Camera for Christmas

[Brian]

Brianne wants a camera for christmas.
I have 0 mcKnowy about such devices.
Her sister has two that she is selling:

Pentax *ist with 4374 clicks.
Pentax K10d with 7020 clicks.

They both come with a lens kit (I need to find out what that means).

Anyone have experience with these? Prices: she said she'd probably sell them for $250, $350 respectively. But I could probably get a better deal since it's her sister. And her husband is a radiologist and $250 is just WAM to her.
Or, should I get something new?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Do you want an SLR or a point and shoot? I have always been partial to Canon, but Pentax makes some good cameras also.

[Brian]

SLR

[Katy Lied]

Brianne wants a camera for christmas.
I have 0 mcKnowy about such devices.
Her sister has two that she is selling:

Pentax *ist with 4374 clicks.
Pentax K10d with 7020 clicks.

They both come with a lens kit (I need to find out what that means).

Anyone have experience with these? Prices: she said she'd probably sell them for $250, $350 respectively. But I could probably get a better deal since it's her sister. And her husband is a radiologist and $250 is just WAM to her.
Or, should I get something new?

A lens kit is just an included lens, otherwise the camera would look like this:

Make sure the kitted lens is Pentax and not something like Tamron.


If your SIL is an amateur photog, I wouldnt be afraid of dents or scratches. Amateurs crate their cameras all over the world, and get scratches and dents on the outside, but they dont use them enough to really wear out the inside. Dont ever buy from a pro, or a journalist--they are too hard on their cameras.

7020 clicks is a lot for a KD10, how long has she had the camera? If a year or less, that is a lot of pix. Maybe she's a pro?

I looked at the specs, and it seems she is offering you fair pricing for used. I dont know Pentax, I would get another brand. Someone on CougarBoard is selling a Nikon D40 for $425, I'd try to talk him down to at least $370 because you can get them brand new for $470 at Costco.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

7020 clicks is a lot for a KD10, how long has she had the camera? If a year or less, that is a lot of pix. Maybe she's a pro?

I don't think 7000 is a lot for an am. I am already over 4000 on my camera that I got in April.

[Katy Lied]

I don't think 7000 is a lot for an am. I am already over 4000 on my camera that I got in April.

yeah sorry. I was thinking pros do 1000/month. They actually do maybe 1000 per outing.

You can look up max clicks and compare that number to actual clicks.

[Brian]

My SIL talked me out of buying her camera. She said for a bit more I could get a much better, newer sensor. I'm leaning towards the Canon Rebel XS.
My wife is pretty new to this, and i seems like this might fit the bill for a beginer.

Thoughts/experience with this camera?

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-XS-Digit.../dp/B001CBKJGG

[beefytee]

My SIL talked me out of buying her camera. She said for a bit more I could get a much better, newer sensor. I'm leaning towards the Canon Rebel XS.
My wife is pretty new to this, and i seems like this might fit the bill for a beginer.

Thoughts/experience with this camera?

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-XS-Digit.../dp/B001CBKJGG

I got my wife one of these. It is great for inexperienced folk like us.

Great pictures without too much effort or knowledge of what the heck is going on.

[RobinFinderson]

My SIL talked me out of buying her camera. She said for a bit more I could get a much better, newer sensor. I'm leaning towards the Canon Rebel XS.
My wife is pretty new to this, and i seems like this might fit the bill for a beginer.

Thoughts/experience with this camera?

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-XS-Digit.../dp/B001CBKJGG

The build quality on those Rebels is looking better with each generation. I've known serious photographers who were also poor who have built impressive portfolios on the Rebel. This would be a fine camera for anyone.

[Katy Lied]

Looks like a great camera to me. I'm not partial to canons, but that doesn't stop me from salivating over their specs.

[Brian]

thanks all for the input.
on xmas morning I'm going to hog all the credit and claim I came to this decision on my own.

[FN Phat]

As well as you should.

[beefytee]

My avatar was taken with this camera.

Edit: It won't let me put up anymore pictures. It says it can't allocate enough space.

[beefytee]

Looks like there are a few deals on Canons right now:

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/25912

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/25910

[Brian]

Looks like a great camera to me. I'm not partial to canons, but that doesn't stop me from salivating over their specs.

I know nothing about cameras, so I'd be interested in which specs impressed you so.