Used DSLR

Vanquish-Storm · 16 Jul 2011 at 21:43

Hi guys,

Im looking into buying a used DSLR to see if i can get more into photography.

Im only after a cheap entry level camera with a standard lens to start off with (i can buy new lens in the future)

What should i look out for?

What advise can you give regarding the shutter count?

Thanks in advance!

Vanquish-Storm · 16 Jul 2011 at 23:09

Or would i be better buying a new bridge camera then saving up for a new DSLR?

At the moment im just using a kodak m530 compact digital camera

Deo_volente · 17 Jul 2011 at 00:56

any idea on your budget?

Vanquish-Storm · 17 Jul 2011 at 01:10

Erm £150-£200 at this exact moment in time

Alpherah · 17 Jul 2011 at 01:16

A mate just got a D80 with 18-55 lens for £215, so its possible.

Vanquish-Storm · 17 Jul 2011 at 01:26

id be happy with that!

So how would you all rate DSLR. Bridge and Film SLR?

Is there much differance between a DSLR and a Film SLR? (by film i think i mean 35mm?!)

MikeHunt79 · 17 Jul 2011 at 01:46

I got a D50 for around £60 a while back, i don't know the shutter count, even if it went wrong tomorrow I would have got my monies worth...

I'd keep an eye out for a d40/d50/d70

Vanquish-Storm · 17 Jul 2011 at 02:08

MikeHunt79 said:
I got a D50 for around £60 a while back, i don't know the shutter count, even if it went wrong tomorrow I would have got my monies worth...

I'd keep an eye out for a d40/d50/d70

Was that £60 for just the body of with a lens?

MikeHunt79 · 17 Jul 2011 at 05:18

Vanquish-Storm said:
Was that £60 for just the body of with a lens?

Just the body, a little worse for wear but still fully functional, so I'm more than happy with it and don't have to worry about it too much...

danza · 17 Jul 2011 at 18:49

I picked up a good deal a few months back. I pounced as soon as it popped up on the bay. Here's what I got:

- Nikon D70 boxed with everything
- 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 with hood, pouch etc
- Hoya 67mm circular polariser
- Cokin P holder with 67mm adaptor
- Two Cokin ND grads plus one plain ND
- One each of 1gb and 2 gb CF cards

All for £190 in almost mint condition with low use. There are some very good deals to be had, so keep looking.

If going Nikon, try your best to get the 18-70mm. It's much nicer to use than the 18-55mm.

whitecrook · 17 Jul 2011 at 18:55

Yeah couple of hundred should get you set up on a d50/d70/d40 or the equiv canons. Nothing wrong with them. D50 is a cheap motor body and quite small.

Vanquish-Storm · 19 Jul 2011 at 02:52

Can anyone suggest a bridge camera that may give the same results as a DSLR without the swapping of lens?

Columbo · 19 Jul 2011 at 07:27

Vanquish-Storm said:
Can anyone suggest a bridge camera that may give the same results as a DSLR without the swapping of lens?

One does not exist I'm afraid.

The cheapest new D-SLR will give siginificantly better quality results than any of the high bridge cameras.

I'd probably bank on a 5-6 year old D-SLR having better image quality than a modern bridge.

I'm not against them however, my first 'proper' camera was a bridge and I took some great shots on it.

But don't be tempted by the lure of a 35x optical zoom lens, I found a lot of them to be slow and unusable at times.

What sort of things do you plan on shooting & is size / weight important?

gt_junkie · 19 Jul 2011 at 08:52

You're correct ManCuBus!

If I were the OP and seriously felt I didn't want to change lenses then something like an 18-200mm lens should reliably cover the vast majority of situations.

I'd certainly rather do that than get/use a prosumer again. Focus speed alone is what tips the balance for me!

Of course eventually I'm sure the changing of lenses won't be an issue but I do understand your concerns Vanquish-Storm - I worried about the same thing when I first decided to get a DSLR!

gt

Vanquish-Storm · 20 Jul 2011 at 00:30

Okay guys im going to keep my eyes out for a DSLR but...... in the mean time somebody has offered me a Fuji S2000HD for £60.

Is the Fuji S2000HD a good camera?

Columbo · 20 Jul 2011 at 09:45

For £60 yes its very good and one of the 3 bridge cameras I've owned.

bigredshark · 20 Jul 2011 at 12:53

Vanquish-Storm said:
Is there much differance between a DSLR and a Film SLR? (by film i think i mean 35mm?!)

Can, worms.

There's a massive difference in usage and both have big advantages over the other in places. Digital lets you shoot hundreds of frames a day for no cost. Film can get you quality that digital can't match until you spend £4k+

Digital sensors have different characteristics to film too which you need to learn whichever way you go. That aside, obviously the principles are the same.

It's not a substitute for digital, make no mistake. That's probably the bottom line here, I shoot a lot of film (35mm and 120) but it's absolutely not a substitute for having a DSLR as well.

It's difficult to call it cheap either, assuming you want AF and a zoom lens, a F100 and 24-50 zoom will set you back about £300 and then you're paying about £12 a roll for film and processing (nearer £25 if you'd like it scanned for you).

Much as I love film it's not because it's fabulous value.

Vanquish-Storm · 21 Jul 2011 at 00:14

Okay thanks for both answers guys!

Vanquish-Storm · 24 Jul 2011 at 16:38

ManCuBuS said:
For £60 yes its very good and one of the 3 bridge cameras I've owned.

Just been told its the Fuji S5700 not the S2000HD is this still worth it? Good bridge camera to see me through till later in the year?

Columbo · 24 Jul 2011 at 18:16

Vanquish-Storm said:
Just been told its the Fuji S5700 not the S2000HD is this still worth it? Good bridge camera to see me through till later in the year?

Should be ok but its certainly not as much of a bargain any more.

Thats a 4 year old camera that was only £130 new in 2007 but it will certainly take pics, whether they are any good or not........well thats up to the the thing thats holding it.