Photography can be an enjoyable hobby and a fantastic career. However, to be a good photographer, you need to have a good camera. Excellent photography skills alone won’t suffice if you want to get ahead in your career as a photographer. A good camera kit is just as important.
As any seasoned photographer will tell you, photography is an expensive hobby to have. If you’re a beginner, a professional, or just a hobbyist, you might be dissuaded by the enormous investment even a simple camera and its lenses require. Though professional digital cameras can cost thousands of dollars, you can also find cameras under $1000 that work phenomenally.
These are well thought out, basic cameras that forego some complicated extra features, that some professionals may require, but focus on all the important basic ones. These cameras are perfect for a newbie or even experienced photographers that want a good quality camera that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Here is a list of the best cameras under $1000, so you can take amazing pictures without having to break the bank!
1. Nikon D7100 (Budget Winner)

The Nikon D7100 is one of the fantastic cameras under $1000. This DSLR camera is equipped with 24.1-megapixels, which result in high quality, clear pictures that don’t pixelate even at maximum zoom.
The Nikon D7100 can capture six frames per second and is also capable of taking up to a hundred frames of continuous shots. The camera has an astonishingly wide-ranged ISO, 100-6400.
It can capture good quality, 1080p videos. These videos have supreme stability thanks to the camera’s built-in autofocus switch. The built-in stereo mic of the camera can record all audio clearly.
The camera comes with a state of the art wireless sharing and control technology. This technology allows you to transfer all your videos and pictures instantly to your phone or tablet. It even enables you to share them on social media, all without having to plug in any messy or cumbersome wires.
The Nikon D7100 DSLR has a sleek black body and a minimalistic yet elegant design that is always guaranteed with Nikon products. It is also compatible with most lenses in this range.
2. Canon EOS 80D

Packed with great features, this brilliant DSLR by Canon lands on our list of cameras under $1000. Equipped with 24.2-megapixel image formatting sensors and a shutter speed of seven frames per second, this camera has one of the highest resolutions and fastest shutter speeds in the market! The picture quality is indeed unmatched.
The Canon EOS 80D has a high point ISO of 16000 for photographs and 12800 for videos. A smooth, next-generation, advanced autofocus system works brilliantly for both still pictures and even videos.
A hypersensitive and intelligent viewfinder enables you to frame and capture shots with great ease. The viewfinder has a 45-point autofocus system with a grid display. However, the number of AF points, their cross-type, and dual cross-type all vary depending on the lenses used with the camera.
The camera also comes with inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC technology that enables you to transfer your images to your devices directly. The Canon Camera Connect app allows you to transfer and edit your pictures easily and makes the whole process smooth and easy.
3. Canon EOS 70D

A great camera for beginners, the Canon EOS 70D is packed with many essential features that you’ll need when starting out in the world of photography. This king of cameras under $1000 has a great range for both still photographs and videos and can capture 1080p high definition videos as well. It’s a great camera to use to document your daily adventures!
A 20.2 megapixels CMOS PS-C sensor and DIGIC 5+ technology also enable you to capture high-resolution images with great clarity. The Canon EOS 70D is capable of shooting up to seven frames per second and has a 19-point, dual-pixel autofocus technology which will ensure that all your images are stable even if the subjects are in motion. The ISO range is from 100 to 12800 and is capable of expanding to 25600, so you can get great pictures in low light!
Complete with a high-resolution LCD touch screen, articulating panel, and a whole bunch of innovative features, this camera is definitely worth its price tag.
4. Sony a6400

The Sony a6400 is definitely a bargain considering the great results it produces! This camera has one of the best sensors in the market and is known for its unbeatable Real-Time Eye autofocus system. It contains 24.2 megapixels and can capture up to 11 frames per second in continuous shooting. So not only is it fast, but it is also incredibly accurate and sharp.
4K/30p video shooting coupled with the camera’s sublime autofocus system means that all your videos will be as focused, clear and crisp as your stills. As a mirrorless camera, the Sony a6400 is compact, versatile, and easy to carry. It also has a selfie-friendly, adjustable LCD touchscreen and a decent electronic viewfinder.
5. Fujifilm X-T30

This is a compact, no fuss camera that is a great investment for all kinds of photographers! It’s especially great for everyone on a tight budget. An easy to use camera, the Fujifilm X-T30 has straightforward control settings and an easily navigable menu.
One of the highest resolution cameras on our list, this camera has a top-quality 26.1-megapixel APS-C sensor with four image sensors, an X-Processor and a quad-core CPU. All these features combine together to provide an extremely accurate Autofocusing and Face Detection process. Its autofocus system is always on-point, for both moving and still subjects in images and 4K video recordings.
Bottom Line on Cameras Under $1000
Buying a good quality camera is essential if you want to excel as a photographer. However, the best cameras are priced exorbitantly! Expensive cameras, though very attractive, aren’t always necessary and you can easily make do with something less expensive as long as it has great specs and produces stunning results.
You will definitely find something less costly yet outstanding in performance and well suited to your needs in our list of the best cameras under $1000!