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Best Digital Single-lens Reflex Cameras Under $500 For Travel Photography

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Best DSLR Camera Under $500 For Traveling Review

Everyone travels at some point in their life. If you’re like me, you will want to take as many photos as you can to keep those beautiful memories so one day when you look back, you can confidently say “I’ve been there!”.

Camera is one of the must-have travel accessories. When it comes to buying cameras for traveling, you need to look at 3 main things:

  • The first thing is that they need to be light and easy to pack and carry in your luggage.
  • The second thing is that they need to be user-friendly. You don’t want to spend hours trying to figure out how to use it while trying to capture a beautiful moment such as sunset on the beach.
  • The third thing is that they don’t need to be too expensive, just in case you’ll lose it or it gets stolen.

In this list below, I’m sharing my recommendation of what I think is the best DSLR camera under $500. I keep this list short and only suggest the ones which great value for your money. These ones will do the best job and you can simply get one today for your upcoming trip. These cameras are considered cheap compared to other fancy ones that you don’t really need. Don’t get me wrong, they still provide high quality images and make your friends jealous of you.

Editor’s List of Best Digital SLR Cameras Under $500 Reviews

#1. Nikon D3300 1532 18-55mm Zoom Lens 24.2 MP

Nikon D3300 1532 18-55mm Zoom Lens 24.2 MPThe Nikon D3300 is my favorite quality DSLR camera that suits a normal person’s pocket. The price for brand new ones varies from $440-$497. If you are looking for cheaper price, you can buy the used ones that look just like the new ones for less than $400. If you’re a beginner, this camera is especially for you because it has beginner-friendly guide mode and easy panorama mode.

Some features I love about this camera:

  • 24.2 MP CMOS DX-format sensor with 5 frames per second continuous shooting speed at full resolution
  • 11 AF points with 3D tracking
  • Able to capture HD videos (MPEG-4/H.264/MOV)
  • 3 inch LCD with 921,000 dots
  • You can use WU-1a Wireless Adapter and compatible smartphone or tablet to enable Wifi.
  • SD/SDHC/SDXC memory
  • Weigh 0.95 lbs

The image quality, easy-to-use interface and long battery life at an affordable price make this one the best choice on the list. There is a newer model of Nikon D3300 with some little improvements which is the Nikon D3400. Or you can also get the older version Nikon D3200 as well. This is also great for taking beautiful pictures if you want to check it out.

#2. Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera Kit with EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens

Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera Kit with EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens

The Canon EOS Rebel T5 is a great camera for all DSLR users, including beginner, intermediate and even advanced photographers. If you want to get your hands around the interchangeable lenses without breaking your bank account, the T5 should be in your collection.

Some features I love:

  • EF-S 18-55mm IS II standard zoom lens expands picture-taking possibilities
  • 18 megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor with DIGIC 4 image processor
  • EOS 1080p full HD movie mode helps you capture brilliant results
  • 3-inch LCD TFT color, liquid-crystal monitor for easy viewing and sharing
  • Weigh 1.06 lbs

Some other features including Scene Intelligent Auto mode, continuous shooting up to 3fps, built-in flash and creative filers make this a great shooter. A newer model of the T5 is the Canon EOS Rebel T6, with Built-in NFC connectivity  and Wi-Fi which make easy to share files to compatible smart devices. The T6 is about $50 more expensive than the T5. Both models are great but I still prefer the T5 because of its better price.

Why You Should Get a DSLR Camera

DSLR stands for Digital Single-lens Reflex, which you don’t really need to care what it means. Here are the benefits of DSLR which you need to know:

  • It Takes Faster Photos with Excellent Quality

DSLRs will find the subject quickly and offer fast ‘shutter speeds’ which enables you capture fast moving objects without getting blurry photos. At this price range, you get the best image quality and you can even improve the quality by using zoom lens that comes with the camera or different lenses if you want to buy extra.

  • It Gives You Flexibility When Taking Pictures

The best thing about it is that you can change lenses anytime you want. You can use a zoom lens to get closer to your target without moving your feet. You can use a wide-angle lens to fit more objects into your picture and other cool things such as using a lens with a lower ‘f’ number to sharpening your object of interest and blurring the background. You new world of photography will be opened up with a DSLR camera.

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