February 27, 2023, 1:59 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Photography is an expensive hobby, with prices for good cameras and high-quality lenses quickly reaching three or even four figures. Can’t you save money by buying used?
Does it always have to be the latest model? No, experts say, not even for system cameras and lenses. You can work well with equipment that’s a few years old but still in good condition. Plus, it’s sustainable. However, you should avoid used cameras from the entry-level class.
It’s Best to Buy Used Cameras and Lenses in Stores
“Used system cameras are worthwhile for anyone who wants to save a lot of money and doesn’t necessarily need to shoot with the latest technology,” says Peter Nonhoff-Arps from the specialist magazine “c’t Fotografie.” Even cameras that haven’t been available new for several years still deliver high-quality digital images today, Nonhoff-Arps believes. For lenses, the price difference to new ones isn’t as large, but there are good chances of getting nearly unused lenses at a reasonable price.
Nonhoff-Arps recommends buying used cameras and lenses from a dealer: “The advantage is that you can test them on-site and usually get a warranty.” However, the price is often significantly higher than with private sellers. An online retailer is a compromise between these two extremes.
According to Nonhoff-Arps, online shopping is priced in the middle range. Additionally, online retailers must also provide a warranty and accept returns if necessary. “But for valuable cameras and lenses, it’s worth visiting the seller to inspect the objects of desire firsthand.”
Buying used cameras and lenses in stores is sensible, not least because there are several things to consider and check. A whole range of points, Nonhoff-Arps says: “From the sensor to wear marks on the body, display, tripod thread, or hot shoe, to the condition of the battery.” For lenses, the condition of the glass is relevant, and you need to check for dust inclusions.
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When Is It Worth Buying a Used Camera and Lens?
Vincent Meyer regularly buys used cameras for his Berlin photo specialty store and knows what matters. His first check is the overall condition, the external appearance. “With a camera that already has significant scratches, there’s a higher risk that something is no longer in order.” Point two: In any case, the image sensor should be free of dirt.
How much money you actually save when buying used depends heavily on the specific camera model, according to Meyer. “If you buy a product that is still being manufactured and sold, you can save 20 to 30 percent,” says the expert.
But up to what age is it worth buying a used camera? When does the lower price no longer outweigh the possibly outdated technology and especially image quality? Weighing functionality and photo quality against the potential price discount, buying used digital cameras is worthwhile, according to Vincent Meyer, up to a camera age of five to six years.
“Otherwise, you need to be very knowledgeable and really sure that it still works,” says Meyer. “Because technology has advanced so rapidly that with older models, you get results that are far from today’s standards.”
According to Peter Nonhoff-Arps, there are indeed models that are still recommendable even after ten years: “These usually include cameras in the then upper mid-range and high-end class.” However, buying older entry-level cameras and lenses used is generally not worthwhile, even if they are available for little money.
With or Without a Mirror
A system camera first and foremost means a camera with interchangeable lenses. Although the term system camera has sometimes become synonymous with mirrorless models. But: A single-lens reflex camera is also, by definition, a system camera.
Whether you choose a system camera with or without a mirror is ultimately a matter of taste and habit. In a single-lens reflex camera, the light “travels” over a mirror that flips away during the shot, exposing the image sensor, in an optical viewfinder.
Mirrorless system cameras, on the other hand, have an electronic viewfinder. In them, the light falls directly onto the sensor, which then sends the image to a high-resolution mini-display in the viewfinder. The cheapest mirrorless system cameras sometimes don’t even have a viewfinder. Here, live view control must be done via the display on the back of the camera.
One advantage of mirrorless system cameras: Due to the slimmer design without a mirror, mirror box, and optical viewfinder, they are not only lighter but usually also significantly more compact than the bodies of single-lens reflex cameras.