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Used Canon DSLR vs NEW Panasonic bridge?

chunx

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I found a used Canon Rebel T2i body with kit 18-55 mm lens & also 55-250mm lens + all the stuff that came in the box, and 1 year left on warranty, plus original receipt, for 600.00

I was looking at a new Panasonic DMC FZ150K for 499 (not including tax/shipping).

I am entry level for anything other than P&S and beginning bridge. I'm not excited about toting around lenses, but I was wondering if I could carry around the smaller lens if I wanted to carry the cam with me in a smaller bag.

I'm not planning on buying an additional P&S, I would justs use my iPhone 4 for snap shots.

Which do you think would be best?

I don't *plan* on buying additional lenses for the DSLR anytime in the near future, would that be necessary?
 
If you are really serious about photography and you don't buy the T2i for $100 more, I would have to say your nuts!!! Put the 18-55 on the T2i and throw it over your shoulder and don't look back, the two cameras are almost identical in size and weight. But the T2i will blow that P&S out of the water!
 
Sonoma is your name? ha! I thought you lived locally as I am in Sonoma County :sexywink:

I was thinking along the same lines as you. I mean, for just a little more $ I can get a good entry level DSLR. I am serious about personal photography, and really enjoy it- but am not planning on joining the professional ranks anytime soon.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Your input is much appreciated!
 
That just doesn't look like a very good deal to me. The 55-250 is pretty much a freebie. So $600 for a used T2i and kit lens? I think you can do better if you're going to buy used.
 
FYI - Canon U.S.A. : Support & Drivers : EOS Rebel T2i EF-S 18-55IS II Kit

The limited warranty set forth below is given by Canon U.S.A., Inc. (Canon U.S.A.) in the United States or Canon Canada Inc., (Canon Canada) in Canada with respect to the Canon brand EOS Digital Camera (the “Product”) *, when purchased and used in the United States or Canada. The Product purchased with this limited warranty is the only EOS Digital Camera to which this limited warranty applies.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. and Canon Canada Inc. (collectively "Canon") warrant to the original end-user purchaser, when delivered in new condition in its original container, that the Product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Product returned to a Canon repair facility and proven to be defective upon inspection will, at Canon’s sole discretion and without charge, be (a) repaired utilizing new, remanufactured, repaired and/or recycled parts; (b) exchanged for a new Product or; (c) exchanged for a refurbished Product, as determined by the Canon repair facility. Warranty exchange or replacement does not extend the original warranty period of the Product.

THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER ANY ACCESSORIES. This limited warranty shall only apply if the Product is used in conjunction with compatible computer equipment and compatible software, as to which items Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, shall have no responsibility. Non-Canon brand equipment and software that may be distributed with the Product are sold "as is" and without warranty of any kind by Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, including any implied warranty regarding merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, and all such warranties are disclaimed. The sole warranty, if any, with the respect to such non-Canon brand items is given by the manufacturer or producer thereof.

This limited warranty covers all defects encountered in normal use of the Product, and does not apply in the following cases:

(a) Loss of or damage to the Product due to abuse, mishandling, improper packaging by you, alteration, accident, electrical current fluctuations, failure to follow operating, maintenance or environmental instructions prescribed in Canon U.S.A.'s or Canon Canada's user's manual or services performed by someone other than Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada, or a Canon authorized service provider for the Product. Without limiting the foregoing, water damage, sand/corrosion damage, battery leakage, dropping the Product, scratches, abrasions or damage to the body, lenses or LCD display or damage to the any of the accessories mentioned in the first paragraph above will be presumed to have resulted from misuse, abuse or failure to operate the Product as set forth in the operating instructions

(b) Use of parts or supplies (other than those sold by Canon U.S.A. or Canon Canada) that cause damage to the Product or cause abnormally frequent service calls or service problems

(c) If the Product has had its serial number or dating altered or removed.

NO IMPLIED WARRANTY, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, APPLIES TO THE PRODUCT AFTER THE APPLICABLE PERIOD OF THE EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY STATED ABOVE, AND NO OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY OR GUARANTY, EXCEPT AS MENTIONED ABOVE, GIVEN BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT SHALL BIND CANON U.S.A. OR CANON CANADA (SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU)..NEITHER CANON U.S.A NOR CANON CANADA SHALL BE LIABLE FOR LOSS OF REVENUES OR PROFITS, INCONVENIENCE, EXPENSE FOR SUBSTITUTE EQUIPMENT OR SERVICE, STORAGE CHARGES, LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF DATA, OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE USE OR MISUSE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE EOS DIGITAL CAMERA, REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY ON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED, AND EVEN IF CANON U.S.A. OR CANON CANADA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL RECOVERY OF ANY KIND AGAINST CANON USA OR CANON CANADA BE GREATER IN AMOUNT THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT SOLD BY CANON USA OR CANON CANADA AND CAUSING THE ALLEGED DAMAGE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGE OR INJURY TO YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY AND TO OTHERS AND THEIR PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF USE OR MISUSE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE PRODUCT NOT CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF CANON USA OR CANON CANADA (SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU). THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL NOT EXTEND TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE PRODUCT, OR THE PERSON FOR WHOM IT WAS PURCHASED AS A GIFT, AND STATES YOUR EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.
 
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KmH has a good point about the warranty. Some 3rd party warranties such as Best Buy or such may be for longer periods of time and may be transferred to another owner, but I believe you must go to the store to get it. $600 seems like a fair price for that package, not a great deal, but fair. I wouldn't trust whatever warranty the buyer says exists so I would find a friend or someone who knows a lot about DSLR's and can look at it for you. If you don't know anyone shoot me a message and I'll give you as much info as I can about buying and selling used equipment (I do quite a bit of it and there are some risks out there).

If everything works good, the T2i deal is the much better deal.
 
I have a T1i, and I don't consider myself a rank amateur. Probably an unevenly-seasoned amateur. You can use the T2i as a point-and-shoot, if you are so inclined, and take baby steps to control (let the camera focus, or you focus [AF vs. manual focus], you can let the camera set the exposure [P], or you can control one aspect [Av or Tv], or you can go full monty (er, manual). It will allow you to go much further, in terms of overall control of your images, than any P&S. But to wring out the maximum goodness out of it, you'll have to learn about the exposure triangle (kinda like the Bermuda triangle, but you get to come back), DOF (also known as Depth-of-field or "how to use blur to get rid of annoying stuff"), and focus placement (how to use sharpness to tell the viewer where to look).
 
thanks, KMH, I figured as much- it makes sense. Bazooka, is 600 really too much?I asked to give 550...would that be reasonable? She originally said 700! My husband just said to get a new one but the new kit comes w.1 lens & is 880 (including tax). BUT, it IS new...than again, I AM a newbie. Hmf.
 
Yes, Pgriz, right you are. I don't plan on using it mostly in auto but don't have time or extra $ for a class, but, I *can* read & plan on checking out a few of the recommended books on this forum :)
 
Ok. Now it's 550, final price. She said it includes 2 uv filters & memory cardBatteries , charger & cable..
 
I'd have to say I'd think really hard about choosing the bridge in your case. Although the Panasonic isn't what I'd choose, personally. I'd probably go with the Nikon P500 or the Canon SX40 HS. Panasonic is good and if I had to go anything other than Canon or Nikon? That would be right there in the running.

Why would I go with the bridge: you said you are not inclined to tote around lenses and the smaller lens is NOT going to give you the zoom you will WANT and a longer lens will not give you the ability to take quick family snapshots up closer, so... you'll need 2 lenses. You aren't inclined to buy other lenses: there are lenses on the market that will cover everything from wide to zoom, but you'd have to purchase one AND they are not going to give you the zoom that the Nikon P500 or The Canon SX40 HS does.

My biggest question in the decision to go with the bridge would be do you ever envision yourself being a very avid amateur photographer who wants to go to a new level? The bridge will allow you everything that a DSLR does and more zoom than you can buy for thousands of dollars in the lens. BUT if you think you may someday want to take this hobby to another level? Buy the DSLR.
 
Ok. Now it's 550, final price. She said it includes 2 uv filters & memory cardBatteries , charger & cable..

I'd probably purchase it and sell it if it's not what you want!
 
I'd buy the d-slr for the "good camera" aspect, and use the iPhone for everyday, always-with-me kind of shots. I'm not that sold on Panasonic's durability...not too long ago my $400 Panny conked out...
 
haha re:selling it. I know what you are saying on all points, MLeek, and understand where you are coming from. I wouldn't have even considered this except that it's 550 & I know I'll have to study to use either the bridge or the DSLr (to use them on manual), and the price now is the same as most bridges I was looking at, if not less.
 

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