Top pick · Sony£1,460
Sony ZV-E10 II + Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G
Body £750 + lens £710 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-83mm equivalent · 871g
Why: 377g body.
Buying guide · updated 5 November 2026
Best camera for beginners under £1,500
A first camera should be easy to learn, light enough to take everywhere, and part of a system you can grow into. Subject-detect autofocus, a flip-out screen and a good kit lens matter more than megapixels. Here are the best complete setups (body plus the right lens) you can buy for £1,500 or less, using real UK prices.
Quick answer
The best £1,500 setup for beginners is the Sony ZV-E10 II with the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G, about £1,460 with the body bought used. Why: 377g body.
Best £1,500 setups for beginners, brand by brand
The best setup we found from each major system, ranked on how well it suits beginners. Bodies priced used where MPB lists them.
Best Fujifilm option£1,490
Fujifilm X-S20 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £1,020 + lens £470 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 1016g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 491g body.
Best Nikon option£1,340
Nikon Z5 II + Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S
Body £1,020 + lens £320 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-70mm equivalent · 1200g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 700g body.
Best Canon option£1,189
Canon EOS R50 V + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £490 + lens £699 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 895g
Why: 370g body.
Best OM System option£1,160
OM System OM-5 Mark II + OM System M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO
Body £800 + lens £360 (typical MPB used price where listed, otherwise new) · 24-90mm equivalent · 672g
Why: in-body stabilisation, 418g body.
Cheaper alternatives from the same brands
Not every pick needs the top body. These cost noticeably less and still do the job well.
| Brand | Setup | Total | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony | ZV-E10 + Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G | £1,280 | Why: 343g body. |
| Fujifilm | X-T30 III + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | £1,210 | Why: 378g body. |
| Nikon | Z50 II + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | £1,339 | Why: 550g body. |
| Canon | EOS RP + Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM | £1,440 | Why: 485g body. |
| OM System | Olympus PEN E-P7 + OM System M.Zuiko 12-45mm f/4 PRO | £680 | Why: in-body stabilisation, 337g body. |
Other systems worth considering
The best £1,500 setup we found from each remaining brand.
| Brand | Setup | Total | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic | Lumix G100 + Panasonic Leica DG 12-60mm f/2.8-4 | £590 | 352g body. |
| Pentax | KF + Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR | £1,139 | in-body stabilisation, 684g body. |
| Leica | TL2 + Leica Vario-Elmar-TL 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH | £1,140 | 399g body. |
Buying everything new
Top pick · Sony£1,373
Sony ZV-E10 II + Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
Body £824 + lens £549 (new) · 27-203mm equivalent · 702g
Why: 377g body.
Best Fujifilm option£1,478
Fujifilm X-T30 III + Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS
Body £829 + lens £649 (new) · 27-83mm equivalent · 688g
Why: 378g body.
Best Canon option£1,428
Canon EOS R50 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £729 + lens £699 (new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 900g
Why: 375g body.
Best Nikon option£1,398
Nikon Z fc + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
Body £699 + lens £699 (new) · 26-105mm equivalent · 970g
Why: 445g body.
Best bodies for beginners under £1,500
Sony
ZV-E10 II
2024Mirrorless
26MP
11fps max
—readout ms
32kmax ISO
Low light 377g · no EVF
New ≈£824
Used at MPB*£734–759
Updated vlogging body with the A6700's 26MP sensor, 10-bit 4K and a bigger battery.
Canon
EOS R50 V
2025Mirrorless
24.2MP
15fps max
—readout ms
32kmax ISO
Low light 370g · no EVF
New ≈£529
Used at MPB*£459–519
Video-first R50 with a front tally light, vertical tripod mount and no viewfinder.
Fujifilm
X-T30 III
2025Mirrorless
26MP
8fps max
≈30readout ms
12.8kmax ISO
Low light 378g
New ≈£829
Used at MPB*£739
Compact retro body with dials and film simulations at a starter price.
Nikon
Z5 II
2025Mirrorless
24MP
30fps max
—readout ms
64kmax ISO
Low light 700g · IBIS · sealed
New ≈£1,499
Used at MPB*£1,009–1,029
Nikon's affordable full frame with flagship-grade autofocus. Weather-sealed with two card slots.
OM System
OM-5 Mark II
2025Mirrorless
20MP
30fps max
—readout ms
25.6kmax ISO
Low light 418g · IBIS · sealed
New ≈£1,099
Used at MPB*£779–824
Small, IP53-sealed hiking camera with built-in ND and handheld high-res modes.
Panasonic
Lumix G100
2020MirrorlessOlder model
20.3MP
10fps max
—readout ms
25.6kmax ISO
Low light 352g
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£234–259
Tiny vlogging body with a viewfinder. Now sold new as the G100D kit with a 12-32mm lens.
What to look for
A first camera should be easy to learn, light enough to take everywhere, and part of a system you can grow into. Subject-detect autofocus, a flip-out screen and a good kit lens matter more than megapixels.
Guide or assist modesSubject-detect AFFlip-out screenGrip and two dials
Lens: A standard zoom covering wide to short telephoto (about 24–105mm equivalent).
Other budgets
Spending less? Best for beginners under £1,000. More to spend? Best under £2,000. Or read the full beginners buying guide. Want one body and two zooms? See the best two-lens kits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best camera for beginners under £1,500?
Our top pick is the Sony ZV-E10 II with the Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G, about £1,460 buying the body used.
What is the best £1,500 beginners camera setup?
Sony ZV-E10 II + Sony E 16-55mm f/2.8 G (£1,460); Fujifilm X-S20 + Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (£1,490); Nikon Z5 II + Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S (£1,340).
Should I buy new or used for beginners?
Buying the body used typically saves 30–50% and leaves more of the £1,500 for a better lens, which usually matters more. New gives a full warranty and the latest firmware.
What lens do I need for beginners?
A standard zoom covering wide to short telephoto (about 24–105mm equivalent).
Prices checked 5 November 2026: used prices are the middle of the MPB price range for the body and the lens on that mount; new prices are typical UK prices. Picks are ranked from the specs in our database for this type of photography.