Novice Starter Camera
28-Nov-2007, 04:55 PM
#1
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Novice Starter Camera
My brother's good friend is looking to purchase a new SLR camera for Chrastmas and wants to sell his old one. He told him I was getting into the scene and was interested in buying his old one. It's a Nikon D40 DSLR. He's including the 18-55mm lens, 2GB Lexar Pro Digital SD memory card, and a camera bag. He's asking $500. If I want to buy it new, Black's is offering the updated version for $699 + taxes... which is the Nikon D40x. Differences is the D40x is 10.1 megapixel. The D40 is 6.0 megapixel. The FAST memory card and the camera bag will run another $100 new. So, for a starter like me, worth spending $500 for a used one compare to around $900 for a new one?
Last edited by xray; 28-Nov-2007 at 04:57 PM.
28-Nov-2007, 07:55 PM
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29-Nov-2007, 02:59 PM
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okay so a year..
12/01/06 was the actual release date
i was just letting him know of my mistake, that there was a 2 yr. on the body not the lens
depending on when it was originally purchased you'll have 2 years
guess i should have spelled it out more specifically for the **** retentive
12/01/06 was the actual release date
i was just letting him know of my mistake, that there was a 2 yr. on the body not the lens
depending on when it was originally purchased you'll have 2 years
guess i should have spelled it out more specifically for the **** retentive
29-Nov-2007, 03:22 PM
#10
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what you need to tell us first is whats your budget?
in my opinion, you cant really compare this purchase of $500 vs. $900 for the upgraded D40X outright cuz they include totally different products. The D40 is still available for sale in some locations for $550 with the kit lens. (lets forget about the memory card and bag for a moment)
if your budget is limited and you are concerned about warranty....i would suggest you look for a deal first at henrys or elsewhere first for a used unit cuz they will offer you a 30 day warranty plus the option of buying an additional one year at a price. having said that...to fork out $400 or so (assuming your brother's friend will agree to sell it at that price) is kinda tricky cuz the camera is 1.5-2 years old anyway.
for e.g.
downtown camera is right now selling reburbished canon rebel xt 8mp with the kit lens for $500 plus tax....this includes their 90 day warranty plus you can buy an additional year for 60 bucks. i saw this deal last week so check with them if its still on. again..i say cuz you mentioned warranty alot.
regarding the kit lens:
most kit lenses are very basic in nature and are generally limited in their performance (i dont mean to say they are bad or useless). to take good photos with the kit lens, you need a great amount of skill and technique. in case of nikon...only AF-S labeled nikorr lenses will support autofocus i believe (nikon owners can confirm this)...so consider that since you might upgrade in the future.
in my opinion, you cant really compare this purchase of $500 vs. $900 for the upgraded D40X outright cuz they include totally different products. The D40 is still available for sale in some locations for $550 with the kit lens. (lets forget about the memory card and bag for a moment)
if your budget is limited and you are concerned about warranty....i would suggest you look for a deal first at henrys or elsewhere first for a used unit cuz they will offer you a 30 day warranty plus the option of buying an additional one year at a price. having said that...to fork out $400 or so (assuming your brother's friend will agree to sell it at that price) is kinda tricky cuz the camera is 1.5-2 years old anyway.
for e.g.
downtown camera is right now selling reburbished canon rebel xt 8mp with the kit lens for $500 plus tax....this includes their 90 day warranty plus you can buy an additional year for 60 bucks. i saw this deal last week so check with them if its still on. again..i say cuz you mentioned warranty alot.
regarding the kit lens:
most kit lenses are very basic in nature and are generally limited in their performance (i dont mean to say they are bad or useless). to take good photos with the kit lens, you need a great amount of skill and technique. in case of nikon...only AF-S labeled nikorr lenses will support autofocus i believe (nikon owners can confirm this)...so consider that since you might upgrade in the future.
29-Nov-2007, 05:19 PM
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Sorry guys about the year of ownership. He mentioned he got it in 06 so I was assuming it's about 1.5 to 2 years old. I see an ad today for the D40 kit with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II for a combo price of $590. Pretty good price if you ask me. The D40X is $730 with the same kit. So, from most of you, this deal is a no go, I presummed. Thanks for the input.
29-Nov-2007, 09:50 PM
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Hey Whiplash, he's not budging under $480. I'm gonna try to talk him down to $450 as my final. I weigh a few options and I can say that as a starter camera for me, I'll see if I could buy his before I go buy a new one. He's even giving me a few tuitorials before I buy. 
30-Nov-2007, 09:37 AM
#16
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k, camera is at most a year old, and compared to what he spent on it 
you're getting a pretty good deal
but, what they go for now is what you are dealing with, and the depreciated value plus the change in the market ain't your problem it's his
you are getting the camera which imo is a bit of a hidden gem..
a memory card (which i'd change up when the funds are available)
plus a lens (i've never tried it, have heard some good about it, but have seen most rate it as the lowest of the available kit lenses....so there's a good chance too that you'll want to change it up too when the funds become available....ya never know tho, Mandie uses a cheepie lens (18-135) and has won contests with it so...)
Aden right now wants $450 just for the body
out the door you're at $510 or so with taxes
add a lens, memory and a bag you're at $700+
camera is at most a year old
you're getting a pretty good dealbut, what they go for now is what you are dealing with, and the depreciated value plus the change in the market ain't your problem it's his
you are getting the camera which imo is a bit of a hidden gem..
a memory card (which i'd change up when the funds are available)
plus a lens (i've never tried it, have heard some good about it, but have seen most rate it as the lowest of the available kit lenses....so there's a good chance too that you'll want to change it up too when the funds become available....ya never know tho, Mandie uses a cheepie lens (18-135) and has won contests with it so...)
Aden right now wants $450 just for the body
out the door you're at $510 or so with taxes
add a lens, memory and a bag you're at $700+
camera is at most a year old
03-Dec-2007, 03:20 PM
#17
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I checked out Aden downtown and it's $520 with the kit mentioned. So, under 6 bills tax in. I can get a new one with the 2 yr on body and 5 yr on lens and the salesman says he'll give me a deal on the card and bag (prob another 100) so 700 for a new camera compare to 480, I'll save around 220 for a used one minus the 1 year on the body. What do you think?
03-Dec-2007, 04:46 PM
#18
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go check the camera yourself that your friend is selling, if it is good working condition...buy it for 480 cuz six months down the road, the price of your new setup will be that much anyway. i am recommending this assuming you are a very tight budget.
03-Dec-2007, 05:11 PM
#19
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6 minutes down the road Sal..
walk out the store and lose 30% on a brand new camera..k, two weeks anyway cuz that's what Henry's no-questions policy is (i think)
imo, if the camera is clean, no lost pixels grab it...save the $220 and put it towards another lens like the 50mm 1.8
walk out the store and lose 30% on a brand new camera..k, two weeks anyway cuz that's what Henry's no-questions policy is (i think)
imo, if the camera is clean, no lost pixels grab it...save the $220 and put it towards another lens like the 50mm 1.8
03-Dec-2007, 07:29 PM
#20
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agreed
and instead of the 50, i would recommend saving up for the Nikorr 18-200mm VR...its not that expensive at all and one of the most pleasing results i have seen personally. i wish canon had something similar for that price.
and instead of the 50, i would recommend saving up for the Nikorr 18-200mm VR...its not that expensive at all and one of the most pleasing results i have seen personally. i wish canon had something similar for that price.
