What should I pay attention to when buying a second-hand camera? The complete method is disclosed to the public. If you buy it wrong, you will regret it and never come back again.

Friends who are new to photography may prefer to buy second-hand cameras or lenses first, mainly because the second-hand prices are relatively acceptable. This article will introduce the details you should pay attention to when buying a second-hand camera, as well as several frequently asked questions. Take a few minutes to read it! Or you can collect it first.

The article shared this time will use the Sony A7 II as an example. This is a full-frame mirrorless mirrorless camera that was launched in November 2014. There are now many second-hand markets. The pictures in the article are fromJapan MapCamera, if your friends who like photographic equipment go to Tokyo, Japan, you can go and have a look, you may find treasures!

▲ Figure 1: Sony A7 II second-hand products

Have you recently wanted to buy a second-hand lens? Or are you afraid of buying defective products? Then don’t miss this article, where I will share with you the details of selection and several issues you should pay attention to during the interview.

 

Point 1: Check the appearance of the camera for obvious trauma, scratches, or peeling paint.

After all, second-hand cameras have been used by humans and will have traces of use. Some traces are just paint peeling and do not affect actual operation, but some may have dents or wear. At this time, you should think that the camera may have been dropped in the past. It is strongly recommended to check carefully.

The metal adapter of the fuselage should also be checked. If the previous one happens to be a professional player, the chance of changing the lens will be greatly increased, and the adapter will be scratched to some extent. For example, the electronic connector of the camera in the picture below is seriously scratched, which shows that the lens should have been replaced frequently in the past.

▲ Picture 4: The metal connector of the fuselage is scratched

Now that the cover of the fuselage has been opened, the photosensitive element should also be checked for dust or stains. You can use a mobile phone to shine a light to check. It may not necessarily contain fingerprints. If it is a model with a mirror, you need to turn it on first and set it to “cleaning mode”, then the mirror will rise up to see the photosensitive element!

▲ Figure 5: Check whether there is dust or lint on the photosensitive element

There are many screws on the camera body, and normally the paint on the screws will not come off. If you see paint peeling off a screw, don’t worry too much. First check whether the paint peeling is on the outside or inside the screw. If it’s on the outside, it may just be paint peeling off and oxidized. But if there are slipping teeth or paint peeling on the cross inside the screw, it may have been tampered with or sent for repair. You can understand it better if you look at the picture below.

▲ Figure 6: How to determine whether the fuselage has been disassembled? Determine based on the location of the paint peeling off the screws

The paint on the outside of the screw in the picture below is slightly peeled off, but it is not the internal cross, so it is presumed that it has not been disassembled.

▲ Picture 7: Are there any paint peeling off on the bottom screws?

From the other side, although the paint is peeling off the screws, the maintenance is not very good. It can be speculated that this camera was often disassembled and assembled from the tripod in the past. However, there is no sign that the screw has been turned, so it is presumed that it has not been removed.

▲ Figure 8: Although the paint is peeling off the screws, there is no paint peeling off at the cross section.

From the angle below, the bottom of the camera has serious friction. It seems that it is often installed on the tripod head, so the bottom is easily scratched and the paint peels off. Although the appearance is not very good-looking, it generally will not be affected. This part depends on personal acceptance.

▲ Figure 9: The bottom of the fuselage is seriously scratched, but it does not affect use

Some players will connect external flashes or microphones to the hot shoe holes, so the hot shoe holes will also wear out. There are many sophisticated electronic components on the hot shoe. If the store has a way for you to test it, bring your own equipment and try it out. If the hot shoe hole is not used normally, it is recommended to cover it with a special-sized hot shoe cover.

▲ Figure 10: The coating on the metal structure of the hot shoe has peeled off. It should be tested to see if it is functioning properly.

The viewing window should also be inspected to see if there is any dirt attached to it that would affect the view.

▲ Figure 11: Check whether there is any dirt on the viewing window that affects the view.

Try opening the SD card slot cover, battery compartment cover, and audio hole cover to see if they can be opened normally, and check if there is any resistance.

 

Point 2: Warranty, original accessories, and outer box are indispensable.

No matter where the previous user went to buy company products or parallel imports, there should be a warranty document, so that he can know which store to contact if there is a problem with the camera. Otherwise, if there is something wrong with the camera, you will be in trouble!

Be sure to make sure that the number on the warranty is consistent with the serial number of the fuselage. If it is different, it will be for nothing. There is no way to prove the origin of the fuselage.

▲ Figure 14: There must be a guarantee! /The picture is a schematic diagram

If there is no warranty, no matter how cheap the price is, I suggest you not to buy it!It is recommended to buy a camera with complete documents, don’t be greedy for low second-hand prices.
 

Things like decompression straps, batteries, chargers, transmission lines, etc. are all considered original accessories. If you are not sure, you can check what accessories are available on the e-commerce website. When it comes to batteries, be sure to pay attention to whether they are from the original manufacturer. Do not get an unknown sub-factory brand, which will only reduce the use experience.

▲ Figure 15: Original accessories

 

▲ Figure 16: What are the original accessories that e-commerce companies will label?

If you have a camera paper box, you can keep the camera body, accessories and documents together, making it easier to carry home. Keep these receipts when you get home. If you want to resell or regret it later, you can try to preserve the value of the equipment. Many stores will pay great attention to these when purchasing equipment. One less accessory will result in a lower price.

 

Key point three: actual machine operation test

All of the above are just superficial inspections. In fact, whether the camera can operate normally will only be known after using it.

The actual machine test includes shutter photography test, screen touch function, power test, flash test, physical button test…etc. You may need to bring your own corresponding lenses, SD cards, and flashes when testing. We provide them for your reference!

▲ Figure 17: Actual machine operation test/from Pexels

1. Shutter photo test
This link is the most important. The purpose of buying a camera is to take photos or videos. It is definitely unacceptable to buy a camera that cannot take photos. If you are buying a single-lens camera, remember to bring the corresponding lens. Please obtain the store’s consent in advance before testing, and then test again. The shutter can be tested even if there is no SD card in the body.
 

Generally speaking, as long as it is a second-hand SLR camera, the shutter number will be noted for your reference. The shutter of a camera has a life limit, generally it can last about 100,000 times. Of course, the camera should also be cheaper as it approaches its end of life. Regarding the method of measuring shutter speed, the editor has written an article before, you can refer to it yourself.

 

2. Screen touch function
Some cameras have touch screens themselves. In addition to using physical buttons, don’t forget to test whether the touch screen is working properly. Some cameras will use the function of clicking on the screen to focus. It is recommended that you try it more. If it is faulty or insensitive, it depends on the individual’s acceptance.
 

3. Power test
There are many factors that affect battery life. The previous user may not be good at preserving the camera battery and thus the lifespan is reduced. You can pay attention to the initial power during the test and observe the power loss after using it for a period of time. If the consumption is serious, you need to check to see if you have obtained the battery from the sub-factory or other factors.
 

 

4. Flash test
The hot shoe hole is easily overlooked, but if you have the need for an external flash or microphone, you should pay attention to this test. If it has a built-in flash, just turn it on and test it. Basically, as long as the light can flash normally, there will be no problem!
 

5. Physical button testing
There are many buttons on the fuselage. You might as well press them all during the test to see if there is any response and see if there is any impact on the basic operations.
 

The above testing process is relatively tedious. Of course, you must be really interested in doing this step again, otherwise it will only increase the store’s troubles. You really need to remember this! !

 

FAQ

Where to buy second-hand cameras?

The editor recommends that you go to physical stores to buy second-hand cameras. After all, physical stores are less likely to run away if there is a dispute, and the store may also provide a six-month to one-year warranty. You can search for “second-hand cameras + place names” online. This information is quite easy to find. Some stores have web pages that you can refer to, so you can check to see if they have the camera model you want without actually making a trip.

 

Is it okay to buy a second-hand camera?

This question is a matter of opinion.

Compared with lenses, cameras are relatively low-value 3C products. Although buying second-hand products is not as exciting as buying new products and opening the box, second-hand cameras can reduce the psychological burden of buying new products. Even if you buy a wrong product and have to sell it again, there is a relatively small risk.

The editor believes that this issue can be discussed at two levels.

• Not sure whether to buy this one
• Not sure if the second-hand ones are in good condition

1. Not sure whether to buy this machine
If you are not sure whether a certain second-hand camera meets your needs, the easiest way is to go to a store and try it out. But usually there are people watching every move in this kind of display store, and they may not be able to comprehensively examine their needs. Another way is to rent one. Most of them can be rented for a whole day at a low price. There are many resources on the Internet for reference.
 

2. Not sure whether the second-hand ones are in good condition
Some sellers will put Iron Man film on their cameras, or they often put their cameras in moisture-proof boxes. Most of these sellers take good care of their equipment, so transactions are less burdensome.

 

How to determine whether a second-hand camera is good or not? Is it valuable?

After the above test, I believe you can accept the appearance defects of the camera in your hand and be ready to spend money to buy it. The editor asks everyone to slow down and pay attention to the shutter number of this second-hand camera before buying it. As mentioned before, this is a reference indicator that can be used to measure the life of the camera.

If the second-hand camera has a shutter count of less than 10,000, the price is acceptable to you, and the documents are complete, then don’t hesitate. If you don’t make a move, it’s just a good chance that you’ll be bought!

Here is a summary of the criteria for choosing a second-hand camera:

• Choose one that looks good
• Choose the one with normal photo taking function
• Complete box selection documents
• Choose one with complete accessories
• Shutter count is less than 10,000

 

Don’t know what to pay attention to during face-to-face meetings?

It is recommended to find a well-known physical second-hand store to buy equipment, but if you only want to find a store on a second-hand auction platform, then there will be a problem of meeting in person.

The following summarizes the problems and precautions encountered during face-to-face interviews:

1. Familiarize yourself with camera operation methods in advance
First of all, please go to the official website of the camera you want to buy to read the manual, or watch some YouTube review videos, or go to the showroom to see the actual camera to give yourself an idea. In this way, you can know which functions are really problematic during the interview.
 

2. Prepare the lens, SD card, and flash in advance
Most people who want to sell their equipment will meet in person. If you can’t do it in person, don’t buy from them! The purpose of preparing these equipment on the day of the interview is to actually take pictures, so that you will know whether the functions are normal. Some cameras have built-in flash, so just test it directly.
 

3. It is recommended to bring friends who are familiar with the equipment.
If you are still worried about buying a defective product, bring along a friend who is familiar with cameras! After all, the interview time is short, it is easy to be rushed, and some functions are not easy to see. Moreover, it is easy to randomly bid on second-hand goods, and it is possible to buy high and sell low. It is better to bring an extra friend to help judge.

 

Conclusion

This article mentions many things you should pay attention to when buying a second-hand camera. Everyone hopes to buy a second-hand camera with low price, good quality and suitable for their own needs. In fact, saving money is a new option for people who work hard, but it may not be suitable for others.

Some people may be concerned about peeling paint, but in fact it does not affect the operation. Do not treat second-hand products too harshly. If you are afraid of buying defective products, don’t buy second-hand ones.

Regarding the testing part mentioned in the article, please consider it carefully. If you really want to purchase more precise testing, it will not be a good idea to cause trouble to the store. I hope everyone can buy a second-hand camera that is of high quality and low price!

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by Engineer Blake

Source: KOCPC Chinese