What are the best current used digital camera deals from the past?

[Contarama]

Df can be had less than 1500.

600, like NT says, is a lot of camera for little money.

5300 is a great deal for the cinema inclined. 5200 & 7100 have the Toshiba sensors supposedly nice for video. Both great deals.

5D and 7D great deals.

S5 Pro is simply classic. I predict some day they will bring more than they do now. White roll off is the special power of this camera - a perfect case of why sensors matter. My opinion. If I wanted a dedicated monochrome shooter it would probably be this one.

 

[NickTrop]

Nikon's D700

+1 on the D700. Or if 2012 is inclusive, a D600 with caveats. D600 is a camera that is produced to modern resolution specs and one of the smallest/lightest FF DSLRs and (imo) produced to professional standards that's both weather sealed and has dual card slots. However, it did have well-publicized real producion issues. Therefore, I'd get a used body only from a reputable retailer with a return policy, and only if you're willing to send your camera to Nikon under its service advisory should the "oil spot" issue rear its ugly head, which hasn't happend in the two bodies I have.

Yes, I've already posted about the D600 extensively.

I'd say any good condition FF body with a min of 12 MP. I believe some Canons fall into this category as well. Now that there is an ample supply of older FF bodies available at or above 12 MP in good used condition, I would shoot these before any crop sensor (and certainly smaller sensored) camera regardless of size/weight including new ones.

It's nice to -- at long last, have 35mm film image quality and rendering restored at affordable prices in the used marketplace. No crop factor, your 50mm lens (or whatever) is the 50mm you've spent a lifetime shooting (not a pseudo-not-quite-portrait or weird/useless short tele focal length) -- and restored is the sense of depth and dimension that comes with a lens focusing an image on the larger 35mm/full frame image plane and at resolution rates comprable to 35mm film.

It was a long time comin'.

 

[Archlich]

The D800 and D800e are pretty good deals too, if you need the resolution.

 

[Godfrey]

I still have my Olympus E-1 because it is still one of the finest DSLRs ever made, and my personal favorite, even though it's worth next to nothing to sell nowadays.

Olympus E-1 + ZD11-22mm + ZD35 Macro + ZD50-200mm + ZD 1.4x extender is a complete system. Superb photographs.

G

 

[Dogman]

I have to admit I've been tempted by the prices of the original and Mk II Canon 5D. I still have a few Canon primes left from the film days so I could put one to good use. But full frame just doesn't have much appeal for me these days. I can't see myself ever wanting to lug around a DSLR again.

Up until I totally switched to Fuji equipment, I used a couple of Olympus E620 bodies as lightweight alternatives to Canon. The E620 is certainly dated but it's still very useful and Olympus has some excellent lenses. The E-series Olympus bodies and lenses are selling at pretty much giveaway prices.

 

[JeffS7444]

I think the best deals are much newer, like a refurbished late-model Canon Rebel with 2 lenses and a Canon USA warranty for $280. Oh yes those sorts of deals do crop up periodically.


In full-frame bodies, the earlier Sony A7 variants are a bargain, and I think the Sony E mount is a pretty safe bet going forward.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Frankly, I really like the resolution of 24MPx. 12MPx is OK, 6 no longer cuts it for me.

D300 is a great 12MPx camera. Since 4/3 has totally shifted to micro 4/3, I wonder about the 10 and 12MPx Olympus 4/3 cameras. Perhaps the 520 or 620, just speculating, never shot one. I did get great images from an E-330, but as one of the first cameras with live-view, it was a bit quirky.

Also, FWIW, sony NEX-5n and 5T are quite cheap these days. Even the A6000 at 24MPx isn't that expensive and it's great with Sony lenses, great for adapting ANY legacy glass.

Thanks for the question. Interesting.

 

[jsrockit]

I think the best deals are much newer, like a refurbished late-model Canon Rebel with 2 lenses and a Canon USA warranty for $280. Oh yes those sorts of deals do crop up periodically.

Right, but those are bargain cameras to begin with that get cheaper. I think what I was looking for here were cameras that were once expensive or top of their class and now are still useful, but "cheap."

 

[gavinlg]

I would say absolutely:

- 5d mk1 - first affordable full frame camera, still astonishing IQ. D700 came afterwards.

- Epson R-d1 - first digital rangefinder. Nuff said.

- x100 series

 

[aizan]

pentax k-5
phase one p25+

 

[dee]

i second Fuji -

mid 2016 New boxed X-Pro1 body £168 [ plus new 27 @ £150 ]
mid 2017 - Returned no accessories X-M1 16-50 plus battery etc - £196 .
[Wanted the zoom for the X-Pro1]
Two months ago - sheer indulgence - X-T1 18-55 £427 OK more expensive but I like the SLR style.

I don't know what it is with these 1st generation Fujis shedding value , but I love 'em !
They are like real cameras not those rounded , bulky DSLRs !

I am probably sorted , but will keep looking , maybe in a year or two that X-Pro2 in the same store might hit clearance LOL.

dee

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Olympus E3/E5 - bombproof weather sealed body, decent IQ if you don't push the ISO, and access to the exceptional Zuiko Digital lenses (which can be had silly cheap now that Four Thirds is officially dead)...

 

[David Hughes]

Another vote for the E-10 right through to the E-5 and all those gorgeous lenses.

Regards, David

 

[Peter_S]

Leica X1.
Mamiya 645AF with older MF backs.

 

[mich rassena]

Micro 4/3 cameras are selling at a fraction of their original cost. At least than $100 (on KEH anyway), they're quite a bargain since they support interchangeable lenses, and auto-exposure with both native and adapted lenses.

 

[Fraser]

nikon d200, d300 or d700.
Canon 5dmk1 or mk2, 1dmk2 or Mk3.

 

[B-9]

Nikon D3 amazing camera under 1000$
Nikon D300s a steal for under 300$ dual card slots and video!

Ricoh GRIV, best bang for your buck compact!

Canon 1Ds/5D full frame for under 500$!

 

[Steve M.]

If you shoot B&W digital, to me there's only one choice. Considering the price and image quality, it's a bargain....the Epson R-D1.

I've stayed with film because I like the look and the selection of all the different films (and the excellent image quality, but let's not go there on a post about digital cameras), but if I DID shoot digital it would have to be the Epson. The files I've seen look much better than anything else out there in the digital B&W realm, and that includes all the latest and greatest uber expensive Leicas, Fujis, Canons, whatever. I don't know whether it's due to the sensor or software/hardware, but these cameras get the job done.

 

[johannielscom]

Very happy to see that in 38 replies, I was the only one mentioning the Ricoh GXR.
Now, to wait until the prices drop drastically and I'll get myself one once again...
😎 😀

 

[raid]

I may do this too, Johan.
Once, I was about to buy such a camera.