What should you look out for when buying a second-hand camera?

Monday 26 April 2021, 20:10 by Nando Harmsen | 5,371 views | 3 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Looking for a new camera? It may be worth looking at the second-hand market. You can save a lot of money that way.

With a bit of luck, you can also find fairly recent models for considerably less than a new one. What should you look out for when buying second-hand?

I recently wrote an article about four things that require extra caution when buying them second-hand. In the comments, people asked why I had not written about what to look out for when buying a second-hand camera or lens.

That article was not about this, so I did not mention it. But it is interesting to take a closer look at it. That is why this article is about the points to consider when buying a second-hand camera.

People who buy a new camera, or stop taking photographs, usually offer their old camera for sale second-hand. This can be a good opportunity to pick up a fairly recent model for often considerably less.

A camera is a tool that gets used. You never know how much it has been used or under what circumstances when you buy second-hand. But even extreme conditions do not necessarily make a second-hand camera bad.
However, very old cameras are also offered for sale. Old models that either look like new and still work perfectly, or are worn and damaged. Even this can be a good purchase, depending on what you are looking for.

In this article, I will give you some points to consider that will help you make a sound decision.

It does not guarantee that you will never make a bad purchase. It does make the chances considerably smaller.

Do your homework

Make sure you know what you want. Not just how much you want to spend, which is important too, but especially what you are looking for. Do you want something recent, or would an older camera model be fine too?

Which features do you want, and how much did the cameras you are considering cost when new? Is it a camera model aimed at professionals? Or are you looking for a camera aimed at the consumer market?

Know what you want to buy and why. The specifications do not need to convince you. The condition of the camera does.
All this gives you some idea of what to expect when you start looking on the second-hand market. A camera model aimed at professionals will show many more signs of use than one aimed at the consumer market. More photographs will have been taken with it, the shutter count.

At the same time, the more professional models are better able to withstand rougher use and a higher shutter count. More does not mean worse. Compare that with the price too. A professional camera with 150,000 on the counter may be a better choice than a consumer camera with only 50,000 on the counter.

Do your homework and know what to expect. The internet is your source of knowledge. Make use of it.

Are they photos of the actual camera?

Without photos, you do not know what you are buying. But has the seller taken photos of the actual camera? Sometimes a photo of the camera is conveniently taken from the internet. That is not what you want to see.

You want to be able to see the camera beforehand, so you can assess whether it might be what you want to buy. Is there just one photo of the front, or are there also detailed photos? Are there photos of any damage?

An unclear photo does not tell you much. Ask for more clear images before seriously considering or viewing it.
If you do not see enough photos, ask for them. If the seller does not want to send more photos, do not buy it. But perhaps the seller will invite you to come and have a look. That works too.

Ask every question before you go to view it

Most people who offer a camera for sale tell you what the camera can do. Entire lists of specifications are copied to explain how good the camera is. You already know that if you have done your homework.

A relatively new camera at a fantastic price does not necessarily have to be too good to be true. But convince yourself by asking questions.
What you want to know is how the camera has been used. What has been photographed with it, and whether there is any damage or wear. What condition is the camera in? So ask the seller anything you want to know about the camera.

It inspires confidence if the seller honestly mentions whether there is or has been any damage, whether there are problems with the camera and how it has been used. Always ask further questions and use the following as a guide.

• How old is the camera?
  
• Why are you selling the camera?
  
• What have you photographed with it?
  
• How many photos have you taken with it?
  
• Does the camera have any damage, or has it had any damage?
  
• Is there any wear?
  
• Does everything work properly?
  
• Are all the accessories still included, battery, charger, cables, booklet and possibly the packaging?
  
• Can I come and test the camera extensively, including with my own lens or lenses?
  

If the seller does not answer one or more of your questions, or if one or more of the answers do not suit you, keep looking.

Bear in mind that if a very expensive camera is being offered for next to nothing, you cannot expect to get an almost new camera. Be realistic.

How are you received, and what sort of person are you dealing with?

When you step inside the seller's home to test the camera, look carefully at where you have ended up and how you are received. Are you welcomed warmly or not? Are you not allowed further than the front door, or are you offered a cup of coffee?

Where you end up and how you are received says a lot about the seller. It inspires confidence, or it does not.
Although you should never judge someone based on a first impression, it does give you either a good feeling or a bad one. That first impression can change, especially if you are fully accommodated during your planned tests. Or if you are more or less obstructed.

In short, go there without prejudice and trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, thank them and leave. There are plenty of other cameras on the market.

Check and try it out thoroughly

Check the camera and see whether it matches what the seller told you. Is there more damage than you were told about? Then you may start wondering whether everything was communicated honestly. But bear in mind that a seller may have forgotten something. Give them the benefit of the doubt.

If everything feels right, test it thoroughly. Put your own memory card in the camera, format it in the camera and go straight through the menu. If you have done your homework, you will roughly know what to expect.

Test and try it out. Make sure you are convinced that the camera is as good as the seller claims.
Test it with your own lens. You know that this lens works properly, and you know its shortcomings. You can also use a lens belonging to the seller, but you do not know whether that lens is good or not. You want to test it with your own lens or lenses.

Listen to the shutter at various shutter speeds, from 1/8000 to 1 second. Count along with a shutter speed of 2 seconds, 4 seconds and so on. Convince yourself that there are no strange sounds and that it feels right.

Check that the aperture is controlled properly and that no errors occur when taking a photo at various aperture values. Check that the exposure is correct in your test photos. Play with the exposure and exposure compensation. Make sure everything works properly.

Also check how the four exposure modes, PSAM, work, even if you always want to use manual. Make sure they work.

If you have a flash, take it with you and check that the flash is controlled properly. Use TTL on your flash, even if you always use manual. It must work properly.

Check the focusing in every way you can think of, and also check whether the photo is sharp. Zoom in when reviewing the photos, or do this with a laptop that you bring with you. Take test photos indoors, and outside if appropriate.

If the seller tries to discourage testing in any way, you know that something is not right. Do not go ahead with the sale. If you hear strange sounds from the camera during testing, or the results are not what you expected, do not go ahead with the sale.

Do not let yourself be persuaded

The seller naturally wants to get rid of the camera. They will do everything they can to close the deal. Do not be overwhelmed by stories about how good the camera is, the megapixels or the options it has.

You have done your homework, so those options are exactly why you are already interested in the camera. Do not be distracted by the beautiful photos the seller took with the camera and shows you, however impressive those photos may be. They could just as easily have been taken before the camera developed a fault.

It is of course nice that such a photo was taken with the camera, but that says nothing about the camera itself. Do not let it persuade you to buy. Convince yourself.
Do not let yourself be persuaded if the seller notices that you are not going to buy and then wants to lower the price considerably. That is a sign that the price was already too high and that the camera may have a hidden fault.

Not sure about yourself? Take someone with you.

You may not be confident in your own judgement and may be easily persuaded. There is no shame in that. Be honest with yourself. Take someone with you who knows what they are talking about and can help you make a sensible purchase. Or not, because that is also possible.

These are some guidelines you can use when buying second-hand. Above all, also let your impressions of the seller and the camera guide you.

If you pay some attention and check everything as thoroughly as you can, you can enjoy a second-hand camera for many years.

All in all, you are responsible for your own purchase, even if you have followed all my points.

You might also like

• 

  What to look for when buying a second-hand lens

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  4 second-hand purchases you need to be careful with

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  How important is shutter count when buying a second-hand camera?

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  8 things to consider when switching to Affinity

  by Nando Harmsen

• 

  Portrait photography tip: Watch the hands in the frame

  by Elja Trum

• 

  Photograph your hand as a bookmark

  by Nando Harmsen

3 comments

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.