Canon EOS XS refurbished kit with two lenses FS $302

I didn't get a email confirmation, and my order says "warehoused"

I just called them, very friendly, they said mine was picked up by Fedex already. Mundo fasto, bueno....

To check order status:

https://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp...ResultView

Now that I have time to second guess this purchase...just how good of a deal is this? Is it a deal where if I spend another 150.00 I can get a better and new camera?
The camera is a 4 year old design.Not really available new from a reputable dealer anymore, so these are probably returns...

It's probably OK, since a EOS with 18-55mm lens is worth 255ish, a NEW EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens is worth 165.00 on a certain auction place..

Quote from Geezerman : Now that I have time to second guess this purchase...just how good of a deal is this? Is it a deal where if I spend another 150.00 I can get a better and new camera? The camera is a 4 year old design.Not really available new from a reputable dealer anymore, so these are probably returns... camera with 18-55mm lens is worth 275ish A NEW EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens is worth 165.00 on a certain auction place..

I'm no photo gear expert, but my onion is this is a good deal if you're looking for a very low cost entry into DSLR, or a good deal if you're looking to flip one of the items to offset the cost of what you keep. If you're willing to spend a little more to get newer technology (camera), there have been some good deals for the T3 and T3i that you may want to consider instead.

Quote from Geezerman : Now that I have time to second guess this purchase...just how good of a deal is this? Is it a deal where if I spend another 150.00 I can get a better and new camera? The camera is a 4 year old design.Not really available new from a reputable dealer anymore, so these are probably returns... It's probably OK, since a EOS with 18-55mm lens is worth 255ish, a NEW EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens is worth 165.00 on a certain auction place..

It's the predecessor to the T3.

18-55 usually go for $100
55-250 usually go for $150
but these are both refurbished so resale can be harder

regardless you're getting the XS for $50, give or take. It's a great price of course.

Quote from Cruiser272 : Thanks OP!! ordered one Canon EOS XS refurbished kit with two lenses FS $302 [canon.com]

Just got the tracking number! Will arrive on the 11th, that was fast.

Quote from zosig : Same everything except the box. Refurb comes in Canon white box. There will also be a small puncture on serial numbers to indicate it's refurbished.

I did not know that. I wonder if they mark lenses any way.

Quote from jdramirez : I did not know that. I wonder if they mark lenses any way.

I take some of that back. On refurb bodies there should be a small puncture on the serial sticker on the bottom of the camera. On refurb lenses I think it's just a round "R" sticker, usually on the mount cap, easily removable. Lens serial is imprinted on the body so there is really no way to puncture a hole through that. Correct me if I'm wrong.

That new Amazon deal is pretty good too...
Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm IS II Lens and EOS HD Movie Mode (Black)
+ EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lens
+ Bag
+ 16GB SD card
+ UV filler = $424 Shipped, plus tax if appicable

Quote from Geezerman : That new Amazon deal is pretty good too... Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm IS II Lens and EOS HD Movie Mode (Black) + EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lens + Bag + 16GB SD card + UV filler = $424 Shipped, plus tax if appicable

The 75-300mm lens is terrible. Plus, this costs $100 more and the T3 isn't that much different from the XS.

If lacking a video mode is *not* a deal breaker, and you don't mind buying refurbished goods, then I personally would choose this deal.

Too bad it is dead. I have a preference for Nikon cameras, but I am looking for a good and affordable starter dSLR for my wife.

Quote from Geezerman : Now that I have time to second guess this purchase...just how good of a deal is this? Is it a deal where if I spend another 150.00 I can get a better and new camera? The camera is a 4 year old design.Not really available new from a reputable dealer anymore, so these are probably returns... It's probably OK, since a EOS with 18-55mm lens is worth 255ish, a NEW EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II lens is worth 165.00 on a certain auction place..

How good of a purchase is this?? You can easily pocket $150 if you were to sell the 55-250. Depending on sales tax in your state, that means you probably paid around $175 or less (even less if you used a cash back avenue) for the Rebel XS. Is it the newest hottest DSLR on the market? Not at all. But how many DSLR deals have you seen under $175?? Don't search too hard. You won't find them. In fact, how many DSLR deals with JUST THE KIT lens have you seen under $300? If you've seen any, I'm sure you can count them on one hand. This came with the kit lens, a popular zoom lens, a camera bag, and an SD card to boot. It's a fantastic deal.

Again, the body isn't cutting edge.....but you're not going to get cutting edge for $300. Can you spend more and get a better camera? Ummm....you can always spend more and get a better something. Of *course* you can get a better camera for $150 more. That was a pretty ridiculous question. If you spend 50% more, clearly you can get something better. That's like buying a $50,000 car and asking if you could have paid $75,000 and gotten something better. But at this price point, not only would I say there hasn't been a better deal -- I'd say there won't be a better deal. You just don't see anyone sell DSLRs much cheaper than this -- definitely not with everything that is bundled here.

As far as the bodies being 4 years old, that is fairly unimportant. If you're looking at this deal, you're in the market to enter the world of DSLR photography. The age of the camera will be pretty meaningless for you for the next couple of years most likely. You probably wouldn't know much about / use many of the step-up features of the more expensive cameras anyway. Most people buy a camera body and stick with that body for years and years anyway. The lenses are where you're going to invest most of your money as you get more and more into photography. The more expensive cameras don't necessarily take better pictures. Ok, obviously a $2,000 camera is capable of things that a $300 camera isn't. But for the most part, as you get a more expensive camera, you're paying for the ability to adjust minute details - or for a wider range of ability to adjust those details. It'll take you some time taking pictures to even discover what all of those things are and at least a year or two before you'll really need that super-high ISO or the ability to customize white balance and save a bunch of presets. Unless you're much more serious about photography than I understand from your post, I'm thinking this camera is perfect for you. It'll give you a quality camera to practice and learn on without having to invest so much that you feel guilty if you drop it like a bad habit,

By the way, you said "an EOS with 18-55 is worth 255-ish". EOS refers to the camera system of the entire line of Canon SLR cameras since 1987. You'll see EOS before the model name/number of any Canon film SLR or DSLR basically (made after 1987). For example, there is the Canon EOS T3, Canon EOS T1i, Canon EOS T2i, Canon EOS t3i, etc. This camera is the Canon EOS Rebel XS. Rebel XS is the name of this camera.

Quote from PappySlappy : Too bad it is dead. I have a preference for Nikon cameras, but I am looking for a good and affordable starter dSLR for my wife.

Don't give up. I talked to someone at Canon today and this promo code is good for a few more days and it's likely to come back in stock at some point. It came back in stock briefly late this afternoon/early evening.

Thanks Parachute07, hope you are right.

Quote from Parachute07 : How good of a purchase is this?? You can easily pocket $150 if you were to sell the 55-250. Depending on sales tax in your state, that means you probably paid around $175 or less (even less if you used a cash back avenue) for the Rebel XS. Is it the newest hottest DSLR on the market? Not at all. But how many DSLR deals have you seen under $175?? Don't search too hard. You won't find them. In fact, how many DSLR deals with JUST THE KIT lens have you seen under $300? If you've seen any, I'm sure you can count them on one hand. This came with the kit lens, a popular zoom lens, a camera bag, and an SD card to boot. It's a fantastic deal. Again, the body isn't cutting edge.....but you're not going to get cutting edge for $300. Can you spend more and get a better camera? Ummm....you can always spend more and get a better something. Of *course* you can get a better camera for $150 more. That was a pretty ridiculous question. If you spend 50% more, clearly you can get something better. That's like buying a $50,000 car and asking if you could have paid $75,000 and gotten something better. But at this price point, not only would I say there hasn't been a better deal -- I'd say there won't be a better deal. You just don't see anyone sell DSLRs much cheaper than this -- definitely not with everything that is bundled here. As far as the bodies being 4 years old, that is fairly unimportant. If you're looking at this deal, you're in the market to enter the world of DSLR photography. The age of the camera will be pretty meaningless for you for the next couple of years most likely. You probably wouldn't know much about / use many of the step-up features of the more expensive cameras anyway. Most people buy a camera body and stick with that body for years and years anyway. The lenses are where you're going to invest most of your money as you get more and more into photography. The more expensive cameras don't necessarily take better pictures. Ok, obviously a $2,000 camera is capable of things that a $300 camera isn't. But for the most part, as you get a more expensive camera, you're paying for the ability to adjust minute details - or for a wider range of ability to adjust those details. It'll take you some time taking pictures to even discover what all of those things are and at least a year or two before you'll really need that super-high ISO or the ability to customize white balance and save a bunch of presets. Unless you're much more serious about photography than I understand from your post, I'm thinking this camera is perfect for you. It'll give you a quality camera to practice and learn on without having to invest so much that you feel guilty if you drop it like a bad habit, By the way, you said "an EOS with 18-55 is worth 255-ish". EOS refers to the camera system of the entire line of Canon SLR cameras since 1987. You'll see EOS before the model name/number of any Canon film SLR or DSLR basically (made after 1987). For example, there is the Canon EOS T3, Canon EOS T1i, Canon EOS T2i, Canon EOS t3i, etc. This camera is the Canon EOS Rebel XS. Rebel XS is the name of this camera. Don't give up. I talked to someone at Canon today and this promo code is good for a few more days and it's likely to come back in stock at some point. It came back in stock briefly late this afternoon/early evening.

A bit dickish with the "ridiculous question" comment. Paying another 150.00 for a better camera is within the means of many of us here, where as paying 50% more for a car is quite a different thing for most of us. You don't say to guy who wants to spend .50 on a candy bar he's crazy to spend 1.00 on a candy bar, why that's 100% more!, but who would care about spending 100% more when dealing with a candy bar? Rather or not spending 50% more matters depends on one's income. Homeless guy spending 50% more on lunch could be a very big deal. This camera package is a good deal at 326.90 shipped, and I like a good deal, but to me, no big thing to spend 150.00 more if that package is a greater deal

that was a cut and paste error with the "an EOS with 18-55 is worth 255-ish" I know it's a Rebel XS