Best cameras under $2000 2025: Top picks to suit any budget

If you have a particular budget in mind and you want to find out what the best camera under $X is, then you’ve come to the right place. Our reviewers have narrowed down your options and put together a list of some of the best cameras on the market today within each individual price bracket. You can browse all the cameras within your upper limit, or scan down the page to find out which additional features might justify a jump in price if your budget is a bit more flexible.

Our reviews aim to highlight the pros and cons of each camera and give you an idea of the kind of photography you can do with each model. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first camera or an advanced user looking to get the best value for your money, we’ve got you covered.

For those who have a more specific purpose in mind for their camera, we also have guides to the best beginner cameras and best cameras for astrophotography. You can also find a wider range of affordable models in our best budget cameras guide.

The quick list

Here are our top picks in a ‘quick view’ layout. For more information about each camera, click ‘read more below’.

Best cameras under $2000 that we recommend in 2025

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Best under $200

The KODAK PIXPRO WPZ2 is a rugged entry-level camera that’s waterproof down to 50ft (15m), making it a great option for taking on beach vacations or other outdoor adventures where your phone might get damaged. It’s able to withstand drops of up to 2m (6.5ft) and all the elements, including the 4x optical zoom, remain protected by its toughened housing. This is the kind of camera your kids can get their hands on without you having to worry about it.

You can shoot 16MP still images or 1080p HD video with this camera, and can even have fun shooting underwater with it. There’s a handy built-in flash, as well as a wrist strap and a loop for attaching it to your belt or backpack when you’re on the go. The menus are navigated via the rear 2.7-inch LCD screen, and it comes in a range of bright colors, including yellow, blue and red.

You’ll need to purchase a 32GB microSD card separately, but this camera still represents excellent value for money compared with other toughened cameras in this category. The built-in WiFi also lets you easily connect it to your phone and other devices to share your images on social media.

Best under $400

GoPro are the market leaders when it comes to action cameras, and the GoPro Hero 12 offers excellent image quality inside a tiny, lightweight package. It’s rugged and durable, with waterproofing up to 33ft (10m), meaning that it can be used for a whole range of outdoor pursuits without fear of it getting damaged. Measuring 2.79 x 2.16 x 1.32 inches (71 x 55 x 33.6 mm) and weighing only 154g, it’s small enough to be mounted on your sports helmet, bike handlebars or even a drone.

The Hero 12 doesn’t skimp on image quality, offering 27MP still images and up to 5.3K video, with slow mo options up to 240fps. GoPro’s award-winning HyperSmooth 6.0 image stabilization ensures that your videos remain smooth even when the camera is getting bounced around.

Whilst it’s primarily aimed at sports enthusiasts, we think that the GoPro Hero 12 would make a great choice for vacations or days out, since it slips easily into your pocket and can even film underwater. What’s more, with the recent release of the GoPro Hero 13, you can bag the Hero 12 for less than $300, which is great value for all the features offered.

Best under $500

If you’re looking for an affordable way to upgrade your smartphone photography, then the Canon EOS 2000D may just be the way to go. Although most brands are moving steadily towards mirrorless camera technology, this camera shows that there is still a welcome place for DSLR models among beginners and those shopping on a tight budget.

You won’t get all the modern bells and whistles with this camera, but what you will get is a steady and reliable camera that will allow you to learn all the necessary photography techniques without breaking the bank. Anyone moving from a smartphone up to the EOS 2000D will be amazed by the image quality and the ability to produce shots with beautiful bokeh (background blur). It is equipped with WiFi, allowing for remote shooting via the Canon Camera Connect app, and you can also shoot 1080p HD video.

The Canon EOS 2000D fits into the Canon ecosystem, opening up a whole range of APS-C lens options. The older technology makes the price of this camera an absolute steal, as you can regularly find deals on bundles including the camera, a lens and accessories for less than $500.

Best under $700

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is an ideal starting point for those looking to get into the world of mirrorless cameras. This stylish retro camera harks back to Olympus’s earlier 35mm film models and features black and silver coloring, manual dials and a chunky hand grip for one-handed use. It also features a tilting and extending rear touchscreen, enabling you to shoot pictures at a range of awkward angles.

Despite its small size, the sensor performs admirably, producing 20MP still images and 4K video, aided by effective 5-axis image stabilization. Whilst this might make it seem appealing to vloggers and videographers, the lack of a mic port will put some people off.

The interface is very intuitive, especially in auto mode, so you should get the hang of things very quickly even if you’re a complete beginner. In our Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review, we found the autofocus to be quick and accurate, and the 15fps burst mode means this camera could be used for sports or wildlife photography. Another big appeal is how compact and lightweight it is. We think this makes it an excellent choice for traveling, since it’s easy to tuck into your backpack or a large pocket.

Best under $1000

The Nikon Z fc effectively bridges the gap between beginner photographers and serious amateurs, offering room for you to develop your skills and learn and grow with the camera. It has a beautiful retro design that will particularly appeal to anyone who’s enjoyed using classic cameras in the past, but it combines this with a range of modern functional features.

The sensor on the Nikon Z fc produces sharp images and we were particularly impressed with its dynamic range during testing. The autofocus does a great job of tracking faces and people, making it particularly suited to street and travel photography. The top features large manual dials to manage the ISO and shutter settings, but there is also a vari-angle touchscreen on the back with a “press to focus” option. We found the screen very responsive and fun to use.

The low-light performance was much better than we had expected in our Nikon Z fc review, and the 4K video on offer is enough to satisfy most content creators. Sports or action photographers would be disappointed with the burst shooting on this camera, but for more general photography it is an enjoyable camera that comes in a lightweight package for carrying around with you.

Best under $1500

In our Canon EOS R7 review, we were extremely impressed with the images produced by this camera — they come out razor-sharp with beautiful color rendition. If you’re looking to take professional-looking images but either you can’t stretch your budget to full-frame or you’re wanting something smaller to take on your travels, then this may just be the camera for you.

In addition to the stunning image quality, this camera packs in a lot of features that you’d usually only expect to find on full-frame models. You get 7 stops of in-body image stabilization, along with a dual SD card slot. The autofocus is good enough to rival even the best in the field. It offers accurate face and eye tracking, switching seamlessly between the two when the subject turns towards or away from the camera, and it can also track animals and vehicles.

We think this camera would also make an excellent choice for vloggers or videographers. The eye tracking and autofocus work just as well in videos as they do in still images, and we were pleased to see that there’s no record limit. The fully articulating rear touchscreen also makes it easy to vlog, shoot selfies or capture images low to the ground. Although it’s often used for wildlife photography, this versatile camera could turn its hand to almost any genre.

Best under $2000

The full-frame Nikon Zf is one of our top picks for astrophotography thanks to its seriously impressive low-light performance. It features the same flagship processing engine as the Nikon Z8 and Nikon Z9, making it a speedy performer in all different conditions, and it produces highly detailed images with excellent dynamic range.

This camera has a pleasing vintage design, and in our Nikon Zf review, we particularly enjoyed the range of metal dials on the camera body that enable you to operate nearly all of its functions, including the ISO, shutter speed and switching between photo and video modes. It also features a fully articulating screen, allowing you to shoot at a range of different angles. The textured back to the screen was a nice touch and means that it still fits in with the retro aesthetic when folded in.

Low-light photography is where this camera really excels. The autofocus is quick and accurate, with a sensitivity all the way down to -10EV, which is practically unheard of and even edges out Nikon’s higher models. The ISO range is also the widest of any of Nikon’s Z series cameras. The result is that you can take pictures with very little discernible noise even when pushing the ISO extremely high, making it a wonderful camera for astrophotography.

Best cameras under $X: Comparison

Best cameras under $X 2025: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best beginner camera?

This depends a bit on what kind of beginner you are. Are you a beginner who just wants something to point and shoot some vacation snaps with? Or are you a beginner who wants to take up photography as a hobby and learn as you go?

If you’re looking for a simple point-and-shoot camera, then the KODAK PIXPRO WPZ2 is a great option. It’s rugged and resilient, so it will easily survive beach trips, hiking and sightseeing. If you’re looking for a camera to learn and grow with, then the Canon EOS 2000D would be our top pick. It’s easy to get the hang of and offers great image quality for the price.

What is the best mirrorless camera?

If your budget can stretch far enough, we think the Canon EOS R7 is a fantastic mirrorless camera that will suit a range of different photography styles. It offers many of the same features as full-frame cameras, without the full-frame price point, and it produces stunning images.

What is the best camera for video?

Again, the Canon EOS R7 would be our top choice for video thanks to its 4K resolution, lack of recording limit and fully articulating touchscreen that allows you to see yourself while you’re filming.

But if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper option, then the Nikon Z fc also offers 4K video and a mic port. And for any sport or action videos, we’d happily recommend the GoPro Hero 12 with its 5.3K video and excellent image stabilization.

Will I need to buy other accessories for my camera?

This may depend a bit on what you’re wanting to use your camera for. If you’re purchasing a lightweight compact camera for traveling with, you may only need a bag or case to put it in and a memory card. But if you’re buying a heavier camera or looking to do any kind of long-exposure shots, then we’d recommend getting one of the best tripods for the best results. DSLR and mirrorless cameras will probably require additional lenses further down the line, although the kit lens may be enough if you’re just starting out.

Update log

How we test the best cameras under $X

To guarantee you’re getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best cameras to buy, here at Space.com we make sure to put every camera through a rigorous review to fully test each product. We consider a number of factors when testing, including functionality, design and construction as well as the camera’s overall performance and the image quality it produces. We also like to suggest any extra kit or accessories that would enhance a photographer’s experience.

Our expert staff or freelance contributors carefully review each camera and test it out in real-life scenarios. That means you get a fair insight backed up with a personal experience of each model so you can rely on the judgement based on price, destined use and class. It would be inappropriate to compare a small crop-sensor DSLR with a 60MP full-frame mirrorless camera directly, even if each camera was a top performer in its class, for example. Here, we’ve weighed each camera against other available models in the same price bracket to show you where your hard-earned money would be best spent.

With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on cameras, whether you choose to purchase a product or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.