Best $300 Budget Camera: Cheap Travel, Portraits & Video!

New cameras have gotten too expensive! Tony & Chelsea Northrup find the best two budget starter cameras under $300. Chelsea settles on a compact fixed-lens camera, a Sony RX100 III. Tony picks a bigger but more powerful and flexible DSLR, a Canon 70D with the Canon EF-S 17-85mm lens. They compare them for travel and general photography, portraits and video to find the best budget camera!

$300 camera & lens suggestions:
Canon:

Pentax

Sony A-mount

Sony E-Mount

Micro four-thirds

0:00 Introduction
1:28 Compact camera: Travel & General Shooting
2:29 DSLR: Travel & General Shooting
4:44 Portrait Photography
8:13 Video
9:30 Summary

[adrianlynch]

I love this video. Up until March this year (2023) my main camera was a Canon 70d (now have a Canon R7) with various lenses (ranging from 10mm to 500mm (with crop factor = 800mm). However I also have a Canon compact SX700. I am not a professional photographer btw. I use both of my cameras and have the same views as you two. The compact is the take anywhere on a belt pouch but restricted in range but extremely portable vs the 70d with a suitable lens that is more versatile / transformable as long as you have the right lens fitted / available. I will usually take both with me. If on holiday dependign on the excursion depends on which of these 2 cameras I take, sometimes both. Great video btw.

[DavidUthmann]

My first DSLR venture was Canon, and I've enjoyed that ecosystem as an amateur. However, several years back I noticed that I was leaving the camera home more often because of it's bulk, and started looking for a compact that wouldn't leave me frustrated with a lack of controls or features. I ended up with an RX100 IV for the focal length, aperture, and ability to control most of the modes that I was accustomed to on a DSLR. I've not been disappointed since.

[Hodenkat]

Thanks for doing a budget review! I would recommend doing a lot of homework first before picking up any compact camera. Chelsea did a great job picking her compact camera, but she really knows cameras! Tony knows his full-sized cameras well so there's a reason why he chose the 70D. I think a few of the more important features would be choosing a camera with a manual mode available, and a built-in flash for indoor shots. Even if you have a compact camera that goes down to f/2.8 or f/1.8, you still might need a flash for those moments when you can't get close. It will help especially indoors. I have a little Nikon P50 I love taking with me!

[mikes]

I recently picked up a Canon M200 for under $300 which is like a hybrid of those two options. It's a compact mirrorless with interchangeable lenses. You can keep it compact by using EF-M lenses or get an adapter for about $30 and use Canon EF lenses or whatever DSLR lens mount you want.

My main camera is a Canon 80D and I use the M200 for when I feel like traveling light or I can throw on an EF lens from my 80D on it if I wanted to.

[abhishekkendle]

I watch your videos more than once 😂 I tend to drift away from the subject of video and somehow end up enjoying Tony and Chelsea’s ever entertaining banter!! I wish you two stay the same and your relationship grown stronger together!

[DoofusPics]

Video suggestion: Because we are now in a world where many people don't have a computer, it would be fun to see a video on a workflow to take photos from your camera to your phone, including the culling and editing options you like.

Thank you for the work you do!

[fxklukh]

Great video. As a grandparent of 10 I have done this for years. Started with canon 40d’s, 7d, Nikon coolpix.
Nothing better than a string of grans on a forest trail strung out all snapping away!

[PieterBreda]

The biggest mistake is thinking that better gear always leads to better pictures. That might be so in some cases (fast action for instance) but often the skill of the photographer is more important.

[Razor]

Keep in mind the RX100 cameras are not dust resistant, thus if placed in a pocket an the camera is not dusted off, especially around the lens area, then when the next time it extends the lens, it will suck dust into lens housing and you will see dust on the inner lens elements.

[jonstewart]

Get a used Canon 50mm f1.8 stm for the 70d for great background blur in portraits. It’s less than $100. The Af is more accurate for stills and also smoother for video than the older non stm model.

[localnavy]

I love this set of videos that you two are doing. The fact that you keep showing people the older gear can still get the job done is awesome. I shoot on older gear and have bought it all used. My images are just as good as the people who have the newer better gear. Thank you for doing this series but I still think that you could go down to the 200 dollar mark for those who are on a real tight budget. I hope you do that video lol

[PJ-omwq]

I bought my daughter a Nikon D700 last year and she absolutely loves it.

[Calatriste]

Love everything about this content. Two different applications. I am long overdue for an upgrade from my Canon t1i starter DSLR. Very enthusiastic about the 70D. Some money left over for glass. Bravo this show!

[limburger]

This is a great video idea! I think people (ie hobbyists like me 😅) get too caught up on the latest and greatest cameras, when an older camera can do 95% of what we need. I wonder if y'all would redo your D810 vs pentax video, but a newer more expensive camera vs a cheaper one, but with post-production workarounds like image averaging, bracketing and even the new AI denoise features that are available now with LR and PS. Love your work!

[rednelob]

Bought my rx100 iii new, and I still use it on a regular basis. Also. the screen flips up to selfie-mode with a 3 second delay. And, it also has eye detect (although it's not great!). Still a good little camera.

[MatthiasJurisch]

I bought my classic fantastic 70D with the Canon 18-200 mm over 10 years ago and this set up never let me down...after all these years it is my go to set up for events and weddings...The 70D certainly was a game changer...

[wynnsimpson]

Loved your content and your humorous interplay!

[Berry_N]

Appreciate the video. When I'm driving to places when hiking, I like to take quick snapshots (with a snap and shoot) from the car and am looking to replace my current camera.

[SandboChang]

"okay do you need tweezers" kills it lol. Great video and my brother owned a 70D since it was launch and is still using it today, wonderful camera indeed.

[fondfarewell]

My first camera was the sl2 (200d) and it was like 325$ with a 24mm f2.8. Great beginner camera and affordable.