With high-end cameras in the market carrying a hefty price tag, getting the best cameras under 400$ might feel impossible. Surprisingly, there are many good cameras with incredible features under $400.
Just like phone brands, camera manufacturers are doing their best to give their customers high-quality yet affordable cameras. The only thing you need to do is to identify your needs, and you get yourself a camera matching those needs.
To simplify the process, we tested several cameras under $400 and picked a few you might love. In this article, we are going to share with you a list of the best cameras under $400 that we can vouch for.
Which are the best cameras for under 400$?
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 – Best Camera Under 400$
- Nikon D3500 W/AF-P- Best DSLR Camera Under 400
- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC RX100-Best Compact Camera Under 400$
- Canon EOS M100– Best Vlogging Camera With Flip Screen
- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC RX100-Best Compact Camera Under 400$
- Canon EOS M100 – Best Vlogging Camera With Flip Screen
- Canon EOS Rebel T6 – Cheapest Camera Under 400
- Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Camera- Best Camera For Recording Videos
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 – Best Camera Under 400$
- Form Factor: SLR-Like Compact
- Monitor Size: 3Inches Fully Articulated Touchscreen
- Sensor Size: 1/ 2.3
- Effective Pixels: 12MP
- Focal Lenght: 25-600mm
- Sensor Type: CMOS
- Max Aperture: F2.8
- Max Resolution: 4000 BY 3000
Panasonic Lumix is the best camera under $400 we have tested because it bridges the gap between DSLR and compact zoom cameras.
Once you unbox this Panasonic Lumix FZ300, the first thing that captures you is its body design. This FZ300 has a DSLR-like body, but it has a tilting LCD and an EVF.
While portability might be one of your top things to consider, the Lumix FZ300 is slightly heavy.
One thing we truly love about this camera is its weatherproof body, which makes it ideal for outdoor photography.
Another plus for the Panasonic Lumix FZ300 is built-in image stabilization and a depth-to-focus AF with a burst rate of 12fps.
With its Leica Lens, this camera can cover almost every shooting scene, even in low-light situations.
Other notable features are its f/2.8 aperture and a range of 25-600 mm, offers 4k videos up to 30 fps, so it can be used as a home vlogging camera too.
The only problem we’ve experienced with this Panasonic Lumix FZ300 camera is it does not support WiFi.
Pros
- Raw image capture
- Weather resistant
- Captures 4K videos
Cons
- Lacks headphone jack
Nikon D3500 W/AF-P- Best DSLR Camera Under 400
- Type: DSLR
- Sensor Size: 1 Inch
- Max Resolution: 24.7MP
- Optical Zoom: 3×
- Focus Type: Auto Focus
- Video Resolution: 1080p
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
Capture priceless moments with the Nikon D3500 camera in any light setup. This camera does a great job taking lucid photos, and what’s even more exciting is its affordable price.
Nikon D3500 has a 24.2MP DX sensor coupled with an EXCEED 4 processor. The camera does outstandingly in taking explicit photos.
If you’re just getting into the photography industry, this Nikon D3500 might be ideal. The camera has a 0.85 optical viewfinder and a 3-inch LCD screen with 921k dots. With the Nikon D3500, you can record Full HD videos of up to 60 fps.
Although this camera carries all the goodness you need in a DSLR camera, it has shortcomings too, like no-non touch support and lacks a mic input.
Pros
- Superb image quality
- Excellent ISO performance for APS-C
- Compact design
- Good battery life
- User-friendly menu
Cons
- No tilting display or touchscreen
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC RX100-Best Compact Camera Under 400$
- Form Factor: Compact
- Screen Size: 3 Inches
- Sensor Size: 1 Inch CMOS
- Focal Length: 28-100mm
- Effective Still Resolution: 20.2MP
If you’re on a budget and looking for a portable camera that you can easily carry around, you should check out this Sony Cyber-Shot DSC RX100.
As usual, Sony did an outstanding job with this camera. Being a household brand known for top-notch quality, you wouldn’t expect anything mediocre from the company.
This DSC RX100 has a small body and a 20MP 1-inch sensor. Although the sensor is smaller than the APS-C sensor, the camera still captures high-quality photos.
One thing that stood out for us is that the camera has an easy-to-use interface that is ideal for beginners too.
Sony DSC RX100 also features Zeiss 28-100mm lens (non-interchangeable) with image stabilisation.
Besides photography, this camera can also record videos 1080p at 60fps. The only issue with the camera is that it doesn’t feature a tilting touchscreen. It also doesn’t support WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Pros
- Great image quality
- Noise performance
- Has full manual controls
- Ultra-sharp LCD display
- Small controls and a compact body
Cons
- Lacks a grip
Canon EOS M100- Best Vlogging Camera With Flip Screen
- Form Factor: Mirrorless
- Effective Still Resolution: 24.2MP
- Optical Zoom: 3×
- Sensor Size: 22.3×14.9mm CMOS
- Screen Size: 3 inches Tilting Articulated LCD
- Focal Length: 1.6×
- Maximum Resolution: 6000×4000
Canon EOS M100 had been around for quite some time, and it was one of the first mirrorless cameras to enter the market.
Although many other cameras have come after the M100, it remains the best. We know there are many others but we’re still stuck with M100.
This camera features excellent autofocus, a flip screen and an APS-C sensor. We have categorized the Canon EOS M100 as the best camera for blogging because it has a Dual-Pixel autofocus making it super accurate.
The fact that we could record videos even in low light conditions without losing image quality, made us love M100 even more.
With the interchangeable lens feature, you can mount the same number of lenses as you’d do with the Canon EOS M50. The low-life battery didn’t go well with us, but the camera performs well overall.
Pros
- Great camera for beginners and intermediates
- Great image quality
- Small body
- Fast and highly responsive autofocus
Cons
- Doesn;t have an electronic viewfinder
Canon EOS M200- Best Mirrorless Camera Under 400
- Type: Mirrorless ( Range-finder style)
- Sensor Size: 22.3×14.9mm
- Sensor Type: CMOS
- Monitor: 3-Inch Articulated LCD Tilting
- Focal Length: 1.6×
- Effective Pixels: 24MP
- Maximum Resolution: 6000×4000
Canon EOS M200 is the best mirrorless camera you can get on a low budget, and what’s best is it has a wide range of matching lenses, so you can easily use the compact system.
This camera looks so much like a compact mirrorless camera, but it does hide huge features ideal for all types of photography.
If you’ve been using your smartphone and want to upgrade to a camera, this might be for you.
Canon EOS M200 is super light making it easy to carry it around. Even after mounting a 15-45mm kit lens, its weight is still light, making it feel like a point-and-shoot camera.
The Canon EOS features a 3-inch tilt touchscreen that can be flipped forward for selfies. When it comes to resolution, this camera truly surprised us because it offers 4k and upholds a good amount of detail.
Pros
- 24MP APS-C sensor
- Great autofocus
- Tilting touchscreen
- Easy to use
- It has a compact design
Cons
- No viewfinder
Canon EOS Rebel T6 – Cheapest Camera Under 400
- Form Factor: DSLR
- Effective Still Resolution: 18MP
- Optical Zoom: 1.5×
- Screen size: 3inches
- Sensor Size: 22.3×14.9
While you might feel cheap cameras have nothing to offer regarding image quality, Canon EOS Rebel T6 is here to dispute these beliefs.
That’s what we thought at first, but we were amazed by how this camera records high-quality videos and images. The Rebel T6 is a DSLR camera with an 8 MP CMOS sensor coupled up with a DIGIC image processor.
We’ve used this camera in all light conditions, and it captures FHD videos at 30fps. Switching between the camera and camcorder mode is so easy with this Rebel T6 camera, and we love that it has a decent battery life.
Pros
- Good image quality
- Long battery life
- Easy to use
- WIFI and NFC connectivity
Cons
- It doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity
Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Camera- Best Camera For Recording Videos
- Form Factor: Compact
- Effective Still Resolution: 18.1MP
- Sensor Size: 1/2.3-inch
- Viewfinder: EVF/LCD
- Maximum Aperture: 2.8
If you are looking for a camera to record videos exclusively, this LUMIX FZ80 camera is the best for you. This camera is best suited for tutorial videos, vlogging and any other type of video content, all thanks to its superb autofocus.
The LUMIX FZ80 camera features long zoom power at 60×, which is super affordable. While we have just mentioned less demanding tasks like vlogging, this camera does well in wildlife and sports photography.
With its 4K still photo capture feature, you can pull still photos from the recorded short 4k clips so you don’t miss any moment of action. The FZ80’s long focal length allows you to zoom in on objects from a distant place, and its optical stabilization smoothens everything.
The only problem we have with this camera is even though it has an electronic viewfinder, and it has low resolution.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Fast maximum shooting range,
- Long zoom range.
Cons
- Low-quality image in low-light conditions
Which Is The Cheapest And Best DSLR Camera?
Canon Rebel T7/2000D
There are many cheap DSLR cameras, but we seem to love Canon Rebel T7/2000D. This camera is an entry point for anyone getting into photography, and the good thing is it lies in the under $400 category.
Canon Rebel T7/2000D has a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor, producing good-quality images.
Frequently Asked questions about best cameras under 400$
What is the best camera for under $400?
There are many good cameras that you can get for under $400, depending on your needs. For $400, you can easily get a mirrorless DSLR and a compact camera.
Our list above caters to all kinds of photography, so you can easily pick one. However, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 remains our favorite.
What is a good cheap camera for beginners?
Canon EOS Rebel T6 and Canon EOS M200 are cheap and good cameras for beginners. Both cameras are easy to use and come at a relatively cheap price.
What type of camera is the best?
All camera types carry their advantages. For mirrorless cameras, you get the latest technology, and they get better with every new model that comes to the market. DSLRs, on the hand, are ergonomic, and they tend to have longer battery life. And just as the name suggests, compact cameras are compact and lightweight.
Best cameras for under 400$?
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 – Best Camera Under 400$
- Nikon D3500 W/AF-P- Best DSLR Camera Under 400
- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC RX100-Best Compact Camera Under 400$
- Canon EOS M100– Best Vlogging Camera With Flip Screen
- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC RX100-Best Compact Camera Under 400$
- Canon EOS M100 – Best Vlogging Camera With Flip Screen
- Canon EOS Rebel T6 – Cheapest Camera Under 400
- Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Camera- Best Camera For Recording Videos
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