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Alan P
September 25th, 2018, 01:35 AM
So my Son has been doing some photography courses and has been borrowing a camera from them or using his phone but I'm coming into a bit of money soon (thanks Comcast! :)) so I thought about getting him a second hand 'proper' camera. I know there's a bit of tribalism going but local gumtree has a few interesting options:

Nikon D60 + lens (https://www.gumtree.com/p/digital-cameras/nikon-d60-slr-camera-with-lens-boxed/1314436819) £150.
Canon EOS 20D Tamron 70-300 zoom lens (https://www.gumtree.com/p/digital-cameras/bargain-canon-eos-20d-digital-slr-camera-with-tamron-70-300-zoom-lens/1314914347) £85 but some marking on the lens.

Anything else I should be looking at? Ideally this side of £200 unless it's something truly amazing then might go to £250 or thereabouts. He might go off it in 6 months but I'm sure I'd likely get my money back as cameras this old have likely bottomed out.

Rare White Ape
September 25th, 2018, 01:42 AM
Mate that Canon looks the business. If the lens is marked I wouldn’t worry. A few scratches are not likely to show up in any images.

If you’re picking between Canon or Nikon, I’d think the biggest consideration is what brand of lenses you already have at hand.

Alan P
September 25th, 2018, 02:50 AM
Lenses at hand? That would be none.

You can see the marks on the lens in the last photo.

Rare White Ape
September 25th, 2018, 02:57 AM
Yeah those marks aren’t worth worrying about. Say the lens is fully zoomed in, the image will use only about 2% of the surface area. If you’re serious, you could probably get it cleaned.

I’d say buy it, then buy a cheap-as-chips 2nd-hand 50mm lens to compliment the zoomy one, and set the boy loose.

XHawkeye
September 25th, 2018, 11:53 AM
Been using a 30D for 12 years, only real difference is it has a bigger LCD on the back, and it's still going strong. A raw file is only 8mb so it won't fill up a hard drive/CF card very fast and any computer will be strong enough to process a raw file.

Download Canon's DPP for a free & basic program for processing raw files. https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/support-dslr/eos-20d#Z7_MQH8HIC0L88RB0AMD0F1Q42K25

The Canon is missing eye relief guard, not a big deal if you don't wear glasses. https://www.ebay.com/itm/EB-Rubber-EyeCup-for-Canon-50D-40D-30D-20D-10D-5D-Mark-II-5D-EOS-5D-20D-30D-10D-/320588421442

The 70-300 is useless for any wide angle pictures (indoor, landscape and etc) so if your son takes to photography be on the look out for a 24mm (or less) something or other.

Alan P
September 25th, 2018, 12:04 PM
Been using a 30D for 12 years, only real difference is it has a bigger LCD on the back, and it's still going strong. A raw file is only 8mb so it won't fill up a hard drive/CF card very fast and any computer will be strong enough to process a raw file.

Download Canon's DPP for a free & basic program for processing raw files. https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/support-dslr/eos-20d#Z7_MQH8HIC0L88RB0AMD0F1Q42K25

The Canon is missing eye relief guard, not a big deal if you don't wear glasses. https://www.ebay.com/itm/EB-Rubber-EyeCup-for-Canon-50D-40D-30D-20D-10D-5D-Mark-II-5D-EOS-5D-20D-30D-10D-/320588421442

The 70-300 is useless for any wide angle pictures (indoor, landscape and etc) so if your son takes to photography be on the look out for a 24mm (or less) something or other.

Something like this? (https://ebay.us/s9jHtO)

Yw-slayer
September 29th, 2018, 09:23 AM
Dammit, if I were in n the UK I'd probably just give you my 20D.

The 18-55 is fine to start with.

Alan P
September 30th, 2018, 12:31 PM
Dammit, if I were in n the UK I'd probably just give you my 20D.

The 18-55 is fine to start with.

If you can package it I'm happy to pay postage?

Yw-slayer
October 1st, 2018, 03:50 AM
It's probably not worth it, and I need to dig up the old batteries, grip, the dual charger, etc. You're probably looking at gbp50 to post!

What I'd suggest is that when my wife goes to the UK later this year she can take all of it with her and post it to you. It shouldn't cost too much and you can use it as a second body or something.

Alan P
October 1st, 2018, 10:44 AM
It's probably not worth it, and I need to dig up the old batteries, grip, the dual charger, etc. You're probably looking at gbp50 to post!

What I'd suggest is that when my wife goes to the UK later this year she can take all of it with her and post it to you. It shouldn't cost too much and you can use it as a second body or something.

So it's not complete? Or there are bits missing? If it's going to cost £50 then I wouldn't pout you out that much. Thanks for the generous offer though!

Yw-slayer
October 1st, 2018, 05:11 PM
I think it's complete, but I need to check. I'll let you know

JoeW
October 11th, 2018, 02:56 AM
If you can find a 40d then grab one. The cheap 50mm lens (called the nifty fifty) is a good idea. The 40d was the last of the magnesium bodied consumer camera. Faster focusing and a faster 6.5fps shoot rate over the previous 10, 20 and 30d. But all are great and durable due to magnesium bodies, cheap and easy to find batteries and great pictures.

Alan P
October 11th, 2018, 01:22 PM
If you can find a 40d then grab one. The cheap 50mm lens (called the nifty fifty) is a good idea. The 40d was the last of the magnesium bodied consumer camera. Faster focusing and a faster 6.5fps shoot rate over the previous 10, 20 and 30d. But all are great and durable due to magnesium bodies, cheap and easy to find batteries and great pictures.

Won't a 40d be really expensive as it's much newer?

JoeW
October 11th, 2018, 01:34 PM
40d is at least a 10yr old camera. Released in 07 I think. Should be able to find a nice used one for under $100. The 50d and all those after it were plastic bodies. You had to step up to the 5d, 7d or 1d series to get magnesium bodies.

Alan P
October 11th, 2018, 03:15 PM
40d is at least a 10yr old camera. Released in 07 I think. Should be able to find a nice used one for under $100. The 50d and all those after it were plastic bodies. You had to step up to the 5d, 7d or 1d series to get magnesium bodies.

OK will look out for one! Thanks!

Yw-slayer
October 11th, 2018, 07:32 PM
Agree thst 40D won't be much more if any than a 20D. Price difference unlikely to be any more than GBP10-20 if that. The 20D is fine but for thst price difference I would suggest getting the 40D if you can.

JoeW
October 12th, 2018, 03:09 AM
Yeah maybe $40, 50, 75, 100 for decent 10d, 20, 30, 40d respectively. They all use the same battery. 10,20 had small screens while 30 and 40 had bigger screens. I think all were 5fps max until the 40 added a faster a high and low speed mode up to 6.5fps. I have owned all of these at some point or other. The 40 was the most snappy of them all. 10,20,30 all felt the same to me but the 30 was nicer due to larger screen.

Alan P
October 22nd, 2018, 04:02 AM
Me again. I should have the money coming through this week so I had a look at Gumtree again and saw this Nikon D60 (https://www.gumtree.com/p/digital-cameras/nikon-d60-slr-camera-with-lens-boxed/1317253489) with a 18-55 Lens (VR kit it's called? Like Virtual Reality?) for £120 and there's a Canon 350D (https://www.gumtree.com/p/digital-cameras/canon-350d-8-megapixel-dslr-good-starter-set-up.-manual-charger-case-software-cards/1317937057) again with 18-55 Lens for £60. I have no issue spending the extra on the Nikon if it's worth it, but I'd also need a memory card to go with it but they're not expensive. Also a Canon 400D (https://www.gumtree.com/p/digital-cameras/canon-eos-400d-with-kit-lens-accessories/1317806440) for £100. Thoughts gratefully accepted photo type people!

JoeW
October 22nd, 2018, 06:43 AM
The VR in the Nikon kit stands for Vibration Reduction...basically another term for image stabilization. Canon's term is IS. It means the lens has a mechanical gyroscope in there to help when handholding at low shutter speeds.

The 350D and 400D were called the Rebel XT and Rebel XTi here in North America. Consumer kits. Plastic bodies. Good cameras though. Nothing wrong with them at all.

Alan P
October 30th, 2018, 12:08 PM
So I got him the Nikon D200 and lens listed Here (https://www.gumtree.com/p/digital-cameras/nikon-d200-with-18-70-and-pro-grade-32gb-card/1317491106)

He seems really happy with it.

JoeW
October 30th, 2018, 04:26 PM
Perfecto!

Alan P
December 24th, 2018, 03:56 PM
So to bring this back up to the top he's asking about a Macro lens as the lens he has isn't great for close shots apparently. He's using the camera weekly which is great though! What about this one? (https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-lenses/used-nikon-fit-lenses/sigma-50mm-f-2-8-ex-dg-macro-nikon-fit/sku-794186/) Again I don't want to spend a fortune!

JoeW
December 24th, 2018, 05:08 PM
Should be just fine. For better resale a Nikon lens would be better but probably a shit load more money.

This should be great for starters. Maybe try to find a longer macro lens for more zoom but I really don’t know exactly what he’s trying to get good pics of. Some insects might get spooked if you get too close. A 50mm macro will require you to get a few inches from the subject whereas with a 100mm macro you could be a little further away. Just depends on what he’s trying to get a good shot of :)