Opinions on equipment?

idlplumb · Oct 28, 2011

Hey everyone....I just signed up here. I'm just a guy who enjoys taking pics from time to time and would like to be more of an "advanced amateur".

I have the opportunity to pick up a Canon D60 (yes, it's older and yes, I realize that 6.3MP is nothing by today's standards). The whole setup of the D60, a Tamron 75-300m, Tamron 28-80mm, battery grip, two batteries and a kit bag would run me only $275.

I can justify spending the money on older equipment since I am in no way a professional, nor do I plan on being a pro anytime soon, I would just like to have the ability to be more creative with my photos and I think that this setup should get me started.

Any opinions on whether or not it's a good price? I definitely don't have much to spend right now, so the price and what I'm getting sounds pretty attractive right now.

enzodm · Oct 28, 2011

I do not see 6.3MP as the major problem, but perhaps the overall status of the camera, likely having 8-9 years. First of all, do you know its shutter count?
Also batteries might be at the end of life. The two lenses are cheap, adequate to start except that a 28-80 multiplied by 1.6x is a little on the long side as a short zoom.
In general, it's not that an old camera is easier and thus more adequate for an amateur. ISO up to 1000 can be a limiting factor from the creative point of view. Missing live view too (not needed, but useful e.g. for macro). Although it is a crop body, from reviews you cannot use EF-S lenses on it - so if you want to upgrade you have to go with higher end lenses.
It may help you in deciding to upgrade to something better after just few time

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Big Mike · Oct 28, 2011

The price isn't bad, considering it comes with two lenses...but I have to agree that this is such an old camera, it may be something that you'll want to upgrade before long. If you look around, you could probably find something like a 20D, around that price...and it would be a much better camera.

MLeeK · Oct 28, 2011

If you surf craigslist you can find much newer than that for about the same price. Probably not with the extra lenses and such, but it will produce better quality and it will also have much better abilities. The D60 isn't just old, it's a Dinosaur in camera terms. Very limiting.

Derrel · Oct 28, 2011

You can do better around here in a pawn shop, and get something like a Nikon D80 and 18-55 kit lens for $250...

The Canon D60 had a horrible autofocus system in it...it was absolutely pathetic in indoor and dimmer lighting...the Canon D60 lasted about six months, before it was replaced by the 10D...it was a poor camera, little more than a placeholder, competing against the Fuji S2 Pro and the Nikon D1h and D1x, which were all better "imagers". It was the shortest-lived d-slr model ever produced by any manufacturer.

KmH · Oct 28, 2011

Shutter life would be a concern as would parts availability for a camera that saw limited production. In other words, if the shutter or some other part of the camea did stop working parts to effect a repair may no longer be available.