Japanese camera retailer Map Camera has released its report on its best-selling cameras and lenses of 2023. Surprisingly, perhaps, Nikon managed to top both lists. In fact, in both lists, two of the top three models are Nikon.

This news will be very welcome to Nikon themselves. After a couple of decades of struggle and uncertainty, the company appears to be back. There are some other obvious models on the lists, but also one or two surprises.

Map Cameras Top 10 Cameras

It’s probably not surprising that Sony takes up the most spots on this list. They make three of the cameras listed. Nikon and Fuji both appear twice, while Panasonic and Canon only appear once each. Then there’s that surprise…

1. Nikon Z8 (buy here)
2. Canon EOS R6 II (buy here)
3. Nikon Z f (buy here)
4. Sony A7R V (buy here)
5. Sony A7 IV (buy here)
6. Sony A7C II (buy here)
7. Ricoh GR IIIx (buy here)
8. Fujifilm X-S10 (buy here)
9. Panasonic Lumix S5 II (buy here)
10. Fujifilm X-T5 (buy here)

I have to admit, seeing the Ricoh GR IIIx on there raised an eyebrow. It’s still a popular camera. I know this. I guess I hadn’t realised how popular the Ricoh GR product range still was. With smartphones becoming more capable by the day… As I said, it was surprising.

Map Cameras Top 10 Lenses

The list of the top 10 lenses looks quite similar, with Nikon in 1st and 3rd place. Except, they also have 8th place, so three this time. Sony also has three lenses on the list, Tamron two, and one each for Sigma and Canon.

1. Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm F4 S (buy here)
2. TAMRON 28-75mm F2.8 Di III VXD G2 (buy here)
3. Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm F5.6-6.3 VR (buy here)
4. Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G (buy here)
5. Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD (buy here)
6. Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM (buy here)
7. Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN (for Fujifilm X) (buy here)
8. Nikon NIKKOR Z 26mm F2.8 (buy here)
9. Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II (buy here)
10. Sony FE 50mm F1.4 GM (buy here)

No big surprises this time. It’s a mix of popular consumer lenses, and higher-end enthusiast and professional lenses.

Top Used Gear

What I did think was quite interesting were the top 10 lists for second-hand cameras and lenses. Only a handful of items managed to make it onto both the new and used gear lists.

But that’s probably not much of a surprise. There aren’t exactly a lot of Nikon Z8 bodies in the used market yet. There are a lot of predecessors to the models in the above lists, though.

Top 10 used cameras

1. Sony A7 III (buy here)
2. Sony A7 IV (buy here)
3. Fujifilm X-S10 (buy here)
4. Fujifilm X-T4 (buy here)
5. Sony A7C (buy here)
6. Ricoh GR III (buy here)
7. Canon EOS R6 (buy here)
8. Nikon Z6 (buy here)
9. Nikon Z fc (buy here)
10. Nikon Z6 II (buy here)

Top 10 used lenses

• Fujifilm Fujinon XF35mm F1.4 R (buy here)
• Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS (buy here)
• Canon EF50mm F1.8 STM (buy here)
• Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM (buy here)
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm F4 S (buy here)
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 40mm F2 (buy here)
• Sony Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA (buy here)
• Fujifilm Fujinon XF23mm F2 R WR (buy here)
• Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD (buy here)
• Sony FE 85mm F1.8 (buy here)

It’s always interesting to see what gear actually sold throughout the year. Especially so when you compare it with the marketing hype and claims from manufacturers.

It’s nice to see that a DSLR lens made the used list, at least. Perhaps the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 ranking so highly suggests that there are a lot of new photographers snapping up old DSLRs to learn with.

I’d be curious to see if it survives through to this year’s list.

[via Map Camera/Map Camera]