip to the best cheap camera for beginners, we need to decide on what features a good beginner camera should have. We’ll also add our usual disclaimer that there really is not one item that can be labeled the absolute best digital camera for beginners, but we can narrow it down to a few great ideas of where to start.
A good beginner camera should be simple to use, be very high quality, and allow room to grow. So let’s tackle these issues one by one to get some ideas.
A good beginner camera should be easy to get used to and a breeze to use. This means automation, but more than that, sophisticated automation. That automation should be able to be adjusted on the go as well. Just because someone is a beginner doesn’t mean shooting only for snapshots, so those sophisticated features are a must.
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Interchangeable lenses are high on the list of sophistication necessary since beginners will seek new ways to express themselves. Plus, those kit lenses or an all-in-one lens on a point & shoot camera always leave a new photographer wanting more. More reach, more wide angle, closer focus, more capability.
Interchangeable lens digital cameras and lenses are all very high quality. One surprising revelation for many photographers is that the sensors on the best cheap cameras for photography beginners are similar to what’s in higher-end cameras.
Having room to grow may sound like a cheesy phrase, but what it means to beginner photographers is that a good beginner will have more than simple automatic modes but also the capacity to adjust the important parts of the photographic process, either as semi-automatic or fully manual.
Watch the video above - “Photography Basic in just 13 Minutes” on the Photography Talk YouTube channel - for a fast look at what a beginner photographer needs to know.
The Case for Used Photography Equipment
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The lowest prices on the best cheap cameras for photography beginners are going to be cameras that have been previously sold. It’s purely a matter of economics. Except for collectibles, virtually any big-ticket item is going to be less expensive once it’s been sold already as brand new.
The secret is to find those ticket items used from a trusted source. The online platform MPB is one of my favorite ways to obtain any new-to-me photographic item. The reason is guaranteed protection. No one wants to shell out good money on something that doesn’t work. The cameras and lenses at MPB have been thoroughly vetted and checked out to be in good working order.
Not only that, but MPB includes several safety protections for your purchases. First, the cameras and lenses are described accurately as to condition. If it says “Like New” or “Excellent” in the listing, it’s going to not just function properly but also look mostly new. Lower condition-rated cameras and lenses will still be fully functional, but the items may show wear from use, which will be fully disclosed on the listing.
MPB offers a 7-day return window on most purchases and a 6-month warranty as well. That means that you will definitely get a good camera for beginners that works as it should, or it’ll be taken care of for you. Honestly, I’ve never had to use any of these protections, and I’ve been frequenting MPB for years.
Saving money on used cameras and lenses means we can maximize our photography gear budget, allowing us to perhaps purchase another lens or two and a good flash unit besides just the best cheap camera for photography beginners.
Learn More:
Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Low Cost
A very low-priced camera to consider as the best cheap camera for photography beginners is the Canon EOS Rebel T5i, also sold as the Kiss X7i outside of the USA. This is a DSLR-style camera with an APS-C format 18mp sensor, and it can record Full HD video.
Canon EF and EF-S lenses are suitable with it, such as the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f4-5.6 IS STM normal range zoom lens with a silent focus motor. This camera and lens are in excellent condition and right now are under $400 at MPB.
Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Medium Cost
A prosumer DSLR camera you might want as your best cheap camera for photography beginners is the 24.1mp APS-C format Nikon D7100 camera. In addition to the regular features for beginners, it also has modes, functions, and features that advanced photographers prefer, such as exposure bracketing and 51-point AF. It also records video in Full HD.
Being a more advanced camera, you might want to pair it with a better lens than the kit zoom, such as the extended range Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR wide to very telephoto zoom lens. Together in excellent condition, you can have this kit for around $550 at MPB.
Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Higher Cost
Sporting a very high-resolution X-Trans Fuji APS-C 26.1mp sensor, the Fujifilm X-T3 is a mirrorless camera that can accept all sorts of lenses by means of various adapters in addition to the superb Fujifilm lenses. It has a maximum shutter speed of 1/32000 and records 4K video.
A wonderful lens to use with this fine camera is the pro-quality Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 OIS WR normal range zoom lens. In like-new condition, you can find this pair for about $1350 from MPB. Another awesome feature of Fujifilm mirrorless cameras is the +6 stop image stabilization.
Best Cheap Camera for Photography Beginners - Special Mention
So far, we’ve looked at crop format APS-C format cameras for size and price considerations as the best digital camera for beginners. In Full Frame format cameras, check out the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 24.2mp mirrorless camera. Part of the L-Mount system of cameras and lenses from Panasonic, Sigma, and Leica, this camera also records video in 4k 10-bit.
The image quality is absolutely fantastic, and you can use all sorts of lenses from the various makers as well as other mount lenses via adapters. A good first lens is the Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 Macro OIS zoom lens. Together in like-new condition, this combination from MPB runs in the near $2200 range, which is outstanding for a Full Frame format outfit.
Lenses and Other Equipment from MPB
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MPB has much more than the best digital camera for beginners. Over 1000 lenses, lighting equipment, tripods, camcorders, and drones, along with various accessories, can also be found in conditions from Like New to Excellent to Well Used.
Do your research as to what lens or accessory fits what camera, and you will save lots of money on very high-quality photography gear.
Final Thoughts
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Finding the best cheap camera for photography beginners is easy to do once you know what to look for and where to shop.
The online platform MPB is a wonderful place to shop for all sorts of photography gear. Not only will you save money, but you will also easily find a good beginner camera for your budget and feature desires.