wayland_lee

Wow, this forum is great. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

Well, it sounds like the consensus is that I should get a new D50 body, and there's still some decision making that I have w/ the lens. I understand the kit lens is great and all for the quality/price factor especially since I'm so fresh to this, but I want to be able to grow into my equipment and the 18-70mm sounds like it's built with the quality to last me for a while.

As far as the used D70 goes, I was wondering how far back they introduced it, so thanks for answering that Shun, as well as informing me about the first-release concerns. The used D70 I'm looking at in particular is being sold on Craig's List and from what I gather, the seller seemed pretty reputable. The guy is local, and even suggested going over the camera and taking pictures w/ it to make sure everything is in working order. I'm not interested in the D70 so much as to use all the advanced features which I probably won't use anyways, but mainly because I can save myself $100+ and get the lens and basically the body I want.

But from all the discussion I've seen, it sounds like warranty trumps all and this is one purchase where I don't want to skimp!

Thanks again for all the advice!

Okay, here's my dilemma. I'm a total novice regarding this whole

DSLR thing and want to get into it as a new hobby. I've been doing

tons of research and think that the D50 paired w/ the 18-70mm lens is

the best bet for me. However I just ran across a used "excellent

condition" 2 yr old D70 I can get for about $50-$100 cheaper than if

I were to buy the D50 and 18-70mm lens new. I know the D50 is

marketed exactly for the photographer like me, but if I can score a

pretty good deal for the D70, would it be worth it to get the more

advanced camera? I guess my question is would the D70 be "too much"

camera for me from the get-go? Or should I spring for the D50

anyways and get the newer technology?

Hi, newbie to the forum and DSLR as well! I'm looking to purchase my

first one and have been doing a lot of research on which body and

lens is good for me. I think the D50 is the perfect fit(great price

and features for beginners w/ room to grow), but one of the few

concerns I have is to pick which lens to outfit it with. I know,

since I'm a beginner, the kit lens should do me just fine, but I want

something good enough that I can grow into as well. So I'm leaning

towards purchasing the 18-70mm lens over the 18-55mm. Good decision

for me? Well if so, in order to help subsidize the extra cost of the

lens, I was thinking about buying a refurbished D50 from Beach

Camera/Buydig for about $100 cheaper than the going rate for a new

one. Would this be a wise move? I think the website specifies that

these bodies are "factory refurbished" so it's likely that something

was wrong w/ the camera and had to be fixed versus them just

reselling an open package. Does anyone have any experience regarding

refurbished goods? Any comments and suggestions would be greatly

appreciated!! TIA