Refurbished Cameras

[*pixie*]

I think I've decided on the Canon XS. New, they are running about $500. Refurbished, about $400. Is there any reason I should stay away from a refurbished camera?

 

[Experiment_626]

I haven't bought a refurbished camera body, but as long as it was factory-refurbished, I don't think I'd worry. I have bought a refurbished iPod, and it has performed good as new for nearly three years, for what that's worth.

 

[C&B Young]

$500 seems a bit high for the XS. I'm in Canada, and you can regularly get the XS plus 18-55 IS kit lens for $400-$450 brand new. Does the refurb come with a warranty? A new body will generally come with a year warranty, I believe some refurbs only have around 90 days. If I could save a substantial amount of money by buying refurb over new I might give it a shot, for $100 though I would go new.

 

[saturndb]

I have bought factory refurbished cameras before and they work great. Though I have saved more then 100.00 compared to a new one. You will get a shorter warranty, 90 days isntead of 1 year. I would not get a refurb if it just saved me 100.00.

 

[MICKEY88]

if you want to buy a refurb and it has short warranty check into square trade warranty for it

I bought a refurb PC for a savingss of over $500 and bought a 3 year square trade warranty for under 100

 

[bdoyledimou]

Something to consider when given the option to purchase a FACTORY refurbished product (and ONLY Factory)..

Mass produced products have a lot testing rate of ~ 1:1000.
Refurbished products have a lot testing rate of 1:1.

A FACTORY refurbish is more likely to last longer than a "new" product and is probably better put together.

 

[KCmike]

I checked amazon and the xsi is only $50 more.
Also the XTI is regarded better than the xs and its around $400. Both are showing with the kit lens and IS version.

 

[photo_chick]

My feelings on the XS right now in general is that for just a little more you can get a new T1i. A little more cash for a good bit more camera.

As far as refurbs in general... I'd go with a factory refurb if it were a really good price. Right now with the recent drop in price of the T1i the XS just isn't that great of a deal for the age of the model and the features it has.

 

[bob100]

I think I've decided on the Canon XS. New, they are running about $500. Refurbished, about $400. Is there any reason I should stay away from a refurbished camera?

Refurbished from adorama carries a one year warranty, - but don't get the XS, it has too many limitations, consider a newer model like the Canon T1i (500D) or T2i (550D).

 

[Bstanley]

As a new DSLR owner/user and a Rebel XS owner (1 year now). I am giving you all a raspberry blpppp.

Pixie,

If you are experienced with SLRs and are moving to Digital - buy the more expensive T1i (the T2i is $900 at a minimum right now so I don't imagine that is in the running).

If you are new to SLRs save the money and buy the XS (or a used XTi - not the XT). You will be able to learn so much from it and frankly it is more than enough camera for a newbie to use to become familiar with the brave new world of DSLR photography.

Then in a year or two you can give it to your kids or sell it for practically what you paid for it and move up to whatever next level you might aspire to.

And if you decide to keep it - you can always buy 'L' lenses for it and be able to take pictures that are as technically spot on as they can be.

Have fun!

 

[Pineapple Whip]

I'd go for it if it were a substantial savings over the exact same new. Factory refurbs operate as good as or better than new since someone went through it carefully and tested each component. Most new units are mass produced and QA tested, so a bad unit might slip by.

Of course even replacement parts are subject to failure.

$50 is bull though, the slashed warranty is enough reason to drop the price significantly.

 

[*pixie*]

Thanks for all the advice. Lots of things to think about. Bstanley, I have no experience with a SLR, which is why I was looking for an entry level camera. Thanks for the reassurance that the XS will be fine for me!

 

[Bstanley]

Pixie,

Take a look at my Smugmug pages to see some samples of what an XS can do.

The Disneyland and Children subdirectories are pictures are from before I bought the XS, the others were taken since last November's big buy!

 

[*pixie*]

Pixie,

Take a look at my Smugmug pages to see some samples of what an XS can do.

The Disneyland and Children subdirectories are pictures are from before I bought the XS, the others were taken since last November's big buy!

Great pics!! How long have you been using an SLR, and how many different lens did you use?

 

[Bstanley]

How long have you been using an SLR

There are 2 answers to that question.

I bought a 35mm SLR (Canon FTb) in 1973 and used it until the shutter failed in 1987. I had 2 lenses - don't exactly remember what they were - probably a 50mm and I seem to remember the 2nd lense as a 135mm. I wasn't a particularly involved hobbyist, just someone that wanted to take better snapshots. When the shutter failed I switched to 35mm point and shoot cameras.

I went digital in the late 90s and had a series of point and shoot Canons. Last November I once again decided I wanted to be able to take better snapshots. I was going to buy a G11 and boldly announced to this group my intentions - the comments that came back pointed me to a number of websites discussing the physical characteristics of the image sensors that Digital Cameras use and the distinct advantages that larger sensors have over smaller ones - I decided to take the same $500 that I was going to spend on the G11 and buy the Rebel XS instead. I'm very glad I did.

how many different lens did you use

Although I have 3 lenses I take 95% of my pictures with 2 of them. Probably the majority of the pictures I take are with the 18-55mm Kit lens, virtually all of the remainder (since April when I got it) are with a 70-200mm F4L lens I bought for the trip to France. Be careful buying 'L' lenses - the rascals are so good they make you lust after more of them (I'm saving up to replace the kit lens with a 17-55mm F2.8 which is supposed to have 'L' quality optics - at a mere 10 times the price of the kit lens ). And I also have a 50mm F1.8 that works quite nicely for portraits and such. It is a very sharp lens if you use it at apertures of F2.8 and up (and at $100 brand spankin new has got to rank right up there in terms of value).

On Smugmug you can see which pictures were taken with which lens by clicking on the 'i' on the pop-up menu that appears when you hover the mouse over a picture.

I've found the XS to be a very nice learning tool capable of excellent pictures with good glass and frankly after having tried out the superlative 5D MKII in the store (with a beast of an F2.8 zoom on it) I ran back to my XS like a scalded cat. At just over a pound with the kit lens the XS is a really easy thing to have with you all day - which helps me fufill the first rule of photography - "F8 and be there" - or to paraphrase - to get the shot you have to be there and have a camera.

I really recommend going to an camera store, picking up an XS, playing with the menus, shooting a few shots with it in the store, at least looking at them on the store's computer (or better yet bring your own SD card and take it home to look at them) AND if at all possible do the same with a Pentax Kx and a Nikon.

All basic DSLRs do a good technical job I expect - and you might be surprised at how much different they feel - and how menus work may drive you bonkers on one camera but seem perfectly understandable on another. For example I love how the XS fits my hand but there are people who think it is small and hard to hold onto.

Welcome to the DSLR zone, good hunting.

 

[*pixie*]

Thanks so much for answering my questions, you've really helped me a lot!