In the film days you could buy one camera and use it for years upon years, in order to change your look you used different films. These days that dynamic has changed, and now photographers are pressured into buying the latest and greatest cameras after just a couple of years. But taking into account where digital photography is these days, there are still some great cameras out there to be had, many times for a significant discount over their cutting edge brethren.
So here are 5 picks for great older cameras for you to consider.
Canon 70D
Sure, Canon has the 80D and the brand new 77D, but for those who are not in need of the absolute latest specs, Canon’s 70D is still a really solid performer. In our full review we said “For the price point and the target consumer, the build quality is pretty good. It isn’t Canon 7D or 5D Mk III quality, but it’s more adequate than your run of the mill Canon Rebel camera. Consumers will be able to take it out into the rain and snow with confidence…”
If you are interested you can still find them on Amazon for a great price (Under $800!).
Nikon D810
It may not be the latest latest high megapixel full frame camera on the market, but at 3 years old, the D810 is still an incredible option if you don’t need more megapixels and the latest features. In our full review we said “Trust us when we say that there is a whole lot to love about the Nikon D810. It is lightweight, full frame, well built, and puts all the major functions right where you need them. There is very little to complain about with the Nikon D810. We like it; and we guarantee you that you will too.”
You can find the D810 over on Amazon, here.
Sony A7
The full frame mirrorless that started it all, and it is still a great performer offering excellent image quality. Sure, you will have to move up to the newer bodies for better AF performance, but in most other areas the original A7 is still a great camera to be had. Plus, at $1000 it’s also one of the best full frame deals around. In our full review we said: “It almost seems like an obvious choice, but the A7 is wholly deserving of an Editor’s Choice Award for its beautiful design and image quality. Alongside the A7R, the A7 is creating a new market that Nikon has also tried to stake its place in, but this is clearly Sony’s game.”
You can grab an A7 body over on Amazon, here.
PS: The Sony a7 is still the camera of choice for Editor in Chief Chris Gampat.
Canon 6D
There are a lot of rumors swirling about a possible 6D Mark II, but even the current 6D has started being over looked by the newer Canon bodies. Which is a shame, because the 6D is still one of the best budget DSLRs there is! In our official review we said: “All-in-all, I actually did really like the 6D. I thought it handled well, had really quite good image quality and impressive low-light focusing abilities. There’s certainly more I liked about it than didn’t and I think it’s a worthy consideration for any Canon shooters looking to go full-frame.”
You can grab one over on Amazon, here.
Sony A6000
Sony has the A6300, and even the A6500 now. But if you are primarily a stills shooter, the A6000 still offers decent 1080 video performance and very good mirrorless AF. In our full review we said: “The Sony A6000 hands down has what could arguably be called the best autofocusing system out there. While it isn’t the fastest, it by far is the smartest and the most responsive–putting some DSLRs to shame in our tests for sure.”
You can grab one over on Amazon, here.
