We live in a day when fantastic image quality is available to everyone and at just about every price point. The market turnover on cameras is a blessing and a curse.
The curse being that it breeds GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). Of course, there are several blessings, including increasingly greater quality and, of course, used gear is available cheap on the second-hand market.
Now you, dear readers, tell us what is your pick for the best camera under $500. Use the comment section below and link to your source for the selling price.
Top Camera Rules
- It can be new or used.
- Instant and mail-in rebates count.
- If the camera is used and part of an auction on ebay, the selling price must be realistically under $500 if its an ongoing auction (completed listings are ok too).
- The seller must be a trusted seller, not one of the bait & switch guys that gets hammered on Reseller Ratings.
- If it’s a SLR, DSLR or mirrorless, it doesn’t have to include a lens.
- Old film cameras are totally fine too. Just remember you’ve to a $500 budget to get the best bang for your buck.
- Link to the listing and leave a reason why it’s the best camera under $500 for you.
The voting ends Sunday night. We’ll do a roundup next week of the top picks.
[UPDATE: You can find the readers picks in Ten of the Best Cameras Under $500]
Canon 40d
You can find it under $200 on ebay. Dream bigger!
sony a58 now$449.99 w/kit lens (down from $599.99) …new from Sony (not gray market)
The Pentax K-50 (body only) can me had $396. With a water resistant body and pentaprism instead of a pentamirror, seems like a great deal.
i was able to purchase a fuji xe1 with a 16-50mm lens for $475 on ebay . i have been using a fuji x100 and the xe1 is a great compliment . now i can use my leica rangefinder or leica r lenses , or even a
pinhole lens . the images are excellent up to 6400 iso . very happy with the camera . i think xe1
bodies are about $350 on ebay , but fuji lenses are expensive .
Holy crap! That’s a great find!
Canon 5D. Full frame and still great image quality. I picked up a Canon 1DS mark 2 for €400 last week – a great camera!
I agree. I picked up a used 5D for under $500.00 as a back up and smaller, lighter walk around camera than my 1DS iii.
Olympus STYLUS 1
Buying second hand or new you can get a Canon Eos 1100d for way under 500$. Lens included or without it and spend money on even better lenses. I know it’s not the most appealing camera but it’s cheap new, and let’s not say if its a second hand camera.
Used Nikon D7000 bodies start right around $500.
Bought a new Canon SL1 for $409 from an Amazon seller just three months ago. It’s probably even cheaper now. With an APS-C sensor and its small size you can’t beat it for a travel camera.
Canon EOS M.
You get a current 18MP APS-C sensor and a 22mm f2 lens for under $400. It also has a touch screen to top it off and shoots great 1080p video at 30fps with AF. A Mic input ensures you still get top quality audio and you have crazy quality for photos and video for under $400. If you want, the $120 adapter will allow you to attach ANY Canon lens with full AF and control. Try that with your other cameras. Not only is it the best camera under $400 but with a nice lens on the front, the image/video quality can rival cameras at any price point.
Canon 60D used: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/801100232-USE/canon_4460b003_eos_60d_dslr_camera.html
One of the largest selections of lenses to fit your needs, 18MP and great video capture. What more could you ask for. It’s why I bought it as my start up camera.
Short list would include an SL1. An SL1 refurb is under $470 from B&H right now – basically brand new and cheaper than most “used” and pre-owned randoms on ebay and similar:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1026501-REF/canon_8575b020aa_eos_rebel_sl1_dslr.html
This is basically a “baby” T4i or T5i style camera. For still mages, it’s a great sensor and offers many more advanced features than the non “i” line.
Also worth noting the GH2 or GH3 – if you’re patient. There’s not a lot of them around right now from most sellers that include a decent starting kit, but they do pop up at B&H from time to time. If you’re willing to do more of the leg work and deal with non-active M4/3 adapters and manual lenses, then you likely can get an even better deal on a combo.
If NO LENS NEEDED and don’t care about the pixel count or video features at all, then would look at used 1Ds. They were great cameras 5+ years ago and their build quality is a tank. For a beginner it’s too much to consider and likely a bit hard to use, but for an advanced user, it would be a great experience.
Worth noting, I’ve seen used 7D’s drop under $600 recently without lenses. Depending on the lens budget, may be more worth looking at alternatives there and pickup this camera instead.
Sigma Dp1, 2 or 3 Merrill for 402 euro’s, i e about 500 dollars new at Digit-Photo, Metz, France.
Unsurpassed IQ at low iso’s, superb fixed lens, compact and light.
what about the nikon D3200 it has good reviews and you can get a bundle with 4 lens for $566.95 also with alot of extras this is a brand new camera
Sony Alpha a5100!!! In ebay, it’s atleast $349 but without lens yet. hmmm.. probably with lens, it is more or less within the $500 value. Why this? Well, simply put, i like cameras that are lightweight and compact, and a mirrorless camera is that.Very easy to grip and just as powerful as any DSLR camera, or probably even more powerful. :)