Future 5D MKII value ?

I really felt like I got burned when I sold my MK III. Cost me $4.5K new and 1 year later I was lucky to get $3K for it. Right now I have no FF body. Tempted to get a 1D MK IIs as they seem to have depreciated enough to be a good value now. Seems like the 5D is still popular and holding its value well. Any guesses on the future (say 1-2 years out) value of a 5D MK II?

Depends on how much the 5D2's replacement will be priced at. I doubt that Canon will replace the 5D2 in the next year unless it is a 5D2n.

The new price of the 5D2 will certainly be lower in a year or 2, whether there is a replacement or not.

If cameras stop progressing in capability and features then it will likely hold its value better but people still get excited if something has 30,000 actuations so they are likely to suffer way more than lenses at best.

I do not think sensor/body technology is going to stop progressing (although a lot of computer research has been slowed slightly until companies start spending agian) so I would guess bodies will continue to drop rapidly in value.

The only reason that the new 5D is holding value is supply is a bit less than demand and if the companies are smart they will keep doing that so they can get more of peoples money. Like Nintendo has done. It really is a great marketing strategy.


edit: the only way to save money on bodies is to buy used and probably a generation behind is a good idea as well. If you buy new/current count on losing money on bodies.

I believe 5dII will hold its value very well, much better than any other DSLR canon have ever made. Canon DSLR have always been an establishment for photography niche but lately there are huge demand for the video with full manual exposure feature. I would anticipate the price not to drop until another gen comes out, simply there are so much support and development for the video side. NAB 2009 was all about canon 5DII.

lately 5dII has NOT been known for their great still picture but more of the capability of excellent motion pictures.

It's been 3 years since I bought my 5D. It's now worth roughly 1/3 of what I paid for it three years ago. I'm guessing that the 5DMKII will depreciate slower than that and I didn't think my 5D classic depreciation rate was too bad.

The 5D classic also cost more when it came out than the 5DMKII costs new now....that is, if you can find the 5DII.

Cameras are depreciable items. Lenses not so much so.

Re: the future 5D.

The interesting thing to me will be what Canon does next with the 5D series and/or video cams in general.

I've bought the A1 video cam last year.

It's a great cam and came out at very competitive price point for what it can do. There have been two upgrades to the A1 already. However, despite the upgrades, my A1 still fetches a good price.

Comparing the A1 to the 5DII, the 5DII does quite a bit of what my A1 does. It can record directly to a card, can use 35mm lenses, and shoots great stills.

If the 5DMKII had a better audio recording system and could video for longer periods of time, it would beg the question, why buy a dedicated video cam?

Re: 5DMKII depreciation...

The latest technology costs and does depreciate. But then, I'm a new technology junkie.

What a wonderful time to be living if you love photography/video.

It certainly is a most interesting time to be around. However, I sometimes think live might have been simpler when not much changed.

There is nothing forcing any of us to embrace this new technology in cameras. I have a good friend who still shoots with a 80 year old Cirkut camera, and does his own b&w processing in his basement darkroom. He enjoys the heck out of it. He thinks it's "simpler".....I would view it as a "pain".

Gasrocks,
If you are concerned about the hit you have to take on selling digital bodies, then why not consider buying used ?
The thre most recent used bodies I purchased were:
D30: original price $2400....paid $119
1DS: original price $7900....paid $1400
1DMk2: original price $4500....paid $415

....I have loads of photos taken with all three of them that I am very happy with....and many photos that I have provided to others that have also made them very happy.

Probably a little ironic that the only Canon camera I have had to pay to have fixed, was one of the two that I bought new: 20D, shutter replacement after warrenty was finished.

Yes, I always viewed darkroom work as a drudge. Yet, some people find it a whole 'nother art form. Yes, used is a thought. Like I said the 1D MK IIs has my attention.

I would say when the next 5D comes out, the 5D2 will drop to about where a used 5D is now. BUt anything can happen. Maybe Canon releases a fantastic D700 clone and then nobody wants a 5D2 or 1D3 anymore. Maybe the new 1d4 is priced very low, who knows. They could even come out with a $1000 FF rebel or something!

Same here....and I never really could afford to take the time necessary to get in there to do what I wanted. I never got very experienced at it, so it always took me a minimun of 4 hours or so to get anything done !

Not sure if you are referring to a 1Dmk2 or a 1DMk2S ( full frame )....but if it's the plain jane 1D2 like the one I just got.....man....all I can say is I love shooting with this thing. And since mine came from KEH as 'ugly'....that means it's pre-scratched for me ..so I don't even have to go to the trouble of giving it that 'used by a pro look'
....now my 1DS is another story....it looks brand new....or at least it did when I got it....
I figure I'm buying these used ones cheap enough that if I have to pay to have them fixed, then I'm still ahead. Like I said above....the 20D I bought new....I still had to spend $215 on a shutter replacement.

Trey T wrote in post #8068635
I believe 5dII will hold its value very well, much better than any other DSLR canon have ever made. Canon DSLR have always been an establishment for photography niche but lately there are huge demand for the video with full manual exposure feature. I would anticipate the price not to drop until another gen comes out, simply there are so much support and development for the video side. NAB 2009 was all about canon 5DII.

lately 5dII has NOT been known for their great still picture but more of the capability of excellent motion pictures.

are you saying its known more for its movies, or that its stills aren't up to par with the rest of the cameras out there?

george m w wrote in post #8071210
1DMk2: original price $4500....paid $415

Wow you got a great deal on this. Find me a 1D2 for $415 and I'll jump on it like pig in dirt.

It will hold up well but for this year... my wild guess is that we might see some real drop in price on the 5D mark IIin the late spring/ early summer next year.. I bet a brand new in box 5D mrkII will be street-priced around $2000 - 2200 1 year from now.

k.Lee, see this thread to read my story on it.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=693992