Is this a good deal?

[buccard]

I don't know much about photography but my 90 gallon reef tank is making me more and more interested. My wife is also interested in taking some outdoor/nature shots...and possibly more. One of her coworkers has a camera and lenses he is wanting to sell...I have seen the camera, original box and paperwork is all there. It all appears to be clean and in good working order.

Here is what it contains:

Canon EOS 20D camera body
Battery and Charger
Interface cable
video cable
software
256kmemory card

Lenses:
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon 75-300mm 1:4-5.6
Tokina BH-733 AT-X PRO 20-35mm 1:2.8

This camera is definately over my head-I will have a lot to learn about its capabilities...most certainly will need another lense for what I want to use the camera for(macro).

The owner wants $500 for the total package.

Tell me your opinions...good deal? Would I be better off with a newer model?

Is this a good camera to start learning with?

 

[BlueCorn]

I think that's a reasonable price. The lenses aren't great but they'll do for a start.

 

[nickb]

The 20D was released in 2004. For a bit more money (about $630 retail), you could get a new XSi with 18-55 IS lens (a much better quality lens). It's a higher resolution camera with newer features like Liveview (useful for manual focusing of macro shots) and a full warranty. Personally, I'd rather get the newer camera and then extend my lens collection as money permitted. But, that's me. As Doug says, the 20D isn't a bad choice (assuming that it is in reasonable condition).

 

[buccard]

Thanks for the feedback and my wife and I are going to play with the camera this weekend and see if we can take some decent pics with our limited knowledge.

 

[kristin23]

good deal

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

The 20D is a great camera. I would pay $500 for that kit just to have the 2nd camera. The lenses suck though. I do greatly prefer the xxD series over the xxxD i.e. Rebel or xxxxD Canon's.