So about the new camera.
So I’ve been searching for a new camera and it was my ultimate goal to not spend more than one week’s paycheque on the thing when I Want a dSLR and I want it to be pretty new and up to date, that makes things difficult since even the beginner/low priced entry models new run about twice as much as I was willing to pay.
So I’m surfing craigslist like crazy. I’m really more of an ebay person, but craigslist lets you go and see things in person before purchasing, although purchasing is generally involved. And I’ve messaged probably about 10 people in total about the cameras they were selling.
Some people had sold them before I could get to them (not uncommon with that site) and others were a bit unrealistic with what they wanted. Because, I’m sorry, while I understand that you paid $1000 for your camera & kit when it was new from the store, it is not a new in the box camera anymore. Also, if you bought it six months ago, but it’s a 2 year old model, then you’re REALLY not going to get what you paid for it. It somewhat pained me, and somewhat amused me to see some people arguing with what they were willing to take for their gear.
The other thing that didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me was the fact some people were selling cameras they got at most 2 months ago. (I know this, because this model of camera was only RELEASED two months ago. ) That also made no sense, they either had no idea what they were buying, or … no that’s probably about it. They just had no clue what they had gotten themselves into.
Anyways I ended up talking to a guy who was selling two different cameras, both Nikons. The Nikon D50 and the Nikon D70s. I wanted the more entry-level one and we finally came to an agreement on a price that was just a tiny bit higher than my budget but for like 20 bucks I say forget it. And when I go and arrange a time to meet with him, he sold it out from under me to someone like an hour before I was going to see him. Damnit.
He asked if I was interested in the D70s and told me a price and it was about 150% of my budget so I said no thanks. Then I was thinking on my feet, and realized the reason the price was so high was because of the lens that was attached to the camera. I asked him how much he wanted for just the body, and I would go find my own lens elsewhere. He came back to me with a price that’s what the camera stores in Toronto list selling it used for, and it didn’t come with a charger or a memory card. So while I thought about it, I basically came up with my own price that was 80% of his asking price. And I told him what I was willing to pay for it, and why.
At first he was going on about how he would rather keep the camera. And that’s fine. He was also leaving for a trip. So I basically told him “I’m willing to pay this much for your camera. Because the stores are selling it for this price used, brand new this camera is only worth X amount more than the other you were trying to sell me, and they would include items you are not including, and I would receive a warrenty from them.” At first he said no. And I told him thanks, and to have a nice trip.
I would say about 15 minutes after that call he called me back. Apparently he went to research what I had told him. He realized I was telling the truth. He also realized thatwith the trends in camera and photo technology, what his camera would be worth in a few months would drop drastically. And considering he’s gone for a few months, that he was going to be arguing with other people the same way he’s arguing with me, and would likely end up with even lower starting points.
I don’t know what’s with this guy and always adding 25 dollars. But he took my price and added an extra 25 to it. I thought it was silly but said fine. We were going to meet up, I was about 10 minutes late, which was fine since he was another 20 minutes late on top of that. We talked for I would say about half an hour while my friend Phil and I both drank coffees and checked out the camera.
So in the end I bought a Nikon d70s for $420. Because I offered him $400. And he bumped me to $425. And I handed him $420 and was wondering if he would argue me for the extra 5 bucks. He didn’t.
I then went home, and went to ebay to buy myself a third party battery charger, and extra battery. A few days later I was on ebay again and bought two 1-GB compact flash cards. I still need a lens (probably two) that I will be shopping for probably tomorrow. And I need a camera bag and I know which one I want. And a few other things, but that’s it for now.
All this just to take pictures of my friends. Go figure.
P.S. Phil says he would like to borrow my camera for small gigs he gets (since he’s a professional photographer who doesn’t own gear) and I told him fine if he teaches me how to use the camera. I will also tell him he needs to hire me as his assistant when he uses my gear 
