Buying the perfect camera to aptly serve your needs can often be a tricky affair. While many opt for the power of interchangeable lenses and larger sensors, others look for a compact, pocketable camera that can take decent photographs across myriad light conditions. Further, a lot of us look for both the abilities fused into one, while some others may wish for a camera that can give instant photo prints or survive rugged handling. Here, we look at 11 such cameras within Rs. 35,000, that are worth your money.
Nikon D5300
The first Nikon DSLR to feature in-built WiFi and GPS modules, the Nikon D5300 is the predecessor of the excellent D5500. The 24.2-megapixel APS-C image sensor is coupled with Nikon’s present-generation EXPEED 4 image processor and native ISO range of 100-12800, and at 530g (with battery and memory card), it has a reasonably light body too. Coupled with Nikon’s vast range of compatible lenses, the Nikon D5300 is an excellent DSLR for beginners, or even photographers looking for an upgrade over compact cameras, or a capable DSLR to last them, until they are ready to make the jump to professional equipment.
Canon EOS 700D
DSLRs have a very limited area to enhance its looks, and the Canon EOS 700D does as good as it possibly could. An 18-megapixel APS-C sensor coupled with Canon’s EXPEED 5 image processor powers the DSLR. Native ISO range lies from 100-6400. Additionally, Canon’s extensive customer support and wide lens availability will allure amateur photographers looking for a good DSLR within a budget. Additionally, the low-flung, rounded edges add a bit of life to the otherwise austere appearance of DSLRs.
Sony Alpha 5000L
The Sony Alpha 5000L is a light, compact mirrorless camera, housing a 20.1-megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor inside. Sony’s proprietary BIONZ X image processor keeps operations reasonably fast, and the Sony Alpha 5000L is a good option to consider for those looking for interchangeable lens cameras minus the bulk of DSLRs. At sub-35k, the Sony Alpha 5000L mirrorless camera is an excellent proposition to consider.
Canon PowerShot G9X
The point where the Canon PowerShot G9X massively impresses you is its incredibly compact dimensions, coupled with really fast operations and decent imaging performance. The lack of physical navigation buttons is quite a deterrent, and the usage of the front wheel and the zoom toggle to navigate is inconvenient and takes time to get used to, but the touch input display on the PowerShot G9X is very responsive. The Canon PowerShot G9X is possibly one of the most pocketable cameras that we have tried till date, and makes for a good buy, at Rs. 30,000.
Sony CyberShot RX100 II
Sony’s coveted RX100 lineup has been highly praised, and even after a while, the RX100 II remains a good camera to buy. The 1-inch Exmor R CMOS sensor renders images at 20.2MP, and the lens is a Carl Zeiss 10.4-37.1mm f/1.8-4.9 fixed lens. It can record videos at Full HD resolution, falling short of the 4K video quality that the more expensive Sony RX100 IV brings with itself.
Nikon Coolpix P900
Featuring a ½.3-in type sensor, the Nikon Coolpix P900 houses a massive 83x optical zoom capability, with its 4.3-357mm, f/2.8-6.5 lens. The camera mimics a DSLR’s looks, albeit on a smaller scale. The advanced point-and-shoot super-zoom camera also gives an eyepiece, and a swivelling 3-inch LCD display. At sub-30k, it is a good buy for super-zoom camera enthusiasts.
Shooting the craters of the moon? That’s what you can do with this here.
Canon PowerShot SX60HS
The PowerShot SX60HS features a 16.1 CMOS sensor as well as Canon’s latest DIGIC 6 image processor. It allows 1080p video shooting and at max resolution, the ISO goes upto 3200. The camera also a has huge 65X optical zoom lens which is assisted by optical image stabilization. It comes with a full swivelling 3-inch display and shoot continuous pictures at 6.4fps. Connectivity features include USB 2.0, mini-HDMI and Wi-Fi. On addition you can use canon’s Image gateway services.
Fuji Instax Mini 90
This compact camera brings back the joy of shooting on instant films. The small camera offers a 60mm lens and has a fixed aperture of f/12.7. The camera comes with a built-in flash that helps shooting in low light conditions. It is a simple camera with minimal settings and a monochrome LCD display panel that shows the settings you are on. The Fuji Instax Mini 90 uses Instax cartridges which are available in 10 and 20 card stacks.
Price: Rs. 11,790
GoPro Hero 4
GoPro is a well-known camera brand for adventure junkies and anyone who wants to shoot fast-paced adventure sports from their own perspective. The GoPro Hero 4 is another action camera from the company, which can shoot videos in 1080p at 60fps and 1440p videos at 30fps. The small camera weighs just 89 grams and combined with its number of accessories can easily shoot videos atop your helmet while you skydive. It uses a microSD card to record content and comes with a waterproof case, if you feel like going swimming with it. The 12MP wide FoV (field of view) lens takes good pictures, and the camera can be controlled using your smartphone.
Ricoh Theta M15
If you are intrigued by those 360-degree YouTube videos and fancy a camera that can do it, the Ricoh Theta M15 might be one of the options. At around 95 grams, it is a lightweight camera, and the 4GB of internal memory gives you scope to capture approximately 1200 360-degree stills, and 60 minutes of 1080p 360-degree videos. It is also very easy to hold and operate, with inbuilt wireless connectivity, microUSB port and even has a tripod mount at the base.