All these upgrades...
Discussion
is anyone wanting to get rid of their old dSLR which they've upgraded from?
I'm desperate to get one but having gone through my finances last night the plan of buying an entry level dSLR as I graduate isn't on the cards anymore. I need something cheaper so second hand (but don't want to use ebay - I want to know the camera has been looked after).
Any offers/ideas?
I'm desperate to get one but having gone through my finances last night the plan of buying an entry level dSLR as I graduate isn't on the cards anymore. I need something cheaper so second hand (but don't want to use ebay - I want to know the camera has been looked after).
Any offers/ideas?
BrianThePirate said:
Id give you mine if I had one.
What is it with the proliferation of these incredibly useful and informative posts lately? My 2 cents worth is not to disregard eBay - provided the item description is clear and the seller has a high feedback rating (>98%), then it's very unlikely there'll be a problem.
I've used eBay for both new and used equipment now in excess of over 60 times (sometimes for items worth into four figures!), and not once have I had a problem with an inaccurate description or with not receiving the product.
Just be savvy about what you buy and who you buy from and eBay becomes a great place. Seriously.
beano500 said:I'd reckon on nothing more than £300 at the absolute very top end for everything (lens, cards etc). In reality the cheaper the better as I can't afford much at the moment (bloody loans and lying people, they aren't interest free at all!
Depends upon your budget
) I already use Compact Flash and have two 256mb cards so logic would say to get a camera with that. Personally I think I'm kidding myself at the moment unfortunately, failing getting a dSLR, which camera would provide a much better platform than the A70 I currently have?
What I'm really looking for in a camera is a good zoom, high quality pictures & a view finder that matches the lens...
-DeaDLocK- said:There have been a few things I've wanted from ebay and people have "cheated" in purchasing with sniping software and the like.
Just be savvy about what you buy and who you buy from and eBay becomes a great place. Seriously.
I only ever pay an amount I'm willing to loose should it go pear shaped and I aint willing to loose £2-300.
docevi1 said:At that budget I'm afraid I agree.
Personally I think I'm kidding myself at the moment unfortunately
If I were you I'd go down the film 35mm SLR route with a preferred camera manufacturer of your choice, and in the mean time save up and when you do get the chance to upgrade you'll have a couple of lenses in your arsenal that will bolt straight on to the digital body.
Or if you're set on digital, wait it out till you can afford it.
Nothing will fill the place of an SLR if that is what you really want, so buying a good compact as an interim solution is a false economy. Stick with what you have till you can afford something you'll like.
-DeaDLocK- said:I would not take pictures with a 35mm slr. I used to have old film cameras and the cost of processing put me off taking pictures altogether (I only started enjoying snapping things when I got my old Fuji A202 and then upgraded to the Canon A70).
Or if you're set on digital, wait it out till you can afford it.
Nothing will fill the place of an SLR if that is what you really want, so buying a good compact as an interim solution is a false economy. Stick with what you have till you can afford something you'll like.
Sigh, >4 years of waiting for me ahead then. Wonder whats available then
buy now pay later
buy now pay later
buy now pay later
my maxim for life! Hasn't hurt me one bit! DO IT!
Just kidding - I know some people are really against using credit but in this situation if it were me, I'd feel like I was holding myself back for the matter of a few quid a month.
buy now pay later
buy now pay later
my maxim for life! Hasn't hurt me one bit! DO IT!
Just kidding - I know some people are really against using credit but in this situation if it were me, I'd feel like I was holding myself back for the matter of a few quid a month.
This probably isn't much help, but whenever I'm in a situation of wanting something, I find a way to get it. I fancied a Playstation2 about 3months ago, so I did a bit of extra work, got a nice commission fee from a company and bingo... PS2 in the bedroom now.
If you've got a job, what about doing an extra few hours a week? It's the sod of life, if you want something, you've got to work for it
Your budget of £300 is not at all far off a 300D, which is a great camera.
Personally, I'd prefer to wait (as I did with the D70, see posts in the summer of last year as I was wanting one, but couldn't afford it) and get a camera with warranty.
In the mean time, the A70 is a BLOODY good camera. I had a play with one but didn't buy as it was too big to fit in my pocket and take to clubs.
The old saying is true... its not the camera, its the photographer.
If you've got a job, what about doing an extra few hours a week? It's the sod of life, if you want something, you've got to work for it
Your budget of £300 is not at all far off a 300D, which is a great camera.
Personally, I'd prefer to wait (as I did with the D70, see posts in the summer of last year as I was wanting one, but couldn't afford it) and get a camera with warranty.
In the mean time, the A70 is a BLOODY good camera. I had a play with one but didn't buy as it was too big to fit in my pocket and take to clubs.
The old saying is true... its not the camera, its the photographer.
unfortunately I've just left my place of employment as they wouldn't let me take any extra hours on top of the 4 I had contracted. Hence for the next 2 months I have no income at all (apart from Student loan which I'm trying hard not to spend) and then I'll be searching for a suitable job.
While as I tend to agree with you - it's the photographer not the camera, there comes a point when the camera simply can't do what I'm wanting of it, similiary when the camera isn't seeing what I'm seeing... Still, it's great for taking pictures and learning composition, even if the result isn't what I expected.
As for buy now, pay later. I'm in a fair bit of debt already with this loan and the fact I've been running a car the past 18months. I have savings and I could if I wanted go and buy a Canon 2DS or what ever the latest model is, but I'm sitting worrying about finances too much to allow myself that pleasure.
As with everytime I ask this question, I think I'm going to have to wait a while, at least until I get a job before commiting myself to a purchase. Fingers crossed I might have a nice Christmas present!
While as I tend to agree with you - it's the photographer not the camera, there comes a point when the camera simply can't do what I'm wanting of it, similiary when the camera isn't seeing what I'm seeing... Still, it's great for taking pictures and learning composition, even if the result isn't what I expected.
As for buy now, pay later. I'm in a fair bit of debt already with this loan and the fact I've been running a car the past 18months. I have savings and I could if I wanted go and buy a Canon 2DS or what ever the latest model is, but I'm sitting worrying about finances too much to allow myself that pleasure.
As with everytime I ask this question, I think I'm going to have to wait a while, at least until I get a job before commiting myself to a purchase. Fingers crossed I might have a nice Christmas present!
Have you considered a Canon D30? Looks like they go for £170ish on ebay, leaving (just) enough for a starter lens. It may only be 3mp, but the images are easily better than any compact/prosumer, and great up to A4 size. Along with the 1D Mk1 I sold to gravymaster, it's a camera look back on with much fondness.
If you want to take a slightly different tack...
Still a DSL but what about the Olympus E10?
The build quality is far better than many of the ProSuma cameras out there.
I've looked at the latest generation Nikon, Canon and Pentax and the main thing that's put me off is the feel of the camera itself. With Plastic bodies they just don't feel right. <-- I expect a flaming for that statement!
However, back on track. A good E10 can be bought on eBay with lenses and all the kit you're talking about for around your budget, as the E10 uses CF and Smart Media cards upgrading to larger cards is relatively inexpensive these days.
The dedicated Olympus lenses are well priced now as people upgrade to the E1 system, but you can cash in on that.
I have an E10 with Wide angle, 2 x teleconverter and 300mm lens, all of exceptional quality. I have been using my set-up for a couple of years now, producing many shots for publication.
I hope this gets you thinking.
Tim
Edited to add this review link: www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse10/
>> Edited by TT Tim on Monday 4th April 10:28
Still a DSL but what about the Olympus E10?
The build quality is far better than many of the ProSuma cameras out there.
I've looked at the latest generation Nikon, Canon and Pentax and the main thing that's put me off is the feel of the camera itself. With Plastic bodies they just don't feel right. <-- I expect a flaming for that statement!
However, back on track. A good E10 can be bought on eBay with lenses and all the kit you're talking about for around your budget, as the E10 uses CF and Smart Media cards upgrading to larger cards is relatively inexpensive these days.
The dedicated Olympus lenses are well priced now as people upgrade to the E1 system, but you can cash in on that.
I have an E10 with Wide angle, 2 x teleconverter and 300mm lens, all of exceptional quality. I have been using my set-up for a couple of years now, producing many shots for publication.
I hope this gets you thinking.
Tim
Edited to add this review link: www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse10/
>> Edited by TT Tim on Monday 4th April 10:28
TT Tim said:
The dedicated Olympus lenses are well priced now as people upgrade to the E1 system, but you can cash in on that.
review said:
Olympus also make some very valid points for fitting out the E-10 with a non-removable lens.
An SLR without the single most important feature of one?
simpo two said:
The dedicated Olympus lenses are well priced now as people upgrade to the E1 system, but you can cash in on that.
review said:
Olympus also make some very valid points for fitting out the E-10 with a non-removable lens.
An SLR without the single most important feature of one?
I must disagree, as you are well aware a lot of dSLRs suffered from dust on the CCD, this can be exasipated by removable lenses allowing dust into the body. The New E1 system overcomes this by vibrating the CCD to ensure that the CCD is kept clean.
So, please define what consitutes an SLR? My understanding is that it's Single lens reflex, i.e. the path of light for both viewfinder and light sensitive material is the same, using either a mirror or prism to achieve this.
I have found no problem with the variety of lenses that I have for the E10.
It's horses for courses, on a limited budget, the E10 offers all the pros of dSLR, other than the use of 3rd party lenses, at a fraction of the cost of a new dSLR. So, a useful reply/suggestion to the inital post?
Tim
There were flare-ups on the photography newsgroups (probably the oldest online photography forum in existence) recently about a topic restructuring and people were getting up in arms over definitions of what is and isn't an SLR.
It seems the mix of pedants, trolls and just plain unreasonable people contributed to the nightmare. But eventually, a compromise was reached, and they arrived at camera type definitions that were accepted by all.
You are right in that an SLR is by definition any camera where the image in the viewfinder comes through the lens. This removes the need for a conventional second viewfinder lens, hence it is called a single lens reflex.
But over time what the label "SLR" has come to represent is something entirely different - it is still a camera with a single lens and a mirror, but it is also a camera that offers a high degree of accessible manual control and, perhaps most crucially, interchangeable lenses to further exploit the creative goals. An SLR has come to mean a camera that will allow you to take whatever picture you can imagine in your head and to allow any creative idea to materialise - the ability to stick a 600mm prime on or a 12mm fish-eye as you wish has always been integral to this I think.
A body with SLR-like features (including the single lens reflex mechanism) but with a fixed lens has come to be known as a ZLR (zoom lens reflex). It may by defintion be an SLR, but it would be incorrect it group it in the same category as the 98% of other cameras out there that are branded SLRs.
I'm sure it's a great camera, and this isn't an elitist argument about camera "hirearchy" - this is just a means of distinction. I think it is important to differentiate between SLRs that have interchangeable lenses and those which do not, because quite frankly interchangeable lenses allow for a lot more flexibility.
There are drawbacks as you pointed out of course, and there are benefits to using a fixed-lens body, but I think if you do so you lose out on the ultimate creative control of a typical "SLR".
:_
It seems the mix of pedants, trolls and just plain unreasonable people contributed to the nightmare. But eventually, a compromise was reached, and they arrived at camera type definitions that were accepted by all.
You are right in that an SLR is by definition any camera where the image in the viewfinder comes through the lens. This removes the need for a conventional second viewfinder lens, hence it is called a single lens reflex.
But over time what the label "SLR" has come to represent is something entirely different - it is still a camera with a single lens and a mirror, but it is also a camera that offers a high degree of accessible manual control and, perhaps most crucially, interchangeable lenses to further exploit the creative goals. An SLR has come to mean a camera that will allow you to take whatever picture you can imagine in your head and to allow any creative idea to materialise - the ability to stick a 600mm prime on or a 12mm fish-eye as you wish has always been integral to this I think.
A body with SLR-like features (including the single lens reflex mechanism) but with a fixed lens has come to be known as a ZLR (zoom lens reflex). It may by defintion be an SLR, but it would be incorrect it group it in the same category as the 98% of other cameras out there that are branded SLRs.
I'm sure it's a great camera, and this isn't an elitist argument about camera "hirearchy" - this is just a means of distinction. I think it is important to differentiate between SLRs that have interchangeable lenses and those which do not, because quite frankly interchangeable lenses allow for a lot more flexibility.
There are drawbacks as you pointed out of course, and there are benefits to using a fixed-lens body, but I think if you do so you lose out on the ultimate creative control of a typical "SLR".
:_
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