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.
But first, a few notes:
- I’m using MPB.com as a price source. MPB has sites in both the UK and US.
- I’ve picked a budget of £300—500 in the UK, but I’ve also quoted comparable prices on the US site
- Remember that these prices are just snapshots, moments in time. Prices can go down… and up, especially where cameras suddenly become popular. Like when people read this… oops.
- I’m only listing cameras that you can get in ‘excellent’ or ‘like new’ condition. You don’t have to buy a beaten-up old camera, even with this modest budget
- Look out for the number of shutter actuations too. These aren’t available for all brands because some cameras don’t record this information
- All these prices are body-only because that’s how MPB works, so you’ll have to buy a lens separately, but MPB sells these too
- You can get beginner and enthusiast cameras in excellent condition, but not pro sports/action cameras – these only end up on the used market after they’ve been hammered to within an inch of their lives.
- Also check what accessories are included some cameras with have third-party batteries or chargers, which isn’t the end of the world, but may also be missing eye cups, sync socket covers or doors for electrical contacts in the base, which is more annoying.
Beginner APS-C DSLRs
A used beginner DSLR is such a great way for anyone to get into photography. For our £500/$500 budget you can get surprisingly recent cameras in such good condition they hardly look as if they have come out of their box.
Canon EOS 250D (Rebel SL3): around £389/$414 like new
- Year introduced: 2019
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: 4K
- Burst shooting: 5fps
The EOS 250D (Rebel SL3 in the US) is an excellent beginner camera because it’s small, easy to use and has a lot of modern features like a vari-angle rear screen, on-sensor phase detect AF for live view and even 4K video, though this is limited to 24/25fps and the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus doesn’t work in 4K.
Canon EOS 800D (Rebel T7i)): around £359/$414 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2017
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 6fps
The EOS 800D (Rebel T7i in the US) is a couple of years older than the EOS 250D but is a little chunkier to hold and a fraction faster in burst mode. It doesn’t shoot 4K video but otherwise it’s a very competent beginner camera for those who might find the 250D a bit toy-like.
Nikon D3500: around £319/$299 excellent condition or like new
- Year introduced: 2018
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 5fps
An excellent beginner DSLR that’s small and portable but packs the same 24MP sensor found in Nikon’s more advanced APS-C models. It doesn’t have a flip-out rear screen or Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF in live view, but its simplicity is part of the D3500’s charm, and for anyone interested primarily in stills photography, it’s perfect.
Nikon D5600: around £344/$369 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2016
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 5fps
The Nikon D5600 is a more advanced alternative to the D3500, with the same sensor but a flip-out rear screen and more customisation options. It doesn’t have on-sensor phase detect autofocus like Canon’s DSLRs for live view shooting, but Nikon did release a small selection of fast and quiet AF-P lenses which focus quickly even in live view.
Enthusiast APS-C DSLRs
Do you want speed or resolution, rugged build or advanced controls? Take your pick! Enthusiast cameras show more variations in condition and shutter actuations (where available) so take your time choosing the right one. Oh, and all the cameras in this list, not just this section, shoot video. Surprised? Mirrorless cameras didn’t invent video after all! You’ll be limited to Full HD and you might be better off filming from fixed positions with manual focus, but that’s how a lot of people film anyway.
Canon EOS 80D: around £479/$499 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2016
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 7fps
For a long time the Canon EOS 80D was the clear go-to do-it-all camera for Canon fans. With its 24MP sensor, vari-angle rear screen, Dual Pixel CMOS AF for live view and decent 7fps shooting speed, this camera keeps up remarkably well with modern mirrorless rivals.
Canon EOS 7D II: around £494/$594 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2014
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 20MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 10fps
The EOS 7D II is a solidly-built APS-C DSLR for serious sports and wildlife fans. Its 20MP sensor is only a little behind the EOS 80D’s for resolution, but its 10fps continuous shooting speed is much faster, and its 65-point cross-type autofocus much more advanced, which means the 7D II is still surprisingly competitive even today, For some reasons, good ones seem to cost a little more in the US.
Nikon D7200: around £489/$494 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2015
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 6/7fps
The Nikon D7200 is on a par with the Canon EOS 80D for enthusiast appeal but goes in a slightly different direction. The rear screen is fixed not articulating and there’s no phase-detect autofocus in live view. But what the D7200 does have is perhaps the best 24MP APS-C sensor ever made, with no anti-aliasing filter (maximum sharpness) and excellent dyamic range, in a solid, nice-handling body with twin SD card slots.
Pentax K-70: around £354/$439 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2016
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 6fps
No DSLR list would be complete without Pentax. The K-70 was more of a lower-end model, but still weather-sealed and built to typical Pentax standards of solidity and robustness. Amazingly, this model has a vari-angle rear screen and is one of only two Pentax DSLRs to get on-sensor phase detect AF in live view. Like all Pentax DSLRs, this has the company’s unique SR tech built into the sensor mount – so that’s IBIS, in modern parlance.
Pentax K-3: around £384/$469 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2013
- Format: APS-C
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 8.3fps
The Pentax K-3 series has always been at the upper end of Pentax’s APS-C pricing scale, so you have to go all the way back to the first incarnation to hit our budget. This is still a strong, powerful and fast DSLR for enthusiasts who like a classic DSLR feel and in-depth controls. Be aware, though, that a lot of Pentax lenses can have quite crude and noisy AF driven by the camera body, so shop carefully.
Full frame DSLRs
You have to go back a couple more years to get a good-condition full frame camera within our £500/$500 budget, but don’t let that put you off. Even in 2012-2014, camera makers were making sensors at or near peak photography performance, and in camera bodies with build quality and ergonomics that you really don’t see so much these days.
Canon EOS 5D III: around £459/$594 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2012
- Format: full frame
- Resolution: 22MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 6fps
The EOS 5D III is the joint oldest camera on this list, but don’t let that put you off because its still the third incarnation of one of Canon’s moost popular series. With a rugged magnesium body and Canon’s trademark rounded profile and ergonimics, it’s a nice camera to use, and with its 22MP sensor, 61-point AF system and 6fps continuous shooting, it keeps up remarkably well with modern expectations. Used Canon’s do seem to attract higher prices in the US.
Nikon D610: around £354/$494 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2014
- Format: full frame
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 6fps
Nikon ran into a bit of trouble with this camera’s predecessor, the D600, which threw oil from the shutter mechanism all over the sensor surface. The D610 got a new shutter mechanism which fixed the problem and revealed what a nice design this actually was. The D610 is cheap to buy, very nicely made, has an excellent 24MP sensor and twin SD card slots. If you want a good full frame cmera on a budget, the D610 offers seriously good value for money.
Nikon D750: around £484/$699 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2014
- Format: full frame
- Resolution: 24MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 6.5fps
Imagine if the Nikon D610 had better autofocus, better low-light performance and a tilting screen – well that’s what the D750 delivers. It’s probably going to cost you a little more than a DD610, but this is a camera that has been a favourite amongst Nikon fans for years as a dependable, versatile and solid camera that still does the business today. Right now, a used D750 does seem a lot more expensive in the US.
Nikon D800/D800E: around £499/$474 excellent condition
- Year introduced: 2012
- Format: full frame
- Resolution: 36MP
- Video: Full HD
- Burst shooting: 4/6fps
The Nikon D800/D800E is a bargain, despite its age. Its 36MP sensor delivers the highest resolution of any DSLR in our £500/$500 budget, and this is a proper professional camera with build quality and controls to match. It’s also a big old brute, so you’d better start those hand exercises right now. For outright detail rendition, get the D800E variant, which ditches the anti-aliasing filter.
Final recommendations
As you’ll see, there are some great beginner/enthusiast Canon DSLR prices, but it’s harder to find many full frame Canon DSLRs in this price range. Nikon is strong both for beginner/enthusiast cameras and especially for full frame DSLRs, where prices seem extremely low for what you get, particularly in the UK. There are a couple of enthusiast-level Pentax DSLRs to look out for, but Pentax DSLRs are far less common on the used market – as are Sony’s early DSLR designs.
If I had to pick standout buys, I would say:
- Beginners: Canon EOS 250D (Rebel SL3) or Nikon D3500
- Enthusiasts: Canon EOS 7D II or Nikon D7200
- Full frame: Canon EOS 5D III or Nikon D800/D800E
Happy hunting!
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