I picked up a 300D (original Rebel) for $30...

bridge77 wrote:

ebay is a gamble, it may be best to trade with dealers who have a 30 day return policy like roberts camera or keh. i got an old tamron lens tele that didn't work to well with my t3i and roberts sent me a return label and refunded. older non canon lenses just may not work to well with canon bodies.

I'd tend that way for something more expensive but most of the cameras I talked about were in the $10 range so really weren't worth returning.

I stick to Canon lenses. I had a bad experience with a first generation Tamron 28-70 (75?) f/2.8 lens in the early 2000s that wouldn't focus at f/2.8. It took multiple trips to Tamron service but was never fixed. It was an f/8 only lens. I eventually replaced it with a Canon 17-50 f/2.8 IS that did focus accurately at f/2.8.

I think that the "dealers" I dealt with were private individuals that bought things from wherever (garage sales...) and then sell on eBay.  I didn't see many original owners sell the cameras I was interested in.  I don't think any of them were trying to pass off bad merchandise.  It is just that they don't (or can't) do extensive tests.

i don't have much need for bodies or lenses generally so not an issue. eventually it would be nice to get a bridge camera for birding or not having to change lenses. the canon sx 40 and sx 50 seem to be affordable in used.

Several years ago I got lucky with an SX50 I got from eBay that was/is in excellent condition. I can't remember the price but it was attractive. It is good in bright sunlight.  All my other cameras have better IQ because the SX50 has a real tiny sensor, but the SX 50 beats them all when I need super-zoom.  I'm not sure that I'd use it as my one-and-only camera.

my canon xs isn't worth too much and does everything well, except for the lower iso. why not just keep it as a beater camera or when the t3i gives up?

Yep.

on days we don't wanna haul around the dslr, our nikon coolpix are a good alternative for video/pix. for me this is mostly the joy of family memories, so no high end equipment needed.

Wayne, how is your 40D doing? would that be your best camera

No. I got the 40D to have a decent body for situations when I didn't want to bring my better bodies. I have a 300D, T2i, 60D, 6D, M, M6 and M50. And S100, GX7 II and SX50.

and would it be worth upgrading from a T3i to a 40D

I think the 40D would be a downgrade sensor wise.  My T2i has the Canon 18 megapixel sensor and I think your T3i has the same.  The 40D has an older 10 megapixel sensor. The 40D body is an upgrade, though.  Magnesium body, lots of controls/buttons  and (I think) somewhat weatherproofed.  The controls and build quality are better than on my 60D and 6D, IMO.

The 40D is good with decent light but the newer bodies have somewhat better dynamic range and do better at high ISO. Because it is winter and the general Covid disincentive to not be out and about, I haven't used the 40D for any real shoots. I tested it mostly indoors with its internal flash.

With all this said, I'm trying to migrate to a good phone for most family pics. Right now I use a Pixel 2. I think its battery is starting to swell so I have been posting in mobile photography researching a replacement. If I can get a shot with my Pixel 2, SOOC Pixel 2 JPEGs are generally as good as what I can get from raw files from any of my other cameras (with the possible exception of the 6D and L glass.)  At the same focal length.

Wayne