Special Present!

Jenny_H

I want to buy my other half a special present for his bithday - I'm thinking of a Digital SLR but have no idea of where to start? Besides family photos he has an interest in taking nature and sporting pictures, he currently has a 5m pixel digital camera but with fixed lens with a minimal zoom (is this worded correctly?). Ideally, I'd like to buy it in the 4 weeks so that I have it for his birthday, so postage might be a possibility. What are my options on what for and where to look?
Budget €1000 - €1200 at a squeeze maybe a bit more.

Fajitas!

Canon 350D or Nikon D70 without a doubt!


Jesus...He'd be smiling for weeks!

rymus

If postage is a possibility look at www.technikdirekt.com (German).

You could also look at Kea-Photo http://stores.ebay.com/Kea-Photo (ships from Hong Kong in about 3 days). For example, a 350D with kit lens will cost you a smidge over €700 including delivery.

Technikdirekt has the same kit for €699. I think they still charge a flat rate of €22 for european delivery. Normally delivered within about a week.

Don't procrastinate, I'd say if you have to buy it at short notice over here you'll be looking at around €900-950 for the exact same kit.

As for reliability on the two sellers I've given; I bought my Canon 20D from Technikdirect a year ago with no problems and I regularly buy lenses and other bits & pieces from Kea, again with no problems.

steve04

You could also look at Kea-Photo http://stores.ebay.com/Kea-Photo (ships from Hong Kong in about 3 days). For example, a 350D with kit lens will cost you a smidge over €700 including delivery.

Do you have to pay import duty when buying goods from Kea Photo (i.e. outside EU)? Or is it pot-luck if yu get stung for the duty? Is this included in the €700 for the 350D with lens kit?

Oriel

If the Nikon D70 is a bit too much, then the D50 is a great, cheaper, camera.

Jenny_H

Thanks for the recommendations - how do I choose between the Canon or Nikon, he currently uses a Nikon but doesn't have any swapable lens. Also, what kind of warranty would he have with an import and would I have to pay extra excise duty for goods bought outside the EU?

rymus

Chances are if he's a nikon head he'll prefer a nikon dslr. Many of the mid to high end compact cameras have a few of the same features as their chunkier dslr brothers; same menu's & familiar icons etc.

When I got my 20D from germany I got a 1 year EU warranty (afaik).

to answer both jenny and steve, I've never had to pay any customs duty when buying from Kea.

FinoBlad

Jenny_H, I'd advise you stick with Nikon so if he already may have a preference.

If he is interested in Nature and Sport, personally I'd buy him this kit and a memory card and a camera bag for it.

This dude wont know what hit him, what a birthday surprise. Fair play to ye.

BTW That shop is germany, so you wont get caught for vat or duty. Shipping is €22.
And on the order form make the Post Code 000000