Buying used camera gear is an amazing way to save money, but you may be understandably worried about how to buy a used camera safely. Don’t worry though – we’re here to help.
This is a quick, easy guide to what to check when buying a used camera. You can give yourself peace of mind by running through this easy used camera checklist, ensuring that your new (old) gear is in the condition that was advertised, and that it’s ready to give you many years of happy shooting. So, let’s get started!
- Check shutter count
Whenever you buy a used camera, a reliable way to get a rough idea of how extensively it has been used is to check the shutter count. This simply refers to how many times a camera’s shutter has been fired, and how much wear-and-tear you might realistically expect its moving parts to have suffered.
A camera shutter count check is ridiculously easy. Simply capture a RAW or JPEG photo with the camera, and upload the resulting file to camerashuttercount.com. Voilà! Note that certain brands, such as Olympus, don’t embed shutter count in EXIF data – in these cases, you should be able to find the shutter actuation count within the camera’s menus.
Shutter count isn’t the be-all and end-all of a camera’s lifespan – especially in the case of mirrorless cameras, which have fewer moving parts than DSLRs. But the count will be a good indicator of whether the camera’s condition matches what you were told by the seller about its condition.
- Check for sensor dust
Dust on a digital camera’s sensor can severely compromise images, requiring professional cleaning. It’s easy to check whether a used camera you’ve purchased has dust on its sensor – simply find a blank white wall or similar surface (a piece of paper would also do) and capture a photo with your lens aperture set to f/22. Inspect the resulting image – any spots of dust or dirt on the sensor will be very visible.
- Check autofocus
You’ll want to be sure that your camera’s autofocus system is functioning correctly. This is something you can do out in the world or in your house. Use the AF system to focus on a near subject and a far subject – does the camera find the correct target quickly and accurately? Inspect the resulting images on a monitor and check that the subjects are completely in focus – this isn’t always easy to see on an LCD.
- Shop at a reliable retailer
While it’s always a good idea to perform all the above checks on any recently purchased item of used camera gear, the best place to buy a used camera in the UK is a retailer that will perform all these checks for you!
While I’m naturally going to recommend you buy from Wex, all reputable second-hand photo retailers in the UK, including Park Camera, MPB and others, will fully check over used camera gear before they sell it. What’s more, you’ll get a warranty, meaning you’ll be covered for repair or refund if something goes wrong with your camera. Warranty lengths vary between sellers; at Wex, our standard used warranty is 12 months, unless stated otherwise on the product page.
That’s how you can enjoy total peace of mind when shopping for used cameras – and still save a bundle compared to the cost of something brand new!
Take a look at our extensive range of second-hand products here!
About the Author
Jon Stapley is a London-based freelance writer and journalist who covers photography, art and technology. When not writing about cameras, Jon is a keen photographer who captures the world using his Olympus XA2. His creativity extends to works of fiction and other creative writing, all of which can be found on his website www.jonstapley.com
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