Finding a capable camera for under $1,500 on the used market is completely realistic right now, but the right choice depends entirely on what you're shooting. The gap between a dedicated photo camera, a video workhorse, and a true hybrid is wide enough that picking the wrong one is an expensive mistake.
Coming to you from Thomas J McClure, this practical video pits three cameras he bought with his own money against each other: the Nikon Zf, the Sony FX30, and the Lumix S5 II X. McClure paid $1,500, $1,450, and $1,420 respectively for each, all sourced used. None were sent by manufacturers, which means his take is genuinely unsponsored. He has a separate video dedicated to buying used gear safely, and if that process makes you nervous, it's worth watching before you start shopping.
The Nikon Zf is McClure's top pick for photography. It has a retro film-camera aesthetic, but he's quick to point out that it's not just a looks-first camera. He shoots weddings with it as his primary camera and describes the EVF as the best he's used, especially coming from Sony's lineup. The Nikon Z mount has the shortest flange distance of any major system, which means you can adapt almost any lens onto it, including Sony E-mount glass, and McClure has done exactly that with his existing lenses. The camera runs 24 megapixels, which he considers sufficient but hopes a future revision pushes closer to 40 MP for larger print work. It has two card slots, one of which is microSD, and he uses that slot for JPEGs while raw files go to the main SD card for built-in redundancy.
The Sony FX30 is a different animal entirely. It's a dedicated video camera with no real photo capability to speak of, and McClure is upfront about that. What it does do is shoot 4K up to 120 frames per second, handle high ISO surprisingly well for an APS-C sensor, and offer full-size HDMI, dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots, and Sony's E-mount ecosystem. He's used it as his primary video camera for most of the videos on his channel. One real-world use case he highlights is live-streaming for events and churches, where its overheating resistance, low-latency HDMI output, and rugged build make it an unusually strong fit. Finding one under $1,500 with the XLR handle included will be tough, but the body alone is achievable.
The Lumix S5 II X rounds out the trio as McClure's hybrid pick. It took him months to find one under $1,500, and he admits you'd probably be fine with a standard Lumix S5 II, which he's seen go for as low as $1,200 used. The X variant adds internal ProRes recording and the ability to record directly to an external SSD over USB-C, features he acknowledges he hasn't actually needed yet. The bigger selling point for him is the shared sensor across several Lumix bodies, including the Lumix S9, which makes building a multi-camera setup with matched color and image characteristics straightforward. The L-mount lens ecosystem has grown substantially, and he considers the S5 II and S9 an excellent A and B camera pairing. Check out the video above for the full breakdown and his final decision from McClure.
1 Comment
This is if you buy used!! But used is probably the best way but also check the shutter count some have have been used at fast Hi shutter speeds for everything from birding to sports and other things.
So here is my plug: any Sony camera A7/R/S Mod 1 or 2 and always ask for the on camera apps if they are on the camera. One app mainly the "Digital Filter". It takes a bit to understand how and which to do first the sky or the foreground. the key after is that no need to carry a bunch of filters or holders out on a walkabout. Another is on the dial there is a selection for panorama, another tool not have to carry around. Two more are the mod 2's have IBIS so no tripods to carry around also, I found my new in 2017 that my A7RM2 would bracket 3 at +/-2EV hand held while on a tour at Antelope Canyon when I forgot my tripod camera plate and using the new FE 12-24mm F4 G and no OSS/IS the point is in 2017 every one was still using DSLRS for no one had heard yet of mirrorless and all those were doing long exposures, I even did while on the night tour for the native guide had a new LED lantern set at daylight so where there is light you can capture. For those times when the is no light out in a dark place say doing Astro Milky Ways the is a selection not many Sony users have even heard of and that is "Bright Monitoring" assigned to the thrash can button is like "Color Night Vision" you can use it to frame your subject in the dark and not waste several 10s or 30s captured trying to get in the right spot. my story when I first used it well first using the A7SM1 I had scouted a place to do a MW capture but coming back that night walked back and forth along a beach looking for a lifeguard stand to use as Foreground subject after a bit I took a couple of 30s captures a saw it. OK the "Bright Monitoring" one of my favorite places is a drift wood beach at Jekyll Island Ga. where there are more driftwood subjects than one can count, so you are what i call run and capturing as the tide goes out so using "Bright Monitoring" you turn on and just move to position filling the frame with your subject but leaving the sky full Milky Way as a background. I think Sony cameras are the only ones with "Bright Monitoring" on them, one thing you never hear about not even Sony reviewers ever mention it not even the MW video Sony users!! Lastly for the video capturers ever wanted to capture the bioluminescent beaches on video of people swimming in it the the A7SM2 with its high ISO can do it.