We’ve rounded up the various ways in which you can make your money go further when choosing a camera – whether you’re buying secondhand, refurbished or simply biding your time until your model of choice comes down in price – now we bring you a selection of cameras that, in our opinion, offer particularly good value for money. There are both full-frame and APS-C DSLRs, as well as stylish and feature-packed CSCs. Take a look at the 11 cameras featured here to choose the best one for your needs, then it’s over to you to scour your local camera shops and the internet to find the best quality at the lowest price. Look upon it as a money-saving personal challenge!

Older models

Nikon D5300 £500 with 18-55mm kit lens

Released 2013
Price at launch £840
Replaced by Nikon D5500

The D5300 was launched at the end of 2013 and is built around a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and Nikon’s own EXPEED 4 image processor. This gives it a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-12,800 and a maximum continuous shooting speed of 5fps. On the back you also get a larger than average vari-angle 3.2in/1.03m-dot LCD display. The main upgrade the D5500 enjoys over the D5300 is that the rear display is touch-sensitive. Other than that, though, the two cameras are virtually identical. If you can live without the touchscreen controls, you’ll save yourself a handy £100.

Key specs

Sensor
24.2MP CMOS APS-C
Autofocus
39-point (9 cross-type)
ISO
100-12,800 (exp. to ISO 25,600)
LCD display
3.2in / 1,037k dots
Continuous shooting
5fps
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
Yes

Canon EOS 700D £470 with 18-55mm kit lens

Released 2013
Price at launch £750
Replaced by Canon EOS 750D and 760D

On its release in the middle of 2013, the 700D represented the latest model in a long line of excellent mid-level DSLRs from Canon. It’s since been succeeded by the 750D and 760D models, both of which employ a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor compared to the 18MP chip inside the 700D. The other main differences are that the newer models offer touchscreen controls and built-in Wi-fi. If you can live without these features, however, the 700D still takes a fantastic image and remains a great mid-level DSLR to build your photography skills with – all for under £500.

Key specs

Sensor
18MP CMOS APS-C
Autofocus
9-point (all cross-type)
ISO
100-12,800 (exp. to ISO 25,600)
LCD display
3.2in / 1,040k dots
Continuous shooting
5fps
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
No

Panasonic GX7 £435 with 14-42mm kit lens

Released 2013
Price at launch £999
Replaced by Lumix GX8

Given that the recently launched Lumix GX8 was two years in the making, it comes as no surprise to find that it boasts many improvements over the GX7. Notable upgrades include a higher-resolution sensor, a sharper EVF and the addition of touch controls. Despite this, the GX7 remains an excellent camera that received a 91% Gold Award when we originally reviewed it. As our reviewer concluded at the time: ‘The GX7 is a very polished and well-made camera that delivers excellent results.’ Better still, the GX7 can currently be purchased for less than half the price of the GX8 and even includes a kit lens.

Key specs

Sensor
16MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds
Autofocus
23-point contrast detect
ISO
200-12,800 (exp. to ISO 125)
LCD display
3in / 1,040k dots
Continuous shooting
5fps
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
Yes

Sony Alpha 7 £800 body only

Released 2013
Price at launch £1,300 (body only)
Replaced by Sony A7 Mk II

Launched towards the end of 2013, the Sony A7 combined a 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor with Sony’s powerful BIONZ X image processor. With its relatively compact design and clever hybrid AF technology, the A7 impressed, earning itself an overall score of 90% and a WDC Gold Award. Its successor – the A7 Mk II – retains the same sensor, image processor and hybrid AF system but adds in-camera five-axis image stabilisation. In addition, the body and control layout has also been redesigned, which results in improved handling but a slightly larger and heavier camera overall.

Key specs

Sensor
24.5MP CMOS full-frame
Autofocus
117-point hybrid phase detect
ISO
50-25,600
LCD display
3in / 921k dots
Continuous shooting
5fps
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
Yes

Olympus OM-D E-M10 £480 with 14-42mm kit lens

Released 2014
Price at launch £700
Replaced by OM-D E-M10 Mk II

Released in early 2014, the E-M10 is the entry-point model to Olympus’s OM-D range. Despite costing a lot less, it uses the same 16.1MP LiveMOS sensor and TruePic VII image processor found inside the flagship E-M1 (£900 body only). Other features include a 1.44m-dot EVF, twin control dials, 8fps continuous shooting and built-in Wi-fi connectivity. The new E-M10 Mk II improves on the original with a sharper EVF, more powerful built-in IS technology and revamp of the control layout, but those looking to save themselves around £170 could do a lot worse than snap up the original.

Key specs

Sensor
16.1MP LiveMOS Micro Four Thirds
Autofocus
117-point hybrid phase detect
ISO
50-25,600
LCD display
3in / 921k dots
Continuous shooting
8fps
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
Yes

Secondhand deals

Nikon D800 (body only) £900 fair – £1,250 mint

Released 2012
Price at launch £2,400 (body only)

Upon its release in 2012, the big talking point of the Nikon D800 was its 36.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor. Up until the release of the 50.6MP Canon 5DS, this made it the highest resolution DSLR on the market. Consequently, it soon became a popular choice for jobbing pros and well-heeled enthusiasts. The D800 was succeeded by the D810 towards the end of 2014, and since then plenty of pre-owned D800s have been traded in or put up for private sale, all of which is great news for the discerning secondhand bargain hunter. Expect to pay up to £1,300 for one in mint condition with a low shutter count.

Key specs

Sensor
36.4MP CMOS full-frame
Autofocus
51-point (15 cross-type)
ISO
100-6400 (exp. to ISO 25,600)
LCD display
3.2in / 921k dots
Continuous shooting
4fps
Shutter life
approx 200k actuations

Canon EOS 5D Mark III £1,100 fair – £1,700 mint

Released 2012
Price at launch £2,400 (body only)

Despite being nearly four years old, the 5D Mk III remains a current model in Canon’s EOS range and can still be purchased brand new for around £2,250. A bit like BMW cars, the 5D Mk III tends to hold its value quite well; nonetheless, if you want to save some serious cash over buying new, you’ll find plenty of pre-owned examples in excellent condition with relatively low shutter counts for around the £1,500 mark. Just be warned that those at the very lowest end of the secondhand price range tend to come with very high shutter counts, often in excess of 100k actuations.

Key specs

Sensor
22MP CMOS full-frame
Autofocus
61-point (42 cross-type)
ISO
100-25,600 (exp. to ISO 50-102,800)
LCD display
3.2in / 1,040k dots
Continuous shooting
6fps
Shutter life
approx 150k actuations

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 £200 fair – £460 mint

Released 2012
Price at launch £1,450

Released in 2012, the X-Pro 1 was Fujifilm’s first stab at a premium-grade CSC and a very good one at that. While it’s the best part of three-and-a-half years old now, it remains an excellent camera with fantastic image quality, thanks to its bespoke 16.3MP X-Trans APS-C sensor. Better still, its price these days is about a third of what it was at launch. While you can still pick up a brand-new X-Pro 1 body for around £480, the real value is to be found in the secondhand market, where a decent example is yours for as little as £200-£250. By any criteria, that’s an absolute steal.

Key specs

Sensor
16.3MP X-Trans APS-C
Autofocus
49-point
ISO
200-6400 (exp. to ISO 100-25,600)
LCD display
3in / 1,023k dots
Continuous shooting
6fps
Shutter life
n/a

Sony Alpha 99 £850 fair – £1,150 mint

Released 2012
Price at launch £2,150

Sony’s full-frame A99 became the company’s flagship SLT model upon its release towards the end of 2012. Built around a 24.3MP CMOS sensor and Sony’s Bionz X, the A99 also provides 1080p Full HD video recording. A 2.4m-dot EVF is more than able to hold its own against more modern examples. The A99 can still be bought new for around £1,500, however if you want to make further savings then it’s possible to pick up a decent pre-owned A99 for around £1,000 – for this you can expect a camera in good condition with anywhere between 3,000 and 50,000 shutter actuations.

Key specs

Sensor
24.3MP CMOS full-frame
Autofocus
19-point (11 cross-type)
ISO
100-25,600 (exp. to ISO 50)
LCD display
3in/ 1,228k dots
Continuous shooting
6fps
Shutter life
approx 200k actuations

Pentax K-3 £450 fair – £550 mint

Released 2013
Price at launch £1,099 (body only)

While we wait for Pentax to announce its first full-frame DSLR, there are still rich pickings to be found in its APS-C DSLR range. We’d suggest hunting down a K-3; the newer K-3 II will currently set you back around £750 body only, or £1,000 with an 18-55mm kit lens. The first generation K-3, however, can be picked up secondhand for around £470, saving you nearly £300. You’ll get pretty much the same feature-packed camera and weather-sealed body. In fact, the sensor, 27-point AF module, hi-res LCD display and dual card slots have all been carried straight over from the previous model.

Key specs

Sensor
24MP CMOS APS-C
Autofocus
27-point (25 cross-type)
ISO
100-52,600
LCD display
3.2in / 1,037k dots
Continuous shooting
8.3fps
Shutter life
approx 200k actuations

Olympus Pen E-P5 £230 fair – £400 mint

Released 2013
Price at launch £899 (body only)

Over the years, Olympus’s Pen range has gained fans due to its clever combination of advanced digital camera technology and styling, which draws directly on the company’s half-frame models from the 1960s. If you’re after a stylish camera that packs in plenty of useful features, then the E-P5 is a pretty solid bet. Built around a 16.1MP MFT sensor and Olympus’s own TuePic Vi image processor, it also boasts built-in Wi-fi connectivity. Decent pre-owned models can currently be picked up for around £230-£400, which is less than half the original launch price.

Key specs

Sensor
16.1MP LiveMOS Micro Four Thirds
Autofocus
35-point
ISO
200-25,600
LCD display
3in / 1,037k dots
Continuous shooting
9fps
Shutter life
n/a