You can rig a 3D camera without Maya using Blender, Cinema 4D, or Houdini—all offer built-in tools for controllable camera rigs.
These tools let you link camera properties (position, rotation, focal length) to simple controllers (like null objects) for smooth animation—ideal for animators or game developers using non-Maya workflows.
For beginners, try Blender’s free "Camera Rig" add-on or Cinema 4D’s presets to start with basic controls before building custom setups.