Considering 2nd hand DSLR

Noodles

Noodles

Noodles

Associate
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
268
Location
Essex
I am considering getting a second hand DSLR, any recommendations and ideas of prices would be apreciated.

I have seen advertised on another forum a Nikon D70, 18-70mm Lens kit & 512mb Sandisk ultra II CF card, boxed as new. For £400. Is this a good price?
 
That price is ok, but is the camera/lens in good shape?

The body will sell on eBay for ~£250-£300.

The lens ~£120-£140.

You can pick up the 350D on eBay brand new rather cheaply. There are some that sold recently for under £400 with the 18-55mm lens. Secondhand they vary wildly, but it all depends what you want from the camera really. Have you tried the D70 body in a camera shop/compared with others?
 
SDK^ said:
What type of subjects will you be photographing ?
Click to expand...

Not one specific area really. Looking for something that will be flexible: landscapes, portraits, sight-seeing snaps, candids etc.

Hoping mainly to be able to make use of the reduced depth-of-field of DSLRs.
 
Noodles said:
Not one specific area really. Looking for something that will be flexible: landscapes, portraits, sight-seeing snaps, candids etc.

Hoping mainly to be able to make use of the reduced depth-of-field of DSLRs.
Click to expand...

The 18-70 is good for all you want apart from candid photography really. You'll need to get in quite close with it (I have the same lens). Ideally you want something upto 200mm or more to remain inconspicuous. Don't get me wrong though, the 18-70 is a cracking lens to start with.

As for reduced DoF, that depends on the lens you're using, but agin-the 18-70 is pretty versatile here too.
 
Noodles said:
It claims to be 'as new'. Is it worth finding out if they know how many pictures it has taken?
Click to expand...

Yes, but they'll probably not know.

I think you can find out how many with a program called Shutter Clicks. Not sure though if it works with the D70. I know it doesn't on my D100, but I think it does on the D50. Worth a try.

I read that the D70's sutter is 'rated' for 40,000-50,000 cycles. That doesn't mean it'll last that long or conversely that it'll die at that rated number. It could go on for 100,000, but you'll never know (that is, until it dies)!
 
You still not bought one yet then? :p

Cheap D70S On Ebay

Just found that. A nigh on brand spanking D70S body for £339 + p&p.

Anyway, I suspect that might be out of your budget. Or maybe not?

The 300D with 18-55 would be a good camera at that price. Not bad at all infact.
 
Last edited:
Nikon refurbished D50 on the bay for £269 from a well known internet retailer who also trades on ebay.

Comes with a genuine Nikon warranty too.
 
jhmaeng said:
How does this look to you?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17637724

(If this post is against the rules, please let me know - just thought he might be interested)
Click to expand...

That makes me sad :( . I'd be gutted to have to sell my stuff. Can't you just tell them you'll be responsible with it? Of course you could turn it back on them and say that you are responsible enough to study and that they should be able to trust you to do that. You'll only have to buy it all again after uni at higher prices.
 
Sorry to take this thread OT, but just to answer this post:
ranarama said:
That makes me sad :( . I'd be gutted to have to sell my stuff. Can't you just tell them you'll be responsible with it? Of course you could turn it back on them and say that you are responsible enough to study and that they should be able to trust you to do that. You'll only have to buy it all again after uni at higher prices.
Click to expand...
Thanks, and I feel the same way...

... except if I get a 2.1, they'll buy me a new set (of a reasonable price) :cool: I'm thinking a D200 or a 5D :p

Thing is, I'm not even that fussed about potentially getting a new camera - I could save up for one after all - but selling it for now would just make things a lot easier with my parents (who are incidentally paying for my uni course, so I suppose they deserve some say in the matter).

I'll be giving up a most beloved hobby for 8-9 months, but hopefully all for the best in the end. Besides, not having a camera to take new pictures with might finally force me to start working on the huuuuuge backlog of old photos that are waiting to be processed and sorted. :p

*sniff* Well, that was a rather feeble attempt at creating a silver lining of the cloud, wasn't it :-/
 
danza said:
Yes, but they'll probably not know.

I think you can find out how many with a program called Shutter Clicks. Not sure though if it works with the D70. I know it doesn't on my D100, but I think it does on the D50. Worth a try.

I read that the D70's sutter is 'rated' for 40,000-50,000 cycles. That doesn't mean it'll last that long or conversely that it'll die at that rated number. It could go on for 100,000, but you'll never know (that is, until it dies)!
Click to expand...

I would say its very likely someone may know how many photos its taken. I know that due to the numbering on the image I have taken around 14,000 images since getting my 350d back in December. This is because after 9,999 it reverts back to 0 and I am on my second time through.
 
TomWilko said:
I would say its very likely someone may know how many photos its taken. I know that due to the numbering on the image I have taken around 14,000 images since getting my 350d back in December. This is because after 9,999 it reverts back to 0 and I am on my second time through.
Click to expand...

You're right. You can use the various software available to check this. It's just I can't on mine with it being a D100. Nikon didn't allow the number of shutter actuations to be acessed in the D1 series/D100. I think all of their other cameras allow it now.
 
Noodles-

You looked in the MM?

jhmaeng's is up for 400 notes now so maybe it's worth a look?
 
Slight thread hijack but could help the OP.

Do you think there will be a 'price war' on DSLRs coming up to Xmas? If I remember rightly last December you could pic up a 350D from the high street for £350 (after money-off vouchers).

As has been said it seems pretty easy to pick a second hand 20D with 18-55 for around £550. You'd be mad not to! But who knows what the Xmas price wars will bring ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom