2023’s Fastest Rising Camera Gear
Published October 31, 2024 by MPB
In 2023, MPB tracked the most popular camera gear across the UK, the US and the EU. By analysing transactions with our buyers and sellers, we can reveal the fastest-rising cameras, lenses and specialist gear of 2023, alongside our predictions for 2024.
United Kingdom
Fastest-rising cameras in 2023
In 2023, the UK’s fastest-rising camera bodies are the Fujifilm X-T5 and Fujifilm X-H2, joined by the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Panasonic S5 II and Sony A7R V.
Mirrorless bodies dominate the year’s list, with Fujifilm taking the top two spots. Summer 2023, in particular, saw many UK visual storytellers choosing Fujifilm cameras. Furthermore, there’s a 28% increase in the total number of mirrorless camera bodies traded at MPB (in comparison to 2022).
MPB customers are taking full advantage of the platform’s stock alerts feature, with the most stock alerts set up for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II—possibly indicating further adoption of this camera in the coming months.
Several other mirrorless camera bodies, which just miss the top five, are looking popular for 2024 in the UK. These include the Nikon Z8, Canon EOS R7 and OM System OM-1.
Fastest-rising lenses in 2023
The growing demand for Fujifilm camera bodies is reflected in the list of fastest-growing lenses, with X-fit lenses taking three of the UK’s top five spots.
In first, second and fifth position are the Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN X(Fujifilm X fit) and Fujifilm XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR. Completing the line-up, in third and fourth place, are the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S and Panasonic Leica 9mm f/1.7 ASPH DG Summilux.
Mirrorless lenses have taken all five places in 2023, as mirrorless finally overtakes DSLR across the new and used markets.
Several more lenses are tipped to grow in popularity through 2024. These include the Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S, Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM, Sony FE 50mm f/1.4 GM and Fujifilm XF 18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR.
Fastest-rising specialist gear in 2023
Specialist gear, which includes action and cine cameras, drones, and rangefinders, is unsurprisingly dominated by the biggest brands—and this shows in the UK’s top five fastest-growing models of 2023.
Action cameras prove popular with creators, as the first-place GoPro Hero11 Black and fourth-place DJI Osmo Action 3 Standard lead the way for compact, on-the-go cameras.
Drone operators continue sticking with DJI, as the DJI Mavic 2 Pro flies into second place. We expect to see the DJI Mavic 3 taking off in 2024.
Sony’s mid-range video line is doing well among videographers, with the Sony FX30 rolling into third place. The FX30’s growing popularity is unsurprising, considering its favourable combination of features and low price-point.
In fifth, we have the premium Leica M11 rangefinder. Loved by street photographers in particular, the M11 is one of the very best.
United States
Fastest-rising cameras in 2023
In the US in 2023, our customers purchased 58% more mirrorless cameras than in 2022. Recent camera releases from the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z systems largely powered this increase.
The fastest-rising camera models are similar on both sides of the Atlantic, with the Fujifilm X-T5 and X-H2 taking the top two spots. The Sony A7R V jumps into third place, with the Canon EOS R10 and R6 Mark II completing the top five.
Sony had been losing some US market share to Nikon and Fujifilm. But, following releases in autumn, we have seen customers flock to Sony.
For 2024, we predict strong US sales for the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R50, the Panasonic S5 II and Nikon Z8.
Fastest-rising lenses in 2023
Mirrorless lenses make up the fastest-rising lenses for US customers in 2023, with X-fit lenses for Fujifilm proving particularly popular.
The Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Fujifilm X Fit), and Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (Fujifilm X Fit) take the second, fourth and fifth places.
Following their success in the summer, the last few years of Fujifilm lens releases have proven popular.
Meanwhile, the Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM and Sony E 11mm f/1.8 are on the podium in first and third place, respectively.
APS-C and wide-angle lenses dominate the fastest-growing lenses in the US in 2023. Aside from the Fujifilm 56mm, the other four are crop focussed wide-angle lenses. These are popular among landscape and travel photographers.
We predict, in 2024, US customers will go for the Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD E(Sony E fit), Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro, Panasonic Leica 9mm f/1.7 ASPH DG Summilux and Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM.
Fastest-rising specialist gear in 2023
Across the specialist gear category, in 2023, US customers choose the Sony FX30, GoPro HERO11 Black, DJI Mavic 3, Blackmagic DesignATEM Mini Pro and Sony XLR-H1 XLR Handle Unit.
On both sides of the pond, the Sony FX30 is a popular release. Its modular design and great price point makes the FX30 a real hit with content creators, who are also adding the XLR Handle unit, the modular accessory for the Sony FX range.
Action cameras are in demand in the US, with the Hero11 solidifying GoPro dominance within the category in 2023.
In recent times, the DJI Mavic 3 is one of the most popular drones—particularly in the US—has hovers in third place in 2023. DJI are keeping their plates spinning with a number of versions. We anticipate the DJI Mini 4 Pro doing well in 2024.
European Union
Fastest-rising cameras in 2023
The EU market is embracing the latest releases from major camera brands, with the third-place Canon R10 and fifth-place Nikon Z30 gaining popularity since their late 2022 launches.
However, it is Fujifilm that dominates the list, with the X-T5, X-H2 and X-H2S in the first, second and fourth places.
Fastest-rising lenses in 2023
In line with trends observed in the UK and US, Fujifilm lenses continue to dominate the European market.
Following the success of recent Fujifilm releases, particularly in the summer, X-fit lenses are becoming favourites among photographers and take the top four spots. These are the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary (Fujifilm X Fit), Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR, Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Fujifilm X Fit) and Fujifilm XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR Macro.
The emphasis on crop and wide-angle lenses is evident, catering to the preferences of landscape and travel photographers seeking a large depth of field.
The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm f/1.7 ASPH, gaining global recognition for its versatility in various photography styles and filmmaking, enters the list in fifth place.
Fastest-rising specialist gear in 2023
Within the specialist gear-making waves in the EU market, DJI claims the top two spots with the DJI Action 2 Power 128GB Combo and DJI Mavic 2 Pro FlyMore Combo. The versatility and favourable price points of DJI products have contributed to their popularity.
In third place is the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro. And the fourth-place Sony FX30 finds a strong foothold in the European market, reflecting its global appeal.
Finally, the Leica M11 has secured a position among the fastest-rising specialist gear, boasting a triple-resolution sensor, internal memory, and higher dynamic range, marking a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the M10.
The MPB Used Camera Gear Price Index is an interactive visualisation of used camera and lens pricing trends. The index is powered by MPB, the leading authority on used camera prices, and largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used camera equipment.
View price trends over 3 to 36 months for the 100 most popular products. Delve further into the data to see trends by camera brand and product type. MPB's index shows trends individually across the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.
MPB is sharing its market-leading used camera gear expertise to open up the world of visual storytelling in a way that's good for people and the planet. Alongside the index, MPB publishes insightful stories on the latest pricing trends. MPB has made its index free for the public and press to use.