Oh, goodie another what camera thread

[Dragon Rider]

Well, its time to share the load (Ben has been very helpful in PMs on the pnwriders board), and with his input I have figured that I am looking at a system, not just an individual camera.

Background: I had a lot of fun with black and white in the 70s, yes I'm that old, deal with it. (in fact my buddy and I snuck our cameras in the star wars movie a few times, yes the original theatrical release, and he shot color, I shot B/W) he sent his color to a lab and said, I may have pushed it 8 stops, see what you can do. They sent it back with a note saying never do this again.

I just pushed and developed the b/w (b/w was all I could afford to shoot) and had the only 8 x 10 of X-wings and storm troopers in my high school. (took lots of hours in the darkroom to get the stuff to look decent)

I am looking for something more that point and shoot, so I'm thinking DSLR. I remember the fun I had composing shots and playing with the development, now I am not trying to recapture the past (I am old enough to know that futile) but I am looking to revisit a hobby that was once a lot of fun.


My budget is roughly 600-1,200 for a body and one or more lenses. Being a founding member of the CBA (cheap Ba#$erds of America) I would love something in the $600 range but I am focused on value, so if a $1,000 camera is 3x better than the $500 one, I'll spring for the bucks, but if a $500 system gets me 80% of the $1,000 system, I can't justify the extra $$.

I have read reviews and info till my head spins, (having decided on then rejected the olympus 510, nikon d40, pentax k200) and the result is I am leaning towards Nikon d80 or canon, either sale priced 30d or wait a month or so till the price drops (hopefully) on the Xsi.

I just read the new consumer reports, and their top camera is the Nikon d300 (nice picking Ben). But I can't spent 1,800. (I decided not to sell the transalp --- hello riders ----- and get a KTM 950) so I have some spare cash. (but washer just died, and the wife wants to remodel the guest bathroom) but not a lot a spare cash.

Mostly I would shoot macro (not just because it's trendy), action, and landscape.

so any info, input, comments, or cheap shots welcomed.

TIA

Mark

[Dragon Rider]

I'm now looking hard at costco's deal on the Nikon D60, with 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR for $875.

suggestions welcome,

with costco, I have 90 days to decide if I am 'fully satisified' and if not, I can return it for a 100% refund.

(kinda hard to go wrong on that)

Also looking at the used prices at prophoto
Ben likes them, so that is good enough for me, but used is always as is, no warrany

Pro Photo Supply - Used Photography Equipment, Used Cameras, and Used Lenses in Portland OR

[beansbaxter]

Those Costco Nikon package deals are awesome!

[xqsme]

Hey, Welcome Mark.

Do it!..

[Dragon Rider]

Originally Posted by xqsme

Hey, Welcome Mark.

Do it!..

Thanks

Do it for the D60?? (despite ken rockwell saying I'm an idiot to buy above the d40)

or do it for the juicy used Nikon D200 on prophotos??

ARRRGGHHHHH
brain freeze, decision making utility off line.

beep

[beansbaxter]

I played around with Will's new D60 and liked it a lot - you cant go wrong!

[xqsme]

Mark,
If you are considering of buying a used camera from an individual it will be important to take a couple shots (and view it on a big screen not the small lcd on the camera) to see is there is any scratches of burned out pixels/hotpixels on the sensor (dust is not a big deal since you can clean that off). If there is a scratch on the sensor forget it.. even if he were selling it for $1 it is not worth it since replacing that sensor would cost you as much as or more than a new DSLR.
Also is how many pictures have been taken with the camera since DLSR's have a shutterlife it would be bad to buy a camera from someone who shoots a lot of frames every day (eg. a professional sports photographer) You can just ask the person if they are pretty honest and you trust them or you can take it into a certified technician and they can check for you. Checking on the camera yourself is pointless cause anyone can reset the count ( unless there is another way of knowing)
Third you want to check the lenses (if one is included) make sure that they work smoothly and that there are no scratches or spots on the glass. Check for dents or scratches on the lens especially around the threading as that is a clear indicator that the person dropped the lens or banged it against something hard. Check also the body lens mount and make sure they are not banged up as well.

Other than that I cant think of anything.. but it will of course be safer buying a new camera or getting a used one from a reputiable dealer. (i see you holding a d60....lol)

[beansbaxter]

Originally Posted by xqsme

(i see you holding a d60....lol)

[Dragon Rider]

Originally Posted by xqsme

(i see you holding a d60....lol)

looking that way, guess I need to stop by costco on the way home
(love the 90 day return and the doubling of the manufacture's warranty)

Originally Posted by beansbaxter

And I'd be talking to you about that lens if the camera didn't deplete the funds.

[stdave]

Originally Posted by Dragon Rider

Also looking at the used prices at prophoto
Ben likes them, so that is good enough for me, but used is always as is, no warrany

If you have patience, you can check here as well: warehouse_deals @ Amazon.com: slr

It took me about 3 weeks, but I got a 40D Kit with the 28-135 for a bit over 7 bills. Unit was a open box with Amazon's 30 day return policy.

[Dragon Rider]

Wow, didn't know about that, like the 30 day return, thanks.

Mark

[Gebber]

Originally Posted by stdave

If you have patience, you can check here as well: warehouse_deals @ Amazon.com: slr

It took me about 3 weeks, but I got a 40D Kit with the 28-135 for a bit over 7 bills. Unit was a open box with Amazon's 30 day return policy.

That is a smoking deal! I just bought the same setup for $1100 new.

Great find Dave.

[balut]

nice that is a killer deal

[Dragon Rider]

Originally Posted by Gebber

That is a smoking deal! I just bought the same setup for $1100 new.

Great find Dave.

where did you find it for $1,100, best I can find locally is best buy at 1299 with a 10% coupon makes $1,170.

[Bimjo]

Originally Posted by Dragon Rider

Thanks

Do it for the D60?? (despite ken rockwell saying I'm an idiot to buy above the d40)
[snip]

Nobody takes Ken Rockwell seriously. Except as a comedian.

No matter what you decide to get, personally I think the camera ergos are more important than how many/what features the body has. If you have to fight the camera to take pics you aren't going to take many pics. Cameras make really expensive paper weights.

I've never particularly liked Canon bodies because they don't feel like they fit my hand. Nikon is better, Pentax better yet & that's what I shoot.

[Gebber]

Originally Posted by Dragon Rider

where did you find it for $1,100, best I can find locally is best buy at 1299 with a 10% coupon makes $1,170.

Goto Circuit City With a print out of the Canon $200 rebate for the 40D. Plus you get a free printer

I didn't know they had the free printer deal. I bought mine a Best Buy.

[Dragon Rider]

Originally Posted by Bimjo

Nobody takes Ken Rockwell seriously. Except as a comedian.

No matter what you decide to get, personally I think the camera ergos are more important than how many/what features the body has. If you have to fight the camera to take pics you aren't going to take many pics. Cameras make really expensive paper weights.

Thanks, I need to spend some time seeing which fits my hand. I have convinced myselt that I'll try to get as much as I can for about a grand.

Originally Posted by Gebber

Goto Circuit City With a print out of the Canon $200 rebate for the 40D. Plus you get a free printer
I didn't know they had the free printer deal. I bought mine a Best Buy.

I though the $200 rebate was an 'instant rebate' (aka price reduction) and that was worked into the 1299 price at both Bestbuy and circuit city (both show the camera kit as 1499 - 200 = 1,299

(I have a stack of 'free printers' in the office storage from other computer buys, but one more never hurts )

[WaWa]

If your in the used camera market you can get a TON of camera for a grand or so... (although I'm new to the whole DSLR scene, and the ins and outs of used gear this is the direction I'm looking to go for the dollar to performance value) I've been keeping an eye on Craigs list (because that's stuff I can hold and look over/ take to some one maybe at a Kit's camera's type place for inspection) and recently came across this... D2X for $1500 NIKON D2X WITH EXTRA LIKE NEW CONDITION sure it's little older and technology is growing... but the "deals" are out there.

the search goes on!

WaWa

EDIT: coming back to this I've been reading alot about sensor life and total actuations... this the amount of times the camera has cycled or taken a photo. I imagine this is a topic for another discussion but for the purposes of purchasing a used camera this is something to be aware of (or the "people" on the internet message boards make a big deal about). So I did a little more research and came across this EXIF Reader Software which talks about how to find the ACTUAL number of actuations made on a pitcular body... which is something to consider in used market.

[Gebber]

Originally Posted by Dragon Rider

Thanks, I need to spend some time seeing which fits my hand. I have convinced myselt that I'll try to get as much as I can for about a grand.


I though the $200 rebate was an 'instant rebate' (aka price reduction) and that was worked into the 1299 price at both Bestbuy and circuit city (both show the camera kit as 1499 - 200 = 1,299

thats what I Thought too but it worked for me at Best Buy. No questions asked!

[Gebber]

I have a Canon S5 IS for Sale

[Dragon Rider]

Originally Posted by Gebber

I have a Canon S5 IS for Sale

Ya know, that is what started all this, I went out to buy an S5 IS.

but look what happened

http://www.pnwdp.com/beginners-corne....html#post2617