Like other electronics products, cameras have shot up in price in the US of late due to tariffs and other reasons. Fortunately, there are still many models available for less than the price of a budget smartphone ($750 or less) that offer great features for creators and photographers alike.
If it’s speed you want for sports or action shots of your kids, models like Canon’s R50 can shoot bursts as fast as many high-end cameras. Creators, meanwhile, can choose Sony’s ZV-E10 for vlogging jobs. There are also great, and cheap, models in the action and gimbal camera categories.
Which one to pick therefore depends not only on your budget but what you want to do with your camera. So we’ll not only detail the best picks, but how to home in on the best model for your specific needs.
Best budget cameras for 2026
GoPro
GoPro’s Hero 13 Black hasn’t changed much from the Hero 12 on the inside, but the outside is a whole new story. It’s now available with a new family of modular lenses called the HB series (ultra-wide, anamorphic and macro), making it far more versatile for action creators. It also has a slightly bigger battery that allows longer capture times, up to 90 minutes for 4K 30fps video. Other specs remain the same, including up to 5.3K at 60 fps in 10-bit color with high data rates, and 8:7 capture that uses the entire sensor. Otherwise, the Hero 13 still has the best digital stabilization (aka Hypersmooth) of any action camera, a full-color front screen and the best image quality in its class.
Insta360
Insta360 made a big leap in 360 image quality with the X5 camera, thanks to its much bigger 1/1.28-inch sensor (compared to the X4’s 1/2-inch chip). In addition, the company introduced a new PureVideo mode with AI noise reduction for clearer, brighter footage in low-light conditions. Otherwise, it offers up to 8K 360 video capture (that reduces to 4K when flattened), and the new InstaFrame mode lets you capture a flat video and a 360-video at the same time with no rendering or editing required. Another key benefit is Insta360’s excellent Insta360 Studio editing app that beats rival software. However, some action cam buyers may balk at the steep $550 price tag.
DJI
Read our full DJI Osmo Pocket 3 review
In 2023, DJI unveiled the Osmo Pocket III and I called it “maybe the only vlogging camera you need.” It has a big 1-inch sensor, the same size found on Sony’s ZV-1 II compact camera. That boosts image quality considerably, particularly in low light. It also has a new, large swiveling touchscreen that makes it easier to switch between horizontal and vertical video. What really makes it great for vlogging are the follow modes combined with face tracking. If you’re working solo, you can simply set it up and it’ll rotate and tilt to follow you around. That also applies for walk-and-talk vlogging, so you don’t have to worry about focus or even pointing the camera at yourself. The main drawbacks are the reduced resolution (which means it’s not ideal for photos) and a price that’s considerably higher than the previous model.
Sony
The ZV-1F is Sony’s most affordable vlogging camera, making it the perfect “step-up” model from a smartphone for creators. It does that job well thanks to the 1-inch sensor that offers excellent quality and the ability to blur backgrounds to help your subject stand out. It also offers a lightweight body, built-in high-quality microphone, flip-out display, best-in-class autofocus and excellent image quality. The 20mm fixed lens makes it better for vlogging than the ZV1 with a 24-70mm, though the lack of a zoom lens is also its biggest drawback.
Panasonic
The best compact travel camera under $750 right now is Panasonic’s ZS99. It comes with a huge 30x 24-720mm, full-frame equivalent optical zoom that makes it ideal for capturing a wide range of shots, from dramatic landscapes to the peak of a distant mountain. It also offers a nice range of features like 4K video shooting, a touch-sensitive screen, generous manual controls, RAW shooting and petite form factor that can easily be carried around. The main drawback is the small 1/2.3-inch sensor that won’t deliver the best photos indoors or at night. If you’re planning to mainly shoot on sunny holidays, though, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Sony
This model is cheating a bit on the price as it normally retails for $798, but it can often be found on sale nowadays as it was replaced recently by Sony’s ZV-E10 II. It edges Canon’s new EOS R50 V with the same 24.2-megapixel sensor, mainly due to the superior autofocus. It also includes a couple of nice vlogging features, like background defocus for extra bokeh and Product Showcase. It also offers very effective stabilization, a fully articulating display and more. The biggest drawback is rolling shutter that can get bad if you whip the camera around too much.
Canon
Again, we’re cheating a bit here as Canon’s EOS R50 usually retails for $779, but is often on sale for less. This model is a fantastic choice for photographers thanks to its impressive 15 fps maximum burst speeds, along with Canon’s impressive Dual Pixel autofocus that keeps photos sharp. It has a fully articulating display, and unlike other cameras in this price range, an electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon’s Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition mode, and even has a popup flash. As a bonus, it supports 4K 10-bit video at up to 30p with supersampling and no crop.The only drawback is a lack of in-body stabilization, though it offers electronic stabilization and optical stabilization via supported lenses.
Canon
As one of the few modern mirrorless cameras you can get with a kit lens for $700 or less, Canon’s EOS R100 is the perfect budget camera choice. The 24.2-megapixel sensor delivers beautiful photos with warm skin tones and it supports 4K video, albeit with a crop. It’s great for travel, street photography and more, and can even capture bursts at up to 6.5 shots per second. Best of all, it ships with an 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 kit lens which is a good start to a future lens collection.
What to consider before choosing the best budget camera for you
Which camera to buy obviously depends on what you shoot. If it’s mostly things like extreme sports, skiing or other adventurous activities, the best choice is obviously an action camera from GoPro, DJI or Insta360. Then, you just need to decide whether you want to shoot flat or 360 video, and whether you need a tiny or regular-sized model. The same goes for gimbal-style cameras from DJI and others.
Buying a camera for travel photography, sports photos or vlogging is a bit trickier. Here, you need to choose either a compact camera with a fixed lens or a mirrorless model that supports removable lenses.
Compact cameras tend to have smaller sensors and slightly lower quality lenses, but they’re obviously easier to carry — most will fit in a large pocket. So, if budget, convenience and portability is the most important to you, then go for a model in this category.
When you’re trying to make the highest quality videos, though, you’ll want to choose a mirrorless camera with a decent lens. With the larger sensor, you’ll be able to create nice blurred bokeh backgrounds to separate your subject from the foreground. Lenses are usually sharper as well, and you’ll be able to expand your collection over time for even more versatility.
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