Best Cameras Under $500 in 2020 (Product Review Article)

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For a high-quality camera that can take impressive shots and can record amazing videos, the camera needs to be super expensive! You might have heard this from everyone, or you may have the same opinion; But let me change the whole scenario for you. I mean who says that for a good camera, the price needs to be high enough?


Some of my friends asked me about the best cameras under $500. After all, you don't want to be left behind in this lucrative and trending field of photography and videography. So I decided to write a full detail about this subject so that you can buy a budget-friendly camera without compromising quality.


At the start of the article, we will first educate you about the features you should know a little bit and will then move onwards towards suggesting the five best cameras under $500.


best cameras under $500


  1. Buying Guide


  1. Frames per second (fps) - Videos are a series of images that play at a very high speed. If the number of those images is high, the quality and smoothness of the video will be good. The ideal frames per second (fps) for best cameras is 30fps and 60fps. 


  1. Video Resolution - There are many video resolutions available. Excellent resolution starts from 720p (p denotes progressive scan). We recommend you to choose a camera of at least 1080p resolution.

 

  1. Image resolution - The image resolution is referred to as megapixels (MP). Generally, the more megapixel your camera has, the better it is. 


  1. Sensor type and size

First,  there are two types of image sensors: 1) CMOS 2) CCD. Both have pros and cons. If you want the camera to consume less power and have high image processing speed, then CMOS is good. But if you wish to have a high dynamic range (excellent image quality) and less noise, CCD is better. 

Sensor size is of great importance. Several sensor sizes are available. It is important to note that it is not only the megapixel that makes the image quality better but the combination of both the megapixels and sensor size. The larger the sensor size, the more light it can absorb, and thus greater details can be displayed, making the image quality better. 

Keeping this concept very simple for you, out of the two cameras of the same megapixels, the image quality of that camera will be good whose sensor size is large. 


  1. Viewfinder - As the name suggests, it helps us to see what image will look like when we capture the image. There are two types of viewfinders: 1) Optical 2) Electronic (LCD). In the optical viewfinder, we can see the natural view of the object under exposure. This is done by the reflection of light through prisms inside the camera; here if we guess that the size of the camera must be significant due to this big arrangement, then our guess is right, the camera size is larger.

Whereas in the electronic viewfinder, the image of the object is converted into a digital form and then displayed to us on the screen (LCD). 

Both of these have their own advantages and limitations. The important one is that the optical viewfinder puts no strain on the battery as the view of the image is natural. But the case is opposite for electronic viewfinder, and the camera requires frequent charging. 


  1. Field of view - It means how wide or how narrow we can capture the image. Technically, it has to do with the focal length of the camera. The broader range of the field of view, the better it is to take versatile sort of shots. It is written as 24mm to 240mm. This length is the measure of the focal length of the lens of the camera. Lower focal lengths can take wider views, whereas, greater focal lengths can take narrow pictures.


  1. Weight - The is a pretty simple thing. The lesser the weight, the better it would be, especially if you are a travel vlogger. You need to have a lightweight camera so that you may record videos with ease without facing fatigue in the arm. 


  1. Autofocus range - This can also be a helpful feature while you are taking photos. It automatically adjusts the technical parameters of the camera such that the full exposure and a quality image is obtained. 


  1. Connectivity - As the technology is advancing, so is the case with cameras. It is a plus point to choose cameras that has connectivity features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wired connections with the computer system. 


  1. 5 Best Cameras Under $500

  1. SONY DSC HX90

This is a compact camera, and it can fit into your pocket easily. It proves to be the best camera for travel vlogging. You can use it almost everywhere due to its less weight. 

It has 1 by 2.3" image sensor and 18.2 megapixels. As we told you in the guide above, it is the relative contribution of the sensor size and the megapixels that make the image of high quality. Both these features allow you to take quality photos of the quality moments!

It has a 30x optical zoom feature that enables you to take photos of a specific thing from a farther distance without losing much of the image quality. 


PROS 

  • Contains both the optical and electronic viewfinders

  • Can capture images very close to objects 

  • Has video resolution of 1080p at 25 to 50fps 

  • Automatic video stabilization 

  • 3 inch LCD with 920 by 1600 pixels to review shots 

  

CONS

  • Not suitable for low light shots  

  • Taking images can be problematic during sunny days due to diffraction in the lens.


  1. CANON POWERSHOT G9 X Mark 2

The camera appears to be pretty simple, decent, and attractive for those people who love to be simple. It has a very graceful body. 

The fantastic first feature is that this camera comes with a 1-inch sensor size and a 20-megapixel image resolution. As we have established an understanding that teamwork of image resolution and image sensor decides what will be the quality of the image. So here it is, you will have super high-quality photos as both of them are great. 

If you want to click continuous shots without losing quality, this camera is the best option; you can take images at 8fps. It has a DIGIC 7 image processor, which is pretty fast and efficient. It is a superb feature, especially in such a compact-sized camera. 

There are several buttons of different settings attached to the body of the camera. You can set the options instead of changing them from the screen every time.


PROS

  • Autofocus feature 

  • Can record videos of 1080p at 60fps. 

  • Weighs less (206grams)

  • The processing speed is high.


CONS

  • Less optical zoom 

  • No optical viewfinder 


  1. SONY RX100 

It is a compact-sized camera, very portable, and suitable for making videos while you are wandering. It is very lightweight that makes it easy to choose whenever you are planning to have an adventure somewhere and want quality but a budget-friendly camera. Moreover, the body is made of aluminum that makes it sturdy and durable. 

It has got a 1-inch image sensor and a 20.2 MP image resolution superb for making quality images. During the burst mode, it can take pictures with 10fps speed without compromising the quality. 

It has a video resolution of 1080p at 60fps, which is the dream of all those who wish to make high resolution and quality videos. Hence, this camera can work like magic for those who don't want to miss any opportunity of their targets.  


PROS

  • Low-level noise

  • Good low light performance

  • The required depth of field (Deep or Shallow) is achievable 

  • Wireless connection is present

  • Durable design


CONS

  • No optical viewfinder 

  • Camera gets heated 


  1. NIKON D5300

This is also one of the budget-friendly and best cameras under $500. It has a robust and durable body and comes with an ergonomic design.

It  has a 1080p video resolution at 60, 50, 30, 25 fps.

It also contains the burst mode feature, and you can shoot images at 5fps, which is outstanding. This range of frame rate offers you the flexibility to record videos depending upon the importance and purpose of the video. For example, if you are a travel vlogger, you can record videos at full HD (60fps). While, before starting the tour, when you are giving the introduction of the trip, you can record at low frame rates that save the battery and storage. 

It has the APS-C CMOS image sensor with a 24.2MP image resolution that can shoot images of the quality beyond anyone's imagination. 


PROS 

  • Provides autofocus feature 

  • A wider range of ISO (100 - 12800)

  • Wi-Fi connectivity and GPS available

  • Image processing speed is high

  • Flip-screen

 

CONS 

  • Mostly on-screen controls 

  • Special effects are limited to JPEG format only. 


  1. PANASONIC LUMIX G7 

This is one of the best cameras under $500. At such an affordable cost, it provides you with the 4k Ultra HD mode of recording videos at 30fps or 24fps. The quality and the result of videos due to this feature are simply outstanding. The field of view is 14 - 42mm. 

It has a range of ISO (up to 25.600) that allows you to take high-quality photos even in the dark. The 16MP MOS sensor combined with the Venus Engine 9 image processor makes this camera low light efficient. It also enhances the processing speed of the camera despite the ultra-high resolution. 

In addition to these features, it still weighs less making it one of the best cameras under $500. 


PROS 

  • Intelligent autofocus feature 

  • High visibility viewfinder 

  • Best low light performance

  • 4K Ultra HD video recording mode 

  • Control buttons are convenient to use 


CONS 

  • No video stabilization 

 

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