used digital slr bodies

Steven Green <steven.green30.RemoveThis@verizon.net> wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I am shopping around for a digital SLR. I may wait till fall and see what
>the new models are, but I am considering picking up a used body to get me
>started ... eventually I want a camera in the Canon 5D category, but may
>consider something less to get started.
>
>I purchased camera gear from eBay in the past, I have some Contax lenses
>for my Aria and a Mamiya TLR that I have been happy with, but I am much
>more wary of purchasing a digital camera from eBay because I am more
>concerned about the condition of the digital sensor. It seems to me that
>the mechanical film cameras seemed more bulletproof.
>
>Any thoughts or experiences purchasing used digital bodies?
>Anything to look for?

I've rarely (as in, maybe once or twice) ever heard of a
sensor going bad as such. The problem is that a sensor
which was top of the line 5 years ago is generally
considered significantly less than stellar today. But
that of course greatly depends on what you do with the
camera.

The biggest distinction between buying a film SLR and a
digital SLR is that film camera technology has been
mature for decades (changes are small and incremental),
while digital technology as not yet actually matured
(and therefore the advances with each new model can be
very significant).

Don't buy a dSLR in the belief that it will hold its
value, because it won't. Decide which features will
produce results in your intended use, and go for those.

--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd.RemoveThis@apaflo.com
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

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 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

Steven Green <steven.green30 DeleteThis @verizon.net> wrote in
news:91Wtj.6630$kz3.2095@trndny03:

> Hi all,
>
> I am shopping around for a digital SLR. I may wait till fall and see
> what the new models are, but I am considering picking up a used body
> to get me started ... eventually I want a camera in the Canon 5D
> category, but may consider something less to get started.
>
> I purchased camera gear from eBay in the past, I have some Contax
> lenses for my Aria and a Mamiya TLR that I have been happy with, but I
> am much more wary of purchasing a digital camera from eBay because I
> am more concerned about the condition of the digital sensor. It seems
> to me that the mechanical film cameras seemed more bulletproof.
>
> Any thoughts or experiences purchasing used digital bodies?
> Anything to look for?
>
> Steve

Steve: If you're considering Canon, the 20D body is a near-steal on eBay
right now.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but DSLR bodies lose value rather
quickly when compared to good lenses or high quality tripods. If I were
looking for a "new" camera system, I would decide on the optics I needed
first - you use different lenses to photograph sports and architecture,
for example. That would help determine both budget and the brand name
of the bodies you want.

Then I would get on My eBay and start watching the prices of equipment I
wanted to buy. Within a week or two you can have a pretty clear idea of
the market and you'll know how to set your maximum bid. Do not make any
purchases between Thanksgiving and mid-January; there are too many scams
working at that time.

BTW, Since my Nikon D70 which I bought new, all of my camera bodies have
been from eBay, from individual sellers, and flawless.

Going forward, keep ALL the boxes, papers, manuals, accessories, etc.
for any camera purchase. It will make selling the gear much easier.

HTH, ~Ray
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

On Feb 17, 7:47 am, Steven Green <steven.gree....TakeThisOut@verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I am shopping around for a digital SLR. I may wait till fall and see what
> the new models are, but I am considering picking up a used body to get me
> started ... eventually I want a camera in the Canon 5D category, but may
> consider something less to get started.
>
> I purchased camera gear from eBay in the past, I have some Contax lenses
> for my Aria and a Mamiya TLR that I have been happy with, but I am much
> more wary of purchasing a digital camera from eBay because I am more
> concerned about the condition of the digital sensor. It seems to me that
> the mechanical film cameras seemed more bulletproof.
>
> Any thoughts or experiences purchasing used digital bodies?
> Anything to look for?
>
> Steve

I like this eBay store;

http://stores.ebay.com/ShutterbladeStore

Paul B.
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

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 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

Steven Green wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Any thoughts or experiences purchasing used digital bodies?
> Anything to look for?

Decide what your pixel threshold is (I would use printing at 300 dpi as
a reference; you might be satisfied with screen display at under 100
dpi). So if you want to print at least 8x12, then 2400 x 3600 pixels
would be a goal. (that's quite conservative as most any 6 Mpix DSLR can
produce _very_ good 8x12's provided reasonable taking technique).

With the recent 10/12 Mpix cameras flooding the market, there will be
lots of used 6 and 8 MPix cameras available. (Although many serious
amateurs will keep those as backups).

These used cameras will produce today images that are every bit as good
as they produced 2 - 4 years ago if provided with a decent lens.

As to e-bay, that's usually no problem if you check out the seller well
enough. OTOH, you can probably craigslist (or other more regional
lists) to find a match near you.

Cheers,
Alan

--
-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

"Rita Berkowitz" <ritaberk2008.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:13rgg90rombp82e@news.supernews.com...
> Steven Green wrote:
>
>> I am shopping around for a digital SLR. I may wait till fall and see
>> what the new models are, but I am considering picking up a used body
>> to get me started ... eventually I want a camera in the Canon 5D
>> category, but may consider something less to get started.
>
> I'm not sure of what level experience you have with dSLRs so I might
> wrongfully assume this is going to be your first purchase. If this is the
> case, it might be better for you to buy a cheaper new dSLR and get
> familiar
> with what functions you really need and want. You have great choices from
> both Nikon and Canon at the moment. If your heart is set on the 5D you
> would be better waiting till Canon announces the new replacement model,
> which will drop the value of the 5D to sub $1,000 prices. If you want
> Nikon
> you can get a D200 really cheaply now.
>
>> I purchased camera gear from eBay in the past, I have some Contax
>> lenses for my Aria and a Mamiya TLR that I have been happy with, but
>> I am much more wary of purchasing a digital camera from eBay because
>> I am more concerned about the condition of the digital sensor. It
>> seems to me that the mechanical film cameras seemed more bulletproof.
>
> Again, this falls under your experience level. You have to know what to
> look for and what questions to ask. As for eBay, the same thing goes.
> You
> have to know how to read between the lines and know how to find a trusted
> seller.
>
>> Any thoughts or experiences purchasing used digital bodies?
>
> Buy extremely low and sell high after 18-months of use. The goal is to
> make
> a few bucks or break even after you get your use out of the dSLR.
>
>> Anything to look for?
>
> Just good equipment at bargain prices.
>
>
>
>
>
> Rita
>

For some unbiased opinions:

http://www.retrevo.com/s/Digital+Camera?gclid=CPzK0rr2y5ECFSF4lgodlzvs2g

http://tinyurl.com/2tsws4

--
Peter
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

Even in old school terms that is some old gear. I have a closet full of now
aging high quality film gear that I do not use and can not part with.
You do not need a "full frame" sensor like the 5d.
Bigger is not necessarily better in the digital world and aesthetics trumps
minor differences in technology, most of which are visible only at greater
than 100% magnification on a computer monitor. Would that those who are so
obsessed with these things were as concerned with the aesthetic quality of
their images.
The people who write on this newsgroup that only large sensors would always
have the lowest noise values now have to dismiss the Nikon D300. Technology
continues to evolve but not dumb opinions and prejudices. In any event it is
hard to get too worked up about noise levels at high ISOs if you almost
never shoot above ISO 400 and rarely above 200, which is how most people use
their cameras.
You will be happy with any 6mp or larger sensor dSLR in terms of usable
image quality. However things technically improve as you move up the
generational ladder. Since you are going to have to invest in new lenses
that should be the determining factor with regard to brand choice. Other
considerations include things like in-camera image stabilization, remote
flash control, etc.
If you want quality images you have to learn to use the raw format which
means you have to learn a bit of image processing. If you want to only shoot
jpegs, as in the old Kodak "you press the shutter we do the rest" business
model, don't waste your money on a dSLR, stay with your film cameras. There
is nothing "wrong" with film although, sadly, it is disappearing almost as
rapidly as the Toshiba HDDV format.
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

Steven Green <steven.green30.TakeThisOut@verizon.net> wrote:

> Any thoughts or experiences purchasing used digital bodies?

Handle the body first, see if that model fits your hand and
eye.

Remember that just _one_ bad bargain is liable to set you back much
more than buying everything at a reputable local brick-and-motar
store compared to all bargain ...

-Wolfgang
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

["Followup-To:" header set to rec.photo.digital.slr-systems.]
Rita Berkowitz <ritaberk2008 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote:
> Floyd L. Davidson wrote:

>> Don't buy a dSLR in the belief that it will hold its
>> value, because it won't. Decide which features will
>> produce results in your intended use, and go for those.

> Proper initial purchasing rules out this myth. Use the 18-month rule to buy
> low and sell high after 18-months of use. It's totally foolish to lose
> money on a dSLR purchase.

Note to the readers who don't know Rita:
Rita believes in a "rule" which claims you have to sell your
digital camera after 18 months of ownership, or loose money.
After each sale, said 18 month timer restarts, or so Rita says.

For some reason, selling the camera to oneself doesn't count,
even though it is a sale.

Rita has, to my knowledge, never explained why A and B, both buying
identical cameras at the same time, are purportedly better off
if they swap said cameras every 18 months between them, if money
flows (forward and back, of course).

I may be rather challenged when it comes to intricate economics,
but I somehow fail to understand how all that swapping around
gives you anything but hassles or dishonesty (hiding faults in
your camera, getting a camera with hidden faults ...). Maybe it's
something spiritual.

-Wolfgang
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

Rita Berkowitz <ritaberk2008 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote:
> You have great choices from both Nikon and Canon at the moment.
^^^^^^^^^
Who are you and what have you done to Rita?

-Wolfgang
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:23:29 +0100, Wolfgang Weisselberg wrote:

> Steven Green <steven.green30.DeleteThis@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Any thoughts or experiences purchasing used digital bodies?
>
> Handle the body first, see if that model fits your hand and eye.
>
> Remember that just _one_ bad bargain is liable to set you back much more
> than buying everything at a reputable local brick-and-mortar store
> compared to all bargain ...
>
> -Wolfgang

I just took a field trip to the local "Best" buy today to get a feel for
the cameras. I will admit, up until holding the Sony, I was leaning
heavily toward it because I liked the Zeiss lenses I had for my Contax.
The a700 felt like a cheap plastic toy without a lens mounted on it.

I then held the Canon 5D, the camera I wanted like crazy back a year or
so ago. It felt a little better but I was hoping for something that felt
like the Contax, and a little more substantial. Then on the
recommendation of the sales clerk I held the Nikon D300. That felt the
best out of the bunch; It felt like a camera to me and it fit my hands
well.

This doesn't nearly put me in the Nikon camp because my family is largely
Canon and I hold out hope that we would be able to share lenses. I am
still planing on waiting til fall to see if there is a 5D II and what the
FF Sony feels like ... and well if they were to make a mid-level FF Nikon
that felt like the 300D, lets start a rumor shall we

I started this thread thinking maybe I would get a digital sooner than
this fall and get a nice wide angle lens for landscapes. My sister has a
Digital Rebel XT that I am borrowing. I don't really care for its feel
and it doesn't seem to be wearing well. I am inclined to save my pennies
till later in the year and see what is around then. I am less inclined to
grab a used Rebel and the 5D has not dropped enough for me to get it yet.

As for "Best" buy ... they still wanted $3200 for the 5D ... um I think I
saw it for less elsewhere ...

-Steve
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies 

In article <zfiuj.24124$s33.23541@trndny06>, Steven Green
<steven.green30.DeleteThis@verizon.net> wrote:

> This doesn't nearly put me in the Nikon camp because my family is largely
> Canon and I hold out hope that we would be able to share lenses. I am
> still planing on waiting til fall to see if there is a 5D II and what the
> FF Sony feels like ... and well if they were to make a mid-level FF Nikon
> that felt like the 300D, lets start a rumor shall we

that's a good reason to stay with canon. also, the 5d successor is due
out later this year.

> As for "Best" buy ... they still wanted $3200 for the 5D ... um I think I
> saw it for less elsewhere ...

$2100 at b&h
 >> Stay informed about: used digital slr bodies