What is the Best camera under $700?

[Ehrix]

I’m looking to purchase a camera for under $700 USD (with 8.25% tax included). I’ve been in between Nikon and Cannon cameras but I’m not sure what the best one is. I currently have 2 Nikon kit lenses from an older camera I own now. Is it best to buy a nikon to use those kit lenses or buy a cannon? I mainly want to use the camera for photography. Thx. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

What nikon camera and lenses do you have now?

 

What do you want to take pictures of? What features matter to you in a camera?

 

Do you want new or used?

 

Do you want a dslr or mirrorless?

[s_k]

There's really no reason to stick with a brand if all you have is kit lenses.
If it's just for photography, do yourself a favour and get a Fujifilm X-T1 second hand. They are still stupidly good for picture taking. Video is 'meh'.
Lenses are relatively affordable. They are quite new so you won't buy a 50 dollar lens, but they are only 399 new, which is insane value if you look at how good their primes are. There's also a few really nice zoom lenses out there. 
Also, ask yourself; Do you NEED zoom? People don't seem too sad to not have it on their phones these days and I find that when shooting with a prime (fixed focal length) lens, my photos are usually better because i'm forced to put more effort in. 
That said, if you want to go Canon/Nikon; I'd get a second hand 5D and a 50mm 1.8. 
If you want to buy new, forget about DSLR, those days are really pretty much over. I love what Fuji does these days, even their cheap cameras are pretty good, and the X-T30 is a bit of a gem. 

[GDRRiley]

2 hours ago, s_k said:

If it's just for photography, do yourself a favour and get a Fujifilm X-T1 second hand. They are still stupidly good for picture taking. Video is 'meh'.

That said, if you want to go Canon/Nikon; I'd get a second hand 5D and a 50mm 1.8.
 

I'd spend the extra on an x-t2 at around 550$. fuji first gen is a little lacking

 

eh, your in 5dmk3 land and thats would take most of the budget, not my pick

 

[s_k]

5 hours ago, GDRRiley said:

I'd spend the extra on an x-t2 at around 550$. fuji first gen is a little lacking

 

eh, your in 5dmk3 land and thats would take most of the budget, not my pick

 

Hmm, the MK-III is a bit pricier than I thought. Glorious camera though.
Honestly I thought the X-T1 was super impressive. Only reason I didn't buy it is that I actually do video. So I waited and got the X-T2 once it was more affordable second hand.
Just got an X-T4 and man that's a different beast all together. I have a harder time switching from the X-T2 to the X-T4 than from the 5D II to the X-T2 :D. 
It's slowly becoming my friend though. Was doing some product photography earlier and I'm finally getting images I'm happy about. 

[GDRRiley]

11 minutes ago, s_k said:

Hmm, the MK-III is a bit pricier than I thought. Glorious camera though.
Honestly I thought the X-T1 was super impressive. Only reason I didn't buy it is that I actually do video. So I waited and got the X-T2 once it was more affordable second hand.
Just got an X-T4 and man that's a different beast all together. I have a harder time switching from the X-T2 to the X-T4 than from the 5D II to the X-T2 :D. 
It's slowly becoming my friend though. Was doing some product photography earlier and I'm finally getting images I'm happy about. =

it is. I've had some amazing portrait work done on it

It was but its not aged the best. I've shot most canon rebels and a few sonys but I'm now on the X-s10, thats been a lot of learning

 

[s_k]

Why the X-S10? What made you decide to go there? 

[GDRRiley]

On 7/27/2021 at 3:03 PM, s_k said:

Why the X-S10? What made you decide to go there? 

Most of the X-T4 features and performance with a DSLR style grip. ( I really didn't like how the X-T30 and X-T4 felt without an add-on grip) X-H1 was just as nice to hold but is based on some older tech and for the price wasn't worth it

 

[s_k]

Honestly, I prefer the X-T2 grip. The X-T4 is a bit too pointy and deep, I have relatively small hands. I can imagine that the X-S10 is more comfortable. I wanted something smaller after lugging around 2.5kg's of EOS 5D II with battery grip and 24-70 2.8 for years, so I went X-T. 
Only now realising that the X-S10 is actually smaller than the X-T4. 
Not going to lie; It probably would have been perfectly acceptable for me. I just switched to a newer one because I liked the X-T2 so much. Oops ;).