Get a Quality DSLR and Two Lenses for $650

Yes, you can get a quality, name brand DSLR with two lenses for $650 at Canon USA. I found this particular kit today (August 21, 2026) at the Canon USA web site. You get a quality camera body, an 18-55mm normal focal length zoom lens and a 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens. The link to this deal is here.

These are refurbished items directly from Canon USA and they come with a one year warranty, the same as you get when buying a new Canon camera or lens.

I get emails on a regular basis that read something like this: “My son/daughter signed up for a photography class this coming semester and he/she needs a camera body and lens. My budget is only $500 – $700 and I have been looking at prices. I can’t find a camera and lens that I can afford. Can you help me?”

And it is not just parents (or grandparents) shopping for a teenager or college student. I hear from adults who get bitten by the photo bug and they want to step up from their smart phone or point-and-shoot camera, but they don’t want to break the bank to do it.

I usually respond by saying, “Go to Canon USA and look at refurbished cameras and lenses” and I send them a link or two. The good news is there is almost always a camera and one lens combo you can get in the $400 to $600 range, or a camera and two lens combo in the $500 to $700 range.

A “refurbished” camera or lens is an item that has been returned to Canon for any reason. Sometimes someone just changed their mind and returned a new item that works just fine. It can no longer be sold as a “new” item so it is sent back to Canon. Whatever the reason for the return, the Canon factory techs check out the item and makes sure it meets all the specs of a brand new item, and then it is sold as a “refurb”.

Most camera dealers sell used gear with a 3 month warranty. The great news about Canon refurbs, if you buy directly from Canon USA, is you get a full year warranty, the same as brand new Canon gear.

Caution: There are camera dealers out there that sell “refurbished” Canon gear, but that does not mean the items were checked over by Canon’s tech department, and they do not come with a full one year Canon warranty. Be careful out there.

The nice thing about the camera and lenses combo in the graphic above is you get two lenses that cover a very nice focal length range. One lens is a wide angle to short telephoto range (18-55mm) that makes a great all around lens. The other lens has a nice telephoto range (75-300mm) that lets you capture more distant subjects like sporting events and wildlife. This two lens combination will serve any photographer well. If a photographer decides they want to pursue super wide angle photography, they can always get a super wide angle lens later, giving them a nice, three lens kit.

You can also get a camera with one lens kit now (screen capture above) for $530. The link is here.

When you are ready you can always add a telephoto lens later.

I found this refurbished 75-300mm lens today for $192. The link to buy it is here.

There is one catch. Refurbished items come and go quickly. The camera and lens combo that is in stock today might be out of stock tomorrow, so if you want it and it is in stock now, order it today. It might be out of stock again tomorrow. If the combo you want isn’t in stock today, check back every day until it is available and then grab it while you can. The prices on refurbs can fluctuate too, sometimes by a lot.

These are obviously not Canon’s high dollar, “top of the line” models, but they are good quality cameras and lenses. They are capable of creating excellent images. (See the first set of links below.) I have had a lot of photos published that were created with my inexpensive, refurbished, go anywhere camera gear.

Teaching photography since 1995 has taught me a lot of things, and one of them is that poor image quality is almost always the result of poor photographic technique, and not from having less expensive equipment. Photographers should worry more about developing their skills and fuss a lot less about getting more expensive equipment.

Almost all professional photographers start out using less expensive equipment. Like them, you can always upgrade later if you want to.

The first set of four links will show you what inexpensive refurbished gear can do. The second set of links takes you to refurbished gear you can buy at Canon USA.

What about used gear that is not a Canon refurb?

If you want to buy used camera gear that is not a Canon refurb, there are three online dealers I trust that sell quality used gear. I have dealt with all three of them. They are B&H Photo and Adorama, both in New York City. And KEH in Atlanta Georgia. As for other dealers, Be careful out there! There are some terrible camera dealers out there and people have purchased used gear that did not work and they could not get all of their money back. Stick to known, trustworthy dealers like the three I listed. See the favorite stores link below for more information.

Published August 21, 2026.

Links

Can a $239 Lens Do the Job of a $2159 Lens

Pushing the Limits: $239 lens vs $2159 lens

My Inexpensive, Featherweight “Toy” Camera Kit

Recent Photos Created with My toy Camera Kit

More Links

Canon refurbished DSLR cameras – some include lenses

Canon refurbished mirrorless cameras – some include lenses

Canon refurbished lenses – click this link, then click “lenses” on the left side of the page.

Stores You Can Trust

My Favorite Online Camera Stores