UPDATED: I Am Giving Away My Canon 5D Mk2 To You...How You Can Help Others

This is my full-frame Canon 5D Mark II with vertical dual battery grip. It may be worn down to the metal on the edges, but this baby still shoots beautiful 21 megapixel RAW files and 1080p video. It's ridden tanks and supercars and hung out of helicopters and photographed some pretty famous folks for some album and magazine covers. Now, I have decided to give it away to the best cause. Below, you can either learn how to apply or learn how you may help others!

12/25/14 UPDATE: I have literally received hundreds of emails. Many from people with very heartfelt stories and causes and others from people wanting to offer their own old DSLR kits! It has been a very powerful experience. Bear with me as I will carefully review more than 300 emails. I will be choosing the home for my Mk2 as well as connecting the additional people willing to donate their cameras to other people that emailed me. I admit, this has been a very emotional process and I've wished more than once that I had more than one DSLR to give away. I am so happy we will be able to help more than one person now thanks to the generosity of others!

It has truly given me hope to know that people are willing to put themselves out there and help strangers around the world. It also is amazing to me to learn how a working digital SLR camera can literally change the lives of those in need. It can put food in the mouths of the hungry, save the lives of animals, and give hope to those without. To those that say how you can buy an intro DSLR kit for around $500 have never had to sell camera gear to afford to feed your starving children. I am very proud of the response and those that have offered to get involved!

Sure, some people didn't read the instructions and sent messages equating to "WHERE CAN I GET THAT FREE CAMERA?!" Others were hoping to just upgrade their current gear, but in numerous cases, emailed me again to rescind their request because they believed that they should be thankful for what they have and wanted the camera to go to a good cause. Kudos to them for seeing the big picture and choosing such a positive perspective! Some people said that if I gave them the Mark 2, they would hand down their older gear to someone needy. Well, I hope those people will still consider doing that whether they receive the 5D or not when they do eventually upgrade. :)

More soon!

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This Canon was a trusty camera body for me for years, but now it sits on my shelf as a backup body. I thought about keeping it because it has such a crazy history with me, for it has been on some of my greatest adventures thus far. But... recently I've been touched by the generosity of others and their willingness to help others. It brought me to tears. So, I've decided to give this old girl away.

My Mark 2 can still compete with some of the best DSLRs in the industry and shoots pretty awesome high-definition video footage (it's been used for TV ads in the past, before we acquired our Red Cameras) as well. Aside from the worn paint, it functions perfectly. Her street value is probably still over $1k.

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN APPLY TO RECEIVE THIS CAMERA:

• I will be giving this camera away with a fresh battery, charger, and camera strap.
• The camera does not come with a lens, but I can certainly help you source something very affordable if needed.
• It must be said that this is a used camera, and all future maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of its new owner.
• This is important: If you have a noble cause (i.e., charity/helping kids/animals/veterans/etc.) or know a photographer that has fallen on hard times, message your story to me directly at douglas@sondersphotography.com with the subject line "CANON DONATION". I will choose the Mark 2's new home by December 22nd.
• There is no catch. This is open to international submissions. I ask nothing of you except that you make sure this camera is used to do something special. It is a part of me and who I am today, and I hope it means the same to someone else.

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN POSSIBLY HELP OTHERS:

I've already received hundreds of emails with some truly heartbreaking stories. It's incredible how having a functional DSLR camera can change the lives of others. Some take it for granted that for $500 you can have a new SLR with kit lens today (obviously not full frame like the 5D). I am receiving messages from people that had to sell their cameras to pay for food for themselves and their kids, but need a camera to earn money. People that want to use cameras to help soldiers treat PTSD. Teachers in international schools with no budgets, but want to teach kids about art and photography. People that had a family member suffer from a disease, and had to sell their gear to pay for medical bills. People that want to use a camera to help the advancement of a charitable cause, but need a dependable SLR to do so.

You would be shocked to know how many people CANNOT afford to have a reliable DSLR but could accomplish SO MUCH if they had one. So.... if you, like me, are lucky enough to have a dependable extra digital camera system collecting dust on a shelf and want to earn some life karma points, I now have a list of people whose lives would be changed by receiving a camera. You can email me at douglas@sondersphotography.com with the subject line "I HAVE A CAMERA" and I will respond back with more information.

Let's help our fellow photographers around the world one camera at a time.

My Facebook Photography Page if you'd like to learn more.