Canon Rebel XS: Using a 15 year old camera in the modern era.
Picture this: 2008, a time when the Canon Rebel XS was the epitome of photographic innovation in a small package. With its 10-megapixel camera, advanced 7-point autofocus, and the convenience of storing up to 32GB using SDHC memory cards, it was a compact wonder with unrivaled potential. Fast forward 15 years and the question remains - does this vintage gem still have a place in today's world of photography dominated by cutting-edge technology?
Short answer, no. Please don’t buy it with the intention of taking professional photos. The camera is only good for what it isn’t.
Strength In Weakness
The Rebel XS carries a modest sensor, offering around 8.6 stops of dynamic range, or maybe 10 if luck is on your side, and a maximum ISO of 1600. Nighttime or low-light shooting isn't its forte, and it heavily relies on a fast lens to gather light effectively.
The color rendition isn't top-notch, lacking the accuracy seen in modern counterparts. Post-processing demands a bit more effort, and sometimes, the photos are damn near unrecoverable. However, it bestows a vintage aesthetic, evoking simpler times.
Despite these limitations, it compensates with raw emotion.
During a recent non-profit event shoot, the camera struggled with blown-out highlights in sunlight and underexposed shadows in darker areas. It won't earn any awards for technical brilliance, yet it captures the essence of the moment—evident in the emotions portrayed by the people and the event's impact.
I’m not going to lie, for the first hour of shooting the event, I was complaining about the quality. Through the built-in screen, everything looked horrible. Years of photography experience, and I felt I wasn’t nailing any shots.
I had unrealistic expectations, I was expecting it to perform similarly to a camera released within this decade, but that’s not what this was.
As the event went on, I started to become attached to the images. There was no burst photo option, so I had to wait my shot out to make sure I captured it. I had to reframe images in my mind before snapping to ensure I would get the best lighting. The images, with their terrible colors, suddenly started having a soul.
When I imported the photos into lightroom, I realized how much of an impact modern tools have on old hardware. Lightroom is constantly evolving, figuring out new ways to interpret RAW files, and I was really able to push the camera to the limits while color grading to get the look I wanted from them. Sure, it didn’t have the same finite control like other cameras, however, it’s a lot more than what I would’ve been able to get if I used software from back then. Here are some samples from the events I shot over the weekend:
Why I’m Using The Camera
I find comfort in discomfort—call me a masochist, but I thrive on the challenge when photographing events. The newer and fancier the camera, the less creativity I feel. It’s weird, I get cushioned too much by the dynamic range, by being able to crop in on photos, that I’m not actually taking the time to capture the moment, but rather bursting shots and hoping for the best.
With an older camera, I intentionally limit myself. I make it a point to approach situations differently, ensuring I remain alert and never lose the fundamental skill of photography.
I've encountered this before—getting too comfortable with my Panasonic S5. Upon transitioning back to a Panasonic GH5 (which is still considered a modern camera), I realized how much I longed for the S5's expansive dynamic range and the beautiful background blur it offered. Regrettably, this led me to miss out on capturing some crucial shots. And again, it’s not like they’d be far off, but since then, I’ve been trying to make sure I avoid this trap.
It’s a $50 investment I made on the camera, not expensive at all, and I highly recommend photographers to purchase it, but for personal use. Embrace the simplicity of its limitations to reignite your inspiration and rediscover the love you once had for this hobby. It’ll no longer be burst shooting with amazing autofocus, but instead with the limitations, you’ll find passion in your photos again, and create content with depth.