Verdict: 4 stars The Pen-F was a high-water mark for the PEN brand, with its beautiful design and construction and surprising practicality. Today, the lack of 4K video will be an obstacle for vloggers and hybrid shooters, but for stills photography it’s as effective now as when it was launched in 2016. All this is reflected in its scarcity and high used prices, however.
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.
Sony A7 II review in 2024
Verdict: 4 stars The Sony A7 II was launched back in November 2014, which is a long time ago in the fast-moving world of digital camera technology. Yet for everyday stills photography, not that much has changed. Its 24MP sensor is on a par with modern rivals, its hybrid AF system lacks AI subject recognition but is still fast and responsive, and while its burst speed is a modest 5fps and it doesn’t shoot 4K video, these are not things that everyone needs. As a general purpose stills camera, the A7 II still feels fresh and modern – and it’s so cheap it’s hard to believe Sony can afford to keep selling it.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 III review in 2023
Verdict: 4.5 stars The OM-D E-M1 III may have been superseded by the OM-1, but it runs it very close in so many areas that – depending on the type of photography you do – it could prove just as good. You can occasionally buy it new, but it’s most likely you’ll need to buy used. I bought my example in excellent condition from MPB at well under half the price of a new OM-1.
Nikon D800 review in 2023
Verdict: 4.5 stars The Nikon D800 is the first of Nikon’s full frame DSLR multi-megapixel monsters, but Nikon had been making cameras for decades up to this point, so there’s nothing unfinished or experimental about either its design or operation. This is a tough, durable, effective DSLR that captures still images of a resolution that only a handful of cameras surpass even today.
Sony A7R II review
Verdict 4.5 stars This is a review of a camera launched seven years ago, but one that was until recently still on sale at crazy prices. The A7R II’s tech may be years old, but its 42MP sensor offers huge image quality, its 4K video is cropped but still useful, and its value for money – either new if you can still find it, or on the used market – is just out of this world.
Sony A6000 review
Verdict: 4 stars It’s one of the cheapest mirrorless cameras on the market, yet it has a 24-megapixel sensor, an electronic viewfinder, 11fps shooting and advanced hybrid autofocus. So what’s the catch? There’s really not much to criticize except for 1080 video and somewhat high used prices. For such an old camera, though, the A6000 is still remarkably good.
Fujifilm X-A5 review
Verdict 3.8 stars The X-A5 is a decent vlogging camera with no EVF but a handy tilting screen. It’s nice to look and nice to use, but the current retro mania for any Fujifilm cameras means its used prices are maybe be just a little higher than they should be. Worth looking out for, though.