By skyforbes 
Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital Camera
from $449 (with a kit lens) BUY NOW
Best for Affordable Price, Large Sensor, Rich Lens Selection
The Canon EOS Rebel T6 is a perfect starter DSLR camera for someone who’s serious about learning photography. The T6 has a large 18MP APS-C sensor, excellent manual controls, and top-notch video quality. Canon’s lens selection is arguably the best in the business, so the Rebel T6 will allow you to easily upgrade your lens collection down the line.
Nikon D3400 Digital Camera
from $396 (with a kit lens) BUY NOW
Best for Attractive Price, Rich Selection of Lenses, Image Quality
Nikon’s entry-level D3400 delivers arguably the best still-image quality in a sub-$500 camera. It has a 24.2MP image sensor that’s also capable of capturing Full HD 1080p video. Other camera highlights include a 3-inch display, zippy autofocus, burst shooting, and a plethora of lenses to choose from post-purchase.
Olympus TG-5 Waterproof Digital Camera
from $449 BUY NOW
Best for Rugged, Waterproof Body, Wireless Connectivity
The Olympus TG-5 is the perfect camera for adventurers. It is waterproof up to 50 feet, plus freezeproof, shockproof, dustproof, and crushproof. It captures 12MP stills in RAW format and 1080p video. Microscope Macro mode for ultra close-up shooting, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a built-in eCompass make the Olympus TG-5 the best rugged camera in its price range.
Canon PowerShot G9X Mark II Digital Camera
from $429 BUY NOW
Best for Stylish Design, Compact Body, Large Image Sensor
Inside the stylish and compact body of the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II lies a 1-inch 20MP sensor that helps provide excellent image quality. The camera features a rich set of connectivity settings, a 3-times-magnification optical zoom, and intuitive controls that make the G9X an excellent choice for casual users looking for a pocketable camera that packs a punch. This camera comes in black or silver with brown accents.
Nikon 1 J5 Digital Camera
from $497 (with a kit lens) BUY NOW
Best for Compact Body, Interchangeable Lenses, Fast Focus
The Nikon 1 J5 is a compact camera with interchangeable lenses, advanced 1-inch 20.8MP sensor, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, and the ability to capture 4K video at 15fps. With an available burst mode of 20fps and fast hybrid autofocus, the Nikon 1 J5 is also an absolute speed freak that won’t miss a shot when you need it. Nikon’s available lenses for the camera are fairly affordable, so you can add even more versatility to your shooting experience down the line. This is one of the best cameras you can buy for $500.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Sensor Digital Camera
$448 BUY NOW
Best for Compact Body, Image Quality
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is a compact camera with a 20.2MP 1-inch sensor and excellent Zeiss optics that will deliver good shots even in poor lighting conditions. Its metal body looks sleek, yet it still offers a number of manual controls for more advanced users. If you don’t like to deal with changing lenses and are looking for stellar picture quality in a compact form, this is a solid option.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V Digital Camera
$398 BUY NOW
Best for Zoom Range, GPS, Wi-Fi Connectivity
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V has a Carl Zeiss lens with a whopping 50 times zoom and optical image stabilization. Its 20.4MP CMOS sensor is not the largest in its price range, but its zoom capabilities more than make up for it. A speedy image processor, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, and an excellent set of controls make the Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V an amazing pick for daytime nature photographers.
Nikon COOLPIX A900 Digital Camera
$379 BUY NOW
Best for Zoom, 4K Video, Wireless Connectivity
The Nikon COOLPIX A900 has a 1/2.3-inch 20MP CMOS sensor, superb 35-times-magnification zoom range, adjustable display, and rich set of external controls. Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, and GPS connectivity are also available, as is the ability to capture 4K video footage. This is a great option for daylight, nature photographers, and buyers looking for a compact superzoom.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 Tough Digital Camera
from $136 BUY NOW
Best for Affordable Price, Rugged Build
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 is rugged, affordable, and compact. It has a 16MP sensor with optical image stabilization, as well as built-in memory in case you forget to put a memory card in. The Lumix DMC-TS30 can dip in up to 26 feet of water, so it’s perfect for pool parties and beach duty.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Point & Shoot Digital Camera
$318 BUY NOW
Best for Zoom Range, Pricing
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 is a compact point-and-shoot camera with a versatile 30x zoom range, tilting display, electronic viewfinder, and wireless connectivity. Crisp 18MP images and downloadable camera applications make the Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 a great option for buyers looking for better photos than those their phones can capture in a small package.
Stefan is an award-winning consumer technology editor with over a decade of experience in reviewing gadgets, particularly smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, desktop and laptop computers across multiple form factors and platforms, as well as accessories for them. He also covers televisions and audio equipment, including headphones, earbuds, wireless speakers, and soundbars. Since joining Hearst in 2015, Stefan has contributed to BestProducts, Popular Mechanics, and numerous other publications. Prior to his current role, he served as the US Editor for GSMArena.com.
Brandon Carte is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering technology, gadgets and appliances. His reporting has been featured on Best Products, Top Ten Revies, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he’s not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
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