Should I buy a Seconed-hand camera for 300$?

Question

It's Canon PowerShot G5 plus a case, battery and a 128mb card.
In a good condition, from a guy I know.

My budget is nowhere higher than 300$ is there a better deal?

Answer 1

You should also check the condition of the components of the camera, not just the outside. I don't mean taking it apart...

I've heard that if you take a picture of something completely white (piece of paper, a clean wall or something) and then look closely at the resulting image, any dirt or errors on the inside components will show up.
Also, try to find out how many pictures were taken already with the camera. This info is usually saved in the "exif" information of the pictures (although I've heard it's possible to trick this). Digital cameras are said to be good for about 20,000 pictures on average and life spans of 6-10 years (depending on where and how you use it and what parts it was made of).

I'm sure there are plenty of free programs on the net that can show you the exif info.

Answer 2

for $300 you can get a new camera. that camera came out in 2003 and there always improving the colours on them and making them faster. today's standard for usb speed is 2.0, that camera might be 1.0. amd don't be fooled by the memory card and case, case is under $10, and you can get a 512mb card for about $30, I don't think they make 128mb anymore. and if it comes with 1 battery, that's the battery that came with it. if you want another battery it's about $80, it takes a comcorder battery. all camera today take AA, or the thin ones take a special battery.

I would ask to use it before you buy, just take some random shots of anything, 10 shots in a row as fast as it will let you. now, when you review them on the screen, use the zoom button, that will zoom on the shots you just took, see if there out of focus. if they are I wouldn't buy it, the camera slow. now imangine you out with your friends, you take a pic, 2 sec later there's a moment you want that a pic of that, the camera won't let you so you force it too, DAMN, it out of focus! My camera's slow, about 1/3 of my pics are out of focus, and of caurse those are the photo I really wanted.

I would shop around first and see what you can get for your money including a case(to protect the screen), memory card and batteries, and remember to include taxes. you might find a new camera at that price. and don't forget about Sony's and Nikon's, there great cameras.

when this camera came out it was $900USD, today you can ger a 10mp canon with 4x opt zoom for 500$. Christmas is around the corner and alot of stores have specials on dig cameras, or you can ask your friends and family to get you gift cards to put towards a better camera.

BTW, i'm Canadian, all the prices I quoted you are in CND funds

Answer 3

I don't know about that model but I have the Canon SD 630 and it is the best camera I have ever worked with. I think if you could find that on Amazon or Ebay get it. I gaurantee you wont be disapointed.

Answer 4

yes there are better deals out there. u can look online at the company stores and nowadays u get more megapixels for ur money. i just purchased a 8.1 megapixel sony cybershot dsc-w100 for around $300.

Answer 5

$300.00 and in "good" condition, I'd pass
I want my camera's to be in NEW/ Excellent
conditions!!!