6 pro-grade cameras under $1,000 that will change the way you shoot

Whether you’re a working pro or an aspiring Joe, getting the right gear is crucial when it comes to bettering your business or building your brand. But when looking for a backup body for professional work or trying to find the best bang-for-buck system to level up your content, you face the same challenge: how do I find the most capable camera without breaking the bank?

We’ve put together a list of 6 stellar systems that come in under $1,000 – the real sweet spot where, if you look in the right place, you can find everything from flagship firepower to agile hybrid versatility.

And the right place is a specialist retailer like KEH Camera – which for over 45 years has been the most trusted authority on pre-owned camera gear, boasting the largest selection and the best reputation in North America. But it’s not just about buying gear. With Better Trade, you can also sell what you don’t need any more or trade up when you're ready – making these $1,000 rigs even more affordable.

So, whatever you’re looking for, here’s our carefully curated list of cameras that will supercharge your shooting and boost your business potential…

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

“The bomb-proof backup”
As low as $554

Canon’s iconic 5D cameras have long been the industry’s favorite workhorse. While Canon didn’t target professionals with this line, it was so widely adopted for high-end work that the company reclassified the 5-series as a pro system!

The 5D Mark IV is Canon’s ultimate do-it-all DSLR, making it a fantastic backup body for paid work or a second shooter – particularly if your primary camera is a mirrorless EOS R model. Not only can you share Canon’s vast range of EF lenses between the two systems, but a DSLR gives you a dependable option with dual memory cards that will never let you down.

It’s built around a powerful 30.4MP full-frame sensor, boasting Canon’s superb color science and robust ISO sensitivity. Capable of up to 7fps bursts for stills and 4K 30p video, you’re covered whether you’re capturing fast action or shooting B-roll. It’s all powered by the manufacturer’s ultra-reliable Dual Pixel Autofocus and best of all, because it’s a DSLR, you can get around 900 shots on a single battery.

It’s one of the rare cameras that has GPS, too, to make tagging and sorting your image library even easier, and one of its dual card slots can even accept cutting-edge CFexpress Type B memory cards for ultra reliability.

Nikon D850

“Flagship full-frame F-mount”
Under $1,000

Nikon made its name as the preferred tool for professional photographers. From McCurry to McCullin, Nikons have long been the go-to bodies for top-tier assignments. And perhaps the greatest camera that the company ever made is the Nikon D850.

This is what you get when you combine a Porche 911 with a Panzer tank: an enviable combination of finesse and firepower. The D850 packs a mountain of muscle in the form of its 45.7MP full-frame sensor, giving you the ability to capture exquisite levels of detail or crop into your scene to highlight the point of focus. And it can hit bursts of up to 9fps with a battery pack, giving you quantity as well as quality.

While stills are its specialty, the Nikon D850 can cover you for video with 4K 30p capture, external microphone jack and a micro HDMI port. And thanks to the F-mount, you have access to a library of hundreds of lenses to suit any shoot. But if battery life is as important to you as specs, this camera boasts staying power to match its horsepower with up to 1,840 shots per charge!

Sony A7R II

“Sky-high resolution, rock-solid stabilization”
As low as $650

Sony’s full-frame Alpha series comprises three tiers: the A7 is for entry-level and general-purpose shooting, the A7S is the video-oriented line, while the A7R is focused on delivering the richest resolution and finest quality. As such, the Sony A7R II supercharges your shooting with a 42.4MP BSI sensor with no low-pass filter.

What does that mean? Back-side illumination shifts the sensor’s circuitry behind the light-gathering layer so that it becomes even more sensitive and efficient in low-light situations. A the low-pass (sometimes referred to as an anti-aliasing) filter typically sits in front of the sensor to slightly blur fine details in an effort to suppress moiré and false color. However, this also softens images and reduces fidelity.

In other words, the A7R II sensor has been fine-tuned for optimum performance to deliver the best sensitivity and image quality – all at a sky-high resolution that’s perfect for work where detail or cropping is required. And, to ensure that nothing interferes with extracting every last detail, the camera packs a 5-axis in-body image stabilization system that offers up to 5 stops of shake compensation – ideal for handheld shooting or dragging the shutter.

Fujifilm X-T3

“A truly inspiring influencer camera”
As low as $811

Fujifilm has taken the industry by storm with its range of retro-styled bodies inspired by classic film cameras. Their looks alone have made them a hit on social media, where they are highly coveted by content creators. But this isn’t a case of style over substance; when it comes to cameras like the Fujifilm X-T3, style is substance.

This camera is ideal for creators thanks to its small-but-powerful APS-C sensor, which delivers stunning 26.1MP resolution while enabling the body to stay lightweight and compact – ideal for on-the-go stills and video. And this beauty is a beast when it comes to both, capable of up to 30fps burst shooting (putting on par with sports and wildlife cameras!) as well as 4K 60p video at up to 10-bit 4:2:2.

The X-T3 also packs a three-way tilt screen, which is perfect for shooting from the hip, and it has twin SD card slots to make sure that your shots are safe even if you suffer a card failure. And best of all, it arms you with a suite of Film Simulations based on classic Fujifilm stocks – these are essentially in-camera presets that mean you can get incredible-looking images at the point of capture, without having to do any editing in post-production!

Canon EOS R

“Foundational mirrorless firepower”
As low as $731

This is the camera that started it all for Canon’s market-leading mirrorless dominance. The Canon EOS R is a full-frame monster that’s in many ways a mirrorless 5D Mark IV – in fact, the two make a great tag team if you’re looking for a primary and secondary camera setup.

Inside this svelte, stylish camera is a 30.3MP full-frame sensor that boasts Canon’s familiar color science (again giving you files that cut seamlessly with other Canon cameras) and formidable Dual Pixel Autofocus. However, being mirrorless means that the EOS R offers completely silent shooting – perfect for environments where mechanical shutters are intrusive.

Its 8fps continuous shooting speed keeps up with the action when you need it, while the 10-bit 4K 30p video gives you crystal clear quality (and the ability to take 8.3MP frame grabs) along with up to FullHD 120p for those moments where super slow-motion is required. And with a fully-articulating touchscreen, it makes high-and low-angle photo and video shooting a breeze – and also makes it easy to see yourself when filming pieces to camera.

Sony A6600

“A compact content creation powerhouse”
As low as $902

If you’re looking to build your brand as a hybrid shooter or content creator, the Sony A6600 is a fantastic launchpad. With a compact APS-C sensor at its core, the A6600 is able to offer an incredibly small footprint – making this a brilliant option for handheld vlogging or run-and-gun video, or as a take-anywhere solution where shooting conditions might be cramped.

This camera is a real jack of all trades, with its detailed 24.2MP sensor able to rattle off stills at up to 11fps as well as crisp 4K 30p footage oversampled from 6K – complete with S-Log2 and S-Log3 support for post production flexibility. You also get 5-axis in-body image stabilization, again making this a great option for shooting on the go, and it’s powered by Sony’s advanced hybrid phase detect autofocus with real-time tracking and eye-detection for humans and animals.

However, while its specs are impressive, arguably the best thing about the Sony A6600 is that it employs the E-mount. This is an open lens standard that means anybody can produce optics, from premium brands like Zeiss to affordable entry-level options from companies like Viltrox. There are literally hundreds of lenses at every possible price point, helping your dollar and shooting ability stretch even further.

Why choose KEH?

With so many options, from auction sites to marketplaces, there’s a good reason to shop with KEH. As the company says: “We don't make new gear – we make great gear better.”

KEH is simply the gold standard when it comes to shopping pre-owned, because every single camera – even rugged flagship DSLRs – is put through the rigors of a multi-point inspection process before it is deemed “KEH Certified” and backed by a risk-free 180-day warranty. That means, unlike that sketchy social media post, you can rest assured that you’re getting a great product that’s been checked by experts.

In fact, KEH is the only reseller with Manufacturer-Approved Repair capabilities – including being a Sony and Sigma Authorized Repair Facility – whose in-house trained technicians restore tens of thousands of cameras and lenses every year to literally make great gear better. So shopping KEH Certified cameras is “better than new”, and it’s a sustainable option that keeps great gear out of landfill and in circulation – all while saving you up to 40% on retail prices.

And the smartest, most lucrative way to get hold of your ideal camera equipment is with the Better Trade program. By trading in your idle gear, you keep out-of-pocket costs minimal. Moreover, you get top dollar in the form of a 5% bonus towards KEH Certified pre-owned equipment (which comprises the largest selection of pre-owned gear in North America) plus the ability to stack active manufacturer bonuses and KEH exclusives towards the latest gear.

Better Trade by KEH makes trading simple, flexible, and provides you more value than anyone in the market. Get top value for your trade, all of this while keeping great gear in circulation and supporting the next generation of creators.

For more information on the Better Trade program and to browse the largest selection of pre-owned camera gear in the US, head over to KEH Camera today.