Camera Gear

Discontinued DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras Are Holding Their Value Better Than Expected

Used camera prices are climbing in Japan, and discontinued DSLRs and mirrorless bodies are leading the increases.

Used camera prices are rising across Japan's secondhand market, and the cameras leading the climb aren't the newest releases. New data from Japanese marketplace Minna Camera shows that of 32 models with a clear price movement in the first half of 2026, 28 increased, roughly 88%. Several of the biggest gains belong to cameras that have been discontinued for years.

The Numbers Behind the Trend

The Nikon D5600, a DSLR released in 2016 and discontinued since, topped the list with a 24.1% price increase, climbing from roughly $215 to $267 on the used market. The Sony A7 IV followed at 11.9%, rising from about $1,183 to $1,324, and the discontinued Ricoh GR III climbed 10.9%, from around $1,076 to $1,193.

Two more discontinued models made the top five: the Sony A6000, up 10%, and the Canon EOS R6, up 9.8%. Even the camera in tenth place, the Nikon Z9, still climbed 7.8%, moving from about $2,600 to $2,803.

Competitive Context

The mix here is notable. Compact cameras, DSLRs, and mirrorless bodies from across Nikon, Sony, Canon, Ricoh, and Fujifilm all appear in the top 10, and discontinued status doesn't appear to be hurting demand. If anything, cameras no longer in production seem to be holding or gaining value rather than depreciating the way electronics typically do once a manufacturer stops making them.

The Signal in the Noise

This runs against the usual assumption that a camera loses value the moment it's discontinued. Instead, models like the D5600 and GR III are appreciating, likely a mix of scarcity, nostalgia for specific sensor and color characteristics, and buyers priced out of current flagship releases looking for proven older gear instead.

Would knowing a camera's used value tends to hold or climb after discontinuation change how you think about buying into an older system today?