What To Check When Buying A Used Camera

A while ago, I wrote an commodity giving tips on buying used lenses. In this follow-upwardly on how to buy used DSLR cameras, I will try to give some advice on how to purchase the other function of a lensman's kit – the camera itself. You will encounter that many of the lens buying guidelines are also applicable here, so lets not waste any more time and go started!

Table of Contents

Why Purchase Used Cameras?

Just like with lenses, nosotros don't ever need or tin can afford the latest and greatest. Certain cameras, such as the now discontinued Nikon D700 or the soon-to-be discontinued Canon 5D Marker Ii (B&H has information technology for $1699 brand spanking new, which is a steal), will hold a lot of appeal for at to the lowest degree a couple more years in the used market. Because of that, they make a neat choice every bit entry FF models (I'm quite certain I will be using my D700 for a while even with the Nikon D600 and the D800 around) or even as backup cameras. In that location is an even larger market when information technology comes to entry-level DSLRs, such as the Nikon D3100, which can exist bought very cheaply and be a great learning tool, fifty-fifty exceeding some old semi-professional person models in image quality.

It is also quite common to see many professional, amateur and even beginner photographers purchase the latest equipment every bit soon as information technology becomes available and sell older gear before information technology starts to lose value. That, in plough, gives other photographers a hazard to upgrade to previous-generation gear (which, mind you lot, is withal very much up to quality standards) and salve a lot of money.

If a Used Camera is On Auction, Does It Mean it is Lacking?

If y'all've read my lens buying article, y'all probably know the answer to that question very well. In short – no, most often it doesn't. At that place are many reasons why a photographer would be willing to sell a camera: upgrading, switching systems or minimizing the amount of equipment endemic, are some of the pop ones. We tend to alter our cameras more oftentimes than lenses with new products beingness appear more or less every yr.

Just like with lenses, however, certain people will endeavor to sell stolen gear (which may have several accessories missing, such as trunk cap and battery charger), as well as otherwise defective, but not apparent at first glance, cameras. That is why information technology's important to thoroughly cheque that great-looking Canon 5D before actually giving up your hard-earned money for it!

Earlier We Kickoff

Do y'all have trouble choosing a camera system? Ownership your first DSLR tin can be a catchy option with nigh manufacturers having both advantages and disadvantages in their offerings. Make certain you read Nasim'due south "DSLR Purchase Guide" – I'thou certain it volition help those of you new to the DSLR world make up one's mind!

General Guidelines

Hither are the most important things to check before buying a used DSLR camera:

1) Purchase From a Trustworthy Source

Every bit with lenses, eBay can be a nifty identify to buy a used DSLR. Then in that location are Fred Miranda forums dedicated to buying/selling gear. If y'all plan to purchase online, both of these places have reliable ranking and feedback systems, then that you know if a person you are about to buy from is trustworthy. These ranking/feedback systems can provide splendid information about the seller.

Make sure you know how to contact the person y'all're buying the DSLR from, equally well as their total proper name. Having an choice to return the photographic camera is very useful, and so check if there's a return policy in place. Lets hope there'southward no need to return though!

2) Bring Your Laptop Along

A laptop will assistance y'all check for any defects and imperfections in the prototype itself as you photograph, such as AF inaccuracies, serious sensor defects or dead pixels.

Check the Sensor For Dead Pixels: in society to do that, you lot demand to take an image with the camera, preferably RAW, at its base of operations ISO setting (ordinarily ISO 100 or 200), with the lens cap on, and then that you get a dark frame. Examine the image with your computer – any expressionless pixels should be easily noticeable when viewed at %100. Don't worry if there are some – it's normal, especially if the camera is quite old. Three or 4 expressionless pixels don't mean much, you'll still take several million left. However, if I saw a lot more, and then I'd exist worried that something is wrong with the sensor.
Bank check the Shutter Count: while some cameras manage to become mode higher up their tested shutter actuation number, some shutter mechanisms fail much more quickly. Camera manufacturers charge per unit their cameras for 50, 100, 150 or 300 one thousand shots and in that location is no guarantee that yous will get that far. Brand sure you lot know the expected shutter life of the model you are virtually to buy, then utilize the same RAW image yous took for checking expressionless pixels (or have another 1) and open information technology with PhotoME. A free tool, PhotoME is slap-up for finding any kind of information there is to notice in an epitome file about your camera. There, at the bottom of the program window, you lot will observe a "Filter" option – enter "shutter count". There's your number! If it'due south nowhere close to the theoretical limit provided by the manufacturer, your photographic camera is most likely to be fine for a while. In either instance, toll should reflect the amount of photographs taken with the photographic camera.

Another quick way to notice out your shutter count without installing anything is to endeavor uploading a JPEG prototype to a website like CameraShutterCount.com

How long before the shutter mechanism needs replacement largely depends on how the camera was used. If information technology was often used in high-speed fashion at its max' frame rate, in that location's a good chance that the shutter mechanism will fail sooner than it would than if the camera was used in single shot mode virtually of the time. That does not necessarily hateful information technology will fail soon, however, so don't worry about this too much.

Shutter count tests are good to discover out if the seller is lying. Sometimes y'all will get those folks that will say "Never Used, like New" or "Used Once", then yous see 100,000 shutter actuations…
Examine For Sensor/Bedroom Grit: usually, dust specs on a sensor are not a bargain billow. Quite the contrary, it'south rather expected for a photographic camera to have some dust on it. However, if in that location is a significant amount of dust on the sensor and the chamber looks terrible with all kinds of stuff in it, and then you might accept to transport information technology to the manufacturer for cleanup. Therefore, if you run across something like this, yous should factor this into the negotiated price. Over again, some dust within the camera is OK, but exercise wait for other potential issues such as scratches on the sensor, etc.The easiest way to examine the sensor is to take a picture of a clear sky and then scroll through the photograph at 100%. Any sensor-related issues will testify up on the paradigm, even at lower magnification. Close down the aperture of your lens all the way to the highest f number like f/xvi and you will rapidly encounter any problems.

Nasim has a few very good articles written on the topic. Check them out:

"Why sensor dust is more visible at small apertures"
"How to Moisture Clean Your DSLR Sensor in Less Than 5 Minutes"
"How to Clean DSLR Sensor and Continue Your Photographic camera Gear Clean"
"Dead vs Stuck vs Hot Pixels"
"How to Spot Dust on Your DSLR Sensor"

3) Examine Mechanical Condition

You can tell a lot about how a camera was used and how old it really is by the mode it looks. Brand sure you call up – any imperfections must exist reflected in the price, yet not all of them are at all of import!

Scratches and Dents: yous shouldn't worry almost minor scratches – they happen and accept no event on mechanical condition of a camera, but can show yous how it was used (pro'southward usually don't care much for cosmetic status of their gear in favor of doing all it takes to capture the shot). Larger scratches and dents may signal that the camera was dropped. On one hand, such cameras as Nikon D300/D300s and D700 are fabricated to be very tough and withstand such abuse, on the other hand, however, such a strong shock may accept damaged camera internals (those cameras are heavy, afterwards all). Unless the price is very tempting, I would avoid such equipment.Take special care when examining the memory bill of fare compartment – if the camera yous're ownership uses CF cards, information technology is vital that none of the pin connectors inside card mount are bent or damaged in any way. Bent pins may brusk-circuit and damage your cards or the card reader itself. Fixing the memory card compartment solitary can be very expensive.
Rubber Coming Off: prophylactic cover on the grip and the back of the camera may kickoff to come off if the camera was used in moist conditions, as seen in this picture:

Information technology's non pretty to look at and gets worse with use, but can be replaced at a professional service center or even by yourself. In any case, it's non a very serious fault and can happen quite often, simply you should think that, equally always, price should reverberate such imperfections.
Check Viewfinder and LCD Screen: be sure to cheque both for scratches and, in the case of an optical viewfinder, dust, which tin can be rather annoying and distracting (especially when information technology is stuck in a place where information technology cannot be easily removed). A scratched LCD screen can be quite expensive to replace, so make certain it is in good status and shows accurate color (within reason).
Examine The Lens Mountain: the lens mount on a camera should be in pristine condition – there should exist no dents and bends, and contact pins should exist clean. If there are dents and/or bends on the camera, it could mean the camera was dropped or used with a heavy lens carelessly. Make certain your lens mounts deeply and doesn't fiddle about (a very slight move under pressure level can be normal).
Overall Sturdiness: it is quite normal for older plastic cameras to squeak a niggling every now and then when held hard – they are used, after all, and far from being new. Still, relatively new cameras, such as D3100, D5100, D7000 or even a good condition D90 should feel quite tough. If they don't, they may have been dropped or banged around. Make certain the used camera won't fall apart subsequently simply a few months of use. It has to experience securely in your hand even with heavier lenses fastened. Also, no buttons should feel loose – some may fall out, which means y'all will need to send the camera for repair.

five) Autofocus Operation

It's non just the lens that needs to be checked for AF errors. Put a lens on the camera and see if information technology focuses well. Obviously, shooting a exam chart as described in Nasim's how to exam your DSLR for autofocus issues is not an choice during the process of ownership a camera, but if you focus on a distant subject using live view and then regular phase find, you should be able to spot nasty AF issues and differences. If y'all want to exercise more careful testing, I would take something like LensAlign with you to perform quick AF tests, as described in the Lens Calibration guide. If focus issues are very noticeable, so yous may exist better off with a different body, because that one may either have an AF issue or just does not work properly with the lens you lot own. Make sure AF operations are not dull when the light is good (and e'er effort to exist wherever light is practiced when testing gear) and cheque both single and continuous AF operation.

And Concluding, But Not Least!

Be condom. Endeavour to encounter with the seller during daytime and in public places, and don't pay upfront. Bring someone with yous if you tin not just for condom reasons, but as well because you might need some assistance. If y'all have a feeling that the deal seems too skillful to be true, and so it probably is. Be as thorough equally you lot can, and you will save yourself a lot of nerves, coin and time in the procedure. Buying used cameras can exist smashing, and even professionals practice information technology all the time – just make sure to keep the in a higher place in heed.

Source: https://photographylife.com/how-to-buy-used-dslr-cameras

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