The best camera under AU$500 in 2024: cheap cameras with a bit of power

When it comes to finding the best cameras under AU$500 in Australia, choices are very limited, but there are still some great options.

While prices are going up these days, the best cameras under $500 can still be found if you know where to look. Whether you're looking for digital, instant film or a mix of both, there are cheap options to be had. As new models are released, prices drop, and manufacturers may keep an older camera in production if it's still selling.

We've also seen some brand new cheap cameras arrive recently in the form of Kodak's PIXPRO line of digital compacts. You'll see plenty of those on this list, along with instant options from the likes of Fujifilm Instax and Polaroid. Bear in mind though that these will have ongoing film costs.

All of the cameras on this list will take great pictures, and you may be surprised at just how much value you get for your sub-$500 outlay. And if you're looking for an even cheaper camera, we've also got a guide to the best cameras under AU$200.

Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer, and is also an encyclopedia when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related.

The quick list

Best cameras under AU$500

Best Instax

Instant film cameras are always a hit at parties, and the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 is a fine example available at a great price. With a click of the shutter button, it'll create 6.2cm square prints that look fantastic, with punchy colors and less of the tendency towards overexposure that has plagued previous Instax cameras. 

The thing to remember about instant film is that it is of course an ongoing cost, so while you're paying under $200 or so for the camera, you'll have to keep buying refills every time you run out. Also, this is a very basic point-and-shoot model, which is arguably all you need in an instant camera, though some users may lament the lack of basic quality-of-life features like a self-timer. Still, for the price this is loads of fun, and a wonderfully inexpensive way to make physical images that last. There is a near-identical, and newer Instax SQ40 which offers a more-retro design - but costs more (although also well under $500).

See Instax SQ1 vs SQ40

Best waterproof

Looking for a cheap camera to take on vacation? The Kodak PixPro WPZ2 is a superb choice – dustproof, shockproof and waterproof down to depths of up to 15m. It's ideal for family vacations and days at the beach, as kids can drop it, throw it and dunk it and it'll still keep on taking pictures. While the sensor is a fairly small 1/2.3-inch type (similar to that you'd find in a smartphone), the optical zoom lens covers an equivalent range of 27-108mm, which gives you plenty of versatility in your compositions.

The Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2 is extremely no-frills, with little settings control to speak of, and a package so basic it doesn't even include a mains plug for charging. It isn't fancy, but it'll get the job done – what more could you ask of a sub-$500 camera?

Best instant print

Not only can you take photos using the Instax Hybrid Mini LiPlay but it can also print photos from your phone. Small enough to fit in your pocket its compact design makes it perfect for having on you at all times. Featuring an LCD screen and a selfie mirror on the front so you can make sure you're looking your best, Fujifilm really has thought of it all. Connect it to the LiPlay app on your phone so you can edit your photos and add things such as colored frames or apply a filter for a bit of fun. 

Even though the photos print out onto Instax Mini film, you can also choose to just keep the pictures stored on a micro SD card. Choose from Blush Gold, Elegant Black, or Stone White, depending on your style, and it's time to get snapping. It has a rechargeable battery, a built-in flash and three shortcut buttons so you can save your favorite settings. We haven't had a chance to test one yet, but with all it's nifty features we're sure it will find its way onto our best instant film camera guide. 

Best Polaroid

The Polaroid Now+ is a welcome arrival to the Polaroid product line, upgrading the original Now and becoming one of our favorite instant cameras ever made. with creative tools like lens filters and an aperture priority shooting mode, it beats the point-and-shoot Instax cameras hands-down in terms of its creative potential. Controls are simple and well laid-out, and the quality of prints it produces are absolutely top-notch. The app-based functionality is excellent too, allowing you to trigger the camera remotely.

While the Instax Mini 11 does have it beaten on price, we definitely prefer the full-size square prints that Polaroid delivers. And much as we love the Instax line, when you're shooting old-school instant film, there's nothing quite like the tactility of holding a big, boxy Polaroid. 

Best digital point-and-shoot

This no-nonsense, pocket-sized point-and-shoot is perfect for beginners or anyone looking for a phone camera upgrade. It features a 16.15-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor so you won't be able to print your images very big but they're still perfect for sharing on social media. It has a zoom range equivalent to 28-140mm on a full-frame camera and a 6x digital zoom if you need to get that little bit closer. One of the downsides is it doesn't come with a viewfinder and the screen is hard to see on a sunny day but otherwise, it's a great buy for the price. 

Best for zoom

The Kodak PIZPRO AZ401 is a fantastic entry-level camera that is easy to use and very affordable. It has several handy features you might not expect on such a budget camera such as detection settings for face, smile, blink, cat and dog, it has a built-in 180° panorama mode and it can shoot video up to 720p which might not sound like much but it's fine for sharing on social media. 

Unfortunately it can't shoot Raw photos so if you're looking for a camera than might last you past being a beginner you might want to look for something that can shoot in Raw. It has a massive zoom and while it might not be the clearest image when you're zoomed right in at least the option to do so is there. It would be a great but of kit to take on holiday as it's small and lightweight but has a built-in flash and a zoom that'll allow you to take photos of things far in the distance. 

Best eco-friendly

Let's begin by saying, the Paper Shoot camera is definitely something you would buy as a bit of fun rather than a camera to take serious photos on. The first thing you'll notice is that it's devoid of almost everything you would want in a compact camera — the ability to zoom, a built-in flash and it doesn't have a viewfinder. That being said, all those things sort of add to its strange charm, it makes picture taking more risky and maybe that's exciting. It comes in a range of designs from beautiful floral patterns as pictured to a more classic looking analog design. You'll have to get an SD card and rechargeable AAA batteries separately and we would recommend getting rechargeable ones over standard AAA batteries as they last so much longer.

How to choose the best cameras under AU$500

If you're buying the best camera under AU$500, you're going to need to be realistic about what you're going to get. At this price, you're not going to get super-fast burst rates, ultra-high sensor resolution or the latest high-speed autofocus tech. But what you can get is a capable camera that works well, and maybe even offers a few unique features of its own.

You're not going to get an interchangeable-lens camera new of the shelf with this kind of budget. You're looking at either a digital compact or an instant film camera, each of which comes with its own advantages and drawbacks. Instant film cameras are great fun, producing physical prints of photos that can be displayed, shared or simply kept safe. However, naturally the film comes with an ongoing cost. Digital compacts can shoot and shoot for as long as the storage media has space – but at this price, the quality is going to be fairly average.

Depending on what you're looking for, you may be able to find a camera that specialises in a particular niche — one with a long zoom, or with waterproofing. Bear in mind that the cameras we've picked for this list are all ones you can buy new and still stay within the $500 limit. Buying used is also a great way to save money, and you can check out our guide to the best used cameras for some tips. 

How we test cameras

We test mirrorless and DSLR cameras both in real-world shooting scenarios and in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera's ISO range. We use these real-world testing and lab results to inform our comments in buying guides. 

For compact cameras and instant film cameras, we judge real-world handling and photographic results alone. We also take price into consideration when making our judgements – we don't hold a $200 point-and-shoot to the same high standards as a $5,000 professional mirrorless camera. We assess each camera on its own terms in order to assess whether it provides you with genuine value for money.

Read more:

Best budget camera
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