Your choice for the best cameras under 1000$ will largely depend on your personal preference and needs. Choosing the right one for your work can help take your Photography and videography to the next level. It is therefore important to be sure on what to consider as you choose.
Make sure to have a preset budget you intend to spend on the camera. Consider key specifications difference that set apart cameras in this price range. The resolution in megapixels, sensor size, and lens quality are also important points to note. Before we explain the most important consideration points, first is a list of the top picks we found under for 1000$.
Top Recommended Cameras Under 1000$
| Product | Best For | Price |
| Canon EOS R10 | Best Overall | Check Price |
| Nikon ZFC | Best Mirrorless Camera | Check Price |
| Nikon D3500 | Best For Weddings | Check Price |
What are the Best Cameras Under 1000$?
- Canon EOS R10 – Best Overall
- Nikon ZFC – Best Mirrorless Camera
- Nikon D3500 – Best For Weddings
- Olympus OM D E-M10 Mark IV – Best For Beginners
- Panasonic Lumix G-100 – Best for YouTube videos
Canon EOS R10 – Best overall
- Mirrorless Camera
- Resolution: 24.2MP
- Sensor Type: APS-C sensor
- ISO Range: 100-32,000 (can be expanded from 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-gram 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
- Lightweight and Portable
- Fast Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus
Cons
- Expensive
Nikon ZFC
- 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.
Nikon D3500
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 of 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
- 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 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 the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV but with a better mic setup. 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 which is the Four Thirds sensor but at 20.3 MP it does not make much difference from Olympus 20 MP.
Pros
- Good Mic
- Allows slow motion and time-lapse shoot
- 4K shooting
Cons
- Autofocus is not the best
- Smaller Sensor
Factors to consider when choosing a Camera under 1000$
- Type of Camera
- Image Quality
- Video Capabilities
- Budget
Types of Cameras for Under 1000$
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. The choice between DSLRs, Mirrorless and Point and Shoot cameras will depend on the users preference.
You can either choose a DSLR, Mirrorless or Point and Shoot Camera. Each has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. For example DSLR cameras are bulkier and more expensive than the rest. However, they offer higher image quality and user-friendly manual controls.
Mirrorless cameras have a more compact design on the body and a faster autofocus. Finally Point-and-shoot cameras have the lowest image quality compared to the other types. They also lack manual controls. On the other hand, they are the smallest and most portable of the 3.
Resolution
Resolution in a camera is a very important aspect because it will judge the quality of images you will create. However, it is not only determined by the amount of megapixels but also 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.
Image Quality
For the best image quality, check the megapixel count or resolution on your camera. The higher the MP the better. A larger Sensor size will attract more light reducing light and blurriness, this will in turn increase image quality. Aperture size and lens quality will also affect the quality of the image. For optimal image quality choose a camera with a wide aperture. A wider aperture will allow more light into the camera thus improving quality
Video Capabilities
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. 4K resolution or 1080p at 30 frames per second will provide good video quality.
Best camera for photography under 1000$
| Product | Best For | Price |
| Canon EOS R10 | Best Overall | Check Price |
| Nikon ZFC | Best Mirrorless Camera | Check Price |
| Nikon D3500 | Best For Weddings | Check Price |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many megapixels does a good camera have?
A good camera will range between 10-20 megapixels. Although megapixels are not the most important consideration, some good old DSLRs will have as high as 15 megapixels which is perfect for photography.