While cameras are great for capturing clear images and recording memorable events, many people are not sure they can afford one. The reality is that most digital cameras are quite pricey — especially the high-end options. Discouraging, right? Sometimes.

However, an important thing many people should know is that not all great quality cameras are expensive, and not all affordable cameras are poor quality. Many great value cameras in the market will give you the desired quality you need in your images and footage. Many expert photographers and videographers have confirmed this. Invariably, there are many quality cameras for a budget in the market if you know where to look.

Yes, we are aware making the right choice might be difficult, especially if you are not an expert in the area. Worry not, as this article will provide you with the five best options you can go for in 2022. In choosing these cameras, we have committed a significant amount of time to research — including their key features, prices, as well as the pros and cons, so you can be sure the options here are credible.

Nikon D3500

The Nikon D3500 is a portable, lightweight, comfortable camera that incorporates a 24.2MP sensor. With 5fps, the camera makes continuous capturing rather simple for rookies. Also, if you don’t have enough knowledge about using a camera, you can use the guide mode and follow the simple procedures for using the camera effectively.

At the time of writing, the Nikon D3500 costs around $500, making it quite affordable for a portable and compact camera.

Pros:

  • Awesome image resolution
  • Easy to use for beginners
  • Clean retracting lens

Cons: 

  • No touchscreen

Polaroid Go

The Polaroid Go is another portable high-end and very easy-to-use camera. It comes with an instant snapper double exposure, self-timer, and flash override features. Another thing to note about the Polaroid Go is that it’s an amazing choice for analog photographers.

Polaroid Go incorporates great features like a digital shot counter, a retro shell, and some simple controls. Currently, the camera costs circa $85.

Pros:

  • Dimensions are compact
  • Super-easy to use
  • It is super affordable

Cons:

  • The static focus is not so easy to use
  • Doesn’t come with a close-up mode

Sony Alpha A6000

The Sony Alpha A6000 is one of the best affordable digital cameras encompassing various features. It offers various accessibilities and stands out from the crowd of fixed focus cameras. Before Sony progressed to developing autofocus and enhancing video features, the A6000 was the pack leader for a while.

However, even though the price of the A6000 camera dropped for some years progressively, it increased again. Probably Sony or some eCommerce sites recognized the value of this still-focus. Currently, the Sony Alpha A6000 costs circa $1000.

Pros:

  • Amazing auto-focus feature
  • Great image quality

Cons:

  • Doesn’t provide weather sealing
  • Doesn’t shoot in 4K resolution

Canon EOS RP

With this product, photographers and videographers have the chance to access a full-frame mirrorless camera with a larger sensor. The Canon EOS RP is developed to be compact and simple and comes with a 4K video mode.

Its dynamic range is effective — pictures are very clear, and its 3inch variable-angle capacitive touchscreen is also of real value for video and still pictures. However, one limitation of the EOS RP is its 1.6 fps, which is quite slow.

Another thing to note is the 26.2 Megapixel picture resolution. Coming at around $1,000 for the least price, this isn’t so cheap, but one of the most affordable full-frame cameras with such enticing features.

Pros: 

  • Small, portable, and quite affordable for a camera of its kind
  • Fully articulating screen
  • Incorporates 4K video resolution

Cons:

  • Weak battery capacity
  • Doesn’t provide Dual autofocus in the 4K mode

Panasonic Lumix ZS100

The Panasonic Lumix ZS100 is a great traveler’s tool — small, portable, and has high-end video and image resolutions. Earlier in 2017, it was known as the ideal compact camera, but now there are more advanced models. That still doesn’t invalidate the Panasonic Lumix from being a top-notch option — especially for people on a budget.

You can control this camera using one hand, as it’s that portable. Also, the Lumix ZS100 has fully customizable buttons and a very responsive touchscreen display. Besides these, it offers a 1-inch sensor, quite larger than that of smartphones, which provides vibrant results.

Also, while the 10x optical zoom might not be enticing for some photographers, it still gives great quality videos (4K), which is an awesome choice for vloggers. Even though it’s not as high-quality as recent camera models, it’s still a brilliant and a much better option than most smartphone cameras. The Panasonic Lumix ZS100 costs about $500 in the current market.

Pros:

  • Offers 4K video resolution
  • Offers 10x optical zoom
  • Comes with a 1-inch sensor

Cons: 

  • Fixed screen
  • Limited electronic viewfinder

Final Notes

After scouring the market and examining various products, these are some of the best digital cameras anyone on a budget can buy in 2022. While they are not perfect, these cameras provide some of the most compelling features you can find in most high-end cameras at a fraction of the market price.