Newbie - 2nd hand DSLR suggestions upto £150

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Hello fine folk of the photographic world.

I am looking to join in to this world of creativity and am asking for some pointers with my first purchase.

First of all, a bit of back ground information at myself.
My first interest is taking old cars apart. Occasionally I manage to put them back together again and on the odd rare occasion they end up better than they were before I took them apart! I also have a website documenting a few of my ill-thought projects. This is where my venture into photography for myself first started, but it wasn't my first exposure (sorry) to proper photography.

When I was just a la my father splashed out on a Canon A-1 to which he added a few lenses and filters. After years of standing in font of the thing 'posing' whilst he adjusted the settings you'd think I'd be put off the things for life! But after my digital compact camera expired last month he deposited all his old kit in my lap along with the many manuals. It has proven to be a real eye opener and I have already learnt a lot from the manuals alone. Using the ols manual SLR has been a joy and I have decided that the Bridge camera I was originally looking at will just feel dissapointing after the old A-1.

So, finally, the point of this post.
Could you fine folk please give some recommendations for DSLR cameras on the second hand market for up to £150.

So far a brief eBay search has flashed up Canon 300D and 350D with original lens or a couple of others with no lenses. I've only looked at Canon so far purely to reduce the number of results I'd be bombarded with. I'm happy with any other makes if they produce the results.

Thanks for reading this and for any help.
 
Hi, my first Was the canon 350D and it's superb for the money - you'll be able to pick one up for less than a hundred. In fact I could be persuaded to sell mine if you decide on that. I don't have the kit lens any more but I have a 50mm 1.8 prime I'd be willin to sell too. Let me know if you're interested.
 
Not sure about Cannon but I would imagine its the same as Nikon.
Make sure you can use all the old lenses on which ever body you get that way you'll save a small fortune on glass!
 
Like Eddie, my first DSLR was the 350D and I will say it's a lovely little camera and is still very capable of producing great results. I've been using it for the last 7 years and it's never failed me.

You'll certainly be able to pick one up for under £100 and as coincidence would have it, I'm also going to be selling mine after recently upgrading to the 5D MkIII. Mine still has the original kit lens, which was never used, since I purchased the lovely Tamron 17-50 (also being sold), so keep your eye on the classifieds here.

Darren
 
My old 20D is still going strong, a well made model which is within your budget.
 
Auto-TaT said:
So, finally, the point of this post.
Could you fine folk please give some recommendations for DSLR cameras on the second hand market for up to £150.
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In Nikon world, you may be able to get a D3000. Mine was about £160 I think a year or so ago. A D80 may also be just about possible. Both very good cameras, the D80 being more advanced but still far from intimidating, (though it sounds like you already have a decent head start in terms of knowledge).

A sony A200 would also be worth a look as well.

Ideally you'd get a chance to hold a few of these before making a decision as really there is going to be very little to choose between them in terms of capability. With them all being discontinued, that's going to be tricky but if you can get into a camera shop, the equivalent current models are likely to feel similar in terms of ergonomics and layout. You'll be very surprised by how different they are to hold. Choose which ever brand fits you best and go from there.
 
I remember when the Canon 350d came out (not in a gay way). I wanted one so bad when I saw the pictures it was capable of in the magazines.

Just remember, the glass you use is very important. I'm sure most would agree the best bang for your buck is the Canon 50mm 1.8.
 
teddyt72 said:
Hi, my first Was the canon 350D and it's superb for the money - you'll be able to pick one up for less than a hundred. In fact I could be persuaded to sell mine if you decide on that. I don't have the kit lens any more but I have a 50mm 1.8 prime I'd be willin to sell too. Let me know if you're interested.
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Is this allowed :D
 
Wow, thanks for all the replies, eight already and it's only 10:15!

It sounds like all the big names are pretty capable at this price range.

It would be nice to make use of the old lenses from the A-1 but I have already learnt that this is a none-starter as they are all FD manual lenses and won't fit. Adapters are available but you then run into focusing problems due to the extra distance from the sensor. This can be corrected with corrective lenses built into some adapters but then you can suffer a loss of image quality due to the additional lens.

But one step at a time.

gad-westy said:
Ideally you'd get a chance to hold a few of these before making a decision as really there is going to be very little to choose between them in terms of capability. With them all being discontinued, that's going to be tricky but if you can get into a camera shop, the equivalent current models are likely to feel similar in terms of ergonomics and layout. You'll be very surprised by how different they are to hold. Choose which ever brand fits you best and go from there.
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That makes a lot of sense, one of the big things I love about the A-1 is how tactile it is. I really like the way the lens is operated manualy back and forth to zoom in/out and twisted to focus (I realise that DSLRs generaly use auto-focus). If they are all capable of producing similar results then I need to concentrate on whichever camera fits me best and feels most natural to use. Something similar to the A-1 in this respect would be a very good place to start.

Thanks for the offers of the Canon 350D's, I shall see if I can find one localy to have a play with. There are a few photographers at work so one of them might have one for me to look at and hold.

I shall see if any of the local camera shops also sell second hand equipment, if so I might be able to try some others too. I'd like to give those Nikons a try too.

Many thanks for the help and advice,

Simon.
 
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teddyt72 said:
Sorry probably not :shrug: - I wasn't suggesting a deal via PM. I'll list it in the classifieds in case the OP is interested.
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But OP still has to do the 25/60 rule before gaining access to classifieds.

Mine should be up soon :clap: or should that be :(
 
An alternative option - if you enjoy manual focusing and wanted a digital back for your FD lenses then you can pick up a lightly used Sony Nex for under £150 (or a brand new Nex C3 for around £230). Canon FD to Nex adapters are £8 to £10 and can result in excellent photos: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Canon+FD+Nex&s=int

The downsides - no viewfinder - so can be tricky to manually focus in bright sunlight, manual focus obviously not ideal for fast moving objects/ people/ animals. But apart from that it will do pretty much everything a dslr will do (same size sensor as entry level dslrs) and will save you a fortune on lenses. :D

Something to consider anyway - much more limited selection of AF lenses of course, but if you are happy to use MF it could be the way to go.
 
Another vote for the 350D from me:love:

Loved mine and actually regret selling it a few months ago:(
 
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A vote for the 20D from me. Very nicely built, good control layout, top LCD and so on and all for £100.
 
You might even get a used EOS 1000D for that money or thereabouts if you were lucky (think the nominal 2nd hand price is nearer 200). Somewhat newer (so lower noise sensor), and has live view if you feel that is something you want.
 
Thanks again for the replies. The prices mentioned on here seem to be a bit less than the averages on eBay so I'll have look in the classifieds when they are open to me.

As I said earlier, I shall try to have a play with as many different models as I can to see which fits me best and which has the better built in screen. This is purely to help me see the results of my experimentation to help improve my learning experience.

I'll go hunting Canon 20Ds and 3Ds now and then move onto Nikon followed by whatever else I get to.

Cheers.
 
Echo'ing Redtele's comment - the X0 series really are much more solid. After commenting on this tread I picked up my old 350D for the first time in Almost a year and it really does feel like a toy! Still pretty capable, just made me realize the gap in usability between that series and the X0 series.
 
I take it that thw 10D, 20D & 30D are the XO series? That's good to know as some of the prices seem between them and the 300D/350D seem pretty similar.

Thanks.
 
Auto-TaT said:
I take it that thw 10D, 20D & 30D are the XO series? That's good to know as some of the prices seem between them and the 300D/350D seem pretty similar.

Thanks.
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if considering a 10d let it be known that they are bigger/heavier than the rest of the xxd series and cannot take ef-s lenses.. great camera though I used to love the shots straight out of camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/strumstrum/sets/72157622637952487/

all of that set was 10d, bargain camera for todays current price.
 
I wouldn't recommend the 10D... It really is ancient and you can't buy any crop lenses as already mentioned. Won't be able to buy any cheap "standard zoom" lenses (18-55 IS etc) and cheap full frame standard zoom lenses are too long.
 
plus the 10D MP count is pushing it a bit (especially if cropping)
 
You'll pick up a 30D for that budget. Or a 40D for another £50 or so.

Of course that doesn't include a lens so you'll need to take that in to account.

You'll get a 20D and an 18-55mm IS lens within budget which would be a killer combo for the money.
 
Wel from the Canon range it looks like the 20D or 30D is favourite depending on what's available at the time (with lens).

Any recommendations from the other makes?
 
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