Advice on Digital SLR camera please

TC77

Hoping this is the right place for this. I'm looking for a digital SLR - have an old fashioned SLR and a bridge digital camera but looking for a DSLR  and also potentially one for my young adult daughter who is interested in photography, particularly outdoor (animals and landscapes) and wondering if there are models people would suggest either to get second hand or new at a reasonable cost. Someone has mentioned the Canon EOS2000D - is second hand a good option for this and if so should I be looking at ebay or Jessop? all advice appreciated. Thank you

Vitor

Canon EOS 2000D is decent entry-level DSLR, the Canon EOS 250D has a flip-out screen and 4K video so it a bit more future proof. The Nikon D3500 is also a good choice.

Jessops, Wex, MPB, London Camera Exchange are all possible suppliers 2nd hand, you'll pay a bit more than Ebay but get more peace of mind. Also ask for the shutter count on 2nd hand kit.

 

daveyjp

I've always had good service from MPB.  The D200 I bought from them at least 15 years ago has just died and I'm looking to replace it.

oldernonethewiser

I've used both MPB & CEX for cameras and had no issues with either.

If you both get the same manufacturer it will be easier to exchange lenses.

Farway

I use MPB, you can see pictures of the actual camera you will buy.

I've had a few second hand from them and the only problem encountered was with my last purchase, Nikon D300. 

The battery charger was duff, after a bit of mailing and a faulty replacement the end result was I bought a Chinese one from Amazon & MPB refunded the cost of it.

I mention this because the service received was speedy & exemplary, no quibbles and a full refund was offered had I wanted

You are probably aware but lots of camera reviews on YT

I chose D300 because it was a semi pro type when new, and cost far more than I could afford then.

Used, you can get very good cameras for much the same price as a new entry level point & shoot.

Undervalued

TC77 said:

Hoping this is the right place for this. I'm looking for a digital SLR - have an old fashioned SLR and a bridge digital camera but looking for a DSLR  and also potentially one for my young adult daughter who is interested in photography, particularly outdoor (animals and landscapes) and wondering if there are models people would suggest either to get second hand or new at a reasonable cost. Someone has mentioned the Canon EOS2000D - is second hand a good option for this and if so should I be looking at ebay or Jessop? all advice appreciated. Thank you

A lot of small camera dealers operate on eBay and many are fine. However I would be tempted to buy from one of the major s/h dealers such as MPB or WEX, both give a decent warranty on s/h gear (several other companies do  too).

At one point Jessops had stopped selling s/h but maybe that has changed again. They no longer have a shop in the city where I live and they were never my first choice even when they did.

TC77

Thank you  so much for the advice and other places to look for s/h. I was only aware of jessops and they've closed most branches and when I last asked only gave 3 month guarantee and works prefer 6 month as there may be times when I can't use it much..I will check out the suggestions!

DullGreyGuy

TC77 said:

Hoping this is the right place for this. I'm looking for a digital SLR - have an old fashioned SLR and a bridge digital camera but looking for a DSLR  and also potentially one for my young adult daughter who is interested in photography, particularly outdoor (animals and landscapes) and wondering if there are models people would suggest either to get second hand or new at a reasonable cost. Someone has mentioned the Canon EOS2000D - is second hand a good option for this and if so should I be looking at ebay or Jessop? all advice appreciated. Thank you

Why dSLR rather than mirrorless? 

Canon dSLRs use EF and EF-S lenses, Canon have effectively abandoned this format now having gone all in with mirrorless and its newer RF and RF-S lens mount. On the plus side it means there are increasing numbers of lenses and cameras going into the secondhand market as people make the move but it also means you would be buying into a dead format. Downside is several core lenses are no longer being manufactured meaning you can only buy new if you find dead stock. 

If this is likely to be a splash in the pan hobby that gets abandoned in a few weeks then stick with dSLR as you'll get better bargains in the secondhand market. If you think it could be a serious hobby and dont want to buy stuff today that in a year will have devalued considerably when you sell it to move to RF then consider spending a bit more and buy into the mirrorless format (make sure it is the R system though and not the M that they have already also discontinued).

I dont know how tall your daughter is but wife always found my Canon 5D too big for her hands even though she knew the photos were much better than those from her smaller dSLR. The mirrorless are smaller and a little lighter and so the R5 is more comfortable for her. 

Andy_L

How old fashioned is your SLR & do you have a selection of lenses for it? You may well be able to fit them to a dSLR body.

Farway

Andy_L said:

How old fashioned is your SLR & do you have a selection of lenses for it? You may well be able to fit them to a dSLR body.

Following on from the mirrorless posting, adapting old lenses to mirrorless is dead easy, no need for matching fittings because adaptors are readily available for around £20

That way you can use any maker's lenses if the fancy takes you

You would lose EXIF data & autofocus, but I find the manual use of Focus peaking is very easy, unless of course it's sport or fast moving subjects

chrisbur

TC77 said:

Hoping this is the right place for this. I'm looking for a digital SLR - have an old fashioned SLR and a bridge digital camera but looking for a DSLR  and also potentially one for my young adult daughter who is interested in photography, particularly outdoor (animals and landscapes) and wondering if there are models people would suggest either to get second hand or new at a reasonable cost. Someone has mentioned the Canon EOS2000D - is second hand a good option for this and if so should I be looking at ebay or Jessop? all advice appreciated. Thank you

As you already have a digital bridge camera I wonder what it is that you hope a DSLR will give you that you do not get from the bridge camera.  Also what do you call "...a reasonable cost. " my first DSLR cost about £2000 without a lens and I thought that was very reasonable as it saved me nearly £1000 a year in film and processing etc costs.