Which old DSLR for £200

ernesto

ernesto

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Sorry, another "which camera" camera thread to add to todays list.

After a bit of help on 6-8 year old cameras as don't know what was good bad at that time.

- The price is set at £200 (including 1 lens - happy with kit or preferably 50 prime)
- Only after a DSLR as want the IQ and speed of operation (AF mainly) that it brings


I have used a Sony A700 with a 50/1.8 that father in law gave us but my wife has commandeered it otherwise I would just use that. Not interested in newer offerings as do not want swivel screen, live view, video etc, etc,. the A700 does everything I need a camera to do.

Options seem to be cameras such as Canon 20D, Nikon D40/50, Pentax K110D. I am steering towards the Canon but can anyone with any experience of those times (so long ago I know) offer any advice as to what the best bargain generally is for £200 as I am likely yo be missing some options due to lack of knowledge.
 
As a Nikon man, I'd suggest either D50 or D70/s and whatever kit lens you can get hold of. Both should be available around the £100 mark on ebay. For some reason, D40's go for a fair bit more but in my opinion are a lesser camera.

Alternatively, grab an older sony or minolta body so you can share lenses with the A700.
 
I used a 20D for q few years, and got some excellent results with it. Camera can be picked up for approx £120 these days in good nick, then you have money for a 50mm F1.8.
 
Thanks for the responses. Looks like I was on right track and good pointer on the D50 or D70 going for less than D40. Guess D40 seems to have captured something that is keeping the price higher (rightly or wrongly)

Wanted to stay away from Sony as didn't want the his and hers effect :)
 
gad-westy said:
As a Nikon man, I'd suggest either D50 or D70/s and whatever kit lens you can get hold of. Both should be available around the £100 mark on ebay. For some reason, D40's go for a fair bit more but in my opinion are a lesser camera.
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I reckon it's because they work with Pre-AI Nikkor lenses so appeal to bargain hunters using older glass on digital.
 
You could pick up a Pentax K10D for that price. It was their high end body a few years ago, so weather sealing and in-body image stabilisation. It's a nice form factor too. Main potential downside is that it's a CCD, so if you want high iso images it will give you 800 at decent quality and 1600 will be noisy. But the flip side is that 100 and 200 iso images will look gorgeous - arguably better than on a CMOS sensor. You can also go on the hunt for old, cheap pentax glass to use on the body. Definitely a better bet than the k110d you mention.
 
Thanks Brian, one to add to the list. I forgot to mention that I only really take outdoor daylight photos so can pretty much stay on ISO 100 or 200.
 
I'd go with a pentax. Same in body stabilisation and you can use rafts of old pentax lenses.
 
boliston said:
I reckon it's because they work with Pre-AI Nikkor lenses so appeal to bargain hunters using older glass on digital.
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Indeed, though on the flipside the D50 and D70 will auto focus with AF and AF-D lenses which might be more handy these days.
 
i started on an olympus e1 - olympuses old pro camera. very very robust and lovely to hold and use... used for motorsport and never had any AF issues fast but only 5mb so you cant pixed count too much but didnt bother me too much
 
Lez325 said:
I have an a700 for sale

Les :thumbs:
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Thanks Les, but as per my his and hers comment and having teh exact same camera as my wife would be very dire. Would be getting matching clothes next (yes, I look fine in a skirt)
 
ernesto said:
Thanks Les, but as per my his and hers comment and having teh exact same camera as my wife would be very dire. Would be getting matching clothes next (yes, I look fine in a skirt)
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Although personally I'd opt for a 20D which is an excellent camera, having the same mount as your other half makes a huge amount of sense. Budgets for lenses and other kit can be combined, which in the long run makes a substantial saving.

If you don't want the same body, then consider picking a different model from the same range!
 
I'd just stick a sticker over the sony badge then no one would realise you both had the same brand...
 
I sold my 30D (boxed with everything, even the plastic bags for the cables! but missing the eye piece, £5 replacement from eBay) for £160 last week.
 
DemiLion said:
Although personally I'd opt for a 20D which is an excellent camera, having the same mount as your other half makes a huge amount of sense. Budgets for lenses and other kit can be combined, which in the long run makes a substantial saving.

If you don't want the same body, then consider picking a different model from the same range!
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Hear what you are saying but she is a one lens wife. She will not let me even think about removing that 50/1.7 from it so no sharing would be occuring. (She takes solely portraity stuff and is stubborn as a mule).
 
I bought a 20D a couple of months back with an 18-55 lens for £150ish, I'm loving it but really need to get to understand it better than I currently do, and it takes great pictures as well.
 
ernesto said:
Thanks Les, but as per my his and hers comment and having teh exact same camera as my wife would be very dire. Would be getting matching clothes next (yes, I look fine in a skirt)
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:lol::lol::lol: I'll bet you do, too late now its sold this afternoon on this very forum :thumbs:


Les :D

look forward to seeing some " you in a skirt" shots in due course :lol:
 
I've got something a bit different, a Fujifilm S3 Pro and lens for £175

Also, picked up an 18-55 VR for £45.
 
I picked up an old Nikon DX -1,in vgc for £150,build like an tank :)

But their so many out their, saw an Olympus E500 with 2 lens for £180 the other day.

Just check with some of the older model,that's the sensor is not to full of dust bunnies,my 1st one an Canon 20D was,but the shop I brought it adgree to clean it. :)
 
D70s good choice, also syncs with flash at silly high speeds (if you are into the strobist thing)
 
I am looking into getting a K10D to keep company to my K5 if only for the CCD sensor which in lower ISOs provides some fantastic results while being weather sealed and have IBIS. If weather sealing is not as important as a slightly more modern specification in a lesser body then the K200D is rather nice and retains that CCD (CCD apparently provides sharper punchier results in lower ISOs than the almost universally used CMOS nowadays but it falls behind on high ISO noise).

Having said that I still have my D40. Fantastic camera very simple very easy very small and light and feels very comfortable in the hand. Pair it with the 35mm 1.8 or a 17-50 Tamron and it will never disappoint. It has done 15k for me and I doubt I will ever let it unless it dies on me.
 
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D100 is a solid choice as well, took some great images with mine
 
D50 and a 50mm f/1.8D ?
 
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