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Last updated: November 21, 2017
Good as your smartphone is, a dedicated camera will generally take better images. It doesn’t have to be complicated, though. Here we look at the beginner-friendly cameras that aim to make it easy to get better photos without necessarily having to learn about f-numbers and shutter speeds.
If you’re looking to continue learning about the craft and take increasing control over your camera, we’d point you in the direction of our Best Cameras for Students guide. If you just want your photos to look better, read on…
Our Pick: Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D)
The Rebel SL2 is a very lightweight, compact DSLR with excellent JPEG rendering and manual exposure controls when you're ready for them. It provides a few useful features that beginners will likely find useful, like a touchscreen and quick Dual Pixel autofocus in live view, and still offers the traditional (albeit small) optical viewfinder that its mirrorless peers lack.
You'll have plenty of options when you decide to add new lenses to your kit, but you'll already be well-equipped to get started with the kit lens. Finally, Canon's useful Feature Assistant beginner mode will ease you into the wide world of setting shutter speed and aperture.
We considered all of the cameras below when picking our winner, and even though we think the SL2 is the best all-rounder, the cameras on our short list are all worthy contenders. If you're not convinced by our pick, read through this buying guide for a detailed breakdown of each camera's strengths and weaknesses.
Also consider:
Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (EOS 200D)
24MP APS-C CMOS sensor | Dual Pixel AF | 1080/60p video capture
What we like:
- Excellent JPEG colors
- Dual Pixel AF offers quick focus speeds and good subject tracking
- Feature Assistant makes adjusting complex settings easy
What we don't:
- Poor subject tracking when using optical viewfinder
- JPEGs a bit soft at default settings
- Can't charge battery over USB
Being a small camera it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that the SL2 is a bit short on buttons and dials. They're all well-placed, though, and the grip is quite comfortable for those with larger hands. The camera's touchscreen LCD can flip to the side and rotate 270 degrees, and Canon has created an easy-to-use 'Feature Assistant' for those just getting started with a more advanced camera. Sharing photos is easy thanks to the combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Canon EOS Rebel SL2 is an easy-to-use camera for those who prefer the design and viewfinder of a DSLR, and don't want to haul around something that will cause shoulder pain.
How well the SL2's autofocus system performs depends on whether you're shooting through the viewfinder or the LCD. If using the viewfinder you're saddled with an old 9-point system, which handles approaching subjects well, but stumbles if they're moving erratically in the frame. The Dual Pixel AF system, used when in live view or video mode, is excellent, able to track both approaching and randomly moving subjects.The SL2 produces JPEGs with great color rendition and low amounts of noise. Images are a bit soft straight out of the camera, though some easy adjustments can remedy that. Raw files have low noise levels and plenty of detail, though its dynamic range is just fair.
The SL2's 1080p video quality is fine for most purposes, and Dual Pixel AF makes it really easy to use the touchscreen to focus. 4K would be nice, but Canon hasn't even made that jump on their mid-range DSLRs yet. The camera is light on manual controls, though it's nice to have audio level adjustment and the ability to use exposure compensation together with Auto ISO in manual mode.
Overall, the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 is an easy-to-use camera for those who prefer the design and viewfinder of a DSLR, and don't want to haul around something that will cause shoulder pain. It's a solid choice for most situations, from landscape to social photography, though if you're planning on shooting action through the viewfinder then you'll want to look elsewhere.
Canon EOS M100
24MP APS-C CMOS sensor | Dual Pixel AF | Flip-up touchscreen LCD
What we like:
- Excellent JPEG colors
- Dual Pixel AF offers quick focus speeds and good subject tracking
- Very compact, easy to use
- Good Wi-Fi implementation
What we don't:
- Lacks USB charging
- Autofocus can struggle in low light situations
- Limited native lens selection
The Canon EOS M100 is the company's entry-level mirrorless camera. Despite its low price, this EF-M-mount camera has a modern feature set, including Canon's well-established 24MP APS-C sensor and Dual Pixel autofocus system. It's clearly targeted toward the beginner crowd, with a simple interface and selfie-friendly touchscreen display.
The M100 weighs in at just 266 grams (9.4 oz) and fits in the palm of your hand (until you put a large lens on it, of course). There aren't a lot of buttons or dials, with Canon instead relying on the touchscreen to do the heavy lifting. Using the camera is super-easy thanks to the great full auto mode. A selfie feature lets you smooth skin and blur the background. Sharing photos is easy thanks to the combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The Canon EOS M100 is just plain fun to use
The EOS M100 uses the same Dual Pixel autofocus system as other modern Canon interchangeable lens cameras. We've found it to be responsive and able to track moving subjects quite well. Having a touchscreen makes locking onto a subject easy, and you can also use it to 'rack focus' while capturing video. The M100 can shoot bursts at up to 6.1 fps (or 4 fps with continuous AF, though tracking is sub-par). Battery life is rated at 295 shots per charge, which is average for a mirrorless camera.
Image quality is near indistinguishable to other Canon models with this sensor, which means JPEGs have great color rendition and low amounts of noise. We've found JPEGs to be bit soft straight out of the camera, though some easy adjustments can remedy that. Raw files have low noise levels and plenty of detail, though its dynamic range lags behind the best of the competition.
We think it's also a safe to say that video quality will be just fine for most purposes. 4K would be nice, but Canon hasn't even made that jump on its mid-range DSLRs yet. The camera is light on manual controls, though it's nice to have audio level adjustment and the ability to use exposure compensation together with Auto ISO in manual mode.
As we stated in our full review, we find the M100 just plain fun to use. It offers some of the best image quality you can get in a camera this size, and its simple interface makes it a smart choice in the budget category. Whether you're looking to get into photography with your first 'real' camera, or looking at the M100 (and the EF-M 22mm pancake) as a pocketable second camera, you won't be disappointed.
Nikon D3400
24MP APS-C CMOS Sensor | 5 fps continuous shooting | 1080/60p video
What we like:
- Class-leading low light image quality
- Raw files offer excellent dynamic range
- Bluetooth LE capability
What we don't:
- No built-in Wi-Fi (Bluetooth only)
- Single control dial
- Fixed LCD is not touch-sensitive
The Nikon D3400 is a 24MP entry-level DSLR which has changed very little compared with its predecessor. The D3400 also offers built-in, always-connected Bluetooth LE connectivity to (slowly) transfers images to a mobile device, but Wi-Fi isn't included in that package.
The D3400’s simplified interface will be familiar to any Nikon user, and should be easy to grasp for anyone stepping up from a point-and-shoot camera. The more experienced photographer may not love the amount of menu navigation and button pressing required to change settings, though, as the camera offers only one control dial. The D3400 has the same rather small optical viewfinder and 3" LCD screen found in the D3300.
As you'd hope for from an entry-level model, the D3400's JPEG output is good, with pleasant, punchy colors. As with most 'kit' lenses, the bundled AF-P 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 zoom doesn't always let you get the full benefit of the sensor's resolution. Shooting Raw gives you a lot more flexibility, with scope to pull detail out of the shadows and class-leading low noise levels at higher ISO settings.
What stands out about the Nikon D3400 is its extremely high resolution in such a small, lightweight and simple-to-use SLR design.
The autofocus system is limited by the same 11-point AF system found in the D3300 that offers very little frame coverage and only one central cross-type point. Using AF in live-view has seen an improvement over its predecessor, particularly during video capture, but only with the upgraded AF motors found in the AF-P lenses. Like all DSLRs in this class, the camera won't automatically focus on faces in viewfinder shooting. If framing your images on the LCD is your thing, the D3400's contrast-detect AF system still pales in comparison to comparably priced mirrorless cameras, though faces are automatically detected in live view.
The D3400 can record Full HD video at up to 60p. The detail and smooth frame rate yield a quality end-product and the new AF motors found in the kit lenses have eliminated the motor noise and focusing frustrations that made shooting video an ordeal in its predecessor. It's a good result for an entry-level camera not specifically aimed at video shooting.
What stands out about the Nikon D3400 is its combination of high resolution in a small, light, and simple-to-use SLR design. Its small size and weight make the D3400 a great choice as a family camera or travel companion. We give a slight edge to the SL2 with its superior Live View experience and flip-out LCD for our money, but the D3400 will suit a beginner who's inclined toward Nikon and prefers a slightly larger body with more substantial grip.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 III
16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor | 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder | 5-axis image stabilization
What we like:
- Good ergonomics, twin control dials
- 5-axis image stabilization
- Good 4K video capture
What we don't:
- Menu system can be overwhelming
- Continuous AF, particularly in bursts and video capture, lags behind competition
The Olympus OM-D E-M10 III is a 16MP Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera specifically designed for novice shooters looking to develop their photography skills. It features in-body image stabilization, which can be used while shooting 4K video.
The E-M10 III offers an unusual level of direct control with twin control dials, a couple of customizable buttons and one of the better touchscreen implementations. This latest model features a simplified, stripped-down menu system and an 'Advanced Photography' mode to give easier access to some of the camera's cleverer features.
The E-M10 III is a capable camera for both stills and video which offers an unusually large amount of room to grow into.
The camera's autofocus is great for single shots, focusing quickly and silently. However, while it can identify and track subjects pretty well, it can begin to struggle if you try to shoot bursts of images. Overall the camera is very responsive, though, especially in terms of responding to its touchscreen.
The camera shoots rather good 4K footage with the same great color response as in stills. Autofocus is too indecisive to depend on and there's no mic socket for capturing better audio, but the image stabilization makes it easy to get good-looking results.
The E-M10 III is a capable camera for both stills and video which offers an unusually large amount of room to grow into. While the E-M10 III isn't class-leading in any particular respect when it comes to performance, it's a very solid choice for a first-time ILC buyer looking to develop their photography.
Sony Alpha a5100
24.3MP APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor | Hybrid AF system | Tilting touchscreen LCD
What we like:
- 24MP APS-C sensor is one of the best in this class
- Very good AF, effective even in video
- Wi-Fi and NFC
What we don't:
- Only one control dial
- No in-camera Raw conversion
- Touch function of screen slightly limited
The Sony a5100 uses the same 24.3MP APS-C sensor and BIONZ X image processor as its big brother the Sony a6000. It's a touchscreen-based point-and-shoot alternative to the a6000, but offers the same fast and accurate autofocus, built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and a tilting LCD.
Physically, the a5100 is surprisingly lightweight in hand, not to mention very compact. That said, the grip is well-sized, and the camera is comfortable to hold. Again though, some seasoned shooters will find the lack of direct controls frustrating. The a5100's touch-sensitive LCD can be flipped up 180 degrees for selfies. It also has a ‘help’ button on the back of the camera to guide shooters, and includes a small pop-up flash.
It contains the same impressive AF system as the a6000, which we found to be class-leading when it comes to autofocus speed and accuracy.
The camera’s point-and-shoot nature shouldn't be taken to mean the a5100 isn't capable. It contains the same impressive AF system as the a6000, which we found to be class-leading when it comes to autofocus speed and accuracy. The AF system also takes advantage of the image sensor's ability to identify scene elements and does a good job of maintaining focus on its subject, whether that be a sports player or someone's face. That's true even in video, thanks to 179 on-sensor phase detect points.
Performance-wise, the a5100 can fire burst at up to 6 fps, which is fairly typical amongst its peers. Overall image quality is very good, both from JPEG and Raw output, though high ISO JPEGs suffer from aggressive noise reduction. Video quality is also good; the camera can capture 1080p/60/30/24 fps using the XAVC S codec and offers a built-in stereo mic.
For those who simply want an incredibly compact, lightweight camera that they can set and forget, the a5100 is a superb choice. It's not our first pick in the category as the camera's menus are somewhat confounding. Being a couple of generations old, however, means it's easy to find a deal, and its autofocus is still at the top of the class.
For those who simply want an incredibly compact, lightweight camera that they can set and forget, the a5100 is a superb choice. It's not our first pick in the category as the camera's menus are somewhat confounding. Being a couple of generations old, however, means it's easy to find a deal, and its autofocus is still at the top of the class.
