Best Camera for Beginners | 2025

With the best camera for beginners, you’ll have everything you need at your disposal to start mastering the ins and outs of photography and video. We’ve picked out a selection of high-quality, budget-friendly and easy-to-use cameras that are the perfect starting point for anyone who wants to learn how to shoot great pictures and videos in 2025.

The first thing to do before you start picking specific models is to figure out which type of camera you want. We’ve split this guide up by camera type to make it a little easier to navigate – here are the main categories we’re going to be dealing with.

Mirrorless cameras - Interchangeable-lens cameras that boast the latest technology, mirrorless cameras are generally smaller and lighter than DSLRs – owing to the fact that they don’t have the mirror mechanism required to field an optical viewfinder. 

DSLRs - Once the kings of the camera world, there are still plenty of photographers who prefer DSLRs, and if you join any photography college course you’ll see more than a few people wielding them. They’re generally bigger than mirrorless cameras, but many appreciate them for their rugged bodies, optical viewfinders and generous battery life.

Bridge cameras - While they may look like DSLRs, bridge cameras have fixed-on lenses that can’t be changed. While this makes them less versatile, it does make for a simpler proposition for the photographer who isn’t interested in spending more money on lenses. And the fact that the lens tends to be a big old superzoom certainly helps.

Budget cameras - This isn’t its own category per se, but we’re mindful that not everyone has a lot of spare cash to spend on their hobbies nowadays. So we’ve picked out a few extra-cheap cameras that we feel still deliver excellent value for money.

There’s more to say about each category, but we’ll explain it as we go. So, let’s dive in and count off the best cameras for beginners…

Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners

The best mirrorless cameras right now are high-end professional models, with super-fast burst rates, sky-high megapixel counts and more. However, that doesn’t mean that beginners have been forgotten about, and there are plenty of budget-friendly mirrorless options for the novice photographer or videographer who wants to get in at the ground floor.

Choosing a mirrorless system to start with will provide you with a clear upgrade path of lenses and cameras, allowing you to grow into your gear as you gain confidence as a shooter. Choosing your system may feel like a daunting task, with brand names flying past you every which way (Canon or Sony?! Fujifilm or Panasonic?!) but the truth is you have no bad options here. Every mirrorless system on the market right now has plenty to offer any photographer or videographer, all you need to do is compare their features and figure out which one suits you best. We’ve picked out four exceptional beginner cameras from four of the best mirrorless systems in the business.

New beginner cameras don’t come along as frequently as they used to, which is why we were so delighted when Canon took the wraps off the EOS R100. It’s the most affordable entry-point to the EOS R system, which also includes the firm’s flagship professional cameras, and it borrows a fair few features from its high-end cousins. One of the best is its Dual Pixel Autofocus system, which is consistently fast and effective.

As the heir apparent to Canon’s famous beginner DSLRs like the EOS 250D (more on which shortly), the EOS R100 offers loads of helpful guide modes that explain the various settings and how to use them. While it takes great pictures in Auto mode, the EOS R100 really shows its strength once you start taking control of your images – that’s the point where you start to appreciate how much more quality you’ve got here compared to a smartphone. One thing you’ll have to get used to though is the lack of a touchscreen.

Fujifilm X cameras like the X-T30 II are beautiful pieces of kit to learn the ropes on for a number of reasons. One is their abundance of physical controls – if you take a look at the top plate of the X-T30 II, you’ll see dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation. This is a much more tactile way to get the hang of your settings than rooting through digital menus.

Fujifilm cameras are also fantastic for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time editing images in software. Fuji offers some of the best colour science in the business, with fantastic-looking JPEGs straight out of camera. The X-T30 II also offers a number of Film Simulation modes, which allow you to emulate the looks of classic film stocks like Velvia and Provia.

One commonly reported bugbear with the X-T30 II is the placement of the Q (Quick Menu) button on the handgrip – if you’re holding the camera right-handed, it’s very easy to accidentally hit it. 

Sony’s A6000 cameras have a well-deserved reputation for being great little sports and action shooters – so if you think this is the kind of photography you might want to try, the Sony A6100 is an excellent choice. Its Fast Hybrid AF system with Real-Time Tracking can lock onto moving subjects and stubbornly keep hold of them, while the 11fps burst mode ensures you won’t miss a moment. It’s also got Sony’s popular Eye AF, which does exactly what it sounds like it does – locks onto subjects’ eyes for pin-sharp portraits. 

Sony’s E-mount has been around for a while, meaning you’ll have lots of lenses to choose from in addition to the 16-50mm Power Zoom the camera comes bundled with. With a flip-around screen, the A6100 is also great for family selfies and vlogging. Its 4K video consistently impresses, and it’s good to see that the excellent autofocus is also available when shooting video.

One of the most enduringly popular beginner cameras ever made, the clever little Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is an ideal way to hop on board the Micro Four Thirds system. Unlike many other beginner cameras, the E-M10 Mark IV sports built-in 5-axis image stabilisation – this helps compensate for unwanted movements when hand-holding the camera, enabling sharper shots at slower shutter speeds, in turn meaning you get better results in low light.

The Micro Four Thirds lens ecosystem is big, with loads of fantastic, lightweight lenses that make the E-M10 Mark IV one of the best beginner cameras for travel. It can shoot completely silently for those times you want to be discreet, its LCD monitor can flip down to face forward for selfies or vlogging, and it can also be powered up directly using its USB interface – just be aware it’s the older micro USB standard, not USB-C.

Best DSLR Camera for Beginners

Ah, the good old DSLR. For many photographers, you still can’t beat it, and if you elect to start your photographic journey here, you’ll be in good company. While mirrorless cameras are very much the format of the moment, with all the latest tech developments and newest lenses, there is still a robust market out there of people who prefer DSLRs. 

The key difference between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras is, well, a mirror. A reflex mirror mechanism to be specific, which receives the image through the lens and bounces it up to an optical viewfinder, giving the user a real-time preview of what they’re about to shoot. Mirrorless cameras use electronic viewfinders instead, and while these are much, much better than they used to be, some photographers just prefer optical. DSLRs are often larger, too, with chunkier hand grips for a secure hold. While we aren’t likely to see many new DSLRs coming out in the future, there are still fantastic options for beginners who prefer the format.

When you’re looking for a beginner camera, it can make sense to jump into a well-established system, giving yourself plenty of lens options and room to grow. Systems don’t come much more well-established than Canon DSLRs, and the easy-to-use EOS 2000D is an ideal jumping-on point. A simple but capable DSLR with a 24MP sensor, it’s capable of capturing brilliant images, and the EF-S lens mount gives you a huge selection of lenses to choose from when you want to upgrade from the included 18-55mm IS II lens.

The EOS 2000D offers a number of handy in-camera guided shooting modes, giving you plenty of help with making your images look as good as possible while getting your head around the basics of photography. It also captures video in Full HD, with a 7.5cm LCD screen for composition and playback. A Canon DSLR is a brilliant camera to learn the basics on — many photography students have, and many more will.

A new DSLR, in the 2020s? Yes, while other firms move away from the DSLR and plant their flags in the mirrorless camp, Pentax is sticking with what it knows and producing solid, rugged, back-to-basics DSLRs. The Pentax KF is a fairly minor refresh of the K-70, and its weatherproof build makes it an excellent choice if you plan to take your photography out into the rain, wind and snow. It also benefits from Pentax’s SR (Shake Reduction) stabilisation system.

The selection of Pentax K-mount lenses to go with the camera features many similarly weatherproofed optics. It’s not quite as comprehensive or advanced as the ranges for Canon or Nikon DSLRs, but there is still plenty of choice there. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t the best choice if you want to shoot lots of video as well as stills. It captures Full HD, but you can get more for your money elsewhere.

Best Bridge Camera for Beginners

Bridge cameras are enduringly popular among beginner photographers in a range of disciplines because they’re designed to be an all-in-one package. Though most bridge cameras look like DSLRs at first glance, the key difference is that the lens on the front is fixed and cannot be swapped out for another. The key thing though, and one of the key criteria for bridge cameras, is the fact that the lens normally offers a very big zoom range. Optical zooms of 24x or more are common, and in the case of some cameras we see incredible 125x optical zoom lenses.

Bridge cameras come with trade-offs, naturally. They have smaller sensors than interchangeable-lens cameras, which affect overall image quality and means they won’t cope as well in low light. Control is often also more restricted, and you have no way to use an aperture that’s wider than the one on the box – in all respects, when it comes to bridge cameras, what you see is what you get. However, given that bridge cameras are easy to use, affordable, and provide the kind of telephoto reach that would cost a bundle on an interchangeable-lens system, there’s still a lot to tempt the beginner photographer.

The lens construction features 14 elements in 12 groups, including aspherical lenses and extra-low dispersion elements to correct aberrations and distortion. Video-wise, the Lumix FZ82D also impresses; like all modern Lumix cameras, it’s capable of shooting great-looking 4K, and also comes equipped with useful 4K Photo modes. These allow you to extract a high-quality still from 4K footage, effectively giving you a 30fps burst rate.

An ultra-cheap bridge camera from the Kodak PixPro range, the AZ255 is a great buy for beginners who don’t have a huge budget but still want a capable, versatile camera. With a 25x optical zoom lens and optical image stabilisation, it’s a solid choice for day-to-day handheld shooting, and it’s equipped with 22 scene modes that allow you to tailor the look of your images for different situations. 

The light weight and compact build of the Kodak Pixpro AZ255 means it works well for travel, despite that big zoom lens. It’s powered by four AA batteries rather than a rechargeable Li-Ion, and it’s rated to get at least 300 shots or 120 minutes of video out of a full charge. And on the subject of video, the Pixpro AZ255 captures 1080p Full HD, which can be activated with the touch of a single button. It’s not as sophisticated as the Lumix FZ82D, but it’s a good deal more affordable and can still capture great images.

Best Budget Camera for Beginners

The advent of the smartphone has meant there are fewer cheap cameras around these days. Given that we all have a camera in our pocket, the need for ultra-cheap point-and-shoots has diminished. However, there are still plenty of excellent beginner cameras out there that can be picked up for a bargain price, and it’s these we’re focusing on in the last section of our guide.

When shopping for cheap cameras, a good trick is to look for older models. Rather than focusing on the latest tech and features, go back a couple of generations and you can generally find significant discounts on cameras – and chances are good that, as a beginner, you don’t really need the latest tech anyway. While the cameras we’ve recommended here can be bought new, we’d also encourage any novice photographer to check out our ever-changing selection of used camera gear, as this can be an excellent way to snag yourself a deal.

The Lumix G7 was considered a mid-range camera on release, but these days its price and spec make it more than well-suited to beginner photographers. And vloggers for that matter – it’s got great video cred, with the ability to capture fantastic-looking 4K footage, and even finds room for a mic socket, meaning you can plug in one of the best microphones and drastically improve the quality of your audio. In a similar vein, we also like the fact that it’s got a vari-angle touchscreen, making it much easier to shoot video from all sorts of different angles. 

The 16MP resolution is on the low side, especially now, but it’s still serviceable and more than enough to get started. It’s a relatively light camera, too, weighing in at just 410g, and with a huge range of lightweight Micro Four Thirds lenses at your fingertips, you should have an easy time crafting a travel-friendly setup around the Lumix G7. 

If you’re looking for an affordable point-and-shoot to get started with photography, the AgfaPhoto Realishot DC9200 is an excellent first port of call. Hugely affordable, this camera sports a clever little front-facing screen in addition to its rear screen, making it easy to capture group selfies and the like. With a 10x zoom it offers a decent level of shooting versatility, and there’s also a built-in flash if you need an extra boost in low light.

This is a pretty simple camera, designed for operability and ease of use over pristine image quality. If you just need a beginner-friendly camera that works and works well without costing the earth, the AgfaPhoto Realishot DC9200 is definitely one to consider. It even supports 4K video, adding another string to your bow.

If you’re looking to get started with vlogging on a budget, we can unhesitatingly recommend the Sony ZV-E10. A mirrorless camera that’s specifically optimised for vlogging, the ZV-E10 delivers crisp, great-looking 4K video, and its built-in capsule mics provide in-camera audio that’s a cut above the average (though of course, you can plug in an external mic if so desired). You can even use it for live-streaming via the USB-C connection.

Sony’s E-mount has been going for a long time, so there are plenty of good, affordable lenses to choose from if you feel you want to upgrade from the 16-50mm lens that it comes bundled with. Also, while the ZV-E10 is a vlogging specialist, it still captures great photos and can definitely be used as a stills camera — ideal for those who dabble in hybrid shooters. Photographers who prefer to shoot with a viewfinder should be aware that there isn’t one here, however.

With the price having come down since the release of the successor camera, the Sony ZV-E10 II, the original Sony ZV-E10 is a great-value buy.

Cameras

FAQs

What is the difference between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera?

DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) and mirrorless cameras both offer interchangeable lenses but differ in their design. DSLRs use a mirror to reflect light into an optical viewfinder, while mirrorless cameras have no mirror, relying on an electronic viewfinder or the rear LCD. Mirrorless cameras are typically more compact and have faster autofocus, while DSLRs often have better battery life and a broader lens selection.

What are megapixels, and do they matter?

Megapixels refer to the resolution of a camera sensor, indicating how many million pixels it can capture. While higher megapixel counts can provide more detail, for most beginners, anything above 12-16 megapixels is sufficient for everyday photography. Other factors like sensor size and lens quality play a significant role in overall image quality.

What is image stabilisation, and why is it important?

Image stabilisation compensates for camera shake, resulting in sharper images and smoother videos. It's crucial, especially in low-light situations or when using telephoto lenses. There are two main types: optical stabilisation within the lens and sensor-shift stabilisation built into the camera body.

What does "ISO" mean and how does it affect my photos?

ISO measures the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. Higher ISO values (e.g., ISO 1600) allow for better performance in low-light conditions but can introduce digital noise, affecting image quality. Beginners should aim for lower ISO values (e.g., ISO 100-400) in well-lit environments to minimise noise.

Which lens should I choose for different types of photography?

The best lens for photography depends on the subject and your shooting style. For beginners, a versatile "kit lens" with a moderate zoom range is an excellent starting point. For portraits, a prime lens with a wide aperture (e.g. f1.8) creates beautiful background blur. Landscape photographers often prefer wide-angle lenses, while telephoto lenses are ideal for wildlife and sports photography.

What are the essential camera settings for beginners?

Beginners should focus on mastering the exposure triangle: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Aperture controls depth of field, shutter speed affects motion blur, and ISO adjusts sensitivity to light. Shoot in auto or semi-auto modes initially, gradually transitioning to manual mode as you gain confidence and skill.

What accessories are essential for photographers?

Apart from the camera and lens, essential accessories include a sturdy tripod for stability, extra memory cards and batteries, a camera bag for protection, and lens filters (e.g., UV or polariser) to enhance image quality and protect the lens.

How can I transfer photos from my camera to a computer or smartphone?

There are several ways to transfer photos: using a USB cable to connect the camera to your computer, removing the memory card and using a card reader, or using wireless transfer options such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which many modern cameras offer. Some camera manufacturers also provide dedicated apps for seamless smartphone connectivity.