View Full Version : Need advice prior to buying a used Canon 350d
ChrisBlack
22-07-2007, 19:53
I'm a bug's willy away from buying a used, but apparently in very good condition, Canon 350d w/ kit lens from ebay.
I've managed to whittle the nice guy down to £300, which I think is a decent price, given the going rate on ebay at the mo.
Before I part with my hard earned though, I've realised that this chap appears to be semi-pro and the camera may have taken a hammering, so what I'm requesting from you lovely peeps is advice to how many exposures is too many to consider buying at this price and is there a way I can physically check on the camera itself - i.e. will it tell me how many snaps this guy has taken :?:
All advice muchly appreciated - cheers in advance! :thumbs:
Uncle Stewie
22-07-2007, 23:17
For an extra £50 or so (and peace of mind) you can get the 350D plus kit lens from Tesco Direct (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(898)a(60823)g(19972)url(http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-5353.aspx)). You'll also get the full warranty this way too.
If you're set on a Canon I'd go for a 2nd hand 20D. It's much more solidly built than the 350D, has far better handling and the viewfinder is brighter. You should be able to pick one up for about £400.
However, if I was buying a system from scratch now, I'd be very tempted by the Pentax K10D. Again, a much better build than the 350.
http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-pentax-k10d-18-55-lens-kit.htm
RobDickinson
23-07-2007, 02:32
350's shutter life is 50-100k, not heard of many breaking TBH and its sold an awfull lot - any issues should be fairly apprebnt by now.
As for built more solidly, how often do you drop or drive a truck over your camera, my 350 is solid and doesnt feel fragile at all. I prefer its smaller size and lower weight.
IMo tho go for the tesco new one.
ChrisBlack
23-07-2007, 05:07
Brilliant! Thanks for the advice :)
One last question (though no promises! ;) ) If you had a choice between the 350d and the ever so slightly cheaper Nikon D40, which would you plumb for?
Sprout Crumble
23-07-2007, 05:14
350d.
D40 is too limited in spec to satisfy for long.
I'd also echo Rick67. The K10d (also £499.99 at Jessops) is a top bit of kit and the 20d is superior to the 350 in every way.
ChrisBlack
23-07-2007, 05:39
Ah, but the problem is an extremely tight budget ;) I'm only VERY amateur at the mo, and that extra £100 could be put towards a 2nd lens or something.
Cheers again for the advice :thumbs:
I understand that you want it as cheap as possible. I bought my 350D straight off the internet without actually physically comparing it with the competition in a shop.
It really is difficult to emphasize the quality difference between the 350 and 20D from a physical point of view (or the K10D) for that matter.
I strongly suggest you try them out in a shop before buying. I couldn't get on with the small size, feel and viewfinder of the 350 (it really is quite fiddly), so ended up getting the 20D within 6mths. The Nikon D80 also feels a good deal better than the 350 and has a much brighter viewfinder.
Although the 20D has been replaced by the 30D they're almost identical pyhsically.
The feel of the camera makes a huge difference to the pleasure you get in taking photos. Saving £100 or so could be a false economy (you won't get a great autofocus lens for that price).
ChrisBlack
23-07-2007, 14:38
Again, thanks for the input and advice, and I've now changed my mind as a result. I've now decided to go for the new 350D from Tesco, as opposed to buying 2nd hand - thus having the peace of mind of the warranty and not worrying about the camera taking a battering (metaphorically speaking). Still can't justify the extra cost of a higher model to the missus - even £358 was pushing it :lol:
Thanks again, people! :thumbs:
PS - Don't suppose anyone has a discount code for Tesco Direct that works? :shrug:
Ah well did my best! Here's a mint 20D body anyway - just for an example. £379. Absolute bargain...
ebay (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=582776&mpre=http%3A//cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EOS-20D-Body-only-Digital-Camera_W0QQitemZ170133487581QQihZ007QQcategoryZ31388QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
kungfuman
24-07-2007, 06:19
Ah well did my best! Here's a mint 20D body anyway - just for an example. £379. Absolute bargain...
ebay (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=582776&mpre=http%3A//cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EOS-20D-Body-only-Digital-Camera_W0QQitemZ170133487581QQihZ007QQcategoryZ31388QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
i dont think that a photo of the actual body he's selling, so there's no way of telling if its any good. the 20d is a very good body though (and i'm a nikon user:eek:) but if i was the OP i would also go for a new body.
PS - Don't suppose anyone has a discount code for Tesco Direct that works? :shrug:
There seem to be a few available, but I'm afraid I can't post them as I don't have the T&Cs
i dont think that a photo of the actual body he's selling, so there's no way of telling if its any good. the 20d is a very good body though (and i'm a nikon user) but if i was the OP i would also go for a new body.
I agree, this looks like a stock photo, but the description says "perfect" condition and the seller has sold a lot of items with good feedback. In this case I'd say it's a very good buy.
I bought my 20D from ebay with a similar description - and it was mint. For an extra £20 over the 350 it just seems a no-brainer (a kit 18-55 Canon lens on top of this could be had for £30 or so).
ChrisBlack
25-07-2007, 05:35
Just an update really. And a complete about turn, too!
After bimbling on the internet for a considerable while, I was looking at a few comparison reviews between the 350d and the Nikon D40 (especially dpreview.com) and stand alone reviews for both products, and I've now gone for the D40. Most common irritants seem to be AF points (only 3 of), the megapixel myth and the lenses. Nikon appear to be making more and more AF-S lenses, so I'm expecting prices to come down, and the D40's kit lens is apparently better that the 350D/400D equivalent. On top of that, its easy to use (Yay!) and there was a dicsount at Curry's plus that carrot that is the £60 cashback from Nikon....
New entry level dSLR for complete noob....
Done! :thumbs:
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