What to look for when buying used 7D

I have a chance to buy a used 7D from an acquaintance of my husbands. I'm going to try it out tomorrow and ask the usual questions (how old is it, any problems) but wondered what else I should be thinking of. I think it was too much camera for her as she ended up buying an SX50.

Check the general condition, check for signs of water damage, drops or excessive wear. Check the mount signs of wear/damage and ensure the electrical contacts look good.

Check the CF Card slot, make sure the pins are all aligned and don't show signs of previous damage.

Check the connections (USB, HDMI, remote ect.) for signs of damage. You can check them for functionality if you have the cords/feel the need.

Check the battery compartment, no signs of damage or wear.

Check the functionality of the top screen and rear screen. Cycle through a few screens to see if any problems pop up.

Take off the front cap and check the condition of the mirror, should be free of smudges, excessive dust/debris.

Put a lens on and take a few pictures, it should respond normally and you can check that the electrical contacts are in good working order if it auto focuses and is changing the aperture. This will also check that it is writing to the card correctly. If you have a laptop take a few shots with the EOS utility app, this confirms the USB port works, the camera works and allows a large screen review of the image taken.

Check the shutter count if it matters to you, most cameras are far from being near the rated 'mileage'.

Take a picture of a white piece of paper or the blue sky at a small aperture and see if the sensor is clean or has any major debris on it.

Confirm the flash works, pop it up, snap a pic.

If you have a flash bring it and confirm it fires from the hot shoe.

Im sure I am missing something but there is a good general list to go through.

Random musings

1) Bring a card with you, set the burst/fps to the H setting and rattle off a few rounds of shots aimed at a light

2) Set your lens to AF on, mount the lens on the body, go to green box and just aim on items around your surroundings to make sure AF works.

3) Go to AV mode, set f16, and shoot a very non-descript wall or ceiling, then zoom in on the image and move around looking for sensor goo

4) Take the lens off, and visually inspect the mirror for any stains or fingerprints.


These things will help you determine:
1) Any ERR codes? (running long bursts will uncover quite a few ERR codes if there is a problem)
2) AF / lens communication works? (doing the random AF and test shots)
3) Card slot works (if you are able store and view images)
4) Has anyone messed with the internals (might leave tell tale marks on the mirror)
5) Does the sensor need cleaning due to excessive dust? (if alot, then person probably left lens off alot, etc.)
6) Onboard flash work? (if in green box inside a building, usually it will try to kick up the flash)

Thank you both so much for your suggestions!

EDIT: Is there an easy way to check the shutter count on the 7D?

chrisr09 wrote in post #15579265
Thank you both so much for your suggestions!

EDIT: Is there an easy way to check the shutter count on the 7D?

Try this link to find ths shutter count:

http://eoscount.com/


.

squirrelsnest wrote in post #15579376
Try this link to find ths shutter count:

http://eoscount.com/


.

Thanks!

squirrelsnest wrote in post #15579376
Try this link to find ths shutter count:

http://eoscount.com/


.

That works, but I believe you need an active Internet connection to be able to use it.

I would add: Make sure all the accessories are in the box. I bought a used 7D in excellent working order, but it came without the manual and it was a pain to get a replacement.

shutter count. You can find the manual for freee and other ebooks (that explain the manual much better and easier for $7). That camera is really good.

ceegee wrote in post #15580445
I would add: Make sure all the accessories are in the box. I bought a used 7D in excellent working order, but it came without the manual and it was a pain to get a replacement.

All of the manuals for canon cameras are available on their site. However, if you want the printed book version that would be a bit harder to come by.

silvrr wrote in post #15580457
All of the manuals for canon cameras are available on their site. However, if you want the printed book version that would be a bit harder to come by.

Yes, it was the printed version I wanted - I always keep the manual in my camera bag, just in case! It was hard to find one.

Check for bad pixels, also if it comes with a lens or two check them for dust, cracks, bubbles etc.

ceegee wrote in post #15580613
Yes, it was the printed version I wanted - I always keep the manual in my camera bag, just in case! It was hard to find one.

Although, the manual for the 7D upgraded firmare 2.0,0, or higher 2.0.3. is not available printed as small book. It is available in pdf and comes with large (8-1/2x11 inch), which is better for reading, bigger font. etc.

Well, I am the proud owner of another 7D! What a great deal. She couldn't find the manual or software, but I already have them so no big deal. Everything seemed to be in good working order. I got the whole shebang for $640! It was only about a year old and she had only used it about 5 times. So I gave my son my old 7D as a really early Christmas present!

Great deal indeed!