Getting a new camera, advice please...

[allison_dcp]

I shoot now with a nikon and canon 35mm and finally talked my husband into letting me buy a DSLR, but max for $300. What do you think about this.....

Pentax k-x in very good condition and working order with one flaw. The af/mf switch is broken, meaning that autofocus lenses still autofocus as usual, and manual lenses manual focus as usual; however, the broken switch prevents an autofocus lens from focusing manually. I never use af lenses that way, so it never bothered me, but I have priced the camera to reflect the defect. Otherwise, the camera works fantastically. Included are the Pentax Takkumar 135mm 2.5 and Pentax M 50mm 1.7. Also included is the k-x manual. Both lenses are in excellent condition and both are manual lenses. Cash only. Pickup only. Thanks for looking. $250 OBO

Ive done alot of research on the camera itself, but am unsure of the defect b/c I've never used an autofocus lens.

 

[allison_dcp]

no thoughts?

 

[scorpion_tyr]

I'd stay away from it. Being able to manually focus is pretty important, and many times when I've seen this issue before it's because the camera and lens were dropped... which means other stuff could be messed up that you wouldn't notice right away. Unless you REALLY know what you're looking at, stay away from used cameras. DSLR's are expensive... unfortunately that's just the way it is.

 

[KmH]

I think buying a used camera and used lenses is a good way to save money.

However, buying from a reputable seller is also important, and it helps if you have some familiarity with the used gear you are considering.

KEH.com sells used gear, has a good returns policy, and IIRC offers a 6 month warranty on any used gear they sell.

Adorama.com used department and BHPhotoVideo.com used department also are reputable used gear sellers.

Here is a camera in EX condition - "Excellent" 80-89% of original condition. Shows moderate wear for the age of the item. May have small dents and/or dings and slight finish wear. Glass may have slight marks, anomalies and/or blemishes that will not affect picture quality.*

Nikon Digital D 70S 6.1 MEGAPIXEL WITH BATTERY & CHARGER, 50 F1.8 D.LENS CAPS (52)(CF CARD ), DIGITAL SLR INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA OUTFIT - KEH.com

 

[allison_dcp]

I think buying a used camera and used lenses is a good way to save money.

However, buying from a reputable seller is also important, and it helps if you have some familiarity with the used gear you are considering.

KEH.com sells used gear, has a good returns policy, and IIRC offers a 6 month warranty on any used gear they sell.

Adorama.com used department and BHPhotoVideo.com used department also are reputable used gear sellers.

Here is a camera in EX condition - "Excellent" 80-89% of original condition. Shows moderate wear for the age of the item. May have small dents and/or dings and slight finish wear. Glass may have slight marks, anomalies and/or blemishes that will not affect picture quality.*

Nikon Digital D 70S 6.1 MEGAPIXEL WITH BATTERY & CHARGER, 50 F1.8 D.LENS CAPS (52)(CF CARD ), DIGITAL SLR INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA OUTFIT - KEH.com

Thank you very much for the advice, and the time taken to find that camera.
My main concerns would be the much smaller megapixel amount (My plan is to gradually get into proffesional photography as well as macro photography) allong with long term cost. The pentax seems so much more versatile with different lens'.
Any advice on what to look at when I go to see this camera? I agree with everyone about the risks of buying used, but for this price I'd hate to pass it up...

 

[enzodm]

My main concerns would be the much smaller megapixel amount (My plan is to gradually get into proffesional photography as well as macro photography) allong with long term cost. The pentax seems so much more versatile with different lens'.
Any advice on what to look at when I go to see this camera? I agree with everyone about the risks of buying used, but for this price I'd hate to pass it up...

Although the Pentax is better, long term cost may be higher due to less lenses on the market. The lenses coming with the Pentax of your offer are both old and manual: this means no autofocus (let's say, up to 100$ of value for EU collectors, some less market in US). Although you might be used to manual focus, you definitely are not used to manual focus with the small, dark viewfinder of a modern dSLR, not made for manual focus and not made for apertures greater than f/4 (and I tell you this being a collector and user of such lenses : I went to 60D to have easier life). On the other side, megapixels do not make the difference between pro and not. Neither Kx nor D70 are pro cameras, both are entry level dSLR, good to learn.

You write you shoot with Nikon and Canon. I saw from previous posts you have a Canon T50: its lenses cannot be reused on modern dSLR. What about the Nikon you are using? Its mount remained the same in time, so you may rereuse what you have, although old lenses did not have AF.

 

[allison_dcp]

My main concerns would be the much smaller megapixel amount (My plan is to gradually get into proffesional photography as well as macro photography) allong with long term cost. The pentax seems so much more versatile with different lens'.
Any advice on what to look at when I go to see this camera? I agree with everyone about the risks of buying used, but for this price I'd hate to pass it up...

Although the Pentax is better, long term cost may be higher due to less lenses on the market. The lenses coming with the Pentax of your offer are both old and manual: this means no autofocus (let's say, up to 100$ of value for EU collectors, some less market in US). Although you might be used to manual focus, you definitely are not used to manual focus with the small, dark viewfinder of a modern dSLR, not made for manual focus and not made for apertures greater than f/4 (and I tell you this being a collector and user of such lenses : I went to 60D to have easier life). On the other side, megapixels do not make the difference between pro and not. Neither Kx nor D70 are pro cameras, both are entry level dSLR, good to learn.

You write you shoot with Nikon and Canon. I saw from previous posts you have a Canon T50: its lenses cannot be reused on modern dSLR. What about the Nikon you are using? Its mount remained the same in time, so you may rereuse what you have, although old lenses did not have AF.

The cameras that I'm using now are borrowed, so I will return both, and lens' when I get another one.
I re-emailed the seller about my concernced with the defect, and here is what he had to say...
Allison,
The two lenses advertised are manual, but any manual or autofocus lens made in a Pentax k mount (going back decades) work with this dslr. The defect is that the camera will not manual focus an automatic focus lens. Autofocus lenses work perfectly in autofocus mode, they just won't switch to manual focus. They're not really intended to be used manually anyway, so it never affected me. Manual lenses like the one you want to buy with the kx, work perfectly as intended. I hope thus clarifies things. I will actually be playing a musical gig on Friday, which you may know is a bit south of ****. I will agree to 200 if you'd like to see it Friday when I'm closer to you. If do, let me know, and we can work out a time.
Thanks,
****

Does this change anything?.... Also another question about megapixels, If I were to get the Nikon you reccomended wouldnt I run into trouble when trying to print off prints much larger than 8X10? I would hate to do a family portrait, and then the large print look like crap.

 

[Dao]

How about a Canon 30D body
Used Canon Eos-30d 8.2 Megapixels Digital Slr Camera Body

And then pair it with a kit lens to start with. I am sure you can find the kit lens at a good price since a lot of people like to get rid of their kit lens.

 

[allison_dcp]

How about a Canon 30D body
Used Canon Eos-30d 8.2 Megapixels Digital Slr Camera Body

And then pair it with a kit lens to start with. I am sure you can find the kit lens at a good price since a lot of people like to get rid of their kit lens.

I wouldnt want a kit lens, I'd rather have a 50mm b/c its what I'm used to, and I LOVE it. Thanks for showing me that camera though, its nice.

 

[enzodm]

The two lenses advertised are manual, but any manual or autofocus lens made in a Pentax k mount (going back decades) work with this dslr. The defect is that the camera will not manual focus an automatic focus lens. Autofocus lenses work perfectly in autofocus mode, they just won't switch to manual focus. They're not really intended to be used manually anyway, so it never affected me. Manual lenses like the one you want to buy with the kx, work perfectly as intended. I hope thus clarifies things. I will actually be playing a musical gig on Friday, which you may know is a bit south of ****. I will agree to 200 if you'd like to see it Friday when I'm closer to you. If do, let me know, and we can work out a time.
Thanks,
****

Does this change anything?.... Also another question about megapixels, If I were to get the Nikon you reccomended wouldnt I run into trouble when trying to print off prints much larger than 8X10? I would hate to do a family portrait, and then the large print look like crap.

It does not change anything, in the sense that you will receive two lenses you cannot use "professionally". And depending on what do you mean for "professional", dSLR used by professionals now are almost always Canon or Nikon, unfortunately. So if you start with something different, everything you buy will not resist to your professional growth.
You can use those lenses for macro, by buying also some extension ring. Definitely difficult, although possible with experience, doing portraits (you need patient subjects). However, 200$ is a good price, and leaves you margin to buy a modern (but only very cheap) lens. Price is even too good to be true, be careful (half of the current market price, body only). I'm not advocating such particular Nikon: the Canon 30D would be a better camera, for example. But a partially broken Pentax with two old manual lenses at a extraordinarily low price could be a step into unknown, in particular if you aim at pro and long term low cost (e.g.: Canon 50/1.8 110$, Pentax 50/1.8, 250$). For an enthusiast, with not many perspectives of gear growth, it's definitely not bad, again if conditions are good.
Check also here for an idea of used prices: Used SLR Digital Cameras | B&H Photo Video

 

[Dao]

How about a Canon 30D body
Used Canon Eos-30d 8.2 Megapixels Digital Slr Camera Body

And then pair it with a kit lens to start with. I am sure you can find the kit lens at a good price since a lot of people like to get rid of their kit lens.

I wouldnt want a kit lens, I'd rather have a 50mm b/c its what I'm used to, and I LOVE it. Thanks for showing me that camera though, its nice.

With the new Canon 50mm f/1.8, that should bring the total to around $350 plus or minus.

There are people still use or used to use the Canon 30D as their wedding equipment.

 

[allison_dcp]

Okay, okay, you guys have sold me..... I decided to get Dao's suggested Canon Eos-30d camera. I also did a live chat with pentax, and when the pentax guy told me not to buy it, I really realized how big of a mistake it would of been.
Thank you all for your advice, I love TPF! cant wait to get my camera and learn how to use it

 

[jwbryson1]

There are a slew of used Nikons at B&H in your price range:

Used SLR Digital Cameras | B&H Photo Video

 

[allison_dcp]

UGh! now I have to choose b/w canon and nikon........
Looks like nikon lens' are more expensive.....
arguments?

 

[KmH]

My main concerns would be the much smaller megapixel amount (My plan is to gradually get into proffesional photography as well as macro photography) allong with long term cost.

Megapixels aren't as important as many believe. Used with skill, a skillful and knowledgeable photographer would have little problem consistantly making professional quality images with a 6.1 MP camera.
Professional quality photography is mainly about pre-production - lighting and composition, efficiency during a shoot, and post production.
No doubt, having high high quality tools to use (camera/lens/lighting) help.

Professional photography is more about having sufficient business acumen to start, grow, and maintain a business, than being a great photographer. However, professional photographers that are great at both business and photography usually make the big money.