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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Wanting to upgrade - but too poor to do it!
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10/24/2007 05:48:15 AM · #1
Hi everyone,

I've had my 10d for a long while now (since just before they announced the 20d grrrrr) and i want to upgrade.

I can't afford to spend much money at all though and was wondering whether people thought it would be worth it to buy a second hand 20d.

As far as I can see, the differences do seem to be worthwhile and for around £200 ($400 ish) it seems like a good idea.

What do you think?

S.
10/24/2007 05:51:07 AM · #2
Never a bad idea to upgrade if..

1.you can afford it
2.you feel you need it
3.you are not happy with what you have
4.you fancy an upgrade
5.there is no number 5
6.to hell with it... buy it anyway

go get yourself a 20D and never look back, lifes too short for waiting.
10/24/2007 05:56:27 AM · #3

7. You feel the call of new equipment, and are willing to rise to the motivation of justifying your new gear with new heights of photographic acheivement.

Yeah, OK, that was much shorter and snappier when I said it in my head. In reality it rambled on a bit too much to fit on a motivational poster.

10/24/2007 08:21:14 AM · #4
Save your money and get a few good quality lenses. These will help you more than a new body.
10/24/2007 08:25:07 AM · #5
Originally posted by doctornick:

Save your money and get a few good quality lenses. These will help you more than a new body.


Totally agree!
10/24/2007 08:41:11 AM · #6
MAK i like your response, especially No. 6!

surfdabbler, i do indeed, feel the call! unfortunately its is only a whisper compared to the shout of the 40d......

doctornick and iamwoman I did consider this, but i would need to save a lot more than £200 to get a decent lens let alone a few!

I have a few budget(ish) lenses now that cover all my needs for the moment and I think that my next spend will be £1000+ (but not right now! need to get better with what i have to justify that one!)

S.
10/24/2007 09:31:55 AM · #7
I dropped my 10D in water and had to have something. I bought a 20D on ebay. Of course, it was $550. Of course, you could look at older Rebels too.

10/24/2007 09:41:51 AM · #8
Edited as it was illegal and stuff.

Message edited by author 2007-10-24 09:42:24.
10/24/2007 09:47:45 AM · #9
yup, 20D is quite a bit better than 10D. Be careful when buying secondhand on how many clicks it has had. If it has been used as a workhorse, its shutter may be near its end.
10/24/2007 09:52:33 AM · #10
Is the shutter count recorded somewhere in the menu?
10/24/2007 11:20:02 AM · #11
Originally posted by biohazard:

Is the shutter count recorded somewhere in the menu?


Only if the file numbering system hasn't been reset.

P.S. I've had my 10D for quite a while too, even longer than you. I'm also feeling the need to upgrade.

Message edited by author 2007-10-24 11:22:37.
10/24/2007 11:22:38 AM · #12
Its all this talk of the 40d thats given me itchy feet!

hmmm - that makes it a bit more risky to by online then.

My 10d only numbers up to 9999 anyway so that wouldn't be much use!



Message edited by author 2007-10-24 11:23:27.
10/24/2007 11:23:21 AM · #13
me too

Originally posted by iamwoman:

Originally posted by doctornick:

Save your money and get a few good quality lenses. These will help you more than a new body.


Totally agree!
10/24/2007 11:27:52 AM · #14
Originally posted by hopper:

me too

Originally posted by iamwoman:

Originally posted by doctornick:

Save your money and get a few good quality lenses. These will help you more than a new body.


Totally agree!


I don't. The 10D is a good camera, pretty great in its time, but it's pretty long in the tooth from a technological standpoint. The 20D was a pretty big jump up, though I would recommend saving up for the 40D.
10/24/2007 11:32:30 AM · #15
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

. . . The 20D was a pretty big jump up, though I would recommend saving up for the 40D.


Or hedge your bets and pick up a 30D.

Better than the 20D and cheaper than the 40D :- )
10/24/2007 12:43:52 PM · #16
30Ds went on sale as soon as the 40Ds were available. The price dropped a lot though still probably more than your budget.
10/24/2007 12:55:03 PM · #17
Originally posted by cpanaioti:

30Ds went on sale as soon as the 40Ds were available. The price dropped a lot though still probably more than your budget.


This is very true. However, I think there are people that have gotten 40D's that are selling USED 30D's at decent prices. Even better than a 20D, and probably less used! :-)
10/24/2007 01:45:35 PM · #18
It seems to be more the case that since the 40 there has been loads of 20s around for sale.

Apparently the 30 was not much of upgrade from the 20 anyway.... more of a stopgap before the 40?
10/24/2007 01:51:34 PM · #19
Originally posted by biohazard:

It seems to be more the case that since the 40 there has been loads of 20s around for sale.

Apparently the 30 was not much of upgrade from the 20 anyway.... more of a stopgap before the 40?


The 30D has the same sensor as the 20D, so in terms of IQ the upgrade is minimal. IMO, the upgrade from 30 to 40 isn't that impressive either (though bigger than the 20-30). Not impressive enough to justify a 500 Euro price difference for a new one anyway.

Myself, I´m saving for a 20d or 30d (whichever I can get my hands on by then), but I have two lenses on my list first.

10/24/2007 01:58:02 PM · #20
Originally posted by mark_u_U:

Myself, I´m saving for a 20d or 30d (whichever I can get my hands on by then), but I have two lenses on my list first.


I'm not even going to bother with the x0D series and am going to go straight to the 5D or whatever it is when I have the money for it (probably a 9D or something :) ). But I still have one more lens, 300mm f/4L and 1.4x converter, to go before I take the plunge for that.

If I were you, I'd say get either the 20D or the 40D. The 30D really only offers the spot meter and a larger screen. If those things matter to you, then the 30D is where to go. If not, then the 20D or 40D are great depending on your budget.

Message edited by author 2007-10-24 13:59:00.
10/24/2007 02:09:32 PM · #21
What's wrong with your current camera, specifically ?
10/25/2007 04:22:15 AM · #22
To be honest, there is nothing 'wrong' with my 10d. it has only done around 20,000 shutter clicks.

A couple of things that I would like to change though is the start up time, image write time, and i like the fact the 20d is slightly smaller/lighter. Also the increase in resolution is a bonus. I find the AF in low light isn't too great.

As I only use my camera for a hobby I really couldn't justify the 5D prices! It would be nice though....

Does anyone have any advice on how to tell if a camera from ebay is near the end of its shutter life? It would be terrible to buy a 20d for £250 and then have to spend the same again on the shutter.....
10/25/2007 05:34:13 AM · #23
Originally posted by biohazard:

. .and i like the fact the 20d is slightly smaller/lighter.


Be aware that the 40D is slightly larger/heavier than the 20/30D so it is probably closer to your 10D.

The 30D had a number of improvements over the 20D -

* 2.5" LCD display (up from 1.8" on the 20D) and increased resolution
* New and improved shutter will last for 100,000 cycles
Improved camera performance: larger buffer, faster startup and "wake from sleep" recovery times
* New spot metering option
* ISO can now be adjusted in 1/3-step increments
* Same Picture Styles and automatic noise reduction feature as on the EOS-5D (see our review)
* Improved folder management system

see //www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_30D_review.html for a comparison between the 20D and 30D.

You could also try looking for refurbished kit - that can get you a good discount.
10/25/2007 09:39:14 AM · #24
Originally posted by biohazard:


Does anyone have any advice on how to tell if a camera from ebay is near the end of its shutter life? It would be terrible to buy a 20d for £250 and then have to spend the same again on the shutter.....


There is no way of realy knowing, but you can think of some indications:
*if the owner is a pro, he probably used it as a second camera, and before that maybe as his first. So pro=larger risk (pros shoot more anyway)
*ask the owner, he might just tell you
*if it looks worn, it probably is
10/29/2007 05:27:48 AM · #25
Update:

Thanks for all your advice guys, I got a bit nervous about the shutter count issue on a 20d so 'justified' it to myself to buy a 30d instead.....

Brilliant. Got one on ebay, should be arriving around the end of the week.

S.
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