im honestly so fed up with trying to find a decent deal on a used sony body right now its actually making me so anxious. ive been saving up for months because my old nikon d750 finally bit the dust and i really want to make the jump to an a7iii or maybe even an a7riv if i can swing it but the prices are just... wow. i have about $1300 to spend and i need something by the end of the month for a trip to montana and i feel like im just hitting a wall everywhere i look. ebay is full of people asking basically retail price for cameras with 200k shutter counts and i dont trust half the stuff i see on marketplace anymore because of all the scams going around lately. its super frustrating because i feel like im running out of time and i dont want to settle for some beat up gear that might fail on me.
ive already checked the big ones like:
- keh
- mpb
- adorama used
but the stock is always low or the prices are still way higher than what people are talking about on reddit. i just want a fair price for a solid camera without feeling like im getting fleeced. where are you guys actually finding the real discounts these days? are there specific forums or lesser known sites that actually have fair prices on used sony bodies? i just need a reliable spot where i wont get ripped off...
Just saw this and thought i should chime in. I've been super satisfied with my Sony Alpha a7R III 42.4MP Mirrorless Camera for a few years now and it really holds its own for high-res work. If you're doing Montana landscapes, that 42.4MP sensor and 15 stops of dynamic range are gonna be way better than settling for a beat up A7IV. Check out B&H Photo’s used section. I know you mentioned some others, but B&H is incredibly methodical with their grading system. I bought a Sony Alpha a7 III 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera from them and had zero complaints with the quality. Also, try looking at the Photrio classifieds. Its a more technical crowd so they usually include full shutter count data and sensor health reports. People there take care of their gear. If you can find an RIII for around $1200, grab it. It works well and honestly wont let you down.
Been thinking about your budget and honestly i stopped using the massive used warehouses a while ago because the prices got out of hand. Over the years i have had way better luck going through the used departments of smaller, long-standing brick and mortar shops that have an online presence. In my experience, these sites are way more reliable and often have more realistic pricing than the big names:
- Used Photo Pro (this is the used side of Roberts Camera and they are super legit)
- Lensrentals (check their Keeper program, the gear is meticulously maintained by pros)
- B&H Photo Video Used department (look for the 9 or 10 ratings) I actually picked up a Sony Alpha a7 III 24.2MP Mirrorless Camera Body for just under $1200 not long ago by stalking those sites daily. If you can find a Sony Alpha a7R IV 61.0MP Mirrorless Camera Body it might be out of reach, but the a7III is plenty of camera for Montana. Just gotta be quick because the good stuff usually gets snatched up within hours.
Man, i feel your pain. Honestly the golden age of finding steals on the big sites is kinda over. Keh and MPB have been jacking up their prices lately and its pretty disappointing tbh. They used to be my go-to but now they charge such a massive premium for everything. Its unfortunate because it makes it so hard for people to upgrade without getting fleeced. If you got $1300 and need a Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body soon, you gotta look where the actual photographers hang out.
- Fred Miranda Buy/Sell forum. Best community and people actually care about their gear.
- r/photomarket on Reddit. Prices there are way more realistic than eBay or retail used shops. Honestly a Sony Alpha a7R IV 61MP Full-frame Mirrorless Camera for that price is gonna be a massive stretch even there tho. Stick to the a7iii and youll actually have money left for lenses. Good luck with the Montana trip... itll be gorgeous regardless.
Bump - same question here
Same boat, watching this
