Thinking of getting a Pentax, couple questions

[blackcloudbrew]

I can't speak to the rest of the K200d questions but, do not buy a camera that has it's AF switch in one mode. This is a very important feature that you want available to you all of the time. Serious issue.

Tim

[Balog]

Gotcha. I wasn't sure if that was a "$50 cleaning at the local camera store and it's good as new" or a "Danger Danger Will Robinson!" Kind of situation.

[blackcloudbrew]

Honestly, I don't know either. I'd want a significant discount on that if I bought it. Keep shopping...

Tim

[Balog]

So, is there a guide as to what to look out for when buying a used camera? Any tips or ideas?

[spyglass]

Balog,

I think that the last thing anybody should to do is to buy a problem. Most repair shops, regardless of what product they service have a bare minimum cost just to get it on the bench and open it up. There are a lot of decent used camera bodies and lenses on the market. Go with one that is 100% functional.

In regards to "buying advice and tips" I personally feel that actions speak louder than words. You can generally tell quite quickly how the item's life has been by the way the owner has prepared and maintained it.

Items should be clean (no finger prints, dust, oil, or residue) - Sure they can clean it, but look in the recesses and nooks and crannies. If they have not even attempted to cleaned it up for the sale it that shows a lack of knowledge how to care for an item and a lack of respect for that item.

Does the camera come with a case or carrying bag (did it have one during it life) - Any camera that if transported around without some protect has suffered more shock and stress then it needed to. Bags provide physical protection, UV protection, dirt and dust protection.

As for lenses. Check both ends. Start with the physical aspects. Chips, nicks, dings, etc. Did the previous owner have a UV of protective filter on the front of the lens. This shows a caring approach and will ensure that the front element has not seen grit, and probably does not have any polishing swirls or marks. Is there a front and rear lens cap? Again important protective devices. How did the owner transport his lens? Top marks if he has separate bags for each lens. Extra marks if the lenses also resided in a camera bag or pack.

Manuals, original boxes, accessories. Most people that keep everything original and intact tend to be decent caretakers of products. It shows attention to detail and a sense of order and discipline. It also indicates that the items have not been stolen (How many times do you see cameras for sale with a lens, no charger, cables, or any other accompanying items....... ya I will meet you at the skytrain station late at night..... and bring cash for that...... NOT).

How did the former owner use the camera. Has it had an easy life? A quick preview of the owners work will provide volumes of information as to where the camera has been and what paces it was put through.  Also check the shutter actuation count. You would be surprised at how fast some people can rack up the clicks.

Always remember that there are 20 more great deals a phone call or mouse click away (don't settle for less or talk yourself into the deal) $50 to $100 more is cheap in the long run. Remember "the cheap and the poor pay twice".

Stay safe when making transactions. Meet in a public place where there are other people. Get a cel phone number that you can call in case either party is running late (most importantly...... call the phone before you meet when you get to the place and see from a safe advantage point who you will be dealing with. Tell them you are just 5 minutes away, then watch them and see if they are with anyone else. Whenever possible bring a friend. Never invite anyone to your home and try and avoid meetings at their personal residence. If you feel you must, make sure the name and phone number match the physical address and bring a friend.


Hope this helps, 

Spyglass

[Mike Pearson]

Tim,

Stay safe when making transactions. Meet in a public place where there are other people. Get a cel phone number that you can call in case either party is running late (most importantly...... call the phone before you meet when you get to the place and see from a safe advantage point who you will be dealing with. Tell them you are just 5 minutes away, then watch them and see if they are with anyone else. Whenever possible bring a friend. Never invite anyone to your home and try and avoid meetings at their personal residence. If you feel you must, make sure the name and phone number match the physical address and bring a friend.

Very, very sound advice.

Mike

[Balog]

What's the general consensus about buying on ebay? I've heard good and bad, and I know it's all dependent on who the seller is, but still...

[spyglass]

I love Ebay and have had great experiences. It is one of the biggest market places for used items (and also has a lot of new items). Like any sale you have to look for a good deal not the cheapest transaction. Check the seller past auctions (see what they have for sale, past sales, feed back, etc) Contact the seller and enquire about the item. You can generally get a feeling about the seller by the correspondence.  Make sure you factor in all the costs (shipping, possible taxes, duty, etc) Most complaints that I have heard are about the shipping and handling. make sure you can do your part and complete the payment for the item (Paypal account???) Do your homework and you will not be disappointed.

Spyglass

[Balog]

Excellent, thanks to everyone for all the informative responses.

I think I've narrowed it down to a few models: the K-x seems to be in the lead but the K20D, K10D, and K200D are in the running. Let me describe the sort of things I'm interested in, and which model best fits what I want to do.

Goals:

Learn photography. I've always used point n shoots and been very unsophisticated. With this camera (and the appropriate reading and ideally a class or two) I intend to change that.

General family portraiture. Candid snaps of my wife, friends etc.

Macro shots: I tend to trade and sell lots of things (fountain pens, flash lights, guns etc) where being able to get clear and detailed shots of tiny flaws is a huge help for the buyer. I also just think extreme close ups of mundane objects are fascinating and I want to be able to create those kind of images.

Low light work. This one is what's pushing me towards the K-x. I love dusk, sitting around the campfire etc, and I really want to be able to capture good shots without much ambient light. Especially in the context of taking snaps of animals or outdoor scenes where a flash either can't be used or would be ineffective.

So far, everything points to the K-x. However, there are a few concerns I have that make me reluctant to purchase on just yet.

K-x cons:

Unsealed. On the one hand, I love the idea of a camera made to resist adverse conditions. I tend to value ruggedness and durability in everything I buy, so it's a naturally appealing trait. However, there are other ways to protect the camera, it doesn't help older non-weather resistant lenses, and how likely am I to really take my expensive dslr out into the rain anyway? The logical side of my mind is telling me it's not really a big deal, but I can't help but wish it had it.

AA batteries. I just don't like the format as much as a sealed battery pack.

Lack of auto-focus indicators. I'm really not certain how much of a drawback this is (given my lack of experience with systems that have such a thing) but the reviews tend to make a big deal out of it. Much ado about nothing or a crippling issue for a newb? In all fairness, I believe all the cameras I listed have this issue as well, right?

Harder to find used. I hate buying new gear, partly because it's more expensive and partly because I like the concept of reusing durable goods. Not an absolute problem, especially as the new price is so low.

Anyway, I'm rambling a bit so I'll leave it at that. Looking at the pro/con list the K-x seems like a really good choice, but if anyone can offer a differing opinion voting for a 20D etc I'd love to hear it.

[fotaki]

Balog. There is/was a K20D with kit lens up for sale on this very forum - http://pentaxworld.com/fo...-new-only-3500-actuations!/ around the price you had in mind. Perhaps you can do a deal if it's still available.

On the question of using eBay, I'm not exactly in love with this and other sites like it. It can be useful as a source of buying/selling but one has to be very careful when looking to buy precision photographic equipment, there's an awful lot of rubbish out there. I've had good and bad experiences and one must be prepared to 'read between the lines' (they say there are 'safeguards' but there are also 'loopholes'). Basically, there are three types of photo. sellers - the experienced/enthusiast who will detail their items with care and have a good returns policy , the pro. merchants who buy and sell in bulk and will up-sell their goods hoping to get a quick sale and the 'muppets' who either don't have a clue what they are selling or couldn't give a damn. How one may tell these apart usually comes with experience. However, that said, there are good bargains to be had.

My first choice would be to either deal with a reputable dealer who will probably give some warranty on their goods - most likely you will be able to inspect/handle the equipment before purchase. Or use the Pentax forums (like this one) who will consist of enthusiasts trading with enthusiasts.

The point about photographing small objects, a good approach is to construct a simple 'light tent' which will enable you to create a flat diffuse environment to extract max. subject detail. There are many references to this on Google.