BUYING USED GEAR
BODY BARGAINS
ALL JUST MONEYMAKERS!
There’s a nearly unlimited supply of great-value used cameras guaranteed to help pay the bills
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
W ith inflation and ever- tightening budgets impacting business, there has never been a better time to shop second-hand kit. The filmmaking industry relies on expensive equipment; buying used can save cash and provide years of great service. In reality, few businesses have clients demanding 12K footage, 8K in Raw or super slow-motion at 240fps or faster. With 4K or even HD delivery being the norm, an older model might be ideal, and you avoid the depreciation hit the original owners took. Plus, current models that have been on the market for a while can often be found at much lower prices. Not all cameras are equal and have stood the test of time, though. We have picked out some of the best-performing cameras which, though they might not be the newest launches, give top performance.
SONY’S LOW-LIGHT KING
Sony’s FX3 is a hybrid mirrorless and cinema camera, which uses the main technology of its more conventional mirrorless sibling, the A7S III. The FX3 is in fairly plentiful supply used and is built for video as there are five 1/4in threaded mounting holes on it, allowing you to fix accessories straight to it without a cage. The MI Shoe is made for Sony’s own audio equipment as the connection provides power and feeds the audio signal to the camera without cables or batteries. The FX3 also has a built-in cooling fan and a rocker switch to control powerzoom lenses. Like the A7S III, it is amazing in low light thanks to its 12-megapixel sensor that shoots in up to 4K, 10-bit 4:2:2. There is a large choice of codecs and frame rates in up to 240fps in HD, with its phase detection AF still working at these speeds. S-Cinetone colour gives
cinematic footage right out of camera, although there are S-Log and HDR options too. The FX3 has a mechanical as well as electronic shutter, so can shoot stills in 3:2 with AF tracking and burst shooting. However, there is no viewfinder so you have to use the rear touchscreen or fix your own EVF. Also a great used buy, but in shorter supply as it’s newer, is the FX3’s APS-C brother: the FX30. This is cheaper but the same physical size, and has its own 26-megapixel APS-C sensor but omits a mechanical shutter. It shoots similar codecs but has no AF tracking or continuous burst shooting for stills. The FX3 has about a stop more dynamic range and better low-light performance, so if you can find it, go for that. Both cameras are still current in the range and fantastic used buys.
BEST PLACES TO BUY USED cameraworld.co.uk cliftoncameras.co.uk cvp.com ffordes.com mpb.com parkcameras.com proav.com specialauction services.com srsmicrosystems.co.uk wexphotovideo.com wilkinson.co.uk
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