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Suggestions for budget small multi-purpose camera
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this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2026
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What’s wrong with a smartphone?
I don’t mean to come off as abrasive, but phone cameras are very good. You aren’t going to beat them optically for $200. The biggest shortcoming is stabilization vs mini cameras on a gimbal, but you can get around that with Gyoflow for free:
https://docs.gyroflow.xyz/app/getting-started/supported-cameras/mobile-phones
Check out the Blackmagic video app, too.
We have older phones, and the video quality isn't that great, especially in darker environments. I'll try Blackmagic, thanks for the suggestion.
That's because the sensor is small. Newer phones and mini cameras will all be weak in dim light, outside the absolute extremes like Huawei and Sharp phones.
Check out a Canon EOS M, ~$250 on eBay, or any older SLR that supports MagicLantern firmware. That's the absolute best way into better indoor video, as its image sensor is like 6-10X the area of a phone's. Not sure what lens is best for M-mount, but I can look around if that's of interest.
It's not as small as a phone, but about as small as a point-and-shoot.