A cheap full-frame DSLR is still the sensible buy for budget photographers

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The internet is buzzing with large-format-related searches today. Full-frame DSLR is currently trending, as well as the Nikon Z5, which I've just written about . If you haven't got the time to check that article out, I'll give you the gist: the Nikon Z5 is an older camera – six years old in fact – but it's still a viable option in 2026 because it's such a fantastic deal for a full-frame camera.

It's currently available for $1,146.95 at B&H Photo and £789 at Wex Photo Video . But that's still a lot of money to justify for some photographers, which I can only assume is why people are searching for full-frame DSLR cameras. It is important to note that full-frame shouldn't be considered an entirely superior option to APS-C or Micro Four Thirds .

We all have different budgets and priorities when it comes to buying cameras and for some, the smaller form factor and advanced features of a modern crop-sensor camera, compared to an older full-frame camera, will win outright. But if image quality is your main concern, it's a different story. A larger sensor allows for bigger photo sites, which makes each photo site more effective at gathering light. This is why full-frame cameras generally boast better low-light capabilities and higher dynamic range.

So, while the Nikon Z5 doesn't boast the mod cons of some newer APS-C mirrorless cameras, it does boast better image quality. If you're a landscape photographer, for example, the Z5's shortcomings of slow burst rates, unpredictable last-gen autofocus and 4K / 30p video probably won't matter to you. However, the same can be said about full-frame DSLR cameras. And they can be found on the used market for a lot cheaper .

Full-frame DSLRs deals on the used market

You can pick up some scintillating full-frame DSLR deals on the used market. I'm talking a Nikon D800 for under $600 / £500 or a Canon EOS 5D Mark III for around the same price range. Heck, one of my colleagues has just bought a Canon EOS 5D Mark I for next to nothing. He's never used a full-frame camera and wanted to see what all the fuss was about without spending a fortune.

Ultimately, picking up a used full-frame DSLR is a great choice for stills photographers who want a cheap lens platform, the ability to experience a full-frame system without investing too much money, or somebody who just wants a camera with decent image quality to capture landscapes and architecture, who doesn't need the latest-and-greatest mod cons.

And of course, if you simply love the DSLR system and don't mind spending more, some of the greatest stills cameras ever created are DSLRs. I personally still stand by the Nikon D850 as one of the greatest stills cameras ever made and many would say the same thing about the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV .

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Take a look at the best Canon cameras and the best Nikon cameras . Want to go back even further to the real age of full-frame? Here are the best film cameras .