Camera Shelf

Best Micro Four Thirds cameras under $500

MFT bodies at entry-budget pricing. The smaller sensor format means smaller cameras and smaller lenses, so a complete kit can land for the price of a single full-frame body.

15 models match the filter. Default rank: current price as a percentage of MSRP, so the camera at the steepest discount sits at #1. How we compute this.

  1. #1
    Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
    Olympus · Olympus OM-D · MFT · MFT
    likely discontinued 1 source · 21 listings
    Lowest now
    $424
    $1,999 MSRP
    21% MSRP
  2. #2
    Panasonic Lumix GH5
    Panasonic · Panasonic Lumix GH · MFT · MFT
    likely discontinued 2 sources · 46 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $474
    $1,999 MSRP
    24% MSRP
  3. #3
    Olympus PEN E-P5
    Olympus · Olympus PEN · MFT · MFT
    discontinued 1 source · 2 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $249
    $999 MSRP
    25% MSRP
  4. #4
    Panasonic Lumix G7
    Panasonic · Panasonic Lumix G · MFT · MFT
    discontinued 1 source · 40 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $249
    $799 MSRP
    31% MSRP
  5. #5
    Olympus PEN E-PL3
    Olympus · Olympus PEN · MFT · MFT
    discontinued 1 source · 6 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $189
    $599 MSRP
    32% MSRP
  6. #6
    Panasonic Lumix GX1
    Panasonic · Panasonic · MFT · MFT
    discontinued 1 source · 1 listing · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $234
    $699 MSRP
    33% MSRP
  7. #7
    Panasonic Lumix G85
    Panasonic · Panasonic Lumix G · MFT · MFT
    likely discontinued 2 sources · 9 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $339
    $899 MSRP
    38% MSRP
  8. #8
    Panasonic Lumix G95
    Panasonic · Panasonic Lumix G · MFT · MFT
    current 2 sources · 12 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $379
    $999 MSRP
    38% MSRP
  9. #9
    Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II
    Olympus · Olympus OM-D · MFT
    likely discontinued 1 source · 18 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $449
    $1,099 MSRP
    41% MSRP
  10. #10
    Olympus PEN E-PL7
    Olympus · Olympus PEN · MFT · MFT
    likely discontinued 1 source · 1 listing · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $249
    $599 MSRP
    42% MSRP
  11. #11
    Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II
    Olympus · Olympus OM-D · MFT · MFT
    likely discontinued 1 source · 15 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $329
    $649 MSRP
    51% MSRP
  12. #12
    Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
    Olympus · Olympus OM-D · MFT · MFT
    current 1 source · 12 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $349
    $649 MSRP
    54% MSRP
  13. #13
    Olympus PEN E-PL8
    Olympus · Olympus PEN · MFT · MFT
    likely discontinued 1 source · 4 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $324
    $549 MSRP
    59% MSRP
  14. #14
    Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
    Olympus · Olympus OM-D · MFT · MFT
    current 1 source · 22 listings · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $474
    $699 MSRP
    68% MSRP
  15. #15
    Olympus PEN E-PL9
    Olympus · Olympus PEN · MFT · MFT
    current 1 source · 1 listing · vs the #1 pick →
    Lowest now
    $439
    $599 MSRP
    73% MSRP

How we built this list

Camera Shelf tracks used prices across the major used-gear sites every night. This list filters the catalog to cameras that match the criteria above, then ranks by deal score, so the camera at the steepest discount from its launch MSRP comes first. Prices and rankings refresh whenever the crawler completes (typically once per day).

See the methodology page for how prices are collected, how seller conditions are normalized, and what the deal score does and doesn't measure.

Other best lists: full-frame cameras under $1,000 , full-frame cameras under $1,500 , full-frame cameras under $2,000 , full-frame cameras under $3,000 , full-frame mirrorless cameras under $1,500 , full-frame mirrorless cameras under $2,000 . See all.