There’s a lot to love about a proper camera. A body with gravitas that molds to your hands. Endless lens choices for ultrafine detail and lowlight sharpness. Big, fat sensors that lock in your vision and blow it up without getting fuzzy. Simply holding a camera focuses creative intent—if you can get your hands on what you want.
Recently, chip shortages and supply chain issues have kept some killer gear out of reach. And the latest available models can get pricey; our all-around favorite mirrorless camera costs $2500. Fortunately, the solution to each of these setbacks is rather simple and environmentally friendly: Buy used.
“Photographers have always traded used gear to get more affordable access to quality products,” says Rachel Thompson, Head of Sustainability for MPB, a leading platform for buying and selling used camera gear. On average, the fully-inspected equipment listed on MPB.com is 30 percent cheaper than it is new. And going used can make it easier to find treasures tough to get over the past few years, including the Canon R5 and Fujifilm X-T4.
Because cameras are built to last, they can be traded several times without sacrificing performance. “Leading camera manufacturers design for longevity and compatibility between bodies and lenses,” Thompson says, making video and photo equipment stars of the circular economy long before the concept entered global consciousness. And now that MPB has platformed the buying and selling experience, it’s a lot more chill. Gone are the days of canceled meetups and awkward attempts to ensure, in front of your seller, that equipment is in its advertised state. Now it’s just as easy as ordering slushies at 2 a.m. to trade up or make a purchase from your couch.
If you’re like half of the 2,000 professional camera gear owners MPB surveyed, you have equipment you don’t use. So you can fill out a form, get an instant quote, and send in your gear for cash. Expert photographers and videographers inspect all incoming gear, post photos of the actual equipment, and MPB provides a six-month warranty, essentially eliminating the risk of buying and selling used. And as the visual storytelling community grows and evolves, so does the cool gear you can find. MPB says it will recirculate more than 350 thousand pieces of gear this year—up three times over 2019—and adds more than 1500 new items a week. Currently, popular gear includes the Canon 5D, Sony Alpha A7, the Nikon D850, and 35mm and 50mm lenses.
Recirculating equipment is a small, simple way for creators to help the planet, because “the climate and nature crises are connected to overconsumption,” Thompson says. Keeping camera products in use as long as possible cuts down their overall environmental impact, and MPB enhances their circularity by using recycled cardboard and paper for shipments, and working with couriers committed to net-zero fleets, among other efforts. “The time to act on sustainability is now,” Thompson says. “We all know we’ve reached peak stuff.”
Finally, connecting creators to affordable equipment is a neat way to democratize visual art. Just like social media helps link artists to audiences on a global scale, a trading platform for used camera gear helps more people access creative tools. So whether you’re a phones shooter curious about your potential, or a seasoned shutterbug eyeing an upgrade, go circular. “Choosing used has such positive social, economic, and environmental impacts,” Thompson says. “It’s simple.”
Find your next favorite camera, lens, or accessory—or find out how much your gear is worth—at mpb.com.
*This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for MPB.*
