5D for $850

I have the opportunity to buy a 5D for $850. It also includes 3 canon batteries, Canon EcD grid focusing screen, & a Kirk Enterprises L plate, original box/accessories, etc...

Its got 17,000 clicks on it.

To me, this price sounds too good to be true -- correct me if I'm wrong. I don't know the guy selling it -- but hes local and I will be meeting him in person.

My gut is telling me its too good to be true -- but the 'want' in me is telling me go for it -- worst case I learn a somewhat expensive life lesson

I've bought used bodies (2 x 30Ds & 300D) in the past with no issue.. Is there anything I should be particularly weary of when testing this body? Can I bring/send it somewhere to get tested (i.e. a local camera shop)?

Now here is a case where I would recommend the 5D over the 5DII. You never know, some people just need the money. It is worth checking out.

Hopefully it works out. If I was presented with your situation I'd certainly try to check it out.

Make sure you are meeting at a safe location. When I meet people locally for sales I try to meet in the parking lot of a police station. I don't know if its legal to trade in the parking lot or not but it does give both parties piece of mind. (I'm not responsible if you get in trouble for this!) I would also bring a lens with you to try try the camera out while he is standing there before you hand over the money. It will be hard to test for other things without being able to bring the camera home to your computer.

go for it. Act very serious, and let them know that if anything goes wrong you know where to find them and something like your father is the police chief. It may work

Ha, I just saw that posting on CL too! You beat me too it =)

Seems really low, but who knows.

Meet them in your bank. There's cameras everywhere, a security guard, etc and no one would look strangely at someone having $850 in cash.

Try out the camera, then withdraw the cash from a teller (yes, you can still do that these days) if everything's good.

Meet in a safe, public place. Bring your lenses, a charged battery, and a CF card. Shoot with the camera, try all the different modes, put it thru its paces the best you can. Review the shots on the lcd. You never know, it might be too good to be true, or a true bargain!

Whenever I meet up for trades, I try and do so in places such as a park or a mall and I try and bring a small sidearm. I'm not even for a second ready to be ripped off by some internet criminal. I keeps it real, yo.

I would get it if I were you. Make sure you test it in the parking lot of course. Make sure you bring a cheap lens and dont show him where your cash is until you have the camera in hands. You never know if he's going to rob you.

Simply Ravishing wrote in post #8326375
Ha, I just saw that posting on CL too! You beat me too it =)

I knew someone was going to chime in -- i didnt want to post the link because i figure'd we'd end up bidding on the thing and then no one gets a deal

Personal safetywise its definately best to meet somewhere public, but I actually feel safer about the purchase if I meet where they live -- because I feel like somone with a stolen/broken product wouldn't want you to know where they live.

I always bring a laptop, lens, hotshoe flash, usb, and pc sync cord. I usually test out focus, dust/scratches(shot @ f22), and i press every single button(down to the DOF preview).

I like the bank idea -- best of both worlds, personal safety and a bit of purchase safety.

if youre meeting this guy then surley you can see the camera and fire off a few test frames before you buy it,no? how on earth would you learn an expensive lesson? if you dont like it or if its stolen etc, you walk away...simple!!!!

bluefox9er wrote in post #8326461
if youre meeting this guy then surley you can see the camera and fire off a few test frames before you buy it,no? how on earth would you learn an expensive lesson? if you dont like it or if its stolen etc, you walk away...simple!!!!

My concern is always intermittent problems -- something subtle that I dont notice or occur until a week later.

I like the bank idea, safe location and you don't have to carry around all that money.