Where to start?

[Lays]

I'd love to replace our family camera, it's like a crappy Fuji one from Walmart that's really old.

It'll be sort of like a family Christmas present sort of deal, but I really truly have no idea where to start.

 

I "think" I want a DSLR, for around... $400, give or take a tiny bit. 

 

Could ya'll help me with suggestions? I don't think I'll be doing any sort of video stuff with it, maybe a TINY TINY bit, but most of it will be pictures.

[Droidbot]

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t5-ef-s-digital-camera-18-55mm-is-ii-lens-kit

[Flight1sim]

Look at the used market for sure, I think at this point there's no good reason to buy a new camera unless it's above 1.5k. I'd look at some used T5i's or even T6i's along with a good flexible gp lens such as an 18-135mm IS STM or an 18-55 along with a 55-250. You could easily snag these for around $400-$450 on craigslist etc. You'll want to look at the shutter count, above 50k is a  nono for me. (think if it like car milage, most cameras die around 150k shutter actuation, most sellers will post their current shutter count). If you do end up using craigslist i'd recommend taking a very close look at the lenses and sensor of the camera just to be sure. (if it's a zoom lens, zoom in all the way and point a flashlight in from the mount side, that way you can see scratches/dust etc. A lens will normally have some particles of dust in them but make sure there's nothing too crazy)

Oh also take a look at canon refurbs, they're pretty cheap and very reliable, and often times they come with warranty. 

Also, take a look at some of the mirrorless options from people like fuji or sony, they're pretty great values for the images they produce. 

 

[Lays]

6 minutes ago, Flight1sim said:

Look at the used market for sure, I think at this point there's no good reason to buy a new camera unless it's above 1.5k. I'd look at some used T5i's or even T6i's along with a good flexible gp lens such as an 18-135mm IS STM or an 18-55 along with a 55-250. You could easily snag these for around $400-$450 on craigslist etc. You'll want to look at the shutter count, above 50k is a  nono for me. (think if it like car milage, most cameras die around 150k shutter actuation, most sellers will post their current shutter count). If you do end up using craigslist i'd recommend taking a very close look at the lenses and sensor of the camera just to be sure. (if it's a zoom lens, zoom in all the way and point a flashlight in from the mount side, that way you can see scratches/dust etc. A lens will normally have some particles of dust in them but make sure there's nothing too crazy)

Oh also take a look at canon refurbs, they're pretty cheap and very reliable, and often times they come with warranty. 

Also, take a look at some of the mirrorless options from people like fuji or sony, they're pretty great values for the images they produce. 

 

What do I look at in the used market though?

Like I have no idea where to even start, I would be taking lots of pictures inside in sort of crappy lightning, and then a lot of outside pictures, other than that maybe occasionally videos of racing outside.

[Flight1sim]

6 minutes ago, Lays said:

What do I look at in the used market though?

Like I have no idea where to even start, I would be taking lots of pictures inside in sort of crappy lightning, and then a lot of outside pictures, other than that maybe occasionally videos of racing outside.

 

 

 

 

Amazon used is a good place to start.

Your budget is $400 ish right? 

I'd put about $200-300 on the body and $100 for the lens (at least for now, lenses are usually more important than the body itself, but you don't want to end up with a pos)

 

Take a look at things like the Canon T5i, Canon T6. Nikon D5300, Nikon D3300

 

Check out B&H used, Canon Refurbished, Ebay (ehh), or Craigslist.

 

Some New options that aren't too horribly priced:

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-Focus-S-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G/dp/B00HQ4W1QE/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481432747&sr=1-3&keywords=D3300

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B01CO2JPYS/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481432856&sr=1-3&keywords=T6

 

 

The reason I promote used cameras so much is because for example me, I'm about to sell my camera gear (coincidentally around that same price) on craigslist and I know i treat my gear well and it's good to go for the rest of its life. It's either that or wasting a perfectly good camera and buying a new one. The used market is much better than most people expect 

 

[Lays]

5 minutes ago, Flight1sim said:

Amazon used is a good place to start.

Your budget is $400 ish right? 

I'd put about $200-300 on the body and $100 for the lens (at least for now, lenses are usually more important than the body itself, but you don't want to end up with a pos)

 

Take a look at things like the Canon T5i, Canon T6. Nikon D5300, Nikon D3300

 

Check out B&H used, Canon Refurbished, Ebay (ehh), or Craigslist.

 

Some New options that aren't too horribly priced:

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-Focus-S-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G/dp/B00HQ4W1QE/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481432747&sr=1-3&keywords=D3300

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B01CO2JPYS/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1481432856&sr=1-3&keywords=T6

 

 

The reason I promote used cameras so much is because for example me, I'm about to sell my camera gear (coincidentally around that same price) on craigslist and I know i treat my gear well and it's good to go for the rest of its life. It's either that or wasting a perfectly good camera and buying a new one. The used market is much better than most people expect 

 

 

I tend to buy loads of PC parts and almost all audio gear used, usually get perfectly fine stuff for less money.

 

Are any of those that you linked easier to use / learn to use than the others?

[Flight1sim]

1 hour ago, Lays said:

 

I tend to buy loads of PC parts and almost all audio gear used, usually get perfectly fine stuff for less money.

 

Are any of those that you linked easier to use / learn to use than the others?

 

Nah they're really all going to be the same, just the button layout between Canon and Nikon will be different. I prefer Canon's because they just make more sense personally but it's not hard to get used to one over the other.