EOS350d...any good?
Discussion
A mate of mine has just upgraded his camera and is offering me his old kit. I've wanted an SLR for a while so I am quite tempted.
It's a Canon EOS350d, and comes with 2 lenses (I have not got the exact specs but one is a general purpose zoom, the other a very long one). There's no memory card, but everything is boxed, in very nice condition, and he wants £250 for the lot.
I'm not really up to date with stuff...I won't be taking the photography too seriously, but I just really want a decent camera for when my pocket digital is not really up to the job.
What do people think?
It's a Canon EOS350d, and comes with 2 lenses (I have not got the exact specs but one is a general purpose zoom, the other a very long one). There's no memory card, but everything is boxed, in very nice condition, and he wants £250 for the lot.
I'm not really up to date with stuff...I won't be taking the photography too seriously, but I just really want a decent camera for when my pocket digital is not really up to the job.
What do people think?
i've got the Canon 300D and it's fecking brilliant!
yeah i know theres better cameras out there but i love mine.
the 350D has a slightly higher megapixel sensor.
£250 seems to be the going ebay rate for one, they take compactflash which is blood cheap these days, there are plently of good lense around for it, Argos do a 100-300mm zoom lense for £140, i have one and it's pretty good for the price.
remember though that they are an SLR and you have to use it like a 'proper' camera.
if you're not into photography you will be by the time you download your first photos because they will be good.
some examples of my pics
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/paulj1969/st...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/paulj1969/30...
Paul
yeah i know theres better cameras out there but i love mine.
the 350D has a slightly higher megapixel sensor.
£250 seems to be the going ebay rate for one, they take compactflash which is blood cheap these days, there are plently of good lense around for it, Argos do a 100-300mm zoom lense for £140, i have one and it's pretty good for the price.
remember though that they are an SLR and you have to use it like a 'proper' camera.
if you're not into photography you will be by the time you download your first photos because they will be good.
some examples of my pics
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/paulj1969/st...
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/paulj1969/30...
Paul
Hard-Drive said:
OK thanks for the tips guys.
The lenses are both Canon, 18-55 and a 75-300.
Does that make it a better/worse deal?
18-55 is the cheap kit lens, ok to get you going.The lenses are both Canon, 18-55 and a 75-300.
Does that make it a better/worse deal?
75-300 0 theres a few of them, up to one with IS. None are opticaly great, I have an older one, slow focusing, soft a lot, but you can get some decent pics with it - check thse 2 galeries with my 350d and 75-300.
http://picasaweb.google.com/rob.dickinson/ScabsSur...
http://picasaweb.google.com/rob.dickinson/Zoo
Zad said:
£180-190 is the going rate on Ebay for a Canon warrantied refurb 350d with kit zoom. Expect that (and the 400d) to drop now the 450d is out.
funny enough i was searching lastnight and could only find ones for around £250, but £180 is a great price, if i didn't have to 300D already i'd seriously think about getting one.Paul
slartibartfast said:
RobDickinson said:
350 is quite a step up on the 300d on performance.
in which respect? i've not compared the two.Image quality (apart frmo the megapixels) is similar.
Also you have a lot more freedom in control, AI servi in any mode, mirror lockup, etc etc.
You have to keep an eye on the Canon refurb place. Sometimes they flood cameras onto Ebay and they (bizarrely) go for £250 or so, then they will put 1 or 2 on and nobody notices so they go for peanuts. Im not suggesting that you purchase from them (a look at their feedback tells a story) but it is a good bargaining chip:
http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFe...
http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFe...
We started with a 300D and a 350D respectively, and with the lenses that your mate is offering. My 75-300 wasn't IS and I managed fine with it. You say you're not planning on taking photography very seriously. In that case, I'd say that what's on offer is more than adequate to learn with. It's true that the kit lenses (the 17-55) vary massively in performance, but if you find you're enjoying the camera, you'll be able to upgrade that second-hand for reasonabl money. It took us about 18 months to outgrow the kit lens, and 3 years to decide to replace the 75-300s.
As for being able to find the same kit elsewhere cheaper - maybe you can, but that would be two lots of messing about bidding (unless there are a lot of 75-300s bundled with cameras for £180), two lots of arranging to be around for delivery, two lots of delivery charges... it starts to look a bit more marginal in my eyes. I'd buy from the mate - he's going to be there for advice as well.
Why not ask your mate if you can borrow it for the weekend and see how you get on with it? Ask him to send the manual as well, and read that first. Then you can have a look for sensor dust (though that will only cost £25 to sort), how many shots it's taken, see how sharp the lenses are through their range etc. But still, if you don't go with this one, you'd be taking another one unseen and the lottery is the same. If you know this chap looks after his kit, and he's had it a while, you're less at risk. Don't go on the condition of the boxes though - mine are immaculate too (sat in the attic)! Ask his advice about care, cleaning lenses, changing lenses, bags etc - that'll give you a better idea of how it's been looked after.
Edited due to a sudden inability to speak English
As for being able to find the same kit elsewhere cheaper - maybe you can, but that would be two lots of messing about bidding (unless there are a lot of 75-300s bundled with cameras for £180), two lots of arranging to be around for delivery, two lots of delivery charges... it starts to look a bit more marginal in my eyes. I'd buy from the mate - he's going to be there for advice as well.
Why not ask your mate if you can borrow it for the weekend and see how you get on with it? Ask him to send the manual as well, and read that first. Then you can have a look for sensor dust (though that will only cost £25 to sort), how many shots it's taken, see how sharp the lenses are through their range etc. But still, if you don't go with this one, you'd be taking another one unseen and the lottery is the same. If you know this chap looks after his kit, and he's had it a while, you're less at risk. Don't go on the condition of the boxes though - mine are immaculate too (sat in the attic)! Ask his advice about care, cleaning lenses, changing lenses, bags etc - that'll give you a better idea of how it's been looked after.
Edited due to a sudden inability to speak English
Edited by Rude Girl on Tuesday 29th January 07:23
OK great advice guys, thanks for that. I'll check the sensor dust, the camera is well travelled having done a safari or two but I know that he is meticulous with his kit and it does look literally as new. He did say that it was perfectly clean and was happy to prove it. In fairness, I'll probably be taking shots in quite a few harsher environments (including marine) so it will probably need a clean every so often anyway.
Rudegirl, you are right...by the time I've faffed around on eBay, I'm far better off getting it off a friend, and I know that he'd also be more than happy to show me how to use it and probably take some pictures togetehr. He's selling it as he's just bought the new one (400 or 450 or something and a mahoosive lens).
Spookily enough my profile pic was taken with that camera a few months ago...although not in the best environment for a camera I realise!
Rudegirl, you are right...by the time I've faffed around on eBay, I'm far better off getting it off a friend, and I know that he'd also be more than happy to show me how to use it and probably take some pictures togetehr. He's selling it as he's just bought the new one (400 or 450 or something and a mahoosive lens).
Spookily enough my profile pic was taken with that camera a few months ago...although not in the best environment for a camera I realise!
Hard-Drive said:
Spookily enough my profile pic was taken with that camera a few months ago...although not in the best environment for a camera I realise!
That's a coincidence - we've been surfing because we fancy going to an off-road day with our cameras. There was one at Long Buckby a couple of weeks ago I think, but I was struggling with a cold so we didn't go. Be interested to hear from you about anything Midlands-ish that's coming up. 
Spooky indeedy!
I'm Midlands based but most of my off roading tends to be greenlaning...if I go to a pay and play day the red mist tends to come down and I start doing silly things like this and my truck gets bent! This was Sibbertoft...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipun4AHNK0Y
(NSFW with the sound up...a bit of swearing!)
However there are some great opportunities for taking some good shots...this is a favorite of mine (also taken by Chris on the EOS)...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbersdog/2034654079...
However one of the best places is the Derbyshire greenlanes, truly amazing scenery round there. Drop me a PM if you guys want to join us on a trip.
I'm Midlands based but most of my off roading tends to be greenlaning...if I go to a pay and play day the red mist tends to come down and I start doing silly things like this and my truck gets bent! This was Sibbertoft...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipun4AHNK0Y
(NSFW with the sound up...a bit of swearing!)
However there are some great opportunities for taking some good shots...this is a favorite of mine (also taken by Chris on the EOS)...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbersdog/2034654079...
However one of the best places is the Derbyshire greenlanes, truly amazing scenery round there. Drop me a PM if you guys want to join us on a trip.
Hard-Drive said:
Rudegirl, you are right...
As her other half, I'd just like to say that she is right most of the time... 
Seriously though, I agree with what she's written... except to point out that it's an 18-55 lens, not a 17-55
We've bought a few bits of kit second hand and we've been very pleased with them. One word of warning... it does turn into an expensive hobby...
Hard Drive - good choice of third vehicle (on your profile)
I've got a 350D, and have the same lenses, they're okay, but yes, you'll probably be wanting more after a while!
I looked at the 300 before I went for the 350D - seems on the 300 Canon switched off functionality in software to differentiate between that and the 10D, however some clever hacks got some of the functions back. I don't feel limited at all by the body - it's nice and compact, although some feel it is too small, but performance wise it's quite well thought out and is fairly intuitive. I have found that sun cream of all things, takes the rubberised bit off the grip, leaving it shiny.
The older film EOS lenses fit (although you have to be a little careful about some of the older Sigmas, they don't necessarily all work properly with the later digital SLR's from Canon), and is a good source of cheap-ish glass.
Lastly, I'd recommend the 50mm F1.8 lens, nice and sharp and quite fast - yours for around £70 new.
£250 sounds a good price for the cirucmstances too.
I've got a 350D, and have the same lenses, they're okay, but yes, you'll probably be wanting more after a while!
I looked at the 300 before I went for the 350D - seems on the 300 Canon switched off functionality in software to differentiate between that and the 10D, however some clever hacks got some of the functions back. I don't feel limited at all by the body - it's nice and compact, although some feel it is too small, but performance wise it's quite well thought out and is fairly intuitive. I have found that sun cream of all things, takes the rubberised bit off the grip, leaving it shiny.
The older film EOS lenses fit (although you have to be a little careful about some of the older Sigmas, they don't necessarily all work properly with the later digital SLR's from Canon), and is a good source of cheap-ish glass.
Lastly, I'd recommend the 50mm F1.8 lens, nice and sharp and quite fast - yours for around £70 new.
£250 sounds a good price for the cirucmstances too.
Edited by franv8 on Tuesday 29th January 12:52
Hard-Drive said:
Drop me a PM if you guys want to join us on a trip.
Would love to do that, and you could have a go with a some of our other lenses as well if you liked. Unfortunately, you don't seem to have the email link set up on your profile. Do you want to PM me instead?Corinne
Podie - why do you always spot it when I'm wrong? I thought we agreed that I was always going to be right?!
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