An $80 DLSR kit gives you more than you’d expect
Oct 13, 2017
Micael Widell
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Cameras and lenses are expensive. Really expensive. Even the cheapest entry-level DSLR kit today costs $500 and upwards. But what if you would buy the cheapest possible used DSLR? A camera that is over 10 years old? How would it stack up against today’s modern cameras? I was curious about this and decided to find out for myself.
After two weeks of watching classified ads closely, and missing a couple of good bargains because I wasn’t fast enough, I finally managed to purchase a Canon 400D (also known as Rebel XTi) with a battery grip and a Canon 50mm f1.8 II lens on it. All this for only $80. It seemed like a great deal to me. It even came with a 2GB CF card!
I took the camera for a long walk the same day I bought it, and to summarize my experience: I was amazed by how good it was! The sensor outputs 10-megapixel photos, meaning that they measure roughly 3900×2600 pixels. This is more than enough for posting on social media or viewing photos on a computer screen. And what amazed me even more, was that with a fairly good lens, which the Canon 50mm 1.8 is, these pixels get utilized very well. A 100% crop looks very crisp and sharp in most cases. See the video for image samples and 100% crop examples.
The only major downside with using an 11-year-old camera is that the dynamic range in the sensor is bad compared to my modern Sony A7. If you do not nail the exposure really well when you take the photo, you have fewer options to correct it later. With my modern cameras, I just shoot everything slightly underexposed, and lift the exposure later in Lightroom. That would not be a good idea with the Canon 400D. This camera’s weak dynamic range also makes it hard to capture scenes with strong light and deep shadows in the same frame. But other than that, this camera kit has already after a couple of days given me a lot of photography joy for the money. I will definitely keep this camera, it is a fun tool to take out once in a while to add some variation to my photo walks.
This little experiment taught me, that if you just want a good camera to take nice looking photos in your everyday life, and you don’t have professional needs, such as 50-megapixel files, $80 will get you surprisingly far. An added benefit is that 10-megapixel files give you such a swift and fast editing experience in Lightroom.
About the author
Micael Widell is a photography enthusiast based in Stockholm, Sweden. He loves photography and runs a YouTube channel with tutorials, lens reviews and photography inspiration. You can also find him as @mwroll on Instagram and 500px. This article was also published here and shared with permission.
We love it when our readers get in touch with us to share their stories. This article was contributed to DIYP by a member of our community. If you would like to contribute an article, please contact us here.
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20 responses to “An $80 DLSR kit gives you more than you’d expect”
My D90…it ain’t broken so why fix it? I get great photos from it
400D has good color. But 10MP … you know – almost no cropping, you must be very accurate.
If the camera is being used for print photography, you’re correct. For consumers who are only using the camera for posting on social media, it has plenty of cropping room.
Yes, you’re right
I use a old 400d in my photobooth. His doing great !
Used a Canon 5D original up until earlier this year – a great camera
I still use as a backup and love my 5d mkii.
20d still works, rarely use it but occasionally I will
My D80 comes out of retirement occasionally when I need a second body. The screen may seem small by current standards, and 3fps isn’t exactly speedy, but it’s blooming consistent with its metering and if I need something instant, the colours in the JPGs are superb.
? might have to get my d80 out for a look
My first was a D60, which I sold; recently bought a slightly used D90 and 18-140 which I sometimes use, it does well!
I Still use my 400D for streetphotography and 5D Classic for portrait!
Why yes. Yes I do. She’s old but she is a reliable workhorse that never lets me down
I picked up a 40D and 18-55 for under $300 just for walking around industrial sites to document equipment for technical reports. It’s more responsive, has a better flash, and is all around better than an cell phone or compact cam. And if it’s destroyed I’ll just pull the CF card and get another.
I passed my first Dslr on and use my second from time to time (Pentax K-x, K-5, K-1) and more often my 3rd, but I am actively using film too.
My daughter stole my D300s and she uses it frequently
Got my first DSLR, a Canon 1100d 7 years ago, OK its a bit basic but the standard canon 28-80 zoom is excellent, I always put lens quality first and this camera still does it for me, must admit I’m using more film now though.
My 2007 canon Rebel XT is our dedicated ‘house camera’. We keep it in an easy to access place and use it to document all the fun,intimate,boring,special,cozy,awful, sad, happy, emotional, bland, real life moments at home. We wouldn’t have those memories without it. It made great photos 10 years ago, and it’s still kickin.
I only have an old, first dlsr, so…yeah, at 15 years old, it does just fine.
An old Nikon D80 received as a gift from my sister in law who’s a professional photographer, and a 70$ Yongnuo 50 mm f1.8. Pure Joy! :-D (wondering why Nikon version’s always 15-20$ more expensive than Canon)