whats a good basic digital camera for beginners?

Hope it's okay to post this here.

So, what's a good starting digital camera, just for pics of camping in the hills and kids, etc. Not looking for a pro line, not looking for multi lenses, just an entry level camera, good zoom range, good image quality, better than phone quality.
I guess I'll looking for the next step up after the phone camera.
I haven't done any homework on my own yet, thought you guys could get me started. This will be a gift for my oldest kid who just started a family.
No idea what I should be looking at cost, but lets say under $500.00

Thanks!

Oh, man... There are a ton of really good cameras in that price range. I'd suggest going to dpreview.com or one of the other photography sites and look around.

Olympus, Sony, Nikon, Panasonic...all make not just decent, but really good cameras in that price range these days. But get ready to be overwhelmed with info...there's a lot.

BH Photo is a great source. Personally I have been using a Cannon digital Elph for years and I see they still have that line and it?s even better. Good zoom good quality and their image processing is top notch.

But if I can make a suggestion get a waterproof camera with no external moving parts. Always ready to go. Usually cheap so you won?t mind giving it to the kids. And can go into the pool, be used on dusty trails and in the rain. Some have 4x optical zoom too.
Heck with 500$ you can get one waterproof and one point and shoot with a 12x zoom.

https://www.dpreview.com/

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buy...eras-under-500

My favorite camera site. They test every camera in every price range.

You can also look up older models like you find on ebay or closeout.

I have a Nikon D3300. I bought it as a kit with accessories several years ago on eBay for about $360. D-series cameras all use the same lens.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-pr...ras/d3300.html

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-pr...ras/index.page

We had used various Canon PowerShot and Rebel cameras over the past 20 years and been very satisfied.

Awesome info here, thanks for helping me get started. I know nothing about digital photography. My last camera was 35mm, yeah, I'm that old...

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Originally Posted by Robb

Awesome info here, thanks for helping me get started. I know nothing about digital photography. My last camera was 35mm, yeah, I'm that old...

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Curious what you ended up doing ?

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Originally Posted by Erni

Curious what you ended up doing ?

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Me too.

I'll toss in my opinion. While I shoot sports with full frame digital mirrorless from Canon, and I like Canon, my go to has been the Olympus Tough series. I have a TG7, but you can get a TG6 for under the $500. Quality images, lots of accessories (ring light, screw on zoom and wide angle, built in scenes, microscope function. Wifi and a full function GPS as well. Really nothing under $500 touches it for the feature set and ease of use. When they said they were going to discontinue them, I bought the TG7, but I still have 3 others, just older. The outrage convinced them not to drop it.

https://explore.omsystem.com/us/en/tough

I ended up buying a refurb Nikon 5000 from b&h photo. Didn't want to go that direction as the lenses are a line dedicated to that camera and are no longer being made, but that's what my son & Daughter in Law wanted. I was leaning Canon OIS I believe as that camera and lenses are still being produced. I had a Nikon F2 & F3 when my kids were young, think that's why my son wanted to stick with Nikon. All I've seen so far is baby pics. They do a ton of camping so I'm hoping for some great landscapes.