Best $500 PRO Camera? 📷
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 26 фев 2023
- Is a $500 camera worth it? How much should you save before buying your first professional camera. Here are some thoughts to consider. And if you're looking for my best camera recommendations, you can check out the links below:
✨Lightroom Presets: bit.ly/3TDLKMx
📷 My Camera: geni.us/t93yc
📷 The Best Entry Level Camera geni.us/a2ErXV
📷 More Entry Level Cameras: geni.us/u2gmVo
📷 My Most Used Lens: geni.us/RF15-35mm
📷 My Drone: geni.us/0NF33v
📷 My Camera Bag: geni.us/ya83bN
🎤 My Favorite Microphone: geni.us/SwPS
🌐 All of My Camera Gear:✨geni.us/1NddEAQ
📸 INSTAGRAM: / gugliotta.one
♪ TIKTOK: / blameanthony
🌐 WEBSITE: gugliotta.one
🎵 My MUSIC:
Artlist (2 Months Free): bit.ly/3GshKNA
🎞️ STOCK FOOTAGE:
Artgrid (2 Months FREE): bit.ly/3I3LDEh
Perfect for your Video Projects!
📹 VIDEO ASSETS & TEMPLATES:
Motion Array: bit.ly/3Fkwg8I
Great for Overlays, Titles and More!
*Please note, I may earn a commission on some of the links above.
📧 LET'S CONNECT:
gugliotta.one/contact 
Кино
You can buy canon 60d for 200 usd, a zoom lens for 150 usd and a portrait 50mm f1.8 canon lens for 100 usd and have a nice camera setup for 500 usd
...or you could get a Sony a5100 with its 18-55mm kit lens for $300 and a Sigma 35mm f1.4 with the remaining $200.
There's honestly quite a few decent used APS-C and micro 4/3 setups that you could get for $500.
@@randomoneforstuff3696 There is a lot of good cameras on the market right now but I'm the canon guy😄
@@randomoneforstuff3696 woohoo..shoutout to a5100! i thought only im using the a5100 these days. btw me also a canon guy when in photography 😆
@@bbcphotographyvideography1918 Honestly I had never heard of the 5000 series before Markus made a video about the a5100:
ruclips.net/video/fpz5ZhksPPs/видео.html
It's a shame how little recognition small bodies get like the Sony a5100, Fujifilm X-100V, X-E4, Olympus Pen series, Panasonic LX100, GX850, and GM-1.
I shouldve never sold my 60d with 18mm-135mm lens ;( now i have no camera and no sales yet on camers
That unboxing on something unrelated kept me watching the whole video👌
Came here to comment on it. Brilliant idea Lmaoo
Same
I thought it would be some small smartphone lens 😭
100% agree 🫦🫦🫦
Same
Cameras are like DATING..
Lenses are like Marriage..
💍 Glass is the actual investment.
only sucks when your glass is not compatible with future bodies
@@Stop-All-War I heard with mirrorless, you can get converters for your old DSLR lenses, since the distance is much closer, so the adapters space it out
@@CybertroninfiniteOfficial dslr to mirrorless but not mirrorless to dslr
@@CybertroninfiniteOfficial 28mm becomes 42mm on apsc..
@@Stop-All-War oooo thank you thank you, I was trying to understand that
Phones aren't catching up with even entry level DSLRs from 12 years ago for another 12 years (if that) you're definitely well beyond fine if you get a 500 dollar camera- the most important thing is your lens
$500 is absolutely enough to buy a camera and get started in photography.
What about videos?
I got a used sony a6000 for 500 and it came with a kit lens and it looked like new
@@kennethakennethai would suggest the a6400 because it can shoot 4k and has better image quality for around 200$ more
@@AwesNierro 4K 30fps is suprisingly affordable now - take for example the Fujifilm XT-2 along with a Viltrox lens. If you keep your eyes on EBay, you could get a decent setup for £450.
What about A6100 or any canon pls suggest? And lens pls in 600$
You never recommend a camera jjust talk talk talk
I still use my old 5D Mark II I got back in 2008, mainly for nature and landscape photography, but it's paired with $3000-$6000 glass. A new body for let's say $5000-$6000 would make zero sense for me, you wouldn't be able to spot the difference unless you are really pixel-peeping.
If you're starting out, just buy a used 5D Mark II or a III for $300-$500 and then invest in high quality glass instead.
What camera would you recommend for someone who just wants higher quality pics for instagram?
@@hippityhopitus7810cheapest Nikon you can find
i use a canon m50 mark 2 with a EFm 22mm lens (f/2) and Cinestyle Technicolor as default color settings on my cam, beside the fact that it records "only" 1080p (or 4k cropped) i love the results from that cam! many think its a much more expensive camera and i paid around 600 bucks for Camera Body + Stock lens + the 22mm
have you tried using it with street photography? I'm always curious what it's like taking portraits since that's what I do mostly 😅😅
@@kennethakennetha street photography, but portraits with white / greenscreen as a background are pretty good with that lens, i'm not a pro with portraits but I like them :)
My disclaimer to this would be that one of the cameras I own is a 12 year old Canon T2i - 18 MP camera with a 12 year old EF-L 24-105 lens that takes amazing pictures , sometimes technology is years ahead of it’s time and becomes timeless. Professional photographers from the late 90 s would kill for this camera.
Canon 1D MK III or MKIV are pretty awesome budget pro bodies, I had a 1D MK II and it was awesome! Pretty much an pro body series from like 10 yrs ago still hold up and are budget friendly now
100% agree. I'd say 5D mark ii and onward can hold up. The exception is in sports, though you can do a passing job by today's standards.
Can you do a video about how the check the quality of used camera and what we need to check when we buy used camera
bought a used 200D that came with a kit lens and a sigma 70-300 for less than 400 bucks, does everything i need and more
Is it good at wildlife photography?
@@user-ro4pr9xw2n I’ve done car photography and some wildlife stuff(birds wild animals) and it’s good for that too depending on how much light you get
@@user-ro4pr9xw2n The sigma 70-300 is not ideal but it should still be fairly capable. It has some decent reach, especially on APS-c and if you stop down, the image quality is serviceable. It even does macro and covers full frame, which is neat.
It will do better at wild life photography than the vast majority of smartphones, that's for sure.
@@user-ro4pr9xw2n 300mm isn’t enough for wildlife photography, especially as a beginner
You'll be blown away by how many great deals are there in used market, sometimes with whole setup and lenses and stuff from people that upgraded to something newer. 500 usd is not just enough, it's a great starting point, just look for those type of deals. you'll be set from the start.
At this point, I only come on RUclips to watch your videos :) Amazing content
So true... 100% ;-)
he's very articulate and always straight to the point
I am a young photographer and I have a Fuji X-E2 and I love it. It is very sharp and has good colors
Sorry but don’t agree, I think that a camera wil nearly always top a smartphone. A recommendation for these prices are: Fuji X100S, Sony a6000 plus sigma 30 f1.4, canon 1d mark 3 + 50mm 1.8, all of these are great
I got a brand new rebel T7 with 2 lenses and a case on sale for $400 at Walmart they still have the same model as a kit for 599. I’ve taken amazing photos with it, I even did my sisters wedding photography because her photographer bailed the night before and everyone was amazed. this camera is now about 4 years old and still kicks ass! I like that I can sync my photos to my smart phone right away, that paired with adobe light room premium I can bang out albums quickly. The real tip to photography is taking the time to snap the perfect picture so you don’t waste as much time cleaning up sloppy work during the edit process. I’m just a hobby photographer so take what I say with a grain of salt lol.
what phone do you have?
I agree with him 100%. As an entry it might get you started, but I only started to really enjoy shooting after getting a good camera.
Get a 20+MP body and use the remainder of the budget on a fast lens.
what does 20+MP mean
I have a t3i and 3 lenses: EFS 18-55 kit, EF 50mm 1.8, EFS 55-250mm. Everything together must have cost around BRL 2,000 (a used iphone 12 pro here costs around BRL 4,000). I'm sure that not even new IPhones beat photos well taken with the t3i. Of course, there are several features where smartphones take advantage, dynamic range (auto stack in fact), but definitely not in image quality, the size of the sensor and the quality of the lenses are incomparable.
I have the same(t3i with EFS 18-55 mm kit) setup. Just started with photography. Pretty good in my opinion. Better image quality than most phones I can get my hands on.
O jeito é sair do Brasil
I wish you would explain what makes a lens high quality
Quality
@@MiguelBorgesphotography of what? The plastic injection machine used to mold the mount release button?
@@nathanbasset the image quality which the lens produce
@@nathanbasset lens build quality like the material, but mainly the glass quality, along with coatings to control flares and chromatic aberrations
@@sawgrass7477 How do I figure out if the quality of the glass is good?
Think that 500 dollars is an investment in your photography skills, even tho a very cheap camera you will have a real camera on your hand that will he a step up of Smartphones not in image quality but the feel and the setting of a câmera. If you spend enough time with that and still like your little hobby, now will be the time that you can invest more in more expensive camera/ lens
Professional yapper
He’s not yapping, he’s giving good information
@@TheEnthusiastEdits got another yapper here
😐
what you lack in a smartphone is manual modes such as aperture, and shutter speeds, ISO, etc...
I lucked out on a Sony a6000 with a Sigma 16mm f1.4 and an appropriately sized bag, all for 500 bucks
for a first camera, I’d call that a great deal. I’m getting a 56mm lens next month for portraits, but the 16mm was a nice little challenge for learning somewhat unnatural compositions (for the portraits I’d preferably shoot)
I bought my sony A6000 for 350 new with kit lens. And now i bought myself a well needed prime lens the sony 50mm 1.8 oss great lens ☺️
You can also get started with film like me, then be forever in love with it
A good choice of a lens to buy if you have a low budget is to get a Canon 50mm f1.8 lens. Its an amazing lens for the money, and makes even the most mediocre camera really level up in image quality.
I have never paid more than $800 for a used "new to me" Camera. I would say with $1k you can get a good Pro level DSLR for around $500 and then look at a few used fast primes.
If I had to start over today with zero gear, I would look at a older DSLR like a Nikon D700 or a Canon 5D Mk1 then get a prime 35mm or 50mm but try to get a f/1.8 or lower. Then save for a 85m 1.4 to have a good setup for normal use cases.
What would be your focus as far what you would take pictures of? is there only a certain time of day you could take pictures to get the best out of it
Got a Nikon d800 with 50mm 1,8 in very good condition for 380€ (used). Same fantastic image quality as a a7iv, so just be patient and scout for good deals (and pick them up in person)
bought an oldish canon m10 for 150$. Still a way noticeable difference from my iphone. Even older cameras, theres simply something about the cameres that smartphones cant replicate
And this is why I got back into film rather than digital. I bought a professional canon SLR film body used for 50 bucks. Then I bought a couple of Sigma prime lenses and some film, totalling less than 1000. Great thing is one day I can switch up to a digital body and the lenses will be compatible!
And the last video of yours that popped up said just use your phone and invest in lighting.
Just bought a refurbished Canon Rebel T7, came with the kit lens 18-55mm. Also bought a longer lens for it: EF 75-300mm.
My total was just under $300 usd. I would assume it’s fine for a starter camera and I can learn basic settings and how they effect image quality.
The thing is DSLR cameras go around 700 bucks for the body but then if you’re looking for lens you’re paying upwards from $5000 all the way up to probably around like 10 thousand or more depending on what kind of lens. Plus depending what your doing like video or photography. Like rode pro mic goes for around 300 and that first gen, second gen costs even more. The tile rode mic costs 300 for one tile, plus transmitter that goes onto the camera around 500. So if you first starting I just recommend you use your phone to start off with
What $5000+ lenses? You don't get to that price unless if you're in super telephoto primes range. If you're paying $5000 for a lens, you must be buying luxury lenses from Leica or you must be in the top 0.1% professional photographers buying niche lenses
M50 mk2 or Sony A6000 with nifty 50. Perfect starter cameras and could be had for less than $500
Canon 800d + 17-55 is a heavenly good budget set up
i got my canon 200D MK1 for $560 AUD (roughly $370 USD) and a canon 50mm f1.8 for $100, that left me with enough to buy an SD card and an extra battery (knockoff brand of course) all new. just wait for EOFY or for new models to be released
What camera would you suggest to use for getting started back into making music videos & promos for small businesses?
I got a canon 2000D with the 18-55m lens for around £350 then a 75-300mm lens off ebay for £50. Not the greatest camera but still gets the job done and im only just beginning
Agreed! I shoot with a much older EOS 400D and a sigma 18-250mm and I am perfectly happy with the images produced! :)
Cannon 5d mk iv only has 30.4 megapixels, while the new phones on the market have 100+ megapixel cameras, the difference, sensor size and lenses are smaller, that's why phone cameras have not replaced full cameras
I got the Nikon d3400 stock lens and 70-300mm lens for $200 on fb market, I had to negotiate but its possible to get a decent camera set for less
What camera are you using for the video and what lens
bought a used 6d and 50mm 1.8 stm for 380 dollars. so happy with it.
As someone who has been buying/selling cameras the past 10 years, I'd say he's not entirely wrong but also not completely right either! Dont buy into the idea that you need expensive gear! You can get an older Canon SL2 or T7 to get you started on your photo/video journey and still be leagues waaaay ahead than when I started with an older Canon t2i!
what are differences between like the t2, t2i, t5, t5i, t7, t7i
things to look for when it comes to a pro camera for cheap :
- kinda reliable autofocus, not the most important things but can save you a lot of headacahes
- good battery life, or if not, easy to get and cheap replacement batteries. Even better if the camera has a vertical grip option
- good lens lineup that would allow to grow. You could start off with a kit lens, then go on more expensive zooms and prime lenses as you start earning money with it
- either dual SD slots, or one larger port like CF or XQD (not likely that one). CF cards have a lower failure rate than SDs that are cheaper, and even then SD failure is not that common. So make sure you can get either double storage (like dual SD, one SD+ one CF) or a more reliable strorage format (CF or CF express / XQD)
- weather sealing depending on what you do. Might not be of extreme importance, but a weather sealed camera generally means that extra care has been taken for the design, and you might end up with a more durable camera overall
- decent ergonomics that fit your hand. That is very personal taste, but try to get a camera that is comfortable to hold, even with bigger lenses (that will probably be achieved with a larger grip)
For those wondering what kind of cameras could fit those criteria there is no secret method : get second hand, preferably cameras that have a few years in them already that's where you'll be able to maximize the performance you get for the money.
On top of my mind, there is a few options that comes to mind :
Nikon D7100 (or D7000 if you're broke), Nikon D300S, Nikon D700, Nikon D800, Canon 5D2 and 5D3, Canon 7D2, Fujifilm X-T2, Fujifilm X-H1
thx thats very helpful...what do u think about the sony 6100/6400/6600 ?
@@bisher1013 those are decent cameras when it comes to imaging and autofocus for sure, but the ergonomics is lacking quite a bit. No front dial, no autofocus joystick. On top of that, short battery life (except on 6600) and only 1 SD slot. It can work well, but I'm sure there is more secured options for cheaper. To me these are more enthusiast level cameras than pro ready camera bodies
Thanks for sharing this! U helped me more than most videos I watched today.
Unless your a cheapo like me and buys the baseline samsung phones for $200 which have trash cameras. Just bought a used a6000 for 500 canadian and I'm loving it so far.
imo saving a bit for new entry level camera is better than buying used. something like ZV-1 and M50 Mark is faaaar better than a smartphone for vlogging/photography but they aint $500
how much are they?
I'd say the biggest difference between phone camera and DSLR/mirrorless camera is sensor size. There's just a physical limit to how big of a sensor you can cram into a phone before it gets excessively bulky. Nezt after that would be the lens / the ability to change lenses.
$500 is more than enough to start with. Good lens is 80% of your success. I’ve started with $20 DSLR and $50 lens. Now, it’s like a addiction. I’m checking used market almost every day :D Recently I bought $150 Fuji X-T1 and $90 XC 16-50. They aren’t in the best shape, but visual look does not affect functionality. That Fuji is just… awesome. With vintage manual lenses, it’s like shooting analog.
I have a Canon Rebel T6i, STILL takes way better photos than my iPhone 14 Pro Max, but recording video goes to my iPhone.
I can pretty much say for sure that you're not a landscape photographer lol. iPhones still produce skin tones that are disgustingly orange and waxy compared to the unprocessed RAWs of a DSLR/mirrorless camera, but iPhone shots (and smartphone shots in general) are excellent for landscapes because of their incredible dynamic range.
@@randomoneforstuff3696 I do portraits of humans, landscapes, vehicles, food and cities/buildings!(: don’t forget to view and like my videos ;)
@@randomoneforstuff3696 Dynamic range is a thing of the past. You don't need more than 8 stops and most camera are doing between 12 and 14. If you do need more than 8 stops then just exposure bracket and stack in post.
@@brodylockwood14 What do you mean I don't need more than 8 stops of dynamic range? A simple sun-backlit daytime shot needs more than 14 (when exposing for the shadows), and exposure bracketing in post is such a hassle compared to the camera doing it almost real time, as smartphones do. And, you can't exposure bracket moving subjects (like for sports photography) without getting motion between the shots.
Also, don't tell me to shoot in RAW...
Used Nikon D750 $750 a used sigma 24-70 $900ish camera and you got a pretty good set up
Ur the best bro🎉
This is silly. Cop a fujifilm xt20 and used 35mm f2. You’re ready to tackle most things!
Nah my 60d or d40 with a 50 1.4 can still smoke any phone camera out there
I have a cannon t7 with a 18-55mm lens and it works great as a beginner camera
A 5D mark ii with an 85mm f1.8 and a pair of speedlights made me a good living in 2021 and 2022. The body + lens was around $500.
If a camera was used for the highest levels of professional work after 2008ish, it is still a top tier camera today. Even the original 5D can be used in certain genres and hold its own against modern cameras, so long as you're using good glass and have quality light.
I was going comment almost the same thing but my heart knew it was already said
85mm is crazy
@Cazador1 no, it is not crazy if you make money shooting portraits
I got a canon 70d with a 17-70 sigma lens and a 50mm 1.8 sigma for 300 dollars, no phone comes close to the results i get from a now 12 year old camera, 500 is more then enough
my advice is to develop an aesthetic around what you can afford
casey neistat made great films with a canon elph point and shoot (bike lanes), people love vhs more than ever (markets a little spiked but the nostalgia of that era will fade so itll get cheap again), etc
you can breed an aesthetic by using cheap faff so long as you recognize the advantages, the audience wont really care if the story slaps
How did you start all this journey ?
This is a ridiculous comparison because of the lens in a cellphone. Those three little circular lenses are going to do the same as a full frame camera lens that weighs 3 lbs and has 6 elements? Really? Just say you can’t tell the difference. That I would believe.
My first was the Canon EOS Rebel t100 with a used 75-300 m that was 500 in total
Believe me, 500€ lets u bring home a canon 5D Mark II with Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM and it's a big improvement over any smartphone.
Update:
Just checked, 500 was in 2021. Now it's like 350
Cannon 5D mii or iii are 300-$500 used. That plus a 50mm f1.8 STM ($100) is a good deal. You can do professional work with that but even if you won’t be doing pro stuff, I’d recommend that as a starting camera if you’re only planning to do photos.
what other extras do you need batteries? tripod? lights? etc.
The Pentax X90 is a gr8 budget cam. Dont need lenses and have alot of customisation and stuff. Recommended for beginners
I picked up a 70d with bag, the stock 35-55mm lens, 2 batteries, a remote, a bag, a mobile and wall charger for $600 about… almost 8-9 years ago… I feel old lolol
i bought my camera (canon t2i) for $69 on mpb and i mostly use the canon 50mm f1.8 (around $84). thats an $160 setup and i still havent hit the slill ceiling for it. obviously my setup probably isnt good if were to do photography professionally but ive done some unpaid shoots for people and its gone well.
I snatched a 5D mk2 for 250 and i am happy with it so far
I bought a 2nd hand Canon 70d with a 18-135mm lens for 275. Looking to add a telephoto and a ultrawide lena later down the line, but there is a huge difference with a DSLR and your phone camera, even if the body is 10 years old. I have a Iphone 14 pro and there are massive differences… the only thing i can say is better is videorecording on a phone
Canon EOS 2000D comes with a 18/55mm lens and costs less than 500€ in Amazon
Bought my first camera (Canon 70d) with a kit lens for $400 in 2019. Used it to learn how to take photos, exposure triangle, composition etc. Then used it to do some professional work, bought some nicer lenses, then once i started to make real money I bought nice lenses. Don't worry about how nice your camera is if you are just learning, a dslr from 2008 that you buy for $100 bucks will teach you the basics about photography, and even get you some smaller jobs, things like grad photos. Once you learn the basics, and know you're going to stick with it, that's when I would worry about getting a better camera. And remember, nicer lenses are always better than nicer cameras. You can have 20/20 vision, but if you put on sunglasses covered in dirt and scratches, you won't be able to see a thing.
My camera is 22 years old lmao still happy about it when i get better ill upgrade for now ill just buy other lense and filters
A 5D Mark iii with a 50mm lens will cost less than $500 in the used market, and I'll never listen to anyone who says it's not better than a smartphone.
If someone wants to get started have have budget of 500-500$ inr 40k to 45k get a sony mirrorless body and adapt with a vintage lens like helios or takumar.
I’m starting out with a canon rebel t6 with the 18-55 lens from a kit
I'm from NZ so you do the math I spent 380 on a Canon 60D with a 300to 700 mm lense in the used market if it's in pristine condition. Won't know how much that is in eagle dollers but in nzD that's a good deal I reckon
is lenses the BIGGEST difference? what about sensor size? better dynamic range, dof, sharpness, color and low light?
Used Canon M50 and the Sigma 30mm or Sigma 16mm will get you some pro results on a budget of about $600
I have an M50, considering using a speed booster?
I started off 2 years ago with a 350D and a sigma f2.8 17-50mm
was it perfect? no, but I have atleast 50 pictures that are good enough to be professional images
this Christmas I got treated to the M50 mkII and after using it, I couldn't ever go back to the 350D, but before I had gotten used to a new camera, the old one was good enough for a beginner, and the 350D costs around £50.. insanely cheap, my lens set me back only £200 and it's still my main lens
You couldn’t really have worded this better!
I‘m good with my film cameras. Spent just about 500€ on 6 Super 8 cams (4 working), three 35mm (2 working), 1 double 8, two Polaroids and one medium format cam also add to that all equipment needed to develop Film at home (bw and color). Not trying to flex or anything like that just saying that yes 500€ can be enough for one modern cam or all I’ve listed and gotta tell you it’s really fun. Obviously there’s Film that needs to be bought but let’s say as an one time investment it’s cheaper to buy some film cams at thrift stores and such.
I bought a 10mp Canon xti, and its pictures are better than my pixel 6. Granted, that's with post processing, but the pixels do a ton of that anyway.
It was only $26 with a $30 100-300mm lens for a total of 70 something with shipping.
I just bought an EOS 7D used, from B&H, for $230, and I'm stoked.
Looking for some recommendations on what DSLR camera go for an Lenses be best for short an a long range.
Be used for Air Shows like the Royal International Air Tattoo. Fishing. An Special Occasion (Family)
Been said to look at this.
Canon mark 5D mark iii
Canon mark 7D ii
Canon RP
Or would u recommend any others
What Lenses would be best to go with for short an long ranges ??
I wanna get a 4k back up camera and im probably gonna get one of those dji gimbal camera because i don't wanna deal get a gimbal and suit
I have the camera Canon 4000d I love it i bought second hand in brand new condition 170 euros i love it!!!
I know it's a little more but I'm going for the Sony a6500. And a couple of nice sigma lenses
I have a eos2000d and a s22 ultra, if you take pictures you see a really big difference
If you want a camera that comes with a lens on it the Sony H350 is only 400 Canadian and has 100x zoom
I have a Canon 6Dwhich is a 12-year-old camera, with a Tamron 28-300mm it's not even the sharpest Lense, I do have a Pixel 7, you can definitely tell which is which from the Output, there's many valid points in this video but not the part where you compared a camera with mobile phone.
I have a Sony Alpha a6000 with the normal lens, but i dont know what lens to get. I was thinking of the 50mm 1.8 tips are welcome 😁
Facts I bought a r50 and then I saved and bought a 24-105mm L version lens for $700 used but still it’s a big investment
He is not lying I brought a powershot x540 cannon and when I got it it was cool till I realize I need better quality it’s good quality n pictures it’s just NOT 4K
The biggest difference isn’t just the quality of the lens. Sensor size is incredibly important
I snagged a good ass deal for a Sony a6000 but it had a fisheye lens I got it for 200 but after feels and shipping 260 not bad jus gotta get a kit lens out of pocked like 350-400 not bad and it’s so nice
I recently got a canon EOS r for 400 dollars off offerup and it came with a 24-105mm f4.0 along with a 128gb sd card
I bought a Sony a7 with 50mm f/1.8 for like 500usd and its night and day difference when compared to my iPhone or even old camera
my current gear with the camera and lens together only costs $160.... might not be pro level but its plenty good enough to be a step up from a phone camera.
I got a 5d mk2 and a 70-200mm f/2.8 for a little under $500
I spent 300 on a Sony a600 with the kit 16-50mm zoom lens, charger spare batteries even an sd card, obviously not a professional setup but definitely a lot better than a phone. Unless you want to use it professionally you definitely don’t need to spend over 500
What lens should I use for my cannon m50 mark 2 ? I do basketball content