Starting (mostly) fresh, a mid-range camera system for a bit of everything

Hey all. I'm looking for advice on a good used mirorless camera and lens system to buy into. I have been shooting for the past few years on a Nikon D5500, and when I can a Canon Rebels that I have access to for school events.

While both of these cameras have been great to me, I made some money over the last couple summers so think its time for an upgrade.

The majority of my work is for my school's newspaper and yearbook, so that means I have to shoot for almost every possible scenario. It's alot of fun, but that needs I need pretty versitile equiptment. Most other people doing the same thing as me own their own equiptment, one has a sony (cant exactly remember which one) and another has a Canon R8. Compared to those systems, the Rebels I use in school are most limited in their autofocus system, 3fps continuous speed, lack of a touchscreen or flippy screen, and interface setup, though they are still super capable for most senarios.

Some school stuff I shoot for includes: lots of sports games, concerts (in very low light), portraits, and exterior shots of the building. I also have shot events like quinceaneras or family portriats, and do alot of stuff while traveling.

I have about $2000 total, and I am planning to set aside ~1200 for the camera and the rest for some glass. I plan on doing this in college and beyond so it, would be great if I could get something futureproof. And just for value purposes, I would only buy something used off a credible Ebay vendor, or keh/mbp etc.

Any glass I personally own is stock, and any thing avalable at my school is not competative. Because I have friends already bought into sony or canon, it might be nice to stick to those lens systems, but also no problem if that doesnt happen.

I have done a ton of reaserch over the last few months and I have narrowed down a few great options all within my budget range, all used, Canon R7/8, Sony A7C, Sony A9, Nikon Z7 II, and the Fuji XT5. But if you have any other ideas by all means, suggest away. A good used lens ecosysten is essential.

[TLDR, 1200, preferably mirorrless, futureproof used camera for just about everything with a cheap used lens ecosystem.]

Any help would be great. Thanks!

Also if anyone has any lens recomendations along with that camera that would be awesome. My current plan is a 24-70 and a 70-200, both f2.8 used.

I’m just going to add to the used places. Beside KEH & MPB, there’s also Used Photo Pro and the used section of B&H.



Marie

I have had such good luck with Hunt's Photo in Manchester, NH that every piece of photo gear I currently own was purchased there.

realyabood51 said:

I'm looking for advice on a good used mirorless camera and lens system to buy into. I have been shooting for the past few years on a Nikon D5500, and when I can a Canon Rebels that I have access to for school events.

While both of these cameras have been great to me, I made some money over the last couple summers so think its time for an upgrade.

The majority of my work is for my school's newspaper and yearbook, so that means I have to shoot for almost every possible scenario. It's alot of fun, but that needs I need pretty versitile equiptment. Most other people doing the same thing as me own their own equiptment, one has a sony (cant exactly remember which one) and another has a Canon R8. Compared to those systems, the Rebels I use in school are most limited in their autofocus system, 3fps continuous speed, lack of a touchscreen or flippy screen, and interface setup, though they are still super capable for most senarios.

Some school stuff I shoot for includes: lots of sports games, concerts (in very low light), portraits, and exterior shots of the building. I also have shot events like quinceaneras or family portriats, and do alot of stuff while traveling.

I have about $2000 total, and I am planning to set aside ~1200 for the camera and the rest for some glass. I plan on doing this in college and beyond so it, would be great if I could get something futureproof. And just for value purposes, I would only buy something used off a credible Ebay vendor, or keh/mbp etc.

Any glass I personally own is stock, and any thing avalable at my school is not competative. Because I have friends already bought into sony or canon, it might be nice to stick to those lens systems, but also no problem if that doesnt happen.

I have done a ton of reaserch over the last few months and I have narrowed down a few great options all within my budget range, all used, Canon R7/8, Sony A7C, Sony A9, Nikon Z7 II, and the Fuji XT5. But if you have any other ideas by all means, suggest away. A good used lens ecosysten is essential.

[TLDR, 1200, preferably mirorrless, futureproof used camera for just about everything with a cheap used lens ecosystem.]

Any help would be great. Thanks!

Also if anyone has any lens recomendations along with that camera that would be awesome. My current plan is a 24-70 and a 70-200, both f2.8 used.

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I think you're far off on options for a workable system on your budget. For what you describe, I think you need at least a body plus two lenses, a 'normal zoom' (moderately wide-angle to moderately long) and a 'long zoom'. And even if 200mm were long enough--it isn't--there's no way, even used, that you're getting both a decent 24-70mm f/2.8 and a decent 70-200mm f/2.8 for $800.

At about $2000 total, I think your best bet is an APS-C MILC system with slower-than-f/2.8 lenses. If you prefer to buy new, as of today, in the U.S., a Sony A6400 + Sony 18-135mm kit is $1298 and a Tamron 50-300mm is $799, so for $2087 plus tax you'd have a pretty usable system. If you want something appreciably better and would buy used, looking a MPB, they have an excellent Sony A6700 for $1279, a like-new Sony 18-135mm for $339, and a good (only) Tamron 50-300mm for $629. So that's up to $2247 plus tax. Alternatively, the A6700 has IBIS, so maybe you could step down a bit to the quite good (but unstabilized and slightly slower-focusing) Tamron 70-300mm, currently $399 new (a bargain!), for a total of $2017 plus tax.

I don't think you can quite assemble a sensible, versatile full-frame MILC system, even used, on your budget. Likewise, I don't think you can assemble a sensible, versatile pair of f/2.8 MILC zoom lenses, even used, on your budget. Yes, there are older, less expensive MILC bodies, but the lower autofocus performance is a substantial detriment for normal use. But to buy used today from MPB the core of what I have, which I regard as quite capable and versatile, you're looking at $2657 (Sony A9, excellent with fairly low shutter count, $1479; Sony 24-105mm f/4, excellent, $779; and new (because the used savings are too low) Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3, $399).

Often you can save a little money on eBay instead of from the major used businesses like KEH and MPB, but typically you get little or no warranty and it's much more of a 'buyer beware' situation. I don't recommend it for you.

polizonte said:

I have had such good luck with Hunt's Photo in Manchester, NH that every piece of photo gear I currently own was purchased there.

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I’m a Hunts, Manchester customer too. I live in Gilford.
Anyway, the OP mentioned used which is why I added what I did. Hunts does have used as well.

Marie

I myself would go with the Sony A7C for about $1100 used & a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for $650 but that doesn't leave much room for a telephoto. The only budget model is the Tamron 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD. For only $2000, a compromise has to be made somewhere. Alternatively, you could go with the Tamron 17-50mm F/4 Di III VXD and Tamron 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD lenses.

Or the Sony A6600 with the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN Contemporary and Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD. This might be the only way to get two F/2.8 zoom lenses and a decent body with IBIS.

There are no good used mirrorless cameras

This is because technology advances rapidly. In Nikon land you should look for a camera with Expeed 7 processor to overcome the limitations you mention "most limited in their autofocus system, 3fps continuous speed, lack of a touchscreen or flippy screen".

The Z50II would set you back $900 -- maybe a bit less, but not much if used. Consider a kit zoom, such as 16-50 or 18-140. Then add one used f/2.8 zoom lens in the range you need most, e.g. 70-180. Don't forget primes, like the Nikon 24mm f/1.7 or several Viltrox Air options. Their larger aperture can give you results that no f/2.8 zoom lens could. Play with aperture and depth-of-field instead of zoom.

I agree with the above for Nikon bodies - get the latest gen with the Expeed 7 processor if going Nikon. Much better AF over its predecessors. The Z50II will give you crop factor reach or Z5II or Z6III for full-frame light gathering benefits.

Sony will give you a larger lens ecosystem with third-party options.

I also shoot stuff for school yearbook (school concerts, homecoming, etc.) and the 70-200 F2.8 came in handy for Powderpuff football during homecoming week. It not an inexpensive lens. You'll need a larger budget I'm afraid.

--
Ryan

Ryan Schwartz said:

I agree with the above for Nikon bodies - get the latest gen with the Expeed 7 processor if going Nikon. Much better AF over its predecessors. The Z50II will give you crop factor reach or Z5II or Z6III for full-frame light gathering benefits.

Sony will give you a larger lens ecosystem with third-party options.

I also shoot stuff for school yearbook (school concerts, homecoming, etc.) and the 70-200 F2.8 came in handy for Powderpuff football during homecoming week. It not an inexpensive lens. You'll need a larger budget I'm afraid.

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I totally agree with that about the 70-200. One of my buddies has a canon ef 70-200 l is f4 that ive gotten to use before, though it was a little zoomed-in as I was shooting on a crop sensor, it made for some insane shots in a basketball game and close ups in general.

I may try and get an adapter from the canon ef system to whatever I end up getting, as it would be great if I can use that lens in the future.

I was looking at the Z5II, and I totally agree that would be a perfect camera. It's just a little bit out of my budget as I would have to buy it new. Same thing witht he Z6III. But thanks for the help!

Phaser said:

I myself would go with the Sony A7C for about $1100 used & a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for $650

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That was my thinking exactly. A small body like the A7C would be great if I use it while traveling, and all of its software systems (besides its menu) really still hold up 5 years after its launch. Plus that lens system has alot of 3rd party deals like the tamron 28-75, which as people correctly pointed out a deal like that is something I need pretty desperately.

I think I will go with this for now, and sometime later on I can expand to a decent telephoto. Those ones you mentioned all look super good, especially that 70-180 if I can get the money for it. Thanks for the help!

realyabood51 said:

Phaser said:

I myself would go with the Sony A7C for about $1100 used & a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for $650

Click to expand...

That was my thinking exactly. A small body like the A7C would be great if I use it while traveling, and all of its software systems (besides its menu) really still hold up 5 years after its launch. Plus that lens system has alot of 3rd party deals like the tamron 28-75, which as people correctly pointed out a deal like that is something I need pretty desperately.

I think I will go with this for now, and sometime later on I can expand to a decent telephoto. Those ones you mentioned all look super good, especially that 70-180 if I can get the money for it. Thanks for the help!

Click to expand...

Glad to help! Good choice. The A7C does hold up pretty well. I recently bought one used, because I wanted to downsize but couldn't afford the A7CR or even the A7C II. The Autofocus is great, and I was pleasantly surprised how good the images look. Very sharp and clean.

Phaser said:

realyabood51 said:

Phaser said:

I myself would go with the Sony A7C for about $1100 used & a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for $650

Click to expand...

That was my thinking exactly. A small body like the A7C would be great if I use it while traveling, and all of its software systems (besides its menu) really still hold up 5 years after its launch. Plus that lens system has alot of 3rd party deals like the tamron 28-75, which as people correctly pointed out a deal like that is something I need pretty desperately.

I think I will go with this for now, and sometime later on I can expand to a decent telephoto. Those ones you mentioned all look super good, especially that 70-180 if I can get the money for it. Thanks for the help!

Click to expand...

Glad to help! Good choice. The A7C does hold up pretty well. I recently bought one used, because I wanted to downsize but couldn't afford the A7CR or even the A7C II. The Autofocus is great, and I was pleasantly surprised how good the images look. Very sharp and clean.

Click to expand...

Isn't the A7C basically a stripped down A7III -- no second command dial, no AF joystick, smaller EVF?

A used A7III might cost less and offer more.