What are the Best cameras under 1000 dollars For Graphic Designers? If you are a Graphic Designer or photographer, simply using better quality images can without a doubt improve the quality of your work.
To capture these good quality images and videos requires a quality and reliable camera. Choosing the best one can be complicated but not necessarily expensive.
In this article, we will review the Best cameras under 1000$ For Graphic Designers. We will also go through the process you can use to choose the best one for you.
What is the Best Camera for Graphic Design
The best camera for graphic designers in terms of performance is the Nikon D3500. However, it is slightly 3500$ which can be quite pricey. For under 1000$ you can only get it as a second hand option and not as a new product.
For under 1000$, we recommend the Canon EOS R10 if you however prefer the Nikon Brand, we recommend Nikon ZFC as the Best Canon Alternative. The best compact option that you can buy is the Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera, which is just slightly over 1000$.
Best Cameras for Graphic Design
- Canon EOS R10 – Best Overall
- Nikon ZFC – Best Canon Alternative
- Nikon D3500 – Second Hand Option
- Olympus OM D E-M10 Mark IV – Best All round Camera
- Panasonic Lumix G-100 – Best Under 700
- Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera – Best Camera Under 400$
- Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera
- Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digitial
- Nikon CoolPix P950
Canon EOS R10 – Best Overall camera under 1000$
- Mirrorless Camera
- Resolution: 24.2MP
- Sensor Type: APS-C sensor
- ISO Range: 100-32,000 (can be expanded 100 to 51,200)
- Shooting Speed: 23fps shooting (electronic shutter)
- Video Quality: 4K 30p video (4K 60p with crop)
Canon EOS R10 is the Best Overall pick. It offers superior features for an unbeatable price and from a reputable brand. If you are a beginner, this is also your best option to start with.
You can use it for both photography and video shooting with up to 4K maximum resolution. Just like more expensive varieties you will have Dual Pixel CMOS AF II. Dual Pixel CMOS AF II is a unique kind of Autofocus found only in Canon Cameras that is useful for shooting live events.
Additionally you will also have a 24.2 MP sensor with 25 frames per second continuous shooting range with an electronic shutter.
When it comes to portability, you can easily carry it around, thanks to its small and lightweight 429 grams build. Overall, this mirrorless camera is a perfect pick with all the necessary features at a very fair price range.
Pros
- Large APS-C sensor
- 4K Video recording
- Electronic Shutter
- Light weight and Portable
- Fast Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus
Cons
Nikon ZFC – Best Canon Alternative Camera Under 1000$
- Mirrorless Camera
- Resolution: 20.9MP
- Sensor Type: APS-C sensor
- Burst Shooting: 11fps continuous shooting with AE/AF
- Screen and viewfinder: Tilting touchscreen and 2.36m-dot viewfinder
- Video Quality: 4K video at 30p
- Lens: Nikon Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR
If you prefer the Nikon brand, Nikon ZFC is our pick for the Best Canon Alternative. Just like the Canon EOS R10, it is a mirrorless camera that comes at a very good price for its powerful features.
The Nikon ZFC features a small body that makes it easily portable and perfect for a travel photographer. Additionally portability is made possible by a light 0.86 lbs overall weight.
File transfer is easy either using WIFI on the Nikon App or Nikon’s wireless remote.
You can use this camera for both video recording and photography with a 4K UHD at 30p resolution. For live video shooting, you will have a fast autofocus at 11 frames per second using the burst mode option. This is a very good pick but for slightly over 700$ adding a good lens for the best experience will result in a beyond 1000$ budget.
Pros
Cons
Nikon D3500 – Renewed – Best cameras under 1000
If you do not have to get a new camera but are ok with a refurbished one, we recommend you go for the Nikon D3500 Renewed. You will still get the powerful features on the new version.
You will be able to do both videos and photography in high resolution thanks to the 24.2 megapixels sensor resolution and a high 1080p video resolution at 60 frames per second. This is an ideal choice for graphic designers and artists but is a refurbished option with the new one being very expensive.
Pros
- Premium level Camera
- Good image quality
- Weather Sealing
- Fast Auto Focus for live shots
Cons
- Refurbished
- 30 minute limit for video
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV – Best All round Camera
- Resolution: 20 MP
- Sensor Type: Four Thirds sensor
- ISO Range: 200-25,600 (can be expanded to 80-25,600)
- Shooting Speed: 15 fps shooting
- Autofocus: 121-point contrast-detect AF
- 5-axis in-body stabilization
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is another good mirrorless camera from a different brand. It is lightweight and features a small build making it easily portable.
Although it has a large 20 MP sensor, the image quality may fail to match up to more expensive cameras because of a smaller Four Thirds sensor.
For a camera on this price range the 5-axis in-body stabilization and 121 point contrast detect Autofocus are a great addition to this camera. You will shoot both videos at a decent resolution and at 15 frames per second. Overall a good pick especially for beginners.
Pros
- Small and easily Portable
- 5-axis in-body stabilization
Cons
- No Audio Mic Option
- Lower resolution recording because of a smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix G-100
- Resolution: 20.3 Megapixels
- Sensor Type: Four Thirds sensor
- Auto Focus: 49 points Contrast-detect autofocus
- ISO Range: 100-25,600
- Shooting Speed: 10 fps continuous shooting
- Video Quality: 4K at 30p
Panasonic Lumix G-100 is another budget option very similar to Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV but with a better mic set up. Additionally it allows 4K shooting at 30 frames per second which is way better.
You will both record videos and shoot photos plus record slow motion and time lapse shots. Unfortunately, the type of sensor is smaller compared to APS-C sensors.
It has a similar sensor to the Olympus that is the Four Thirds sensor but at a 20.3 MP that does not make much difference from Olympus 20 MP.
Pros
- Good Mic
- Allows slow motion and time lapse shoot
- 4K shooting
Cons
- Auto focus is not the best
- Smaller Sensor
How to choose the best cameras under 1000$?
Choosing the best camera can be a daunting process especially if you are a beginner. Here are some of the important factors to consider when choosing the best one for you.
Type of Camera
There are different types of cameras available in the market today and many different brands. Before choosing the camera for you, you need to research the types that are there and which one best matches your workflow.
Type of Sensor
Resolution in a camera is a very important aspect because it will judge the quality of images you will create. Resolution however is not only determined by the amount of megapixels but more by the type of sensor in a camera.
DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras available in the market mostly either have a full-frame, APS-C or MFT sensor which are all good.
You can also have Medium format and Micro four thirds options to choose from. We recommend full-frame over APS-C or MFT sensors.
Full frame sensors are more powerful and will detect low light conditions and still enable you to shoot quality videos and images.
Video Quality
Most aspects of a good camera depend on your intended end use of the camera. For good video quality, you need to check the resolution of the camera and frame rate.
If you shoot live videos with fast action, you need to choose a camera with burst mode capability. The size of the ISO range will also affect the ability to shoot in low light. A larger ISO range is preferable.
At the under 1000$ range it is easy to find a camera with a good large ISO range, 4K shooting capability and overall great features.
Best Cameras Under 1000$ for Graphic Design
- Canon EOS R10 – Best Overall
- Nikon ZFC – Best Canon Alternative
- Nikon D3500 – Renewed
- Olympus OM D E-M10 Mark IV – Best All round Camera
- Panasonic Lumix G-100 – Best Under 700
- Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera – Best Camera Under 400$
- Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera
- Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital
- Nikon CoolPix P950
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