Start 2025 with photography – with the ten best cameras for beginners. Find the perfect balance of price, features, and performance for professionals without spending a fortune.
We know how exciting the path to becoming a photographer can be. A new world full of creativity and possibilities awaits to be captured by you. Yet the sheer technological complexity of the optical world can overwhelm you.
Beginners should look for a wide range of affordable, powerful equipment specially designed for newcomers when buying a camera and its accompanying lens. We have tested hundreds of cameras and selected these ten best cameras for beginners in 2025.
Cameras for Beginners
These cameras are aimed at thrifty buyers but are also very user-friendly and ideal for beginners. Canon and Nikon lead this category with their older and newer models.
1. Nikon D3500 (DSLR)
We warmly recommend this camera for beginners as it offers solid performance and excellent photo quality. The lenses for this DSLR are also quite affordable, making it a great deal for beginners. The downside, however, is that DSLR technology is outdated and no longer mainstream. So if you are looking for a long-lasting and upgradeable camera, especially regarding lens mounts, this camera is not the right choice.
2. Canon EOS R100
This Canon camera with RF mount is the entry model into the company’s strong RF ecosystem and a good choice for casual photographers switching from smartphones. For under 500 US dollars, you get a beginner-friendly interface, a lightweight body, and good photo quality.
3. Canon EOS R50
The latest model in this line is super compact, light, and delivers excellent photo and video quality. The camera also features a flip-out screen and its autofocus system is impressive. It is designed for use with RF and RF-S lenses as well as, via an adapter, with EF/EF-S lenses. It is an excellent investment in the Canon mirrorless lens system. Overall, a great budget camera with a balanced price-performance ratio.
Midrange Cameras for Photographers
This category presents cameras that improve with more professional features such as built-in image steadiness, better autofocus systems, more extensive video specifications, and the flexibility to expand the creative scope of beginners.
1. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Looking for the most compact camera on the market with high-quality in-body image steadiness and a reasonable price? Then you are in the right place. The OM-D E-M10 (a rather odd name) allows effortless handheld shooting thanks to its super-light profile and is an excellent option this year for street and travel photography. Its Micro-Four-Thirds system ensures good image quality in the midrange segment and is compatible with a variety of sharp MFT lenses.
2. Canon EOS R10
This RF camera was named “Best Beginner Camera” in 2025 by many online review sites. Praised for its solid equipment, it surpasses the specifications of almost all high-end cameras of 2025 and is the best choice in this list of top ten beginner cameras. It offers solid 4K video recording at 60 frames per second (though cropped), an excellent autofocus system, and overall appealing performance thanks to the mirrorless APS-C sensor system.
3. Nikon Z50 II
Another mirrorless APS-C model, similar to the R10, Nikon offers a first-class choice for beginners this year with numerous features. This camera goes a step further but also targets video artists. It offers solid autofocus for 4K videos at 60 frames per second and excellent value for all who seek a hybrid photo-video camera this year.
4. Sony a6100
This camera is ideal for anyone who wants to effortlessly capture portraits, action, or everyday photography. It shines with its lightning-fast real-time eye autofocus, which already has many fans. It also offers 4K recording, a compact body, and compatibility with E-mount lenses.
Upper Midrange Cameras for Photographers
1. Nikon Z5 II
If you want to enter the realm of entry-level mirrorless full-frame cameras, this camera is the right choice. It offers a full-frame sensor with good low-light performance, robust build, 4K video, two card slots, and excellent image quality. If you seek studio-level performance in low light and high-quality photos, this camera is right for you – even on a small budget.
2. Canon EOS R8
Due to its excellent photo quality, especially in low light, and its relatively low weight, it is one of our favorite cameras in the top 10 beginner cameras this year. It is also quite beginner-friendly, has fast eye autofocus, can record 4K videos, and has an excellent lens range.
3. Fujifilm X-M5
If you love retro cameras and value first-class photo and video quality, this camera is just right for you. The camera offers 6K video that can be viewed on a tilting screen and impresses with excellent color reproduction. The film simulation dial is a nice detail we really like, and the small details make the camera unique in this price range.
The Best Camera Lens for Beginners
Your new camera cannot reach its full potential if the lens is not as good as it is. For the best price-performance ratio, we recommend the SIRUI Saturn lens kit. This new generation of anamorphic lenses was specially developed for beginners who want to achieve professional results in photo and video recordings at a fraction of the cost of other premium optics.
This lens kit is available in the most common focal lengths and features aspherical lens elements for more precise and sharper images. The anamorphic effect of the lens allows a 1.6x squeeze factor, creating an oval and elongated bokeh similar to Hollywood films. If you want to improve your photography skills from the start, you should definitely invest in this lens.
Summary:
The above-mentioned top ten beginner cameras are sorted by price and budget. To get the most out of these cameras, invest in the SIRUI Saturn lens kit with various mounts and focal lengths, designed for cinematic optical performance in photos and videos.
