Old DSLR Vs Mobile

Crizzy · 3 Jun 2022 at 19:26

Hi all,

I've come across an old EOS 350D and I wondered if it still has anything to offer compared to the camera in my mobile (Sony Xperia 1)?

I'm off to a car show on the weekend and would love to take some quality snaps, it would be an ideal time to use the EOS and play about with some of the settings, but can I actually get some decent results compared to what I can get from my mobile?

Just want to make sure I'm not wasting my time with such an old camera!

Thanks everyone

EGuitarStar · 3 Jun 2022 at 19:35

Which lens do you have for the Canon? That'll be a defining factor. Also, will you be willing to take pictures in RAW and edit later?

The EOS 350 is a very old model and your Experia 1 will offer better image quality but without having to know what settings to use.

Crizzy · 3 Jun 2022 at 19:43

Thanks for the response, the lens is a EFS 18-55mm.

EGuitarStar · 3 Jun 2022 at 21:44

I wouldn't be too worried then about not taking the Canon.

EsaT · 4 Jun 2022 at 20:32

350D isn't old, it's ancient.
Sensors have come very long way in 17 years.

SDK^ · 5 Jun 2022 at 00:03

Also depends on your image output - it is screen for social media or print large/small?

I‘ve found my iPhone 13 Pro Max is good enough for the ultra wide, wide and short range portraits - 13mm to about 50mm. This is general photos of family. holidays and day trips, with the output being social media and sharing on forums. The newer Pro Apple phones support RAW, just like your Sony Experian 1 and this helps get the best out of the image, editing on your computer or mobile device.

As soon as you move into action/sports photography where fast focus and tracking is required, or you start wanting reliable & quality portraits with smooth background blur then a DSLR or Mirrorless camera comes into it’s own.

OspreyO · 5 Jun 2022 at 01:16

That's the same vintage as my Nikon D70s with a stock 18~70mm.

My pixel 4a5G beats it every time except for fast moving action and bokeh and a bit of zoom, where the D70s seems to pull out a nice image now and then thats just nicer.
You need very good light to use it though. Most of the time the pixel is far better.

I was thinking of replacing mine with a used mirrorless camera.

Crizzy · 5 Jun 2022 at 08:29

Fair enough, might donate the DSLR to my son then!

Thanks all

OspreyO · 5 Jun 2022 at 08:57

Crizzy said:
Fair enough, might donate the DSLR to my son then!

Thanks all

That's what I did. Well I let the kids play with it. Now have a few hundred cat photos. It's more tactile than a phone. It makes you take different photos I think.

But then the limitations of getting photos off it, and the poor screen for reviewing photos becomes an issue. Got me thinking about getting a used mirror less camera, or just a newer used DSLR. But it's the bulk of the DSLR that kept it in the cupboard when mobiles got better.

leezer3 · 10 Jun 2022 at 00:47

The DSLR *will* take far better pictures, but only if you know how to use it properly.

Stuffing it in auto (green square) and pointing / clicking will get worse pictures than the phone sure, but that's ignoring the point of a DSLR.

The phone simply won't give you control over aperture / shutter speed in the same way as the DSLR. The sensor in the phone will be terrible compared to the DSLR too if you do try to operate it manually- all the significant progress has come in the hand holding software. At the end of hhe day, the DSLR sensor is far larger.