Is there any downside to buying an older DSLR model if it uses the same lenses?
Asked 8/6/2018
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2 answers
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I'm comparing two Canon DSLRs, the EOS 4000D and EOS 1300D. They appear similar in many ways and use the same Canon EF/EF-S lens system, but the 1300D is cheaper because it's an older model that may be leaving the market soon. If both cameras take the same lenses, is there any real risk in buying the older/discontinued body? What practical downsides should I consider?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
9
TL;DR: There is no risk in buying older generation Canon body.
Canon is known for the consistency of lens mounts and compatibility. They have 3 mounts for photography right now, 2+1 actually.
- Oldest EF mount for fullframe.
- Younger EF-S mount for crops.
- Youngest EF-M mount for mirrorless.
EF lenses can be used on EF-S bodies directly, not vice versa! Other combinations are possible with proper adapters.
Both your bodies use EF-S mounts so there is no risk at all by using the older body. If I read the Canon designations right, the second one should be higher tier body (when same generations are compared) which compensates the differences in running-in and running-out bodies (when same tier is compared).
In other words, new EOS 1xxxD should be slightly better than EOS 4xxxD. It is possible, that the 4000D is slighty modified 1300D design, therefore the same specs.
Actually, old Canon FD mount lenses are directly mountable to EF and EF-S mount with only one drawback - there are no pins co connect to the body and camera thinks there is no lens mounted. It will work, but in all-manual mode (the lenses also lack motorised focus and apperture settings)
Originally by user39108. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user39108
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Generally, there’s little risk in buying an older Canon DSLR body if it uses the same lens mount and still meets your needs. Canon has maintained strong compatibility across EF and EF-S lenses, so lens choice is not the main concern here.
The bigger issue is that these two models are not truly equivalent. The EOS 4000D is a lower-tier body than the 1300D, despite being newer. Community answers note that the 4000D has reduced specs and, importantly, a plastic lens mount instead of a metal one. That can matter if you plan to change lenses often or want better long-term durability.
In general, what you give up with older/discontinued cameras is newer technology: autofocus improvements, sensor updates, video features, wireless features, and similar refinements. But camera generation-to-generation improvements are often modest, and older models can be excellent value.
So yes, buying the older 1300D can be a sensible choice. The main thing to compare is feature set and build quality, not simply whether a model is newer or about to leave the market.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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