Amazon Prime Day camera gear under $80 can’t be any good, right? WRONG!

Lowepro / SanDisk / Manfrotto / K&F Concept / TTArtisan products on a green/blue gradient with a purple 'primeday' roundel
(Image credit: Amazon / Lowepro / SanDisk / Manfrotto / K&F Concept / TTArtisan / Digital Camera World)

I’ve seen lots of great Prime Day camera deals this year, but I’m very much of the mindset that I’d rather pay more for something that’s good quality and will last. And yet, that doesn’t mean I buy items that cost the Earth. We all know that photography is an inherently expensive hobby, but as I’m about to prove, frugal photographers can pick up some great items for less than $80 this Prime Day.

My recommendation is to look for cheaper items from trusted brands. For example, I’ve often said that the one piece of kit you never want to compromise on is a tripod. There are plenty of bad tripods out there! But the Manfrotto Pixi Mini is just $21.90 and for a tabletop tripod, it’s sturdy, easy to use, and the proof’s in the pudding – my Pixi tripod has lasted me for years.

Sometimes, picking up a bargain is about understanding the limitations of the product you’re buying. Do I think the TTArtisan 25mm f/2 boasts the best optics in the world? No. Do I think it’s a great option at $51.20 for somebody on a tight budget who wants to add a new prime to their arsenal? Absolutely. So, enjoy sifting through the products below and enjoy doing your own rummaging on Amazon, too. There are some great, cheap deals to be had!

Manfrotto Pixi Mini
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Manfrotto Pixi Mini : was $31.95 now $21.90 at Amazon

Other outlets are offering the Pixi Mini for similar prices. However, if you’re buying from Amazon you’ll save a few quid on delivery. I own a Pixi Evo, which is very similar, and it rarely leaves my kitbag. Pixi tripods are sturdy, extremely easy and quick to set up, and versatile, too. I often use mine as a tabletop LED light stand.

Lowepro Tahoe 150 Backpack
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Lowepro Tahoe 150 Backpack: was $95.45 now $76.07 at Amazon

If you’re looking for your first decent camera bag or a small backpack for daytrips, then this is a great option. Lowepro is a trusted camera bag manufacturer and the Tahoe 150 features weather-resistant materials to help protect your gear. The front flap opens out to reveal a main compartment with dividers that you can tailor to your gear, plus, additional pockets for accessories including a 10-inch tablet.

K&F Concept  ND Filter Kit
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K&F Concept ND Filter Kit : was $109.99 now $87.99 at Amazon

If you can’t justify investing hundreds of dollars on filters, this set of four ND filters from K&F has received some great user reviews. The set includes 2-stop, 3-stop, 6-stop, and 10-stop neutral density filters, which will cover most long-exposure photography needs. Screw-in filters aren’t as practical as slot-in filters if you use lots of different lenses, but this set comes in various thread sizes, and at roughly $22 per filter, you can’t go wrong.

SanDisk  Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC 200MB/s
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SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB SDXC 200MB/s: was $24.99 now $18.99 at Amazon

You can never have too many SD cards, and in my experience, it’s a good idea to refresh them ever so often. My go-to is SanDisk’s Extreme Pro range, and £14.99 for a 128GB card with 200MB/s transfer speeds and shot speeds of up to 140MB/s is a decent deal. You can also switch the size on the deal page, with the 64GB version going for just £10.78. I’ll take four!

TTArtisan  25mm f/2
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TTArtisan 25mm f/2: was $64 now $51.20 at Amazon

Okay, okay, so this is technically 20p over budget, but it’s a freakin’ lens! That’s right, £55 for this Fujifilm X-mount lens from TTArtisan, which delivers a very versatile equivalent focal length of just under 40mm. Sure, it’s manual-focus only, and you can’t expect top-tier optical quality, but if you’re using a retro X-Series camera, it goes with the vibe. If I was a Fuji tog, this would be in my basket!

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Looking for more deals? $55 for a tablet? Talk about a fire sale – these Amazon Fire deals are red hot! Maybe you'd like to take my Prime Day poll. And if you're looking for a new compact camera, here are my five top picks to consider.

Mike Harris
How To Editor

Mike studied photography at college, honing his Adobe Photoshop skills and learning to work in the studio and darkroom. After a few years writing for various publications, he headed to the ‘Big Smoke’ to work on Wex Photo Video’s award-winning content team, before transitioning back to print as Technique Editor (later Deputy Editor) on N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine.

With bylines in Digital Camera, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, Practical Photography, Digital Photographer, iMore, and TechRadar, he’s a fountain of photography and consumer tech knowledge, making him a top tutor for techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and more. His expertise extends to everything from portraits and landscapes to abstracts and architecture to wildlife and, yes, fast things going around race tracks...

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