Best Sony Cameras Under $500
Nowadays, the camera market is growing rapidly. As per reports, the global value of the automotive camera market was 6.3 billion USD in 2019.
However, people often think about whether they should spend more on cameras. Spending a fortune isn’t necessary to get a good and decent Sony camera. We will discuss the 6 best Sony cameras under $500 for that reason.
Even at affordable rates, Sony cameras come with exceptional features. The fact is that a camera doesn’t have to be expensive to function incredibly. Even affordable cameras can capture high-quality pictures and have a compact body too.
You would be wondering how these cameras with exceptional features come at low prices. It’s simple! When newer models come, the price of the older models decreases eventually. Furthermore, these cameras already have good features.
To satisfy your budgeted requirements, we will discuss some of the best Sony cameras that come under 500$. Before moving on to the details, let’s look at the comparison table below.
| Product Name | Continuous shooting speed | Resolution | Item Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony a5100 Mirrorless Digital Camera | 6 fps | 24MP | 0.22 Kilograms |
| Sony RX100 Compact Digital Camera | 60fps | 20.2 MP | 8.5 ounces |
| Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Camera | 10 fps | 16.2 MP | 1.30 lbs |
| Sony (DSCW800) 20.1 MP Digital Camera | Not available | 5 MP | 4.48 ounces |
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 Camera | 10fps | 16.2 MP | 4.2 ounces |
| Sony DSCHX80/B Camera | 10fps | 18.2 megapixels | 1.15 lbs |
Now that you’ve taken a look at the table, we can discuss the Sony cameras under $500 in detail.
6 Best Sony Cameras Under $500 that You Can Get:
These cameras have excellent image quality, perform well and have value for money.
1. a5100 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Without compromising your budget, you can satisfy your photography wants with the Sony Alpha A5100. At $400, it comes with ultra-fast autofocus having 179 AF points. Furthermore, it can capture images at 6fps, which is good.
This camera can capture pictures of high quality with its 24mp APS-C sensor. What’s more, it even has compatibility with wifi and has instant sharing options. Hence, you can share pictures and videos via a smartphone with this camera.
You can record full HD 1080/24/60P up to 50MB/s. It has an innovative AF performance and a wide sensitivity range as well.
Features:-
- It comes with a wide sensitivity range similar to an AF sensor
- It comes with a 24.3 megapixels resolution
- It has instant sharing options via smartphone
- It has 179 AF points and a 6 fps capturing speed.
2. Sony RX100 Compact Digital Camera
Another exceptional camera by Sony that comes under $500 is the Sony RX100 Compact Digital Camera. It comes with a 20.2 MP Exmor CMOS sensor. It has lenses that are 28-100mm, equivalent to F/18-49 lenses.
It has a 3-inch LCD screen with 12M dots. This camera’s operating temperature is approximately 0-40 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, you can capture moments in 1080p resolution. This camera’s steady-shot image stabilization feature allows you to take exceptional features.
It also comes with a rear control dial and a customizable front control ring and you can capture burst shots with this camera at 10fps and videos at 30fps. It also has a bright F18 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens with a 36x zoom.
Features:-
- It has a 1” Exmor CMOS sensor that captures 20.3 MP
- It incorporates a bright F1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens
- Excellent controls for still shooting and videography
- It also has low-light ISO 6400 sensitivity
- You can click blur-free moments, even while walking through its optical SteadyShot features.
3. Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Camera
At $169.95, you can get this Cyber-Shot DSC-HX100V Camera by Sony, which allows you to take excellent pictures without any hassle.
It comes with a Vario Sonnar T 30x optical zoom so that you can click pictures with perfect zoom-in.
Furthermore, you can capture moments at 1080/60p through this camera, which means you will get high-quality pictures.
It includes a 16.9 MP Exmor R CMOS sensor so that you can get excellent performance even in low-light situations.
This camera has backlight correction features, and you can even capture details in difficult lighting through this Sony camera.
It’s budget-friendly and provides all the features you would require for your photoshoots, whether for recreational or professional purposes. It also has a 3.0-inch XtraFine LCD so that you can get more colors and deeper blacks in your pictures or videos.
It can record crystal clear videos at high resolution and has a high-speed linear focus.
Features:-
- It comes with superior auto mode for more dynamic and clear pictures
- It has digital zoom options to capture any moment effortlessly
- Its face-detection technology automatically distinguishes between adults and children
- It has a Gyro sensor that detects motion during a video shoot
- The sweep-multi-angle mode allows taking 15 images from different angles as it sweeps across the area
4. Sony (DSCW800) 20.1 MP Digital Camera
The Sony (DSCW800) Digital Camera is also one of the 6 best Sony cameras under $500, which comes at the rate of $173.94.
This camera has a Super HAD CCD sensor so that you can capture beautifully detailed pictures, whether you are taking portraits or candid pictures.
It also has a Sony lens w/5x optical zoom, which allows you to capture more details. Furthermore, its SteadyShot Image Stabilization allows you to take videos or pictures while moving and with less blur. You can even capture your videos in movie mode on this camera.
This camera allows you to capture 720p HD videos or pictures. The best part is it comes with a simplified camera menu with easy mode so that even beginners can enjoy the benefits of this camera without much complexity.
Features:-
- Its SteadyShot image stabilization for reduced blur in pictures/videos
- It’s easy to use due to easy mode
- It has a Super HAD CCD sensor that provides excellent details
- It automatically captures smiles due to the smile shutter technology
5. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX50 Camera
This classy black camera by Sony has a sleek look and provides excellent shots at an affordable rate, and you can get this digital camera for just 139.95 dollars. It allows you to take pictures or videos at 16.2 megapixels.
Furthermore, this Sony camera has 5X optical zoom, which allows you to capture anything in a detailed way. This is one of the 6 best Sony cameras under $500 and is perfect for recreational purposes.
Its back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor lets you take high resolution, fast speed, and stunning pictures or videos at low-light sensitivity.
Furthermore, you can take full HD 1080/60i videos in it. It has an optical SteadyShot feature with active mode so that you can get reduced blur when taking videos/pictures during motion.
It comes with 3D sweep panorama mode, and you can take 3D still images with it. Hence, take your pictures to a new dimension and capture the world differently.
It also has a superior auto mode to get more dynamic and clearer pictures without much hassle. With this camera, you can detect faces and smiles as well.
Features:-
- It has an Anti-blink function for blink-free images
- Its soft skin mode allows your face to appear better in pictures without editing
- It has a motion detection feature that adjusts the ISO and shutter speed settings as per the subject’s movements
- You can capture videos at up to 10fps speed
6. Sony DSCHX80/B Camera
With a price range that’s slightly higher than the cameras mentioned above here, the Sony DSCHX80/B Camera comes at $299.99.
It’s one of the 6 best Sony cameras under $500 that can be especially useful for professional photography.
Hence, if you wish to begin your professional journey with an affordable camera, this one is the best for you. It comes with a 30x optical and 60x clear image zoom with its ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens.
Furthermore, the Exmor R CMOS sensor lets you take detailed images even in low-light situations. It even has a built-in retractable OLED Tru-Finder viewfinder, allowing you to take better pictures/videos without the hassle.
It allows you to take versatile videos with high quality in different formats. It can even connect to your smartphone so that you can transfer videos or images with ease.
What’s more, its image stabilization option reduces the level of blur during photography. It has a selfie-ready 3” extra fine LCD multi-angle display, allowing you to use the images beautifully.
Features:-
- It has a wide focus range of 1.97” (5 cm)
- It comes with recall mode, customizable settings, a downloadable camera app, and adjustable angle features.
- It allows you to capture videos at a 10fps speed
- It also comes with a wriststrap
How to Select the Best Camera Under $500?
This guide contains the 6 best Sony cameras under $500. However, if that isn’t enough to help you choose the best one, you can look at this guide.
Of course, some cameras come under $100 as well. However, what matters is that you should buy a camera that takes pictures better than your smartphone.
Hence, we have discussed the best cameras by Sony that you can get under the price range of $500.
That doesn’t imply that you can randomly pick out any camera from the list. You have to focus and think about the factors that make a camera better suited for you. Hence, let’s discuss the factors that will help you select the right camera under $500.
Size of the camera
The size of a camera is also a crucial aspect. Hence, you can check the camera’s dimensions that you wish to buy. Most of the cameras’ dimensions are visible in the product description section.
You may want a camera that even fits in your jeans or handbag. It should be compact. However, if you want excellent battery life and ergonomics, you should go for larger cameras.
Camera’s Battery life
It depends on your requirements in terms of the camera’s battery life. If you are a traveler who won’t always have access to a charger or is going for a trip to the mountains, then longer battery life is crucial.
Otherwise, once your camera runs out of battery, you will be there without any means to capture your beautiful moments.
Brand of the Camera
If you want an affordable camera, that doesn’t mean that you can g for just any brand. Instead, you should look for one that you find reliable and trustworthy. In our case, we are discussing cameras by Sony.
However, you can also find other camera brands like Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm. I am not saying that any of these brands are superior to the other, but they are options for increased variety.
Autofocus speed
Are you going to capture moments in fast-moving action or for sports? If so, then the camera should have an image stabilization feature and better AF.
Some cameras are better compared to others in this list when it comes to image stabilization and AF.
The lens of the camera
Some cameras can capture 16 MP while others can be 22 MP. The higher the MP cameras can capture, the better it is. The shutter speed and ISO also mattresses when choosing the best camera. Hence, you should focus on all that if you want to buy the best camera.
Tip: Don’t worry about the release date of the camera model that you are choosing. Even if the camera we are looking to buy in 2022 was built in 2012, it doesn’t matter. You can get such cameras at affordable rates, even offering excellent features.
Editor’s Choice:
The best camera by Sony that you can under $500 is the Sony DSCHX80/B Camera. It comes only at $299.99 and works exceptionally. It’s perfect for professional use and comes with a 30x optical and 60 x clear image zoom.
Furthermore, it has a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens and Exmor R CMOS Sensor that allows you to get better and more detailed pictures without hassle. It has adjustable angle features and comes with a wrist strap as well.
This camera is compact and can capture videos up to 10fps. Furthermore, you can also connect it to your smartphone.
Conclusion
Everyone has a different idea of a budget camera. However, we hope that this guide with cameras of different price ranges under $500 shall help you select the best one for you.
Although the Sony DSCHX80/B Camera is our editor’s choice, all the other cameras of the 6 best cony cameras under $500 in our guide are good to go.
You can select the one that fulfills your requirements. Different cameras will be more suitable for different people. I hope this guide helps you out!
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