9 Best Cameras Under $1000 dollars [December 2023]
- By Sebastiaan van 't Hoog
- Updated 7 december 2023
We all know that we have to watch the money these days, with today’s inflation a camera can quickly become very expensive. Did you know that a camera doesn’t have to be that expensive to take beautiful photos?
I spent 5 years shooting with cameras that cost less than $500, so I have a lot of experience buying cameras. I’ve had a lot of them and know exactly what to look for in the best camera under 1000 dollars.
In this article, I will tell you exactly what the best camera under 1000 dollars is, and not only that, I will also give you the best price. This way you can take the most beautiful photos with your new camera as quickly as possible.
The best cameras listed
**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. You can support me without any additional fees. I used some of the products mentioned, not all.
What is the best camera under 1000 dollars?
I know better than anyone how difficult it is to find a good camera for a maximum of 1000 euros, I have had a lot of them in the past and didn’t know what to look for. Now with years of experience, I know exactly what to look out for.
My goal is not for you to buy the most expensive camera, I want you to buy the right camera. This means that you do not buy a camera with unnecessary functions that you do not use.
A few key features I paid attention to is the resolution. A resolution of 24 MP or higher is desirable, so most have that. In addition, the autofocus and video specs are also important, you can view the entire list here.
A camera alone is not much use, we all know that. That’s why I also tell you which lenses are affordable and good, so you can immediately take photos without any problems.
Let’s get straight to the first camera!
Best mirrorless camera under $1000 dollars
Canon R10
Sebas' take
Everyone wants a camera that is good in both photo and video areas, you may want to make videos in the future.
That’s why the Canon R10 is perfect for this. With a 24 MP sensor and the 4K60p video function, it really is a good hybrid camera.
Partly due to the 23 fps burst mode, the Canon R10 is the best camera under $1000 dollars.
Holidays: Get $100 off your Canon R10!
Outstanding features
- 24 Megapixel sensor
- 4K30p oversampled
- 4K60p video function
- FHD 120p slow motion
- 15fps or 23fps burst
- AI auto focus
What I like/dislike about the Canon R10
Like
- Canon has packed Dual Pixel AF II into the R10, making it very good at wildlife photography and action in general
- The 4K30p mode is oversampled, so you really have much better sharpness with video
- The grip is neither too small nor too big, actually a perfect size for most
- The burst mode is also very fast, with 23 fps you will really capture all the action
Dislike
- Due to the APS-C sensor, the noise performance will not be great, take this into account when choosing the lens
- The buffer for RAW photos is small, unfortunately only 29 (12fps) or 21 (23fps) photos
The best lenses for the Canon R10
There are a lot of RF(-s) lenses available for the Canon R10, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Canon RF 50mm F/1.8 – Budget lens for portraits with a blurred background.
Canon RF 55-210mm – A budget telephoto lens, which is good for nature photography to get up close.
Canon RF 18-45mm – A lens good for landscapes and portraits, the perfect focal length.
Best hybrid camera under $1000 dollars
Fujifilm X-S10
Sebas' take
If you want the perfect hybrid camera, the Fujifilm X-S10 is perfect for you. Fujifilm has been getting better lately and it shows.
With a 26 MP sensor and 4K video options, you can easily create images that you can even edit professionally later.
All in all, the x-s10 is the best hybrid camera under $1000 dollars.
Outstanding features
- 26MP sensor
- Fast autofocus
- 4K30p video
- Image stabilization
- 240fps slow motion
What I like/dislike about the Fujifilm X-S10
Like
- The burst mode is very fast for a camera in its class. With the 30 fps burst (1.25x crop) you get closer to the subject and you can capture everything
- Image stabilization is something we don’t often encounter, the X-S10 really stands out with that. It can compensate for up to 6 stops
- Face and eye recognition is useful if you often photograph portraits, so you don’t have to do anything yourself
Dislike
- The 30fps burst mode has a 1.25x crop, so you do lose resolution
The best lenses for the Fujifilm X-S10
There are a lot of XF lenses available for the Fujifilm X-S10, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Fujifilm 35mm F/2.0 – Good portrait lens with blurred background.
Fujifilm 55-200mm – A telephoto lens for the X-S10, get closer to your subjects.
Fujifilm 18-55mm – A wide lens for shooting landscapes.
Today's best deal
Best beginner camera under $1000 dollars
Canon R50
Sebas' take
With the arrival of the Canon R50, Canon has made another very popular camera. That is of course not without reason, since Canon is the only one that does professional autofocus in beginner cameras.
In addition, the 24 MP sensor and 4K video function are just very interesting for many beginners, and I really don’t blame them.
If I had to choose a camera under $1000 dollars it would be the R50, you even have some money left over for lenses.
Holidays: Get $100 off your Canon R50!
Outstanding features
- 24MP sensor
- 4K30p video
- FHD 120p slow motion
- Deep learning autofocus
- 15fps burst mode
- Smallest RF camera
What I like/dislike about the Canon R50
Like
- It is the smallest RF camera, so you can put it in any bag to take it with you. You will also not be exhausted or get a lame arm quickly
- With professional autofocus you can just go out into nature and capture all the action, this is the same system as the Canon R5, a $3,500 camera!
- There are many affordable lenses available of good quality, you can mount both RF and EF lenses (with an adapter)
- You can also use the smart autofocus during video, which is really a game-changer for hybrid photographers and filmmakers
Dislike
- For some people, the grip is too small, so your little finger cannot grip the camera. That can be quite disturbing
The best lenses for the Canon R50
There are a lot of RF(-s) lenses available for the Canon R10, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Canon RF 50mm F/1.8 – Budget lens for portraits with a blurred background.
Canon RF 55-210mm – A budget telephoto lens, which is good for nature photography to get up close.
Canon RF 18-45mm – A lens good for landscapes and portraits, the perfect focal length.
Want to know more? Read the review! – Canon EOS R50 Review, Tests & Comparisons
Today's best deal
Nikon's best beginner camera under $1000 dollars
Nikon Z50
Sebas' take
Nikon doesn’t have many beginner cameras, but if one stands out, it’s the Nikon Z50. This camera is also a favorite among photographers and I agree with them.
With the 21 MP sensor you can shoot up to 11 frames per second and the 4K video has no crop. All in all, a great camera under $1000 dollars.
Holidays: Get $100 off your Nikon Z50!
Outstanding features
- 21MP sensor
- 11 fps burst mode
- 4K30p video
- FHD120p slow motion
- Animal detection
- Fast autofocus
What I like/dislike about the Nikon Z50
Like
- Due to the 21 MP sensor, the noise performance should be better than the earlier cameras on the list. Each pixel can absorb more light
- A compact size and lightweight ensure that you don’t get exhausted as quickly
- The autofocus can recognize animals, which is perfect for wildlife photography. Of course, he can also recognize people for portraits
Dislike
- The autofocus doesn’t turn out to be great for action photography, Nikon doesn’t put its best autofocus system in the cheaper cameras
The best lenses for the Nikon Z50
There are a lot of Nikon Z lenses available for the Nikon Z50, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Nikon 50mm F/1.8 – Portrait lens with blurred background, top quality.
Nikon 50-250mm – A good telephoto lens to get closer to your subject.
Nikon 12-28mm – Perfect landscape lens, very wide for the entire horizon.
Today's best deal
Best full-frame camera under $1000 dollars
Canon RP
Sebas' take
The only full-frame camera under $1000 dollars is the Canon EOS RP. A camera that I own myself, so I can tell you all about it.
A 26 MP sensor is more than adequate for all situations, and the full-frame format means the quality is truly superior to the other cameras on the list.
All in all, I think the EOS RP is the best full-frame mirrorless camera under 1000 dollars.
Outstanding features
- 26 MP sensor
- 4K30p video
- 5fps burst modus
- Oogdetectie
- Full-frame formaat
What I like/dislike about the Canon EOS RP
Like
- As I just said, the quality is really very good, especially in dark conditions you have to have the EOS RP
- If you often photograph portraits, the eye detection focus is useful, which is very accurate and reliable
- The 5fps is fast enough for action, for most action such as portrait sessions
Dislike
- It is a fairly small body, so not all fingers can stick to the grip
- The 4K video has a 1.5x crop, making it almost unusable
- The buffer fills up quickly if you use the burst mode regularly
- The autofocus is hardly usable for nature photography, for that you really have to look at a different camera
The best lenses for the Canon EOS RP
There are a lot of RF lenses available for the Canon RP, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Canon 50mm F/1.8 – Perfect portrait lens that blurs the background.
Canon 100-400mm – Best telephoto lens on a budget, get close to the subjects.
Canon 15-30mm – Good landscape lens that is very wide to capture everything.
Want to know more? Read the review! – Canon EOS RP Review & Tests | After 2 years of use
Best camera with lens under $1000 dollars
Sony A6400
Sebas' take
Sony has always been good when it comes to system cameras and the lenses are also of good quality. That’s why the Sony A6400 is the best camera with a lens under $1000 dollars.
The 24 MP sensor is of high quality and the 4K video function is made of 6K material. All in all, a very popular camera among novice and advanced photographers.
Outstanding features
- 24MP sensor
- 4K30p oversampled video
- 11 fps burst mode
- Reliable autofocus
- Small format
- <500 grams
What I like/dislike about the Sony A6400
Like
- The A6400 has really good autofocus, Sony claims the camera can focus in 0.02 seconds
- Recently, the A6400 can also recognize the eyes of animals through a software update, perfect for wildlife photography
- Like all the other cameras on the list, the A6400 is small and compact, weighing less than 500 grams
- The 11fps burst mode is more than fast enough for all types of action photography
Dislike
- You must have a fast card if you want to shoot 4K30p oversampled video, making it a bit more expensive
The best lenses for the Sony A6400
There are a lot of Sony E lenses available for the Sony A6400, I’ve picked a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Sony 50mm F/1.8 – Good portrait lens for getting blurred backgrounds.
Sony 24-240mm – Telephoto lens from Sony to get closer to the subjects.
Sony 10-20mm – Dedicated to E mount, good for landscapes and wide environments.
Today's best deal
Best DSLR camera under $1000 dollars
Nikon D7500
Sebas' take
DSLR is a thing of the past, it is sometimes said. However, I think there are plenty of DSLR cameras out there that are really good. The Nikon D7500 is one of them.
With a 21 MP sensor, you can take beautiful photos, especially if you mount a good lens on it. Everything about the D7500 is good, especially for the price you pay for it.
All in all the best DSLR camera under $1000 dollars.
Outstanding features
- 21MP sensor
- 8 fps burst mode
- dslr camera
- 4K30p video
- HD 60fps video
- Fast autofocus
What I like/dislike about the Nikon D7500
Like
- The 21 MP sensor is almost the same as the Nikon Z50, which takes really good quality photos
- You have no delay due to the optical viewfinder, which can be very nice if you’re photographing action
- 4K30p is good enough for most people, the quality of this is also very good and the heavier body makes the image more stable
Dislike
- It is an outdated technique, so you will miss new functions such as deep learning AF
The best lenses for the Nikon D7500
There are many Nikon lenses available for the Nikon D7500, I have selected a few that are good. From landscapes to birds, there is a good lens in between.
Nikon 50mm F/1.8 – Perfect portrait lens that blurs the background.
Nikon 70-300mm – Best telephoto lens on a budget, get close to the subjects.
Nikon 10-24mm – Good landscape lens that is very wide to capture everything.
Today's best deal
Best compact camera under $1000 dollars
Canon G7X III
Sebas' take
There are quite a few limits for compact cameras that have to be very small, such as limited lens and sensor size. Still, the Canon G7X III is very good in these areas.
A 20-megapixel sensor ensures good quality and the 24-100mm lens is the perfect distance for all types of photography. The 4K video option also makes it the best compact camera under $1000 dollars.
Outstanding features
- 20MP sensor
- 4K30p video
- Optical stabilization
- 24-100mm focal length
- 20fps burst mode
- Fast autofocus
What I like/dislike about the Canon G7X III
Like
- The 24mm focal length is perfect for landscapes and the 100mm is good for getting close to the subject
- A 20fps burst mode is fast enough to capture all action, such as birds flying or a dog running
- If you want to film videos, the G7X III is also perfect, with the 4K30p video option in combination with the stabilization you can make beautiful images
- The size is very small, so you can easily put it in your pocket and take it with you everywhere
Dislike
- The small sensor does not provide the very best image quality, especially in dark conditions
Best bridge camera under $1000 dollars
Nikon P1000
Sebas' take
Bridge cameras are generally very popular, especially if you do many types of photography. This is due to the large zoom range, which is no different from the Nikon P1000. It can zoom up to 6000mm, something that is very unique with every camera at the moment.
With a 16 MP sensor and a lens that can zoom up to 250x, you can take the most beautiful photos. Whether it’s nature photography or landscapes, the P1000 can do it all.
Outstanding features
- 16MP sensor
- 24-3000mm zoom
- Up to 6000mm digital zoom
- FHD60p video
- snap bridge transfers
- Image stabilization
What I like/dislike about the Nikon P1000
Like
- A super zoom range of 24-6000mm is truly unprecedented, no other camera can zoom in as far as the P1000
- You can take RAW photos for optimal editing and quality
- A bright lens that starts at F/2.8 to F/8.0
Dislike
- If you want to shoot videos then the P1000 is not perfect, with a max. resolution of 1080p
- The 16 MP sensor is enough for some, but a higher resolution is desirable
Today's best deal
What should you look for in a camera under $1000?
Image quality
Image quality is perhaps the most important point to look out for when purchasing a camera. For example, one cameras on the list have a full-frame sensor, that is the Canon EOS RP. The full-frame sensor provides more detail, a wider dynamic range, and better ISO performance.
APS-C sensors are generally cheaper and also have fantastic quality, but that doesn’t change the fact that the full-frame sensors are better.
The resolution is also important, a higher resolution ensures that you can zoom digitally without much loss of quality. A resolution of 24 MP or more is sufficient for many photographers.
Finally, the choice of lens is not unimportant, because this is the quality of the glass for the sensor. More expensive lenses are generally of better quality. For example, a 24-70mm (expensive) is often of better quality than a 24-240mm (less expensive) lens.
Autofocus
The autofocus is also important for many types of photography. If you are looking for a camera up to $1000 dollars, then you should look at this. Most new cameras often have deep learning techniques that can recognize subjects.
For example, the Canon R50 can recognize people, animals, and cars. Older cameras often do not have this. Of course, the lens is also important for focusing, a manual lens is often not very useful for action photography, for example.
Build quality & Weather resistance
A point that is often underestimated is the build quality of a camera, not only the materials but also the weather resistance. The full-frame cameras, such as the Canon EOS RP, are weather-proof, so they can withstand rain.
The Nikon Z50 and Canon R50, for example, are not of such high build quality and you really have to be careful with them when the weather is bad.
Burst mode & Buffer
This point is very important if you shoot a lot of photos in a row. A high burst mode is often required for action photography, such as wildlife photography or sports photography.
The buffer should not be small either, the cheaper cameras (Canon R100/Nikon Z50) often have a small buffer, so you can only use the burst mode for 2 seconds.
If the buffer is full, you’ll have to wait until it’s empty before you can take photos again, so factor this into your choice for a camera up to $1000.
Video features
Many photographers also want to make videos at some point. If you then have a camera that is not good at this or cannot do it at all, it will be made very difficult.
Most new system cameras have good video specifications, but the Canon EOS RP has a 1.5x crop at 4K video. These are aspects that are often forgotten, but make the images in this resolution almost unusable.
So pay close attention to the video specifications when choosing a camera.
Stabilization
Finally, this can be an important feature. Not many cameras under $1000 have built-in image stabilization, but the Fujifilm X-S10 does. This way you can use slower shutter speeds when shooting by hand.
Built-in stabilization is also very useful with large telephoto lenses because the difference is really noticeable. When you film videos, this is also a function that you want anyway, because you always have unexpected movements that can be absorbed.
In conclusion
Now it’s your turn to make the choice. There are many cameras under $1000 that you can choose from. Now that you know the pros and cons of each camera, you can make the choice.
Important aspects are of course the resolution, sensor size, video functions, burst speed and autofocus. Every camera on this list is very good on these points in particular, although they are not all the same.
Take your time to read the reviews I have written for most cameras and then make the choice, I want you to choose the right camera based on this blog!
Who is Sebastiaan?
Hi! I am Sebastiaan, the writer of this blog. With years of experience as a professional photographer, I want to share my expertise with you. From recommending cameras and lenses to giving tips that make a world of difference, that’s what I enjoy doing most.
There are tons of different cameras you can buy for under $1500. Full-frame cameras from Canon and Nikon, as well as mirrorless cameras from Sony and Fujifilm, are among the preferred options of professional photographers...