Second Hand Photography Gear?

bwana said:
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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Thanks. I am thinking of getting the body new and the rest used, unless I find an unbeatable price.

SiriS said:
Sorry to hear!

I can't vouch for these guys, but I followed to them from a OutdoorPhoto ad a while back. They're in Cape Town -

http://www.pinnaclesales.co.za/-canonpre-.htm
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I know :( I'll check them out thanks.
 
I was looking for second hand stands the other day and googled "photography forums" found a bunch that had a classifieds section.
 
Deezil said:
Not that my opinion counts for much but that is a perfect approach to take ... bodies are disposable (sort-of), good lenses will last forever!
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Your opinion is greatly thanked. My research has told me the same thing. You may upgrade the body every few years, but you keep the lens for good(unless you change brand :p )
 
Schwartz said:
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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Completely understandable, all the accessories need to fit somewhere into the budget. 600D is still quite a nice piece of kit.

Deezil said:
Not that my opinion counts for much but that is a perfect approach to take ... bodies are disposable (sort-of), good lenses will last forever!
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Good lenses will last forever indeed, I've got some mint glass from the 70s and 80s that is as sharp as the day it rolled off the factory floor. :) Pity its all the wrong (old) mount.
 
Macro lenses with a FD to EOS converter work, but you lose focus-to-infinity. Love using a FD 50mm f/2.5 Macro with my 350D :)
 
Deezil said:
Let me guess ... Canon FD ?
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Spot on the money, you might recognise the list:

  • Canon 35 - 105mm 1:3.5
  • Canon 35 - 70mm 1:4
  • Canon 80 - 200mm 1:4
  • Canon 17mm 1:4
  • Canon 100 - 300mm 1:5.6

Those above that I can remember, among others. Think I have 10 or 12 FD lenses, and a host of Mamiya Sekor that go along with my medium format Mamiya body.

Still haven't gotten round to finding an FD to EF/EF-S converter that you mentioned 3 years ago. :p
 
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Deezil said:
Not that my opinion counts for much but that is a perfect approach to take ... bodies are disposable (sort-of), good lenses will last forever!
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That used to be the case but these days lenses are full of electronics and motors and you really can't have the same expectations with those.
 
Schwartz said:
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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I understand why you're thinking about doing that, but if you do that, most of your stuff is going to be middle of the road. I'd go for the 60D then save and buy the other stuff as I could afford it. It's what I'm doing at the moment, actually. All the rest like backpacks, lenses and tripods you'll always find 2nd hand deals on anyway.
 
Randhir said:
I understand why you're thinking about doing that, but if you do that, most of your stuff is going to be middle of the road. I'd go for the 60D then save and buy the other stuff as I could afford it. It's what I'm doing at the moment, actually. All the rest like backpacks, lenses and tripods you'll always find 2nd hand deals on anyway.
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For the moment, I am happy with middle of the road equipment. I am not doing any professional work.
 
Schwartz said:
For the moment, I am happy with middle of the road equipment. I am not doing any professional work.
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No reason not to be, it's a nice bit of kit. Enjoy :)
 
I have found a 600D, 18-55mm, 16GB SDHC and a Camera bag for R7k. I think it is an awesome deal, but I also need a zoom lens. And from what I can see, the 55-250mm is about R2500 which makes buying the R7k 600D the same price as buying it all new. What do you guys think?

EDIT: If I get the 55-250mm used it is about R1500 so it will be about R8600 in total for everything which is R1k less than the new bundle. Should I try make it happen?
 
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Schwartz said:
I have found a 600D, 18-55mm, 16GB SDHC and a Camera bag for R7k. I think it is an awesome deal, but I also need a zoom lens. And from what I can see, the 55-250mm is about R2500 which makes buying the R7k 600D the same price as buying it all new. What do you guys think?
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You can have my 55-250 for R1700, currently retails for R2,895 at Orms. Brand new condition. PM me if you are interested.
 
This special honestly made we want to cry! Why can I only buy this camera in November :(
IMG_0939.JPG
 
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