5 Reasons Old DSLRs Are The Best Cameras To Buy

[@snappiness]

Needing fresh batteries for any of these cameras? Use coupon code "snappiness" for 10% off Wasabi Power batteries - bit.ly/WasabiPowerBatteries

[@jeffchastain2977]

Another source of batteries that I found when buying a compact, very early point and shoot is Duracell. They make a surprising array of legacy li-on batteries for older digital cameras. I always go to them and Wasabi before I add another camera to my Ancient Digital Imaging Tools Collection.

[@photomaker4502]

I fully switched to mirrorless back in 2018. Then couple months ago my husband asked me if I missed shooting with a DSLR camera. I said, "I kind of do." He asked me a bunch of questions about old DSLR's I've shot with in the past and asked which one was my favorite. Then couple of weeks later around my birthday he surprised me with the Olympus E-500. I haven't been able to set that camera down ever since. I just love the Kodak CCD sensor inside the E-500. 😁

[@snappiness]

Wonderful! I really enjoy my e-300. What a great surprise. There really is something to say for those less tangible benefits of just using a camera you enjoy, whatever that may be.

[@iamdjsluggo]

What, but, but …no video??? Kidding 😂 ❤️✌🏾

[@TheBonswah]

Im still rocking my E300, purchased it new in 2005 when it was just released . Lens options are really small and quite expensive but I keep loving the filmy touch of the images it produces. Also have a Canon 5D mk1 which offers a comparable sense of magic.

[@dzzope]

@@TheBonswah Thats a nugget I was after.. suggestions of lense to pair with a 5d for that effect you love :)? Probably going a fast 35 / 50mm prime and as good a superzoom as I can afford (not much.. glass is expensive) as I mostly do landscape / nature / randomness. Any other CCD full frame I should look out for? Low light would be a priority.. Is there any Nikon full frame CCD cameras that would compete with a 5d? Always prefered how Nikon kelt vs canon. First venture back into Photography since my D90 + lenses were stolen about 8 years ago.. Didn't think it would take this long (or that I'd be looking for full frame)

[@TheBonswah]

@@dzzope I've used it exclusively with a 50mm 1.8. Lovely classic full frame setup. For landscape I'd start hunting for a 17-40 4.0 if I were you. You can get fair deals on those on the second hand market. No experience with Nikon tho.

[@paulbroderick8438]

There are so, so many 'photographers' out there that have been sold on the 'latest and greatest' will turn them into image creating masters. Thank you for the practical down to earth assessment.

[@robtjimenez]

The Canon 40D is a CMOS sensor, I still have mine, bought new when it first came out. I also still have my Canon 10D, 20D, 5D MK3, and 2 Canon film cameras Rebel G and Elan7. I'm glad I've never got rid of them. What's great about this are the Lens, they work on all of my Canon cameras. Oh and I just bought the Canon 250D 😊 Great video!

[@Estirvana]

I picked up a Nikon D200 (10MP CCD sensor, Pentax, Sony, a lot of others shared similar sensor) with a classic 80-200mm f/2.8D for $200 Canadian. This cheap pickup enabled me to go outside in cold albertan weather without worrying, shoot at night areas, and the challenge of high ISO. One of my all time favourite pictures comes from this camera, at a 1MP CROP of a bird! You wouldn't be able to tell on social media at all- it is nuts. Reason #5 is why it makes me want to try out more older gear.

[@RomainDeOliveira]

You have definitely pushed me to put my Pentax K10D back into use. It was my very first DSLR, which I bought when it came out in 2006 with my very first student job pay. I used it extensively at least until 2016, when I became a professional photographer and had to upgrade my equipment. And so my Pentax K10D was sleeping since 2016 at the bottom of an airtight plastic box. A few days ago, I stumbled upon your channel and your videos, and it made me want to take out my old camera. And what a surprise it was to find that the battery (although discharged) was still working perfectly and that the camera was still 100% operational. Since then, I have equipped it with a battery grip (I dreamt of it when I bought the camera, but I couldn't afford it), and two prime lenses: a 35mm f/2.4 and a 50mm f/1.8. And WOW, it's amazing what a 10Mp CCD can do in 2023. I'll be able to give it a second life by offering it to my little boy, as a first camera to follow dad on his expeditions!

[@shaunpcoleman]

I have owned Pentax since my college days when I bought a K1000. I owned an IST*, K10 and now a K1 II. Even though I own a Canon R5, I still prefer the Pentax. Canon has no soul.

[@nickbouras1201]

p​@@shaunpcoleman

[@shaunpcoleman]

@@nickbouras1201 ???

[@mstrshkbrnnn1999]

🥹🥹what a sweet way to end this comment. My son was born this year and I can’t wait until he’s big enough for us to go on photo walks together

[@SamuelStreetlife]

Oh wow I am currently working on a veeery similar video but with another bold statement :) Agree with all of your points. Especially the last two! Modern mirrorless cameras feel more like computers or smartphones with slightly better ergonomics. DSLR's are the next best thing to film photography :) Pure photography fun.

[@snappiness]

No way! Can't wait. Comparing old digital cameras to the resurgence in film? Telling people old cameras are better than new? 🤔 The bold possibilities are endless 😀

[@eldorado5650]

I agree, modern mirrorless ones are like computers with a sensor and at least a screen. dSLRs are proper cameras and it's a different experience when one sees the light!

[@eldorado5650]

@@snappiness I assume that the price of dSLRs increase every time you release a video, haha!

[@thisiswaytoocomplicated]

Yeah, but if you want pure fun, just go a tiny bit more into the future: 2012. Fuji X. And suddenly your are back to real fun. Ergonomics like they were supposed to be. Stunning picture quality. Absolutely stunning! (I know, at that time too slow for sports photography and the like.) But seriously - if you look for brilliant quality in majority of situations: X-Pro1, X-E1... breathtaking picture quality, dirt cheap, and just not like the typical DSLR mentioned here with already a million buttons and already being like playing Nintendo. Because much, much more important is the ergonomics. Not just pressing all the buttons like what we are shown here from that era but real haptics, real fun like in the 80s and the decades before. Of course if you are doing it professionally got ahead with modern mainstream equipment - every second counts. But that generation of mirrorless that came up just a little later: exactly the opposite to feeling like computers - still delivering amazing quality and beyond. Really the stuff in this video is already all the boring computer stuff and not much better in that respect than everything else today. Same ergonomics. Just loads of buttons. Same as today. Type of sensor is simply not the point but how you interact with your camera and what you are getting out of it in the end. And if you are not a professional: Nearly equally important is how much fun you have doing it. (Don't even care if your photos are only average at best, as long as you are really enjoying taking them and you are really happy doing it.) Or maybe get a Sony mirrorless (older or newer) if you are already only used to the usual buttons of the digital DSLR age and later and you started after real film. And suddenly you can get back to enjoy old manual glass on these things with before unseen quality and profound fun using them. Because many of these mirrorless are really good with those now mostly cheap old manual lenses. Really: Get a cheap mirrorless camera from that era if it needs to be cheap and you can enjoy classic photography again instead of using just primitive computers called DSLR in that era . That will teach you so much and will be much more satisfying in the long run. Sorry, just my 2 cents.

[@georgedavall9449]

Dont tell no lies

[@fricki1997]

I can wholeheartedly agree from my own experience. I looked at cheap and plentiful lenses, found Pentax, and a K10D last year, my first proper camera. If I hadn't gotten into animal/bird photography and needed more pixels for cropping and better ISO performance to hit fast shutter speeds with slow teles, I would have seen no need to upgrade. 10MP still fills a 4K screen, and is more than enough for anyone living in the age of Instagram and small screen smartphones :)

[@kubotwostringz]

Watching your video made me happy :) Few months ago I started using K200d and started learning about photography. I feel happy and blessed in a way that I "started" with a 14-year-old Pentax DSLR. They're really something...

[@artsilva]

There is a reason I kept my D100 and D200 with it's CCD sensor. Since getting them almost two decades ago now I have acquired more lenses that certainly elevates the image quality of those sensors.

[@Visual_Ghoul]

What kind of lenses elevate the image quality of those sensors? What did you get

[@artsilva]

@@Visual_Ghoul fast AF-S (G series) primes and a couple high end fast D series. Zeiss also works brilliantly on them.

[@reallymentalpig1173]

What are the pros and cons of CCD in comparison to CMOS?

[@pavol0]

@@reallymentalpig1173 the main difference is power consuption, ccds are way more power hungry

[@diegodivers]

My best buy was an old 5d classic for 170$. This 17-year dinosaur has just incredible build quality. I really enjoy the process of taking the picture more than on my mirrorless cameras. The beautiful outcome with imho the best canon colors ever is so rewarding. And believe me: 12.8 mp on full frame sensor is just right. Got to try out the cropped 40d also.

[@williamblack7813]

Yeah, 5D's are and were awesome.

[@sacredgeometry]

Yep the original 5Ds are great. And yes about resolution. My D3S is in the butter zone (I am only thinking of getting a new camera because I want something that will do video for some of my projects). It has great low light performance, just enough resolution. If I were doing product or studio photography maybe I would need more resolution as I dont it is more than enough and the way it renders is just perfection. Some people just chase stats and whats new but probably have no idea what good is.

[@shogun4612]

Please,can I now,how good are the JPEG files from Canon 5D?

[@mikafoxx2717]

A 5D plus the 40mm 2.8 is fantastic. My pick for ultimate value is the 6D, though. I've used both and the 5D2 as well.

[@miscible21]

Your channel has been a great resource for all things vintage digital. Your hard work is much appreciated.

[@billmassey3458]

“Keep on keeping’ on” …. Well stated along with some nice pics!

[@drufnuf]

this brings back great memories, started out in 2007 with a Pentax *ist Dl, then moving on to K200D > K-7 > K-5 II and since 2017 my beloved K-3 II with some very fine glasses. When looking back now, I think the most 'fun' I had with the *ist Dl and K200D. The image quality you got from these CCD-sensors was so unique. When comparing side by side with newer CMOS-models like K-3 II (which is still the best camera I have EVER owned), there is something special/different to those images. Great video btw! :)

[@snappiness]

Thanks, and great cameras! I took a similar journey down Pentax DSLR road. Enjoying the k-3iii now which I feel really spoiled to have. Still have good feelings towards all the older ones

[@snappiness]

It's been an incredible journey trying out all these old DSLRs - trust me when I say that there's probably no better camera you can buy for $100. Let me know what you would add to the list of reasons, and let me know what old camera you're shooting with today!

[@jimmyhinAK]

I had the sony a100 and gave it to my daughter and she uses it all the time. I picked up a Sony A300 and love the live view and the fact doesn't weigh a ton compared to my old nikon cameras.

[@Durio_zibethinus]

You prove yourself with your magnificent skill, leading me into another KZbinrs with similar theme that photography is not all about gear. A quick random blind test is a great explanation that if the photo moves your heart, then the camera is good enough, our skill is another story :p.

[@timpiotr4857]

Which is the best CCD DSLR to buy?

[@mikafoxx2717]

@@timpiotr4857 My recommendation would be a Pentax k10d or k200d, they were some of the latest DSLR's (2008) to use CCD's and are 10.1mp, more than a 4k screen, still.

[@angusmacdonald4672]

Hi James, My all time favourite CCD cam is the Pentax K-m. I have two, each with Pentax-A vintage prime; one with A 28/2.8 and the other with A 100/2.8 non-macro. Amazing colour and contrast, and the cams just feel so good in hand! BTW...I love your work and your site....thanks. Angus

[@coflropter]

I have an A100 that came from my dad! He had some old Minolta lenses and The A Mount lenses got me into film shooting too. I'm really happy that this camera is still going

[@johnembry9055]

I agree. Just got a Pentax K20D camera and grip. Both are near mint. The K20D has only 2000 actuations. Sweet.

[@snappiness]

Sweet find!

[@MarcelHoskins]

Wow! These are beautiful pictures! I have a D3 and D610! I can't see myself moving over to mirrorless anytime soon. I'll slowly move into D5 or D6

[@fepatton]

My “new to me” Canon 5D has been such a blast, taking me back to the days when my main 35mm camera was a Canon EOS Elan. I really wanted to try a good CCD camera, though, and have ordered a Nikon D200. Picked up the camera, an 18-70G zoom and spare battery from KEH for about $200. It’s my first Nikon in 50 years of photography and I can’t wait!

[@krystianbv87]

A brief comparison d200 vs 5d?

[@j_taylor]

I love my D200. It's just such a pleasure in the hand, and the shutter is so responsive. Enjoy!

DSLR are such wonderful machines and very very capable. I own a Canon 5D Mk ii from 2009, and I totally love this piece of gem. Not fragile like those high expensive mirrorless things.

[@bradmiller9993]

I love my mirrorless cameras, but I recently bought a Nikon DSLR mostly due to the battery life improvements that I remembered from pre-mirrorless days. I haven't been disappointed in that regard and as a bonus I have been enjoying the "haptics" of the DSLR experience as well. Too many cameras, not enough time !

[@lamaludwig1470]

yes battery life - I own a Nikon D750 and a Fuji X-Pro3. With the Nikon if I go for a 2 week holiday I can forget the charger at home without having trouble. With the Fuji I'm f*cked after 1 day without spare batteries and charger... And the D750 I switch off in the evening, the Fuji after each shot.

[@hoanglong-nv6wv]

I watch your videos for so long. I feel like I know your children since they were born. Nice video. Nice family. Guys

[@ishanr8697]

Thanks, my friend contacted me saying she's looking at getting into photography. She's unsure and on a tight badget. A used DSLR from this era will be a great way to learn.

[@snappiness]

That is the recommendation I give to my friends and family too :) cheap way to get everything you need, and you can decide from there what direction you want to go.

[@bernardjackson4974]

Why did I stumble across this channel so late! This is an awesome channel and there is a lot of truth to the quality of older cameras. I had a Canon 6D that I went back and bought last year over my newer Sony camera and I couldn't put it down. I ended up selling my Sony camera. Also in a group of thousands of photographers who are shooting with the Canon R6. I posted a image from my Canon 6d when I told them it was for my Canon 60 they absolutely lost it, but at the same time they were inspired to use what they have to create good images. Since then I have actually picked up another camera. Canon XT and I'm excited to see what these CCD sensors are all about. Keep baking these videos bro! !!

[@BernardoAlemany]

Llevo 1 mes comprando cámaras de 10 y 16 megapíxeles pensando que me había vuelto loco por nadar contracorriente. Este reportaje me tranquiliza con su lógica aplastante. Ahora disfruto con las sensaciones del disparo de hace 15 años y con la calidad de los resultados. Mis cámaras nuevas usadas son: Nikon D60, Nikon D70, Nikon D100, Pentax K20, Pentax KS1, Canon 4000D, Canon 5D, Olympus E510 y E410. Gracias

[@MannyScoot]

La Canon 5D is increible !!!!

[@keithdoyle6535]

I love your video and I couldn't agree more. It's a great time to get into photography. Using a real camera whether it's an old film 0:02 SLR or a DSLR is just a lot of fun! Now you've made me want to pick up an old CCD camera!

[@6426Dave]

I grew up on 35mm pentax, and still have some film units. Out of a whole stable of Pentax dslr cameras my favorite is a K200 using old screw mount lenses. Every time I want to make an impact, that combination never fails. BTW old Helios lenses can still be had at bargain prices.

[@snappiness]

The K200D was my first dslr. I loved it. And I love adapting old glass to these cameras too!

[@BruceWalkerPhotography]

A really key reason I would add is Optical Viewfinder, but that applies to all DSLRs vs the newer breeds anyway. My "old" cameras aren't quite as old as a K10D but still old since all the Cool People are moving to mirrorless. My workhorse is a Pentax 645Z and my mini-workhorse is a K-3 (the OG). There is nothing else on the horizon for me as I only buy kit to upgrade my gear capability and nothing out there beats what I've got now for what I do. I had a K20D for many years (new in 2008) and I passed it on to a budding student photographer three years ago. Such gorgeous rendering! Loved that camera. It taught me a boatload of good stuff.

[@AsiAzzy]

SLT cameras enters the chat. EVF on DSLR camera.. and a poor one being one of the early EVF's on market.

[@davidtaranzaphotography3324]

Entered DSLR sector in 2004 with a 6 Mpix D70 and I loved it. The main downside of buying old DSLRs is that after a certain period of time they become unrepairable (end of service life). Learned the hard way when my beloved D70 went dead in 2016 with only 14,7k shutter count and there was no way back 😞 Grabbed a D750 as replacement and never looked back.

[@Polum2]

Same thing happened to me, i never trusted Nikon again😢

[@jimschmidt7303]

Agreed on the outstanding colors of the K10D. since purchasing this camera I have been playing with picture contols on my newer cameras to match the K10D. I have have my KS-1 pretty close. I don't think I will ever get photos from my Nikon D3200 or D610 to look as rich and saturated without looking like a cartoons. I also found the K10D captures deep reds with ease. My other cameras I had to come up with a picture control to desaturate reds and yellows to keep the cameras from over exposing those colors and loosing all detail.

[@jondonahue7163]

I'd extend the range a bit, so as to allow my now-old Pentax K-5 IIs into the mix. 16 mp, a bit larger sensor, but still the same excellent Pentax ergonomics and all those 10 billion backwards-compatible lenses. A camera to love, and keep forever, as they don't break down!

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Yeah the K5 Mark II is amazing. However the K-5 Mark IIs might not be for everyone. Especially those who wanna shoot video since the missing antialiasing filter massively sabotages the Videomode with even nastier moire. And i still prefer the Image quality of the Videomodes of the K7 and K5 / K5II over any later Pentax DSLR.

[@odysseusreturns9133]

I did look at buying the Canon 40d as i had excellent results with the Powershot Pro 1 and that had a CCD sensor. The 40D however has a CMOS sensor.

[@billmassey3458]

“keep on keeping’ on”…… ! Well stated, nice pics!

[@davebellamy4867]

0:54 This is like around 1982 when the recording industry made some of the last analogue recordings for albums classical or popular. The sound on those recordings is often sublime. Before digital.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

yeah these early digital recordings only had ONE big advantage: Dynamic Range with barely any noisefloor. It was not the sound resolution. Personally when i was a kid and listened to CDs in the 90s, i kinda always preferred the sound of those CDs that were AAD or at least ADD.

[@mikafoxx2717]

It's not the digital that was the problem, it was the over loudness and such. Listen to brothers in arms, it's a masterpiece of recording. It's dynamic and well done, modern stuff often doesn't dare match that quality.

[@Riccardo_Mori]

I very much agree with you on everything. Ergonomics is a very important factor in my book. Very often, I find that good ergonomics make a bulky DSLR forgivable for its weight over a lighter camera that is rather awkward to hold. With good ergonomics, you hold the camera better, and you have more stability when taking photos in tricky situations. Which is nice, especially when using a DSLR without any kind of image stabilisation. Cheers! //Rick

[@snappiness]

A very underrated 'spec' of a camera :)

[@lumine7653]

I upgraded from a rebel t3 to an m50. Although the m50 is miles ahead in everything from the t3, I immediately missed the ergonomics of the older camera. Something about it just feels good when shooting which the m50 lacks.

[@CybertroninfiniteOfficial]

damn is the m50 that disappointing?

[@tristan6509]

Get a smallrig cage for your M50 if you miss the DSLR feel.

[@lumine7653]

@@tristan6509 I actually got a faux leather base plate for my m50. It extended the grip enough for my pinky to sit comfortably during shooting.

[@davidm6298]

On lenses, I purchased a 35MM Minolta auto focus in the mid 80's and I am now using it on a Sony Alpha, that makes the lenses availability even greater.

[@milesian1]

I'll add a little love for the Nikon D40. Always loved the files that its CCD sensor produce.

[@cfldriven]

My first digital camera, what a fun camera that was. Upgraded to the D7000 and stayed with that all these years.

[@kata0812]

I'll never let go on my wide collection of SRL and DSLR cameras and lenses. Ever! Great video, liked! Cheers

[@carlgarrard9710]

Great video, short, to the point, enjoyable, great audio quality, and production quality. Also, your choice of subject matter is awesome.... my favorite part about this video....:) My comments..... The same 10mp CCD was used in the A100, D80, K10D, K200D, D200, GX-10, D40X, D60, A200, A300, K-m, A230/330, D3000, and lastly, the Sony R-1 digicam. Of those cameras, the A100/D80/K10D/K200D/GX-10 are the best of the bunch. Pentax upped the game with weather sealing and the best build quality (stainless steel subframe) in the K10D/K200D, and subsequently the Samsung GX-10 also benefitted. Of that "best of" group, the Nikon D80 and K-10D (or GX-10) are the best overall and subsequently the best buys. Not only the bodies, but the lens choices. The A100 was my first ever DSLR, and I shot the hell out of that camera, and have many 20x30" prints sold from it and also on my wall to this day. I found that the raw files in the D80 and K-10D were the best to manipulate in post, free from fixed pattern banding through the entire ISO range. I'd also recommend the K200D, the most affordable weather sealed compact DSLR ever made, takes lithium AA's and it will go forever on a single charge. The viewfinder experience is best though in the D80/K10-D though, with the K200D being a bit cramped in comparison. The easier cameras are to use, the less craft is learned or earned. These cameras are excellent platforms to master your fundamentals. No reliance on live view, learn to understand exposure, composition, and timing, and you can be a great photographer. New cameras and phones rob you of that experience.

[@Hey_Beau]

You made a comment about picking the lenses you want then the camera body, 100% agree this is a really helpful point to make. I think starting out though, we often don't really know what lenses we want 😅

[@krolldavid]

I just bought a used k10d after seeing you video and to use it with my collection of pentax k lenses. Let’s see how it goes. I also love the look of ccd sensors

[@snappiness]

Awesome, enjoy! If you're using manual lenses and haven't already learned the green button method of auto exposure, it's worth looking into.

[@krolldavid]

@@snappiness Thanks! I will look into that. Still waiting for it in the post!

[@turnermorgan1176]

You have inspired me to get out my Konica-Minolta Maxxum 5D DSLR. I still have three or four lenses for it. The lenses work with the Sony Alpha 6600 since Sony acquired Minolta and made a no-lens-element adapter for the Maxxum lenses. The Maxxum 5D is a six (6) megapixel CCD and uses a Compact Flash (CF) removable storage card. All I have to do is find the charger for the battery!

[@raksh9]

I still use my Canon 30D from time to time, and with the Sigma 18-35, it's still a remarkably good camera.

[@marcp.1752]

So do i - either way with the 18-55 Gen II STM, or 10-18 STM, or 55-250 STM. But mind you, diese old 30, 40D do have a CMOS instead of a CCD Sensor.

[@ivanrios1051]

Right on the $$ . So glad you made this video. Your channel ROCKS!!

[@rtyt2007]

I’ve been using a Nikon D90 for the past year. I love it. It’s so much fun to take photos with. It’s not modern or fancy but just a fun camera to take photos with. Some photos are utter trash and some are seriously incredible. That’s the fun with these older cameras. You don’t know what you’re gonna get and it’s up to your skills to deliver the best photos. Great video!

[@Tcaskippy]

I love this video! Actually my uncle just gave me his sony A230 to me since no one uses it anymore for years, and I'm so happy bcs your reasons were definitely same as mine.. even it's old camera i used to love it as my brand new! Lovely video subscribed!

[@alm5966]

I still have a Pentax K5 and won't be upgrading unless it breaks. Superb camera.

[@Leo9ine]

Yep!! I work with semipro photo/video, shooting A7RIIIs, Blackmagic cinema cameras, lots of high end gear. I also collect film era cameras. To this day, I've never felt a camera built so solidly as the Pentax K10D. It's just a brick! It beats out my modern A7, my old flagship Canon T90 and FTbs, even some pro tape era camcorders. It just feels so nice in the hand. Probably the single most ergonomic and well-built *thing* you can buy for $100, period.

[@snappiness]

Haha, that could very well be true! 😀

[@stephanweiskorn6760]

Excellent video 😮!

[@dirtymikeactual]

This is an awesome video to see! I like anything old. After a 14 year hiatus from photography I’m back in it in 2023. Purchased a 40D off eBay for a deal and look forward to getting back out there.

[@prathamshenoy9840]

I bought a sony mirrorless 5100 - it overheated while shooting video at just 20 mins. Then I bought a canon 200d. No overheating at all. These days almost all new cameras are mirrorless - and they overheat! another bad thing is that my mirrorless got dirt on the sensor very easily but my canon did not (proby. because of mirror). i also believe the grip, lens range and battery is better on the canon

[@ashstubbings2603]

My main camera is the Nikon D90 and I love it! Absolutely no complaints whatsoever apart from that it could really use a flippy screen. But apart from that, love it!

[@dbkfrogkaty1]

I'm glad I kept my K10D. I can see a difference in photos from it compared to the my K-5II. Not better just different. Currently I don't use it much because I just prefer the way the K-5II works, but every so often I break the K10D out and take it for a spin.

[@tonythedwvyer]

Absolutely !! I have a Nikon D80, D90 & a D3300. My favourite is the D80, with the added battery pack. Some of my best pictures were taken with it. I bought it 17 yrs ago !! Many of my Nikon lenses were holdovers from my 35 mm film days and they are all still good! I have no real reason to move to mirrorless, yet.

[@robstammers7149]

Yep, totally agree with all 5 of your points, I'm using my trusty Canon 700D (T5i), and guess what, I'm using two Sony's, the F828 and the magnificent R1. But I must look at the 10 megapixel era cameras too, fancy a Pentax, I've always admired Pentax. Guess I best start looking. Many thanks.

[@snappiness]

Gotta find myself an R1 one of these. I just love my F828 so much. Gotta clear away space on the shelves by selling some cameras before looking more though - I made an agreement with my wife :)

[@robstammers7149]

@@snappiness storage is a real problem, I have 25 cameras of various types, finding the space to keep them safe and clean is the biggy. I keep most of them in good camera bags, two are in their original retail boxes, 3 are in the wardrobe in sealed zip bags. Most Weekends finds me checking batteries, cleaning and testing, and generally admiring my collection, using my mobile to take photos of them. Storage, yeh it's a problem.

[@LuigiVN]

I got an RP in 2019 and a 5D Original in 2021. While I do love my RP’s technical capabilities, great AF and 26 megapixels, there’s a lot of charm in just packing the 5D and bringing it along to walks and pic nics with friends as it’s so simple everyone can pick it up and use it and is not intimidated by it. Just throw it in AV mode and you’re good to go. The colors and tones in .jpg are so nice, and for some reason the raw files require less fidgeting to get them to a point I feel happy with them. it uses a 12 mpx CMOS sensor but it has some of that old dslr sensor charm to it. 🎉

[@theprettydamned]

Subscribed! I was wondering if you'd tried a Sony a350. It's a newer camera, of course, but has a 14mp CCD sensor, and a primitive live view and tilty screen. Maybe a last hurrah for consumer ccd DSLR tech?

[@bgoode2903]

I’m ’Old School’ 35mm photography Enthusiast, first camera was a Zenith TTL, then Olympus Om1N…I even worked in the trade as an advisor to Professionals…my favourite cameras are the 16mp sensors, for example the Nikon D7100 the D5300 uses the exact same sensor and performs well too…it’s the features on and performance of the D7100 that impress me, I bought 2 and used the D5300 as a back up and for video use. Pentax attracts me loads too the advantage of being able to use traditional manual focus lenses is a huge advantage for me (Nikon support manual lenses too but I found that my cameras required servicing more frequently for issues with the lens mount)…traditional manual - non AF lenses don’t drain battery as quick…I even shoot in manual focus with an AF lens to increase battery power availability by around double what I’d get if I shot in AF mode…you’re right too much temptation out there about the latest and greatest…just explore and enjoy…it can be an affordable adventure, it’s good photos that make great photographers not the most expensive kit..! I really enjoy this kind of content…Thanks for creating it..!😇

[@BenKirb]

I have a Nikon D40 from 2008, and it still produces great photos!

[@aes0p895]

my old canon rebel 5 that i got for $130 at a pawn shop still takes good pictures, still has a rotating flip out screen, and still works just fine thank you very much. some day i might upgrade to a fancy shmancy mirrorless, but honestly i'm not sold on the features, let alone the price tag. it can't be THAT hard to include a rotating screen, and I will never buy a semi-pro camera w/o it.

[@derekcoe9633]

Yup, Nikon D200 (2005) and 24-120 D lens (c1995).. old and slow (a bit like me) but reliable and tough (not a bit like me 😁)

[@snappiness]

Great camera!

[@avix007]

Hi! I'm an amateur photographer from Calcutta, India. I usually shoot with my Nikon D3500. I've recently bought a second-hand Pentax K10D in good condition (with 13-55mm kit lens and extra batteries) for £146 from eBay UK (I haven't got it yet; a friend will bring it over in September). I was wondering if I've made a mistake; now I know I haven't. Thank you for this video! 🙂

[@potatofuryy]

I do love my d3300, I don’t think I’m ever going to sell it lol

[@mountaindew267]

This seems like the kind of video one makes when they have a bunch of old dslr equipment they finally want to sell. 😂

[@certs743]

I didn't go back quite that far but I went back to a DSLR for my main camera. I bought a lightly used Pentax K 5 IIS and I love it and since I shoot film too I can swap all my glass back and forth between cameras without issue. I do also have a Minolta Maxim 7 both the film version and the digital version which was from 2001 and the marketing called it a "filmless digital camera". Besides the occasional blank frame it still works and takes surprisingly decent photos.

[@hrpickinstuff]

My daily drivers are one of the following. I usually carry a Nikon D50, D100, D200 for the CCD sensor images. These cameras have focus motors in the body so you can use older AF lenses. The Canon D5 is also a favorite and produces stellar images. The Nikon D50 has a Beefy grip I like that feel. The Canon 5D has a shutter click like a baseball bat hitting a ball. The drawback is the megapixel range but only if you plan to make movie size posters but for just great images with a wide dynamic range out of camera these cameras produce. For large prints I use the 26 MP Nikon D5300 that's all I need as an amateur photographer. I like what these older DLSR's do. I can't justify spending 5k on a mirrorless set up. When I'm 💯 happy with the vintage camera photos I get now.

[@rdmstr]

The 1st digital camera I owned was a Kodak DX3500 purchased September 2001. Optical viewfinder, 2.2 MP CCD sensor, fixed 38mm FF equiv lens, but what beautiful images it made. I have recently had numerous M43 and APS-C mirrorless cameras, but I am back to a Pentax K-5 II and I enjoy the concept of a lens hooked to a light proof box with a light sensitive device inside the box. The owners manual even for this camera is way too many pages long, but any of the settings I need to change are just a button press away. Having started my foto journey in the mid 1970's on an Olympus OM-1 and processing B&W in my own darkroon, I appreciate the K-5 II grip, 200 dpi 16x20 prints, IBIS, can mount some serious Pentax legacy glass and purchased used in like new condition with ± 1,200 shutter count for $270.

[@borderlands6606]

I just bought my first DSLR since 2011. Love my Fuji and Panasonic mirrorless cameras, but the idea that DSLRs are obsolete is crazy.

[@Jon1Flanders]

I just picked up a Canon 5d mkii because I noticed that my old eyes had a hard time in bright sunlight with the mirrorless cameras, even using the viewfinder.

[@neilpiper9889]

I use a Nikon D40x with an 18 70 afs DX f3.5 f4.5. I have had it from 2010. I still love it.

[@muhammadrayhanfirdaus1309]

Would you make a follow up videos, pls? With "not-so" ancient cameras? Like Nikon and Canon APSC from 2010-s. I'd really like to know your perspective on those series especially around budget and old body with newer lens.

[@TheManFrayBentos]

I still have my ancient Canon 10D, with its 6MP CCD sensor. Took a load of decent pics with it and legacy manual lenses. Followed that up with a K10D / K20D from Pentax and those are still perfectly fine cameras today. Even the 10D is absolutely capable of filling a 10x8 print, and when you get into the habit of not shooting for crop but make every pixel in the camera count, it's easy.

[@OneMonthTwoCameras]

🎉🎉🎉 needless to say, I wholeheartedly agree

I totally agree - I got some trash inside my Sony α6500 4/16-70 lens and had to take my old Sony α100 with me on vacation - I fell in love with it again. :)

[@adobeone6138]

Except from the fact that the Canon 40D has a CMOS sensor instead of CCD, you are completely correct. I still have and love my 10 MP Canon 400D.

[@justinweier4099]

Pentax K10D is still one of my favorite cameras. I have a K5 II, K3, and a K1, but the K10D still never fails to impress.

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Just putting your eye up against the DLSR and looking through it gives you immediate contact to your image unlike gazing into a mirror less camera which is more like using an phone!

[@ericmeekey7886]

I used to have a Pentax Km/K2000. An 11MP CCD sensor with 3200 max ISO, in-body stabilization, and power from 4AA batteries. That plus a Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 zoom lens still beats any rig on the market dollar-for-dollar.

[@allinsiteUK]

Just bought a K-m myself. Body has only 4k actuations and was on original firmware 1.0. Now has 1.11. It came with original kit lens 18-55 3.5>5.6. I've found this to mist out around windows and light sources, but gives a somewhat itherial feel. As body and lens came in at just £71 then it won't be going back.. specially as the IBS works and works damned well. Have bought a pair of very tidy K-A lenses to compliment.. Pentax K-A 50mm 1.7 and Pentax K-A 70-210mm f4 zoom. Both feel really nice in the hand and deliver great contrast results. Lenses cost £64 all in. Secured a Sigma 28-200 f3.5-5.6 IF K-AF that works great with the IBS, prgram modes and meta data embedding. This will make a convenient travel lens and was just £20. So, when traveling or walking it will be Nikon D700 with 20mm f2.8 Nikkor prime + Lumix G5 with 14-42mm IS kit lens + Nikon D5300 with Nikkor 55-200 VR or.. just the Pentax K-m with the Sigma. Or a set of film cameras maybe. 😉

[@marcp.1752]

I also have my K10D Pentax still. I like the color output from the old 6 & 10 MP CCD Sensor generation, it does look different, than CMOS Sensors. CCD is for my eyes more true to life, more vibrant, and such. Also, it's still a lot of fun. But the most fun, i enjoy whileas shooting my analog Film 35mm gear. Furtherway, i do have sensitive eyes, and i love the OVF (optical viewfinder) experience, also the way long lasting battery, into contrast to a DSLM, which does always use an EVF. I simply can't stand flickering, grainy EVFs, also with unsharp edges, CAs, edge distortions. Nowadays, they're much better, but still. I always prefer a good glass pentaprism OVF, best with true 100% view. Btw, Canons EOS 40D *does* feature an CMOS Sensor, *not* CCD, but the colors are fine, anyway. I've bought those DSLRs back into their heyday, not nowadays...when they could being bought literally for peanuts, because it's *very* old tech, but still giving fine results.

[@xuser48]

I have an A77. Best combination of ergonomics, image stabilisation and lens support. I have a lot of old Minolta lenses of very good quality.

[@jerryrichards8172]

Been shooting my trusted minolta x-700 since the 80s. few months ago upgraded to my first auto focus 35mm camera the minolta alpha 9. Today I ordered my first digital camera. It's the sony a77ll really looking forward to that delivery. I just found and joined your channel. Keep the work up on these wonderful old and still very relevant cameras.

[@richardkrasicki6086]

That X700 has a huge bright Viewfinder, like no other...

[@jerryrichards8172]

@@richardkrasicki6086 yes the view fi der is really nice. Its been a good camera since the 80s

[@richardhenson3028]

I have two mirrorless rigs (Nikon Z50 and Z5), and they are great cameras. But in the last few months I’ve acquired a Nikon D200 and a D2X, and these heavyweights can hold their own with today’s DSLRs and DSLMs.

[@raymondvaughan6262]

Used a pentax lx for years no problem great camera great prints not used for years now with dslr so many memories used for everything natural shots wedding close ups the lot brilliant camera

[@tonychestnut904]

You've convinced me! there's nothing like the feel of these older, larger bodies. I won't be giving up my smart phone for Facebook etc but these are way more fun.

[@JensRohde]

I couldn't agree more. Remove my trusted Nikon D200 from the cabinet 2 months ago, and have been shooting a lot with it lately. Paired with a selection of manuel lenses from the 80's it has been a lot of fun. And Nikon's 10 Mpbix CCD censor fits your description precisely. Nice colors, reasonable dynamic range. Fun! :)

[@CybertroninfiniteOfficial]

they shoot amazing photos with the right lenses, the only problem is size tbh. They're not amazing for travel

[@JensRohde]

@@CybertroninfiniteOfficial that is correct. I have other cameras for that 😀

[@CybertroninfiniteOfficial]

@@JensRohde which ones would you recommend for that? High quality photos but travel sized?

[@JensRohde]

@@CybertroninfiniteOfficial I use a selection of older Fujifilm X-series bodies and lenses (bought used), and combine a body and a lens before a trip to suit the travel type and destination. Don't know if that is high quality, but it works for me

[@CybertroninfiniteOfficial]

@@JensRohde oooo no, the Fuji. They're so good, but they're super popular right now so the price is crazy 😂. Have you used the Lumix g100 before, I'm interested in that one

[@key2adventure]

Agree to all of it, though I have taken a slightly different route. Loving medium format I bought a Hasselblad H3d with a large CCD sensor. Amazing colors, crisp and sharp images, but nothing of the rather “cold” look of modern digital cameras.

[@snappiness]

Amazing! I have not seen one of those in person yet. I have considered the Pentax 645D for a similar reason: large CCD sensor. What's the lens situation like on the Hasselblad?

[@key2adventure959]

@@snappiness There is a nice range of lenses available on the used market. I own the "standard" 80mm f2.8 bought with the camera, and that is amazingly sharp. Furthermore, I have a 35mm f3.5 which a really extreme wideangle and lastly a 150mm f3,2. All of them perform really nicely and are not too expensive. In total it cost me around 4000€ for all this gear including three batteries. There are lenses from 24mm to 300mm including a macro lens plus two zoom lenses. I have chosen some the cheapest lenses, but in performance they are certainly not cheap by any means.

[@jasonhubbard5422]

I switched to Sony full frame and have been using vintage film lenses with them and having a complete blast. But I never got rid of my Nikon D7000 and prime lenses. But the photos from that body never wowed me (CMOS). So I very recently bought a Nikon D50 body for $40....and those photos are WOW. I think next for me is Sony A100 to use my Minolta lenses and compare that vs the Sony A7 with same lenses. Great video. I'm hitting that subscribe button!

[@PublicWifi]

I acquired a Pentax K100D Super, brand new in the box, just a week ago. It's a 6mp CCD from 2007'ish. With the stock kit lens, I was glued to the outdoor pictures I took. The K100D takes terrible low light pictures due to noise... but good lighting? Wow. It has become my WYSIWYG Camera: What You See Is What You Get. I haven't bothered to edit photos in post. The other two cameras I use are a Canon T6 and a Canon 77D. These two take great pictures in similar situations. But the CCD leaves me impressed. I even bought an older compact camera w/ a CCD just to play around with it. Simply fun straight out of the box.

[@ShutterKnack]

The K100D's high ISO performance is relatively good compared to the 10MP and 14MP CCD sensors. 1600 ISO is somewhat usable and 3200 is not terrible.

[@domtomazo]

I fully agree! K10D I really like for that CCD magic and no live view. Also, the screens on this generation of camera is so small and low res that you can't fully review a shot, so it is more of a surprise when you transfer to your computer :)

[@snappiness]

Haha, it's true! It's almost a feature! The shots look pretty bad and then you review them on the computer and are pleasantly surprised :)

[@marcp.1752]

I had these into their heyday - K10D is still here, 2x 40D, D80 still alive & kicking. Also had the A100, it was the direct Konica-Minolta Dynax 5D successor, after Sony bought all KoMi heritage & assets into 2006. What many ppl also don't know - the A850 & A900 24 MP FF DSLRs are true KoMi designs, but still, wasn't ready to release into 2006.

[@iskandartaib]

A little later than the cameras in this video but I just received a K-30 body in the mail today. GBP 86! And it can use Eneloops ( actually IKEA LADDAs) - so that makes 5 old DSLR bodies in my collection.. a K100D Super, a K200D, two Kx and a K-30. And a Canon G11.

[@withlogic]

Canon 40d is cmos. But 5d also and it looks superb!

[@koby1960]

The Canon 40D is CMOS as far as I know though…regardless they are all great to use and Can make great images.

[@danieldougan269]

There's a key element missing from these cameras: video. Later DSLRs could shoot 1080p, and a few could even shoot 4K video. If you don't care about that, by all means grab one of these. But you can get a pretty sweet deal on a slightly newer DSLR that can also shoot 1080p video. That is a valuable addition!

[@srr1887]

I still own nikon D70S, D300S, and the "youngest" is the D800E. Those are goated still if you know what you're doing. Never want to move from the DSLR still. Cuz i can do simple video with my sony xperia 1-iii

[@ericlarson6180]

I sold my Nikon D70, as I was upgrading and gave away my Nikon D200. Recently, I was feeling nostalgic, and looked to buy copies of these cameras to add to my collection. I picked up a D70 for $35 in excellent condition and a nice Nikon D200 for $90. I have plenty of nikon lenses that work great with these cameras. I enjoy taking them out now to see what I can do with these gems. These older cameras can be had for Pennies on the Dollar, compared to their original prices and can deliver surprisingly good results. I’ve since picked up a Nikon D1 which is finicky to use, and only has a 2.7 megapixel sensor and wafer thin dynamic range, but under the right conditions can produce beautiful files.

[@jonlouis2582]

My favorite pawn shop recently had an old Nikon DSLR with a few lenses and accessories really cheap. I couldn’t resist, and when I looked at the photos I was shocked. Nothing to sneeze at for sure.

[@itsjustspecial3231]

Right, I was almost there, on the same page. You've made me do it. Now I'm off to dust off my D90 and lenses. Thanks.

[@peterchiarello3160]

Well sir, I just bought a used Nikon D80 on eBay for $150 and change with shipping. It comes with the Nikon vertical battery grip as well. I loved your video about these 3 "old" DSLRs but had to watch closely to find out which Nikon it was that you were shooting with because the model number was not visible like the Sony or Pentax. It's when you showed the pictures from the three that I identified the D80. I have a pristine Nikon F2 but have been a Canon user for much longer mainly because of the high cost of Nikons back in the day. I found that the Canon F1 was a great Nikon F2 poor man's rival, but with the digital revolution taking place was finally able to by my first ever Nikon F2 with motor and some prime lenses. I hated that when Canon decided to go AF their MF lenses would not work with non AF bodies. My first digital Nikon is a D3200 also which I got used for cheap, I like it OK but...I bought a 85 to 400 super zoom lens that does not have the focus motor in the lens and have been looking for and doing research to learn the vast array of Nikons to come up with the ones with the focus motor in the body, even though I recently amazed myself at being able to manually focus the zoom I still would like the option to auto focus this really cool lens. I sort of took your advice in reverse in buying the lens before the camera but again thanks for this vid which assured me that yes, I believe in tactile fun when shooting still photos either analog or digital, I am a zombie photographer and likes to use the dead to feel alive! 😆

[@outfield1988]

Have a addictive passion for Nikon D60 TO D 90 . Hope I can keep them going.

[@HarleyFLHRCI99]

Back in the late 60’s and early 70’s I used prolifically a Pentax Spotmatic 2 with the 49mm screw on lenses all my lenses were single single focal length 8mm 11mm 28mm 35mm 110mm 500mm etc that system has long gone , real film cameras. Just picked up a Pentax K10D and with a few lenses and accessories etc just loving getting back into photography.