What should I expect to pay?

[Homerboy]

I'm starting to look for a DSLR (used)... but I have no idea what I should be expecting to pay for one.

I'm really just looking for a moderate DSLR that can be used to take product pictures for my wife's business, pics of the kids and family, friends, vacations etc etc... not "pro-quality" just "best quality for a decent price".

Ability to take HD video would be a pretty nice bonus too. Film the kids' sporting events etc.

Stock lens would be fine for now too. Though in the near future I'd like to pick up a decent long lens.

Suggestions? Comments?
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Anubis]

expect a grand

Nikon D3100 + Nikon 18-200 VR2 would be what i would recommend

 

[Homerboy]

expect a grand

Nikon D3100 + Nikon 18-200 VR2 would be what i would recommend

A grand for a USED DSLR with stock lens?

 

[Anubis]

well no you wont find that used as the D3100 was just released. i should prob read posts

prob get a used D90 with kit lens for less then 500 bones

 

[magomago]

Depends where you go. IMO you have no reason to get anything more than an entry level cam. I wouldn't be hoodwinked into thinking I need a K-7, D300, or even a 40D.

FYI: don't plan to use the dslr like a videocam and run around with it because that won't work well unless you treat it like a photographic tool

If going used, I'd look at K-x (http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-K-x-2-7...4057824&sr=8-3), Canon T1i or T1i, Nikon D3100 or D90, or the entry level olympus or sony cams (honestly i know very little about the last two)

As far as price is concerned it depends...I wouldn't think you'd get it less than 400 for a body. Some of the new kits these days are pretty cheap (ie: the K-x)

 

[Homerboy]

well no you wont find that used as the D3100 was just released. i should prob read posts

prob get a used D90 with kit lens for less then 500 bones

LOL was going to say... "WTF?!?!?"
I see the D90 tossed around here and other places. It seems to be the "standard work horse"

Now who is selling!?!?!

 

[Homerboy]

Depends where you go. IMO you have no reason to get anything more than an entry level cam. I wouldn't be hoodwinked into thinking I need a K-7, D300, or even a 40D.

FYI: don't plan to use the dslr like a videocam and run around with it because that won't work well unless you treat it like a photographic tool

If going used, I'd look at K-x (http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-K-x-2-7...4057824&sr=8-3), Canon T1i or T1i, Nikon D3100 or D90, or the entry level olympus or sony cams (honestly i know very little about the last two)

As far as price is concerned it depends...I wouldn't think you'd get it less than 400 for a body. Some of the new kits these days are pretty cheap (ie: the K-x)

Good info. Inregards to the "dont plan to use it like a videocam" is that simply do to the fact there is no image stabilization or ???

 

[Munky]

Good info. Inregards to the "dont plan to use it like a videocam" is that simply do to the fact there is no image stabilization or ???

What that means is don't plan on the DSLR replacing your video cam, because with a DSLR video is manual focus only.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

IT's not manual focus. You can still focus. It'll just do that ugly contrast AF where it focuses in and out and then finds your optimum focus. I just let it do that sometimes because it's not like I'm doing serious video work... more like stuff an iPhone would do just fine, and I let it AF. Of course this is nothing like the real AF of a camcorder.

 

[ElFenix]

how big are these products?

if you're doing still stuff live view with magnification works nice for getting focus spot on. you'll also want a tripod. depending on how big the products are you can make a nice softbox for $20 or less to create a pleasing backdrop (plastic piping and poster paper, woot). i used daylight balanced CF bulbs from home depot when i was doing it. put one in a desk lamp and aim it through a diffuser (a sheet of bright white paper works well for that) at your product.

 

[Homerboy]

how big are these products?

if you're doing still stuff live view with magnification works nice for getting focus spot on. you'll also want a tripod. depending on how big the products are you can make a nice softbox for $20 or less to create a pleasing backdrop (plastic piping and poster paper, woot). i used daylight balanced CF bulbs from home depot when i was doing it. put one in a desk lamp and aim it through a diffuser (a sheet of bright white paper works well for that) at your product.

products are (mostly) small: http://zewinggirl.com (shameful plug)
We have a small light box for them already (though to be honest I prefer them with a non-nuetral background).

using the point and shoot just sucks. and one in 20 pics turn out OK.
I'm really looking to go as cheap as possible here...

 

[jpeyton]

A used Nikon D70 or Rebel XT should be around $200; you might even get one with a lens for around that much.

 

[repoman0]

I've been watching eBay for a few weeks for used Canon Rebel XS or XTi. Any good condition XS with most accessories goes for about $400 with 18-55mm kit or $330 without the kit lens. Rebel XTi goes for about the same price, but it also comes with the old kit lens without IS and worse optics.

You might get lucky and get a used XS without kit lens and without most accessories for about $250, and you can find a used 18-55mm IS for $70 maybe. I finally just grabbed a new XS kit for $410 shipped.

I don't know about Nikon or other Canon cameras because I narrowed it down to those two.

 

[magomago]

A used Nikon D70 or Rebel XT should be around $200; you might even get one with a lens for around that much.

I thought he wanted video?


OP - it isn't just slow AF, there is also the jello effect due to the way the video is captured by a CMOS sensor. Some cams are more sensitive than others(D90 is pretty bad), but its there lol. You have to treat it like a film tool which means fixed on a tripod while the action happens around you like a movie where the camera is generally stationary for scene cuts, and not like a personal DV cam a la blair witch project.

 

[Homerboy]

I thought he wanted video?


OP - it isn't just slow AF, there is also the jello effect due to the way the video is captured by a CMOS sensor. Some cams are more sensitive than others(D90 is pretty bad), but its there lol. You have to treat it like a film tool which means fixed on a tripod while the action happens around you like a movie where the camera is generally stationary for scene cuts, and not like a personal DV cam a la blair witch project.

skip the video "requirement" then... it was just a side "bonus" really.
The meat and potatoes here is quality pics on a budget. IF it happens to do video and I want some "on the fly", then that is a bonus.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

You can get into a basic DSLR setup (body and lens) for under $300, easily. As long as you've got a tripod and some lighting, your product shots will be great, even with a cheap lens. Canon Rebel, Rebel XT, and possibly Rebel XTi, are all in that price range. Nikon D40, D60, D70 probably the same (I don't keep up with Nikon prices).

 

[Kelvrick]

Used 40D + tamron 17-50 = 700?
Used 40d + 15-55 IS = 550?

New T2i + 18-55 IS + Canon Pixma Pro is 878 right now from buydig.

Spend 200-300 on a camcorder for video.

Hmm... OP never established his own budget. OP, what is your budget? If less, substitute the 40d for a rebel xt or maybe a 20d or 30d.

EDIT: Personally, if starting with DSLRs with what I know now, I might go Sony or Pentax for the built in IS features.

 

[magomago]

skip the video "requirement" then... it was just a side "bonus" really.
The meat and potatoes here is quality pics on a budget. IF it happens to do video and I want some "on the fly", then that is a bonus.

I'd go one of these: Pentax K-x, Canon XSi, Nikon D5000, and whatever Sony/Oly have to offer. Each have their strengths and weaknesses, but I'd go with what you like in your hand.
I wouldn't go older mainly because the menu interface sucks. K100D, D80, XTI menus are kinda crap, and as a consumer you'd like it somewhat nicer. I heard sony on their entry level cams do that right, much to the chagrin of photogs who hate seeing the same cam repackaged for sale 1 year later with a simpler interface and lesss buttons haha.

But if its realllllllly about the budget, then even older cas like the Pentax K100D, Nikon D40, Canon XT, etc work fine. Typically, they won't be as clear at higher iso as anything I listed above because noise reducation algorithms are clearer today....but it works well and still blows the pants off of point and shoot cams and I doubt most people will care to note the differences the way it can be noted between ps and dslr =)