Buying her a camera...

My girlfriends birthday is not untill late december around x-mas and I'm planning on getting her a camera. She's in school for art education with an emphasis in photography. She wants to teach photography and right now she has a Canon film K2. I was originally going to get her a used or new 30D but now that the 40D is out I'm thinking that I should just dish out the extra 300 or so $'s and get a her the 40D. Either way I will be giving her my 17-85 EF-S with the camera because I will be getting a lens that will better suit my needs and will not need it. I really want her to have the 40D not only because I think it will give her some more space to grow into but I WANNA PLAY WITH THE DAM THING....lol. It will take me about 1-2 months to save up for a 40D. Or I can get a a second hand or new 30D. What should I do?

Buy yourself the 40D and give her your 30D

I agree with SOT, get yourself a 40D and give her your 30D. It will do just fine for her in school as the 30D is very capable and she could always borrow your 40D if needed.

crazyskillz07 wrote in post #4116098
I really want her to have the 40D not only because I think it will give her some more space to grow into but I WANNA PLAY WITH THE DAM THING....lol.

Why bother with a poll if you already stated what you really want. What anyone else in the forum or the rest of the world thinks does not matter in the long run.

But since you asked this is my opinion:

1) If you want a 40d get yourself one.
2) If you want her t have her own 40D get her one. After all it is a birthday present you are giving her, would you want your present to be a used present? What would you think if the tables were reversed?

That is the best I can do and I will not vote on the poll.

So easy to vote when it's not my money.

Get the 40D!

get her the 40d wait another couple months sell the 30 and pick up a 40 for yourself.

Yeah you'd be crazy to give her the 30D as a gift, and give yourself the newer toy. She'd be really upset, I know I'd be and I'm not even female. You'd be in the doghouse for months.

kensei wrote in post #4116522
get her the 40d wait another couple months sell the 30 and pick up a 40 for yourself.

I like this.

The thing is that I don't really want a 40D. I just want to play with it. I am happy with my 30D. If I buy her a 40D, play with it, and find out that I do want one, i can always upgrade. TonKiki bring up a good point. If the tables were reversed I would be fine with a 30D but she is going to school to pursue photography and in that case I would rather her have the better camera.

If you are sure she it "THE" one getting her a 40d is practically getting it for your self. I wold not get another 30d in to the family since the 40d is out not mater what others say about the 40d, I have it and I like ever little thing about it (almost).

By all means get her a camera but let her choose it. It is kind of tough to buy a camera for someone else I think

Yeah, that last statement makes sense, let her choose it! Then you can borrow it.

*in the back* "Get her a medium format film camera"...
(sneaks away)
ha

Whichever camera you get, get it brand new. I think that 'feels' better.

Get her the best. If you love her she deserves the best. Get her the 40D. It may sting the wallet but I imagine the look on her face when you give it to her will be more than worth it. Of course, I'm single again so what do I know? Lol.

I almost would try to get a feel for what she wants.

The 30D vs. 40D differences are not major for ~$300 and $300 can go a long way towards a new lens

One of the reasons I am keeping my 30D is the lack of a ton of new vital features vs. the cost. You can get a lot more usage "features" out of buying a new lens with the money you save.

Either way though, both are excellent cameras, I would recommend going new though as used is not the greatest for a gift IMO.