Safe to buy used digital?

[billsh]

I'm looking to buy a 10D. I have purchased several film cameras and lenses used on ebay, etc. with good luck. Digital cameras have much more sophisticated electronics and I'm not sure how safe or prudent buying used equipment would be.

My question for the group is " Are digitals more subject to problems if they have been used a lot? Does rought handling cause problems? Would you ever buy a used digital?

Thanks in advance.

Bill

[Pekka]

If it is scratched on surface them that is quite normal. Dents are worse - it means it has been dropped.

If you buy it without seeing, I'd do the following as soon as I get it:

Pay 1h for repair to
- check actual shutter count and condition of mirror box, shutter and sensor
- check for possible water damage

There should be an internal log of errors in the camera memory which only the repair can see - it'll tell if there are any card problems or other hardware faults. I'm not 100% sure if 10D has this data, but Mark II does.

If it looks ok and you're not returning it, let the repair work couple fo hours more to:

- clean the sensor and mirror and any inside dust.
- test and adjust AF with your lenses.

[neil_r]

Would you ever buy a used digital?


Bill

I do hope so, I am selling one on eBay at the moment. :D

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3836949034&ssPage Name=STRK:MESE:IT

N

[billsh]

Neil,

The post was not meant to disparage anyone selling used 10D's. I'm sure yours has been well taken care of. My main concern was how susceptible they are to damage. Having not used one before, I'm unfamiliar with what acts will damage one. I have used film cameras for years and they are pretty rugged. Just don't know if digitals are the same.


Bill

[neil_r]

Bill, I didn't take it that way, I was just being cheeky and pluging my sale.

It is always a gamble buying a used camera, I am currently selling a load of photographic stuf (got to pay for the MkII somehow) I am amazed how many questions perspective buyers are asking me. I think the best thing you can do, once you have seen something you want to buy is e-mail or even try to talk to the vendor to get as much information as possible about the camera. Its one thing just to stick it on eBay its another to be asked the direct question, "Have you ever dropped it?"

Good luck with your purchase, its just a pity that you are not looking for a mint EOS D60 with BG-ED grip cos I know where there is a beauty :D

N

[robertwgross]

Some people have been known to attach an ordinary (high trigger voltage) external flash unit or studio strobe to their Canon EOS camera. After a while, they notice that the flash triggering from the camera shutter doesn't work quite right (perhaps because the high voltage frapped it). Then they try to sell the used camera on the market.

I hope the buyers will have the shutter sync checked if this could possibly be the case.

---Bob Gross---

[rsnadel]

The other thing to keep in mind is how much difference in price there is between what a used one is selling for and what a new one now costs. I'm seeing most retailers between $1100-$1200 for new 10Ds. So you need to factor in the value of the one-year warranty.

[mdude85]

yes, in fact I did. I purchased a used D30 on Ebay: I checked for a few important things when I searched for used SLRs on that site.

1) does the seller have a lot of positive feedback? I consider anything over 95% satisfactory.

2) does the seller provide adequate pictures of the camera? Do they match up with the description of the camera?

3) Email the seller asking him how many shots have been taken with the camera. He may or may not know ... I tracked about 7 or 8 D30 auctions over the course of a few weeks, and of the emails I sent, most cameras had a few thousand actuations. This was fine for me.

4) what is the seller selling? I don't always follow this rule but it can be useful in some instances. If the seller is selling a bunch of antique coffee pots, then all the sudden posts a 1Ds, there may be something fishy going on. Many people selling expensive dSLRs have a history of selling other equipment like lenses or tripods.... a lot of the sellers out there are small photography retailers who do most of their business on Ebay, or have a physical location but have just gotten into the Ebay game, like Sharper Photo or Zeff Photo.

5) Look for the important details on the camera: is the flash hot shoe paint scratched off? This may indicate that an external flash has been used A LOT and if you're planning on using one, a problem may arise. OR, the camera has been dropped. Is the LCD screen scratched, or is there any wear on the body itself? I'd search for cameras in excellent condition with basically no wear. People are selling used DSLRS ALL THE TIME on Ebay. If one has "minor scratches" on the body there are always other fishes in the sea that are in practically mint condition.

6) See if all the proper software and manuals come with the camera...me, personally, I was a little dissappointed that my camera did not come with a USB connector cable. I cared about a few things when I bought my camera: that it came with a charger and working battery, manual, and all the necessary caps. The software was not essential to me; I could download it from the net (which is actually safer because some people burn CDs that might have viruses on them [unintentionally of course]). But to others it is very important to have the original software. The manual was very important for me to have. The original box was not. In this case it is up to you.

7) if the seller has photos of the mirror or sensor itself, these can be extremely useful for you. Check if they have dirt or scratches.

8 ) communicate with the seller throughout your process... you are about to drop anywhere from $500 to $3000 on a camera from someone you have never met in your life. Consider emailing the seller before the auction ends and ask certain questions about the camera. See if the seller seems legit and knows a little bit about photography. Someone who knows about photography who is selling a camera is always better than someone who doesn't know anything about photography but is selling a camera. I think the person I bought my camera from used his in a photography studio ..... so I knew it was in good hands.

These are some tips to keep in mind. I was very impressed with my used gear ... everything was clean and shiny (but there was a small amount of dust in the viewfinder that I had to clean with a qtip.) Very nicely packaged, etc.

Good luck!

[drbls]

To add to the above comments, you might want to check out the used equipment available from B&H, Adorama or KEH. Their used digital equipment is rated and checked prior to sale. I purchased my D30 6 months ago from B&H. It cost $100 more than buying from Ebay, but I had some peace of mind regarding its functionality, and the inclusion of all the cords and cables.