24 Cameras Available Used for Under $500 [April, 2024]

24 Cameras Available Used for Under $500 [April, 2024]

Table of Contents

There are an excessive number of cameras available for less than $500. I have tried to select the best of what is available for as many lens mounts as possible.

I have tried to focus on professional bodies, as they age better than entry level models.

  • Most Expensive: Canon 1D X ($6,799)
  • Cheapest: Pentax S-Q1 ($499)
  • Oldest: Nikon D3 (2007)
  • Newest: Canon M50 Mark II (2020)

I will be breaking this list down into more specific groupings. These are open to change:

ModelYearMSRPMPWeightSensor
Canon 5D Mark III2012$3,499.0022.3945gFF
Canon 1D X2012$6,799.0018.11,340gFF
Canon 7D Mark II2014$1,799.0020.2820gAPS-C
Nikon D8002012$2,999.9536.3900gFF
Nikon D32007$4,999.0012.11,240gFF
Nikon D72002015$1,199.0024.2765gAPS-C
Nikon Z502019$859.0020.9450gAPS-C
Sony A7II2014$1,699.0024.0559gFF
Sony A7S2014$2,499.0012.2489gFF
Sony A65002016$1,399.0024.2453gAPS-C
Fujifilm X-T12014$1,299.0016.0440gAPS-C
Fujifilm X-Pro12012$1,699.0016.3450gAPS-C
Pentax K-3 II2015$999.0024.3785gAPS-C
Sony A77 II2014$1,198.0024.31351gAPS-C
Panasonic GH42014$1,699.0016.0560gMFT
Panasonic G92017$1,699.0020.3650gMFT
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II2016$1,999.0020.4574gMFT
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II2015$1,099.0016.1469gMFT
Canon M50 Mark II2020$779.0024.1387gAPS-C
Pentax S-Q12014$499.0012.4203g1/1.7”
Olympus E-52010$1,699.0012.3813gFour Thirds
Samsung NX12014$1,499.0028.2550gAPS-C
Samsung Galaxy NX2013$1,599.0020.3495gAPS-C
Nikon 1 V32014$1,199.9518.4381g1”

I think the Canon M50 Mark II is where I would draw the line on what I would recommend. Short lived mounts with sparse lens selections are a bad value. They are better suited to enthusiasts and collectors.

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Photography / Hybrid

ModelYearMSRPMPWeightSensor
Canon 5D Mark III2012$3,499.0022.3945gFF
Canon 7D Mark II2014$1,799.0020.2820gAPS-C
Nikon D72002015$1,199.0024.2765gAPS-C
Nikon Z502019$859.0020.9450gAPS-C
Sony A7II2014$1,699.0024.0559gFF
Sony A65002016$1,399.0024.2453gAPS-C
Fujifilm X-T12014$1,299.0016.0440gAPS-C
Fujifilm X-Pro12012$1,699.0016.3450gAPS-C
Pentax K-3 II2015$999.0024.3785gAPS-C
Sony A77 II2014$1,198.0024.31351gAPS-C
Panasonic G92017$1,699.0020.3650gMFT
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II2016$1,999.0020.4574gMFT
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II2015$1,099.0016.1469gMFT

Canon 5D Mark III

This is a model everyone should consider. It was a popular camera so there are an abundance of barely used bodies to choose from. Along with that, all the popular L glass is dirt cheap right now.

Magic Lantern turns this into a cinema camera.

Canon 7D Mark II

Nikon D7200

Sony A7II

Eats batteries. You’re going to want to have spares.

Cinematography / Video

ModelYearMSRPMPWeightSensor
Sony A7S2014$2,499.0012.2489gFF
Panasonic GH42014$1,699.0016.0560gMFT

Sony A7S

Uncompressed 4:2:2 Full HD and 4K video via HDMI. Very good low light performance.

Panasonic GH4

Popular for the high bit rate video it can capture. It’s a good choice for cinematography because there are used accessories galore.

High Resolution

ModelYearMSRPMPWeightSensor
Nikon D8002012$2,999.9536.3900gFF

Nikon D800

It has a base ISO of 64 and the highest resolution camera on the list. The MSRP is one of the highest on the list.

A great choice for portraits, landscapes, architecture, or type of photography where resolution is important. There are better options if continuous AF is needed.

Sports, Action, and Wildlife

ModelYearMSRPMPWeightSensor
Nikon D32007$4,999.0012.11,240gFF
Canon 1D X2012$6,799.0018.11,340gFF

Canon 1D X

It has a built-in grip and was designed for high speed shooting. Make sure to take into account the lens(es) that will be used with the camera. EF telephoto primes retain their value, which means they remain expensive.

Nikon D3

Widely considered one of the best build DSLRs ever. An absolute tank with excellent low light performance.

Discontinued Enthusiast Cameras

None of these systems made it to 10 years. That means a limited, expensive, and hard to find lens selection.

ModelYearMSRPMPWeightSensor
Canon M50 Mark II2020$779.0024.1387gAPS-C
Pentax S-Q12014$499.0012.4203g1/1.7”
Olympus E-52010$1,699.0012.3813gFour Thirds
Samsung NX12014$1,499.0028.2550gAPS-C
Samsung Galaxy NX2013$1,599.0020.3495gAPS-C
Nikon 1 V32014$1,199.9518.4381g1”

Canon M50 Mark II

I’ve never heard bad things about the EOS EF-M system. My guess is that the line was discontinued to prevent cannibalization of RF-S sales.

The lens selection is actually decent because Sigma made a bunch of lenses.

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