top of page

Do you want to be able to take pictures of the things you want to remember forever, but don’t have the money or the budget to invest in an over the top camera? Then you’re probably like me, trying to find those great deals out there for a camera which can perform all of your needs without having to lighten up your wallet in the process. Let’s face it, you could easily go online or to the electronics store in town and grab a cheap camera let claims it can take better than life pictures for close to nothing. You could, but why spend your money on something that probably won’t live up to your expectations, all while getting closer to breaking or not working, having you repeat that process all over again? Here, I will review 5 great cameras that are able to get the job done, while in the meantime, are able to keep more of you money in your hands.

Top 5 cheap Cameras

By Mason Doyle

1) Nikon Coolpix s3300

This camera really kicks off the race of saving you money while allowing you to take great pictures. The Nikon Coolpix s3300 is a 16 megapixel camera which has an excellent image sensor with a 2.7 inch LCD screen with an easy to use button/control set as well as an optical 6x zoom lens. The first thing you will notice about this camera aside its listing price of $99.00 is its slim body and flush layout of its buttons and optical zoom lens. This type of design allows for easy storage, quick handling, and stylish look without having to give up functional abilities such as user friendly buttons and a higher grade lens. As far as the lens goes on this camera, you couldn’t ask for anything better than a 6x zoom glass optical lens. This allows for a finer image as well as greater quality when zooming in on something opposed to a plastic or acrylic digital zoom lens. Paired up with a lens like this, is an Expeed C2 image processing system, which puts out stunning image resolution and quality, truly showing off its 16 megapixel sensor with the pictures this camera is able to produce.

  • List Price: $99.00
  • Price: $89.95 
  • You Save: $9.05 (9%)
  • 27 new from $58.00
  • 13 used from $64.99
  • 5 refurbished from $69.10

The buttons and dials on this camera make it very user friendly allowing you to have full control of the settings and functions you apply to the pictures you take. With each button there is an easy to see and use selection of functions and filters on the large 2.7 inch LCD screen which you can scroll through and apply using the arrow direction pad. As well as taking great pictures, this camera also offers a spectacular 720p video recorder which allows you to take the full moments you experience back home with you. As if this wasn't enough for a camera like this, with this model and any other later versions, although the EyeFi card is sold separately, you are able to share all of your photos and videos wirelessly to your smartphone and computer. This is the Nikon Coolpix s3300, a great camera for an even better price, if interested in more details or cheaper prices, please click the link above to further review this digital camera.

2) Kodak EasyShare 1550

Here is a camera which offers a decent amount of features for a great image all for the reasonably low listing price of $89.95. This Kodak 1550 Easyshare is 5x optical zoom 16 megapixel camera with a large 3 inch LCD display all with Kodak’s own Smart Capture technology and social sharing features. To start off with, this camera has a very stylish and curved, yet slim designed body with straight forward, easy to use buttons while also offering its own Easy Share button. The easy share button is something that Kodak has introduced to many of its camera models; which allows you to tag and share your photos and videos on any social network all from the camera itself. This camera also offers a 5x optical zoom lens which puts out a more pristine image opposed to a digital zoom lens. Although it is only a 5x zoom, this allows you to zoom in without pushing the capabilities of the lens itself beyond its own working point.

  • List Price: $89.95
  • Price: $67.00
  • You Save: $22.95 (26%)
  • 9 new from $59.99
  • 5 used from $51.49
  • 1 refurbished from $49.99

For a camera of this price, it offers a surprisingly well off 2.3-type CCD sensor which combines with an optical zoom lens to take high quality images. Along with this sensor, the camera offers a wide array of functions such as heightened image detection, reduced blur and intelligent image processing software for memorable life like photos. This camera also offers settings for ISO control as well as white balance, which gives you better handling in altering how the camera views a scene, enhancing what you’re trying to capture. This is the Kodak 1550 Easyshare, a stellar camera for someone simply looking to save their memories without breaking into the rainy day fund. If you’re interested in more details or cheaper prices regarding this camera, please click the link above to further review this camera.

3) GE C1440W

Now here is a company which you usually wouldn’t see in the camera market, but has actually put out a camera for someone simply in need of just that. The General Imaging Digital Camera (GE C1440W) is a 14 megapixel 4x optical zoom digital camera with a 2.7 inch LCD screen.  With a name like this one, finding and owning a camera without knowing much about them couldn’t get any easier, as it is pretty straight forward here. Aside the simple name and low listing price of $69.99, this camera really offers everything anyone will need from a point and shoot. The button layout here is easy to read and use making it very user friendly for just about anyone who picks it up.

  • List Price: $69.99
  • Price: $49.00
  • You Save: $20.99 (30%)
  • 2 new from $49.00

This camera offers a wide angled 4x optical zoom lens so having this adds to getting a great picture for a low price. Included here is a 14 megapixel sensor so you’re able to save and take with you stunning images with good quality. As well as offering good quality photo taking, this camera offers an HD 720p video recorder to truly allow you to take those moments home with you. Functions such as smile and facial detection as well as red-eye reduction and anti-shaking controls all help in adding to a quality picture. This is the GE C1440W, a very low price camera which offers the basics in a camera which can put out great photos in the process. If you’re interested in more details or lower prices about this camera, please click the link above to further review it.

4)Olympus VG-160

With Olympus having a past of putting out amazing cameras, I’m not surprised that this one seems a bit under credited by the price set on it. The Olympus VG-160 is a 14 megapixel 5x optical zoom camera which offers HD video recording as well. This camera would be great for anyone who needs a camera without all the other fancy attachments or top notch features that you don’t necessarily need in a camera. The 14 mega pixel sensor allows for high definition images and when paired with a 5x Optical zoom lens, the images you save are crisp and make you feel as if you were there in person.  This camera also offers HD video taking which puts just another extra feature into this camera without the extra costs. I would suggest this as a straight forward camera you can use to take pictures without the hassle of complicated modes and actions, which you purely pick up, turn on, and shoot. This is the Olympus VG-160, a camera suited best for anyone who’s simply in need of just a camera, if you’re interested in more details or lower prices, please click the link above to further review it.

  • List Price: $89.99
  • Price: $79.00 
  • You Save: $10.99 (12%)
  • 11 new from $78.00
  • 4 used from $64.53

5)Canon EOS rebel T3 12.2MP

So if you don’t know, DSLR cameras are today’s newest craze in taking amazing, seemingly better than life pictures. With advanced, prominent lenses, more sophisticated sensors, and the introduction to the CMOS processing system with enhanced ISO settings and other functions; these all accumulate together for the beginning of professional grade photo taking. Now, with claims to such high of grade abilities, this is where these types of cameras (SLR/DSLR) begin to really take a toll on your wallet, with some reaching into the high thousands, even up to 5-figures. So, if you’re interested in taking this level of extraordinary photos, but have saving money on your mind, the Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP Digital SLR is where you should start your search.

Considered being an entry level DSLR camera, its comparable to a very nice, expensive grade digital point and shoot camera, but for less of the cost and more/better functions. Although the price of this camera isn’t necessarily cheap when compared to its digital camera counterparts, when you enter the world of DSLR grade photography, this camera is perfect for anyone starting off this journey. Many of these cameras do get rather expensive and complicated, but this Canon EOS rebel T3 offers all the luxuries of a DSLR camera for a surprisingly low price when compared to its relatives. If you are interested in more information or lower prices about this camera, please click the link above to further review and read up on it.

This camera is a 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor 10x optical zoom lens DSLR camera with a Digic 4 processing system and stunning image focusing and ISO balance. To start off with, this camera offers a great build with a conforming fit to the hand. This has a nice grip where the capture button is conveniently placed at the tip of your finger but isn’t as bulky as others, which gives your better control and handling. The button sets with a lot of these DSLR cameras can become rather confusing and complicated, and although this camera does offer a lot of viewable modes and function’s, as long as you know what the pictures stand for on the dials, this camera is relatively easy to use and adjust. Along with these newer features comes the introduction of interchangeable lenses ranging from everything between a wide angled video lens to a high definition portrait lens. This capability allows you to alter the camera itself to enhance the photos specifically to your needs. As far as the sensor and processer go, the 12.2 CMOS sensor completely revolutionizes how cameras read images as the amount of quality, precision, and resolution here is almost un paralleled by any other digital camera.

  • Price: $399.00 
  • 31 new
  • 59 used from $359.09
  • 26 refurbished from $348.00

Here was a very short list of the cameras I felt were pretty low priced which offered the features that these did, without being too under priced where you begin to forfeit quality for money. You're able to go anywhere and buy a cheap camera for anything between $10 and 50$, but that's where you really start to not only lose quality of the images themselves, but to lose quality of the camera as a device. Here i tried to find nice cameras that could get you what you wanted with quality, while helping you keep what you need, money. But don't be discouraged, there are countless other cameras which are both low priced with good features for you to find. If your interested in continuing that search, just click below

Here are other great, low priced camera offers:

bottom of page