The Best Digital Cameras for Beginners in 2024

With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby. Why not turn it into photography? Not only will you spend more time outdoors, but you may also find yourself seeing the world around you in a new light. The bottom line is that you spend a lot of money on the perfect beginner camera.

If you’re new to digital photography and don’t know where to start, don’t worry. Two years ago I got my first digital camera and since then I’ve learned a lot about the world of photography. So hear from me, a budding amateur photographer, on what are the important aspects of a digital camera for beginners. Here are my top recommendations for the best entry-level models to help you turn fleeting moments into lasting memories.

Best entry-level digital cameras: Our favorite picks

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS is one of the best point-and-shoot cameras for those looking to upgrade from cheaper digital cameras. The camera features 12x optical zoom, built-in Wi-Fi for easier photo transfer, and autofocus.

Below are photos I took on the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS.

There aren’t many manual controls, but if you just want to use the camera to take a quick photo, it’s enough. One of my favorite aspects of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS is its portability. The camera is small enough to fit in a pocket or purse, making it a great camera to take with you on a night out or walking around a new city.

I purchased a Fujifilm X-T200 last year and still feel like I’m exploring new features this camera has to offer. The Fujifilm X-T200 is a mirrorless digital camera that makes a great entry-level camera for those looking for a more professional camera. The camera features an LCD touch screen, updated face/eye detection, and built-in Wi-Fi. Image quality is significantly better than other cheaper cameras and a huge improvement over photos taken with smartphones.

If you’re looking for a camera that also shoots high-quality video, look no further than the Fujifilm X-T200.

The camera can record 4K and HDR videos. I used the video feature for the first time the other day and was shocked by the quality of the videos. Granted, this camera isn’t meant for vlogging on the go, but if you want to make videos at home, you can easily do so with this camera.

Below are photos I took with Fujifilm X-T200.

The Kodak PixPro costs less than $200 and takes high-quality photos. The camera has good zoom capabilities, some basic manual controls, and a 24mm wide-angle lens. It can also capture 1080p video.

There’s no built-in Wi-Fi, so to transfer photos you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way, uploading them from an SD card to your laptop and sending them from there. The camera is slightly larger than smaller point-and-shoot cameras, but is still relatively lightweight and portable enough to carry around for a day out.

If you are looking for a camera for thrilling activities or diving, then the TG-7 Underwater Camera is what you need. This waterproof, shockproof, shatterproof, and freezeproof camera is easy to carry, so you can take it with you on all your adventures. The camera has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing you to easily upload photos to the Oi.Share app.

Plus, if you want to track your journey, the camera also has built-in GPS so you can track where and when the photo was taken. This camera is perfect for thrill seekers, ocean lovers and even construction workers.

Looking for a camera for your kids or want a low-priced portable camera? The AKJJHFUE Digital Camera is a basic point-and-shoot camera that makes taking pictures easy. This camera isn’t the highest quality on our list, in fact, your smartphone can take better quality photos.

However, this camera would make a great gift for children or older friends or family members who tell you they don’t want a high-tech option. State-of-the-art technology is not always the right solution for every situation. But even at the affordable price, this camera has selfie, webcam capabilities, and 16x digital zoom.

If you want to really dive into the world of influencers, or just want to up your Instagram game, the Canon Powershot G7 is your solution. Canon Powershot G7X is loved by many influencers.

The camera lets you live stream directly from your device, features a touchscreen LCD display, and is compatible with external microphones. You can shoot content in 4K quality at normal speed or time-lapse. This camera is truly the holy grail of digital cameras.

Want to build your YouTube career? The Sony ZV-1F camera is specially built for aspiring vloggers. The camera features a built-in microphone, crisp autofocus, and color presets to choose from so your videos match your aesthetic.

The screen is touchscreen, allowing you to adjust settings directly on the screen. The camera is great for streaming and other forms of video content creation, but not so good for taking photos.

Going on vacation soon and want a basic underwater camera for your snorkeling trip? The Polaroid Digital Camera is a basic camera that allows you to take photos in 10 feet of water.

The camera has few manual controls, and some reviews complain that the camera tends to freeze after being used for a while. If you’re just looking for a simple underwater camera and don’t necessarily care about photo quality, then definitely give a Polaroid digital camera a try.

Bottom line: What is the best digital camera?

My top pick for the best entry-level digital camera is the Cannon Powershot G7X. The Powershot G7X allows users to easily capture high-quality photos and videos without having to purchase separate lenses. The camera is lightweight and portable, making it a great choice for vlogging on the go.

If you want a more professional-grade entry-level camera and don’t mind paying the extra, I’d also recommend the Fujifilm X-T200. I have been using this camera for about a year or so and found it difficult to operate at first, but after reading the instructions and doing a little research (which works wonders) this camera is relatively easy to navigate and has amazing Image Quality. But what if you’re looking for a simple camera? I highly recommend the Canon Powershot ELPH 360. The Powershot ELPH 360 is easy to use, produces high-quality images, and fits in your pocket.

FAQ

Q: How do I choose the best entry-level digital camera?

I’ve recently started getting more into photography and I’ve been trying out different cameras over the past few years. The list above is compiled based on personal experience and customer reviews. When looking at different cameras, I look for the features that set them apart: image quality and how easy they are to use.

Q: What is a point-and-shoot camera?

Point-and-shoot cameras are designed for simple operation. As the name suggests, this camera is designed to allow users to point the camera at an object and then take a photo. Point-and-shoot cameras typically don’t have extensive manual controls.

Q: Should I invest in a high-end entry-level camera?

I would only recommend investing in a more expensive camera if you really want to put the effort into learning how to use it. A camera like the Fujifilm X-T200 has hundreds of different features and functions, but if you don’t think you’ll use any of them, then I think you should aim more at mid-range cameras.