2nd hand DSLR

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I'm wanting to progress from taking snaps on my phone/compact to a DSLR. I really want an optical viewfinder,and the "little screen"of the bridge cameras I've looked at was a crushing disappointment.
So, being both a tight yorkshireman, and near broke, I figure £150 is about my limit, but even old stuff was once top of the range, and so something should sit in that budget that's still pretty good?
Any suggestions?

jbainbridge

Get on Ebay - Nikon D40 ?

Bykerlass

Nikon D80 better.

marlot

You are right that there are some cracking cameras out there.

I still use my Nikon D100 from time to time - its probably only worth £50-£100 now, and its 10 years old. Its not quite as good as my D300 but way better than a compact camera.

stevemcol

No personal connection but this seller:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/alldigital0869/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2654

can be trusted. His descriptions are very accurate and he seems to test everything sold. I got a cracking EOS400D with battery grip for £130. Hardly a mark on it and works perfectly.

cootuk

mpbphotographic are also highlyrecommended

harleq1962

fuji s5 takes all the nikon lenses, takes the old lenses too but gives something like 1.5 magnification on the old lenses.

theianfox

Any entry level Canon, Sony or Nikon will do the job. You'd stand a better chance of a decent one at £200.

The main questions to ask for before buying 2nd hand are:

How many Shutter actuations?

Digital shutters usually have a life of around 100,000. The seller should be able to check using free software on the net. You simply plug the camera in to a computer and run the programme. If they don't tell the truth about much it's been used you can send the items back as 'significantly different than described'.

Ask for the location of scratches on the lens. It either the front or back element - the glass on the front or back of the lens - has scratches mould can form in these areas.

I've personally used ever Canon gear and recommend them highly. I bought the missus a Sony DSLR and that's a decent camera as well.

isofa

theianfox wrote: »

Any entry level Canon, Sony or Nikon will do the job. You'd stand a better chance of a decent one at £200.

The main questions to ask for before buying 2nd hand are:

How many Shutter actuations?

Digital shutters usually have a life of around 100,000. The seller should be able to check using free software on the net. You simply plug the camera in to a computer and run the programme. If they don't tell the truth about much it's been used you can send the items back as 'significantly different than described'.

Only high end professional bodies properly record shutter actuations, in prosumer and many entry level pro cameras there is no such recording device. Most of the "free" software "claiming" to do this, just looks at the image count id/naming, which can be reset to zero in any of the menus.
Well documented on professional sites such as DPReview...

I'd personally be looking at finding something like a Canon xxD (e.g. 30, 40 or 50D on eBay), these are superb cropped frame semi-pro cameras, but if your budget won't stretch, go for a xxxD instead.

ukcarper

Could get a D40 or similar from somewhere like London Camera Exchange for about £150 if you want somewhere safer than ebay.

PDC

As mentioned if you go upto the 200 mark you will have a lot more choice.

I was in a similar situation to yuo last year, looking at reviews I came down to either the Cannon 500D or the Nikon D5000.

I decided on the Canon as I've pretty much always had Canon cameras in the past and the menu system is always pretty similar. But in the end the Nikons were selling cheaper on eBay so I ended up with the D5000.

Arrive in great condition, good camera to use and very happy with it. Best think is to be patient and only bid on listings that look to be genuine.

I have since seen lenses for the Canon seem to be cheaper and there to be more choice but I'm very happy with the Nikon.