Best Second hand Camera Money Can Buy

In this video, I’ll be answering a question I get asked a lot – what’s a good second-hand camera to buy? We’ll be looking at the Canon EOS 5d mark II, currently selling for under $500 / £450, and asking if it’s the best second-hand camera for the money. What’s more, I’ll be showing you what to look for when you’re buying a used camera to make sure you get a great one.

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[rickjbradbury]

I love the 5D Mark II. Worked with them for the last 8 years or so, they are a workhorse of a camera.

[EckyBoy]

I was a guest at my sister in laws wedding, back in January 2018, and the wedding photographer guy was using a pair of 5D MK2s - one with the 85mm F1.8 Canon lens and the other with the 35mm F2 usm Canon lens. The photos that this guy produced were superb and all from good solid gear that can be picked up at a reasonable price. Come to think of it I attended a friends wedding back in 2015 and the photographer was using a pair of Nikon D700s. I don't know much about Nikon gear but I do know that the D700 is an old timer of a camera and I do know that this guys photos were also fantastic. My advise is always something yourself a camera, old or new it doesn't matter, use it until using it becomes second nature, learning all the strengths and weaknesses along the way, and last but not least...4 - enjoy the journey :)

[ovwok]

Just bought one on eBay for $430 with a nifty fifty 2 batteries 3 cards and a speed light flash

[MiladJPanah]

Bought one today after watching this video:


25k shutter count
4 batteries
2 CF Cards with 32gb ( fast )
Battery Grip (Original one)
Mint Condition Body
Price: 400€

[tonyjedioftheforest]

Top video. Bought mine from MPB who I can highly recommend. It was listed as in as new condition with only 4 shutter counts for £525. It turned out to be a misprint it should have been 4000 so they refunded the postage, knocked 10% off and threw in another Canon battery and a 32 gb Sandisc card. Outstanding service . I have since bought several lenses from them all at very great prices. They are much safer than buying from EBay. Every thing is fully tested with a guarantee and if you check their prices cheaper than EBay

[thecockneyphotographer]

I too just bought one, £360 included battery, charger, original Mkii strap, instruction manual, all the cables required and only 27000+ shutter Luv it

[sbr]

Bought an 5D classic a few years ago for 500€
This was my best decision ever.
So much Camera for that little money.
I would recommend the classic 5D for everyone who wants to get his first full frame. Right now you can get them for about 300€.

Now, a few years later I am looking for an MK II
because of live view for some situations and the few more pixels ^^

And a few years from now, we can get the MK III for the same money.

Regarding the downside of Compact Flash Cards.
I am using an SD Card with an Compact Flash Adapter in my 5D. Works perfectly.

[vantagepointphotography]

I use a bunch of cameras, 5D II is one of them. It is inseparable from my kit.
The two upgrades, Mark III and Mark IV are full of toys that makes them more expensive, but for a regular professional shooting and delivering good quality images, the 5D II is a workhorse and will keep giving you great creativity for years to come.
Excellent video by the way.

I recently got one in Tijuana, Mexico, for $5, 400 MXN or $270 USD at a pawn shop. It already came with a 50 mm 1.8, a 32 GB memory card and a bit of charge on the battery, so I could check its functionality. The only cons were a the lack of eyepiece and some scratches on LCD, but for a nice and clean full frame sensor, it was a very good purchase.

[albertogurisatti]

just bought three days ago! GREAT DEAL my first full frame camera! Before I owned a Canon 700d...the difference is incredible

[jacobnathanielzpayag]

I actually like compact flash. I just switched from a 1200D to a 50D and honestly, Compact flash and it's derivatives (CFast and CF Express) are the way to go for professional storage. It's faster than SD UHS-I and fells more robust thanks to the bigger form factor. I can comfortably edit photos directly off the card using a USB 3.0 card reader.

[keithbloomfield]

1. The 5D Mk ii has an automatic sensor cleaner - it operates both when you switch on and again when you switch off. 2. You can buy an SD - CF converter - just slip in the SD and you're good to go. I haven't noticed any loss in speed. The one I bought seems to have a problem with anything above 32Gb, but that may either be this convertor or a camera limit.

[tommiehoff]

hi marc i bought my 5dmk from KEH for $485.00 great price for a great camera i had it for 3yrs now and love your book! tommie usa

[MrJusmobile]

B and H NYC, 820.00 but the shutter count was 5200, without a scratch. I use my L lenses 2.8, 24-70 and 70-200. Professional shots is all I can say.

[MattHalpain]

(2019) A few years ago 2017 I bought a used Canon 5D Mark II, and I love it. The 1080p video I get with the 5D Mark II is way better still today than my iPhone X's video. I have 3 lenses for my 5D Mark II, used Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, used Canon EF 50mm 1.4, refurbished Canon EF 75-300 f/4-5.6 III. My still photos using my lenses are way better than my iPhone X in any situation. My CF card I use in my Canon 5D Mark II, when hooked up to my PC in a card reader is way faster than my SD card in comparison of transferring files. I have a 16gb 50mb/s CF card.

[onequestion]

For the same money or sometimes cheaper, buy the 6D. It has an upgraded sensor, shoots on SD cards and has many other benefits compared to the 5D2.

[Robert-ggvk]

I have been using this camera for 7 years. It's still much much better then any new entry level camera. First It has really great colors, better then apsc cameras or even 6D or RP for RAW files. What is not so great is focusing accuracy and focusing speed in Live View mode so shooting moving scenes might be tricky sometimes.

[imnguyen]

Great advice. I sold my 5d2 2yrs ago in favor for Sony and Fuji apsc mirrorless and Always missed the full frame and iso performance. I like using vintage manual focus lenses, so was thinking about a used older model Sony A7. The 5d is very well built camera with very good ergonomics which I doubt the Sony has.

[MrRensan]

I agree it is a really good, solid buy. I have a 50D and the controls are similar, being sold new almost at the same time. It is also the last of the crop sensor camera on the D range that was built with a magnesium body. Difference, the 50D is a crop sensor camera. I use it up to this day and it still gives me good quality pictures. I have a 5DMk3, it is build like the 5DMk2, but has more focus points, two card slots, and higher ISO capabilities, otherwise it is the same.

[philtaylor]

I have one as my go to static job body. Great in low light, with stabilised lenses and high ISO for a lot of news work you can leave the tripod behind. OK the AF and motordrive are a bit slow, but if you are not covering sport it's perfectly fine.

Partnered with the Canon 16 to 35 and 24 105 f4 kit it's a nice high resolution workhorse that has got me several national paper publications.