Maybe. It’s in good condition. The LCD has scuff marks on it, but I only saw them when I went looking for them. Comes with extra battery, battery charger, manual (thumbed through many times), no box, body only, body cap, the Canon software (never opened since I never use that stuff), strap, cables, and one extra thing – the cable release for it.
Unfortunately when you switch to the next model – the cable release and batteries are different. Hate when they do that.
The body itself doesn’t have any marks on it that I can see. But let’s face it – it is a well used camera, though not like it was used for wedding photography. I’m going to try and figure out how many actuations by looking at the start and end number in Lightroom (it’s on continuous numbering system) and also when I bought it.
As a benchmark, I ran it through the B&H used equipment page which gives a quote of somewhere between $350 and $400 depending on whether it’s a 3 or 4 on their scale.
I was thinking that for $450 or so I could use that money for the next camera and it might make the difference between the 7d or 5dII. On the other hand, it’s still a good backup camera to have around so I’m not sure if it’s worth selling or not…
What’s going on is that I’m finally finishing up the last two big orders, and it would be nice to double the amount of pixels I’ve got. Not that you can’t do a lot with this guy if you a) shoot at a low ASA and then run it through HDR or an extrapolation program which is how I ended up doing the 40 x 60 inch print recently. But if I want to shoot at a higher ASA it’s a stretch (no pun intended) to get to 40 x 60. What I like about it, is that even when there is noise, say at 800 ASA, it is a pleasant almost filmlike design. Of course that’s a subjective thing, but I’ve read others say similar things about the noise structure.
And of course, it is in perfect working condition, but it would have to be bought as is – i.e. if it breaks in a few months – then I can’t offer a warranty. If you’re in the neighborhood and would like to see it first – that’s fine – depending on your offer and whether you guys talk me out of it in the meantime.
db
Any interest – let me know.
p.s. MAYBE I SHOULD’VE CALLED THIS: HELP ME! STOP ME BEFORE I DO SOMETHING DUMB. And thankfully, you have done the job. I need a kick sometimes to get me back on the straight and narrow.
I would keep it as a spare body. Its nice to have a backup when on vacation or just in case crazy stuff happens.
Craig Nisnewitz
27 Jan 10 at 3:05 pm
Probably right. During the last few decades I’ve never actually needed / used a backup body, but there have been many times when I would use two cameras, each with a different prime lens. It’s prob. a good idea to keep it just for that.
dave
27 Jan 10 at 3:24 pm
Dave,
Spending, especially for sweet cameras, is a personal thing, but since you asked for some feedback…..;)
I think you have a good setup with the IR Rebel, and the 40D. You have a workflow established for up to 40×60! Tho some extra pixels are nice, your primary work – which is making medium size b&w prints – is covered well with what you already are using. And you won’t get the value out of the 40D selling it, as much as you would by using it.
As an ‘old’ film person, you know that the digital world is a kind of trap, with new computers, operating systems, software, storage devices coming at us all the time. And once you are in, you are in. It takes alot of reflective strength and perspective to ‘just say no.’
I am also a self-employed photographer, and my sales went up in the last quarter of ‘09, but is it a blip on the screen, or a true trend? Who can say. A bit of a windfall in December caused me to go out and buy a used Panasonic G1, not because of pixels, but because I could use my beautiful Canon FD lenses that have been sitting on the shelf. Did I Need it, not really, but it was only $400. And, I had to battle it out with my wife, who attempts to keep me in mental balance. I justified it, and won, but I could have done without it. We do love our toys!
That said, I would think hard about a huge expenditure right now, unless your current equipment is not doing what your primary job requires. I think that is what a business counselor would advise, looking from the outside. If the economy truly comes back to life, there may be other camera model choices by then anyway, and less chance of buyer’s remorse, which really hurts.
I would use any extra money to do promotion, personal projects, so that you are set when the economy comes back to life. When/if the floodgates open, then will be a good time to invest in higher-end equipment, for the future will justify it.
I hope I haven’t overstepped my friendly advice.
Ken Smith
27 Jan 10 at 4:10 pm
Ken, you haven’t overstepped anything. I need to get this type of feedback when the urge (addiction) comes over me. Especially true since I don’t have a wife to keep me in check. What I was doing in my own circular way by putting a question mark after the post title – was sort of hoping to be knocked back to reality; esp. as you say that this last financial surge may just be a blip. And you’re right – I had an excellent year in terms of adding to my portfolio with the combination that I have. What this dumb infatuation with new toys is all about – someone should do a doctoral thesis on it. I hope this isn’t too politically incorrect but it reminds me of an old girlfriend with a closet filled with shoes who couldn’t help herself when she passed a shoe store.
On top of all that – I had to set up my Minolta 5400 negative scanner for this last job, and of course I have tons of negatives that popped up and seemed worth a scan. And to play with HDR, the both the 40D and 450d infrared are just fine. I’m wondering if anyone has done much HDR with an infrared camera.
So feel free to help keep me in check when I get that wandering eye. And maybe by the time I do splurge, well who knows what’s coming out next and what that will do to current prices.
I’ll tell you a funny story though. I knew a guy, a long time ago, who was a stereo components fanatic. He could never bring himself to buy anything at all because he always knew about what was next in the pipeline. Ah – human beings – we are a funny lot.
dave
27 Jan 10 at 4:22 pm
We are a truly conflicted species. Better to be a dog, or cat perhaps, eh Buddy?
Greg L'E
27 Jan 10 at 4:57 pm
Dave: Listen to Ken.
I am trying to, myself.
A couple years ago, whhile I was still shooting with a Canon 20D, I finally indulged my equipment lust enough to buy a used 5D.
I hated it from the moment it arrived. Too heavy, too klunky, I couldn’t see the entire viewscreen with my glasses on, the viewfinder info was impossible to see in sunlight… and the shutter sounded wrong.
I sent it back and have been gradually shifting over to Pentax, which I was already partly invested in. I like the K20D quite a lot.
You seem to like the 40D. Keep it.
The truth is, almost any DSLR made in the last few years is great. Unless you have some terribly specific reason to buy a new model — don’t.
Bob
Bob Keefer
27 Jan 10 at 6:32 pm
Keep the 40D, but buy a 7D to go with it if you have the money. It will use the lenses you have in a way you’re familiar with, and will give you those extra pixels for really big prints. From everything I read, it’s a terrific camera.
I have to say, though, that I’m plugging along with a 20D and a 5D myself. My wife and I have both had health problems and business has been off the last few years, so I really can’t afford to upgrade. The cameras I have have served me well, but both are long in the tooth and I would upgrade in a heartbeat if I could.
Dave Jenkins
27 Jan 10 at 10:31 pm
Dave,
I’ve looked again at your successes the end of 2009, and it buoys me up to think that maybe the economy is indeed turning around. There in NY which was hit very hard, it seems to be turning around. I have heard the same from a gallery in the midwest, and then there are an increase in sales for me, and my wife who is also an artist. But, I have been reluctant to give myself permission to be very hopeful.
So, in summary, maybe all this is a portent of a great year, and maybe that 7D is just what you need to inspire and create a whole new body of beautiful work. I mean, Joseph Campbell says, ‘don’t be afraid to follow your bliss’, so I say bravo if you have the courage to get the new camera.
We need more people to have that confidence in the economy, to spend, and pull us out of recession. Much of what is holding the recovery back is a lack of confidence, and I suppose the fears we all have been having for some time tend to linger, past their need. So I will join you in preparing for a new year of a good economy…you have my vote!
Ken Smith
27 Jan 10 at 10:53 pm
M3…M4P…M6…MP…
MattW
27 Jan 10 at 11:42 pm
Leica M 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Craig Nisnewitz
28 Jan 10 at 2:33 am
I’m waiting for the Leica M10. The rumor is that the M10 will be a hybrid camera that will have two modes: film and digital. This will be the first camera of it’s kind, allowing the photographer to achieve artistic excellence by offering both choices in one camera. Leica engineers have built it around the body of the M6, but included a tiny film scanner in the body so that while you are still shooting film, the camera can be set to automatically scan the film to RAW format (with the flip of a switch). Leica marketing has concluded that this will please both the film enthusiast and the digital enthusiast. Street price will be $100,000, as the camera also includes a special self-developing film based on work done with ex-Polaroid employees. I’ll let you know if I hear anymore about this hybrid idea.
dave
28 Jan 10 at 5:24 am
I guess the M10 will use nano technology so that its the size of the M6.
Craig Nisnewitz
28 Jan 10 at 10:53 am