Recommend a decent digi for under $200

[scottmandue]

I have always had photography as a hobby, recently I got all nostalgic and tried to resurrect my 35mm kit (yes, you can still buy and get film developed).
Turns out the 35mm body has died... that got me thinking "for the price of getting this fixed I could pick up a used working body... c-list and evilbay has Canon bodies running $20-$80 depending on the model.

That got me thinking... what are low end digi cameras going for now?

I'm looking at this:

Amazon.com : Nikon Coolpix L340 Digital Camera, Black : Camera & Photo

I know most of you guys/gals that are into photography use $500-$1000 cameras and whereas I would love the picture quality of such a rig that is too rich for my blood.

What think ye?

[stealthn]

I've got an old Canon eos with multiple lenses, it all the camera I'll ever need as it takes fantasic pictures. I think it's an 8 megapixel

[5String43]

For everything you ever wanted to know (and much, much more) about digital cameras and their accouterments, go here:

Digital Photography Review

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by stealthn

I've got an old Canon eos with multiple lenses, it all the camera I'll ever need as it takes fantasic pictures. I think it's an 8 megapixel

What model? I have been looking at those but got the impression they are all auto focus (not a big fan of auto focus).

I have a half dozen Canon FD lens, if I could find a DIGI body that would use the I would be in hog heaven.

Originally Posted by 5String43

For everything you ever wanted to know (and much, much more) about digital cameras and their accouterments, go here:

Digital Photography Review

Thanks!

[wdfifteen]

My experience is with Nikon, so I can't speak to other brands. If you get less than a digital SLR you give up a lot of functionality and flexibility. I would rather have a used Nikon d200 (bodies selling on ebay for $150-$200) than any brand new mirrorless camera. I've tried them. They don't hold a candle to a cheap 5 year old "obsolete" DSLR.
edit:
I think I was a bit vague there. The problem with every mirrorless camera I've tried is that there is a delay between when you push the shutter release and when exposure takes place. It drives me nuts when I see a perfect shot, squeeze the button, and the subject moves while the camera gets itself set to take the photo. Plus the viewfinders suck.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I have a half dozen Canon FD lens, if I could find a DIGI body that would use the I would be in hog heaven.

I believe they make adapters. You would not have autofocus or any of the electronics in modern lenses. People who want good glass cheap for their DSLR and like shooting full manual swear by them.

[strath44]

the Nikon you mention is a good enough starting point however I would recommend a Canon slr digital such as a Rebel t2i or t3i etc you can pick them up fairly cheap and as they aren't particularly pro use cameras generally second hand ones have had an easy life.

The best cheap lens is the 18-55 or for a bit more the 18-135 stm is a very good lens with good zoom range without spending silly money.

reason I recommend these is that you obviously have a reasonable photographic knowledge if you have been on the fd system and the eos digital setup up is IMO a bit more user friendly than Nikon having owned both (but that's another discussion).

Also you can manual focus with this camera in the way you would have before (albeit the cross hair has gone).

Very few modern digital cameras are setup for manual focus and once you get the hang of utilising autofocus you won't look back!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by strath44

the Nikon you mention is a good enough starting point however I would recommend a Canon slr digital such as a Rebel t2i or t3i etc you can pick them up fairly cheap and as they aren't particularly pro use cameras generally second hand ones have had an easy life.

The best cheap lens is the 18-55 or for a bit more the 18-135 stm is a very good lens with good zoom range without spending silly money.

reason I recommend these is that you obviously have a reasonable photographic knowledge if you have been on the fd system and the eos digital setup up is IMO a bit more user friendly than Nikon having owned both (but that's another discussion).

Also you can manual focus with this camera in the way you would have before (albeit the cross hair has gone).

Very few modern digital cameras are setup for manual focus and once you get the hang of utilising autofocus you won't look back!

Dunno, I'm more of a hands on guy... I'm going kicking and screaming trying not to give up my F-stop (depth) and shutter speed.

If I can find an EOS that takes my old FD lens with an adapter I'm sold.

Also don't want to go down the rabbit hole of buying a body and then adding lens. I'm not planing on going pro with this but want something nicer than my cell phone for taking pictures on vacation, at the park, etc.

I have always been a canon guy, started with a Ftb, to a AE-1, to a T90 (the body that has died) just want to get my toe into the digi camera hobby and the Nikon I posted looked like a good start.

[scottmandue]

It appears that I can get an adapter however they are less than perfect, as I expected the adapter adds space between the camera and body (thus eliminating the infinity focus and framing will be off).

So I am back searching for a digital camera and lens for under $200.

I'm a little confused about used digital camera (first off how can you be selling a camera on eBay and not have clear pictures? )

Second is used Rebel bodies are $300 at 14MP where the L340 is 20MP and sells new for $135. (I know the rebel has more functions and takes multiple lens)

And then there are ads for used L340's for $130... why wouldn't I buy the NIB camera off Amazon for $135?

[Scott Douglas]

So I take it you didn't buy that T70 last weekend?

Be that as it may, I'd recommend you look at something like this:

Nikon D60 with extra Lens

It will allow you to get into a good system fairly cheaply, the lenses are not all that bad for the money and you'll be able to use it in manual mode (I think, not positive) so you can play with the f-stop/depth of field to your hearts delight.

The reason you don't want the Amazon camera is, it won't allow you to do things manually like you want to so you'll be at the mercy of the camera for most decision making. It is a very nice point and shoot, but that is how it is meant to be used too. You point it and shoot it, it does the rest.


This looks pretty decent if you want to stay with Canon:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pho/5516274344.html

I'm a Nikon/Sony shooter and know nothing about Canon.

[flipper35]

My wife's Canon T3i can use the old lenses. Our daughter was given a film Rebel a while ago and those lenses fit. There is a red dot and a white square on the body to line them up and I forget which is which, but they work fine. You can turn the AF off as well.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

So I take it you didn't buy that T70 last weekend?

Be that as it may, I'd recommend you look at something like this:

Nikon D60 with extra Lens

It will allow you to get into a good system fairly cheaply, the lenses are not all that bad for the money and you'll be able to use it in manual mode (I think, not positive) so you can play with the f-stop/depth of field to your hearts delight.

The reason you don't want the Amazon camera is, it won't allow you to do things manually like you want to so you'll be at the mercy of the camera for most decision making. It is a very nice point and shoot, but that is how it is meant to be used too. You point it and shoot it, it does the rest.

The T70 is still at the pawn shop and I believe they still have it listed at $20 however I got distracted by a guy selling a T70 for $50 with a FD 35-75 1:4 lens (lens alone is worth $50 even thought I need another FD lens like a hole in the head.) I was haggling with him on the price and then he pulled the c-list ad so I presume he sold it.

Waffling on going cheap and picking up a T70 that will use my FD lens collection or...

Trying simplify and downsize my life and maybe go digi and sell off all my analog camera stuff.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I'm a little confused about used digital camera (first off how can you be selling a camera on eBay and not have clear pictures? )

That should be obvious. How are you going to take a picture of your camera? They're probably using an iPhone.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Canon T3

I'm a Nikon/Sony shooter and know nothing about Canon.

I'm not settled on Canon if I shift to digital... I will do some research and see if that T3 will take my old FD lens (is the T3 the same as the T3i that flipper describes?) .

[flipper35]

One thing I forgot to mention. With the old 35mm lenses they aren't quite the same on the digital. They work fine, but an 18-55 will be slightly off one direction or the other. Don't remember which way.

I am sure someone can explain it much better than I have.

[scottmandue]

Not that this is a big deal because if I go digi it is all about going to a lighter simpler camera kit... maybe time to pile up the heavy FD lens, take a picture, and sell them on eBay.

Sorry, but the answer is "no". The FD lens was a great design, called a breechlock. You rotated a collar to lock the lens in place, and could rotate it more if the mount began to show wear.

Unfortunately, Canon chose not to keep this system when they moved into the world of Auto Focus SLR's. Their bayonet mount AF lenses for their 35mm AF cameras will work well on the new DSLR line. But your older lens isn't compatible.

I hope this is helpful for you.
Source(s):
Amateur & professional photographer for 45+ years.
Sports photographer for SPMSportspage.com

On the other hand $20 is pocket money whereas $200 (I know that is chump change to most of you guys) is above my "impulse buy" budget.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I'm not settled on Canon if I shift to digital... I will do some research and see if that T3 will take my old FD lens (is the T3 the same as the T3i that flipper describes?) .

Like I said, I'm a Nikon shooter and know nothing about Canon, you'll have to do some research on that. That is one reason I went with Nikon when making my decision which system to get into. Canon switched lens mounts a number of times, Nikon has been using the same F-mount for a long time. I'm able to use some nice old manual focus lenses I've picked up on my D7000 body without any problems.

[Scott Douglas]

Being as you're on a tight budget, I'd recommend you look at the long term picture, as it were. You can invest in a decent digital set up, such as the D60 I linked, and shoot a lot of pictures without spending any more money on the system. Staying with film has lots of other added costs involved. I'm on a tighter budget than you are, now, so I gave up on film as it is just not in my budget. Since doing so, I've taken far more pictures than I would have been able to if I'd stuck with film.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Being as you're on a tight budget, I'd recommend you look at the long term picture, as it were. You can invest in a decent digital set up, such as the D60 I linked, and shoot a lot of pictures without spending any more money on the system. Staying with film has lots of other added costs involved. I'm on a tighter budget than you are, now, so I gave up on film as it is just not in my budget. Since doing so, I've taken far more pictures than I would have been able to if I'd stuck with film.

I have printed out the D60 and emailed the guy... but being on a tight budget I will have to sell off some of my unused goodies to make that $200... hopefully the D60 will still be there when I will have the $$ for it. If not I will find the another one once I have funds.
Thanks for the help!

[flipper35]

I looked, the Film Rebel lens is an EF. So an EF fits but an FD doesn't natively. Bummer.