Where are you guys finding the best deals on used Sony stuff lately because I am seeing prices all over the map and its getting kinda frustrating. I have been looking at MPB and KEH since everyone says they are the gold standard for used gear but honestly their prices seem a bit high compared to what I see people getting on Fred Miranda or even just random eBay listings. I read that MPB is great for the warranty but then I see some forum posts saying their Excellent condition is more like Good and I dont want to deal with returning a body right before a job. I am trying to snag a Sony a7III or an a7RIII if I can find a steal since I have a wedding shoot coming up in about three weeks and my old setup just isnt cutting it anymore. My budget is capped at $1200 for the body because I still need to grab a 24-70 or a 35 prime. I am based in the US so I guess that limits me a bit with shipping costs. Is it worth the risk of buying from a person on Reddit or should I just bite the bullet and pay the premium at a big site to be safe? Some of these listings on FB Marketplace look too good to be true and I am paranoid about getting a brick in the mail lol.
Saw this earlier but just getting back to it. Honestly marketplace is a total gamble these days and I usually lose. Tried grabbing a used body last summer and the sensor was straight up trashed despite the mint description. It is so frustrating because those prices look great until you actually get the gear in hand. I ended up having much better luck with smaller local shops that sell online. They care more about their reputation than a random person on FB. If you really gotta stay under $1200:
- Check UsedPhotoPro, they are usually cheaper than the big sites
- Reddit r/photomarket is okay if you stick to high-trade users
- Skip eBay, the seller fees just get passed to you anyway I finally found a Sony a7III Mirrorless Camera Body for $950 by refreshing those smaller shop pages. It left me enough room to grab a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 for Sony E which is solid for weddings. Good luck tho.
In my experience, if you are working with a hard budget of $1200, you should definitely look beyond the big retailers. Over the years I have found that places like MPB and KEH charge a significant premium for their overhead, which often puts a Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body out of reach if you still need glass. For the absolute best prices, I always recommend the Fred Miranda Buy/Sell forum. The community there is very protective of its reputation, and you can usually find a Sony Alpha a7R III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body right at your $1200 limit. I have bought dozens of items there and the condition is almost always better than what the big sites call Excellent. Its basically the gold standard for enthusiasts. Avoid FB Marketplace for anything that requires shipping, its just not worth the stress before a big job. Stick to established forum members and you will save enough to grab a Sony FE 35mm f/1.8 Large Aperture Prime Lens with the leftover cash.
Same here!
Facts.
Quick reply while I'm on my break. I was in your shoes a few months back trying to save every penny for a new setup. Ended up getting my gear from a site a buddy suggested because he said their ratings were actually stricter than the big names. Honestly was so satisfied when it arrived and looked brand new. Not sure if it's still the case but I think some of the big electronics retailers like B&H have used sections that people totally sleep on? Iirc their return policies are usually pretty solid if you're worried about that wedding deadline coming up. Just wondering tho, since you're doing a wedding, are you planning on renting a backup body just in case? Three weeks is cutting it a bit close if something goes wrong with a private seller's shipping speed or if the condition isn't what they claimed.
