Help me on an eBay hunt for 4K under $200 - Is it possible?

[Andrew Reid]

4K from a large sensor first arrived for $15,000 with the Canon 1D C. Later, Panasonic democratised it with the GH4. These images are as cinematic as ever today, but can we really go full on socialist 4K? 4K for $400? No - too expensive! How about $200?

I went on an eBay hunt to find out.

NEW BLOG POST!

https://www.eoshd.com/news/4k-for-200-is-it-possible/

[Andrew Reid]

Just to prove it is actually possible

Some more finds...

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Panasonic-DC-GX-800-in-schwarz-mft-Kamera-im-guten-Zustand/393096284448?hash=item5b865d4920:g:SzoAAOSw30dgAIBL&mkcid=1&mkrid=707-53477-19255-0&siteid=77&campid=5336727214&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-LUMIX-DMC-GX8-20-3MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Only-/174680815073?mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&siteid=3&campid=5336727214&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

Only catch is the GX8 4K is a hefty crop from the full width of the 20MP sensor and the GX800 doesn't have manual control in 4K mode.

Amazingly good deals though.

 

[Anaconda_]

Can you find a Z-Cam E1 anywhere - I bet that'd be close.

[ac6000cw]

29 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

 the GX800 doesn't have manual control in 4K mode.

 

There is always '4k photo' mode on the GX800, which allows PASM modes - 30p only though, and I think all 4k is limited to 5 minutes max per clip.

[dalstorp]

Got a brand new GX80 with kit lens for $199 last year as a clearance sale, so yes it's possible if you are lucky!

[Andrew Reid]

51 minutes ago, Anaconda_ said:

Can you find a Z-Cam E1 anywhere - I bet that'd be close.

Close. £275 in UK was cheapest I ever saw one of those for. They are pretty rare though.

https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=sdigzcae1min4kbob&categoryName=cameras-compact-system&superCatName=electronics&title=z-cam-e1-mini-4k-interchangeable-lens-micro-4-3-(body-only)-b

[Andrew Reid]

Another candidate:

Yi M1

https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=sdigxiayim11240b&categoryName=cameras-compact-system&superCatName=electronics&title=xiaomi-yi-m1-4k-20m-12-40mm-f3.5-5.6-%2B-42.5mm-f1-b

[newfoundmass]

I got my GX85 for for well under $200 after selling the cheap Olympus zooms that came with it. 

I'm actually quite surprised how well the value of Panasonic cameras have held. You can get $450 for a used G7 body only, which is wild when you consider its been on sale for the last 2 or 3 years with two lenses for under $600.

The GX85 is arguably the best value out there on the second hand market if you're in need of 4K though the prices have gone up since I bought mine. The IBIS is clutch! 

The Zcam E1 is quite difficult to find here in the US used. And the Yi M1 is more expensive than some of the GX85 on eBay! Cheapest is $380! I remember the M1 being rubbish even though it used the same sensor as the GH4. 

[IronFilm]

4 hours ago, Anaconda_ said:

Can you find a Z-Cam E1 anywhere - I bet that'd be close.

Ages ago when it was on fire sale, what was it’s price? US$150? Or maybe it was a bit more. 

That Chinese Yi MFT Camera was dirt cheap brand new too.  

 

The only problem is they are no longer available at these low low new prices. And there seems to be no large supply of them secondhand to keep eBay prices driven down extra low.  

[Caleb Genheimer]

My GH5S is free-99 because it’s the camera I already own

AYYY

But seriously, most every camera in the last 5 years looks pretty dang good. 

[fuzzynormal]

Oly em10iii owner for the past year. Can be had for less than $300 on eBay. Got mine refurbished “new”

Was filming with it today for a gig, actually  

Nice camera all around. Fiddly with a few things, but really just a great value. 

[Avenger 2.0]

Prices are just too high at the moment. Difficult to do a good deal at the moment (even second hand).
 

[Mr. Freeze]

Bought my Panasonic G7/G70 for 70€ two years ago. The mft-Mount has some play, but overall great condition.

 

[MrSMW]

1 minute of searching: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fujifilm-X-E1-Fuji-Mirrorless-Camera-Body-Only-1080p-Fuji-Charger-Battery/303917242724?hash=item46c2e11964:g:RT8AAOSweFlgSn8e

[John Matthews]

I got a gh2 for about 100 euros... not 4k, but it does have 1.86 crop. For my usage, it makes sense. I hacked it and it has an interesting look to it... different from other Panasonics I've used in the past. I still find 4k slow to edit.

[John Matthews]

My Olympus PL9 was just under 200 Euros (body only). It has the same IQ as the e-m10 iii, but it doesn't have an EVF or 5-axis IBIS (it only has 3, but it's excellent).

[Andrew Reid]

7 hours ago, MrSMW said:

1 minute of searching: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fujifilm-X-E1-Fuji-Mirrorless-Camera-Body-Only-1080p-Fuji-Charger-Battery/303917242724?hash=item46c2e11964:g:RT8AAOSweFlgSn8e

Good deal for stills but no 4K 🙂

[newfoundmass]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174676154415

$212.50 but with 2 days left. 

It is quite insane that they were giving those away for like $150 at one point. 

[fuzzynormal]

Checking prices from early 2020, looks like the EM10iii actually went up in price a little.  Kind of amazed I got one for $299.  Interesting.  Still, at $350 or there-abouts it's a good deal for 4k.  The two-function IBIS offers a really ridiculous stabilization feature set.  As mentioned, I'm shooting with it right now for a job...it keeps delivering good footage; can't complain at all about it.

[newfoundmass]

I wish Olympus had gotten rid of recording limits. That was always the deal breaker for me 😞