Looking for a beginner inexpensive DSLR, is this a good deal?

[MattKing]

Part of the challenge here is the wording of your query - which was an entirely understandable, by the way.
When you ask about whether something is a "good deal", the bunch of us here who have had lots of cameras over the years will tend to focus on the idea of value for money or whether spending a bit more might be worth a fair bit more.
But if you had asked something like "would this be likely to serve me well as a beginner, and is the price a good one for this model?" some of us would have said yes - and then mention what you might consider if you had a bit more money.
I paid a similar amount for a similarly old Canon model when I bought my first DSLR, and it did serve me well for a while.

 

[Chan Tran]

For $100 CA I think it's fine. Much better than getting a P&S.

 

[xkaes]

This isn't like a boyfriend -- if you decide you don't like what you ended up with, you can just sell it.

 

[choiliefan]

I bought an XTi at a thrift store a couple years ago. It came with the 18-55 kit lens and I added a 50/1.8 shortly afterward. It's okay I guess, but I much prefer my Nikon D90 since I have many f-mount Nikkors to choose between and uses readily available (and cheap) XD memory cards which I prefer to the large CF'ers in the XTi.

 

[Paul Howell]

That Canon setup you're considering should be fine. My first serious digital camera was a second-hand Nikon D70 kit with a 6mp CCD, which was plenty for most purposes and only cost $100.

I have Sony A mount, there are ok, the Canon Rebel with the gear I think is worth a $100, and the lens if full frame will work on any Canon EOS F mount body digital or film. With the AA battery grip will make a decent travel camera. How long with last, maybe a day, maybe a year, maybe longer, just be prepared for it giving out without notice.

 

[mshchem]

Nikon D3, EX condition with battery and charger $400, KEH.COM

 

[benderscameracorner]

I owned a 400D back in the day (new). Perfectly good camera - earned me tens of thousands over several years.

That said, these days if you can extend your budget a little, you can pick up a Canon 6D for not much more, which is a vastly better performing camera (20mpx, full frame, does respectable 1080p video, full size body etc.). In terms of bang-for-buck, they're hard to beat.

 

[Twiggy]

I owned a 400D back in the day (new). Perfectly good camera - earned me tens of thousands over several years.

That said, these days if you can extend your budget a little, you can pick up a Canon 6D for not much more, which is a vastly better performing camera (20mpx, full frame, does respectable 1080p video, full size body etc.). In terms of bang-for-buck, they're hard to beat.

There's currently one very affordable and good looking listing on ebay indeed.

Edit: NVM the shipping is $115 and then taxes and duties. There's always a catch lol.

 

[Romanko]

I have a Canon 450D from c. 2009. While it still works it is in a pretty bad condition: all the rubber covers have deteriorated, the eye-piece is broken and the flash mostly does not work. I bought two lenses with it: a 50 mm f1.8 which is dead due to electronics failure; and a kit zoom 55-70 mm on which the auto-focus has been broken for many years. Consider build quality and longevity when choosing a modern DSLR. It is designed to break soon after its warranty expires. These cameras are impossible to repair. Even if you can get the parts, the labor will be several times the cost of the camera.

Also consider the time you are going to waste hunting for a bargain camera. If you used this time to earn money you could have got a nice camera. There's a chance you learn something even from a crap job while time spent browsing online auctions is simply wasted.

 

[Romanko]

This isn't like a boyfriend -- if you decide you don't like what you ended up with, you can just sell it.

Or dump it.

 

[Twiggy]

Luckily with buying in person I can check it out, before paying.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

looks like the perfect beginner DSLR to me

 

[Twiggy]

Yup,

I'm excited to get it. Hopefully it's all good upon inspection.

 

[koraks]

While it still works it is in a pretty bad condition

It sounds like it was dropped off of a mountain.
Really, those cameras are quite durable, but evidently, anything can be destroyed provided you abuse it sufficiently. I don't think it's fair to stick this on the camera or its manufacturer. To the contrary, they're surprisingly durable little cameras & lenses. The truth is that the vast majority aren't discarded because they're defective - they're deeply tucked away in a drawer or a box somewhere collecting dust, because a phone turned out to be so much easier to photograph with.

 

[Twiggy]

I got it today. The seller was very nice, a middle aged gentleman, and a photographer himself, he explained many things to me, and demonstrated it as well.

All seems good, and honestly for $100 Canadian, this is a steal.

There's been some things I wanted to photograph but I was waiting until I had a more proper camera like this. I'll final be able to take those.

 

[koraks]

Congrats! Have fun with that; it's a very usable little camera, that one.

 

[Lee Rust]

That's all you'll need to make plenty of photos for years to come! Carry the camera in that nice case and read the instruction book from front to back.

 

[Yashica]

For instance, for <100 bucks one can already buy the 50D, which is worlds better, than a entry level 400D. I made a fine bargain in these days, my 2nd 5D II for 80 bucks, with free shipping, too. That was a steal, perfect condition, low clicks. I paid much $$$ into 2010. No offense, but i'd never buy a Canon without 2 dials, pentaprism OVF, and al-mg body and top display. Same goes for any other DSLR. My sister bought the 400D into 2006 - but lost interest into photography quickly.

No hard feelings - enjoy your 400D, and i figured out, 100 CAD are like 67 EUR, so it's okay.

 

[fstop]

Go to Ken Rockwell's site, read the reviews then go to KEH and buy a camera.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I came across this on local FB market place.

Looks like a good deal to me, and I will do some more research on this specific model, but does anyone notice anything wrong or worrying here, anything to watch out for?

Unfortunately, while I want to use film, I will need to figure out a decent source to get film which will take some time, plus it's 2024 as well, can't shoot only film literally all the time.

Buy or not?

buy