Best $500 PRO Camera? 📷

Is a $500 camera worth it? How much should you save before buying your first professional camera. Here are some thoughts to consider. And if you're looking for my best camera recommendations, you can check out the links below:

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📧 LET'S CONNECT:

[karolkorzela]

You can buy canon 60d for 200 usd, a zoom lens for 150 usd and a portrait 50mm f1.8 canon lens for 100 usd and have a nice camera setup for 500 usd

[sgbesse]

That unboxing on something unrelated kept me watching the whole video👌

[Lethorio]

$500 is absolutely enough to buy a camera and get started in photography.

[reyband]

Phones aren't catching up with even entry level DSLRs from 12 years ago for another 12 years (if that) you're definitely well beyond fine if you get a 500 dollar camera- the most important thing is your lens

[quimolbenjamin]

You never recommend a camera jjust talk talk talk

[Stop-All-War]

Cameras are like DATING..
Lenses are like Marriage..
💍 Glass is the actual investment.

[EliteSwedenPhotography]

I still use my old 5D Mark II I got back in 2008, mainly for nature and landscape photography, but it's paired with $3000-$6000 glass. A new body for let's say $5000-$6000 would make zero sense for me, you wouldn't be able to spot the difference unless you are really pixel-peeping.

If you're starting out, just buy a used 5D Mark II or a III for $300-$500 and then invest in high quality glass instead.

[matthieuzglurg]

things to look for when it comes to a pro camera for cheap :

- kinda reliable autofocus, not the most important things but can save you a lot of headacahes

- good battery life, or if not, easy to get and cheap replacement batteries. Even better if the camera has a vertical grip option

- good lens lineup that would allow to grow. You could start off with a kit lens, then go on more expensive zooms and prime lenses as you start earning money with it

- either dual SD slots, or one larger port like CF or XQD (not likely that one). CF cards have a lower failure rate than SDs that are cheaper, and even then SD failure is not that common. So make sure you can get either double storage (like dual SD, one SD+ one CF) or a more reliable strorage format (CF or CF express / XQD)

- weather sealing depending on what you do. Might not be of extreme importance, but a weather sealed camera generally means that extra care has been taken for the design, and you might end up with a more durable camera overall

- decent ergonomics that fit your hand. That is very personal taste, but try to get a camera that is comfortable to hold, even with bigger lenses (that will probably be achieved with a larger grip)

For those wondering what kind of cameras could fit those criteria there is no secret method : get second hand, preferably cameras that have a few years in them already that's where you'll be able to maximize the performance you get for the money.

On top of my mind, there is a few options that comes to mind :

Nikon D7100 (or D7000 if you're broke), Nikon D300S, Nikon D700, Nikon D800, Canon 5D2 and 5D3, Canon 7D2, Fujifilm X-T2, Fujifilm X-H1

[Zazzer]

I got a brand new rebel T7 with 2 lenses and a case on sale for $400 at Walmart they still have the same model as a kit for 599. I’ve taken amazing photos with it, I even did my sisters wedding photography because her photographer bailed the night before and everyone was amazed. this camera is now about 4 years old and still kicks ass! I like that I can sync my photos to my smart phone right away, that paired with adobe light room premium I can bang out albums quickly. The real tip to photography is taking the time to snap the perfect picture so you don’t waste as much time cleaning up sloppy work during the edit process. I’m just a hobby photographer so take what I say with a grain of salt lol.

[biffonIPHONE]

I am a young photographer and I have a Fuji X-E2 and I love it. It is very sharp and has good colors

[italianlaurentius]

i use a canon m50 mark 2 with a EFm 22mm lens (f/2) and Cinestyle Technicolor as default color settings on my cam, beside the fact that it records "only" 1080p (or 4k cropped) i love the results from that cam! many think its a much more expensive camera and i paid around 600 bucks for Camera Body + Stock lens + the 22mm

[PaulM-cm]

I actually bought a canon R100 and rented the 18-150mm lens and I recently used it for videography on a friends wedding and I can say its not the most expensive or high quality camera but the video actually came out very nice, with a shotgun mic for audio it really captured everything and the image quality was really good to me.. I used 1080p hd cuz the 4k is cropped and I preferred not cropped image. Now one of my cousins wants me to be her photographer for her wedding coming up so im sure the pictures will be really nice.

[nathanbasset]

I wish you would explain what makes a lens high quality

[Madmadid]

You'll be blown away by how many great deals are there in used market, sometimes with whole setup and lenses and stuff from people that upgraded to something newer. 500 usd is not just enough, it's a great starting point, just look for those type of deals. you'll be set from the start.

[briankerr]

My disclaimer to this would be that one of the cameras I own is a 12 year old Canon T2i - 18 MP camera with a 12 year old EF-L 24-105 lens that takes amazing pictures, sometimes technology is years ahead of it’s time and becomes timeless. Professional photographers from the late 90 s would kill for this camera.

[mrjediboi]

This helped so much thank you I was spending so much time trying to find a good camera I didn’t know about the lens so thank you for saving me from wasting my movey

[SanyammGandhi]

I started off with a brand new 1500d and used the kit lense itself. Yes, you don't need a $1000 camera to start off. Move at your own pace :)

[tebogoselahle]

At this point, I only come on YouTube to watch your videos :) Amazing content

[lidge]

Depends on if you're starting or upgrading.
14yo D3100 works great for me!

[samipso]

I agree with him 100%. As an entry it might get you started, but I only started to really enjoy shooting after getting a good camera.
Get a 20+MP body and use the remainder of the budget on a fast lens.