The best cheap full-frame cameras in 2025

With the best cheap full-frame cameras, you can capture high-quality, professional-looking images without having to fork over giant sums of cash. There’s no doubt that the newest and best full-frame cameras are continually getting more and more expensive – however, there are also plenty of cheap alternatives, especially if you are willing to look on the second-hand market. In this guide, we’ve rounded up the ones that we reckon are worth your money.

When our expert writers review cameras, they take price into account as well as the camera’s capabilities. As such, this list represents a selection of the models that have most impressed our reviewers in terms of the value for money they offer. This is also something that can change over time, which is why we regularly revisit and update our reviews – plenty of the cameras on this list were expensive on first release, but have since seen significant price reductions on the second-hand market.

If you need a primer on what marks out full-frame cameras as different from others, scroll to the bottom of this page where we’ve put together an explainer section, with answers to a few frequently asked questions as well. For other cheap options, we have guides to the best cameras under £500 / $500, the best cameras under £300 / $300, and even the best cameras under £200 / $200. Just bear in mind you won’t see any full-frame sensors on those lists!

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The best cheap full-frame cameras – our quick list

Looking for the best deal on cheap full-frame cameras? Not only will you find the best cheap full-frame cameras, but also some of the best deals, as our ‘Buy now’ buttons are setup to automatically take you to the best prices from trusted retailers. You’ll also find a list of other retailers below each camera, so you can find the right deal for you.

• Best camera around $1,000 / £900 – Sony Alpha A7 II – buy now
• Best cheap full-frame to buy new: Canon EOS R8 – buy now
• Best cheap full-frame Panasonic: Panasonic Lumix S5 – buy now
• Smallest full-frame camera: Sigma fp – buy now
• Best cheap Nikon DSLR: Nikon D750 – buy now
• Best cheap full-frame Pentax DSLR: Pentax K-1 – buy now
• Best camera for still-life photography: Sony Alpha A7R II – buy now
• Best full-frame Canon DSLR: Canon EOS 6D Mark II – buy now
• Cheapest full-frame Canon: Canon EOS RP – buy now
• Cheapest full-frame mirrorless Nikon: Nikon Z5 – buy now

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The best cheap full-frame cameras: our full list

Best camera around $1,000 / £900 – Sony Alpha A7 II

At a glance:

• Sensor: 24.3MP Exmor CMOS sensor
• Lens mount: E-mount
• ISO: 50-25,600
• Weight: 556g (body only)
• Price: From $583 / £899 (body only)

The A7 II is now two updates old, with Sony having introduced the Sony A7 III back in February 2018, and the Sony A7 IV in October 2021. However, the A7 II is still available to buy new, and at less than $900 body-only, it’s a real bargain buy.

The A7 II is a mirrorless camera with a 24MP CMOS sensor that’s harnessed to a Bionz X processor, has 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, a hybrid AF system with 117 phase detection points, 5fps continuous shooting and the ability to shoot Full HD video with the S-Log 2 gamma.

In addition, the A7 II’s magnesium alloy body is weather-sealed and its grip is much improved upon the one on the original A7. Our tests found the A7 II is a snappy performer and it can capture sharp images of fast-moving subjects, but is not quite up to the pace of the most recent models. It’s therefore most at home with stationary or slow-moving targets.

The Sony Alpha A7 II uses the Sony E-Mount, and there are a wide range of lenses available, so you’ll be able to find one to suit your needs.

What the A7 II really does well is produce superb image quality images, both in bright light and low light when the ISO has to be raised. Overall, the A7 II is a highly recommended full-frame model that offers huge imaging potential in a lightweight body. It should draw the attention of those who seek one of the smallest, yet most powerful full-frame cameras on the market.

Read our Sony Alpha 7 II Review

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Best cheap full-frame camera to buy new: Canon EOS R8

At a glance:

• 24.2MP full-frame sensor
• Lens mount: Canon RF
• ISO: 100-102,400
• Weight: 461g
• Price: $1,198 / £1,199 body-only

Plenty of manufacturers have marketed ‘entry-level’ full-frame cameras over the years – cameras designed to introduce photographers (and, increasingly, videographers) to the joys of shooting with a larger sensor. The Canon EOS R8 is one of the more recent efforts – a curious combination of high-end internals and an entry-level lightweight body. The end result is a curiosity of a camera, one that’s a little idiosyncratic in use, but ultimately produces undeniably brilliant results.

So, what has Canon done here exactly? Well, the EOS R8 manages to cram a full-frame sensor into a mirrorless body that weighs just 461g, and has even managed to equip it with its cutting-edge autofocus system, thanks to borrowing both a sensor and a processor from the higher-end EOS R6 Mark II. Not only is it lighter than that camera, it’s also significantly cheaper. While it can shoot at up to a decent 6fps with its mechanical shutter, switch to the electronic and you can have up to 40fps, or 30fps in ‘Raw Burst’ mode.

You may be wondering what the catch is. There are several in fact – the EOS R8 lacks many of the EOS R6 Mark II’s features. There’s only one card slot, there’s no weather sealing, and the battery has been downgraded to a 220-shot LP-E17 (so for a day’s shooting, you’ll almost certainly want a spare). More significantly however, the EOS R8 has no built-in image stabilisation, meaning you’ll be completely reliant on lens IS.

This makes it a curious proposition for many photographers – however, as we said up top, you can’t argue with results, and the EOS R8 is capable of producing downright spectacular imagery. Considering you can get it with a lens for less than $2K/£2K, the EOS R8 makes a compelling case for itself as a first full-frame camera.

Read our full Canon EOS R8 review.

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Best cheap full-frame Panasonic: Panasonic Lumix S5

At a glance:

• Sensor: 24.2MP CMOS sensor
• Lens mount: Leica L
• ISO: 100-51,200 (extendable to 50-204,800)
• Weight: 714g
• Price: From $1,137 used, with 20-60mm lens / £659-£774 used, body-only

The Panasonic Lumix S5 has been around for a good two years now, and a shiny new version has very recently been announced. This makes for some terrific value among used models for sale. The Panasonic Lumix S5 II stole headlines at the start of 2023 for its comprehensive suite of video features and sub-2K price. Panasonic has made no secret of the fact that the S5 line is designed to be the full-frame equivalent of the popular, video-oriented GH cameras for Micro Four Thirds.

The Lumix S5 is fairly lightweight for a full-frame model; this was a response to criticisms of the heft of the first cameras in the series, the S1 and S1R. While it has plenty to entice the vlogger and video shooter, it’s decent when it comes to stills, too.

The Lumix S5 produces sharp, vivid images full of vibrant colour, and boasts a rack of useful features, including an electronic shutter for silent shooting. This can manage shutter speeds of up to 1/8000sec – decent, but rivals are faster. It can also use the sophisticated stabilisation system to stitch together eight separate exposures with adjustments to the sensor position, resulting in a 96MP image.

This was Panasonic’s most affordable full-frame camera on release, and the second-hand market has been very kind to it, with models in very good and excellent condition plentifully found for less than £1K. The Leica L lens mount gives you access to an impressive range of lenses, and helps cement the Lumix S5 as a very tempting and reasonably priced proposition.

Read our full Panasonic Lumix S5 review

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Smallest full-frame camera: Sigma fp

At a glance:

• Sensor: 24MP CMOS sensor
• Lens mount: Leica L
• ISO: 100-25,600 (extendable to 6-102,400)
• Weight: 422g
• Price: From $1,899 used /  £1,109 used, body only

As you can see throughout this page, the form factors of full-frame cameras tend to look quite similar. As such, it’s nice to see a manufacturer taking a bit of a risk and coming out with something that looks genuinely different – so it is with the Sigma fp, a tiny cuboid that scarcely seems like it’s big enough to hold a full-frame sensor, but most assuredly is.

As Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki tells it, the design concept for the Sigma fp was to make the smallest possible full-frame camera, thereby delivering a format suitable for travel photography. Naturally, this means a few sacrifices are made; there is no viewfinder, no mechanical shutter, no real handgrip, and no built-in flash. However, that’s not to say you have to completely do without, as many of these things are available as optional add-ons. The Sigma fp is designed to be modular, which is a super-interesting concept for a full-frame camera.

But, does it work? In our review, we were broadly positive, if a little circumspect about certain things. Fundamentally, if you want a small full-frame camera, the Sigma fp is it, and it produces great-looking images, with RAW files every bit as good as those from larger cameras. You do need to pair it with small L-mount primes for the concept to still make any sense though.

Sigma subsequently released the Sigma fp L, more of a companion piece than a successor, with a high-resolution 61MP sensor, and the addition of an optional viewfinder to bolt onto the side. If a viewfinder is a deal-breaker for you, this is the buy, but the original Sigma fp can generally be picked up cheaper if not.

Read our full Sigma fp review

For more compact options have a look at our guide to the best smallest mirrorless cameras!

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Best cheap Nikon DSLR: Nikon D750

At a glance:

• Sensor: 24.3MP FX CMOS sensor
• Lens mount: Nikon F-mount
• ISO: 100-12,800 (extendable to 50-51,200)
• Weight: 980g
• Price: $740 body only / £499 body only

Nikon’s D750 has been a popular choice of DSLR for enthusiast, semi-pro and pro photographers. It was overshadowed in early 2020 by the arrival of the Nikon D780, but given that it’s now selling at under £750 body-only, the D750 is still a very attractive proposition. Inside the D750 is 24.3MP full-frame CMOS sensor with an optical low-pass filter to cut out moire patterning. This chip is paired with an Expeed 4 processing engine, which enables a continuous shooting rate of 6.5fps at full resolution.

Although the D750 pre-dates Nikon’s SnapBridge technology, it has Wi-Fi connectivity to enable image-sharing and remote control via a smartphone running Nikon’s Wireless Mobile Utility app. Nikon uses a monocoque design for the D750 and it is made from a mix of thermoplastic and carbon fibre with magnesium alloy top and bottom sections. It all adds up to a rugged and solid-feeling camera.

There are 51 user-selectable AF points and the D750 gets subjects sharp very quickly, even in very gloomy conditions when you’re composing in the viewfinder. As you’d expect, the image quality from the Nikon D750 is excellent up to around ISO 1600 and there’s good dynamic range, but the Highlight Metering Mode is especially useful when it’s essential to avoid blown-out highlights.

Using the long-established Nikon F-mount, there are a wide range of lenses available, starting with affordable 50mm lenses, like the ‘nifty fifty’ Nikon 50mm f/1.8G lens, going all the way up to 800mm telephoto lenses.

Nikon has covered almost every feature likely to appear on the wish-list of an enthusiast photographer and added a few extra for good measure. The build quality of the camera is very good and it strikes a great balance between the size and weight. Thanks to the large grip at the front the D750 feels incredible in hand, particularly with larger lenses. With the mode dial, button lay-out and menu system being akin to Nikon’s entry-level DSLRs, any amateur photographer upgrading to full-frame should feel right at home. In the D750 Nikon created a camera that got all the fundamentals right and, as a result, it remains a great all-round DSLR.

Read our Nikon D750 Review

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Best cheap full-frame Pentax DSLR: Pentax K-1

At a glance:

• Sensor: 36.4-million-pixel full-frame CMOS
• Lens mount: Pentax K-mount
• ISO: 100-204,800
• Weight: 1,010g
• Price: $1300-$1700 body-only / £814-£859 body-only

For those who are decided on a DSLR rather than a mirrorless camera, it’s well worth considering DSLR-specialists Pentax. The venerable camera manufacturer has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the DSLR format at a time when other manufacturers are uniformly jumping (or, to be honest, have long since jumped) to mirrorless. The Pentax K-1 was the first full-frame mirrorless DSLR the firm released, and the fact that it has since been superceded by the K-1 Mark II means it’s not difficult to find second-hand for a great price.

The 36.4MP full-frame sensor produces top-quality images, as we discovered in our full testing of the K-1. Detail and dynamic range are consistently excellent, and this performance is well-maintained as you move up through the sensitivities – it’s only past ISO 800 that dynamic range starts to really drop, and even then, it’s still very good. The Shake Reduction image stabilisation is also very good, delivering up to five stops of effective compensation.

The hardy, weather-sealed body feels safe to use outdoors, with a well-sculpted grip that provides a secure hold. The metering system does have a tendency towards underexposure, as was a characteristic of previous Pentax DSLRs, but it’s nothing that a quick shift of the Exposure Compensation dial can’t fix.

We’ve long been fans of the Pentax K-1, rating it as one of our standout second-hand cameras after we published our full review. Some caveats to bear in mind though – its autofocus system does feel pretty dated, especially now in the days of phase-detection pixels and AI-powered subject-recognition. Also, while the K-1 does shoot Full HD video, it’s a photographer’s camera first and foremost – video shooters can get better value for money elsewhere.

Read our full Pentax K-1 review

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Best camera for still-life photography: Sony A7R II

At a glance:

• Sensor: 42.4-million-pixel, full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor
• Lens mount: Sony E-mount
• ISO: 100-25,600 (50-102400 extended)
• Weight: 625g
• Price: $789-869 body only / £750-£949 body only

With 42.4million effective pixels on its backside illuminated sensor, the mirrorless A7R II is the highest-resolution camera in our chosen line-up of budget full-frame cameras. Despite that high pixel count, the A7R II’s Bionz X processing engine still enables full-resolution shooting at up to 5fps. The price of this powerful camera has been driven down by its two successors, the A7R III and A7R IV, so it can be picked up for a real bargain price.

• With a high resolution sensor and excellent value for money, this would be an great choice as one of the best cameras for still life photography. 

There’s also a hybrid autofocus system with 399 user-selectable AF points that cover 45% of the imaging area, which means that you can target the subject precisely. It’s also pretty fast, but the A7R II is more likely to appeal to landscape photographers than avid sport-shooters.

Our tests revealed that the A7R II has excellent dynamic range, hitting 13.1Ev at ISO 100, which, paired with its superb detail resolution, great noise control and effective 5-axis image stabilisation system, explains its enduring attractiveness to landscape photographers.

The Sony A7R II is also capable of recording 4K video. What’s more, in Super 35mm mode, there’s no pixel binning and features such as S-Log2 Gammas and Time Code are on hand along with 3.5mm ports to connect an external mic and headphones.

The camera benefits from 5-axis In Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS), and this works with any lens attached to the camera – great for using budget lenses without optical image stabilisation, or even old manual lenses used with an adapter. The A7R II delivers great accuracy and speed of focusing, particularly in low light, thanks to the the fast-hybrid AF system. The performance of the 42.4MP sensor is sensational and the way it controls noise and handles detail right up to ISO 25,600 is a real eye-opener.

Read our Sony Alpha 7R II review

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Best full-frame Canon DSLR: Canon EOS 6D Mark II

At a glance:

• Sensor: 26.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor
• Lens mount: Canon EF
• ISO sensitivity: ISO 100-40,000
• Weight: 765g
• Price: $1,199 (body only) / £1,289 (body only)

Although it’s a DSLR, the 26.2MP 6D Mark II has a Dual Pixel CMOS AF design sensor, which means that it uses phase detection autofocusing in Live View mode as well as when the viewfinder is used to compose images. Consequently it focuses quickly and accurately, however you decide to compose your shots. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that the 63 AF points available in the viewfinder are grouped quite close around the centre of the frame.

The snappy focusing in Live View mode is especially useful on the 6D Mark II because it has a vari-angle screen that can be angled for viewing from any angle; whether shooting landscape or portrait format images. Canon has also done a great job of implementing touch control so you adjust settings and set the active AF point by tapping on the screen.

That screen is also of use when you’re shooting video, which tops out at Full HD (1920×1080) at 59.94fps. Further good news is that the 6D II maintains its good detail resolution up to around ISO 6,400, making it a versatile all-rounder.

As the Canon EOS 6D Mark II uses the Canon EF lens mount, there are a wide range of Canon EF lenses available, as well as a wide range of lenses from other manufacturers, giving you a great choice of both new and used lenses to look at.

The EOS 6D Mark II is a stepping stone for existing Canon users to get into full-frame photography and is a viable alternative to the more advanced EOS 5D Mark IV. Those thinking about a move away from a Canon APS-C format DSLR will need to factor in the extra expense of upgrading a few EF-S lenses to a new collection of EF lenses. But when size and weight are critical – for example, when travelling or on location – the EOS 6D Mark II really comes into its own.

Read our Canon EOS 6D Mark II review

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Cheapest full-frame Canon mirrorless: Canon EOS RP

At a glance:

• Sensor: 26.2MP full-frame dual-pixel CMOS
• Lens mount: Canon RF
• Sensitivity: ISO 100-40,00 (extendable to ISO 50-102,400)
• Weight: 485g (with battery and card)
• Price: $899 (body only) / from £819 (body only)

The Canon EOS RP was the second full-frame mirrorless camera in Canon’s line-up, and is compact and affordable. Like the Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR, the EOS RP has a Dual Pixel CMOS AF design sensor; yet it has a remarkable 4779 selectable AF points. Also, as the RP is a mirrorless camera, those points ara accessible for use whether the image is composed in the electronic viewfinder or on the 3-inch 1.04-million-dot, vari-angle touchscreen.

In a step-up from the 6D Mark II, the RP is capable of shooting 4K UHD (3840×2160) video at up to 25fps. And, of course, you get to use the excellent AF system for shooting video as well as stills. While Canon has since introduced two EOS R cameras that are designed for entry-level and budget users – the EOS R7 and EOS R10 – both of these are APS-C models, not full-frame.

Existing Canon DSLR photographers who are looking to switch to a mirrorless camera will appreciate the familiar handling of the RP and can use the existing EF-mount lenses via an adapter. Indeed, we found the EOS RP worked seamlessly with EF-mount lenses, so EOS DSLR users would only need to acquire an RP body to start shooting straight away.

They won’t be disappointed by the images which have excellent levels of detail up to around ISO 12,800. There is a range of RF-mount lenses, but as with any relatively new camera system, it would be wise to have a look at what lenses are available, and how much they cost before investing in a new system.

With the EOS RP Canon revealed its initial vision for what an entry-level, full-frame mirrorless model should look. It got a lot right, with a body design that handles much better than its odd-looking profile might suggest. Rather than simply porting across the existing EOS DSLR interface, it employed some clever new ideas, such as the Dial Function setting and Fv exposure mode. There’s plenty to like about this camera!

Read our Canon EOS RP review

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Cheapest full-frame mirrorless Nikon: Nikon Z5

At a glance:

• Sensor: 24.3MP CMOS sensor
• Lens mount: Nikon Z mount
• ISO: 160-51200 (50-102400 extended)
• Weight: 675g (with battery and card)
• Price: $1,296 body only / £1,079 body only

Announced in July 2020, the Nikon Z5 was introduced as the ‘catalyst’ camera, intended to push DSLR or APS-C format photographers to invest in a full-frame mirrorless model.

It’s also Nikon’s most affordable full-frame mirrorless camera, which means there are a few compromises in comparison with the 24.5MP Z6 II that sits above it in Nikon’s mirrorless camera range, but it still has plenty to appeal to experienced photographers.

For example, while the Z5’s 24.3MP sensor has standard design and isn’t backside illuminated, it has a 273-point hybrid AF system with Eye-detection for humans and animals in stills mode. There’s also the same 0.39-inch 3,690,000-dot OLED electronic viewfinder as Nikon’s other full-framers, a responsive 3.2-inch 1,040,000-dot tilting touchscreen and dual SD card ports plus 4K video capability.

With detail maintained well up to around ISO 12,800 and good dynamic range, the Z5 is a strong contender. The Nikon Z series has also a growing range of Z-mount lenses. However, as they’re all new and mostly premium optics, you may want to have a look through your options. They can be quite pricey.

Originally touted as an ‘entry-level’ model the Z5 is much more advanced than this basic classification suggests. It’s alike to the original Z6 in terms of its build quality and handling but, by making a few spec alterations, Nikon was able to make it cheaper. The Z5 is sometimes available as part of a bundle with a 24-50mm kit lens – something that might appeal to photographers who feel like they’re ready to advance to full-frame.

Read our Nikon Z5 review

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What to look for in the best cheap full-frame cameras

In brief, here are the key specs and features you should be mindful of when shopping around for the best cheap full-frame cameras.

DSLR or mirrorless? You’re going to be choosing one or the other in the question of DSLR vs mirrorless. Mirrorless cameras tend to be smaller, with more sophisticated autofocus and video systems. DSLRs are generally more rugged and weatherproof, with better battery life, and the immediacy of an optical viewfinder (mirrorless systems use electronic ones).

The best DSLR systems also tend to have more lens options, simply because they’ve been around longer. However, the best mirrorless cameras very much represent the future of imaging, with manufacturers like Canon and Nikon betting big on their mirrorless line-ups, so these can be the more forward-thinking buy.

Lens mount. Look at the lenses available for a system, particularly with regard to what you want to shoot. A full-frame sensor is only as good as the lens attached to it.

Continuous shooting speed. If you’re capturing fast action, then a camera’s burst speed could mean the difference between nailing and missing the shot. While the older cameras on this list won’t be matching the blistering burst speeds of the likes of the Nikon Z9, you can still get respectable frames per second (fps) rates on a cheap full-frame camera.

ISO range. The higher an ISO ceiling a camera can reach, the better its performance in low light, generally speaking. However, some cameras do better at high ISOs than others, so it’s always worth doing some research rather than just relying on numbers.

What is a full-frame camera?

‘Full-frame’ is description of the size of a camera’s imaging sensor. In a full-frame camera, the sensor measures 36x24mm, which is roughly the size of a single frame of 35mm film – hence the name. A full-frame sensor is physically larger than many you’ll find in other cameras (APS-C, Four Thirds, 1-inch, etc) and larger sensors confer all sorts of advantages, such as greater dynamic range. Those who want to know more about sensor sizes can check out our extensive piece on APS-C vs Full-Frame.

Is it worth getting a full-frame camera?

If you care about great image quality then yes, it is definitely worth at least considering getting a full-frame camera. The physically larger sensor size of full-frame allows for the creation of images with superior dynamic range compared to smaller-sensor cameras. Full-frame cameras will perform better in low light, and are also better for cleanly separating subject and background to produce images with an aesthetically shallow depth of field. While they can be expensive, as we’ve seen in this guide, full-frame cameras can also be picked up for tempting prices if you don’t feel you have to have the newest model.

What are the disadvantages of full-frame?

Setting aside the cost, one of the main disadvantages of full-frame cameras is the fact that they are physically bigger and heavier than their crop-sensor counterparts. This can make them difficult to use for extended periods, especially when shooting on location. Also, something worth noting is that the cost and weight disadvantages of full-frame cameras also apply equally to full-frame lenses – they, too, are big, heavy and expensive.

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Further reading:

• What are the best mirrorless cameras you can buy?
• The best second-hand full-frame camera bargains
• The 12 Best Nikon DSLR Cameras Ever

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