refurbished cameras - just as good as new?

sempaidavid wrote in post #14966620
I have been buying refurb electronics for years. In someways I feel better about a trained tech making sure that it is 100% instead of it just rolling off an assembly line.

Highly, and I mean, Highly dependent upon the tech doing it.. A good tech is one thing, and a lazy tech- another.. The quality of their work and how thorough they are - often shows. Problem is Canon won't tell you how good the tech working on a particular piece really is..

Trique Daddi wrote in post #14966190
My 7D is a refurb and about 2 years old. After 3 weeks I had to send it back for a shutter but it hasn't missed a step since! I wasn't freaked out about it because things happen to new units as well.

I guess that means so much for a trained tech making sure it is 100%... So much for Q.C. ... Good that it got fixed later..

3Rotor wrote in post #14966635
Nope, bought my refurbed 7D from Canon, basically brand new. Typically overstock, customer returns, demos, etc... Do not confuse refurb cameras with ones sent back in to be fixed and resold.

And does Canon tell you whether your refurb is from a customer return because of overstock, or they changed their mind or if the camera actually had issues ? Probably not. So much for that.

Don't get me wrong, my opinion is that a refurb is probably no better nor worse than picking up one that you think is new from best buy (which means it might have been opened, or even sold and returned as new ... ) Difference is price and warranty.. 90 days is often long enough to sort out if the body is good enough- but to lose 3/4 of the warranty- I would hope that I save 20 to 30% off (which it is not- right ? ). Right now, you are getting basically a "used" camera, that might or might not be new-ish, for 12% to 15% off new price. Better than buying a used body off from craigslist - for a 90 day warranty- but in the end, you might get a camera that has 60 clicks on it- or you might get one that has 6,000 clicks on it. also, if you factor in having to provide a body for trade-in- your savings is also less.

I got a 450D refurbished in 2009 and I currently use a refurbished 60D. Never a hint of a problem from either of them. I will be getting a refubished 5D3 when they show up. Complete faith in them.

I know of ppl who bought refurbs and a great deal, however make sure the warranty is the same as new.

If say its only a few months compared to a year then I might think twice but its up to the buyer in the end.

Search this forum, plenty of info on how to do this but it is dependent on whether your using a PC or a Mac.

I've bought two refurb bodies (10D & 5D) from Adorama. Both came in "like new" condition with all the accessories and at a REALLY good price. Well worth it in my opinion! (original 10D (2003) was $1499 ... refurb (2005) was $425 )

I wouldn't hesitate buying a refurb (from Adorama!)

edit: ... FYI ... still using both refurbs!!!

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't all "Canon refurbs" refurbished by Canon regardless of what retailer sells and distributes them?

tmwag wrote in post #14969033
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't all "Canon refurbs" refurbished by Canon regardless of what retailer sells and distributes them?

I think people are referring to retailers who sell products refurbished by Canon, not 3rd parties doing the actual refurbishing work.

Well, I'm not aware of any 3rd parties doing refurb work for Canon. That's my point. If you buy a refurb from Adorama, B&H, Canon direct, etc you're getting the same product.

I have owed three refurbs from Canon. A Rebel XS, a Vixia HF200 (HD Recorder) and my current camera a Rebel T3i.

I am a fan.

tmwag wrote in post #14969138
Well, I'm not aware of any 3rd parties doing refurb work for Canon. That's my point. If you buy a refurb from Adorama, B&H, Canon direct, etc you're getting the same product.

Unless I misunderstood your original question, I didn't see anybody saying you'd be getting a different product. Some just mentioned they preferred Adorama due to a longer warranty.

Laramie wrote in post #14969163
Some just mentioned they preferred Adorama due to a longer warranty.

Adorama had a longer warranty, 12mo. Now it's 90 days like everyone else

tmwag wrote in post #14969172
Adorama had a longer warranty, 12mo. Now it's 90 days like everyone else

That's kind of a bummer. I have always bought used but I do keep an eye on refurb stuff now and then.

My refurb 7D from CLP came with a whopping 20 clicks on it - it was in pristine, brand-new condition. And with that shutter count, I essentially got a brand-new camera that got a good look-over before listed as a refurb. I rarely buy anything brand-new anymore, love refurbs!

wayne.robbins wrote in post #14966783
Highly, and I mean, Highly dependent upon the tech doing it.. A good tech is one thing, and a lazy tech- another.. The quality of their work and how thorough they are - often shows. Problem is Canon won't tell you how good the tech working on a particular piece really is..


I guess that means so much for a trained tech making sure it is 100%... So much for Q.C. ... Good that it got fixed later..

And does Canon tell you whether your refurb is from a customer return because of overstock, or they changed their mind or if the camera actually had issues ? Probably not. So much for that.

Don't get me wrong, my opinion is that a refurb is probably no better nor worse than picking up one that you think is new from best buy (which means it might have been opened, or even sold and returned as new ... ) Difference is price and warranty.. 90 days is often long enough to sort out if the body is good enough- but to lose 3/4 of the warranty- I would hope that I save 20 to 30% off (which it is not- right ? ). Right now, you are getting basically a "used" camera, that might or might not be new-ish, for 12% to 15% off new price. Better than buying a used body off from craigslist - for a 90 day warranty- but in the end, you might get a camera that has 60 clicks on it- or you might get one that has 6,000 clicks on it. also, if you factor in having to provide a body for trade-in- your savings is also less.

Your stance on Canon refurbished is pretty hardcore--did you or a friend have an extremely bad experience buying refurbed canon gear?

I bought my 60D for $744 out the door when Canon had their 15% off refurb sale in Dec. Had I bought it from a big box store it would have been $950 out the door. My 60D came to me with 350 shutter actuations on it--it looked new, smelled new. The two refurbed lenses I bought did as well.

I needed to upgrade my gear for work and Canon provided a reasonable avenue for me in which to do it through. I did not know about the CLP when I pulled the trigger, but now that I do I know how I'm getting my next camera for sure. Spending $2-$10 on a busted Canon to save a few hundred on a refurbed Canon is a nice deal pretty much any way you spin it.

I'm not a "pro photographer", but my pictures go into a tens of thousands of newspapers every week. Am I gambling counting on refurbed equipment doing paid work? Well, I think I am gambling much less now than when I was trying to use a Nikon D40 to shoot high school football, volleyball or baseball--that's for sure.

aggieastrosfan wrote in post #14969507
My refurb 7D from CLP came with a whopping 20 clicks on it - it was in pristine, brand-new condition. And with that shutter count, I essentially got a brand-new camera that got a good look-over before listed as a refurb. I rarely buy anything brand-new anymore, love refurbs!

Yep, they are basically new. My 7D had two clicks on it before I got my hands on it.