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
The Pixel a line has some of the best cameras in any phone, regardless of price
Pixels are generally considered some of the best cameras, especially among cheap phones. Unfortunately if you want an optical zoom its only on the pro model. You could also look at used phones with a cracked screen or damage.
I really like the camera on my Pixel. I’ve tried iPhones a couple of times, but I keep coming back to Pixels.
Cheap can vary significantly. What’s your budget?
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).