Advice on 300D purchase

[Cralis]

I am wanting to buy a new DSLR, and my choice at the moment is the Canon 300D. I´m in the UK, so bare with my UK lingo here...:)

On Amazon.co.uk, we´re talking £800 for the 300D Kit. However, I have a seller on E-Bay selling for £670.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3808876415&category=30020

I´d like to know if anyone can spot anything fishy with this, or do you think its a good idea to go for it. I will be upgrading from a Fuji 6800z, wo am pretty new to SLRs. However, this on looks like a great way to get involved.

Also, a question of the camera. If I handed it to my fiance, is it possible to set it to as automatic as possible so that she can basically use it as a point and shoot?

Thanks very much,

Craig

[Steve Mitchell]

Hello Cralis, welcome to Dphoto. For a difference of 130, I think I'd opt for new. Just having the peasce of mind that the camera is under warranty, and you can get any issues rectified immediately through a store would be worth it to me. As far as performance in automatic or "P" mode, I'd say yyour fiance would have great success using it in this fashion. Obviously she won't have all the control as manual or some of the other modes, but it will give adequate performance...especially compared to a point and shoot. Regardless of which way you go, make sure you check back in at Dphoto and share some of your pictures.

[Vindicated]

Not to take away any comments towards Cralis, but I feel this is relevent. Do you guys believe its worth getting a 3-5 year extended warranty? Specifically the popular Mack warranty.

[lecter]

I am not a warranty fan, but I live in the land of "huh" when it comes to tha sort of thing, so I self insure. For expensive stuff I use for business, perhaps I'd change my mind.....
Rob

[gparr]

I own a 300D and am very happy with it. I'm always hesitant to buy used high-performance electronic equipment. If electronics are defective it usually shows up in the first six months or so, assuming regular usage. I'd want that warranty for protection. It's also hard to tell where used equipment has been used and how it's been treated. As Steve (our honored webmaster) mentioned, your fiance will have absolutely no trouble using the camera in an automated or the Program mode without any photographic skills beyond the ability to aim the camera and release the shutter.
A warning to you. Buying the camera isn't the danger. It's the expense of the parade of lenses and other equipment that follows that's the real concern. ;)
I too, extend my welcome to Dphoto.
Gary

[Cralis]

Thanks alot for the replies.

The camera I am looking at is brand new, and imported from the US. They sell a 3 year international warrenty with it, however, this doesn't cover accidental damage. (Do any? In anycase, my household insurance does, I think).

I went through duty free this week, between Portugal, and the UK, and in GErmany, found the camera for £100 MORE than in the UK. In the US, (ebay) I can get it for £650. And in the UK, for about £850. So I think buying from E-Bay looks OK. But still, need to be certain.

The warrenty is the Mack warranty that has been mentioned. Is this safe?

[Rune]

I've been advocating separate insurance for a while now. I still haven't had a real use for it (nothing has happened), but I sleep better at night knowing that I am covered should something happen.

According to my insurance agent, my insurance covers everthing: falling into a creek, theft and such, but it does not cover checked luggage. I have to bring it all with me as carry-on. (and my bike must be locked at all times, even when I park it inside my apartment ;) )

That said, consumer protection laws here in Norway are very protective (atleast 3 years warranty). Thus I gladly pay the 24% VAT so that I get a nice warranty too. (I've had a couple of chances to buy kit abroad, but I've chickened out every time)

[Anders Östberg]

... (and my bike must be locked at all times, even when I park it inside my apartment ;) ) ...

No kidding, I know the problem. I lost my winter wheels out of my garage. You first need a magnetic card to get in the garage, then the car is behind a padlocked steel mesh door. My wheels were stacked under a tarpaulin behind the car. Thieves broke through the garage door and cut open the cage. The insurance company said I had been careless and deducted 25% from the compensation on top of deductions for age/use/wear (the wheels were mint condition, had a couple of miles on them as I don't drive much in wintertime). Apparently the wheels should have been separateley chained to something, like an eyebolt in the concrete floor... I don't know why I pay the premium, it's not much use anyway, it might make more sense to spend the money on chains, locks and alarms.

[bikeboy72]

Hi

£650 for a Canon 300d with lens seems pretty good to me. I live in Ripon Nth
Yorks and would like to know how you fared. Good luck. Bikeboy 72

[Simon J]

I bought mine a couple of weeks ago from Amazon UK for £738 and that seems to be still the price. For me, it was worth the extra few quid over ebay. Dixons at Heathrow do a kit for about £900 but it has a crappy lens (the basic Canon 70-300mm). And go for the fastest CF card you can afford. I bought the Sandisk Ultra II 512 MB card and a Delkin 32 bit PCMCIA adapter, and that is a good combination if you use a laptop.

And who knows, maybe your fiancee will show you how to use it!!!!!

Have fun!

[Simon J]

I've just noticed this afternoon when browsing for something else that Dabs www.dabs.com (http://www.dabs.com) have the 300D plus lens for £660.


Simon J

[MatsP]

I've just noticed this afternoon when browsing for something else that Dabs www.dabs.com (http://www.dabs.com/) have the 300D plus lens for £660.


Simon J
A few pounds less from 7dayshop where I'm got my EOS 10D (at 889 pounds), at 645 pounds, including 18-55 lens and free shipping.

I've got no connection with the company, but I've had good experiences with them (aside from shipping everything in small lots and arriving over a few days, usually).