Can't decide need some help!

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Gixasix

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Looking to buy a better camera body but can't decide between these!

I've started to get some regular paid togging work but at the moment i've only got a D40 and no back up camera which isn't ideal but it was all i could afford at the time.

The options i've been looking at are..

Buying a Nikon D300 on buy now pay later! Or search for a 2nd hand one but there doesn't seem to be many around that are much cheaper than buying it new.

A 2nd hand D200.

Fuji S5pro

Or switching to Canon and buying the 40D and lenses 2nd hand and a friend has offered me a 350D that i could have as a back up.

I've really set my heart on the D300 but i would be pushing my finances to the limit to buy it and the prices don't look like they will drop anytime soon.

The D200 and Fuji S5pro would work with my current lenses but the other toggers i've asked say the Canon 40D is far superior to these two.(Might be a biased opinion since they were all Canon users:D)

Has anybody got any advice or opinions on any of these please? :shrug:
 
Just my opinion but if you can't afford to pay for it upfront then you can't really afford it.

Since you have some lenses for Nikon, it would be a little foolish to sell them to finance a whole new system - you'll lose money on all of them (unless you were lucky and got them cheap 2nd hand) and do the same on any Canon gear you buy.

The D200 is faster (framerate and writing to the card) than the S5 but the S5 has a greater dynamic range..

I would stick with what you've got and save hard for that D300 you've got your heart set on - it may drop in price again over the next few months.
 
:agree: unless you know that you will have guaranteed income to cover the cost of the repayments.

It also depends on what you are shooting - the S5 is a bargain if you have a use for it, but a waste of money if you don't. The price of a new D300 would buy you a new S5 and a secondhand D200, with enough change (if you sold your D40) to buy a couple of battery grips
 
Thanks for the replies!

Nod i was going to wait and save the rest of the cash but i've been offered the chance to do my first wedding in December and i would prefer to have 2 cameras as it's not the sort of thing i can go back and retake if anything goes wrong with the camera.

I have enough cash in hand to get the D200 S5pro or 40D 2nd hand plus 3 Canon using friends i could borrow additional lenses from if i switched to Canon.I do want the D300 but although i could do it on buy now pay next year i'd prefer to pay outright as i don't have any debt at the moment and would like to stay that way!

Flash in the pan most of the paid work i'm getting is coming from music gigs,events and local companies promo shots but i like shooting boardsports,mountain biking and motorsports for myself and friends.I've been told the S5pro is great for weddings and potrait work but not much use for sports stuff.
 
Don't rule out the D90 - most of the important bits of the D300 for a lot less money.
 
Thanks Nico i hadn't really thought about the D90 as they weren't launched when i started looking! Might have a look in Jessops on my way home from work!
 
Nicos Rex said:
Don't rule out the D90 - most of the important bits of the D300 for a lot less money.
Click to expand...

That depends on what you consider important

Oh never buy on "buy now pay later"

you never know what life may throw your way:)
 
Gixasix, I did buy now, pay later with warehousexpress and it didn't harm, but I wanted gear there and then and didn't have to funds to buy outright. I suppose it's all about how comfortable you are with debt.

If you're a hobbyist and aren't looking to sell work then there's no way of making it pay unless you do, as you mentioned, the odd wedding etc.

I have a D200 and it's great. A used one does make sense, especially as a lot of people will have upgraded to D300s and I bet you'll find some sweet, nearly new ones for £450 floating around...

... but if you go onto www.ffordes.com they're doing S5 Pros for £420 from tomorrow. Go into NEW > DIGITAL CAMERAS > FUJI > S5 PRO

Stick with Nikon. Going to a 40D instead of a D200/S5/D300 is like going from High Def to a black & white telly!! :)
 
Thanks PsiFox I know what you mean i'm trying to talk myself out of the buy now pay later! I've got a bit of cash to put towards it but i know only too well that a lot can change in a year!

Thanks Specialman! I think it is now down to the D200 or S5pro! I think i was listening too much to the Canon loving mates trying to convert me but i have been very happy with the results my little D40 has produced!:lol:

I am just a hobbyist who never intended to get paid work but when people started offering to pay me i kind of changed my mind! Although i would love to i'm probably never going to be a full time pro but the last few months has shown me that i could hopefully have a good part time business from doing something that i love!

Thanks for the heads up about the S5pro at ffordes! I might nip to one of the local camera shops for another play with it before i decide!:D
 
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