4 Best Cameras under $300 for Freshers- Top Picks of 2021

Huzaifa AbdulRehman
4 min readSep 9, 2021
Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

Do you think buying a digital camera just for your regular photography is worth it? Some people think that it’s not due to more advanced and user-friendly smartphone cameras nowadays.

However, some people think it is, but why? Well, if you search the difference between both, you will realize that mainly smartphone cameras are good for mid-range photos. Whereas digital cameras are good for all purposes because you can control their settings manually.

So if you want to acquire some photography skills, then a basic level camera is a must for you. According to Statista, most photographers don’t use smartphone cameras for their work.

No doubt, the latest smartphone cameras are giving tuff competition to digital cameras. Therefore, digital camera companies are now selling budget-friendly cameras, which costs as low as 300 bucks.

Fortunately, after a lot of research, we found a list of the 5 Best Cameras under 300$ for freshers. Without further ado, let’s get straight into it.

Best Cameras Under $300 a Quick Review:

  1. Panasonic LUMIX FZ80K (Amazon’s Choice)
  2. Canon PowerShot ELPH 190- Best value for money
  3. Canon PowerShot SX530
  4. KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera (Amazon’s Choice)

1. Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 (Amazon’s Choice)

(Image Credit: Amazon)

LUMIX FZ80K’s 60x zoom range makes it perfect for travelers to capture far and wide photos with high resolution. You can even capture high-resolution moon photo, sounds awesome! You can extract and enjoy high-quality 4K images by capturing 4K video with super-fast 30 frames per second. This 4K video captures 4 times the resolution of the standard full HD.

Moreover, you can enjoy photography during nightlife due to its impressive low-light performance. The Focus Stacking feature allows you to select focus by your choice after capturing the photo.

Furthermore, its ergonomic grip offers you comfortable handling, and its high-resolution viewfinder works flawlessly even in sunlight. All these features are just under $300. Sounds great!

Features:

  • 18.1 megapixels and 60x Zoom
  • Optical image stabilizer
  • 3 inch Touch screen LCD
  • 4K video Capturing filmed at 30 fps
  • Capture photos in low light
  • Wi-Fi connectivity and USB Charging

Pros:

  • Great 4K video
  • Awesome zoom range
  • Fast FPS

Cons:

  • No focus ring

2. Canon PowerShot ELPH 190- Best Value for Money

(Image Credit: Amazon)

10x optical zoom allows you to capture stunning photos far off the moment with great details, even without flash. The battery works perfectly. You can take around 500 photos per charge.

At this price, it is the number one camera, which is user-friendly as well as compact. Its autofocus feature gives you the freedom to take pictures without worrying about the focus setting.

Moreover, the Wi-Fi feature allows transferring images to other devices without using an SD card or USB cable.

Features:

  • ZOOM: 10x optical zoom with optical image stabilization
  • CONNECTIVITY: Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC
  • RESOLUTION: 20.0 Megapixels with 720p HD video capability
  • FOCUS: TTL Autofocus

Pros:

  • Impressive battery life
  • Fair price
  • Compact design

Cons:

  • Take little time between two shots

3. Canon PowerShot SX530

(Image Credit: Amazon)

The 50x optical zoom provides you with the best shots from far away from the subject. Similarly, the zoom framing assist feature allows you to track your subject, which is its highlighted feature. With 16.0 megapixel high resolution, the image quality is so fantastic that you can capture the significant details of the moon.

Moreover, the optical image stabilizer captures the details of your far object. There is a creative shot mode that allows you to shoot full HDD movies. Equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, it is easy to transfer photos fastly and conveniently.

Features:

  • ZOOM: 50x optical zoom
  • CONNECTIVITY: Built-in Wi-Fi and Canon camera connect app2
  • RESOLUTION QUALITY: 16.0 Megapixels with full HD video at 30p.
  • Creative shot mode available

Pros:

  • Digital filters
  • Compact with Ultra zoom lens
  • DSLR like designing

Cons:

  • Lacks an electronic viewfinder.

4. KODAK Printomatic Digital Instant Print Camera

(Image Credit: Amazon)

If you’re looking for a camera that captures your photos and instantly prints them for you then KODAK Printomatic is best for you. Due to its compact design, you can take it with you all day anywhere.

Features:

  • Instantly print the photos
  • 5 Megapixels sensor
  • No ink cartridges are needed for printing
  • Compact design

Pros:

  • Print photos instantly
  • No ink cartridge needed
  • Fair price

Cons:

  • Not high-quality photos

Conclusion

I have selected these cameras from various categorize which best fits to your needs as a fresher.

If you desire a camera under $300 with most fascinating features and best results, go for Panasonic LUMIX FZ80. If you’re in search of a camera that is best value for money, don’t ignore Canon PowerShot ELPH 190.

In case you require something in between both of these, consider Canon PowerShot SX530. For instant printing your shots, check out KODAK Printomatic. Good Luck!

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Huzaifa AbdulRehman

Huzaifa is a freelance writer from Pakistan. He is also a student of International Relations.