The price to performance of used cameras is absurd. My view is that digital photography tech hit maturity in 2008 with the release of the Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D700.
There is an overwhelming amount of professional gear out there at rock bottom prices. Consumer gear can be a blast when it’s cheap enough. The right camera for a style of shooting is going to be better than whatever the newest camera happens to be. (Unless you’re doing sports/action/wildlife. AF tech is getting absurd.)
Third Party Battery Paranoia
I have had batteries fall apart, fail within months, and with a capacity far below what’s on the label. It’s difficult to find good quality third party batteries.
There is an easy way ANYONE can inexpensively capacity test camera batteries. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to capacity test camera batteries. It is a simple DIY project that only requires, ~$30, a screwdriver, and pair of wire strippers.
Picking Out Vintage Lens Winners
All lenses aren’t equal, especially when it comes to vintage and early digital camera lenses. Modern lenses will give you images that are razor sharp corner to corner. Vintage lenses can set themselves apart by how they render, the color you can get with them, interesting bokeh, or other characteristics not valued by current photographers.
On the other hand, many vintage lenses are not good. Their performance may not be good enough to set them apart from other lenses. Worse, as time has gone on some lenses have defects such as haze, fungus, balsam separation, or degraded grease, that will render them worthless because of the difficulty in repair.
I’m somewhat indiscriminate in my purchasing of gear, so I get a mix of good, bad, and average. The lens reviews will help you find a lens worth owning. These are popular film cameras that recieve frequent lens questions.
These are used prices for Canon EF mount telephoto lenses in good condition. It covers lenses with the best availability. It is not a complete list of all lenses.
Zoom/prime preference and a budget will narrow down options to a handful of lenses.
I haven’t gone through and checked for teleconverter compatibility.
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The first appearance of a medium format camera with the Pentax 645D.
Keep lens needs and costs in mind. That can often be the tie breaker between models.
Most Expensive: Pentax 645D ($9,300)
Cheapest: Sony A6700 ($1,300)
Oldest: Pentax 645D (2010)
Newest: Sony A6700 (2023)
Model
Year
MSRP
MP
Weight
Sensor
Video
Pentax 645D
2010
$9,300
40.0
1480g
MF
No
Canon EOS-1 DX Mark II
2016
$5,999
20.2
1340g
FF
4k60
Nikon D780
2020
$2,299
24.3
840g
FF
4k30
Nikon D810A
2014
$3,799
36.3
980g
FF
1080p60
Nikon D850
2017
$3,299
45.7
1005g
FF
4k30
Nikon D5
2016
$6,499
20.8
1400g
FF
4k30
Nikon Z 7
2018
$3,399
45.7
585g
FF
4k30
Nikon Z 6II
2020
$1,995
24.5
615g
FF
4k30
Sony A7RIII
2017
$3,199
42.4
657g
FF
4k30
Sony A7C
2020
$1,799
24.2
509g
FF
4k30
Sony A9
2017
$4,499
24.2
673g
FF
4k30
Sony A6700
2023
$1,399
26.0
493g
APS-C
4k120
Panasonic GH6
2022
$2,199
25.2
823g
MFT
6k60
Pentax K-1 Mark II
2018
$1,999
36.4
1010g
FF
1080p30
Panasonic S1H
2019
$3,999
24.2
1052g
FF
6k30
Panasonic S1R
2019
$3,699
47.3
1020g
FF
4k60
Pentax K-3 Mark III
2021
$1,899
25.7
820g
APS-C
4k30
Leica TL2
2017
$1,949
24.0
399g
APS-C
4k30
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Here are Canon EF macro lenses I found on the used market.
Noteworthy lenses have sections below.
Price
Brand
Focal Length
Aperture
Acronyms
$100
Sigma
90mm
f/2.8
AF Macro
$150
Canon
50mm
f/2.5
AF Compact Macro
$200
Tamron
90mm
f/2.8
Di Macro USD SP (F017)
$250
Canon
100mm
f/2.8
Macro
$250
Tamron
60mm
f/2
AF Di II SP
$300
Laowa
25mm
f/2.8
$350
Tokina
100mm
f/2.8
ATX-i
$400
Laowa
100mm
f/2.8
APO
$400
Zeiss
100mm
f/2
Makro-Planar
$450
Irix
150mm
f/2.8
$450
Sigma
70mm
f/2.8
DG
$450
Sigma
105mm
f/2.8
EX DG OS HSM
$500
Canon
180mm
f/3.5L
USM Macro
$600
Canon
100mm
f/2.8L
Macro IS USM
$600
Zeiss
100mm
f/2
Milvus ZE Macro
$700
Canon
65mm
f/2.8
MP-E
$750
Laowa
24mm
f/14
Probe
$1,500
Canon
135mm
f/4L
TS-E
$1,700
Canon
50mm
f/2.8L
TS-E
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Photo, video, or hybrid use, there are a variety of cameras to choose from under $750. That’s for the body only. This makes it possible to compare kits between systems.
The Lenses Under $Y will have options broken down by price and focal length.
Most Expensive: Nikon D3X ($7,999)
Cheapest: Canon 90D, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III ($1,199)
Oldest: Nikon D3X, Sony A900 (2008)
Newest: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III (2020)
Model
Year
MSRP
MP
Weight
Sensor
Video
Canon EOS RP
2019
$1,299
26.2
485g
FF
4k24
Canon M6 Mark II
2017
$1,999
26.2
685g
FF
1080p60
Canon 90D
2019
$1,199
32.5
701g
APS-C
4k30
Nikon D7500
2017
$1,249
20.9
640g
APS-C
4k30
Nikon D500
2016
$1,999
20.9
760g
APS-C
4k30
Nikon D810
2014
$2,899
36.3
980g
FF
1080p60
Nikon D3X
2008
$7,999
24.5
1260g
FF
No
Nikon Z5
2020
$1,399
24.3
590g
FF
4k30
Sony A7RII
2015
$3,199
42.4
625g
FF
4k30
Sony A7SII
2015
$2,999
12.2
599g
FF
4k30
Sony A99
2012
$2,799
24.3
733g
FF
1080p60
Sony A6500
2016
$1,399
24.2
453g
APS-C
4k30
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
2020
$1,799
20.4
580g
MFT
4k30
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
2019
$1,199
20.4
414g
MFT
4k30
Olympus OM-D E-M1X
2019
$2,999
20.4
997g
MFT
4k30
Panasonic GH5
2017
$1,999
20.3
725g
MFT
4k60
Panasonic GH5S
2018
$2,499
10.2
660g
MFT
4k60
Panasonic G9
2017
$1,699
20.3
658g
MFT
4k60
Sony A900
2008
$1,749
24.6
895g
FF
None
Blackmagic Pocket HD
2013
$995
1080p30
355g
Super 16
1080p30
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There are camera bodies that are perfect for professional work and other’s that would be an enthusiasts dream.
Most of these cameras need SD cards with high sustained write speeds for best performance. A V30 or V60 card might be needed.
Most Expensive: Nikon D4S ($6,499)
Cheapest: Olympus PEN-F Digital ($1,199)
Oldest: Nikon Df (2013)
Newest: Canon R8 (2023)
Model
Year
MSRP
MP
Weight
Sensor
Video
Pentax K-1
2016
$1,799
36.4
1010g
FF
1080p30
Olympus PEN-F Digital
2016
$1,199
20.3
427g
MFT
1080p60
Panasonic S1
2019
$2,499
24.2
899g
FF
4k60
Canon 5D Mark IV
2016
$3,499
30.1
800g
FF
4k30
Canon 5DS / Canon 5DS R
2015
$3,699 / $3,899
50.3
845g
FF
1080p30
Nikon Df
2013
$2,749
16.2
760g
FF
None
Nikon D4S
2014
$6,499
16.2
1180g
FF
1080p60
Blackmagic Design Pocket 4K
2018
$1,295
Cinema!
720g
MFT or EF
4k60
Sony A7III
2018
$1,999
24.2
650g
FF
4k30
Sony A6600
2019
$1,399
24.2
503g
APS-C
4k30
Panasonic G5H II
2021
$1,699
20.3
727g
MFT
4k60
Canon R8
2023
$1,499
24.2
461g
FF
4k60
Leica T (typ 701)
2014
$1,849
16.0
384g
APS-C
1080p30
Leica TL
2016
$1,695
16.0
384g
APS-C
1080p30
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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:
