Hi! I am Charl from Pangolin Photo Safaris, and in this video I would like to give you a few
tips on what to look out for when buying a second-hand DSLR camera.
Every year, new cameras get released...and a lot of photographers upgrade to the newest technology in an instant.
This doesn't mean when they sell the cameras, they are bad...in most cases, some of these
bodies have hardly been used. This means that you can get a really good second-hand camera body,
for a good price. In this video, I will point out where to look out for second-hand
camera gear. What questions you should ask the previous owner of the camera?
How to inspect a camera or second-hand camera body, before you purchase it...and how you can benefit
from a second-hand camera? But, before I start...if you are new to this channel, please subscribe
by clicking on the bell icon, and you will be notified on a weekly basis, when we upload a new video.
Now, you might ask...why should you buy a second-hand camera from someone you don't know? How can you
benefit from that? Well, if you are a beginner, and your intention is to become a photographer...
a second-hand camera is a great way to start off, in a less expensive way. For example, often you
will find second-hand pro level camera, for a very similar price to a new mid range or amateur camera.
Like this Nikon D500, which is an excellent pro level camera...that sells second-hand for just over
a thousand dollars. Whereas, a new Nikon D7500 body, which is less advanced...cost basically the
same amount. Or, maybe you are a student and you have a small budget, but still would like the quality of a
pro level camera...and lastly, second-hand camera gear is also great for a second body - as back-up.
So, where can you find a second hand DSLR? Of course, big camera stores like B&H, that everybody knows,
sells new gear, as well as second-hand. This is a pretty safe option, as big companies like
B&H, can't afford unhappy clients...and therefore, they make sure that all second-hand camera gear
is checked and tested by technicians. These technicians will then rate the product (after inspection)...
and this will determine what the price of the product will be...depending on the condition.
...and, with these stores you also get 90 days, and sometimes up to 6 months warranty, which is great!
If you are buying from online retail stores, that you have not heard of before, I suggest you do
some background checks on Google about this company. You can type 'review', or 'scam', and the company's name...
and usually, if somebody was scammed, they would write something bad about the site.
You can also check the authenticity of the website, by using online verification services like URLVOID.com,
or Google transparency report. If you can't find anything in one of these big camera
stores, like B&H, there are also other platforms you can utilize...like Facebook, eBay, Gumtree or Amazon.
Amazon, for example, gives ratings of the sellers...which can help you to see if they are trustworthy,
and you also see the images of the product immediately. Just be careful for internet copied
photos of the product, instead of real life photos. You just need to be a little bit more
careful on these platforms. If something looks too good to be true, the chances are good it is!
Let's get into what to look out for? I would ask a couple of questions first...just to get idea around
the camera, and the owner, as this could already give you a good (or bad feeling) about the deal.
Why are you selling the camera? What did you use the camera for? Are you the original owner of the camera?
Have you done any repairs on the camera? What is the shutter count of the camera? ...and
if you cannot meet the seller in person, then he can send you just a few detailed photos
of the camera body. The shutter count is an especially important question to ask, as this
is like your car's kilometer, or mileage, on the clock. A shutter counter is recording every single
image you've taken with your camera. Basically stating how hard your shutter has worked.
Every camera has a different lifespan on the shutter before they will break.
For example, your entry-level cameras has around a 50,000 shutter count. Your mid-range camera bodies, maybe around 100,000,
and then your pro-level cameras, anything from 150/200...all the way up to 500 000 photos.
Please insist to the person selling you the camera, that they give you the shutter count...
which can either be found in your camera's menu, or established by third-party apps, or
online platforms like Shutter Check or Shutter Count. Best case scenario (of course) is to be
in a situation where you can meet up with the person that you buy from, so that you can have a
full inspection of the camera...before you seal the deal! So, there are a few things that you can check
yourself when you have the camera in your hands. First of all, just look around the body, just to see
if there's no any bad bumps...or dents, or bad scratches on the screens. Before you switch on the camera,
maybe take out the battery first...just to see if there is not any corrosion inside.
Signs of that means, maybe water damage...so, that will be important thing to know.
You can then switch on the camera. See if the display on top is working, and the one in the back.
Maybe turn all the wheels on the top, and on the back, to see if they are all working properly.
Press all the buttons. So, when you press these buttons, they should give you some indication on the screen
if they are working. Maybe go through all the manual settings, just to see if they are all working?
If you have a flash, maybe just see if the flash at least pops up. Check the card
slot inside...some cameras might have 2. Make sure that both are working...and then maybe a good thing
to take with you - if the seller doesn't have it already -
is to take a lens with you. So, the idea with the lens is that you can see if the connections are working
properly, and to test the autofocus. Although the autofocus mode is inside your lens,
you will see - when you are in front of your camera - you have these copper pins. Now these copper pins
are providing the signal between the lens and the camera. So, if they are badly damaged, then you
won't have any connection between the lens and the camera.
This means that your autofocus probably won't work.
So, you can look through your viewfinder - also to see if the viewfinder is nice and clean - as this
is also very difficult thing to clean. So make sure that this is nice and clean. You can see through...
Autofocus...make sure you go focus something far, something close...to see how quickly the focusing
is working, or is it working at all? Then take a couple of shots. Maybe you can go to your
fast shooting setting, just to see if it is going fast, and that you don't hear anything bad there.
You can also then shake the camera, and see if you find anything that's loose?
Another thing that you can do, is put your camera also at F16, or F22...and look into the sky. Take a
few photos. With this exercise, you can then see if your sensor order is very dirty. If you have a lot of
spots on the picture, it means you have a dirty sensor, and it needs to be clean. So, either you can
ask the seller to reduce the price, so that you can do it yourself...or insist that the seller
does it for you. So, these are just a few things that you can check yourself...when deciding on
buying a second-hand camera. If there are any red flags...things that don't look right to you...
maybe reconsider, and look to buy another camera. Also insist with the seller to always
meet in a public place...maybe where there are more people - a lot of people is always safe...and then
if you have ever bought the second-hand camera, let us know your experience in the comments down below.
If you have any tips that involve our topic. Thank you for watching...and we'll see you soon!!