Why I bought a 20 year old digital SLR in 2022

The Canon EOS 1Ds Mk ii came out in 2004 (or thereabouts) and is a real tank of a camera. As digital SLRs go, it was once the cream of the crop, but even just about 20 years later, it isn't obsolete, and I use mine regularly. Have a swatch to hear the reasoning behind why I got this thing, and also a couple of pitfalls to watch out for...
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[@ActualCounterfactual]

Still using my trusted 5Dii and good glass, I am happy as ever and no customer has ever complained about the image quality.....

[@StephenMcLeod]

Neither they should!!

[@NicStage]

The Canons from the 00's were absolute tanks. We have a 5D mark ii at work that was purchased when it was new and it's had many accidents. Never needed repairing. Never has had a problem. Still works perfectly.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I actually have an irrational hatred of the 5D Mk ii since I had an OG and for years people would come up to me in clubs etc and scoff: "pff. I have a mk ii". AYE VERY GOOD. They were brilliant though. Nice big screen.

[@avrilcadabra]

I have a Canon 10D I got in 2003, I definitely couldn't afford the 1D at the time but used to lust after it. I had been meaning to buy one now days just because. I remember joining the camera club in 2003 but they said I couldn't enter any of the photography contests because I didnt have a real camera. My 10D still works, built like a tank, I got a 40D (could never stretch for the 5D) now days I use an old 7D to record the videos on my channel. Much love for old canon workhorses. If I get one I'll pay attention to the charging set up, cool vid.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Haha what on earth did they mean by a real camera?!?! A 35mm? I got both my 5Ds second hand as they were too much brand new. Didn't realise you still used a 7D! This one doesn't have video ha.

[@avrilcadabra]

@@StephenMcLeod I have a nice sigma art lens I use for videos. The camera club said digitally manipulated images were not allowed. And because it wasn't film all its images were digitally altered according to them. Hypocrites 5 years later they all used digitals. I just had a look on ebay. 1ds to is still like 1000usd here. You did well. The biggest problem with my Canon 7d is 10 min limit to video. Even an new Canon can only film 30 mins. So I will get a Sony like yours probably

[@-Pol-]

I still work with a Nikon D750 - I chose Nikons for their vintage lens compatibility as I grew up using old manual lenses; a super crisp 50mm 1.8 pancake and the 105mm Ai-S F2.5 are favourites. I'd gladly pick up an old Canon just to mount Canon's super tidy 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake lens. Full frame 40mm is right in the goldilocks zone for me. Just about wide enough in aperture and angle of view to include background interest but keep it just a wee bit out of focus. It took me a while to recognise it was the fast 40mm rangefinder cameras of the 1960's and 70's that give so many pictures of the era their characteristic feel. 35mm doesn't soften the background quite so nicely. Nikon doesn't do a 40mm prime but the Canon's is great!

[@StephenMcLeod]

I'll need to check out the 40mm. It is a lovely looking thing!

[@enslavedelectrons5684]

i use th Canon SX30is and its a cracking camera from what is practicaly yesterday to me and i find it so easy to use and you have to love that zoom lens it just keeps going for standard HD its good enough for moi keep shooting those street scenes bearded one !!

[@StephenMcLeod]

I picked up an old Canon SD780S recently and have been playing about with it. Glad to join the club!!

[@DisposablePlanet]

Great vid!! This really takes me back. I remember the first few times I messed around with the 5D’s baby brother, the 7D (was the first DSLR I got my hands on during that DSLR video renaissance that started circa 2008-2009). Those cameras had to feel solid to convince indie video people moving from larger cameras down to smaller ones for guerrilla filmmaking tasks and the freedom of interchangeable lenses- but boy they did not skimp on build quality. Many of the larger prosumer cameras (I was using a Panasonic HVX200 before DSLRs) shot on memory cards the size of a credit card, had fixed lenses and felt plastic in comparison (and definitely not aubergine proof).

[@StephenMcLeod]

I actually forgot about how wild it was when DSLRs started to shoot video, because you could very cheaply get really nice bokeh etc. Brilliant. The real test of any camera's quality should be whether or not it can survive an aubergine attack.

[@NunyaB1s]

This one is excellent, I hadn’t considered how cheap pro cameras from 2006 would really be, and I’m excited about what I could find. Might be a great idea to share your knowledge on things a non-photographer would consider. I never would have thought about toughness but it makes total sense to me now.

[@StephenMcLeod]

My Canon 5Ds have literally been thrown down stairs and off of walls and survived for a decade! Amazing things.

[@LeeBoyce]

Bought a Canon XF-300 last year as a second camera for a video project. I was really blown away by the quality compared to more recent cameras. Regrettably, I sold it back to MPB for £275 only to find they are going for £1,300 at the moment - gutted!

[@StephenMcLeod]

Cripes. That's a hell of a jump! Looks like a really nice one too.

[@LeeBoyce]

@@StephenMcLeod just noticed i didn't send them the charger so fingers crossed that pays of haha (don't think i have it in me to charge 500 quid though)

[@BrynAilyn]

I totally get it. I bought my first DSLR a few years ago, a low-mileage Nikon D90. With what I saved I was able to get a couple of yummy lenses, also low-mileage.

[@StephenMcLeod]

They still have loads of value!

[@gradientledge]

i remember buying a dslr in 2009 but at the time knowing eventually phone cameras would have pro manual settings eventually, the thing with older equipment is the hardware is relied on more than software so the result aways has a more realistic feel in some ways.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yeah. It's much harder to rely on modern digital stuff for the next decade or something... compared to how this 1DS is still going strong!

[@DavidDeLuge]

A man of many talents. Nice one.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Jack of all trades (master of none?!)

[@DavidDeLuge]

@@StephenMcLeod 🤣🤣

[@gnemelf]

Was just thinking about picking up one of the older Canons again myself. I wish I still had my orginal dslr from back in the day.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Both of my original 5Ds got destroyed after a decade of abuse haha.

[@boliston]

I got a 5D a few months ago and a 1Ds a couple of weeks ago and the 5D feels like a toy compared to the 1Ds - I quite like the way is is very low tech with a tiny low res LCD as it has quite a good histogram - also it has a near perfect shutter sound

[@StephenMcLeod]

I must admit I am rubbish at reading histograms, but yeah - the 1Ds feels excellent, even now. It's a shame it has that crappy screen, but I can live with it for the sturdiness!!

[@rygelxv]

If your charger ever should break, you do a vid about it, and one of us knuckleheads will find a way to hook a normal NIMH charger up to the battery of this beautiful camera.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Hey thanks! I appreciate that. It is a beauty.

[@riggidyboo]

Still using my Nikon D300 from that same era. I feel the images stand out from more modern cameras, though higher iso would be nice

[@StephenMcLeod]

Yeah, the high ISO performance isn't as good. It's a shame really, as otherwise some of these old beasts are solid.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

My mate had one of those bad bois basically glued to his face back in the day, he used to take some amazing pics with it. EDIT: actually nah it was a 400D! Pictures had a really nice pop to them though.

[@StephenMcLeod]

The old Canon DSLRs were great in general!

[@ejwatts25]

Capable camera, defensive deterrent and workout all-in-one. I loved how tactile my DSLRs were but I've gone full mirrorless now shooting weddings, I prefer the live-view and silent shutter for those occasions, not to mention the reduced weight. That 1Ds Mkii still makes killer images, nice job. The shots reminded me of the excitement and disappointment of nights out at uni.

[@StephenMcLeod]

Disappointment of nights out?! I mostly don't remember much. Just a crippling hangover. :D

[@shifteleven]

I still have my Canon 5D mark i and ii and can't make myself part with them. So I get it :)

[@StephenMcLeod]

They are excellent! I love my 5D Mark 1. I wish the grip still worked properly. I even tried replacing the grip, but nae joy.

[@shifteleven]

@@StephenMcLeod I'm not as into the grip, but I do know how it can make things more stable. I guess the grip dying out is more than just some swabs and alcohol to clean the contacts could fix? Still though, your in a nice spot with 1D if you do like the grip

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@shifteleven Yeah, unfortunately. I've cleaned all the contacts, and had two different grips/cameras. They all seem to fail in the same way. It's so frustrating, but the 5D is still excellent without it. Such a classic!!

[@shifteleven]

@@StephenMcLeod and how. And even though the camera is older, digital processing and ai has gotten better over time so it’s crazy how “usable” things are today

[@StephenMcLeod]

@@docdelete I think it's a mechanical issue rather than the actual electronics. I tried a few things but failed. Not worth buying a new grip! 1Ds ftw :D

[@R1GAMBLER]

*Polaroid 600* FTW!

[@StephenMcLeod]

RIP

[@Theemilz]

Canon 60D, not best, not bad, i need other one for vid , but dont have money now 😀

[@StephenMcLeod]

I recommend the Sony ZV-E10 for video! Stick it on the list to research.. :D

[@Theemilz]

@@StephenMcLeod wish list :))))

[@TomMadisonSoundsLewis]

Here's me rocking an EOS 550D....

[@StephenMcLeod]

February 2010!!

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

So is it worse or better then your Phone camera?

[@StephenMcLeod]

100% better.

[@tillorrly1128]

Fullframe has just another look than the tiny camera sensor. Also in lowlight it has way less noise.