Opinion: why I’m buying a used camera kit for the foreseeable future

To say that I have bought and owned a lot of camera gear over the years would be an understatement. But lately, prices for cameras and lenses only seem to be going one way – up!

I’ve always been a pretty frugal soul so when I started in photography money was very tight and I often turned to thrift stores, online stockists and eBay to buy optics and lenses. value-priced camera bodies to get a half-decent setup. Although you should certainly be careful and know what to look for, I’ve had great success over the years – and I think I’ll continue to buy used kit for many years to come and invest the money saved in other equipment or projects.

I’ve never really seen the point of paying full price when you can buy perfectly good used items at a fraction of the price. I liken it to buying a brand new supercar that will be halved in value in a year due to depreciation.

Take the Canon EOS R5 for example, it’s a camera body I’d love to upgrade too, but it’s expensive, currently selling for £4,299! However, I could buy a used EOS R5 from CEX for £3200 and get a saving of £1100 (subject to availability). It is said to be from a reputable seller and comes with a 24 month warranty. This would be a ‘grade B’ model, which means the camera is in good condition with all essential accessories but no box is required.

Additionally, there are currently a fantastic range of reputable companies selling used camera bodies and lenses, including Park Cameras, MPB and Wex in the UK and B&H, MPB and Adorama in the US, to name a few.

So if you know what you’re looking for, you can find some incredible savings, which you could invest in another lens or kit you didn’t think you could afford. Here are some tips to make sure you don’t buy a dud when browsing the used market…

Test it! (Whether you can)

If you are able to test the camera in person before buying a used model, take the opportunity to check for any dents or major dents and scratches on the camera screen. Don’t worry too much about scratches on the body paint, as they are usually only superficial, but can be a good bargaining chip to bring the price down a bit.

If it looks like the camera or lens has taken a heavy drop, it’s probably a good idea to pass it on, as it could have hit internal components and caused costly damage or misalignment of glass elements. of a lens, which would result in soft shots.

If you’re buying from an online store, they usually do a good job of showing the camera from multiple angles and listing any kind of damage. Take pictures with the camera to make sure everything is working as it should and the mirror is not faulty on DSLR cameras. You can also take a photo of a bright sky and zoom in to check for dust spots, though this can be solved if you’re prepared to clean the camera and sensor well.

Check the number of shutters

Check the number of camera shutters! Most shutters are rated between 150,000 and 300,000 (although we know of some wedding industry pros who have taken over 975,000 shots on a Canon EOS-1D X!), so try to get one with relatively low mileage.

Online sites often display a camera’s shutter count in their listings. If you’re buying from a private seller, ask them to send you an image recently taken with the camera, then you can upload that image to a site like Camera Shutter Count, which will tell you the shutter count.

It’s also worth going to the camera menu and, if it has this feature, checking the battery information. Here you will find the battery charging performance; if it’s poor, you’ll probably have to buy a new battery, so you’ll need to factor that cost into your budget to determine if it’s still a bargain or not.

A gray area…

Beware of online camera deals that seem too good to be true, especially if they come from an unestablished or unreputable overseas seller. It could be a scam or a “gray import” where the camera was imported from overseas, which means there is no warranty in your country.

They can also be VAT-free, which might sound like a bargain, but then you’ll have to pay import fees and customs duties when the order arrives in the country. Use your camera manufacturer’s serial number checker to see if the product has already been registered, giving it extra credibility. Also check the return policy and if you can return it within a certain time frame if something goes wrong.

What’s in the box?

Find out if the camera comes with the original box, charger, cables, camera strap, manuals, etc., as these will all help your camera retain its value, if you decide to resell it. It’s also handy to have the original charger, so you know you have no battery issues and don’t have to shell out for a new one. Extra batteries, memory cards, lenses, and accessories like UV filters can all help make it a better deal.