Second Hand Photography Gear?

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Schwartz

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I am purchasing my first SLR soon and was wondering if I should buy all new, or just get the body new and get some second hand lenses, bags, SD Cards etc.? What do you guys think about this? And what is the usual mark-down on second hand photography goods? And is there anywhere special to look or just gumtree?

Thanks
 
Don't really have an opinoin about new vs secondhand, but check out the classifieds at outdoorphoto.co.za
 
I've bought the majority of my kit second hand and can really recommend it.

The thing about togs, the equipment costs a fair amount of money, so people tend to look after it quite well.

If a lens has been kept in really good condition, and you're saving a boatload on it by going second hand, I don't see why anyone wouldn't. I picked up my Sigma 10 - 20mm wide angle, 70 - 200 F4 L, 50mm F1.8 and 28 - 105mm all second hand, in some cases for less than half of the new price.

As for bodies, same thing applies, though be wary of older bodies and how high the shutter count is, how the body has been treated, if it were fixed for any reason and if so will that issue come back or will something else go?

Personally I'd take a second hand 40D over a brand new 1000D, though I'd bite the bullet and get a brand new semi-pro body or greater brand new(actually what I did with my 60D).

As for cards, they're relatively inexpensive so I'd get a few of them new, same goes for things like filters (unless you need an 86mm filter, then you kak en betaal!), spare batteries etc. Bags are a toss up really, if you see a good deal go for it.

My 2.5c
 
Schwartz said:
I am purchasing my first SLR soon and was wondering if I should buy all new, or just get the body new and get some second hand lenses, bags, SD Cards etc.? What do you guys think about this? And what is the usual mark-down on second hand photography goods? And is there anywhere special to look or just gumtree?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I'd chat to the guys at Orms in town - they're really helpful and I think they sell 2nd hand stuff.
 
Derrick said:
I've bought the majority of my kit second hand and can really recommend it.

The thing about togs, the equipment costs a fair amount of money, so people tend to look after it quite well.

If a lens has been kept in really good condition, and you're saving a boatload on it by going second hand, I don't see why anyone wouldn't. I picked up my Sigma 10 - 20mm wide angle, 70 - 200 F4 L, 50mm F1.8 and 28 - 105mm all second hand, in some cases for less than half of the new price.

As for bodies, same thing applies, though be wary of older bodies and how high the shutter count is, how the body has been treated, if it were fixed for any reason and if so will that issue come back or will something else go?

Personally I'd take a second hand 40D over a brand new 1000D, though I'd bite the bullet and get a brand new semi-pro body or greater brand new(actually what I did with my 60D).

As for cards, they're relatively inexpensive so I'd get a few of them new, same goes for things like filters (unless you need an 86mm filter, then you kak en betaal!), spare batteries etc. Bags are a toss up really, if you see a good deal go for it.

My 2.5c
Click to expand...

Awesome answer! Just what I wanted to hear. Got any suggestions on where to look for second hand stuff?

rsd said:
I'd chat to the guys at Orms in town - they're really helpful and I think they sell 2nd hand stuff.
Click to expand...
I'll give them a shout. Thanks
 
Hey dude

If u interested i have nikon d5000 for sale. Chk the ad on classifieds. Very good cond. just upgraded to d7000. Let me know.
 
Mier said:
Reasons ?
Are you looking for something in a different class ? Budget ? Or just don't like Nikon ?
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I already have my mind set on the Canon 600D. I will use it for quite a bit of film as well as photography. The Nikon D5000 doesn't shoot 1080P and the way the screen folds out I have heard causes tripod problems. Plus, I have used some Canons in the past and like the way they feel and work.

Does anyone know of any other places to look for second hand stuff other than gumtree, these classifieds or the outdoorphoto classifieds?
 
Schwartz said:
I already have my mind set on the Canon 600D. I will use it for quite a bit of film as well as photography. The Nikon D5000 doesn't shoot 1080P and the way the screen folds out I have heard causes tripod problems. Plus, I have used some Canons in the past and like the way they feel and work.

Does anyone know of any other places to look for second hand stuff other than gumtree, these classifieds or the outdoorphoto classifieds?
Click to expand...

Bidorbuy
 
Orms FTW! :)
Try a couple of photography forums maybe? They might have a classifieds/trading section just like MyBB has, but dedicated to Photography. There's also TechnoPro in Joburg. I bought my Nikon D90 kit with hordes of accessories brand new at a great price through BidOrBuy - there are a couple of quality sellers on there. I recommend Eltoro Trading, that's where I got my stuff.

The interwebs are your friend! Maybe grab a photography magazine or two and see if they have a classifieds section, and maybe a corresponding online trading site.
 
jbeen said:
Bidorbuy
Click to expand...
I'll have a look there. But it mostly seems to be shops selling new with the same price as their websites.

AniV said:
Orms FTW! :)
Try a couple of photography forums maybe? They might have a classifieds/trading section just like MyBB has, but dedicated to Photography. There's also TechnoPro in Joburg. I bought my Nikon D90 kit with hordes of accessories brand new at a great price through BidOrBuy - there are a couple of quality sellers on there. I recommend Eltoro Trading, that's where I got my stuff.

The interwebs are your friend! Maybe grab a photography magazine or two and see if they have a classifieds section, and maybe a corresponding online trading site.
Click to expand...

Do you know any photography forums I can check out? Only one I know is outdoorphoto

SiriS said:
What happened with the SACamera 600D deal? Did you confirm price with them?
Click to expand...
Turned out to be a special for the Photo expo or what ever was just on. Back to the 'standard' price of over 9000.
 
Schwartz said:
I already have my mind set on the Canon 600D. I will use it for quite a bit of film as well as photography. The Nikon D5000 doesn't shoot 1080P and the way the screen folds out I have heard causes tripod problems. Plus, I have used some Canons in the past and like the way they feel and work.

Does anyone know of any other places to look for second hand stuff other than gumtree, these classifieds or the outdoorphoto classifieds?
Click to expand...

Fair enough :) At least we now have an idea of what you're looking for
Budget ?
 
Schwartz said:
Awesome answer! Just what I wanted to hear. Got any suggestions on where to look for second hand stuff?
Click to expand...

Most of my second hand stuff has come from the classifieds over at Outdoorphoto.

The rest came from mates who bought the gear overseas.

Also keep an eye out at Orms, they have a very good second hand gear section.

Oh and one last thing, you're set on the 600D, is there a way you can stretch budget to the 60D? It really is a step up and justifies the price IMHO. (I played with both and bought the 60D)
 
Problem with buying second hand canon bodies is you can never be sure how many actuations the body has, unless you can take it in to Canon that it. If you look at my 400D's they're in great condition externally and you might be fooled but they've done 100k+ actuations, probably well above what canon has rated that shutter at.

Buying lenses second hand is a bit easier since you can check for obvious problems - scratched elements, loose mounts and mechanical action, etc. I bought my 300mm f/2.8 second hand from Adorama sight unseen but then I knew they had inspected and rated/graded the lens - I wouldn't extend the same degree of trust to Bob23 on Bid or Buy though. ;)

Like a carpenter with his hammer, I don't treat my gear with kid gloves. :)
 
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Derrick said:
Most of my second hand stuff has come from the classifieds over at Outdoorphoto.

The rest came from mates who bought the gear overseas.

Also keep an eye out at Orms, they have a very good second hand gear section.

Oh and one last thing, you're set on the 600D, is there a way you can stretch budget to the 60D? It really is a step up and justifies the price IMHO. (I played with both and bought the 60D)
Click to expand...
I would love to get the 60D, but I can't stretch my budget to that. If I go with the 60D all I would be able to get was the body and a kit lens. With the 600D it allows me to get some other essentials stuff like memory cards, backpack, tripod, lenses etc.
 
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