Modern cameras are highly impressive, able to tackle just about any challenging situation you can throw at them, even those that just a few years ago would have thrown the best options off their game. As such, it can be easy to rely on that technology a little too much and to forget just how far you can get with good technique and a solid creative foundation. This neat video reminds you of that by showing what you can do with a $25 camera that is almost two decades old.
Coming to you from Gary Gough, this neat video follows him as he uses a Canon EOS 350D (also known as the Digital Rebel XT) to photograph birds in flight. The 350D was first introduced in 2005 and features an 8-megapixel sensor, 7 focus points, and 3 fps continuous burst speeds. While we have seen videos showing what you can do with bargain equipment and good technique before, this one caught my eye because it adds the additional challenge of fast action. Even in 2005, the 350D was considered entry level, so 17 years later, it is pretty neat to see what Gough can accomplish with it. Of course, the quality doesn't compare to a modern camera, but it is still better than you might think. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gough.
I still have my D300/D3,bargain prices great cameras, not as low priced as $25 yet,a lot of people have forgotten about these ,you can pu up lenses for these as well.I have even adapted an old Pentax 1000mm to my D3 ,just for nostalgia fun.
I run around with an old Olympus EPL-1 and a couple of MF lenses from my film days. I love not having to care if I'm going to wreck a several thousand dollar camera at the beach or on a hike, and in fact both body and lenses have taken their share of beatings. As a result, I get into places I wouldn't otherwise go.
As the old saying goes: it's not the gear, it's the one who uses it.
I've been saying it for years, ever since it was told to me:
No camera is better than the eye behind it.
I watched a person drop a few thousand on a Leica T (Don't recall the price) and a 50mm f.95 Noctilux (Around $11,000 at the time) and not only did he spew one of the mantras of the inexperienced (Hatred of artificial light), he couldn't shoot his way out of a torn paper bag.
I started out with the Canon Rebel XT decades ago and loved that camera. It was cheaply priced even back then. Though criminally simple by today's standards, it's still a great camera with more than acceptable image quality. Low light performance is acceptable too. For web use and smaller prints, it would be virtually impossible to tell what camera was used. For beginning photographers and people wanting great family photos, I'd still highly recommend this camera.