How to Buy a Used Camera - Tips and Tricks!

Buying used camera gear can save money but you should be diligent to ensure a quality product is offered. I prefer new but have purchased used equipment over the years and assembled a list tips and tricks which might be of help to you. I started with a simple list which grew as I put my thoughts to paper:). I have many thoughts on this topic and did my best to stay on point. Hopefully, this will be of some help if you decide to buy used!:)

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[mahmoudeledrissi]

Who agree this is one of the best video on how to buy used gear. Bless you man. For sure you have helped a lot of people.

[spectrexfpv]

Part 1. 2:55
Part 2. 6:38
Part 3. 9:06

[SimoLabChannel]

Nice video, you can add this points to check :
1) the flash if the camera has a pop up one
2) the hotshoe pins
3) the screen : touch, tilt ...
4) Wireless connection : wifi, Nfc, bluetooth ...
5) Using the serial number of the camera to check if it has been repaired or reported as stolen.
also it may be helpful to check the screws to be sure that the camera wasn't opened before.

[gigallthetime]

I really appreciate you helping people especially beginners looking for their first used camera. Thank you

[lew]

I get super excited whenever I see a new video. Thanks for providing such great information. I always learn a lot from your videos, and this one was no exception.

[tender]

Thanks for the guide! I'm currently looking into buying my first camera and I know almost next to nothing about equipment. I really appreciate all the useful information!

[riderhaw]

Great video. I'm not even buying a used camera, but the video was so interesting that I watched the whole thing. Thank you.

[samrossi]

i rarely subscribe because i watch huge amounts of content daily, so i save my subscriptions for the elite, subscribed to you right away without checking your other videos, the dedication and efforts you put in this one is amazing, with very low self promoting, it's not too much i can give but you earned my subscription sir.

[sitiesito]

This is great stuff, I wish I had this guide when I was buying my used camera (though I've made out ok from the deal thus far). You've also got a new instagram follower!

[samuelchambers]

Awesome video, as usual, and awesome advice. I have bought a lot of used camera equipment online, in the past. All of it has been from reputable businesses, and sometimes on Ebay. I have been blessed that all were great deals, and the equipment worked flawlessly. I always buy quality equipment, which is always best, and I look for USA registered items only. The advice that you've given will be invaluable for many in the market, either as buyers or sellers.

[Andrew-wbkg]

Thank you for a great video. First part with some advices are applicable for almost any items you are trying to buy online or in person. Awesome!

[wernermaurer]

Thanks, I've been wanting something like this. I used to resell manual-focus film cams on Ebay, and the inspection for those lenses and cams was much more straightforward, so all this is very good to know. Even though I've got about all the stuff I need now (and then some), I may need something in the future, and your vid will come in handy.

[ayhancapan]

Check the photoflash mount (hotshoe) is working or not :D

[grat]

Thanks. I've been thinking about buying used equipment but am a little nervous. This was helpful.

[Chuxgold]

Three pushes works on everything that can be negotiated where the price is the issue. I buy cars the same way. Very sound advice so gets my like.

[TheRalic]

My new go to video before getting new gear 😮 thanks!

[InternationalKid]

Great advice! And I appreciate the detailed notes-- going to to buy a Nikon D5600 for what may be a steal today, and this covered everything I needed to know. Thanks!

[willm.]

Once again, great video! Have you ever visited Montreal, in Quebec, Canada? Looking forward for other great videos 🇨🇦

[geekazoid]

So I've been doing classified ad buys and sales for 28yrs now, and its how I originally started my business. Used to be ads in the paper, and it has evolved to now the best way is facebook marketplace where you have some sense of the person before you even meet. The trait that specifically connects with how much you should trust someone is conscientiousness. You can discern conscientiousness very effectively all on your own by using some basic assertive communication i.e. social skills.

Meeting in public is good advice for sellers who want to avoid consequences but bad advice for buyers. The best place to meet for a buyer is at the seller's residence. People will get up to all kinds of nonsense when they are untraceable. At their home address they are directly traceable. If they are cagey in that setting, it tells you a lot before you even look at the goods.

You can tell a lot by how someone keeps their home, and how well prepared they are for the sale and your arrival. Are the goods clean and have they made an effort to demonstrate them working? What steps have they made to ensure you are secure in the purchase? *conscientiousness* How do you do any of that outside a police station? You don't.

If you are worried about security, bring a friend or leave the cash in the glove compartment. Or stay home and be afraid of the world like some kind of suburban shut-in.

Also the entire premise of your advice that the buyer gets to set the meeting point is ridiculous. They don't. No seller will ever agree to that (its a huge time waster) and you will never get a deal off the ground with that kind of approach. As a buyer, if a seller starts talking about public meeting places, I'm already looking for other signs that they are cagey. As the seller, I want to control the setting (to protect myself) and make sure the buyer is set at ease. I usually use the lobby of my apartment building, and I prepare the items for sale and a way to demonstrate them. Buyers leave with a smile on their face and my security is totally covered. Your advice is nonsense to me because it doesn't manage any of the needs of the parties involved and instead puts them both at disadvantage.

I've edited this in light of some of your replies because I have thought some more about it and I am even more assured in my opinion. I disagree with you, based on loads of personal experience and many years of successful experience with this kind of transaction with valuable electronics. Anonymity is a sign that a party is not trustworthy and you should just move on. That's why craigslist has had their a** handed to them by fb marketplace - people don't want anonymity they want to be able to exercise their social skills to discern the quality of the other party first.

[iceblue]

I also bought a pre-owned Olympus PEN EP1 from Ebay out of a whim after watching a review of said camera. I thought, why not? I am studying Digital Photography. It would be part of my learning process. However, I shudder at what I did after watching your video. All I did was email the seller (supposed to be in Japan) to ask if it is in good working condition.