Features

7 Feature-Rich Cameras That You Won’t Believe Cost Less Than $1,000

Brett Day
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02/14/2020
5 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Canon M6 Mk II product images

Last Updated on 02/14/2020 by Mark Beckenbach

$1,000 can get you some pretty incredible cameras that will delight whoever uses them.

We remember when $1,000 would barely get your hands on a half-decent camera. Even when you did get one, they were stripped-down models that rarely had any cool features (those features were reserved for photographers with fat wallets). Fast forward to today, and for under a grand, you can get feature-rich cameras that give even the big boys a run for their money. After the break, we will take a quick look at seven feature-rich cameras that cost less than $1,000 each and set the standard in terms of features and specs for ‘entry-level’ cameras.

All these feature-rich cameras, which cost less than a grand each, put cameras that used to be this category not too long ago to shame. The Mirrorless marvels suggested here feature incredible autofocus systems, terrific sensors capable of capturing an impressive amount of detail, and most feature eye detection to make portrait taking easy. To top it off, they are all built really well and some even have weather sealing. If you’re in the market for a camera that punches well above its weight and won’t break the bank, see the list below.

Fujifilm X-T30

mirrorless cameras

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Solid construction that we’ve come to expect and love about Fujifilm cameras
  • Compact
  • Lightweight
  • Almost everything that made the X-T3 such a hit

Cons

  • Lacks in-body image stabilization and weather sealing
  • Rear touchscreen only tilts up and down, unlike the X-T3 which also tilts to the right as well
  • Perhaps a tad too compact, particularly for photographers with larger hands
  • The new joystick is awkwardly placed on the rear of the camera body, making single-handed operation challenging and increases the risk of accidentally dropping the camera due to its diminutive size
  • Unremarkable battery life

Buy now: $799

Sony a6100

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Small and very light
  • Autofocus system is beyond fast
  • 11 frames per second burst mode and 425 AF points
  • Real-time Eye AF and Animal Eye AF
  • Great tracking capabilities
  • Very Good overall image quality
  • Decent battery life
  • Flip-up screen for selfies
  • The splash screens that tell new photographers what each mode does is a nice touch
  • It’s under $600!

Cons

  • The EVF and LCD are very low quality
  • No weather sealing: you’ll be seeing a lot of dust spots
  • The layout of the controls should be simplified
  • The menu system is still convoluted. Simplify, Sony! Simplify
  • You still cannot use the touchscreen to navigate the menus
  • Only 1/4000s max shutter speed
  • The camera desperately needs a shutter speed dial on the grip
  • Just one UHS-1 card slot
  • The camera slows down a lot when writing files to the SD card after a burst
  • A USB 2.0 port. What year is this? Come on Sony
  • No included dedicated charger, just a USB cable and a wall outlet brick that you use to charge the battery while in the camera
  • No image stabilization, but it cannot be expected at this price point (not really a con, just pointing out that it’s not there)

Buy now: $598

Olympus OMD EM5 Mark III

feature-rich cameras

Pros

  • Beautiful retro styling
  • Excellent image quality
  • Robust weather sealing
  • Reliable image stabilization
  • Accurate autofocus
  • Compact form factor
  • Built-in Live Composite and 50 MP High Resolution shooting modes are highly effective

Cons

  • Form factor can be too compact for some, particularly for photographers with larger hands or when mated with larger lenses
  • Plasticky build quality
  • Single UHS-II SD Card slot
  • Lacks dedicated joystick
  • Poor battery life
  • Convoluted menu systems
  • No major innovations after over four years

Buy now: $999

Pro Tip: Regardless of the price you pay for feature-rich cameras, you’ll want to protect your investments so they last a long time. There are several things we recommend you do. One would be to buy a bag to carry your camera in. Not sure which one to get? Check out our bag reviews. We also recommend to clean your camera regularly with a kit like this one, and that you keep some weather-proof covers with you just in case Mother Nature gets angry. Take care of your gear, and it will take care of you.

Sony a6400

feature-rich cameras

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Fast & accurate autofocus
  • Excellent image quality
  • 11 FPS continuous shooting with AF & AE tracking (mechanical shutter only)
  • Improved Real-time Eye AF
  • Real-time Tracking
  • Real-time Animal Eye AF
  • 4K video recording without 30-minute limit
  • Competitively priced

Cons

  • Lacks in-body image stabilization
  • External battery charger not included
  • Single SD card slot with support for only up to UHS-I speed cards
  • The rear screen flips up into where the hot shoe is located and becomes essentially useless if you’ve got any attachments mounted onto the camera

Buy now: $878

Canon EOS RP

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • This isn’t Canon innovating on the inside, but instead on the outside
  • The smallest and lightest ILC full-frame camera on the market
  • Goes well with a wrist strap and a light prime lens
  • Weather sealing
  • The autofocus isn’t bad, and it’s quite usable in a number of working conditions
  • Pretty good image quality

Cons

  • This camera is begging to be paired with a nice 50mm f1.8 lens.
  • Could have done better with a joystick
  • The competition from Sony charges around 1/3rd more of the price and offers more

Buy now: $999

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

feature-rich cameras

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Beautiful colors
  • The sound of the shutter will appeal to long-time photographers
  • It feels like a solid, impressive camera
  • Canon’s implementation of the Touch and Drag AF system is the best it’s ever been with the Canon EOS M6 Mk II
  • Pretty stellar battery life
  • You’ve got more megapickles than you need. U DONT NEED MOAR MEGAPICKLES!!!!

Cons

  • We really wish it was weather sealed
  • An integrated viewfinder would have put this over the top

Buy now: $849

Sony A7 MK II

feature-rich cameras

Here are the pros and cons from our full review:

Pros

  • Image stabilization is pretty effective
  • Improved grip, though there wasn’t much of a problem with the first
  • Improved battery life performance with the same batteries that every other Sony mirrorless camera uses
  • Better autofocusing than we’ve seen in previous versions: it acquires a subject faster than before

Cons

  • Slow startup time
  • Not a whole host of differences from the A7

Buy now: $998