Posted: 10/22/2016 6:23:06 PM EDT
| I've been toying with the idea of getting into hobby photography. I've been researching and trying to learn as much as I can before I make my first camera purchase. I obviously don't need or want something high-end and have a bit of a limited budget. But I would like something that I can grow into, instead of out of quickly. I have found a used D3200 with factory 18-55mm lens. Shutter count is 17,000. They're asking $250. Is this a good deal or should I keep searching? |
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A quick search shows that used D3200 bodies are going for about $250, and that 18-55 is worth about $50-$75.
If it comes with battery, charger, box and papers I'd say it's not a bad deal for a starter DSLR. Shutter ought to be good for 100k, so plenty of life left in it. I'd check it over carefully, take some test shots, etc. and if it all passes consider it. If you find that photography is something you want to really get in to you'll quickly run into the limitations of the body (and even moreso the lens), but if you don't get into it then you won't have dropped $750-$1000. |
| Thanks for the advice. It's an ebay listing but someone made a bid on it so the "buy it now" went away, so I can't pick it up without doing the bidding war. Good news is the bid so far is only a little over $150. But since it's egay, that means I won't be able to test it out beforehand. But should it stay at or under their asking price, I'll try to pick it up. At that price point, it won't hurt should it be something I'm lose interest in and could sell for little to no loss. |
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Quoted:
I'd never buy bodies/lenses sight unseen (or without an ironclad return policy) unless it's from a reputable source like KEH or Adorama. I know I can trust their ratings systems. What he said Up your budget and start here. http://www.adorama.com/inkd3200r.html http://www.adorama.com/nk18140r.html |
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I would have a hard time buying a digital camera sight unseen. Shutter count, while it speaks, says only a very small part of the story. In the film days shutter count was the big story teller but in the digital world it only spells out s small part of the story,
Digital cameras are electronic... So the mechanical side has only been through 17,000 cycles. In the scheme of things that is not a big number, but in the electronic side of things that is a unknown number. If the particular model was a Nikon pro model my reservations would be less but you are looking at a model of Nikon that is strictly consumer based. The lens offered is of the most basic quality that Nikon offers and should not be a consideration as to a used camera purchase. If I were in your shoes I would go and purchase a new camera for not much more money that comes with a warranty and support. I can point you in some directions but it all depends on what you are interested in. |
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Quoted:
I would have a hard time buying a digital camera sight unseen. Shutter count, while it speaks, says only a very small part of the story. In the film days shutter count was the big story teller but in the digital world it only spells out s small part of the story, Digital cameras are electronic... So the mechanical side has only been through 17,000 cycles. In the scheme of things that is not a big number, but in the electronic side of things that is a unknown number. If the particular model was a Nikon pro model my reservations would be less but you are looking at a model of Nikon that is strictly consumer based. The lens offered is of the most basic quality that Nikon offers and should not be a consideration as to a used camera purchase. If I were in your shoes I would go and purchase a new camera for not much more money that comes with a warranty and support. I can point you in some directions but it all depends on what you are interested in. Gotta go with +1 on this. PM sent on the below info. Nikon has a 10% off refurbs thing going that ends tomorrow 10/24 BUT you can get a: D3300 with 18-55 $355 or so with free shipping http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-dslr-cameras/1532b/d3300-refurbished.html D5300 with 18-55 $500 or so with free shipping http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-dslr-cameras/1522b/d5300-refurbished.html Personally I'd go with the 5300 simply because it as a better autofocus system 39/9 vs an 11/1 focal point system (translation: it has more areas to detect focus in) That said, unless you are planning on stuff moving quickly (birds, etc) the 3300 autofocus will work fine. Beyond that, the specs are really similar minus one or two things. 5300 has GPS (woo lol) etc. If I had to choose on a budget, I'd get the 3300 and save cash for lenses. A good lens will do you way better than a body can. |
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Quoted:
Gotta go with +1 on this. PM sent on the below info. Nikon has a 10% off refurbs thing going that ends tomorrow 10/24 BUT you can get a: D3300 with 18-55 $355 or so with free shipping http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-dslr-cameras/1532b/d3300-refurbished.html D5300 with 18-55 $500 or so with free shipping http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-dslr-cameras/1522b/d5300-refurbished.html Personally I'd go with the 5300 simply because it as a better autofocus system 39/9 vs an 11/1 focal point system (translation: it has more areas to detect focus in) That said, unless you are planning on stuff moving quickly (birds, etc) the 3300 autofocus will work fine. Beyond that, the specs are really similar minus one or two things. 5300 has GPS (woo lol) etc. If I had to choose on a budget, I'd get the 3300 and save cash for lenses. A good lens will do you way better than a body can. Quoted:
Quoted:
I would have a hard time buying a digital camera sight unseen. Shutter count, while it speaks, says only a very small part of the story. In the film days shutter count was the big story teller but in the digital world it only spells out s small part of the story, Digital cameras are electronic... So the mechanical side has only been through 17,000 cycles. In the scheme of things that is not a big number, but in the electronic side of things that is a unknown number. If the particular model was a Nikon pro model my reservations would be less but you are looking at a model of Nikon that is strictly consumer based. The lens offered is of the most basic quality that Nikon offers and should not be a consideration as to a used camera purchase. If I were in your shoes I would go and purchase a new camera for not much more money that comes with a warranty and support. I can point you in some directions but it all depends on what you are interested in. Gotta go with +1 on this. PM sent on the below info. Nikon has a 10% off refurbs thing going that ends tomorrow 10/24 BUT you can get a: D3300 with 18-55 $355 or so with free shipping http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-dslr-cameras/1532b/d3300-refurbished.html D5300 with 18-55 $500 or so with free shipping http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-dslr-cameras/1522b/d5300-refurbished.html Personally I'd go with the 5300 simply because it as a better autofocus system 39/9 vs an 11/1 focal point system (translation: it has more areas to detect focus in) That said, unless you are planning on stuff moving quickly (birds, etc) the 3300 autofocus will work fine. Beyond that, the specs are really similar minus one or two things. 5300 has GPS (woo lol) etc. If I had to choose on a budget, I'd get the 3300 and save cash for lenses. A good lens will do you way better than a body can. I was shopping around last night and went over to their site and saw they had a sale going on. Thanks! |