Looking for a Used DSLR

I know there's a similar thread in this forum, but that poster had his choices narrowed down pretty well, and I am quite the opposite. I also didn't want to hijack his post.

Just looking for a decent DSLR for cheap that can handle most things, but nothing too specialized.

Price Range: $300 to $750.
Uses: Landscape/Everyday Object Photography (Hobby mainly)
Lens Type: Standard 50mm/Wide angle zoom, stock lens should be fine for now
Size: Doesn't matter
Preferred Brands: Nikon, Canon, Fuji (I don't care much about this, if it's quality and a deal I'll go for anything)

I'll be going to Italy in March and have been thinking about buying an SLR so I can take some nicer pictures with it than what i can do with my two current cameras. At the moment I have in my possession a FujiFilm S5100 w/ 10x optical zoom, and a FujiFilm S602Zoom w/ 6x Optical Zoom. I inherited the S602 and the S5100 is my primary camera right now. It outputs decent pictures on top settings but I'm looking for better quality and more manual customizability for different shots. We these cameras I feel like I just have a big tourist camera with more zoom, nothing much better than a little silver cheapo one everyone has, only about 3 times the size and with 5 times the zoom power. If i go through with this and get a DSLR I'll sell these.

So far this is has caught my eye, mainly price wise. I ahven't done a lot of searching for used cameras.

http://www.nextag.com/SONY-Alpha-DSLRA100-10-507173918/prices-html

Also, where can i got good quality used DSLRs and trust they won't be mistreated? Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions as to what to buy or where to buy it?

Thanks in advance.

What you could do is join a major photography forum like fredmiranda or dgrin and have a look at their Sell/Trade/Buy forums. There are totally awesome deals in there sometimes.


Edited to add:

Read as many reviews as you can. A few great places for cameras and/or lens reviews:

Bob Atkins

Digital Camera Resource Page

Digital Camera Review

FredMiranda Reviews

Let's Go Digital

Luminous Landscape

Camera that were once studio cameras look nice but they can have a lot of actuations.
My opinion is to try eBay. Just don't buy one sold As-Is and pay with PayPal and you will be ok.
A new Nikon D40 will run about $450 on eBay. I would think the Nikon D40, Nikon D40x, or Canon Rebel XT or Rebel XTi will work. All should be in your price range new with a kit lens.
Each will perform about the same. They're nice entry level cameras.
I prefer Nikon but I am a little wary of the Nikon D40 and D40x because they don't have the autofocus motor in the body. This means you can only use AF-S lenses to use the autofocus feature. Most older lenses are AF-D or AF-G. But the nice thing about Nikon is they haven't changed their lens mount ever so you could toss on an old 50mm 1.2 AI-S lens and it'd work just fine.
I used to shoot a lot with a D2X and the old 8mm fisheye.
Anyways, my opinion, if the D40(x) had a built-in focus motor, I'd say get that. Since it doesn't, either the D40(x) or XT(i) will work just fine.

Alright, thanks o much guys. I will read up on everything and get a little more acquainted with the cameras and features themselves before I make a decision.

I'm very surprised a new Nikon could be that cheap.

BTW I think the photography forums' Sell/Trade/Buy forums I linked you to can only be viewed or seen if you register there, (unless they changed it very recently).

MacHeadCase said:

Digital Camera Review

Click to expand...

That's my favorite camera review site.

look into a used Nikon D80
you might end up paying a bit more, but the kit lens(if it comes with the 17-70) is better than any other kit lens out there, and its overall a really nice camera
also look for a Canon 30d. with the 40d coming out, the 30d is pretty cheap.
If those are both a little out of your price range, look for a used(discontinued) nikon D70/70s. Cheap, good kit lens(again, assuming its the 17-70) well preforming.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-D70-Tamro...ryZ43456QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
great deal! good condition and the tamron lens is great!
if you dont want to buy off ebay or the internet, just go to some of the photography shops where you live
its better to go there rather than a pawn shop because there will be a better selection and they will know the history of the camera.

Mike, I have a camera for sale on e-bay, link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260199217410&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=016

It is a Canon XTi kit with lens, camera, cables, cd's, etc. The camera is in great shape as I only took about 200 pictures with it. I am selling it because I could use the money and I use my 30D for all my picture taking duties. Let me know if you are interested.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jeff

If you want to explore Canon, Phil Greenspun does a good job of summarizing HERE.

From my experience with several Canon DSLR's (XT, 5D, 40D), my recommendation for your budget/needs would be (all new):

Canon Rebel XT $400
Canon 50mm f/1.8 $70
Canon 18-55 IS $183

The Rebel is slightly dated, but it is still a very capable camera, and one that I started with when I moved to digital photography full-time 2 years ago. It's still sold by Canon because it is still very competitive. My daughter uses it now, but I occasionally borrow it when I want something compact and light. The difference in image quality between the XT and the newer XTi is negligible.

The 50mm is a bargain at $70. The image quality will give pro lenses a run for the money. Note that on a "cropped" camera (most DSLRs), the 50mm becomes an 80mm. At that range, and shot wide open, it makes for an outstanding portrait lens. Just don't expect to be able to use it in tight quarters.

The 18-55 IS is the latest "kit lens" from Canon, and incorporates their ground-breaking image stabilization technology. Don't confuse it with the cheaper non-IS version, which isn't as good from an image quality standpoint. Like most consumer zooms, it is a slow lens (f/3.5~5.6 wide open), so you'll need to use higher ISO or a flash in low-light.

I would then save up for the 10-22 wide-angle zoom lens to literally expand your landscape picture-taking horizons.

www.photography-on-the.net is a Canon forum that has a HUGE user base. Over 100k registered people there. You can usually find some good deals there. A used 30D can be had for in your price range.

It really depends on what you want though. If you're serious about getting into photography, something used and a step up from the entry level cameras might be a better deal for you. Nikon D50, D70, Canon 10D, 20D, 30D, etc....

Although I'm basically a Nikon guy, you seem to be open to other brands so after you do some research, you might want to also consider doing a refined search on Craigslist, specifically in your area (like... Nikon D40X, Craigslist, Boston). Many times you will find that some folks buy a DSLR only to find it is way too much camera for them and they will negotiate a very fair price. These cameras could be weeks or months old, and they could have accessories included. Plus, if you do a local search, chances are that the seller will have you come over to handle and shoot with the camera, and perhaps print out a few trial shots. Here's a few examples:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/529576381.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/pho/525230061.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/ele/528944843.html

http://tallahassee.craigslist.org/pho/505008073.html

The Nikon D40/D40X is a nice small package as is the Olympus E410. That might be a consideration for your specific use.

Alright, so here's an update. I've found some great prices on both the XT and the XTi. The XT I can get for $200 new (body only) and the XTi $259 also body only. I've read reviews for both and a few comparing both. It seems the only major differences between the XTi and the XT are the screen size and the megapixels in favor of the XTi and the battery life and sometimes picture quality for the XT. What would you guys recommend?

I would love a bigger LCD, but is it really worth sacrificing some shoot time? I've heard mixed reviews on the picture quality between the two, can anyone confirm?

I'm pretty sold on the 18-55 IS kit lens and probably the 50mm f/1.8, but I'm still looking at all my possibilities.

Thanks again for your help.

For a difference of $60, I would go with the XTi. I went from a 2" (XT) to a 2.5" (5D) and a 3" (40D), and am now a firm believer that bigger is better when it comes to LCD screen size. The XTi also has a built-in sensor cleaner, which alone is worth the difference in cost.

You can compare the image quality difference yourself here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/page24.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/page28.asp

As for battery life, just get some spare batteries. They are dirt cheap. I always carry 2:
http://sterlingtek.com/digital-camera-batteries-canon-digital-camera-batteries.html

Lens-wise, I think you'd have to increase your budget to do better than with the two lenses that you've selected.

mikepugs said:

Alright, so here's an update. I've found some great prices on both the XT and the XTi. The XT I can get for $200 new (body only) and the XTi $259 also body only. I've read reviews for both and a few comparing both. It seems the only major differences between the XTi and the XT are the screen size and the megapixels in favor of the XTi and the battery life and sometimes picture quality for the XT. What would you guys recommend?

I would love a bigger LCD, but is it really worth sacrificing some shoot time? I've heard mixed reviews on the picture quality between the two, can anyone confirm?

I'm pretty sold on the 18-55 IS kit lens and probably the 50mm f/1.8, but I'm still looking at all my possibilities.

Thanks again for your help.

Click to expand...

Where did you find those prices? Those sound like scams.

www.resellerratings.com

check before you buy. If you find prices much lower than B&H, Amazon, or Adorama, then they're probably not legit.

Good advice Village. I had presumed the the OP was buying used. Those prices, if new, sound much too good to be true.

Yep, totally feel like an idiot.

I was thinking of buying the XT from one of the sites on here:
http://www.shopcartusa.com/P_Canon_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XT_-_Body_Only_(Black)_0209B001/

Thanks to you guys and a little researching, not a single one of those "trusted merchants" is reputable at all. Never even considering "Shopcart USA" ever again.

I looked through some buy sell forums and found a good XT deal, so I'm looking into that. 350 for a used XT with battery grip and two Ion batteries, no lenses.

That or B&H has some nice new ones for $460 with a basic kit lens, or amazon at 400 body only. I'm going to take some more time and think this over some more.

Thanks so much again guys, you saved me a lot of aggravation and disappointment.

mikepugs said:

Yep, totally feel like an idiot.

I was thinking of buying the XT from one of the sites on here:
http://www.shopcartusa.com/P_Canon_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XT_-_Body_Only_(Black)_0209B001/

Thanks to you guys and a little researching, not a single one of those "trusted merchants" is reputable at all. Never even considering "Shopcart USA" ever again.

I looked through some buy sell forums and found a good XT deal, so I'm looking into that. 350 for a used XT with battery grip and two Ion batteries, no lenses.

That or B&H has some nice new ones for $460 with a basic kit lens, or amazon at 400 body only. I'm going to take some more time and think this over some more.

Thanks so much again guys, you saved me a lot of aggravation and disappointment.

Click to expand...

Don't feel bad. If you search for "buy dslr" or something similar on yahoo, the sponsored link up top is often for a place like camera express, which is a scam site. Apparently Yahoo is okay with this as long as they get paid...

also check out www.kenrockwell.com