MPB
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
A PERFECT CHOICE From the mirrorless Panasonic S1 (centre), to cinema cams such as the Canon EOS C300 Mark II (left) or Sony FS5 (right), MPB has so much to offer
based on 40 criteria to make sure it’s in reliable and working condition – and has the latest firmware. Gear comes with a six-month guarantee and is usually around 30% cheaper than new. There is always a huge stock of DSLR and mirrorless cameras, lenses and accessories. But what makes MPB special is the huge range of cinema cameras and camcorders, from Canon, Red, Sony, Blackmagic, Panasonic and Arri, as well as cinema lenses. And there are photos of the actual kit for sale, with a detailed and honest description of condition and what is included. Let’s take a look at some of the best used buys right now, to suit every budget and use case. Mirrorless or DSLR? So much choice is available if you want a DSLR for filmmaking, but Canon’s are the most popular. At the time of writing, MPB had 1387 used Canon DSLR bodies for sale, including four EOS-1D X Mark III bodies and 43 of the EOS 5D Mark IV – some at less than half price of new. And these are just the latest, current models. Mirrorless cameras are the go-to for filmmakers, though. Panasonic’s latest full-frame range is covered, including the S1H and S5, plus the MFT GH5S and GH5. These are all great filmmaking cameras, as are the Super 35 Fujifilm X-T4, X-H1 or X-T3. A stock of around 70 cameras to choose from is not unheard of. There are even a dozen examples of the latest Fujifilm GFX100 and GFX100S medium format versions.
“Gear comes with a six-month guarantee and is usually 30% cheaper than new” But the most popular on the site are Sony mirrorless, and you have options – including the latest A7S III, A9 II, A7R IV and A7 III, as well as previous generations of each. There are also full- frame mirrorless models from Canon in the EOS R5, EOS R and EOS RP, and rivals Nikon with the Z 7, Z 6 and Z 5. If you count the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera range as mirrorless, there is a choice of the 4K model – which uses an MFT sensor – and the newer 6K version, with a larger Super 35 sensor. Both are great for shooting movies. The cinema option The one brand guaranteed to set pulses racing is Red. So many filmmakers lust after the American-designed cameras, due to their performance, rugged build and sheer cool factor. But the price of newmodels can be the major hurdle, and you may have to spend a huge amount on extras to make the base camera useable. At the time of writing, there were ten used Reds for sale on the UK MPB site, and all of these came as kits, complete with lots of the expensive accessories, offering
a vast saving over new. This includes a current Weapon Helium 8K and Gemini 5K S35. And if you don’t mind older- generation tech, Epic-X MX, Scarlet-X and Raven kits are up for grabs at prices ranging from £6000, down to just £3300. Canon’s Cinema EOS range is also well represented at a huge selection of prices, from the current range-topping C700 FF, through the C300 II, C200, C500, and right down to the original EOS C100 from just £559, along with examples of the latest XF705 professional streaming camcorder. The best buys are likely the EOS C100 Mark II if you only need to shoot in HD, or the legendary C300 Mark II, for years the mainstay of many production companies with its impressive 4K DCI recording. For Sony users, choose between the FS5 and FS5 Mark II, as well as FS7 and FS7 Mark II Super 35 cinema cameras. The original FS5 and FS7 are now a total bargain at around £2100 or £2200, respectively. Spend £700-£1000 more and you get the Mark II versions. A handful of Panasonics, like the EVA1 and lusted-after VariCam Super 35, are up for grabs at a serious discount. Perhaps the biggest bargains are the Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro cameras, available in various models, including the current G2 and incredible 12K version. The Aussie firmmakes cameras with amazing performance and a rugged build, at shockingly affordable prices. So, with MPB offering a used range at a large discount, it really is the cheapest way to get your hands on a dream, fully-featured cinema camera for not a lot of cash. You know it makes sense.
DREAM DUO Always wanted a Fujifilm X-H1 and real cinema zoom? Buying
More information
used makes perfect sense
mpb.com
49
PROMOVIEMAKER.NET
Powered by FlippingBook