Used D400 or second hand D1000

[widdyst]

Hi all
Can you help a camera noob.
I want to get the wife a dslr for her birthday and am budgeting around 300.
I have seen a second hand D400 with a canon battery grip and a 17-85 canon lens. Its the same peice as a new D1000 with kit lens.
Which one should i get

 

[TCR4x4]

They dont exist ;-)

Put the D on the other end for Canon.

Has she any experince in photography? The 1000D is more aimed for starters and is pretty basic.
The 400D is quite old now, but a step up the ladder to the slightly more advanced but still beginner friendly.

Dont forget to budget for bags, tripods, batteries, cards etc etc

 

[widdyst]

Lol see told you im a noob
Yes i know i need to get bags etc and this attracts me a little more to the 400D I have seen as it has a bag 3 batteries and a grip. The lens with the 400D is a Canon 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM

She is a beginner but willing to learn a little more advanced stuff. She has been using a panasonic bridge camera and uses it most days now as a point and click but wants to get a little more involved now

So out of those 2 cameras are there any real pros or cons to either body ? Or should I keep looking for something else

Am i right in thinking better quality lenses is where its at ?

I know the lens with the 400 d is better quality than the kit lens with the 1000D so that also swings me to the 400

 

[strumstrum]

I would give the lens a good check over as some (more than normal) have had a loose screw problem..

http://doekle.nl/canon_17_85_IS_repair.html

the 1000d is a couple of year newer than the 400d and can still be bought new retail so you have more chance of a less used and cleaner camera, not guaranteed tho... I used a 1000d as a second body for a while and was pleased with what it produced.

 

[widdyst]

Hm ok thanks for that on the lens.

I understand this is only a very small budget but if she ends up liking DSLR's then we can look at spending more

Is it better to go with newer kit then over better second hand kit ?

 

[strumstrum]

I would personally go for the 1000d, Digic III processor (400d is DigicII) and as mentioned 2 year newer. I don't think you can say the 400d is better.

 

[widdyst]

I wasnt reffering to the 400 being better, i meant the lens and the fact it has more equipment

 

[ecniv]

Being a nikon man, take these with a pinch of salt.


Get the 400d (because of lens). If you are looking to upgrade from that look towards the 30d or 40d? Used should still be moderately cheap, but I think the build is better with more options to play with (settings wise, af points etc).

If your wife does get into it, then post back with prefered mm or style of pics (or use the search function at the top) and you'll get a quite a few suggestions for lenses.