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24 Cameras Available Used for Under $500

     887 words  5 minutes 
There are some incredible deals on used cameras that are available for less than $500.

There is an excessive number of good cameras available for less than $500. Even after narrowing down the best from each mount, there are still too many to go through.

I will be breaking this list down into more specific groupings. These are open to change:

Model Year MSRP MP Weight Sensor
Canon 5D Mark III 2012 $3,499.00 22.3 945g FF
Canon 1D X 2012 $6,799.00 18.1 1,340g FF
Canon 7D Mark II 2014 $1,799.00 20.2 820g APS-C
Nikon D800 2012 $2,999.95 36.3 900g FF
Nikon D3 2007 $4,999.00 12.1 1,240g FF
Nikon D7200 2015 $1,199.00 24.2 765g APS-C
Nikon Z50 2019 $859.00 20.9 450g APS-C
Sony A7II 2014 $1,699.00 24.0 559g FF
Sony A7S 2014 $2,499.00 12.2 489g FF
Sony A6500 2016 $1,399.00 24.2 453g APS-C
Fujifilm X-T1 2014 $1,299.00 16.0 440g APS-C
Fujifilm X-Pro1 2012 $1,699.00 16.3 450g APS-C
Pentax K-3 II 2015 $999.00 24.3 785g APS-C
Sony A77 II 2014 $1,198.00 24.3 1351g APS-C
Panasonic GH4 2014 $1,699.00 16.0 560g MFT
Panasonic G9 2017 $1,699.00 20.3 650g MFT
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II 2016 $1,999.00 20.4 574g MFT
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II 2015 $1,099.00 16.1 469g MFT
Canon M50 Mark II 2020 $779.00 24.1 387g APS-C
Pentax S-Q1 2014 $499.00 12.4 203g 1/1.7”
Olympus E-5 2010 $1,699.00 12.3 813g Four Thirds
Samsung NX1 2014 $1,499.00 28.2 550g APS-C
Samsung Galaxy NX 2013 $1,599.00 20.3 495g APS-C
Nikon 1 V3 2014 $1,199.95 18.4 381g 1”

I think the Canon M50 Mark II is where I would draw the line on what I would recommend. Short lived mounts with sparse lens selections are a bad value. They are better suited to enthusiasts and collectors.

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Photography / Hybrid

Model Year MSRP MP Weight Sensor
Canon 5D Mark III 2012 $3,499.00 22.3 945g FF
Canon 7D Mark II 2014 $1,799.00 20.2 820g APS-C
Nikon D7200 2015 $1,199.00 24.2 765g APS-C
Nikon Z50 2019 $859.00 20.9 450g APS-C
Sony A7II 2014 $1,699.00 24.0 559g FF
Sony A6500 2016 $1,399.00 24.2 453g APS-C
Fujifilm X-T1 2014 $1,299.00 16.0 440g APS-C
Fujifilm X-Pro1 2012 $1,699.00 16.3 450g APS-C
Pentax K-3 II 2015 $999.00 24.3 785g APS-C
Sony A77 II 2014 $1,198.00 24.3 1351g APS-C
Panasonic G9 2017 $1,699.00 20.3 650g MFT
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II 2016 $1,999.00 20.4 574g MFT
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II 2015 $1,099.00 16.1 469g MFT

This is a model everyone should consider. It was a popular camera so there are an abundance of barely used bodies to choose from. Along with that, all the popular L glass is dirt cheap right now.

Magic Lantern turns this into a cinema camera.

Eats batteries. You’re going to want to have spares.

Cinematography / Video

Model Year MSRP MP Weight Sensor
Sony A7S 2014 $2,499.00 12.2 489g FF
Panasonic GH4 2014 $1,699.00 16.0 560g MFT

Uncompressed 4:2:2 Full HD and 4K video via HDMI. Very good low light performance.

Popular for the high bit rate video it can capture. It’s a good choice for cinematography because there are used accessories galore.

Model Year MSRP MP Weight Sensor
Nikon D800 2012 $2,999.95 36.3 900g FF

It has a base ISO of 64 and the highest resolution camera on the list. The MSRP is one of the highest on the list.

A great choice for portraits, landscapes, architecture, or type of photography where resolution is important. There are better options if continuous AF is needed.

Model Year MSRP MP Weight Sensor
Nikon D3 2007 $4,999.00 12.1 1,240g FF
Canon 1D X 2012 $6,799.00 18.1 1,340g FF

It has a built-in grip and was designed for high speed shooting. Make sure to take into account the lens(es) that will be used with the camera. EF telephoto primes retain their value, which means they remain expensive.

Widely considered one of the best build DSLRs ever. An absolute tank with excellent low light performance.

Model Year MSRP MP Weight Sensor
Canon M50 Mark II 2020 $779.00 24.1 387g APS-C
Pentax S-Q1 2014 $499.00 12.4 203g 1/1.7”
Olympus E-5 2010 $1,699.00 12.3 813g Four Thirds
Samsung NX1 2014 $1,499.00 28.2 550g APS-C
Samsung Galaxy NX 2013 $1,599.00 20.3 495g APS-C
Nikon 1 V3 2014 $1,199.95 18.4 381g 1”
Updated on 2024-03-29
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