The best cameras under $500 include some incredible bargains. From action cameras to compacts with even a few mirrorless models and DSLRs, a $500 budget will get you surprisingly far in the world of cameras – as long as you know where to look. That's where we come in.
This list includes a selection of the best cameras we've reviewed that can be bought for less than $500 – some, for considerably less. All of these are cameras we have tested and reviewed to make sure they're worth the money the manufacturers are asking. Some of these cameras are quite new, while others are older models that we reckon still offer brilliant value.
For more options, see our guide to the best cheap cameras, which includes a number of bargain cameras at a range of prices. And if your budget is even lower, we have guides to the best cameras under $200 and the best cameras under $100.
For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days. He's Digital Camera World's Ecommerce editor, which means he's our foremost expert when it comes to hunting down incredible bargains on camera gear.
The quick list
If you're just dipping your toes into photo or video, the mirrorless R100's guided menus make this easy to use. It has 24MP APS-C image quality, 4K video and cutting-edge RF-mount lenses – and our favorite beginner camera overall.
Read more ↵
Offering better value than the newer Hero 13 Black, GoPro's Hero 12 Black is packed with new video features and is still top dog of the action camera world for those who are trying to stick to a budget.
With a zoom lens, a waterproof body and extensive underwater shooting modes, the OM System Tough TG-7 is a fantastic camera for vacations and trips.
This clever camera is perfect for point-and-shoot vloggers who don't want anything too complex – in a form factor that lends itself much more readily to vlogging than a conventional camera design.
DJI's action camera has a lot to recommend it, knocking the stuffing out of GoPro's Hero cameras in low light. The Osmo Action 5 Pro also boasts excellent stabilisation and super slow-motion capabilties.
The Panasonic Lumix FZ80D is a new bridge camera that resurrects the best of Panasonic's big-zoom compacts. For an all-in-one travel photography solution, its ideal.
Load the next products ↴
Well-apportioned for beginners, the Canon EOS Rebel T7 is a great DSLR for learning the ropes, and there are plenty of affordable EF-S lenses with which to supplement it.
Pretty much the most affordable DSLR you can buy new, Canon's EOS Rebel T100 is pretty no frills, but represents an affordable entry point into a superb system.
Best cameras under $500
Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
Best beginner camera
The EOS R100 is for beginners - and it is about the most affordable interchangeable lens camera that you can buy today, meaning with optional lenses you can use it to shoot any subject you care to name
It uses the same Dual Pixel autofocus system found on more professional Canon cameras and has a very respectable 24-megapixel APS-C sensor. It also has the benefit of being compatible (via an adapter) with the best Canon DSLR lenses which are highly affordable secondhand.
Recommended kit lens: Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM
Read our full Canon EOS R100 review
Best action camera
The Hero 12 Black is not the newest GoPro Hero model on the docket – that honor belongs to the Hero 13 Black. So why haven't we picked the newer version? Well, the ley upgrade to the Hero13 Black was its ability to use new modular lenses allowing you to alter your perspective and expand your shooting options. The thing is, all these new lenses an accessories cost money, and kitting out the Hero 13 Black would very swiftly blow our $500 budget. The 12 Black is cheaper, and has much same internals and features, making it a sounder buy for budget-conscious shooters.
What are those internals and features, I hear you ask? The Hero 12 Black sports 8:7 sensor that allows for easy shooting in different aspect ratios. Many of its features are largely geared towards serious video creators, those who want their content to look and feel ultra-polished. To that end, the GoPro Hero 12 Black comes sporting a tripod thread, dual-channel audio and Bluetooth mic support — all of which is great news for serious vloggers, and probably take-or-leave for casual holiday shooters.
Also falling into that category is the new addition of Log shooting. This is a dedicated colour profile designed to drop the contrast and boost dynamic range, providing the maximum amount of information in order to make footage that's most responsive to colour grading. The thing with Log though is that if you need it explained to you, you're probably never going to bother with it. Again, one for the pros, and not much for everyone else.
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is almost the best GoPro on the market, and since the release of its successor, its price has come down to a tempting $299, cementing it as one of the best-value sub-$500 cameras you can buy.
Read our full GoPro Hero 12 Black review for more on this camera.
GoPro Subscription explained: what you get, and is it worth it
Best tough camera
The OM System Tough TG-7 is the latest in the Tough TG line, formerly of Olympus, which has a sterling reputation among the tough camera market, not only for being sufficiently specced to handle tough conditions but also equipped with impressive imaging and video tech. The Raw-shooting, 4K-capable TG-7, is a fairly minor upgrade on the previous TG-6. Most of what it adds is external, with a steeper front grip sporting textured grooves, making for a more secure hold.
The camera produces 4K video at 30fps and offers the option to shoot Full HD video at 120fps for super-slow-motion. The TG-7 also has a generous 25-100mm optical zoom lens that lets you get closer and closer to the action. It's got a chunky handgrip providing a secure hold on the camera, while the internal zoom mechanism means the lens never protrudes from the body, protecting it from knocks and bumps.
Straightforward but sophisticated, the TG-7 is quite simply the best waterproof camera around right now. If you already own a TG-6 (or, to be honest, a TG-5), it's not particularly worth the upgrade, but it's a brilliant camera in its own right.
Read our full OM System Tough TG-7 review for more details
Best for vlogging
One of the first things you'll likely notice about the Canon PowerShot V10 is that it doesn't look anything like what we've come to think of as vlogging cameras – and as far as we're concerned, this is all to the good. The V10 is a radical rethinking of the vlogging camera, one that arguably deserves to catch on more than it has.
First up, with a slim build, it's much more comfortable to hold for self-recording than a conventional camera – a form factor that, if we're honest with ourselves, doesn't work particularly well for that purpose. If you don't want to hold it then that's no problem – the V10 has a built-in stand that means you can easily place it down on any flat surface and start shooting. Hey presto, you just saved the cost of a tripod.
Capturing good-looking 4K video at up to 30p, the V10 sports a 1-inch sensor that does reasonably well in a range of light conditions, and a 19mm equivalent lens that provides an expansive field of view. It's not a camera for anyone who likes to change lenses or cares about LUTs or anything like that – it's a vlogging camera that excels at producing good-looking video from a point-and-shoot interface. Quietly, it's a very clever release from Canon, and at less than $400, it's also quite the bargain.
Read our full Canon PowerShot V10 review for more details
Best GoPro alternative
Though best known for its drones, DJI has also produced a credible line of GoPro-rivalling action cameras, the Osmo Action series. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is the latest in the line, coming in comfortably under our $500 budget, and it's well worth considering as an alternative to GoPro – indeed, some commentators think DJI's line is better. Where you end up will likely depend on your shooting priorities – GoPro has 5.3K video, while DJI tops out at 4K, however, the larger sensor of the DJI Osmo Action makes it markedly superior in low light.
Elsewhere, this latest entry has all the hallmarks that have made the Osmo Action series so popular – the rock-steady stabilisation, the dual screens that offer brilliant clarity, the generous battery life. The super-slow motion abilities of the Osmo Action 5 Pro are also something special – though be warned that the headline-grabbing 960fps mode includes AI-generated frames. We tested out the more conventional 240fps mode, and it still looks fantastic.
Read our full DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro review for more details
Best for zoom
A new bridge camera in 2024?! Indeed it is so, and after years of Panasonic's popular big-zoom compacts being increasingly hard to find, the firm comes out with a refreshed version that's available brand new for a great price. The Panasonic Lumix FZ80D (or FZ82D in Europe and other territories) sports a lens with an incredible equivalent zoom range of 20-1200mm. A useful new feature is the Zoom Compose Assist button, making this range easier to use by allowing you to quickly zoom out with the tap of a button — handy if you lose your subject.
Lightweight and travel-ready, the Lumix FZ80D has a smaller sensor than other cameras, which can impact image quality, low-light performance and dynamic range. However, its sheer versatility makes it a brilliant choice for under $500.
See our full Panasonic Lumix FZ80D / FZ82D review
Best DSLR
An impressively specced beginner's DSLR and one of the long-awaited successors to the entry-level EOS Rebel XS, the Canon EOS Rebel T7 is a great choice for any stating-out or aspiring photographer looking to try out their first DSLR. Also sold in some countries as the EOS 2000D, it doesn't do anything, particularly flash but does manage everything you need it to a 9-point autofocus system, 3fps burst shooting, Full HD video, and of course, the Canon EF-S mount that gives the user access to a huge catalog of fantastic lenses. Friendly to the novice user, but offering room to grow, the EOS Rebel SL7 represents a fantastic bargain.
Read our Canon EOS Rebel T7 review for more details
Cheapest DSLR
Canon is now concentrating on mirrorless interchangeable lenses, but some of its older DSLRs still remain. One of the most affordable options is the Canon EOS Rebel T100, which comes at an even lower price point than the EOS Rebel SL7 seen above. It's a stripped-back beginner's DSLR that does just about everything you need it to for an incredible price, kit lens included. Also known as the EOS 4000D, the T100's nothing terribly sophisticated, but for the money, you get a decent camera with 18MP of resolution and 3fps burst shooting, as well as access to Canon's incredible stable of lenses.
Read more: Canon EOS Rebel T100 review for more details
How to choose the best camera under $500
When choosing a camera for under $500, it's best to be realistic about your expectations. Depending on what tickles your fancy, you should be able to pick up a fairly advanced compact camera, an enthusiast-focused mirrorless camera, or a decent entry-level DSLR.
With each new release, cameras have more advanced features, and the price of older models drops. Features that you once would've only seen on the best DSLRs or the best mirrorless cameras are now common features in more basic compact systems. This means that things like raw photos, Wi-Fi, and 4K video are now available in even budget cameras.
Another reason why cheaper cameras have become so good in recent years is that many manufacturers keep their older models on the market for quite a while. This means that consumers can pick up an absolute bargain if they're not too worried about having the newest camera on the market.
It's worth noting that as camera prices fluctuate, you may find a camera on our list that creeps a little over budget (or plunges far below!). However, every camera model on this list has been chosen because it balances fantastic features with an affordable price point, so we will definitely get you in the right ballpark.
Cameras aren't a one-size-fits-all product, so the best camera under $500 for you will depend on what you want to use it for.
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, we judge real-world handling and photographic results alone.
Read more:
The best cameras for under $200
The best cameras for under $100
Best cheap cameras
Best beginner cameras
The best point-and-shoot cameras
