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If possible, I still buy used cameras online. There’s no better way to save money than using gear! And with brands coming up with new cameras almost every year, there’s plenty of used camera to go around.
But I was also ripped off a lot of times because I didn’t know early on what to check while buying a used camera.
Now that I have some years of experience under my belt, I’ve used camera tips to give the rest of yo
Should I buy new or used camera?
The most obvious advantage of purchasing a used camera body is paying considerably less money. Used camera equipment’s cost savings are higher than most products. This means you can save from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars when you purchase the camera body.
Is buying a used camera a good idea?
When shopping on a budget, purchasing camera gear is a great choice. Digital cameras are constantly updated, so the used market is full of cameras finding a new home. Used cameras are a perfect way to update your equipment without the high price tags.
If a Used Camera is On Sale, Does It Mean it is Defective?
In short, no, not often. There are several reasons a photographer would be willing to sell a camera: some common are updating, switching camera,, or decreasing the amount of equipment owned. We prefer to change our cameras more frequently than lenses, with more or less annual announcements of new models.
However, much as with lenses, some people will try to sell stolen gear (which may lack many accessories, such as body cap and battery charger), and otherwise faulty, but not noticeable at first glance, cameras. That’s why it’s important to check that great-looking Canon 5D before actually giving up your hard-earned money!
What to check when buying a used camera
Buy Last Years Model
There’s really no point purchasing a used camera if you purchase the current year model. Most of the time, if you purchase a second-hand camera’s most recent model, you won’t get anything on it and you certainly won’t get a warranty on that gear. Obviously, the whole point of buying used equipment is to save money, so if you’re not really saving a lot, do yourself a favor and cough up the extra couple of hundred bucks to get a new camera model that will give you the peace of mind of knowing you have full warranty.
However, if you’re set to buy a used camera, make sure you get last-year model as that’s the only way you’ll save significant money. In certain cases, a camera’s current model won’t be that far from its predecessor (in terms of specs), so don’t buy into the hype you need the new model to make your work look nice.
Ask for the Shutter Count on Used Cameras
A shutter count tells you more than how many times a camera has taken a frame. It tells you whether it was used personally or professionally. Like miles on a car, there’s a reasonable estimate of how many images a camera can take per year. You can also determine how many shutter actuations a particular type of camera used can be expected.
When buying a used camera what should the shutter count be?
A used camera may have about 10,000 shutter actuation per year for normal use. Going back to the car example again, if your camera has more than 100,000 shutter counts, you should probably pass on that camera.
On a lifetime scale, an entry-level camera should only be expected to reach about 50,000 shutter counts, while a mid-level camera can reach 150,000, and a professional camera should be able to reach 300,000 or more.
Of course, as with cars, these numbers are not guaranteed, but nevertheless
Inspect the Sensor
Whenever someone inspects a camera they want to purchase, they prefer to look at almost everything (including body, viewfinder, LCD panel, etc.), but almost always forget to inspect the sensor. As I said earlier, no matter how good the camera looks outside, if there are any problems lurking below the surface you need to recognise them as soon as possible.
The most common of these problems are scratches or imperfections on the sensor. You need to be very cautious about buying used gear, as the seller might not be entirely honest about their DSLR state, and sensor problems are relatively common among older cameras. Before signing off on the contract, be sure to shine a light on the sensor, and make sure it looks nice and tidy so you can put your mind at ease. If you don’t, you’ll kick yourself down the road when you find big problems with your video.
.Look for External Damage
A used camera can look bad when not really due to the low quality of most rubber grips. Rubber grips aren’t intended to last a camera’s lifetime, or if they’re, nobody told me. Yet rubber grips are inexpensive and replaceable.
What you’re really looking for when checking your used camera for external harm are any signs it’s fallen. If a camera corner is dented, deep bruises on the body, or a large amount of scuff marks, you may want to avoid the camera used.
Use These Used Camera Inspection Techniques
- Check the camera’s most critical components, the mirror, the focusing screen and the lens contacts, you’ll want to remove the body cap.
- If you see some oil or dirt, it’s terrible.
- Oil on every part of the camera used is a bad indication. It could have dropped the camera.
- If you don’t want the owner to get angry when doing your inspection, make sure you keep the camera facing down to prevent any dust from getting into it.
Autofocus Operation
Not just the lens requires testing for AF errors. Put a camera lens to see if it focuses well. Obviously, shooting a test chart as defined in Nasim’s how to test your DSLR for autofocus issues isn’t an option when buying a camera, but if you concentrate on a remote subject using live view and then detect normal process, you should be able to spot nasty AF issues and differences.
If you want to do more careful testing, I’d take something like LensAlign with you to do quick AF testing. If focus problems are really obvious, you may be better off with a different body because you may either have an AF problem or just don’t fit properly with your lens. Make sure AF operations are not slow when light is good (and always try to be where light is good when checking gear) and check AF output both single and continuous.
Ask About Its History
Buying a camera used is like buying a used car. You must inquire about its past.
Now people can lie, so I’m taking you through all these inspection techniques. But an honest photographer would let you know if they are a legitimate photographer selling equipment.
You also need to know:
- Know when the seller bought the camera and whether they have any insurance or receipts to prove it.
- The environments or situations in which the camera was used.
- Was the camera rented out to other photographers?
- Was the camera damaged or serviced? If so, how much it cost.
- If you know the specific of the camera model, research for any issues they were common of.
Test Shoot with the Camera
For several reasons, including the above, it is extremely important that you test shoot with the DSLR you want to purchase before committing to the deal. If there’s a sensor problem, a recording problem, a defective LCD, or any number of other common issues, you probably won’t know there’s a problem with any DSLR until you actually shoot it. I would recommend that you not only film the camera, but also look at the footage on a proper monitor to ensure that there are no obvious trouble areas or objects that may not have been apparent when playing the camera back. Always carry along an SD / CF card and a laptop (or card reader) when trying out a used DSLR, and don’t be afraid to take test shots.
Buy Your Used Camera From a Trusted Seller
However, if you don’t want to handle this, you can still turn to a reliable camera seller. After all, there’s many out there! I use Amazon because it takes all the guesswork out of the equation, and the refund policy is worth it. There are other places like MPB, Swappa, etc.