Every morning, as part of my routine, I check Amazon's "Deal of the Day" to see if it happens to be photographically relevant. Today, after a near-endless parade of DVDs of TV shows, it is. Finally. On offer is a really quite responsive and highly capable 10-megapixel Canon Digital Rebel Xs DSLR with 18-55mm IS lens for $409. [Note: link removed 12/21; sale's over. Today's deal is a DVD of a TV series called "Torchwood," so we're back to normal. —Ed.]
It made me wonder. Is this the cheapest DSLR and lens I've ever seen for sale? I really can't claim to follow such things all that closely. Two landmarks in the history of the emergence of digital photography that I remember vividly were the advent of the Canon D30 [sic], a 3-megapixel camera introduced in the Spring of 2000 for the then-breakthrough price of less than $3,000 (just), and the original Canon Digital Rebel, a 6-megapixel camera announced in the summer of aught-three for less than a thousand dollars, which was equally remarkable. If not a little more so. I saw many very fine pictures come out of that appealing little camera, and I'm sure many people reading this have fond memories of one or the other of those two now-quaint devices. We thought both those prices were wondrous, at the time.
And now look where we are. A quick check doesn't uncover any cheaper DSLR-and-lens combo available just at the moment. And if this isn't the cheapest ever, what was? I'd like to see someone write a history of digital camera prices. I'm not sure I have the stamina myself, but someone who likes numbers and charts would find chewy stuff to feast on, I'm guessin'.
Mike
That would be interesting, but it might be more instructive to track the history of mass-market camera prices from the beginning. Adjusted for region and inflation, of course. And if we compare with relevant income and leisure time data, and sales figures, I think that would be really interesting. Damn, does this mean I'm a geek?
Posted by: robert e | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 11:59 AM
Speaking of ought three, I simply refuse to tell you what I paid for a 3 MP Coolpix, or what I paid for the wondrous capacity if a 256 Mb compact flash card and I really, really, do not wish to bring up any memories of the amount paid for a spare battery for said Coolpix. There is something positive to be said for having a short memory; I just cannot remember what it is.
Posted by: fjf | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 12:50 PM
I bought my Nikon D40 last year for $382 from Amazon with the kit lens. I wish I had kept that camera, actually. I was very happy with the photos it took.
Posted by: Jay | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 12:57 PM
Ooh, I can trump that. I don't know if clearance prices count, but Sears has the Nikon D40 kit on clearance right now for $289 and about a year and a half ago I purchased three Pentax *ist DL kits on clearance for $249 each at Meijer.
Posted by: Andre | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 01:05 PM
On 28 September 2008 I bought my new Sony A100 with 18-70 lens + free 2GB card + free delivery for £229. Today that is $370, then it was $422.
Maybe this doesn't count as at that time the A100 was "last year's model" but I hope it illustrates that persistance in searching and acceptantance of not quite the latest fad can result in a real bargain.
Cheers, Robin
Posted by: Robin P | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 01:19 PM
"Damn, does this mean I'm a geek?"
It does. But the kind we like. [g]
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 02:56 PM
On June 28, 2003 I posted on DPreview concerning my purchase of a G5, the camera itself was $674, not that much out of line with a purchase I made two months ago of a Canon S90 for $429.
The eyeopener was the 1 gigabyte Transcend 30x CF card for $222, now that is some spicy meatball!!
Posted by: Richard Alan Fox | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 03:46 PM
This time last year I picked my first real camera since my Lubitel TLR; a Nikon D40 with the 18-55mm kit lens for 225 GBP (including sales tax VAT), at Jessops a UK wide high street camera store. I bought because it was the cheapest DSLR around and coz Ken Rockwell told me to do it:-) I can't remember what the GBP/Dollar exchange rate was but I think it might of just snuck in under the 400 USD mark
Posted by: Gavin McLelland | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 04:09 PM
Mike I just shared the link to this post on my Facebook page. What a great deal... that is less expensive than the G11!
When one shares a link on Facebook, the dialog box that pops up asks which graphic from the page you'd like to use to illustrate the link. It appears that, in the case of TOP, it gives you the option to choose from the twelve graphics in the left and right panels, but not the "The Online Photographer" image at the very top of the page.
I'd like to suggest that you add a square-ish "The Online Photographer" graphic somewhere on one of the side panels that users could use to illustrate such links. I think it would help build your visibility to a new potential audience.
Posted by: Curtis Clegg | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 04:10 PM
Tall's Camera in Seattle has the Sony Alpha 230 and lens for $399.99
Posted by: Michael Purcell | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 04:26 PM
Discontinued cameras can sometimes be a deal. This March I purchased a Oly E-410 with the 14~42 kit lens NIB for $340 and I've since learned that some of them sold for under $300 new.
Posted by: John Robison | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 04:55 PM
I seem to remember Amazon selling a Pentax K-2000 for $399 late last spring.
Posted by: michael | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 05:25 PM
The moment I held a Canon Rebel 300d in my hands, an involuntary muscular reaction began that had my hands put down the camera, take out my wallet and lay a credit card down on the counter.....("I can't afford this.." said my responsible self).... A truly wondrous camera for the price and time....the same thing just happened to me with the 7D.....I am filled with awe and gratitude at being in the middle of a photographic revolution....(still going.....)
Posted by: Greg Smith | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 08:01 PM
I bought a D30 as my entry into digital photography - about 6 months after its release. To be honest, as a camera it was pretty poor - slow, dubious AF and various other faults.
As an aside, I could never understand why the "camera" elements of this model were not up to the standard of even mid-range Canon film cameras - something Canon didn't really address (IMHO) until the 20D.
Nonetheless, the D30 produced images of a very high quality, which at low ISO, still stand up to current models (leaving resolution differences to one side). I guess this was due to the huge pixel sites compared to current models.
To my eyes, only the original 5D captures the same 'look' of the D30 at 100 ISO - probably for the same reason.
Cheers,
Colin
Posted by: Colin Work | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 08:24 PM
I'm somewhat sorry to mention this, since you cannot link to it thru TOP, but Malwart (intentional misspelling) offers the Olympus 420 with lens for $399.
Posted by: Roger Engle | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 08:47 PM
Walmart has E-420 eith kit lens right now for $399.00 and brother Sams Club has the Pentax K2000 with kit lens for the same price, The best deal right now is the E-520 2 lens package for $499.00 and the best part is the instock part.
Rob M
Posted by: Rob Morris | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 10:11 PM
Your article did bring back memories. I purchase my 300D at the day of official launch here on 18th Sep 2003. It's still in excellent condition and still takes excellent pictures. I had traveled several thousands of km with this camera and took it to places I had never dream of before.
The ability of new DLSR technologies to take pictures in conditions not possible with 300D lead me to acquire the 7D about a month ago. The 7D is yet another breakthrough in capability/price ratio. Already logged over 10K pictures with it and it exceeded my expectations.
Posted by: CS Chua | Sunday, 20 December 2009 at 10:51 PM
Ritz Camera has the A230. Sales tax paid for and low shipping for those living in Washington state.
Maybe you should be an affiliate if your aren't one already.
http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/542088141.htm?bct=t1134
Posted by: Sam | Monday, 21 December 2009 at 12:47 AM
I've still got my original 300d and it still gets used. In Oz it was just under $2000 AUD. I bought it because I wasn't sure I'd like working digitally . The 10d was $3000 AUD and that was a real commitment.
Posted by: Paul Amyes | Monday, 21 December 2009 at 02:23 AM
"I saw many very fine pictures come out of that appealing little camera, and I'm sure many people reading this have fond memories of one or the other of those two now-quaint devices. We thought both those prices were wondrous, at the time."
Yup. ...and still shooting to this day with my 10D...purchased in the early spring of 2003 with a Canon 50mm 1.4 and Lexar 256mb card for just under $2000.
For newspaper work its hard to beat, especially outdoors. The file size is more than enough and it's frankly really durable.
Posted by: Marty McAuliff | Monday, 21 December 2009 at 09:20 AM
The first digital camera I bought in early 2003 was Olympus C-5050. Because of the way it came to me, I didn't pay VAT so the price was only $1000.
It's been sitting in a drawer ever since I got my first DSLR...
Posted by: erlik | Monday, 21 December 2009 at 04:28 PM
I got a D-30 from Canon Professional Services to cover a presidential debate in the Fall of 2000. It hadn't been released yet. The Canon Camera museum says it was first marketed in October, 2000, but IIRC it wasn't really available until January, 2001. I bought 2. Great files compared to scanned color neg film. Terrible camera from a user's standpoint.
Three grand? Peanuts compared to film and processing costs. I think I was spending $1500 a month at my local lab for processing.
Posted by: Ken Bennett | Monday, 21 December 2009 at 07:31 PM
I'm one of the zillions that also bought a D300, er Digital Rebel right when it came out. I hadn't been following the camera market at all (film nor digital) but knew enough at the time that the Canon was a watershed model, which of course it was. $900 without kit lens, $999 with. A short time later it was $100 less all-around, and so on.
Still my primary camera today, although not necessarily by choice, however despite its limitations and sometimes crazy-slow wait (in RAW, with multiple frames going) in the end it's ME that's the limiting factor, not the camera, for the results.
Posted by: David | Monday, 21 December 2009 at 10:47 PM
Two years ago I got a Samsung Pentax clone and 18-55 lens for $349 plus shipping.
But, that was an excellent deal if you needed a DSLR.
Posted by: Al Patterson | Monday, 21 December 2009 at 11:27 PM
That Xs deal was only $40 off the normal price.
Posted by: Alton Marsh | Tuesday, 29 December 2009 at 10:45 PM