Whats it worth?

vectra

As some of you may remember, a few years ago I was a bit more active with learning photography as a hobby.
I had a nikon D60 with a kit 18-55 and a Tamron 70-200.
Was dead happy with these and 80% of the time was happy with my results. ( Not bad for an amatuer I suppose )
3 years ago I got the option of buying a Nikon D300 with an 18-200 nikon lens.
Was thrilled with it when I saw it as it felt so well built compared to the d60, and from reading about it prior to buying it I felt it was a decent camera.
Trouble is I seem to be struggling with it to get good results with it. Also I dont use it much and this furthers my lack of interest as when I do go out with it I feel my shots should be better.

So comparing the two cameras.

D60 > Basic and more or less Point and shoot ( My impression )

D300 > More complex and is a bit of a learning curve. ( Again my impression)

So I have decided that I am going to sell the D300 and get something that would be very similar to the D60 only more modern.
I have over the years thought of selling the D300 but everytime I picked it up it just felt good and said "No, I will give it another go"
But I have finally decided it is a shame to have it thrown there when it could be put to good use by someone with more interest and knowledgde than I have.

Two Questions.
1)
What would my D300 and 18-200 be worth ?
I just did a shutter count online with the last Pic I took and has only has 3258 actuations.

2)
What would I buy to replicate the D60 and is simple to use?

Thanks.

DaireQuinlan

Stick the D300 into program mode and it'll behave like a P&S. It's not the camera that's the problem here :-D

vectra

DaireQuinlan wrote: »

Stick the D300 into program mode and it'll behave like a P&S. It's not the camera that's the problem here :-D

Tried that but I am still not happy with it.
Photos look a bit "Grainy" ?? < Not sure that is the right word to use.
Forgot to add,
I have since developed Arthritis in my hande and as a result the d300 is a tad heavy for me.
The D60 was much lighter.

DaireQuinlan

There's probably nothing that the D300 won't do in program mode that the D60 won't do as well, all else being equal. You have to put a small bit of effort into understanding your tools before using them.

On the weight side of things though, why not ditch SLRs altogether and get a smaller interchangeable lens compact? Micro four thirds or whatever. I have a little Olympus PL2 and a Panasonic 14mm that is tiny and weighs next to nothing. I'm sure you could probably pick up a decent bit of kit for the same price as a D60 equivalent or whatever you get for selling on the D300.

magicbastarder

i'm still using a D300 i bought secondhand about six or seven years ago, and the camera still outperforms me, so i've no plans to upgrade.

the issue with the arthritis is the main one which i think would influence my decision. if the camera is physically uncomfortable to use, it'll put you off taking photos.

fixXxer

The Micro four thirds idea is a good one. I have a little Fujifilm XM1 that I use when I need to travel light and its a great little camera. Its so small and light that I can slip it into pocket. The lenses can be pricey though.

Whammy!

If you want to know what something is worth, one of the best places to check is completed auctions on ebay.
It will give you a good indication what the general public are will to play for such an item.

The 18-200mm seems to sell for around 250.
The D300 varies a bit more in price but the majority of them sell for around 350.

Micro four thirds is a very good option if arthritis is an issue.

CabanSail

Before ditching the D300 due to the noise it may be worth checking your ISO settings. If you have the ISO Auto on it can push the ISO up where it can get quite noisy. With my D300 I had to be careful over about 800.

Have a D300 myself and it was a very good body.

cowboyBuilder

How much do you think a good condition 100-400 IS F4-5.6 MK1 is ?

DaireQuinlan

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

How much do you think a good condition 100-400 IS F4-5.6 MK1 is ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=100-400%20IS%20F4-5.6%20MK1&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684