Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
p.1 #1Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
Hi, I'm a beginner trying to get into the hobby. I don't have a huge budget (~$600) so I'm going to buy used and thought the Sony alpha 6xxx series looked pretty good.
I was saving up to buy a a6100, but I heard I should just save up more and get the a6400. I don't mind using the "kit lens"(?) because I'm not a professional and once I get one I don't plan on upgrading or getting anything else. Maybe I'll get an extra lens but that's way in the future. One of my friends suggested I get a "full frame" but that's way out of my budget.
I'm looking for something with:
- small form factor for travel
- view finder
- don't care about video capabilities
- something that works well in low light
I'm also new to this forum. How come nothing comes up when I search "a6100" in Keywords? Does nobody talk about these because they're old??
Any advice/discussions on where I should buy is also welcome.
Thanks in advance
I was saving up to buy a a6100, but I heard I should just save up more and get the a6400. I don't mind using the "kit lens"(?) because I'm not a professional and once I get one I don't plan on upgrading or getting anything else. Maybe I'll get an extra lens but that's way in the future. One of my friends suggested I get a "full frame" but that's way out of my budget.
I'm looking for something with:
- small form factor for travel
- view finder
- don't care about video capabilities
- something that works well in low light
I'm also new to this forum. How come nothing comes up when I search "a6100" in Keywords? Does nobody talk about these because they're old??
Any advice/discussions on where I should buy is also welcome.
Thanks in advance
Aug 24, 2026 at 01:42 PM
p.1 #2Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
I'm going to be different here. I assume you own a cell phone? If so, I would heartily suggest saving your money for now and use that camera more, learning how to compose and even edit jpegs from it. If you get into it further, you're going to want something a bit more robust and eventually will want to shoot in Raw. When that happens, you're going to want to edit more creatively and then you really need a separate program like Adobe's photo package -- which by itself runs a couple hundred bucks per year.
If OTOH you have to have a dedicated, ILCE camera, I would suggest a good used Sony 5100 with the 16-50 kit lens, which is probably right at your budget limit.
If OTOH you have to have a dedicated, ILCE camera, I would suggest a good used Sony 5100 with the 16-50 kit lens, which is probably right at your budget limit.
Aug 24, 2026 at 02:09 PM
p.1 #3Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
Welcome to the forum!!! I was looking at your location and it turns out you are fairly close. Since your close I did a quick scan of FB marketplace. There is a a6000 with kit lens in tolono for $450. I don't know the guy in Tolono, but he is mutual friends with people I do know. There is also a canon 6d for sale with 50/1.4 lens for $300 in urbana, I'm guessing a student.
I used to own a 6d, ultimately sold it because the focus wasn't as accurate as I wanted. But I think for a starter camera it would be a good choice. It looks like the a6000 needs a charger. For low light, the 6d with the fast prime is a no brainer. I'm not a huge fan of kit lenses so that would be another strike against the a6000.
If you get the Canon you might want to add something like an EF 24-105/4 in the future. I'd wait on that till something used at a good price comes up.
The forum archives posts every year or so. I imagine that is one reason you don't find much on a6100. A lot of people on the forum also tend to shoot very high end gear. For the lower end it seems like most people mention a6000 instead of a6100.
The 6D might be bigger than what you want for travel. If I want small for travel I bring a Canon G7xII that can travel on my belt in a small bag. I tend to like to use high end glass, even on aps-c I wouldn't consider it small for travel. So if I want small I grab the point and shoot, if I want high quality images I grab the a7Rv.
Steve
I used to own a 6d, ultimately sold it because the focus wasn't as accurate as I wanted. But I think for a starter camera it would be a good choice. It looks like the a6000 needs a charger. For low light, the 6d with the fast prime is a no brainer. I'm not a huge fan of kit lenses so that would be another strike against the a6000.
If you get the Canon you might want to add something like an EF 24-105/4 in the future. I'd wait on that till something used at a good price comes up.
The forum archives posts every year or so. I imagine that is one reason you don't find much on a6100. A lot of people on the forum also tend to shoot very high end gear. For the lower end it seems like most people mention a6000 instead of a6100.
The 6D might be bigger than what you want for travel. If I want small for travel I bring a Canon G7xII that can travel on my belt in a small bag. I tend to like to use high end glass, even on aps-c I wouldn't consider it small for travel. So if I want small I grab the point and shoot, if I want high quality images I grab the a7Rv.
Steve
Aug 24, 2026 at 02:26 PM
p.1 #4Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
The A6400 is a great camera with very good image quality. That would be a great place to start on a budget. There’s one here on the buy/sell pages from a trusted seller, currently listed for $620. He’s also got a couple nice lenses for sale too. https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1953611/
Aug 24, 2026 at 02:42 PM
p.1 #5Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
With that budget, I'd look at the EOS M50II and 15-45mm kit. It's as good as anything Sony produced before the 6500 and fits your other requirements. I'm seeing sub-$500 pricing on bay from well-reviewed sellers with return policies. The mount's dead, but Canon hasn't end of lifed support. Alternately, you could look at bridge cameras and fixed lens compacts.
Aug 24, 2026 at 04:11 PM
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p.1 #6Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
Go for used gears to save on money and spend more if you get more into the hobby. A cheap prime lens can teach you more on photography. Mainly because you can play with the aperture and blur. The kit lens is good for versatile zooms. Prime lens can also get you to be creative. Recommend either a 24, 35, or 50 f1.8
Oct 29, 2026 at 09:02 PM
p.1 #7Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
There are some buyer's guides and articles in the drop down menus at the top of the page. The A6100 was a reduced feature A6400. But if remembering right, the A6100 to A6600 had the same sensor but varying features. I'd suggest the A6400 over the A6100. I liked my A6400 but added both FF and an A6700 so it doesn't get used these days. Aside from not having IBIS, it's a competent smaller camera.
I would suggest for any of them, any brand, to get some hands on time. You want one you like using, the fit and feel works for you.
I would suggest for any of them, any brand, to get some hands on time. You want one you like using, the fit and feel works for you.
Oct 29, 2026 at 09:29 PM
p.1 #8Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
What do you enjoy shooting?
If no sports, I really would suggest a Nikon R used and a 45 or 50mm prime
You probably could score a d810 and 50 1.8g. Or canon 5D mark II and 50mm could be got for about 300-350.
This would be excellent to learn and practice.
Start here learn photography and your gear.
I know it’s not small but the bang for the buck is huge.
If no sports, I really would suggest a Nikon R used and a 45 or 50mm prime
You probably could score a d810 and 50 1.8g. Or canon 5D mark II and 50mm could be got for about 300-350.
This would be excellent to learn and practice.
Start here learn photography and your gear.
I know it’s not small but the bang for the buck is huge.
Oct 30, 2026 at 05:13 AM
p.1 #9Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
advtime720 wrote:
Hi, I'm a beginner trying to get into the hobby. I don't have a huge budget (~$600) so I'm going to buy used and thought the Sony alpha 6xxx series looked pretty good.
I was saving up to buy a a6100, but I heard I should just save up more and get the a6400. I don't mind using the "kit lens"(?) because I'm not a professional and once I get one I don't plan on upgrading or getting anything else. Maybe I'll get an extra lens but that's way in the future. One of my friends suggested I get a...Show more →
I think you are on the right track. You’ll get all sorts of advice on what to start with (ranging from just use your cell phone to buy some expensive, high-end camera), but I’ve seen a lot of people start with a smaller APS-C camera with a basic lens (preferably an inexpensive zoom) or two.
I’m betting that you aspire to something beyond cell phone photography and you’d like to have a “real camera,” right? These smaller, less expensive cameras give you that kind of system, and are a fine way to learn more about photography, gain some experience, and start to understand just how far you may want to go with this.
Some will tell you that you need a better, more expensive camera at first so that you don’t have to buy another camera again right away as you exceed the capabilities of the intro camera. But I think that misunderstands what typically happens with new photographers. To simplicity, here are three scenarios that I’ve seen over and over:
1. You get this fine starter camera with a kit lens and maybe another lens at some point. You work with it, find it meets your needs, and it becomes your regular camera.
2. You use this camera for a while, explore your interest in photography, and ultimately decide that you really don’t need this kind of camera and that, perhaps, you prefer your smartphone. That’s OK, too.
3. You use this camera, become more and more intrigued by photography, and start to develop not only your abilities but also begin to develop a particular focus, perhaps portraits, travel photography, landscapes, wildlife, or any number of photographic niches. You start to realize that you want gear that is more expensive and perhaps more specialized. Based on your experience with this first camera you are now a much wiser shopper and you have a better idea of specifically what you want.
I’m not necessarily saying that these specific camera models would be the only or even the best options for everyone — some people borrow an old camera from a friend or family member, some start with something at a slightly lower or higher level, etc. But I think you are on the right track.
Good luck!
Hi, I'm a beginner trying to get into the hobby. I don't have a huge budget (~$600) so I'm going to buy used and thought the Sony alpha 6xxx series looked pretty good.
I was saving up to buy a a6100, but I heard I should just save up more and get the a6400. I don't mind using the "kit lens"(?) because I'm not a professional and once I get one I don't plan on upgrading or getting anything else. Maybe I'll get an extra lens but that's way in the future. One of my friends suggested I get a...Show more →
I think you are on the right track. You’ll get all sorts of advice on what to start with (ranging from just use your cell phone to buy some expensive, high-end camera), but I’ve seen a lot of people start with a smaller APS-C camera with a basic lens (preferably an inexpensive zoom) or two.
I’m betting that you aspire to something beyond cell phone photography and you’d like to have a “real camera,” right? These smaller, less expensive cameras give you that kind of system, and are a fine way to learn more about photography, gain some experience, and start to understand just how far you may want to go with this.
Some will tell you that you need a better, more expensive camera at first so that you don’t have to buy another camera again right away as you exceed the capabilities of the intro camera. But I think that misunderstands what typically happens with new photographers. To simplicity, here are three scenarios that I’ve seen over and over:
1. You get this fine starter camera with a kit lens and maybe another lens at some point. You work with it, find it meets your needs, and it becomes your regular camera.
2. You use this camera for a while, explore your interest in photography, and ultimately decide that you really don’t need this kind of camera and that, perhaps, you prefer your smartphone. That’s OK, too.
3. You use this camera, become more and more intrigued by photography, and start to develop not only your abilities but also begin to develop a particular focus, perhaps portraits, travel photography, landscapes, wildlife, or any number of photographic niches. You start to realize that you want gear that is more expensive and perhaps more specialized. Based on your experience with this first camera you are now a much wiser shopper and you have a better idea of specifically what you want.
I’m not necessarily saying that these specific camera models would be the only or even the best options for everyone — some people borrow an old camera from a friend or family member, some start with something at a slightly lower or higher level, etc. But I think you are on the right track.
Good luck!
Oct 30, 2026 at 08:21 AM
p.1 #10Asking for advice - budget camera for beginners?
The A6xxxx series would be a good starting point into a strong system. The A6000 was already quite good, further improvements were mainly better AF and beefier bodys with bigger gripsband heavier. Same specs as A6000 but no viewfinder would be the A5100. In your price range a A6300 with 18-135 OSS would be great but not bright. For low light you could ad a Sony 50/1.8E or a f/1.7 Viltrox.
Oct 30, 2026 at 10:14 AM