Second hand?
- This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated Jul 26, 2008 at 11:29 pm by
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I bought new but only because I actually timed something right for once in my life.
Having been through this on a limited budget about a year and a half ago, here are my thoughts for what it’s worth.
If I had a way to save up and could afford new, I would probably do that…realizing that the latest and greatest that I bought may be obsolete in the next year or two (doesn’t mean its not a great camera, just the technological advances are very rapid these days). You might be better served buying used, from a reputable source, and this may be a way to get into a nice DSLR that you otherwise couldn’t. Such was my case.
I kept putting off the switch from my film SLR until a) I could affford it and b) I felt like the camera technology in my price range was worth it. At the time, about 1 1/2 years ago, I decided to make the switch and my budget could only afford about $450 for a new body. I ended up getting a used Canon 10D from the origional owner off of ebay. It has been a great camera, and was extremely well taken care of…basicaly just like new. So, if you have good ebay skills at sizing up the seller and the item they are selling, and only buy from people with 100% ratings, you will probably be o.k. I have heard that you should not buy lenses on ebay because people try to get rid of soft copies there, so I wouldn’t buy a lense there.
Today, I love my 10D, but as I have progressed, I can appreciate the rapid advancements in digital technology that have come out over the last several years. My 10 D is now “obsolete” by 3 later models. I am really wanting to upgrade to the Canon 40D body that has the latest and greatest and is a big improvement, but don’t know that I can afford to anytime in the near future. But the bottom line is that even thought the 40D would make things “easier”, my 10D still takes great images….I may just have to work a little more and have a little less flexibilty (which is frustrating) but by the same token, that is just the facts at present.
You may want to find a good, affordable, DSLR that has a little older technolgy (3-4 years 🙁 ) and see if you enjoy it. That way you don’t break the bank and come to find out you don’t really use it that much. Just keep in mind that in a year or two, you may very well want to upgrade.
Simon, I can help you with this, but it’s a very long conversation..
SH is fine, just don’t get to old and make sure it’s been looked after.
New is also a good idea in that you get the latest and greatest.
Email me your budget and I’ll have a look around Sydney for what’s going, there might be a must have.
Lot’s of new stuff about to lob as well, so a wait might be worth it. 😉
PS, we have your coach.. 😀 and I got into a box for the game on Saturday !!
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
I’m looking at buying a lens now and I’m only looking at used lenses. There are good deals that pop up on craigslist, but I need to buy from a dealer so i can use the expense as a tax write off. If you’re buying a used lens, take your camera body and try it out first before buying. The lens could be soft or not function propertly and someone is just trying to unload it on some sucker. Buyer Beware is a great moto to live by.
http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.
http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox InstagramThank you for all the replies.
Food for thought. I see the grey lense market is a real pitfall.Simon, I can help you with this, but it’s a very long conversation..
SH is fine, just don’t get to old and make sure it’s been looked after.
New is also a good idea in that you get the latest and greatest.
Email me your budget and I’ll have a look around Sydney for what’s going, there might be a must have.
Lot’s of new stuff about to lob as well, so a wait might be worth it. 😉
PS, we have your coach.. 😀 and I got into a box for the game on Saturday !!
Thanks DA
NZ dollar is about to tank big time and the Aussie economy is running rampant! Parity with the US currency!? Who would have thought?
I’ll look at what pesos I have and be in touch. Perhaps we’ll have that conversation over a beer. 🙂You might have “Dingo” but his teambreaker protoge still plays number 10 😉
Simon having just gotten into a rather blown out of porportion arguemnt about some of is stuff, m reply is going to very short and thus lackin by way of explanation ad detail they deserve to give them context.
My philosphy.
Spend where you have to, save where you can.DSLRs and everything that goes with them (accessories) are stupidly expensive. Even if you go with entry level stuff across the board, by the time you add some spare cards, a spare battery, a tripod capable of holding the weight, bag etc…….Your in large. And you still have lenses you want
What you want to try to avoid are “upgrades” and replacements.
In other words, plan. Make a budget that not only covers the initial purchase but give thought to growth. Not so much growth in terms of additions, but growth in terms of where you might wan to be in 1 or 2 years including some additionsOne of the surest ways to incur upgrade costs is by buying stuff you outgrow too fast (bodies) or get frustrated with (typically lenses).
Simple example.
Buy an XTI and some accessories and then upgrade to a 40D too soon. Not only are you replacin the body, your buying new batteries (incompatible), new cable release (incompatible), possibly a new tripod to as the old one wont hold the weight of the bigger/heavier stuff etc.What would I do?
Id buy the best body I can to help ensure I didnt outgrow it too fast.
If that means a used one so be it.Bodies depreciate really fast, unlike lenses. As long as its been treated well you should be safe. Only thing to be leery of is shutter count…All DSLRs have a shutter life..Entry level bodies typically around 25,000 clicks…and so on up the line to Pro bodies with 200 to 300k clicks.
So used, yes…Old no.
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