A comment in one of my recent articles about DSLRs made me realise that this was a topic I hadn’t covered. I am a DSLR fan (you may have noticed) but it’s true that DSLR phase-detect autofocus, while fast and efficient, is not always as accurate as a modern mirrorless system. I’m not talking about AF tracking or AF point coverage across the frame, I’m talking about precision, and the more complex way that DSLR autofocus works.
Used cameras are making a comeback!
You don't have to spend much time on YouTube to figure out that older cameras are enjoying a resurgence. It's not just trendy hipster types re-discovering dreadful little point and shoot cameras from the year dot, or drooling over ancient CCD sensors and their magical color science. It's also serious, thinking photographers who actually enjoy the heft and handling of DSLRs, who've figured out that the resolution they had ten years ago is still enough today, and that while camera technology has moved on for video shooters, to all intents and purposes still camera development flattened out about ten years ago. So here's a mix of reviews of older cameras that can still cut it today. And check out my personal top 10 used cameras, all of which I've owned and used myself.
Used DSLR bargains in 2026. What can you get for £500/$500? You’ll be amazed!
Used digital SLRs are just insane value for money right now – if you know which models to look out for. Some brands and some types are more sought after than others (I don’t why), so the trick is do dodge these and look for the real bargains that are just as good but way, way cheaper. Here’s my list.
Never used a DSLR before? Here’s what to expect
It’s easy to forget that a whole new generation of photographers has probably never used a DSLR. If you grew up in the mirrorless era, or you got into photography when mirrorless cameras were the norm, a DSLR will feel like a very strange beast… at first. Why even bring this up? Because a very strange thing is happening. As new camera sales dwindle, the used camera market is booming, and DSLRs are among the most popular retro purchase, because for now at least they are cheap, practical and powerful, and compatible with a lot of equally cheap lenses.
When we turned our back on DSLRs we gave up a lot of things we shouldn’t have
One of these is the optical viewfinder. When mirrorless cameras first came out, almost all of my tech journo colleagues embraced electronic viewfinders for showing what the camera will actually capture, and for the mechanical simplicity of the mirrorless design. I wasn’t so sure, but I couldn’t really explain why. Now I think I can.
Forget the Nikon Z fc and Zf. The Nikon Df was the original
I reviewed the Nikon Df when it first came out in 2013, never imagining that it would be another 13 years before I finally owned one. Some people think the Df is a kind of Frankenstein camera, some people think it’s a work of art. It has more quirks, flaws and odd decisions than practically any other camera, but I don’t actually care. I mean, just look at it.
Nikon D7500 review in 2026
Verdict: 4.3 stars The Nikon D7500 was in many ways a somewhat odd successor to the much-loved D7200. Launched in 2017, it brought a drop in resolution and a single card slot, but also came with 4K video and a tilting touchscreen. It is perhaps a better all-rounder, but how does it stack up in 2026 as a used buy or, if you can still find it, a new camera?
Fujifilm X-T1 review in 2024, with sample images
Verdict 4.3 stars The Fujifilm X-T1 is a terrific low-cost used choice that makes a great camera for photography students and enthusiasts today. Its traditional external exposure controls are perfect for re-discovering the lost art of exposure, and its excellent build quality and handling make it a very satisfying camera to use.
Nikon D610 review in 2024: Nikon’s forgotten classic
Nikon D610 verdict: 4.6 stars The Nikon D610 is from what I consider the golden era of Nikons DSLRs. As a camera for regular stills photography it’s as good as any modern 24-megapixel full frame camera for image quality and offers a completely different – and refreshing – shooting experience. Its video features are pretty primitive, as you would expect, but that aside, this is a superbly made camera that is heavy, yes, but handles brilliantly. It’s also cruelly undervalued, even forgotten, as a used buy.
Fujifilm X30 review in 2024
Verdict: 4 stars I honestly consider this to be one of the best cameras Fujifilm has made. Is 12MP enough? That depends on you. I think that it probably is, and if you accept that then the X30 is not just a stunning little travel camera for its time, it still is today. Its specs are good, its design and handling are superb and while Fujifilm might have decided it wasn’t a camera people wanted any more, the used prices say otherwise! I will never sell mine.
Canon EOS 50D review in 2024: excellent design, exceptional value
Verdict: 4.1 stars The Canon EOS 50D was launched way back in 2008, so its sensor specifications are some way behind a modern camera’s, and yet its 15.1MP resolution is still perfectly usable today for any kind of online imagery and even mid-large size wall prints. This is a camera for stills photography not video, as you would expect from this era, but perhaps the biggest surprise is this camera’s design, build quality and finish, which you just don’t see in the enthusiast sector today.