The market is saturated with budget camera options. However, finding the best budget camera in the interchangeable lens camera category may not be that easy.
We at LightPanning have tested and evaluated more than two dozen interchangeable lens cameras across various sensor sizes, makes, and models to prepare this list of the best options that you can look at in 2023.
If you are in a hurry here is the full list of cameras that we recommend:
If you are in a hurry here is the full list of cameras that we recommend:
Pentax K-70 DSLR
The Pentax K-70 is a true DSLR, and that means it comes with a flipping mirror inside it. The flipping mirror is what powers the optical viewfinder inside the camera.
I have always been a huge fan of optical viewfinders. This is one of the reasons I did not switch to mirrorless cameras when they first burst onto the scene.
Having said that, modern mirrorless cameras have improved in leaps and bounds. They no longer have the viewfinder lag that older mirrorless cameras used to suffer from. Mirrorless cameras offer a lot of advantages when it comes to shooting in fast-paced environments, where it may not be possible to take multiple shots.
The K-70 is an APS-C camera and therefore whatever lens you mount will be affected by the crop factor of the sensor. Pentax cameras have a 1.5x crop factor. That means if you mount a 100mm lens the effective focal length will become 150mm.
The build quality of the K-70 it’s quite good. Pentax does state that this camera comes with dust, freeze, and weather resistance. The camera I tested; I did not expose it to inclement weather. So, I don’t know for sure if the camera will withstand a torrential downpour.
One of the salient features of the camera is the sensor shift-type image stabilization system. When image stabilization is built into a camera it really helps because it makes all compatible lenses image stabilized by default.
Canon EOS Rebel T7
The Canon EOS Rebel T7 is one of the cheapest DSLR cameras you can still buy in 2023. With an APS-C CMOS sensor that churns out 24.1 megapixels, the Rebel T7 is a handy camera to have with you when you are stepping out of your home.
The mount system uses EF-S as well as EF lenses. So, there is a large ecosystem of lenses that are supported. Additionally, third-party lenses are also available if you wish to go beyond the Canon ecosystem of lenses.
In terms of the sheer diversity of lenses supported I feel this is a great camera to buy. However, there are some drawbacks.
With budget interchangeable lens cameras, you don’t always get all the necessary features you may require. For example, if you are interested in birding or wildlife photography, or action sports photography, the Rebel T7 will not help you to achieve what you aspire for. Had only three FPS continuous shooting speeds you won’t get enough frames.
Having said that, you can certainly use this camera for shooting landscapes, street photos, portraits, weddings, and everything in between.
When compared with the Pentax K-70, the Rebel T7 does not have body-based, sensor-shift-type image stabilization. That means you need to buy lenses that come with optical image stabilization built-in.
The weather ceiling is also not that good. Then again if you are not planning to use the camera in outdoor shooting situations you will not miss weather sealing. I have used the camera for indoor portrait photography using on-camera flash and it does an admirable job.
The only reason I would recommend this camera to someone is if you are planning to move from a smaller sensor, such as a smartphone, to a larger sensor. Plus, the cost-benefit ratio is huge.
Additionally, the Rebel T7 shoots excellent images if you know how to use a camera. So, in terms of image quality, there is no question about the abilities of the camera.
That said, if you need additional shooting features check out the Rebel T8i below.
Canon EOS M50 Mark II
The EOS M50 Mark II is a great camera to have. This mirrorless is a compact design, has a nice grip, and comes with this flipping rear LCD monitor that makes it easy to compose in tight corners and also comes in handy for shooting videos.
Canon launched this camera as a follow-up to its very popular EOS M50 Mark I. The series is aimed at content creators and vloggers for the major part. But that said the EOS M50 Mark II is a serious camera for shooting stills as well.
Given Canon’s overindulgence for the RF mount system, one might think that it does not make sense to go for an EF-M mount.
However, with a healthy ecosystem of EF-M lenses and the fact that you can use most Canon EF and EF-S lenses via the Canon EF-M lens adapter kit, this camera is a value-for-money proposition.
Interestingly, the 4K video shooting capabilities of the camera aren’t its greatest strength, even though this is designed as a content creator’s camera. The camera even has a great Dual-pixel CMOS AF system and advanced Eye-Detect AF technology that come in handy when shooting videos.
In any case, you can shoot great stills with it. The camera is best suited for users who have small hands. I use a Nikon D850 as my staple camera and when I pick this up it feels both light and weird. But then this is a subjective thing, and every photographer has a personal choice.
Canon EOS R100
This is the only RF-mount Canon camera that I have listed here. It’s an extremely lightweight camera that’s able to use dedicated RF lenses as well as all compatible EF and EF-S lenses via the EF-EOS R lens adapter.
So, basically with a camera such as the EOS R100 (those that use the latest RF mount), you’re future-proof, and at the same time if you’re upgrading from the legacy EF/EF-S systems all your existing lenses should be usable on the new camera.
Having said that, the R100 is an APS-C camera, it will not use the full image coming through an EF lens. That should not matter if you keep in mind the crop factor and use a lens of an appropriate focal length.
Speaking of lenses, Canon is focusing on the RF mount and that means in the future there are going to be a ton of dedicated RF lenses for your camera.
The R 100 is compact, easy to use, and is aimed at beginner photographers. It works well in most conditions considering that you have the right lens mounted on it.
Among the major cons of the camera, there is one that I want to touch on. The EOS R100 does not have built-in image stabilization. This means you will need an image-stabilized lens to be able to use image stabilization. Otherwise, you’ve to use the age-old technique of shooting with a shutter speed that’s the inverse of the focal length to be able to get blur-free shots.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i
Reading the specifications of the EOS Rebel T8i and the EOS Rebel T7 will confuse you because they both have the same sensor resolution. But beyond the sensor resolution, the Rebel T8i comes with several improvements that make it a better camera than the Rebel T7.
The Rebel T8i is powered by a DIGIC 8 image processor which is generations ahead of the DIGIC 4+ image processor on the Rebel T7. DIGIC 4+ was introduced in 2014 while DIGIC 8 was introduced in 2018. The upgraded image processor allows the Rebel T8i to shoot 4K videos.
The T8i is a huge leap from the Rebel T7. The T8i has the better AF system comprised of 45 all cross-type AF points. Also, the T8i has a faster continuous shooting speed (7 fps). Additionally, the T8i has an advanced face-detection feature that comes in handy when photographing people. You can easily lock focus with the assistance of this AF feature and get sharper-looking faces in your portrait photos.
Therefore, the T8i is a better camera for sports, action, wildlife, and bird photography. This is a great choice if you’re interested in more than just basic landscape, travel, and portrait photos.
A particular feature of the Rebel T8i I like is the dedicated AF-On button at the back of the camera. This allows the button to be used for back-button focusing, which is what I recommend most of the time.
The presence of dual-pixel CMOS autofocusing and eye-detection makes this a great camera for shooting video as well.
Nikon Z50
Nikon’s first attempt at a mirrorless camera packed with an APS-C sensor – the Z50 is a solid shooter and a value-for-money proposition if you’re looking for a camera under $1000.
Do keep in mind though that if you add the price of a basic kit lens the overall price zooms beyond $1000.
This is a budget camera considering most mirrorless systems are priced too high for my liking. DSLRs were a lot more affordable back in the day.
Anyways, the Z50 is a compact camera, but slightly larger than the Z30 – the other compact APS-C shooter that I considered but did not include on this list. If you look at both the cameras side by side the striking difference would be the absence of the viewfinder on the Z30 – a big no for me.
But to be fair to the Z30, that camera is built for a different purpose.
The camera is powered by a 20.9-MP DX CMOS sensor, and it’s paired with an EXPEED 6 image processor. To give you a perspective EXPEED 5 was the imaging processor used on the Nikon D500, the D850, and the D5. EXPEED 6 is a faster processor that was introduced in August 2018 and predominantly powers Nikon’s mirrorless cameras, including the Z7, the Z6, the Z5, and the Z50.
The sensor resolution is on the lower side, especially if you compare the camera with the equivalent Canon option – the Canon EOS R100. However, the Nikon has a better frame rate when it comes to shooting 4K videos. Plus it has a larger screen size and you get a tilting option with the Z50 whereas the R100 has a fixed screen.
Also, the R100’s screen does not have touch sensitivity while the Z50 does have that, giving you better control over the shooting features.
Another big advantage of the Z50 is that the magnesium alloy body comes with solid weather sealing. That when matched with the superior continuous shooting speed of 11 fps, at full resolution, means the Z50 is ideally suitable for action sports, wildlife, and birding purposes.
There are some things that I don’t like about the Z50 though and one of those things is the flipping screen flipping downward to face you rather than flip sideways. Flipping downward means you’re not going to be able to use it with a tripod set-up or a selfie stick (Nikon did intend this feature for shooting selfies).
Panasonic Lumix G9
I have only included the Panasonic Lumix G9 in this discussion after testing four different Panasonic cameras. The other three are the Lumix G85, the Lumix G7, and the Lumix G95.
The Lumix G9 appears to be the best overall for general photography and a little bit of video work.
Do remember that the Lumix G9 (and all the other three cameras that I have considered here) is a micro-four-thirds camera. That means the sensor will have a crop factor of 2x. For any compatible lens you mount, the effective focal length would become double the actual focal length.
There are several reasons why I have considered this camera above the other three. First, this camera has the highest resolution along with the G95 (20.3 effective MP). However, the G9 has a better continuous shooting speed compared to the G95 (12 fps with the mechanical shutter compared to 9 fps).
Additionally, the G9 has a faster shutter speed between the two cameras. This allows you to take advantage of fast lenses in bright conditions with the possibility of not using an ND filter to cut down light.
Additionally, the battery life of the G9 is more than the G95. Out on the field or a trip this thing matters, especially if you don’t have the habit of carrying extra batteries (which mostly no one other than a professional photographer does).
There are some disadvantages as well. Such as the G9 does not have a built-in flash. If you’re a beginner photographer you’re likely to be using it quite often. But as you progress and become a better photographer you will realize that the built-in flash is a predicament rather than an advantage.
Sure, the G9 costs a little more than the G95, but the small advantages add up giving you a better value for money.
Sony a7 II
I looked at three different Sony cameras in the sub-1000 category. The Sony a6100, the a6400, and the a7 II. Sony has several options in the a6000 series including the latest a6700.
In terms of resolution, each of these cameras is very similar. They all offer 24.2 to 24.3-MP resolution. But there are some subtle differences.
One of those differences is in the positioning of the viewfinder. The a6400 and the a6100 have range-finder style viewfinders which are positioned in the far-left corner at the back of the camera.
The Sony A7II, on the other hand, has its viewfinder at the center at the back of the camera.
Another major difference point is that both the a6100 and the a6400 do not come with a body-based image stabilization system. The a7 II, on the other hand, does come with a body-based image stabilization system.
That means with the a6100 and the a6400 you will need a stabilized lens, especially in low-light conditions. With the a7 II, all lenses will be image stabilized by default.
The greatest difference between these three cameras is however the sensor size. The a7 II is a full-frame camera whereas the other two are APS-C cameras. Therefore, the a7 II is a better performer in low light conditions because its bigger sensor can capture a lot more light than the APS-C sensor.
But there are some major disadvantages too. The a7 II is an older model and the a6100 and the a6400 are relatively newer models. The a6400, e.g., comes with a tiltable touchscreen but on the other hand, the a7 II has no touch properties. The biggest reason to buy this camera would be the full-frame sensor. This is one of the cheapest Sony full-frame cameras that lets you use their entire ecosystem of high-grade glass.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV has this distinct film camera look that I admire. There are several such cameras that mimic an older film camera retro styling (the Nikon DF included) and I have a soft corner for these cameras. The first time I ever saw a camera was a Nikon 35mm film shooter (the Nikon FM2, if my memory is right).
That said, styling is a personal choice and you may not like the retro styling of the OM-D E-M10 Mark IV.
This micro-four third shooter has a crop factor of 2x. So, the same rules as the Panasonic Lumix G9 apply here.
20.3-MP is good enough for most kinds of shooting. However, if you plan on heavy cropping and then printing then the 20-MP sensor will not be enough. You will need to up your budget.
One of the major features of the camera is the 5-axis sensor-shift type image stabilization mode. This allows all compatible lenses to be image stabilized by default.
Honorary Mention: Nikon D3500 and the D5600
Nikon recently discontinued the D3500, along with the D5600. However, you can still find a brand-new unit on major shopping websites, as well as in local photography stores.
Both the D3500 and the D5600 are excellent entry-level cameras. However, if I have to pick one between these two, I would pick the D5600.
I remember having used the D5600 extensively for a period of a few months when I was looking for a small, compact, and budget option to take with me for weekend trips.
The camera uses Nikon’s F-mount and therefore is compatible with all F-mount digital lenses. It is fully compatible with all AF-S, AF-P, and E-type lenses. For a full compatibility list check this resource.
Upgrading from a beginner to a professional camera
Beginner photographers, especially those who have a limited budget to spare, look for options that give them the best value for money proposition.
The problem with the interchangeable lens segment is that the best features are usually reserved for high-end cameras.
Does that mean that the budget models don’t have usable features? They do! As a beginner photographer, you will find these cameras perfectly suited for practicing and mastering the basics of photography. So, once you’ve mastered the basics you can then upgrade to a professional camera.
How to Choose the best budget camera for your needs?
There are several parameters that you need to consider when choosing a camera. If you are unsure of what those parameters are we have prepared a comprehensive camera buying guide for you.
Camera technologies are changing at a rapid pace. What is state-of-the-art right now could be a dinosaur in a few years. Choosing a camera that can serve you for at least three to four years requires that you are aware of the emerging technologies and know which technologies would continue to be relevant for the next few years.
The above guide will help you identify the key features you need so that you can make an informed decision.
Leave a Reply