Affordable Cameras for Low Budget

Panasonic Lumix GX85, 16-80mm kit lens

I have been asked again to recommend a camera for the low budget. The simple answer would be to use the smartphone. In reality, however, there are still visible differences when conditions are no longer optimal and images are not viewed on the smartphone itself. I don't want to start a discussion here because it would deserve more space. It suffices to point to the fact that cameras can do things that are impossible on a smartphone, like exploiting special lenses or using a light system with several flashes. Smartphones are not the answer.

Every Camera is a Compromise

E.g., you might want to buy the most fancy and expensive camera with the most options on the lens line. This will be more expensive than you can justify, and it will be heavy to carry. On the other end, you might want a lightweight, cheap and pocketable option with all the restrictions that this format inevitably has. There are also small and powerful cameras like the Leica line, but at the cost of a family car.

The intended use of a dedicated can vary a lot. It is therefore mandative to think about one's own profile. Here is a selection of possible interests, with an eye on the smartphone competition and why you would want to use a camera instead.

• Replacing the smartphone and use the camera for the usual pictures everybody takes, like party pictures, possible at night, food pictures, and selfies with friends. Probably, one should continue to use the smartphone in most cases. But there are small and cheap cameras even for that purpose. It is just less comfortable to carry an extra tool.
• Improving the image quality of those smartphones to print the images or to view them on large screens. E.g., the low light performance of the small smartphone sensors is unsatisfactory on closer inspection. Also, the digital zoom is not the best solution.
• Extending the options. It is simply not possible to photograph birds in flight (BIF) or other difficult wildlife. And I cannot imagine using a smartphone in a studio with flashes and light modifier, even if I accepted the fake background blurring of the AI portrait modes in modern smartphones.

On the other hand, we all know how joyful the small device can be that we carry around all the time anyway. Recently, AI booms that fun factor even more. You can now create 3D scenes, panoramas, HDR, or combinations of videos and stills etc. on the smartphone. Some of these new options can be done with "real" cameras only in post-processing, albeit often much better.

In spite of this, let us talk about dedicated cameras to replace the smartphone and enhance the photographic experience. If you want to pursue photography as a hobby, it is the only reasonable way to go. Yet, you might want to start small. That's the purpose of this posting.

Panasonic Lumix GX85, 42,2mm f/1.7 lens

Consider buying used.

My first recommendation is always to buy used. Cameras are not suddenly bad because they there are newer ones. Of course, technology advances and new cameras and lenses are usually indeed better. But we used the older tools for years successfully. There are some cameras which are not much worse than today's counterparts, and only miss some features, like high megapixel counts or fast shutters, and especially video options.

My first suggestion is an MFT (micro for thirds sensor) camera like the Panasonic Lumix GX80/GX85. In the image above I show the camera with a standard zoom and a nifty-fifty 50mm equivalent lens.

Panasonic Lumix GX85, 30mm macro

I owned and used this camera myself. It was a micro four thirds camera with a 16MP sensor. There is the more modern, quite similar GX9 with 20MP. These cameras are very compact and almost pocketable when equipped with a small lens. There is even a 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens for the system which makes the camera fit into any coat pocket.

Panasonic Lumix GX85, 25mm f/1.7 lens

The lenses used in the images above are

• the Lumix G Vario zoom 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6, O.I.S.,
• the Lumix G 42.5 f/1.7,
• the Lumix G Macro 40mm f/2.8mm,
• the Lumix G 25mm, f/1.7.

The GX85 and all lenses are probably only available in used form. It is remarkable that it might be possible to get all of them for the price of a modern and new camera body.

Note, that the GX85 is an MFT with a crop factor of 2. Thus, the lenses are equivalent in full frame format to

• a standard 5x-zoom at 24-120, f/7-11,
• a portrait 85mm f/3.5 lens,
• a macro 80mm f/5.6,
• a nifty-fifty 50mm f/3.5.

Those are not the fastest possible lenses for full frame when we think of object isolation. If that is not the point but to get much light in, the lenses are okay. Remember, however, that the noise level is higher, so the faster primes will still help in low light. For good results, an MFT camera should be held below ISO800. Otherwise, be prepared to embrace the noise as part of the image, or to remove it destructively by software.

My next suggestion is an older Fuji camera, the Fuji X-T2 or X-T3. This is one step upward in size and weight, but the lenses can be very compact too. You will get the camera body used for very reasonable prices, especially the X-T2. The lenses will be the more expensive part of your setup.

Fuji X-T3, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens

Recently, my son broke his Fuji X-T4 on a trip. He got a used X-T2 for about 300€ as a replacement from a friendly store in Hamburg. After that, we noticed that the camera actually does not make much difference for the results. The most important missing feature was the excellent IBIS of the XT-4. There are also differences in the video options and in the electronic viewfinder.  Otherwise, you might hardly notice. If you opt for a used X-T3, you get even closer to the current front line.

Lenses are not as cheap as in the Panasonic suggestion above. In fact, the top lenses are surprisingly expensive. But when you get a camera for 300€, you might consider to get a used 16-55 f/2.8 which is truly an excellent lens for below 1000€. The image above has been taken with this lens in sub-optimal light. But there are also cheaper options in abundance. The Fuji line of lenses is very nice. 

The image below is from the 16-80mm f/4 kit lens which you might get used at 600€. I did it on the X-T4 which I rented for two weeks to try.

Fuji X-T4, 16-80mm f/4 kit lens

Do not forget that you can always switch the camera and continue to use the lenses. It is a good idea to consider this option, in case you develop more interest into photography.

My next suggestion is the Nikon Z30/Z50/ZFC line. This camera is new on the market and you won't find many used ones. Prices start at 600€ on the second-hand market. The combination with the very good 18-140 f/3.5-6.3 can be found below 1200€, even new. This lens has also VR which I find essential because the camera does not have IBIS. 

For the nifty-fifty in the image above I had to cheat a bit. The 28mm is actually 42mm equivalent full frame lens. There is, however, a Viltrox 35mm f/1.8, also below 300€. 

The Nikon Z50 is a modern and very capable camera. The point is, however, that you can use all older Nikon lenses for APS-C via an FTZ adapter. This opens a very extensive range of lenses to you, including third party lenses from Sigma and others. Those lenses can be acquired for very little money.

Above, you see a lens that I used for many years while travelling on Nikon's DSLR bodies like the 7500, The Sigma 17-70, i.e., 24-105 full frame equivalent. The FTZ adapter makes the camera the size of an older Nikon DSLR, like the 3500.

Nikon D7500, Sigma 17-70 lens

Of course, you could also buy a used Nikon 3600 or 7500, both DSLR. I would argue against this option, because I got friend with mirrorless cameras. I find the extra options of the electronic viewfinders too useful to miss. Moreover, I find myself more and more using the display only. This allows camera angles which I missed previously. Age does not help here, and I am no longer willing to bend or lay down on the ground.

Here is a completely different suggestion: The Sony RX100, a truly pocketable camera below 1000€.

Sony RX100 II

There are not many compact cameras I would recommend. But this one, I can, with some restrictions. I owned the camera in version II for a while thinking it would be nice to use for street photography. It is indeed pocketable. The 28-100mm full frame equivalent lens will retract almost completely. 

For object isolation the f-stops are equivalent to f/4.5 to f/13 only. The low light capabilities of the camera are limited. But it has some tricks to get JPEGs in low light for still subjects. I do not want to go into this here.

Sony RX100 II

This camera and similar compact cameras by Canon are a good choice if you want something you will really have with you all the time. They fit into each pocket or handbag easily. The sensor is about twice the size of the sensor of any smartphone, and the lens is a lot better. Indeed, you will find that the RX100 has a very good lens which deserves the label "Carl Zeiss".

There are a lot more options I could add here. E.g., Sony has a complete ecosystem of APS-C cameras with their 6xxx lineup. Usually, the lenses are good. The cameras may not be the nicest and easiest to use, but they are okay if you can get them cheap.

A final remark is necessary. If you really want to start with photography, learn to post-process your images. Even a free product like Lightroom Express may do the job, and there are many free and affordable options. This might be more fruitful and interesting than buying gear. Do also study books and watch the YouTube videos with care. Not everything told there is helpful, or even correct. 

Most of all, have fun!