Where is the Canon DSLR second-hand sweetspot?

Question

I currently have an EOS 3000V. It was my first SLR and I thought that the romance of film would outweigh the impracticalities.

It's served me well for a couple of years, but I'd really like to step things up a bit in terms of going digital and in terms of the quality.

I'd like to be able to use my existing lenses (without an adaptor) and I'm interested in CHDK - so it really has to be a canon.

My question then: Where is the sweet-spot between price and quality when it comes to 2nd hand Canon DSLRs?

Answer 1

At the moment 450D or 40D could be good purchase. They are quite modern but they lack video shooting so they are not that 'hot' any more.

For CHDK get a second hand IXUS or similar, older models are cheap. The only CHDK like project for DSLR is the magic lantern project for 5DII and 550D.

Answer 2

You may want to consider full frame, given that you're coming from film and will have FF capable lenses. In which case, a second hand 5D (mark i) will be a good bet.

Answer 3

Consider that the camera body is a far distant third when it comes to (image) quality, with Photographer and Lenses being First and Second, respectively.

So perhaps this formula: Given a certain budget, the sweet spot is the difference between your budget and your lens choices.

In other words, pick out lenses, and whatever money is left, pick the body.

To put things in perspective, here is the flickr pool for the Canon Rebel (aka EOS 300), which was Canon's first entry level dslr, which you can purchase on Ebay for around $250.

Since the 60D is right around the corner, the current sweet spot is the 50D used (once the 60D is announced, you will see fantastic bargains on Buy and Sell forums).

Answer 4

With Canon dSLR bodies, the sweet spot typically tends to be a prosumer APS-C body, one generation back. So, in this case, the XXD body that's one generation back from the current one (once a 7D successor arrives, this could include both the XXD and 7D lines). While the sensor and processor will be older, the range of usability features and the two-wheel controls with top LCD, and hardier build, make for a better set of features over a brand new dRebel XXXD model.

At the time I'm writing this, that would be a 60D body, used or refurbished. Typically, getting a factory-refurbished XXD one-generation-back body costs roughly the same as a brand new latest-model XXXD body. (Again, at the time of this writing, Canon USA's selling refurbed 60D bodies for $576.99, and a brand new 700D/T5i body from B&H costs $599.00).

Full frame bodies now have lower-end lines, and once there is a successor to the 6D, then the 6D might also be included, but full frame tends to have a "hidden" expense in that it can only use full-frame glass, and typically has a high-enough resolution that higher-end glass is a better fit, so as a "bargain" buy, it's unlikely to be as good as APS-C bodies.

As for the CHDK, that's more for Canon P&S cameras; for Canon dSLRs, look at Magic Lantern.