The Best DSLR Cameras under $500
Canon EOS Rebel T5i
★ Top Choice
BUY NOW
From $444.99
Features
- 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps) and 720 (60, 50 fps) HD video (29min limit, H.264 format).
- 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor.
- 3" articulating touch panel LCD screen with 1,040,000 dots.
- 9 point AF system, all cross type.
- 5 FPS continuous shooting,Dimensions (W x H x D):Approx. 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in;Approx. 133.1 x 99.8 x 78.8mm.
- ISO 100-12800 (expandable to 25600).
Pros
- ⊕ Compact.
- ⊕ 4fps shooting.
- ⊕ Fast autofocus.
- ⊕ Fast to start and shoot.
Cons
- ⊖ Small pentamirror viewfinder.
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D
♥ Runner Up
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From $474.3
Features
- DIGIC 8 Image Processor.
- 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen.
- 24.1MP APS-C CMOS Sensor.
- UHD 4K24p Video and 4K Time-Lapse Movie.
Pros
- ⊕ 4K video.
- ⊕ Flexible LCD screen.
- ⊕ Cheapest DSLR with 4K video.
- ⊕ Dual Pixel CMOS AF is great.
Cons
- ⊖ 4K video absent.
- ⊖ Cropped 4K video.
- ⊖ Video is cropped.
- ⊖ 9-point AF system is dated.
- ⊖ Heavy rolling shutter in 4K.
Specs
- Max video resolution: 4K.
- Continuous shooting speed: 5fps.
- Megapixels: 24.1MP.
- User level: Beginner.
- Sensor: APS-C CMOS.
- Lens mount: Canon EF-S.
- Screen: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots.
Panasonic Lumix G7
Best Value
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From $497.99
Features
- Intuitive Controls: Easily control aperture and shutter settings with the front and rear dials while making White balance and ISO adjustments on the fly; Assign favorite settings to any of the six function buttons (six on body, five on menu).
- 4K video Capture: 4K QFHD video recording (3840 x 2160) with three unique 4K ultra HD video pause and save 4K photo modes extracts individual high resolution Photos from 4K ultra HD video filmed at 30 frames per second to capture split second moments.
- Connectivity & Ports : 3.5 millimeter external mic port, 2.5 millimeter remote port, USB 2.0 and micro HDMI Type D; Compatible with newer BUS Class UHS I/UHS II SDXC/SDHC SD cards capable of storing high resolution 4K videos.
- High Resolution Viewfinder & LCD Display: High resolution (2,360K dot) OLED live view finder and rear touch Enabled 3 inch tilt/swivel LCD display (1,040 dot) are clear even in bright sunlight.Diagonal Angle of View:75°（Ｗ）～29°（Ｔ）.
- Professional photo & video : Performance: 16 megapixel micro four thirds sensor with no low pass filter to confidently capture sharp images with a high dynamic range and artifact free performance; WiFi: IEEE 802.11b/g/n, 2412 MHz 2462 MHz (1 11 ch), Wi Fi / WPA / WPA2, Infrastructure mode.
Pros
- ⊕ 4K video.
- ⊕ Built-in EVF.
- ⊕ Built-in flash.
- ⊕ Dual control dials.
- ⊕ Speedy performance.
Cons
- ⊖ Plastic build.
- ⊖ Not available as a body only.
Best Under $500
The 8 Best 4K Cameras of 2020 - lifewire.com
Best Bang for the Buck
Best Vlogging Cameras - bestreviews.com
Panasonic LUMIX G7 Mirrorless Camera
Best for Casual Photographers
BUY NOW
From $497.99
Features
- Fast and precise auto focusing tracks the subject; Focus mode AFS (single) / AFF (flexible) / AFC (continuous) / MF, AF mode face/eye detection / tracking / 49 area / custom Multi / 1 area / pinpoint.
- Never miss a photo with three unique 4K ultra HD video pause and save 4K photo modes.
- Unwire your creativity with integrated Wi Fi sharing.
- Class leading, ultra compact, interchangeable lens and accessory option; HDMI: microHDMI TypeD / VIERA Link,video: Auto / 4K / 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p, Audio: stereo.
- Superb DSLM image quality without the bulk and weight of traditional DSLRs.
Pros
- ⊕ 16 MP.
- ⊕ Shoots 4K video.
- ⊕ Quiet shutter sound.
- ⊕ Sturdy, compact camera.
- ⊕ Integrated WiFi sharing.
Cons
- ⊖ Slow video AF.
- ⊖ Questionable build quality.
- ⊖ Some users say it feels cheap.
Best for Casual Photographers
The 10 Best Mirrorless Cameras of 2020 - lifewire.com
Best Bang for the Buck
Best Mirrorless Cameras - bestreviews.com
Mentioned
Best LUMIX Cameras - bestreviews.com