W00t, got the Digital Rebel kit w/75-300 just now for $190

[996GT2]

So I had been planning to get a Nikon D40 or D50, but just the other day I saw a Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) kit for sale on Craigslist at $250, which was a pretty good deal in itself. I managed to bargain the guy down to $190, and this is what I picked up today:

What I got for $190

The owner gave me quite a lot of stuff, including the camera body, kit 18-55 EF-S lens, EF 75-300mm III USM lens, polarizing filter, 2 GB SanDisk Ultra II CF card, 256 MB SanDisk CF card, original CDs, original manuals, and even the warranty card (not filled out).

I'm probably going to eBay the 75-300mm USM lens...could probably make at least $100 off of it since I'm seeing quite a few for sale at $150 on eBay. Then I'll probably get the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens first and use that until I feel the need to move up to a better zoom to replace the (pretty bad) 18-55 kit lens.

Here's a picture I took of my friend's cat today (it just got surgery on one eye, in case you're wondering about one eye being closed):

Sample Pic

I can't really tell any major dust, but can you SLR pros confirm that for me? Also, are any of the online sensor cleaning kits good?

The camera is in pretty good shape cosmetically, with a few scratches. It does have a missing rubber grip, though, which is the biggest problem with it right now. Anyone know where I could pick up a replacement for cheap?

Again, thanks for all your help. I know I didn't end up with the D40 like I had intended, but the 300D also has pretty impressive high ISO performance so I hope it'll serve me well for a year or two until I get good enough at photography to warrant buying a new SLR.

 

[ElFenix]

for dust set the camera to Av mode and set the aperture to the smallest setting (largest number). then take a picture of a white wall or something.

ATOT - where men post about cats

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
for dust set the camera to Av mode and set the aperture to the smallest setting (largest number). then take a picture of a white wall or something.

ATOT - where men post about cats

Haha, I couldn't find anything else interesting to shoot at my friend's house today so I just shot a pic of his cat XD

About the dust issue, I did that in Av mode f/36

Dust

There's quite a bit of dust on the sensor at f/36 in AV mode, so it looks like I'll have to get it cleaned ASAP.

Btw, do these sensor cleaning kits really work? http://www.photosol.com/swabproduct.htm

Oh, anyone know where I could find a replacement rubber hand grip for the 300D? The one on mine fell off so it's just plastic where the black part is. That's the only cosmetic issue I have right now.

 

[ElFenix]

sensor cleaning is a voodoo art. the safest way i've heard of is using a rocket blower. point camera with the mount facing down, point blower up into the camera, blow, wait, blow, wait, blow, wait.

as for grip i dunno. you could buy an uncut sheet from cameraleather.com and cut to fit.

 

[jpeyton]

If a Rocket blower doesn't work on the dust, most independent camera shops offer wet sensor cleaning for around $40.

 

[996GT2]

Would this do the trick? It contains Eclipse (reportedly good?) and sensor swabs.

Ebay Link

...Or would it be better to just have it professionally done?

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
If a Rocket blower doesn't work on the dust, most independent camera shops offer wet sensor cleaning for around $40.

You couldn't pay me to put anything on my sensor.

I'd bring it to a shop.

Oh, and grats on the gear

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: jpeyton
If a Rocket blower doesn't work on the dust, most independent camera shops offer wet sensor cleaning for around $40.

You couldn't pay me to put anything on my sensor.

I'd bring it to a shop.

What does the shop clean it with?

I have used sensor wipes without any issues. I would just recommend that they not be used all the time. The rocket blower will work most of the time. It's just in those cases where there is a piece of dust that just won't come off that you need the wipes.

And OP that is an awesome deal of the kit. My daughter loves photography and I would love to find a deal like that for her. Just so she wouldn't accidently drop $1200+ of camera and lens on the ground when she borrows mine.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: jpeyton
If a Rocket blower doesn't work on the dust, most independent camera shops offer wet sensor cleaning for around $40.

You couldn't pay me to put anything on my sensor.

I'd bring it to a shop.

What does the shop clean it with?

I have used sensor wipes without any issues. I would just recommend that they not be used all the time. The rocket blower will work most of the time. It's just in those cases where there is a piece of dust that just won't come off that you need the wipes.

And OP that is an awesome deal of the kit. My daughter loves photography and I would love to find a deal like that for her. Just so she wouldn't accidently drop $1200+ of camera and lens on the ground when she borrows mine.

I should have said I'd bring it to a shop if a good blow didn't work. I don't know what shops use - but I'd expect they have someone who does it all the time and if by some strange chance they nudge something out of alignment, scratch something - whatever, they'll fix it.

 

[ultimatebob]

That was a most excellent deal! Congrats!

 

[PowerRanger]

Check Copperhill, their site will show you how to clean it via "wet" method, and you can also order the products there as well: http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: PowerRanger
Check Copperhill, their site will show you how to clean it via "wet" method, and you can also order the products there as well: http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

Yeah, I got a variant of the Copper Hill kit on eBay; it's supposed to get here in a week.