Find me a better deal on a dSLR than this.
#1
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 7,388
Total Cats: 474
Find me a better deal on a dSLR than this.
It's time to upgrade my old D50 setup. I don't love the lenses I have so I could stick with Nikon or switch to Canon, doesn't matter to me.
Best deal I've seen so far is this:
Canon Direct Store- EOS Rebel T1i EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit Refurbished
$360 for a refurb Canon T1i plus the 18-55mm IS kit lens.
Can you beat that?
Best deal I've seen so far is this:
Canon Direct Store- EOS Rebel T1i EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit Refurbished
$360 for a refurb Canon T1i plus the 18-55mm IS kit lens.
Can you beat that?
#2
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham Alabama
Posts: 7,930
Total Cats: 45
You can get a Nikon refurbed D5100's for a little over $400. A bit more, but I prefer Nikon over Canon, so to me that is a better deal. Pretty comparable cameras, but I think the Nikon edges the Canon out just slightly. I just upgraded from my D50 as well, and the D5100 is a WHOLE new ballpark, especially in lower light. I found a full 9 stop difference between the two cameras when it comes to low light performance.
#3
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 7,388
Total Cats: 474
Yeah, the D50 really struggles with low light performance. And since the high ISO quality is so terrible, you can't really cheat that way either. Looking forward to a noticeable improvement.
#4
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham Alabama
Posts: 7,930
Total Cats: 45
Oh, you'll notice it right away, with any more modern camera you get. To me, I was limited to either 200 or 400 ISO with the D50, 800 and 1600 I couldn't use, too much noise. Even with my 50mm 1.8 lens, I could still barely manage dark shots. When I did get one worth using, it was pure luck that there was no hand shake detectable in the image. Now with the D5100 and the 18-55 VR lens, I can shoot handheld at 1/4 sec at ISO 1600 and the images come out really clean and sharp. It's so nice.
#5
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (33)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: atlanta-ish
Posts: 12,659
Total Cats: 134
Yes I can beat that deal on the same camera. *Call* Canon and speak with the loyalty department. I got the same T1i package for $325 shipped (plus sales tax) a few months ago.
If you are taking pictures of motorsports events, I recommend also purchasing a 55-250 lens.
If you are taking pictures of motorsports events, I recommend also purchasing a 55-250 lens.
#8
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 7,388
Total Cats: 474
18-135mm 3.5-5.6 -- Not a bad lens, but it's easily replaceable. If I were staying Nikon, I'd eventually be wanting to move up to the 18-200 VR anyway.
50mm 1.8 D -- Great little prime, but would have to replace it with the G model for most newer Nikon bodies.
And that's it.
50mm 1.8 D -- Great little prime, but would have to replace it with the G model for most newer Nikon bodies.
And that's it.
#9
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 7,388
Total Cats: 474
Best comparisons I can find so far:
D5000 + 18-55VR (preowned) Nikon D5000 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera w/ 18-55 Lens - CowBoom.com $372
D3100 + 18-55VR (preowned) Nikon D3100 14.2MP DSLR Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens - CowBoom.com $387
Either of those would let me keep my 18-135mm lens. I'd still have to sell my 50mm 1.8 D.
D5000 + 18-55VR (preowned) Nikon D5000 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera w/ 18-55 Lens - CowBoom.com $372
D3100 + 18-55VR (preowned) Nikon D3100 14.2MP DSLR Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens - CowBoom.com $387
Either of those would let me keep my 18-135mm lens. I'd still have to sell my 50mm 1.8 D.
#11
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham Alabama
Posts: 7,930
Total Cats: 45
That is one bad thing about the D5100, is losing autofocus on the 1.8D lens. It's tough to get a sharp image even when using the af indicator light. With such a shallow DOF, it's tough to get it just right.
#12
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 7,388
Total Cats: 474
Ben -- did you have to send in an older Canon camera to be eligible for the loyalty program? Or just tell them you really want a Canon and are so poor and oh what kind of a price can they offer you?
#13
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (33)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: atlanta-ish
Posts: 12,659
Total Cats: 134
I told them my Canon camera was broken and I asked for a discount on a replacement. IIRC, the discount they offered was 20% off refurb + free shipping. Had to pay sales tax. Did not return a broken camera to them.
#14
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 7,388
Total Cats: 474
Think I'm going to pull the trigger on this today:
Canon Direct Store- EOS Rebel T1i EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit Refurbished
There's a $25 off discount expiring today that brings it down to $333 plus tax.
Canon Direct Store- EOS Rebel T1i EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens Kit Refurbished
There's a $25 off discount expiring today that brings it down to $333 plus tax.
#18
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (33)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: atlanta-ish
Posts: 12,659
Total Cats: 134
Ran into this on techbargains.com:
Canon EOS Rebel T3 DSLR Camera w 18 55mm Lens II and EF 75 300mm F4 5 6 Lens 610563301157 | eBay
Canon EOS Rebel T3 DSLR Camera w 18 55mm Lens II and EF 75 300mm F4 5 6 Lens 610563301157 | eBay
#19
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 7,388
Total Cats: 474
That's a good price, but the T3 < T1i from what I can see, and the 75-300mm is supposed to be a bit of a dog. Almost every review or comparison I read said to save your money and just get the 55-250mm unless you absolutely have to have the extra reach (or, save your dollars and step up to the 70-200mm L 4.0 non-IS).