Need Canon Buying Advice

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Archive 2008 · Need Canon Buying Advice

FishhawkBill
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p.1 #1 · Need Canon Buying Advice

Two questions: How does a particular scam I found work, and what should I actually buy?

I have an xti (8MP) that has been great, even though it is now in the shop. It got me shopping for something newer without knowing what was out there. I'm not too concerned with equipment until it is time to buy. It just seems like a way to be unhappy with what I have and about what I can't afford.

Being ignorant I wound up talking to an on-line shop that was selling a Canon 5D for about $1000. It seemed like a great buy (Obviously after more investigation, I know it would be a too-good-to-be-true buy.) Once I said I'd take it, it suddenly morphed into a "Chinese model with the plastic body" not the US model with the magnesium body. They tried to browbeat me into a more expensive but lesser model at what was probably a pretty good price but why deal with them at all?

I walked. Out of curiosity I emailed Canon because I could not believe there was such a camera as the 5D with a plastic body. They confirmed that none exists.

A 5D is an incredibly complex machine, not a fake Coach leather purse. So my question #1 is, what could they possibly send you if you insisted on the 'bait' price and item and refused the 'switch?' I'm not a pro, just a fairly serious amature who wants to get better and want his kids to be able to use the camera to learn and enjoy photography.

My #2 question is, since I can only afford the "Chinese" 5D, what should I be looking at? The xsi?

Edited on Aug 20, 2008 at 02:38 AM

Aug 20, 2008 at 02:22 AM

Mullet
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p.1 #2 · Need Canon Buying Advice

Greed is what drives these scams. Get something for nothing, or almost something for almost nothing.

Ultimately, you would have been told the truth. That for $1398 you could have a NIB Korean Aluminum 5D II.

Aug 20, 2008 at 02:44 AM

danmitchell
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p.1 #3 · Need Canon Buying Advice

Since your XTi has been great, there is no reason why an XSi wouldn't make a fine replacement if the XTi isn't coming back.

Aug 20, 2008 at 02:48 AM

FishhawkBill
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p.1 #4 · Need Canon Buying Advice

Thanks guys.

As my Dad used to say when he ran into this sort of thing, "If you haven't got any, why not give it away?"

It might be fun to call them back in a rush, 'confirm the sale,' specify overnight shipping, hang up and see what happens. A little revenge for all the folks who cave and never do the next step of research.

I'm surprised that Amazon and other big dealers don't push to kill this off.

Aug 20, 2008 at 02:58 AM

texaskev
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p.1 #5 · Need Canon Buying Advice

FishhawkBill wrote:
Thanks guys.

As my Dad used to say when he ran into this sort of thing, "If you haven't got any, why not give it away?"

It might be fun to call them back in a rush, 'confirm the sale,' specify overnight shipping, hang up and see what happens. A little revenge for all the folks who cave and never do the next step of research.

I'm surprised that Amazon and other big dealers don't push to kill this off.

I have been through this a few times. The last time, when I was buying my ID MIII, the guy gave the the 'plastic body - jap menu' speach... I told them that would be fine and placed the order (after saying NO 100 times on the 'up-sale / other-sale biz that they gave me). Oh, they also told me that I needed the 'new' CF cards to work with this body. Long story short, they never billed me and the plastic body never showed up. I ended up getting if off of Amazon, good price and now run-around. Good luck!!

Edited by texaskev on Aug 20, 2008 at 02:09 AM GMT

Edited on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:09 AM

Aug 20, 2008 at 03:03 AM

craigbess
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p.1 #6 · Need Canon Buying Advice

Get what you pay for.... There are used 5D on the market for around $1500 in decent shape.

I'd consider the 40D as well, epically since they dropped the price

Aug 20, 2008 at 03:06 AM

BennyR
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p.1 #7 · Need Canon Buying Advice

The XTi has 10MP. I agree with the advice above. I really like my 40D and I think that is a common sentiment.

Aug 20, 2008 at 03:14 AM

Rich Swanner
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p.1 #8 · Need Canon Buying Advice

You may not like the full frame as it makes your lenses less magnifed and if you have the crop camera only ones(lenses) they will not work on the 5D. I sold my 10-22mm Canon , and my 1.6x magnifacation was lost moving up to the 5D. I would not go back because what I shoot needs the 5D's resolution and quaility. When shooting Wildlife I do miss the extra crop camera boost to the lens...Rich

Aug 20, 2008 at 04:10 AM

philber
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p.1 #9 · Need Canon Buying Advice

craigbess wrote:
Get what you pay for.... There are used 5D on the market for around $1500 in decent shape.

I'd consider the 40D as well, epically since they dropped the price

+1

Aug 20, 2008 at 05:57 AM

stanj
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p.1 #10 · Need Canon Buying Advice

Rich Swanner wrote:
You may not like the full frame as it makes your lenses less magnifed

... or, conversely, you may like it because it will make your lenses less magnified, which is awesome if you're into wide angles

I agree, a used 5D for 1500-ish would make a great camera if you care for FF, and have the $$. Of course you may need new lenses to go along with it... Personally, XTi to XSi is not all that much of an upgrade.

Edited on Aug 20, 2008 at 06:04 AM

Aug 20, 2008 at 06:04 AM

Ian.Dobinson
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p.1 #11 · Need Canon Buying Advice

the op says XTi(8mp) , isnt the XT/350d the 8mp and the XTi/400d 10mp
If he has the former then the upgrade to XSi would be a good thing

Aug 20, 2008 at 07:11 AM


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