POLL: Have you bought a used DSLR?

[drg]

DSLR's have been around and fairly accessible for 10+years. There are lots and lots sitting idle and instead of buying now a film body, have you bought a second (or third or fourth or tenth) DSLR?

New models emerge with regularity from the manufacturers and new players have made big inroads of late. Slightly older models are available for a quite reasonable amount of money and many produce tremendous images, but now for a fraction of the original cost.

I've several 'beaters' that get regular use and dust, dirt, children, or other possible problems be d*****!

So do you have a used or several Digital SLR's or ????

[SmartWombat]

Yes, my 1DSmkII was bought "refurbished" from the Canon ebay outlet in the UK.
Came with a 1 year Canon warranty, which was good when the shutter failed after 3 months.

The only way I'd spend a few thousand on a second hand camera was through Canon with their warranty back-up ... I saved over £1000 off the list price.

[Greg McCary]

Yep, a couple here and there. But I am down to just two digital cameras.

[almo]

Every Canon DSLR I have owned has been used. D30, D60x2, 30D, and my current 40D.

I have only ever owned two brand new DSLR's, an Olympus E-500, and a Pentax K10D. These were my two forays into other camera brands. Of course this was before I put the money into real quality, and expensive L glass. If I am honest, for me to get the best for my money I have to buy used equipment. The only thing I have now that I bought new is my 24-105mm f/4L IS. Before that I had a 70-200mm f/4L that was the only other piece of canon gear that I have bought new.

I do not have a backup/beater body, but one is on the wish list.

[Frog]

Haven't but would if it had a warranty or if I somehow knew that they hadn't been abused

I do have a couple of used lenses that I have had no problem with.

[megan]

My back up E-300 was a camera store floor model that was refurbished by Olympus. The only way I'll buy used equipment is if it has been refurbished by the manufacturer. So now that I have the E3, both of my E-300's are beater back-ups. My 12-22mm lens for my E3 was also refurbished, but the body I bought new. I (I bought my refurbished MacBook Pro from the Apple website as well.)

[mjs1973]

Nope, but I would if I was in need of another body. I currently have 2 DSLR's. My 40D is my main body and I have been using it for over 2 years. My other camera is the original DRebel I bought in 2004. The DRebel doesn't get used much but I still take it out every once in a while. With 2 DSLR's, I'm not in the market for a 3rd. Unless it was IR converted.

[Skyman]

almost all my gear has been purchased second hand. although working in a camera shop meant that I had the pick of the gear that was traded in, and wholesalers would often offer ex demo stock directly to us. Since working in the store I have made a few lucky finds so I haven't really had any issues. The only camera I really purchased new was my first slr. I don't think I will part with it as long as it still works. at the moment it is on permanent loan to mum.

[racingpinarello]

I have bought almost every digital camera used. Even my medium format digital back was used.

I just recently bought a Nikon D1X for $300, and plan to buy an used D2X for about $700. With sensor cleaning being much easier, and especially for pro bodies, hard to beat up.

When I was at the camera shop I noticed a D300 for $1499 that had only 1000 images. The previous owner moved up to the D3X. Lucky bastard for him and the other person who is going to buy it.

There are some killer steals out there...I did some shots with my D1X, and while it's only a 5 mp, the exposure is spot on from the great metering system. No noise, and a good images. Not bad for the price of a P&S with shutter lag.

Loren

[jorgemonkey]

Granted I don't have all the bodies anymore, but here is my breakdown:

NEW
D70 (sold to a friend)
D300

USED
2x D2h
D200
2nd D70 (for the wife)

[gahspidy]

I have not bought used, but I would not have a problem with it. I agree with you that as the technology race continues, we can have pretty good stuff used at great prices from those looking to keep up with the latest.

[Old Timer]

I bought a refurbished D2h from Cameta and had no problems.

[NaturalWoman]

never own a new DSLR in my life and i'm on my 2nd one. i have bought a new canon g10. i'm going to purchase a used e410 as a backup on friday. i can share batteries with my 620 and i won't have to switch lenses so much. and it's small.

[BillinAnchorage]

Bought my D90 refurbished. 90 day warranty. Considering extending that through Nikon. It looks new to me.

[Franglais]

I only buy the latest and greatest - once it's been on the market for 6 months or so and the price has dropped just a bit. I use it for the full life of the model (about 4 years) ignoring any mid-life kicker upgrades. I usually give the thing away to some needy person or cause once I've replaced it by something better.

I wouldn't buy previous-generation DSLR is something better was available. We haven't yet reached the stage where a DSLR satisfies all my needs perfectly. It's close but there are still moments when I reach the limits of what the technology can do and I struggle a bit (see my piece on do I need a D700).

I still need 3 DSLR's:

- current-generation pro body which I use most of the time
- a previous-generation pro body as backup for really important events (*)
- a low-cost body for anything risky

(*) I might hold onto the D200 forever. With 100 ISO base sensitivity and 10Mpix it's perfect for studio portraits

[drg]

Interesting range of comments so far. Factory refurbs and demos count too as used which thanks to Wombat I was reminded to now add to the mix.

I've bought some for pennies on the dollar just to have the chance to use them for a few days for comparison or see what technical advantage/disadvantages they really possessed.

Who else has acquired one or more used DSLR's?