The Best Cameras Under $1,000 of 2026

Borrowing most of its internal tech from the high-end Fujifilm X-T1, the X-T10 delivers excellent all-around image quality for the price. Though it's getting a bit long in the tooth and isn't a good choice for people who prize video quality, if you're just looking for an affordable way to step up your photography game, the X-T10 is worth checking out.

Sony's camera team has been on a tear in the past year and a half, quietly assembling one of the more enviable top-to-bottom lineups on the market. The full-frame mirrorless A7 series won the company a number of awards, but stellar values like the compact A6000 and traditional DSLRs like the A77 II are also strong bets. These are all on top of Sony's best-in-class point-and-shoots, including the RX10 and RX100 III.

Read our full review for more information on this great camera.

Canon's Rebel DSLRs have rightfully earned a reputation as easy-to-use, beginner-friendly cameras. Perhaps none deserves that accolade more than the Rebel SL1. It's also the most compact DSLR Canon has to offer, going toe to toe with mirrorless cameras in terms of size. For those looking to wade into the world of interchangeable lens cameras for the first time, the SL1 is a good starting point, even if there's better performance to be had elsewhere.

Nikon's most affordable DSLR holds its own in a sea of high-performance shooters, picking up where the well-received D3200 left off. With the D3300, you’re getting a lighter chassis, a 24.2-megapixel sensor with no anti-aliasing filter, and the new EXPEED 4 processor. If you've been waiting for an entry-level DSLR that checks all the boxes, it's tough to argue with what this camera has to offer.