This is not an exhaustive list. There are still lots of older cameras I will try to get hold of when good ones become available and funds permit. This list is of cameras I own right now or have owned, and which I think are particularly interesting buys.
I happen to think that some of the best cameras have already been made, and that the new cameras now being released are not necessarily better than the ones we already had and which have now passed into history.
I’ve been reviewing digital cameras professionally for 25 years for Digital Camera Magazine, TechRadar and others, so I know what I like and what I’m looking for – and I know how older cameras compare to their modern equivalents.
For this list I’ve chosen cameras which are either a few years old but still very usable and relevant today, or cameras which are even older but perfectly decent and on sale for very little money.
I use MPB to buy and sell my cameras. It’s more expensive than private sales or eBay, but you get a 6 month warranty and a full description of the condition, with photos, of the camera you’re going to buy, together with all accessories present or missing. Everything is properly boxed and delivered promptly.
This list is likely to keep changing as I get hold of more older cameras for comparison with modern rivals. There’s often less difference than you think. I’ve arranged this list alphabetically because I don’t think there’s much point arranging it in any kind of order of merit. Everyone has a different idea of what they’re looking for.
Right, so let’s dive in!
01 Canon EOS 50D: Ageing sensor, ageless design, and cheap!
Type: DSLR | Format: APS-C | Resolution: 15MP | Year launched: 2008 | Price new: £1199/$1399 | What I paid (2024): £104
The EOS 50D’s 15MP sensor is pretty dated by today’s standards, and you’d be well advised to stay away from the in-camera JPEGs, as these are pretty soft. The raw files aren’t bad, though, and the image quality holds up well today if 15MP is enough for your needs. The killer feature of this camera, though, its build quality and controls. It’s built like a tank, handles brilliantly and the viewfinder, rear screen and the AF are still very good, even today. Mine came in as-new condition with only 4K shutter actuations, which makes its low price even more ridiculous. See my Canon EOS 50D review
02 Canon EOS RP: Beginner bargain that’s turning into a classic
Type: Mirrorless | Format: Full frame | Resolution: 26MP | Year launched: 2019 | Price new: £1399/$1299 | What I paid (new in 2021): £1300 with 24-105mm STM kit lens
I’m not sure if I should list the EOS RP as a best used buy because you can still buy them new at knock-down prices. However, I think it’s an interesting camera because it’s several years old now and widely available on the used market – though you’d find it hard to beat some of the new prices being quoted now. This is really good beginner camera which looks and feels just like the later EOS R8 but with a little less power and reduced video capabilities. Its only real weakness is the ageing 26MP sensor, which is rather prone to noisy shadows. See my Canon EOS RP pros and cons
03 Fujifilm X-T1: The original X-T model still stacks up well today
Type: Mirrorless | Format: APS-C | Resolution: 16MP | Year launched: 2014 | Price new: £1099/$1299 | What I paid (2023): £284
The Fujifilm X-T1 was the first of Fujifilm’s DSLR-style mirrorless cameras, and I also own the latest, the X-T5, so this makes for a very interesting comparison. The X-T1’s specs are primitive by comparison, with a cruder AF system and only 16MP not 40MP. And yet, in use it feels very snappy and almost as quick as the newer model. It’s not going to be very useful for subject tracking and video, but for regular stills photography it’s both fast and effective, even today. For reasons I don’t quite understand myself, I sometimes prefer this to the X-T5 when I go out shooting. See my Fujifilm X-T1 review
04 Fujifilm X30: A retro classic that’s still a great travel camera
Type: Compact | Format: 2/3-inch sensor | Resolution: 12MP | Year launched: 2014 | Price new: £480/$599 | What I paid (2015): £480
I’ve had this camera for ten years now, and while its 12MP 2/3-inch sensor seems out of date, it still delivers very good results way better than a smartphone’s, and with a 4x 28-112mm equivalent zoom range. It’s the perfect pocket-sized travel camera but has a really classy look and feel too – it has all the vibes of the Fujifilm X100 series but in a smaller and more versatile format. I particularly like the mechanical zoom action, which definitely makes this handy compact feel like a ‘real’ camera. I can’t be the only one to think so because good used examples now sell for more than this camera cost new. See my Fujifilm X30 review
05 Nikon D610: A long forgotten bargain from Nikon’s golden era
Type: DSLR | Format: Full frame | Resolution: 24MP | Year launched: 2013 | Price new: £1799/$1999 | What I paid (2024): £399
This is one of my most recent acquisitions and one of my favorites. How can a camera this well made, this responsive and this good be more than ten years old? It might seem a lot to pay for a camera of this age, but let’s look at what you’re getting – notably a 24MP full frame sensor that’s essentially as good as anything you can buy today for stills photography, with build quality and controls from Nikon’s golden era of DSLR design. I love the simplicity of the design, its curved surfaces and its immaculate finish. Mine is in ‘as new’ condition with only 4K shutter actuations. It looks, feels and operates as if it was fresh from the factory. See my Nikon D610 review
06 Nikon D800: Brutal 36MP powerhouse that’s still relevant today
Type: DSLR | Format: Full frame | Resolution: 36MP | Year launched: 2012 | Price new: £2599/$2999 | What I paid (2023): £594
Yes, the Nikon D800 was launched way back in 2012, but it’s amazing how well this camera has worn when you pick one up today. It’s a big bruiser of a camera with an ultra-solid feel and a professional control layout that includes a top-panel status LCD and even live view – though admittedly it’s not fast. My example was not cheap, but it came in as-new condition with less than 5K shutter actuations and looks and feels unused. Nothing is perished, nothing is broken, nothing is marked. The 36MP sensor delivers excellent detail, the 51-point AF system is one of Nikon’s best and the rear screen is as sharp and as clear as a modern camera’s. Read my Nikon D800 review
07 Olympus PEN E-P7: Beautiful portable PEN that’s become a real bargain
Type: Mirrorless | Format: MFT | Resolution: 20MP | Year launched: 2021 | Price new: £849/$- | What I paid (new in 2024): £549 direct from OM System store
The PEN E-P7 is another camera that is still available (sort of, in some territories) and not very old, but I’ve included it here because I think it’s a great camera that could become a bit of a retro classic. Its biggest drawback, perhaps, is its lack of an EVF, but it’s by no means the only small mirrorless camera with no viewfinder. What it does have is a very compact body, an equally compact 14-42mm pancake kit lens and extremely attractive retro styling. You just want to pick it up and look at it all the time. The image quality is great, the in-camera stabilization is excellent, and you get 4K video. See my Olympus PEN E-P7 review
08 Olympus PEN-F: The retro classic that MFT fans will always adore
Type: Mirrorless | Format: MFT | Resolution: 20MP | Year launched: 2016 | Price new: £1199/$1199 | What I paid (2024): £750
This is the most I’ve paid for a used camera, but I always wanted a PEN-F and bitterly regretted not buying one new while I had the chance. But then an opportunity came around to pick up an excellent used example from a friend in the US, so I jumped at it. My example is in black and silver and came with a tan leather half-case and a soft release shutter button, both of which complement it perfectly. I still think the PEN-F was ahead of its time – the first Olympus with a 20MP sensor and the only PEN model to come with an integrated EVF. Its build quality and retro styling are super. See my Olympus PEN-F review
09 Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III: Effective pro MFT camera that’s great value today
Type: Mirrorless | Format: MFT | Resolution: 20MP | Year launched: 2020 | Price new: £1599/$1799 | What I paid (2020): £649
I’ve always rated the Olympus OM-D bodies for their handling, speed and balance with the bigger Olympus Pro lenses, but I always held back from getting an OM-1 or OM-1 Mark II because it seemed to me I’d be paying a lot for shooting speed and tracking capabilities I wouldn’t really use. Instead I bought a used OM-D E-M1 Mark III, which handles very much like the OM-1 and is plenty fast enough for what I need while being a lot cheaper. Good examples of the E-M1 Mark III hold their prices pretty well, which is an indicator of a good camera. See my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III review
10 Sony A7 II: Still an effective 24MP full frame mirrorless camera, and so cheap!
Type: Mirrorless | Format: Full frame | Resolution: 24MP | Year launched: 2014 | Price new: £1599/$1699 | What I paid (new in 2023): £599 via Sony store Black Friday sale
The Sony A7 II is still on sale, even though it’s been superseded by two later generations of A7 models. Designed as an affordable do-it-all camera, the A7 II has a 24MP sensor and an effective hybrid AF system that’s some way behind Sony’s latest AI tracking tech, but still fine for regular stills photography. It’s another ‘old’ camera with a perfectly good sensor for modern use, and it even has a tilting screen and IBIS. I bought my sample brand new direct from Sony during Black Friday 2023 at an absolute steal of a price. With cameras like this that are old models but still on sale, always check the best new prices before buying used. See my Sony A7 II review
That’s it for now, but please do keep coming back to this guide for updates. I’m a bit of a camera nut and I have a particular passion for older cameras which I think are perfectly good for use today, often unfairly dismissed because of their age, and which are also cheap to buy!
See also
• Are used digital cameras any good for photography today?