Best way to easily upgrade to a different camera in Bangkok

[RMN]

A few months ago I've bought new a Nikon Z50 and a few lenses. I'm feeling a bit too limited by the options the APS-C offers me and I'd like to switch over to a Sony a7 III.

 

Are there shops in Bangkok that could help make that transition painless for me? Either buy my Z50 and lenses cash and I'd use that money towards buying the Sony new, or offering a direct "trade in" program where I give them one, get the other and pay the difference.

 

I'm not trying to squeeze out every baht from the transaction, just want something reasonable and most importantly easy and safe.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

Try Fotofile in MBK.  Since they have lots of used gear for sale, I assume much of it comes in the form of trade-ins on new equipment. 

 

https://fotofile.co.th/index.php/

[stbkk]

You also might want to wander around Fortune Town a bit. There are quite a few camera and photography shops there.

 

Not sure if any of them do trade ins etc., but it might be worth a try as its very convenient to the MRT.

[Tubulat]

With respect but you'll have to realise they get profit on a new camera between 25 and 33%.

So what do you think they will give you back for an second hands camera to you.

And yes I know it is nearly new, but for them.....

[Surelynot]

If I were looking to "improve" I would invest on Photoshop (give a dog a bad name) and online courses.

 

The camera itself is not overly important.......I would rank importance in this order....

 

"Having an eye"

Lenses

Photoshop skills

Camera.

[HarrySeaman]

 

Photography has been my hobby for almost 60 years.  One thing I have found out is that if you are dissatisfied with your current camera you probably aren't getting everything from it you can get.  Before trading in your camera for a new one the first thing to do is sit down and make a list of what you like about your current camera, what you don't like, and specifically what you want from a new camera.  Next make a list of what you can do with your current camera to overcome the things you don't like then work on those.  Only if you finally find that there is some specific technical need that you must satisfy is it time to change cameras.

 

You said that your current camera, a 20.9 megapixel Nikon Z50, is an APS-C camera, and you want a Full Frame one.  WHY????
 

I have taken tens of thousands of images with my 11 year old 18 megapixel Canon 7D - everything from family to scenics to glamour to macro.  I can make a great looking 30"x40" print with an image from that camera.  I have even made good looking 16"x20" prints from my first point and shoot 3.2 megapixel digital camera.  With Photoshop's new AI based 4x image enlargement the print results can be even better than before.

 

Rather than buy a new camera you might want to consider subscribing to Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom Classic.  The subscription is USA $9.99/month or 356 Bt/month.  It will take a lot of work to really learn how to use these programs but the results are a great improvement in almost any out of the camera images.  There are lots of free tutorials from Adobe and several courses you pay for - I recommend those by either Matt Kloskowski or Tim Gray.

 

Two years ago I bought a 50 MP Canon 5DS R so I would have two good quality cameras on a trip to Australia and Tasmania, and specifically for some astrophotography where every pixel does count.  Lots of the time I don't need the extra megapixels so I use the 7D since it is lighter and simpler.

 

A more shallow depth of field is the usual reason for buying a FF camera, and that is bull pucky.  Depth of field depends on how far you are from the subject, not the focal length of the lens.  I can take a photo with exactly the same framing, same depth of field, and from the same distance with my APS-C 7D and with my FF 5DS R.  All I need to do is crop the FF image to the same framing.  If you want to use the full FF sensor for the same framing you are FORCED to use a wider focal length lens, which means you must be closer to the subject, which results in a more shallow depth of field, and very importantly more expansion distortion (usually and incorrectly called wide angle distortion since it is caused by subject distance, not the focal length of the lens).

 

If you you finally decide that you really do need a FF camera and don't get a good trade in deal at Fotofile in MBK or at Fortune Town then try selling your camera on Craig's List Thailand.  You probably won't get as much as a good trade in would give you but the process is reasonably easy.  You might have to meet the buyer but that is painless if you live in BKK.

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, HarrySeaman said:

Rather than buy a new camera you might want to consider subscribing to Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom Classic.

Where did you get this idea from???

[fakser]

I think you may find better deals at Mega Plaza in Yaowarat, 5th floor, only photo equipment.

It is more for local clients than falangs.

[eia310e]

I bought the Sony a7 iii just over a year ago, with a 100-400 mm zoom.  I am very much an novice with it, and can verify good equipment makes up for my lack of skill.  I use it for shooting birds more than 90% of the time and mostly I use the crop sensor mode.  I found too many times the birds were too far away and went to shop I purchased it, too see what options there were.  One was to change to a 200-600 mm lens and the shop would take my existing lens as a trade in.  I ended up getting a 2x teleconverter instead, and sorry I cannot recall how much they offered me for my 100-400 lens, but it would have been at least a 30% discount from my purchase price.  The shop is "Big Camera" at Central Mall Bangna.  The shop said they preferred to have the original packing etc too.

[jchfriis]

I can recommend AV Camera in Bangrak, close to the Robinson Store.

 

http://www.avcamera.com

 

It's an old fashion independent camera store. The owner mr. Mana is a great guy.

[kinyara]

Camera Plus in Fortune Town mall, I think it's the 3rd floor, would be worth trying. If you don't mind buying used they currently have a couple of Sony A7 III's and a reasonable selection of Sony lenses. They do trade-in's and what you lose on the selling price you'll gain on the buying end as I find their used prices to be very competitIve among the Bangkok outlets. 

 

My recommendations would be :

1) Camera Plus - Fortune Town ( Phra Ram 9 MRT )

2) AV Camera - ( Saphan Taksin BTS )

3) Mega Plaza 5th Floor - ( Sam Yot MRT )

4) MBK - shop on the Ground floor has used equipment so would likely do trade in. Upper floor Fotofile.

 

Edited April 10, 2021 by kinyara
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