Black Friday has been ‘meh’ this year for photographers like me. But these six still-live Cyber Monday deals give me hope

Most cameras under $100 produce pretty dismal results, but this is a camera that I'm gifting this year. It's both a digital and an instant film camera, which means you can still take pictures even after you run out of film. Compact cameras are trending and the Liplay makes it a great gift for pre-teens and teenagers, and even adults that appreciate the value of a print. While the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo is my favorite digital-instant hybrid for its extra creative tools, this Cyber Monday deal puts the Liplay at half the cost.

Buy it for: Older kids and teenagers that want a fun compact camera that can spit out shareable prints; adults that want to relive the instant photography days

Don't buy it for: Serious photographers. The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo, while twice the cost, has more controls and creative tools. Or the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 3 will allow serious photographers to print out the photos from their mirrorless camera.

Finding a full-frame camera under $1,000 is quite rare – and the Panasonic S5 isn't a bare-bones beginner camera either. The S5 has now been replaced by the Panasonic S5 II, but buying a slightly outdated mid-tier camera is often the better deal than buying a cheap beginner camera. Read the full Panasonic S5 review for more on why this camera is so great.

Buy it if you: Want (or want to gift) a solid, full-frame camera that's great for both photos and videos

Don't buy it if you: Need the latest, greatest autofocus system, as the S5 II offers a much better focusing system

Nikon's newbie-friendly full-frame mirrorless camera has a robust feel that doesn't fell like a chinzy budget cam. Plus, it still includes 4K despite the entry-level category. What we didn't love in our Nikon Z5 review was that the price wasn't super competitive and the kit lens a bit limiting – but a Cyber Monday deal drops the price by $900 and offers a much better 24-70mm f4 lens in the bundle.

Buy it if: You want (or want to gift) a full-frame camera with a solid build and image quality

Don't buy it if: You (or the recipient) are a sports photographer, as it only has 4.5 fps bursts

The Canon EOS R100 isn't my favorite budget camera because its features are a little too stunted – but it's probably the best camera under $400 right now. You can't even get a good compact for this price! The discount is so steep that many retailers are listing this as on backorder, but Walmart is still listing this deal in stock.

Buy it if: You want a simple camera that delivers images much better than a smartphone

Don't buy it if: You want to shoot action, or you want a camera that has a durable build

DJI's GoPro competitor actually does a much better job in low light, thanks to the larger sensor. While the DJI Osmo Action 4 has been eclipsed by the Action 5 Pro, it's still a great buy for nearly $150 less than the latest model, and still gets a 4.5 star rating from our reviews team.

Buy it if: You want an action camera that excels in low light

Don't buy it if: You want the improved battery life of the Osmo Action 5 Pro

Portable smartphone printers make really great gifts not just for photographers but for anyone who enjoys snapping photos with their smartphone. This Instax Wide printer prints on real Wide Instax – which is larger than the credit-card-sized Instax Mini. Because its real film, it's not pixel-peeping print quality, but the nostalgia and charm makes this a great gift.

Buy it if: You want a unique gift for anyone who likes taking photos

Don't buy it if: You want lab quality prints, as Instax film is better for retro charm