This year I’ve been focusing on actually owning more of my gear for personal projects and my YouTube channel, and I made a conscious decision to buy as much of it used as possible. In 2025 I genuinely think there’s never been a better time to buy used camera gear. In this video I walk through my own setup—like a used Lumix S5 I bought for around $900 (I’ve seen it go as low as $700), plus a used Sennheiser MKE 600 for about $150, and the DMW-XLR1 module—where I’ve basically saved around $1,000 compared to buying everything new. The big reason is that camera tech has stagnated. The jump from 2015 to 2020 was massive (4K, 10-bit log, better dynamic range, IBIS, solid autofocus), but from 2020 to 2025 the final image isn’t changing that much. The newer stuff is often more about codecs like RAW and ProRes, and small improvements to AF/IBIS, but cameras like the Lumix S1 and S5 still deliver a really similar image for way less money on the used market. I also cover why used gear is usually in great condition (prices drop mostly because of value/hype, not because it’s broken), why it’s a safer investment (less depreciation), and why it’s simply better for the environment. Then I share a few practical tips: some brands hold value differently, you need patience watching listings, negotiate, and always do your due diligence.