Photography gear worth buying used in 2026 - what holds value & what doesn't

[Sentinel96]

Looking to expand my kit without spending new prices. Thinking about a used mirrorless body or a couple of primes. What camera gear holds up well second-hand and what should you be cautious about buying used? Any brands or lens mounts that have strong second-hand ecosystems right now?

[NovaPrime68]

Sony E-mount primes hold their value extremely well because the mount has been around so long and the ecosystem is huge. You will rarely find a bargain but you will also never get stuck with something you cannot sell

[GhostRider41]

Older Fuji X-mount bodies are incredible value used. The XF lenses are optically superb and the prices have dropped a lot since the X100VI hype cycle

[VoidSentinel74]

Shutter count is the thing to check on used bodies. Anything over 100k actuations on a mirrorless deserves a discount unless it is a pro body rated higher

[Mia_59]

Canon RF glass second-hand is still expensive because supply is still lower than demand. EF glass with an adapter is where the value is

[Lucy_35]

Older Nikon Z glass like the 24-70 f4 S can be found reasonably now that the Z8 and Z9 crowd has upgraded their primes. Sharp as anything

[Rogue Di]

Avoid used anything that requires a proprietary battery that has been discontinued. Checking battery availability before you buy will save you a headache