Best cameras under $500 in 2026 – budget cameras worth buying

In this guide, we’re counting off the best cameras under $500 / £500, and that can be a trickier ask than you might expect. Cheap cameras aren’t as common as they used to be, the market having been somewhat decimated by the rise of the smartphone, and people’s expectations for a camera at this price have changed accordingly. Now, in order for a camera to justify a cost of $500 / £500, it has to offer something a smartphone doesn’t, whether that’s superior image quality, a broad lens range, or extra physical features like waterproofing. And no, these features are not just reserved for the top cameras for photography. As such, we’re not just counting off cheapo bargain cameras here – we’re looking at some of the best compact cameras you can buy, and even a few excellent interchangeable-lens models.

Generally, the trick to getting a great camera for a low price is to look on the second-hand market, and many of the models we’ve included on this list are a good few years old and mostly available used. We’ve taken our extensive testing and reviewing experience and applied it to this list to determine which cameras are actually worth your money.

Best cameras under $500 / £500: the quick list

So, here is a quick rundown of the cameras we’ve included, along with links to get the best prices:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 with 14-42mm lens – Buy now
• Canon EOS 2000D / Rebel T7 with 18-55mm lens – Buy now
• OM System Tough TG-7 – Buy now
• Panasonic Lumix GX80 – Buy now
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV – Buy now
• Panasonic Lumix TZ99/ZS99 – Buy now
• Sony Alpha A6000 – Buy now
• Nikon D3500 with 18-55mm VR lens – Buy now
• Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II – Buy now

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