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Howdy,

Further to the "Whats a D70 kit worth" thread, i was wondering what people thought of the 400D.
The kit in question would consist of
400D (less than 5000 actuations) / 18 - 55 kit lens / Grip with 2 batteries.

What with the introduction of the 450D which can be had for about 1K, i am thinking
that the resale of a used 400D wont be that high?

Thoughts,

G'day & welcome to the forum

How do you know the shutter activation count ? I thought with Canon's that sort of thing could not be determined?

Given a new 400D and kit lens could be got for around $850; I'm the sort that would look to pay no more half that for second hand, especially if you don't know the previous owner and can not 100% trust his assessment of the camera.

Then again I wouldn't buy Canon, I moved to Nikon 3 years ago.

BullcreekBob wrote:Then again I wouldn't buy Canon, I moved to Nikon 3 years ago.

Now now, Bob. I do understand the temptation however. Who kinows, I may even break out the 30D on Saturday night.

Hi Warren, and as Bob said, welcome.

Good question, and you need to probably look at the HK price, and work from there as a point of reference for what a new unit can be acquired for. 50% of that value, give or take, would be a good benchmark, I think.

The problem is, and this applies to all digital cameras, that the ongoing significant advancements, combined with the reducing prices set by the manufacturers as their R&D costs are amortised, means that we, the purchasers, are inevitably left with perfectly servficable, fully functioning, but obsolete cameras that are worth but pittance compared with what we acquired them for. The 300D and D70 would be great examples of this: I paid about Au$2K for my D70, still works perfectly, worth mybe 300-500 today were I to sell it.

Is that what I think it's worth? Is that what I consider it value to be? No way in the world.

So, if I'm to sell it, I need to sell it for way less than what I think its value might be, or I just keep it.

And watch its value drop even further.

The same is true of my D200, btw.

And by this time next year, it will also be true of my D300.

Thanks Bob,
It feels good to have popped the cherry and become a poster rather than a lurker

I am the owner of the aforementioned camera kit with the potential opportunity to sell it on.
With the Canon actuation count, I've based it by the image file numbering. ie i am up to IMG-4867,
never having reset the counter.

In hindsight, i think Nikon would have been the better choice in the long run. However, having
invested a fair amount in Canon lenses already, i don't want to spend even more replacing the
both body and lenses for something that is still at current, a passionate hobby.

warrenism wrote:In hindsight, i think Nikon would have been the better choice in the long run. However, having
invested a fair amount in Canon lenses already, i don't want to spend even more replacing the
both body and lenses for something that is still at current, a passionate hobby.

At various times either of the "Big 2" in the camera market will have the edge over the other in terms of market share, or features, or benefits. But I think both of them make good cameras and both of them will continue to make *better* cameras. What doesn't change as quick is good lenses, again both players make some good lenses and some great lenses and it's lenses that are the biggest cost.

So once most non professional shooters get on the side of one brand, we stay there, it's just too expensive to move. There will be times that shooter from the other camp may be able to "Nyah, Nyah, our cameras are better with xxMp and ...." but these claims will be transitory and more importantly, irrelevant and immaterial to our ability to take a "good" picture.

Even the most basic out of date dslr is capable of taking some phenominal shots, we just need to get out there, engage the mind and eye a little more and push that button.

Leslie if your still a newbie in the DSLR what was the reason you chose Canon over Nikon? Marketing hype, personal experience, megapixel count, other friends?

When I was in the position of getting a DSLR I was recommended by many people here to have a feel of the camera. No one said to go to Canon or Nikon. At the end Canon won because I found the ergonomics more intuitive. Later as I found out more about DSLR photography, lenses and other 'lingos' I still have no regrets choosing Canon.

As Bob mentioned, don't go switching camps based on the camera makes techological edge, as every year the top 2 tend to leap frog each other. Last year it was Canon and this year its Nikon. Again both cameras will get the job done as really what matters is how competent you are as a photographer.

To answer your question ebay your kit and see what people out there are willing to pay for it. Good luck and welcome

devilla101 wrote:When I was in the position of getting a DSLR I was recommended by many people here to have a feel of the camera. No one said to go to Canon or Nikon. At the end Canon won because I found the ergonomics more intuitive. Later as I found out more about DSLR photography, lenses and other 'lingos' I still have no regrets choosing Canon.

As Bob mentioned, don't go switching camps based on the camera makes techological edge, as every year the top 2 tend to leap frog each other. Last year it was Canon and this year its Nikon. Again both cameras will get the job done as really what matters is how competent you are as a photographer.

So true, I learn't on Nikon FM2's and Pentax K1000's so the Nikon system sat at the back of my mind when I bought my D40x, but after comparing the 400D and the D40x, and more recently the EOS 40D, Alpha A700 and the D300, I PERSONALLY found the Nikon setup more comfortable. The ergonomics felt right to me, and the controls were in the right places, and I love the solid feel of both cameras. Now that I have more of an investment in Nikon, I have no intention of switching.

Switching systems as each one leap frogs each other is not a smart thing to do unless you have lots of money to burn, and can learn how to use a completely new system quickly.

The 400D kit will not be worth too much, ebay may not be the best place to go, but it will be a good place to scope the prices that they are selling for. Have you tried taking it to a camera store that does second hand to have it valued? Foto Riesel in Sydney, and the Paxton's at Wynyard often take 2nd hand gear. But you will probably find a better price through a private sale.