Best Camera Under 700 Dollars 2023 – Review and Buying Guide

So you are thinking of buying a new camera but you are on a tight budget? Well, there are a plethora of options to choose from regardless of your photography needs or budget. However, if you are looking to spend no more than 700 dollars, you might have an easy time finding the best camera.

In this article, we have a compiled a list of best cameras under 700 keeping in mind features like:

• Image sensor
• Autofocus
• Ease of use
• ISO range

Camera Under 700 – Comparison

Whether an advanced or just a beginner photographer, this guide is meant to help you make a confident purchase decision. Just take your time to go through this comparison table so you have an idea of what to expect.

1. Sony Alpha a600 Mirrorless Camera

Featuring interchangeable lenses along with E-mount system, the Sony Alpha a600 is popularly known for its versatility. Performance wise, the camera is capable of capturing up to 11 photos in just one second.

Also, it boasts a 24MP APS CMOS image sensor that allows you to capture images in stunning resolution and detail.

Further, the camera spots an ISO range between 100 and 25600 designed to ensure high-quality images in low light. In addition, it incorporates intuitive controls including customizable buttons so you can shoot like a pro.

Pros

• Image processor delivers true-to-life images
• Great Wi-Fi connectivity for ease of sharing
• Super-fast autofocus
• Compact and lightweight
• Electronic viewfinder with 14 million dots and 100% coverage

Cons

• Lots of buttons hence you need to spend time learning how each works

2. Nikon D7100 Digital SLR

One thing that makes this SLR camera stand out is its full-time autofocus coupled with 1080p FHD video resolution. These two features combined allow you to achieve incredible cinematic reproduction with every video you record.

Additionally, it boasts an ISO range of between 100 and 6400 so you can easily take quality shots in low light environments. Best of all, the Nikon D7100 permits wireless sharing of photos and videos using WU-1a adapter.

Under the hood, it features a 24.1MP CMOS sensor that results in the sharpest images without the need of an optical low-pass filter.

Pros

• High-speed shooting 
• Produces amazing pictures with excellent color depth
• Quick and precise autofocus
• Can be controlled remotely via smartphone
• Includes dual SD card slots 

Cons

• Average battery life

3. Canon EOS T5 Rebel SLR Camera

This T5 model from Canon is a great SLR especially for novice photographers out there. The camera produces stunning images and videos in high-resolution thanks to its 18MP image sensor.

Apart from its powerful CMOS sensor, it also spots ISO range of between 100 and 6400. This makes it easy for anyone to take shots that are nothing short of amazing in less-than-perfect lighting conditions.

What’s more? It employs a 3-inch TFT color LCD for ease of viewing and sharing photos. And you what the best part is? Well, the camera spots EOS full HD 1080p movie mode to provide you with brilliant results.

Pros

• Lightweight construction
• Shoots continuously up to 3fps
• Great battery life
• Easy to use with intuitive settings
• Feels ergonomic

Cons

• Lacks a mic jack

Also read: 5 Best Camera Under 600 Dollars & Top 10 Best PeepHole Camera Models Plus Handy Buying Tips

4. PANASONIC LUMIX ZS100 Camera

Similar to most point-and-shoot cameras from Panasonic brand, the ZS100 is all about versatility. Its lens-mounted ring offers a unique level of control not commonly found in the point-and-shoot realm.

Additionally, the camera spots a 5-axis correction function to completely suppress any blurring resulting from unwanted handheld shaking.

Boasting 4K video and photo feature, the PANASONIC LUMIX ZS100 lets you capture high-resolution videos and at fast 30fps. Similarly, it includes a one-inch sensor spotting 20MP for more colorful and brighter images, especially in low light.

Pros

• Integrates noise reduction feature for enhanced sensitivity
• The LCD screen is touch enabled
• Great visibility under harsh sunlight
• High-performance 10x zoom lens
• Supports Wi-Fi connections for remote controllability

Cons

• Lens quality is questionable

5. Nikon D5300 SLR Digital Camera

With a 24.2MP CMOS sensor, the Nikon D5300 is able to capture images in incredible clarity and detail than you can imagine. It also delivers HD videos that truer to life and with an outstanding cinematic look.

You know what else? It features a Vari-angle screen that swivels 180-degrees to help you take shots from new and exciting angles. And thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity, you can share your photos or post them on social networks.

But wait there is more. The Nikon D5300 boasts 100 – 12800 ISO range that can be expanded up to 25600 for better performance.

Pros

• Intuitive menu
• Feels solid and well built
• Stereo microphone for high-quality sound 
• Lightweight with a comfortable grip
• Delivers outstanding views from all angles

Cons

• Multi-controller is quite noisy

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A Simple Guide to Important Camera Terms

Any time you talk about cameras, there are specific terms that, if you use them, everyone around you would conclude that you are a pro in the sector.

So, let’s take you through our brief guide that would leave everyone rating you higher than before.

ISO

This term refers to the sensitivity of the camera sensors. In simpler words, the ISO setting determines how dark or bright your photos would be.

Therefore, the higher the ISO, the brighter your photos would be. This setting is crucial in helping you capture pictures in poorly lit conditions.

Aperture

This is one of the most common terms that you will come across while discussing cameras. This is the opening of the lens that allows light to flow in.

Bigger apertures translate to more light and, therefore, brighter images.

It is measured in f-stops where the small numbers are an indication of large openings and vice versa.

Focal Length

This refers to the point where light converges plus the distance between this point and the sensor. A higher focal length means a narrower angle with more zoom, and vice versa.

This length is represented in millimeters.

Image Stabilization (IS)

This refers to the methods that would ensure you end up with the sharpest images. These techniques may part of the camera or through complex systems.

IS is particularly useful when you are unable to hold the camera steady as you take your photos. You should also find it handy in low light conditions.

Megapixels

The first point to note is that 1MP equals one million pixels. A pixel refers to a small square that fits with other similar squares to give you a full image. The more the pixels, the clearer the picture should be.

So, the more the megapixels, the clearer the images should be.

This is a vital aspect as it determines the quality of images that you would end up with.

Noise 

This refers to the visual distortions that may be present in an image. They appear in the form of tiny speckles on the photo, and sometimes they may lead to your photo looking older than it is.

Factors that result in noise in images include poor lighting, long exposures, or high ISO settings.

Compact Cameras

These mostly include the easy-to-use cameras packed with automatic functions to make things easier for you. These functions include autofocus as well as systems for setting the flash or exposure.

DSLR Camera

This refers to a digital single-lens reflex camera, and it uses either a prism or a series of mirrors to reflect the light that comes from the lens up into an optical viewfinder.

Mirrorless Camera

As you may have guessed from the name, this is a camera that uses different lenses but has no mirror to reflect the image into the viewfinder.

Instead, it relies on advanced sensor technology plus other bonus features to get things done.

They are available in different price ranges, from budget to the pricier options.

RAW

The last term on our list refers to the file format, which captures the image data recorded by the sensor as you take a photo.

This format is highly preferred since it allows the photographer to make adjustments later on.

The Buying Guide For Camera Under 700 Dollars

With so many camera options under 700 to choose from, here are a few things to consider to ensure you find the best one:

Autofocus

The quality of the camera’s autofocus system is one of the things to look out for. Usually, the best camera needs to focus quickly and accurately so you don’t miss out on important moments.

Video Recording

For under 700, you should not purchase a camera with less than full HD 1080p video recording feature. But for more quality videos, cameras offering 4K video recording are the best.

Frames Per Second

This is simply a measure of the number of photos a camera is capable of taking per second. Therefore, if you like shooting fast action scenes like sports, a higher fps is what you need. However, if you are just an enthusiast photographer, a camera with three to five fps is perfect.

Image Sensor

When it comes to the image sensor, you should consider the number of megapixels it has. Most cameras in this price range have between 18MP to 24MP. But for better quality shots, the higher the megapixels count the better.

Which is Best For You?

Among all the camera options in this guide, in our opinion, the Sony Alpha a600 Mirrorless Camera is arguably the best. This is for the fact that it caters to the needs of a wider audience compared to the rest of the models. Moreover, it has a higher count of megapixels and shoots a lot of photos in just a single second.

Final Thoughts

With the above camera options, you don’t have to settle for any dark and blurred shots. All the cameras have what it takes to deliver unmatched performance. So, we hope that the guide helps you find the right camera for your needs.