Test a Used Camera in 10 Minutes: Checklist For Buying Used DSLRs / Mirrorless Cameras

Buying used cameras can be a scary thing, especially if you have no idea where to begin testing the thing!

Here's a quick 30-point checklist for buying used digital cameras -- a DSLR is used as an example but it applies to any digital camera.

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0:00 Introduction
1:20 CHECK FOR CRACKS OR DENTS
1:42 CHECK THE TERMINAL CONNECTIONS
2:07 CHECK PINS ON THE CARD SLOT
2:27 CHECK FLASH HOTSHOE
3:08 CHECK MIRROR FOR DUST / LIQUIDS / ETC.
3:32 CHECK BATTERY DOOR
4:11 CHECK VIEWFINDER CONDITION
4:34 CHECK METAL STRAP MOUNTS
4:46 TURN CAMERA ON AND CHECK DISPLAY
5:09 DO THE BUTTONS WORK?
5:35 TAKE SOME TEST SHOTS
5:51 DOES THE POP-UP FLASH WORK?
6:53 PLAY WITH DIOPTER WHEEL
7:13 TEST CONTINUOUS SHOOTING MODE
8:11 TEST VIDEO AND/OR LIVE VIEW
8:35 TEST CONTROL WHEELS
9:07 CHECK THE METERING
10:38 CHECK FOR DUST ON SENSOR
11:06 WHAT SENSOR DUST LOOKS LIKE
12:07 CHECK REAR AND FRONT GLASS
12:42 CHECK LENS MOUNT CONDITION
13:05 IS ZOOM RING SMOOTH?
13:12 TAKE TEST SHOTS WITH LENS
13:27 DOES LENS AUTO FOCUS ?
13:53 CHECK LENS FOR DAMAGE
14:17 OPTIONAL: TEST CHARGER

[lensvana]

Everything mentioned in the video:

1. BEFORE BUYING:
- What's the shutter count? Aim for <10, 000 (30, 000 is fine for pro bodies)
- Ask why they are selling / history of the camera / how was it used?

2. EXTERIOR CHECK:
- Check exterior for signs of drop damage (dents, scratches, etc.)
- Check LCD screens for damage (back and top if it exists)
- Check terminal connections / cable ports (check for bent pins)
- Check memory card slot
- Check flash hotshoe (if you have external flash, test it out)
- Check lens mount for scratches, dents, or brassing
- Check mirror box for dust / liquids / spots
- Check the battery door
- Check tripod socket
- Look through viewfinder (some dust is OK here)
- Check strap mounts

3. FUNCTIONALITY:
- Turn camera on and check LCD displays
- Go to MENU and play with options / test all the buttons
- Take some test shots
- Test the pop-up flash
- Make sure camera auto-focuses (focus on something near and then far away)
- Adjust Diopter wheel
- Test continuous shooting mode (Sports or change Drive mode)
- Test Video and/or Live View Functionality
- Test both control wheels (adjust Shutter Speed and Aperture)
- Does the camera meter correctly? Point it at different things to check
- Review photos
- Take underexposed and overexposed photos (should appear pure black and pure white)
- Take picture at f/16 of sky or white wall to check for sensor dust
- Ask seller if sensor has ever been cleaned

4. LENSES / ACCESSORIES:
- Check rear and front elements for imperfections
- Tiny amount of dust is OK on the front element
- Check lens for exterior damage / dents
- Take test shots with Lens at different focal lengths / apertures
- Optional: if there's a battery charger, does it charge the battery?

[Cristasphoto]

Good video. Only issue is that secondhand sellers arent going to let you do all this. They want the money swap then run sigh

[christofott]

I bought a Nikon D850 with over 190.000 on its shutter count. Personally I would say everything below 65.000 clicks is like new, even the cameras that are not meant for pros.
Your list of things to check is very good, nevertheless you missed some points, but that will happen on such a long list.
I always check if the lens has any oil on the aperture and that the aperture behaves like it should. Also the zoom ring and the focus ring should be checked. Some rubber rings tend to get sticky over time, but I guess one would notice that quite fast. Always check the autofocus in Live-View AND through the viewfinder. I had two lenses that each only focused correctly in one of those modes. If a lens has a scratch on the front element you can still buy it. It shouldn't influence the image in any way, the only thing it changes is, how your camera is managing bright lights that are shining directly at it. It should decrease the price you're paying for the lens quite much of course.
Nikons cameras let you check the decrease of lifetime of the batteries so you should check that too. You can clap the mirror away to inspect the sensor too. I would definitely want to have a look at the sensor.

For complete tests of EVERY important aspect of a lens visit the channel of Christopher Frost! It's awesome!

[kahundedoreen]

This has been soo helpful 🙏🏽for someone like me who doesn’t know much about cameras

[nicholasr]

No point in asking the seller any questions, they won't tell you the truth if they are selling it knowing something is wrong.

[apostolis_]

Excellent video! Very well structured! Thank you!

[AlecBuxton-wr]

Recently I bought an old Nikon Coolpix L110 bridge camera from a pawn shop for £40.00 the camera was in what I considered to be good condition the only slight issue was that the lens cap was missing which isn't really an issue to me as in that situation I usually convert an old coffee jar lid to serve as one it looks odd but it works you just have to line the inside rim with PVC tape for a good fit I've seen videos where some people use a combination of paper and pvc tape but I think that looked ugly but that a also works at the time of buying the camera I had no idea of what to look for when buying a second hand camera apart from looking for obvious signs of damage to the camera and also cheak that the camera isn't reliable on using some sort of outdated priority tech in order to work like battery or memory card that is no longer made and thus is hard expensive or Impossible to get on the secondary market as used which would render that new camera as about useful as a fancy paperweight so videos like this are useful to the hobby photographer who wouldn't know the secondary market as well as a professional probably might as they tend to collect way more cameras and accessories than the hobbiest or casual photographer would

[sainturiel]

This has been very helpful. Thank you!

[mohammadvarzideh]

Really good and informative video .
Thanks

[RogerVicki]

New sub and thanks for all the information as I’m about to buy a second hand dslr within two weeks

[carolaarenas]

Great video ! I'm about to see a Canon5Dmark II this Sunday and the seller doesn't have the shutter count...should I cancel my appointment? Or is there a way I can find the shutter count while testing the camera? Thank you

[califordamax]

the thing is trying to find out whether the camera is an original or a fake. like what are the signs right? especially when you're a beginner in photography/buying a camera

[_Tim]

Very useful video. I'm off to buy a Mark 3 5D.
So far I've been okay.
I did research this before but yours is much more comprehensive. Well done!

[leonmuller]

I bought a 5d mk2 with 77 000 shutter releases, no problems yet. Why did you set your threshold for shutter releases so low?

[Igor.utilizator]

And you can also check the camera using our reliable software

[quazisanjeed]

I'm about to buy a Canon 40D. It's a very old camera so, below 10k shutter count is out of question. It clicked 60k shots. Still I'm interested because I know this body is likely to exceed 100k shots. I want this DSLR mainly due to its bigger pixels. Bigger produces cleaner images.

[pavelantonov]

So, it was said nothing how to check shutter count. The only way I know is to upload some JPG from camera to some web resource where they tell you how many shots done.

[MarcoACasco]

Forgot to mention to check the shutter count, VERY IMPORTANT

[rdn]

Bought a 50D with a 4k shutter for 150 USD. Is this a good deal?

[Panderus]

hi I saw a Canon T3i for 200 dollars it just has some scratches nothing bad should I take it?