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Buying your first camera can be daunting; they’re expensive, breakable, and come with seemingly endless options and add-ons. Actually, we'll rephrase — buying a camera is daunting, no matter what level you're at.

How much money do you want to spend? Do you want a DSLR, point-and-shoot, or mirrorless model? Are you using it for professional or amateur projects? Micro or macro lens? Nikon or Canon? Yeah, we’re dizzy too.

What’s worse is that there are endless think pieces, guides, and opinions out there on which is the best camera to buy, too. We’re going to jump in here with a super simple guide to the eight best cameras on the market, and why you should spend your cash on them.

Our brief guide to the best cameras for all budgets is below.

Fujifilm instax mini 9

Fujifilminstax mini 9 Instant Film Camera Bundle
$90
Buy at Best Buy

For those who just want a fun camera to play around with, the Fujifilm instax mini is a classic choice. This bundle comes with film and a case, so all you need to do is just aim, click, and voila.

Polaroid Originals Onestep 2 VF Camera

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PolaroidOne Step 2 VF Camera
$100
Buy at Verishop

Another classic — the Polaroid Originals gives you the instant photos of the Fujifilm instax mini, but with even more vintage-looking results.

Canon Ivy Cliq+ Instant Camera, Portable Printer, and App

CanonIVY CLIQ Instant Camera & Portable Printer
$130
Buy at Canon

For those who aren’t trying to go pro, this teeny camera is affordable, adorable, and lets you print 2” x 3” or 2” x 2” photos instantly. Using the accompanying app, you can add filters, effects, emoji, and more.

Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR Two Lens Kit with EF-S 18-55mm IS II and EF 75-300mm III lens

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CanonEOS Rebel T6 EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit
$400
Buy at Canon

For those who have an interest in photography and want a basic DSLR to step up their IG game, the Canon EOS Rebel T6 is a solid and simple-to-use model that’s great for learning the ropes. An 18-megapixel image sensor and high-performance DIGIC 4+ image processor means you’ll get great speed and quality, and built-in WiFi and NFC connectivity mean it’s easy to share your fresh photos directly to your smart device. This kit comes with two different length lenses, allowing you range and room to experiment.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

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CanonPowerShot G7 X Mark 2
$600
Buy at Canon

If you want a small, compact point-and-shoot camera that will deliver the photo quality of a DSLR without all the complicated settings, the Canon PowerShot G7 is the model for you.

Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Camera and Two Lens kit

CanonAlpha a6000 Mirrorless Camera Two Lens Kit
$700
Buy at Best Buy

If you’re looking for a camera that gives you the quality and functionality of a DSLR, but lighter and smaller, you should consider a mirrorless camera. “Mirrorless” essentially means that the light goes directly into the camera’s image sensor, while a DSLR has a reflex mirror that bounces the light to the viewfinder. The Alpha a6000 from Sony offers great quality at a pretty affordable price point and comes with two lenses to give you more range.

Fujifilm Series X100V 26.1MP Digital Camera

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FujifilmX-Series X100V 26.1MP Digital Camera
$1400
Buy at Best Buy

Now here’s a point-and-shoot camera that gives you truly professional-grade photography tech within a sleek and compact body. 26.1 megapixels ensure you’ll get high-res images up to 6240x4160 pixels, and video mode lets you record 4K HD footage. It’s also just a gorgeous camera, and one of our favorites on the market.

Nikon D750 DSLR

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NikonD750 DSLR Camera (Body Only)
$1500
Buy at Best Buy

If you’ve been around the block and have your own favorite lenses but want to upgrade your camera body, the Nikon D750 DSLR is a great model to do this with, boasting great resolution and 24 megapixels. It’s also known for being incredibly light and high-performing. This is a great model for someone with some serious photography experience looking to level up and invest.

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