Second-Hand Market: Five Pre-Loved Picks That Still Deliver Today

Which iconic pieces of gear are still shaping photography today? On the occasion of our first Annual printed magazine, the PhMuseum Editorial Team browsed through the archives of MPB, Europe's top camera reseller, and identified five classics.

Photographic gear has always been a source of collective, popular fascination. At PhMuseum Lab, we often come back to a collection of vintage magazines from the 1970s-1980s – Fotografare, Photo, Tutti Fotografi, and Fotopratica – stacked in our library. The camera as a technical apparatus is the undisputed visual protagonist of their pages. Somewhere between geekiness and romanticism, the retro feeling they carry makes us think of gear as cherished machines that always accompany any photographic project, as well as our everyday lives. A personal tool that doesn't die, but gets passed on.

We pursued this conversation with MPB, and wondered how to celebrate it together. We thought it could be interesting to browse the platform, and see which pieces of gear marked the past 20 years and still remain relevant today. To display them and briefly tell their story, we curated a spread in PhMuseum's Annual Issue #01, taking inspiration from the design and approach of those vintage magazines. Amidst the 292 pages of the magazine – which mostly looks at photography as a contemporary, conceptual and visual tool – the advertorial on pages 180-181 is a playful pause: an ode to technicality and to the role cameras play in our culture. Read below to get a grasp of its content.

Sony A7 III

This camera truly revolutionized the full-frame mirrorless market. Full-frame photography, before its arrival, was often seen as an expensive luxury. The Sony A7 III introduced high performance at an accessible price. Its autofocus rivaled the best professional models, its battery life was groundbreaking for a mirrorless camera, and image quality proved excellent. It forced the two historical giants, Canon and Nikon, to rethink their strategies and accelerate their move to mirrorless, marking a turning point for the entire industry.

Canon 5D Mark IV

It brought the 5D Mark series to its ultimate form. The Canon 5D Mark IV built upon its predecessor's reliability, inheriting a refined version of its autofocus system and enhancing it with features like Dual Pixel CMOS AF for live view and video. It was a leap forward in video capabilities, bringing true 4K resolution. It solidified the 5D line as the quintessential high-performance hybrid camera, becoming the final and most complete expression of the classic professional DSLR.

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 r

This lens defines the soul of the entire X-system. The Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 r isn't an optically perfect, clinically sharp modern lens; instead, its appeal lies in its "nerdish" character. It has a beautiful, slightly dreamy bokeh. Its rendering when wide open is recognised by many as a key part of the classic Fuji look. Its slow, sometimes noisy autofocus and quirky design aren't seen as flaws, but as charming characteristics that give the lens a personality, making it a favorite for those who prioritize a distinctive rendering over technical perfection.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

A versatile lens that gained its status as a professional workhorse. Often sold in a kit with the 5D Mark II, the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 became the default choice for anyone needing a single lens to cover a wide range of situations, from photojournalism and portraiture to video. Its mix of quality, image stabilization, and a wide zoom range made it the perfect companion for millions of photographers and videographers, solidifying its status as the ultimate professional all-rounder.

Nikon D850

For many, this camera represents the pinnacle of DSLR technology. Launched at a time when the industry was shifting toward mirrorless, the Nikon D850 proved that DSLRs still had a lot to offer. It has a near-perfect combination of high resolution (45.7 MP), fast shooting speed, and durability. This made an incredibly versatile tool, perfect for everything from landscape and portraiture to action photography. It symbolizes the "swan song" of the DSLR era.

Iconic gear doesn’t retire – it just finds a new set of hands.

Ready to upgrade? Pass yours along.

1. Get your instant quote

Enter the model you want to sell and choose which condition it's in. A dynamic pricing engine provides the right price upfront. MPB never adds hidden fees.

2. Free shipping

Sell your gear without leaving your home with free collection, or take it to your local drop-off point at a date and time that suits you. Either way, it's insured.

3. Get paid

If your kit is in better cosmetic condition than expected, you'll get paid more. If your quote is lowered, you can have your gear returned for free. Once you give the green light, a payment will be sent straight to your bank account.

--------------

About MPB

For over 10 years, MPB has made used photo and video gear more accessible. With experts in Berlin checking and individually photographing every item, MPB offers camera equipment you can trust, with a free twelve-month guarantee for added peace of mind.

More than half of us have a camera at home we’re not using. Find out exactly how much your kit is worth with a free instant quote from MPB. Take advantage of free, insured shopping to send in your gear, and get paid directly into your bank account.

--------------

About this advertorial

The content above is drawn from a spread featured on the first issue of our new printed Annual magazine, which debuts at Photobook Mania 2025 on 18–19 October. Titled Imperfetto, it features the work of artists and photographers who address contemporary issues from a slow and critical perspective. In the past months, we cooperated with experts caring for each stage of its production – designing, writing, drawing, and printing. While the 750 copies are currently being bound close to Treviso in North-east Italy, sign up to our newsletter to be updated on its upcoming release.