Need camera suggestions ($500 USD)

[DVA]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone had some good recommendations for a camera within a $500 USD cap. 

 

I don't mind if you post something slightly higher, for example something that costs $650, reason being..there are a lot of sales coming soon with Black Friday so I am assuming most will drop closer to my budget. 

 

The camera will be used for basic things like family vacations, concerts, shots around nature. I don't need anything too fancy to be honest. I don't know too much about cameras other than the higher the MP the higher the quality. Also how lens are sometimes a lot more important than just the camera. 

 

So...whatever you camera experts can recommend, I'll take a good look. 

 

Thanks in advance!

[voiha]

Im no expert in any means, but have you looked at the new GoPro ?
They offer good range of options and can record up to 4K (I preffer the 1440p 60fps)
I think it's a good way of recording wild adventures, concerts or car drivings. 
For the nature photography or overall photo features I guess that's some good cameras you can look at:

Canon Rebel T5i / EOS 700D (older but still good if you find it used or on lower price)

Sony A6000 

Nikon D5300 (cheaper and great value for the money) ++ bigger screen than usual

[DVA]

Thanks! 

2 minutes ago, voiha said:

Im no expert in any means, but have you looked at the new GoPro ?
They offer good range of options and can record up to 4K (I preffer the 1440p 60fps)
I think it's a good way of recording wild adventures, concerts or car drivings. 
For the nature photography or overall photo features I guess that's some good cameras you can look at:

Canon Rebel T5i / EOS 700D (older but still good if you find it used or on lower price)

Sony A6000 

Nikon D5300 (cheaper and great value for the money) ++ bigger screen than usual

Thanks! I only know of the very basic specs for cameras so having suggestions to go off seriously helps me out. I know nothing of the camera world in terms of branding or reliability. I wouldn't mind the GoPro except for the fact of how it would feel in my hands. 

 

I am looking for more of just a classic camera in the hand feeling. I might get a GoPro once I move out closer up north where there is more scenery though. 

[voiha]

5 minutes ago, DVA said:

Thanks! 

Thanks! I only know of the very basic specs for cameras so having suggestions to go off seriously helps me out. I know nothing of the camera world in terms of branding or reliability. I wouldn't mind the GoPro except for the fact of how it would feel in my hands. 

 

I am looking for more of just a classic camera in the hand feeling. I might get a GoPro once I move out closer up north where there is more scenery though. 

Well you can buy (if it's within your budget as their stuff are not relatively cheap) their accessories like these ones: 

 

[DVA]

1 minute ago, voiha said:

Well you can buy (if it's within your budget as their stuff are not relatively cheap) their accessories like these ones: 

 

Yeah I've seen packages like that everywhere, but then it makes me feel like they are trying to make up for the camera not being the best.

I guess it's just my skeptical nature of things being price vs value. I don't believe I'd use even half of these things so I am not too educated on cameras and I don't really have the drive to get all the camera know hows.

 

I hope I can get some more recommendations from others soon as well, but at least yours gives me a good base to start off of. 

[lmeneses]

I have this camera https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t5-ef-s-digital-camera-18-55mm-is-ii-lens-kit and it has been great, easy to adjust aperture, shutter speed, iso. It has great picture quality along with really nice video quality, especially for capturing concerts  

[DVA]

2 minutes ago, lmeneses said:

I have this camera https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t5-ef-s-digital-camera-18-55mm-is-ii-lens-kit and it has been great, easy to adjust aperture, shutter speed, iso. It has great picture quality along with really nice video quality, especially for capturing concerts  

Hey I actually used that camera from one of my good friends! hah! I didn't remember the name but your post made it just magically pop back up

 

I did like it, good quality, simple camera, no fuss over settings or anything. This will probably take one off my top spots during Black Friday. 

 

Thank you for the post!

[cc143]

The gopro isn't what you are or should be looking at here.

 

A rebel t7i is the best thing for you at the moment, and really worth the money over the t7. I would also think of looking through ebay for something used. Tha coupled with the 18-5mm kit lens should cover you unless you need something more specific for a specific purpose, like a longer focal to shoot sports or a wider focal for indoor photography or a portraiture lens (for example).

 

Also, the mp thing is true and false at the same time. Entry level cameras have had 24mp sensors for sometime, yet professional grade cameras have often come either under that or proportionately not as high as one should expect. It depends more on the lens you put in front most of the time and lighting. That way, you can print from a much lower resolution sensor and get similar or even better results.

[lmeneses]

3 minutes ago, DVA said:

Hey I actually used that camera from one of my good friends! hah! I didn't remember the name but your post made it just magically pop back up

 

I did like it, good quality, simple camera, no fuss over settings or anything. This will probably take one off my top spots during Black Friday. 

 

Thank you for the post!

Yea, its served me well for since I've gotten it, and has been nice to use for semi-professional photography 

[cc143]

I would also like to add that the t5 is now quite old and is worth nowhere near $550. I'd spend at most $200 for a used one, and that's being quite generous.

[DVA]

1 minute ago, cc143 said:

The gopro isn't what you are or should be looking at here.

 

A rebel t7i is the best thing for you at the moment, and really worth the money over the t7. I would also think of looking through ebay for something used. Tha coupled with the 18-5mm kit lens should cover you unless you need something more specific for a specific purpose, like a longer focal to shoot sports or a wider focal for indoor photography or a portraiture lens (for example).

 

Also, the mp thing is true and false at the same time. Entry level cameras have had 24mp sensors for sometime, yet professional grade cameras have often come either under that or proportionately not as high as one should expect. It depends more on the lens you put in front most of the time and lighting. That way, you can print from a much lower resolution sensor and get similar or even better results.

A bit over my budget, but I like that since it will get closer during the large sales period coming up. 

 

I would buy it from ebay but I run the risk of missing out on maybe some essential accessories or hardware failure. I have used ebay before with no issues, but I'd rather just snag something new if the sales are coming up. 

 

I also said I didn't want to get too much into camera information, learning the settings and whatnot (There's a TON to learn), but I really should take the time to know what I'm actually purchasing. 

Thank for the suggestion. 

[cc143]

6 minutes ago, DVA said:

A bit over my budget, but I like that since it will get closer during the large sales period coming up. 

 

I would buy it from ebay but I run the risk of missing out on maybe some essential accessories or hardware failure. I have used ebay before with no issues, but I'd rather just snag something new if the sales are coming up. 

 

I also said I didn't want to get too much into camera information, learning the settings and whatnot (There's a TON to learn), but I really should take the time to know what I'm actually purchasing. 

Thank for the suggestion. 

Sticking the camera in auto isn't the best way to get results out of it, you may be better off sticking with your phone.

 

There is huge benefit to be had from using even an older camera from using your phone because it gives you control over aspects of the image you wouldn't have otherwise, and also because of the lack of substantial optical zoom on most phones (although that is being addressed with multiple cameras etc. on recent phones.). That's why even a photographer that's not that great but has a very basic understanding would be able to get much better results from a camera, even if the phone would be better on paper.

 

But, modern phones have capable enough cameras and more importantly, software that can be utilised to examine a scene and determine how the image ould best be taken, that is much better than automatic modes in most cameras. Couple that with the size, weight and cost of buying a camera, and it makes it a waste to buy one if your goal is not to learn anything about it, but simply stick it in auto nd press the shutter release button.

 

In short, if you will spend the $500, then spend an hour to learn some very basic concepts around photography. If you are unwilling to do that, use our iphone, you'd be better off for it.

[DVA]

2 minutes ago, cc143 said:

Sticking the camera in auto isn't the best way to get results out of it, you may be better off sticking with your phone.

 

There is huge benefit to be had from using even an older camera from using your phone because it gives you control over aspects of the image you wouldn't have otherwise, and also because of the lack of substantial optical zoom on most phones (although that is being addressed with multiple cameras etc. on recent phones.). That's why even a photographer that's not that great but has a very basic understanding would be able to get much better results from a camera, even if the phone would be better on paper.

 

But, modern phones have capable enough cameras and more importantly, software that can be utilised to examine a scene and determine how the image ould best be taken, that is much better than automatic modes in most cameras. Couple that with the size, weight and cost of buying a camera, and it makes it a waste to buy one if your goal is not to learn anything about it, but simply stick it in auto nd press the shutter release button.

 

In short, if you will spend the $500, then spend an hour to learn some very basic concepts around photography. If you are unwilling to do that, use our iphone, you'd be better off for it.

Thanks for shedding some light. I will definitely dive a bit into this. 

[FloX04]

I would recommend you getting the Canon Rebel SL2. I got it myself (200D, I'm in Europe) and I am very happy with it and can recommend it to anyone searching for a starter camera!