CHG_CANON wrote:
I guess it's too late. I was reading last night a post where the author suggested the EOS 5DII was the best mix of used price to image capability, making for the perfect "entry level" model. They're running about $500 now for 21MP of full-frame glory.
Whether or not the 5DII is "best" entirely depends upon the uses planned for the camera. In particular, the author of that article recommended it as an affordable option for someone wanting to start a photo business such as portraiture, weddings, etc.
I still have my 5DII and absolutely would NOT recommend it for sports and most wildlife photography.... it is not a "fast" camera. I got mine for low light in particular, but today's APS-C cameras can do better at that, too. With my work primarily being sports... I've only used my 5DII lightly over the years, during which I've used seven different APS-C cameras (three 50D, two 7D and now two 7DII). My 5DII
might have 20,000 clicks on the shutter. My two 7D are enjoying semi-retirement (as backup cameras) after each taking upwards of 150,000 images over the course of five years. My current 7DII have been in use now for just over three years and have around 40,000 clicks apiece (an this year has been exceptionally slow, with almost all events cancelled due to the pandemic).
But for someone who doesn't need a "fast" camera... who doesn't need AF that can track with moving subjects... I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 5DII as an excellent possibility. They can be bought for around $500-$600 in good condition, with low "mileage", and are quite well built and still very capable.
One of that author's main points was that by saving $ buying an older camera model used, that can leave more budget to put towards high quality lenses, which will go a long way toward making better and more professional images. There are some quite good "budget" lenses, too... but you generally get what you pay for. I'd agree with him in that regard, too.... I think many people overspend on the camera and significantly underspend on the lenses they use on it. I'd rather have a $550 Rebel T6i with a $850 EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens than a $1400 7D Mark II with a $250 EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens.
This would be particularly important for a wedding photographer, who basically needs to buy at least two of everything, just in case! There are no easy "do overs" with weddings. If anything fails for any reason, without backup gear it can potentially ruin a wedding photography business. Candid shots can't be re-shot. Posed re-shoots are expensive, at best. But even then, the biggest "cost" might well be the photog's reputation. So the budding wedding photography had better buy TWO 5DII... as well as duplicate flashes, overlapping lenses, yada, yada.
Finally, the alternatives such as a newer 5D Mark III (only 1 more MP, but much better AF system for action photography) or the original 6D (1 less MP, less robust, lower spec shutter, only slightly better AF system) bought used will typically be asking about double what a used 5DII costs.
The "right tool for the job" might be a 5DII... or it might be something else. Like a 7D!