I'm at the stage where I'm trying to figure out what to do with my fabulous Canon 7dmkii/Nauticam system.

I'm considering selling it but not sure if there's any market/value at all? I am not on FB so don't have access to things like the marketplace or specific uw photography sales pages.

Both camera and housing are due for a service - a nice chunk of change. Maybe better to just forget it altogether and continue on my journey towards a more updated system?

I'm currently using the baby Oly TG7 setup and enjoy it 90% of the time, but do find myself frustrated now and again so I need to bite the bullet and get my existing gear sorted (about a two month wait, I'm told) or buy something new (probably a longer wait because I still can't make a decision and obviously way more upfront expense).

What's everyone's thoughts? Photo just because it's more interesting :)

It's probably a good idea to look at what sort of pictures you want to take and what your budget is. Potentially looking at a more modern Canon to use some of your existing lenses and ports?

I'm really hoping for some insight to if there is a market to sell the 7dmkii camera/housing or if that's just not something potentially on the table.

Then it becomes is it worth it to bother with a grand or so for service or just wait it out til I buy something new.

I'm happy with the baby set up until I'm not (backgrounds are so mushy/ugly if you don't make it stop down as much as it can) and battery life for video is dismal...so I do like to have a Big Rig option, too!

For not much more than servicing your existing housing you could probably get into a used mirrorless set-up, especially something M4/3. That would offer some of the versatility of the TG7 and stay fairly compact. You can also adapt Canon lenses fairly well.

The used market cuts both ways in terms of value and so an older crop DSLR probably won't net you a ton, especially if it's overdue for a service.

I suspect your best bet is trade it in at a camera shop and use the credit for you next camera. Most big camera stores trade in second hand gear - you'll at least get something for it. If you were moving system and not going for another Canon then you could certainly also trade in any canon lenses which do hold some value. But as an underwater package Im not sure there would be much of a market.

I think the value of something that old is just not there, even one generation old gear sells for very little. You might get lucky and get some $$ or not.

I see a couple of options,

Get it serviced and keep using it. Find a low actuation body as a backup.

Retire it and get another system you could see what was available second hand and if you get a complete system and don't try to keep using your lenses it's probably easier to find something you like.

Retire it and buy a new housing and body and try to salvage your lenses and ports. Adapting your macro lens to mirrorless may not be so great in performance though??

Hi Kristin

Over the last 25 years I've bought and sold more housing/cameras than is sane.

As Chris says, it's not a happy process even when, as in each case for me, the camera and housing were in perfect condition and even when only one generation old. If you get 40% of the original value, by my experience, you have done incredibly well. 25%-30% seemed the norm. But then maybe I'm a lousy salesman.

I think there comes a point where no matter how good the technology, it is way better than an individual's ability to use it. I'm a very happy owner of a Nikon D500/Subal housing which I have been using since 2017. Old technology for sure but, I have to ask myself, is there anything that this system stops me from doing or frustrates me? Ideally, yes, I'd love to have in-viewfinder review which mirrorless provides (I shoot a lot of macro/snoot so not moving my eye from the viewfinder would be great). But the cost of that one small upgrade would be crazy: new body, new housing - I suspect new lenses: $10k. Really?

I'm amongst the worst when it comes to a love of new, shiny toys. But there comes a point where my better angel screams, "you are kidding, right?"

I have loads of previous camera gear customers, travel guests and fellow photographers in similar situations......I share insights balancing how much you've used your gear versus benefits of changing systems.

Everyone's budget is different plus the actual amount of intended use....Everyone should ask themselves: How many dives / trips per year are you REALLY going to be able to do?

A friend has the exact same system as Kristin but hasn't been able to travel and dive for a few years. She owns the Nauticam 8" GLASS dome port purchased for one Grand Cayman photo trip plus other Nauticam pieces. Ports like those are probably the most valuable items if they fit current mirrorless Nauticam housings.

The Canon 7D MK II while a fine camera (I used a pair borrowed for a good paying photo job photographing swimming techniques a few years back) but also is on the list of EOL (End Of Life) for any service coming up January 2027.

This in my opinion is another reason to move into mirrorless these days.

I find it interesting how much people place in physical objects.......Maybe I'm the outlier as I just view cameras, housings , strobes, etc. as tools to have fun and create images or videos you're happy with........

Like Tim I've always sold then bought different items over decades. But when I make the move I move it all !!!!

Being a Canon shooter for decades when changing from dSLR for mirrorless I sold all my EF / EF-S stuff........Newer mount lenses are getting cheaper and sharper and simply work better on newer models IMHO.....I think I've actually MADE $$$$ ditching EF / EF-S glass for new RF / RF-S lenses. A friend who had a few Canon L lenses put money in his pocket and still bought a new Nauticam mirrorless package.....

The only thing I'd ever keep might be batteries if they'll fit a new camera model......

Several friends who had Canon EOS M cameras recently moved to the Canon R10 which uses the same Canon NB-17L batteries.

In the US www.mpb.com or www.keh.com will give you instant quotes as long as you accurately list your item's condition. MPB even pays for Fedex TWO day shipping to them. If they have any small dispute they email you and you can get your items back or accept their adjustment. It's usually minor $$$ and some have even had them pay a bit more! For me and many friends it's been seamless and quick without auctions, listing fees and hassles......Sadly, I don't know of any similar large outfit for UW hardware :(

As others have mentioned most of your $$$$ will be the camera(s) and lenses as there are tons more surface shooters than UW shooters in the world.

Finally, as Kristin has found out even with limitations of battery life or settings sometimes going down to smaller systems like a TG7 can be satisfying too even if just an interim move.......

Good luck to all if contemplating changing systems :)

David Haas

19 hours ago, Kristin said:

I'm really hoping for some insight to if there is a market to sell the 7dmkii camera/housing or if that's just not something potentially on the table.

Then it becomes is it worth it to bother with a grand or so for service or just wait it out til I buy something new.

I'm happy with the baby set up until I'm not (backgrounds are so mushy/ugly if you don't make it stop down as much as it can) and battery life for video is dismal...so I do like to have a Big Rig option, too!

I have been trying to sell a 7D MII Nauticam for a year. Best bet is to donate it to someone like the Heroes of the Sea (from the Rocio del Mar) or to a local dive club or sell it really cheap to a young diver/photographer starting out.

I did get an offer for the camera plus housing for like $400 (with ports but no lenses) and said sorry but not worth packing it up. Ended up donating it.

Bill

27 minutes ago, bvanant said:

I did get an offer for the camera plus housing for like $400 (with ports but no lenses) and said sorry but not worth packing it up. Ended up donating it.

I think Bill sums it up nicely!

Even slightly older mirrorless are pretty cheap. If I could get $600 for this EM5MK2 and housing I'd be happy. Instead I think it'll become a loaner camera.

Too bad our digital cameras do not get updated to the latest technology by purchasing a new roll of film. It is not the housing that cause the depreciation, it is the never ending "improvements" to cameras that is driving the obsolesce of the cameras, lenses and thus the housings for them.

Once upon a time computers were sold by processor speed, this is 166MHz, then 200MHz and now it is not really relevant as a shopping metric. Maybe someday cameras will have resolution that exceeds the optical resolution of the human eye and the capability of the human brain to discern any difference. Then maybe there will not be a new and better model every few months.

6 hours ago, Nemrod said:

Maybe someday cameras will have resolution that exceeds the optical resolution of the human eye and the capability of the human brain to discern any difference. Then maybe there will not be a new and better model every few months.

I think we‘re already at that point more or less (and getting closer even to the optical limits), but then we like to crop…

A new car will also only get me from A to B, but it does feel a lot better.

From a buyer’s perspective: I have so far mostly bought used equipment (and really rather old) for probably 10% of the original price or less. But lower-end models, and those loose value more than the pro stuff.