I’m thinking about getting a phone just to use as a camera but I don’t want to spend too much on it since that’s basically my only use for it.
I also considered buying a low(ish) cost digital camera, but I’m planning on using the timer feature a lot. This means I really want a camera that is very “hand-holdy” so it can take good quality pictures without needing to see the screen/viewfinder/etc, which is why I thought a used phone might be a good option.
What are some cheap phones that have good quality cameras and camera software that don’t necessarily need to have a strong processor or other flagship features?
Pixel
Cheap can vary significantly. What’s your budget?
Right now I’m targeting sub 200USD (used), but the lower the better since I’m not sure how much use I’ll actually be getting out of it.
When I looked online, I saw some used/ C-stock Pixel 6/ Pixel 6 Pros which are pretty close. Surprisingly, I didn’t see a huge drop in price between the 6a and the 6/ 6 Pro (or at least but as much as I was expecting).
At this point I’m hoping the price will drop after/around Black Friday.
Pixel 6a
I’m fairly certain you can get a good mirrorless camera for the same cost as a phone.
I thought about that, but since this is for a photo wall type situation (where there are props and things and you take your picture), I want the photo taking to be as automated as possible since people would be using the timer feature a lot. I’d be concerned that the autofocus wouldn’t be correct, or something else that causes the photo to come out poorly if a real camera was used (without a dedicated operator).
If it wasn’t for that, a standalone camera would be suitable (depending on the price).
The Pixel a line has some of the best cameras in any phone, regardless of price
