buying used gear

[tazzlesteele]

Being a poor, broke musician I am looking at buying a better camera. I'm an amateur but would love to take better photos as it is a passion. just self taught. no plans on doing it professionaly. so, my question is, should I get a 3Ti or a 5d? both used but what's better? both can be bought at about the same price nowdays. about 350 or so.  I have a few EF-S lenses with my T3. (which has been through a lot and not taking the best of shots anymore). will those lenses work with the old D5?

thanks (and thanks for not tearing me apart because i'm asking such a dumb question for all the pro's out there)

[Waddizzle]

Buying used gear is a roll of the dice.  You can either wind up with a winner or a loser.  It's a personal choice, one which I prefer not to take.  I'm not fond of casino gambling, either.

Personally, I would not buy any used equipement that I cannot hold in my hands and evaluate.  Period.  With that said, I have had VERY GOOD experiences purchasing gear from Canon's on-line store for refurbished gear.  They sell stuff at a discount, and it comes with the same one year warranty as new equipment.  Whatever they do to it, it comes with that new gear smell. 

[TTMartin]

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@tazzlesteele wrote:

Being a poor, broke musician I am looking at buying a better camera. I'm an amateur but would love to take better photos as it is a passion. just self taught. no plans on doing it professionaly. so, my question is, should I get a 3Ti or a 5d? both used but what's better? both can be bought at about the same price nowdays. about 350 or so.  I have a few EF-S lenses with my T3. (which has been through a lot and not taking the best of shots anymore). will those lenses work with the old D5?

thanks (and thanks for not tearing me apart because i'm asking such a dumb question for all the pro's out there)

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No, your EF-S lenses will not work with a 5D. Also the original 5D lacked the built in sensor cleaning system of current Canon cameras so be prepared to pay for or do your own sensor cleaning on occasion.

Your T3 may only need a sensor cleaning to bring it back to taking better shots. Even cameras with built in sensor cleaners can get dirty sensors if they have 'been through a lot'.

[ebiggs1]

You have a T3 and you are considering a 'used' T3i ?  Think about this for a minute.  There is not a great deal of difference between the models. Is there?  Plus you have a used camera!  And you are considering buying another used camera that is nearly the same thing.

In this case I think you have your answer,  If the pick is between a use 5D and a used T3i, the logical choice would be the 5D.

The lack of a sensor "shaker" is minimal but the inability to use your current lenses is great.

[RobertTheFat]

If you're going to go used, why not try for a used or refurbished 7D? It would accept your current lenses, and competition from the new 7D Mark II should be driving prices down. And in all respects except sensor size, the 7D is a better camera than the (original) 5D.