If you are looking for the best cheap cameras for instagram you have come to the right place.
Instagram is HOT right now and everyone wants to show off their location or show off their perfect shot.
But with so many different camera options out there and so many to choose from which is the best for instagram.
The quick answer is any camera. Your Phone works as well. But you probably want to get professional photography quality shots don’t you?
If so, then don’t worry we have compiled a list of some of the best budget cameras for you.
Not only will you look like a PRO when using these cameras but they are considered to be on the cheaper side and make great starter cameras as well.
Best Cheap Cameras List
I won’t go on and on and keep you waiting. Here is the list to what we feel is considered the best cheap cameras for instagram.
Sony Alpha a5100 Mirrorless Camera
GoPro Hero 6
Canon SL2
PANASONIC LUMIX G7 4K Mirrorless Camera
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GM1
Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Nikon COOLPIX A300
Canon Rebel T7i
Panasonic LUMIX DC-ZS70
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
Sony Alpha a5100 Mirrorless Camera
Wow what an incredible camera! I am a canon fanboy but I need to admit this sony camera is pretty tight.
It has ultra-fast auto focus with 179 AF points and 6FPS. Not bad sony…not bad at all!
24MP APS-C sensor and of course instant sharing via smartphone to get your shots up on instagram as quickly as possible.
Also it records video in 1080p 60fps for those smooth buttery slow motion shots. I Aboslutely love it!
It is a mirrorless camera so it is way more compact than a DSLR so that is a plus as well for some who are going for that ultra compact feel.
So what are some things to consider with this camera that could make or break the deal?
Well for starters, there is no in-body stabilization so keep that in mind. The built-in flash is pretty bad but who uses built-in flash nowadays anyway right?
Also take into consideration that it may take a lot of button presses and menu digging to adjust settings. However, other than that. I would highly recommend this camera.
For the price and quality it’s a must have.
GoPro Hero 6
Ah! The GoPro Hero 6. You either hate it or you love it. I for one, love it. Waterproof, durable, 4k, 1080p 240fps..
Wow. What more can you ask for. I love the outdoors and do a lot of waterfall hikes and beach shots.
If I want to jump in the water, then this bad boy is coming in with me! I must admit. I hear a lot of negative reviews on the GoPro Hero 6 but I simply can’t find out why people hate it so much.
As long as you understand photography and know how to setup your camera properly it makes a big difference.
A lot of people expect it to be immaculate out of the box but know how to set proper settings will make or break your image and video.
There are a lot of tutorials to get amazing settings with the gopro hero 6 and we will cover it here on g-fx.net so keep a lookout for it.
With the right settings the hero 6 simply shines!
People mainly pick this camera up for the video but simply forget that it takes amazing photos as well.
As far as cons go, for me I guess it would be that you can’t change to narrow view unlike the hero 5.
The narrowest close up shot you’ll get is linear shot which is what I mainly keep my hero 6 at.
Also maybe that the screen is so small but that’s what it’s meant to be small and compact action camera so I guess I can’t really consider that a con.
However, for the price…you simply can’t go wrong and like I said, with the right settings this thing will shine.
Canon SL2
My absolutely favorite and go to camera right now. For the price, I can’t stress how much I love this camera. So let’s take a look at the build quality.
First thing you’ll notice is this is a tiny compact DSLR. In fact it’s one of the world’s smallest DSLR’s and you can really feel it when you pick it up.
The micro four third cameras are really getting popular nowadays and cameras are getting more compact and smaller.
However, if you looking for a traditional shape of a canon DSLR then the SL2 is as small as you’ll get which makes it an awesome travel camera.
Another feature I absolutely love is the articulating screen. I take a lot of long exposure shots and a lot of times I am running and gunning.
I’ll quickly bring out my tripod, setup my camera settings but not extend the legs of my tripod keeping it lower to the ground.
With the articulating screen, I am able to get those low landscape shots without crouching down.
And bending over to view the screen. I simply flip the screen upwards and boom. Oh, by the way..the it has a touchscreen as well.
The auto focus and burst rate is amazing. However, unlike the gopro hero 6. You wont be able to capture 4k video.
On the plus side, you can records in 1080p 60fps which is perfect for what I am trying to achieve.
I know not having 4k makes or breaks a deal for some so if you are looking for 4k capability then consider the gopro hero 6 or the lumix g7 which we will review next.
PANASONIC LUMIX G7 4K Mirrorless Camera
Wow! What a great camera. The panasonic G7 is the sixth camera in their G series and I have to admit, they nailed it with this one.
This camera comes in perfectly when it comes to performance, size and price.
Considered by most as a mid level camera but I feel it’s able to compete with the higher end models.
Unlike the Canon SL2 this has a 16 mp sensor so image quality won’t be as good as the canon sl2 but where it outshines is the 4k video recording.
If you are someone who absolutely need to shoot in 4k then this is probably your best bet as far as price goes.
So what about the cons? Not too much cons to be honest.
Beside the build materials being plastic there is also no in body stabilization. Other than that,
A highly recommend camera.
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GM1
This is a great little cheap camera for instagram. It has built-in wireless, 1080p video recording and a nice size touch screen.
Face detection focusing is great and it has 23 focus points. Also equipped is a nice timelapse recording feature and 3D shooting capability.
Also if you feel like using your smartphone as a remote, then go ahead and enjoy!
However, if you are looking for something with image stabilization then this is not the camera. You’ll need to keep that in mind.
It also does not come with a viewfinder. Some may find that not a big deal but for me. It is.
I love to shoot with the viewfinder. I don’t use a viewfinder all the time but I love having the option to do so.
Also has poor low light performance. However, for what it’s worth, it’s a great camera for instagram.
Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS is a nice little point and shoot compact camera.
Like everything out there. It has it’s pros and cons. But first, let’s focus on the pros.
The zoom capabilities are quite amazing in such a compact design. It produces nice sharp images and did I mention it was compact? 🙂
Don’t have to worry about the battery life. This thing holds a charge and it’s capable of charging through USB.
I love that you are able to transfer your photos to your cell phone wirelessly. So if you need a good cheap camera for instagram here it is.
Now for the dislikes. If you’re going for video then maybe this isn’t your best choice.
The auto focus isn’t the best, it tends to drift. There are no 4k shooting and it lacks high frame rate recording.
So if you want those buttery smooth slow motion shots, this camera won’t deliver that. The last dislike is there is no external mic option.
But overall, a great camera for beginners and people looking for good quality instagram images.
Nikon COOLPIX A300
If you’re looking for a cheap instagram camera then here it is. Talk about cheap! It’s not as great as some of the other cameras we mention but your wallet will sure thank you.
If you’re skeptical, don’t worry. I was too when I seen the price tag. I didn’t expect much from this little thing but after a few shots you’ll be impressed.
Some people might say that your smartphone will be able to take better shots than this camera but I disagree.
Play with the settings and take some shots…Seriously…
Although some of the newer smartphones might be able to compete you wouldn’t want to drain your phone battery to take good photos.
Canon Rebel T7i
If you’re not familiar with DSLR cameras then at first you may think that the Canon T7i is quite a large camera. In fact, it’s actually a smaller DSLR camera compared to others.
Because of the smaller size with the Canon T7i chances are you’ll be pulling this bad boy out to shoot more often.
This is great for both beginners and intermediate photographers looking to get quality shots without the $1000 price tag.
The buttons are located where it should be making it easy to find. One feature which I feel it lacks is that it is missing the mode dial.
This shouldn’t be a big deal just would have been great to have it added onto the camera.
The overall build quality is quite nice on the T7i.
And since it is on the smaller side for DSLR’s it makes it great for instagram since it’s compact enough and you won’t feel too uncomfortable when you need to take it out to shoot.
Panasonic LUMIX DC-ZS70
If you are looking for a really well designed compact camera with the ease of point and shoot then the Panasonic LUMIX DC-ZS70 is what you might be looking for.
A great thing about this camera is not only the compact size but also the ability to have manual control over your picture for more creative shots.
Even if you do decide to just use the automatic modes, you won’t be disappointed.
Another feature which you’ll love is the ability to shoot and store in RAW format.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Mirrorless Digital Camera is an incredible mirrorless camera.
Not only is it a great surprisingly sophisticated camera it is also very fun to use.
This is a perfect camera for a novice or anyone just snapping shots of your everyday life.
It also has a great and very enthusiast look to it. It will make feel and look like a professional for sure.
A compact profile with great control placements. It features an advanced 5-axis image stabilization system that ensures perfection with every shot!
