Used Camera: Tips Before Buying
Increasingly popular in recent years, many of you have a particular attraction to photography. Whether for professional purposes, or simply to capture beautiful moments of life, the acquisition of a good camera remains inevitable. You want to save money by buying a used camera, but you don't know how to go about it. It is advisable to be vigilant since some people with bad intentions allow themselves to put defective or counterfeit products on sale by making you believe otherwise. This is why, in this article, we give you our advice to know before embarking on the purchase of a second-hand camera.
Information needed before purchasing
First of all, it is best to meet the seller for personal delivery, this remains the safest way to check the material with your own eyes. Remember to have items that match what the seller told you in the ad.
Don't forget to ask the seller for a sales certificate with full contact details, the precise characteristics of the item with the date of purchase, the invoice and the serial number.
The model
First of all, it is essential for you to know which camera model corresponds to the use you want to make of it. Indeed, there are multiple types of cameras with different functionalities.
If you want to get a camera for beautiful shots on vacation or get one for professional use, the result will not be the same depending on the type of camera you select.
The exterior appearance of the camera
Check the exterior appearance of your camera before purchasing, during your visit to the seller. This says a lot about its owner and the care he takes with his equipment.
If some impacts are visible, these may mean that the case has been dropped and that some internal components may be damaged. Ask the seller questions about these possible shocks.
Next, check that all buttons engage normally and that there are no signs of oxidation on the board, battery and lens connectors. If this is the case, it could mean that the camera probably had condensation due to a sudden change in temperature and then it is very likely that there is the same problem inside the body.
Check the sensor status
First, be sure to inspect for dead pixels. That is to say the pixels which no longer react to the shooting and stand out in the photo as a small white point when you zoom in on it. To spot them, place the cap on your lens and take several photos with a shutter speed between 1/100 and 1/250.
Once the photos are taken, enlarge them to 100%, and inspect each area of the image. If the photo taken is completely black, no pixels are dead, but if you see white dots in the same location in each photo, these are dead pixels.
Here is an overview of a sensor in good condition and a sensor with 3 dead pixels.
Guarantees and invoices
You should know that even if the purchase is made from an individual, it is necessary to always request the original invoices and potential guarantees if there are any, for this type of object. The invoice will guarantee the date of purchase in the event of resale of the latter. If the seller cannot have it in his possession, he can ask the brand from which he purchased the product.
You can also ask if the lens is still under warranty or not. These generally extend over 2 years. If you go through merchants who sell second-hand, there is often a 6-month warranty with the lens.
Are you curious to learn more about potential scams? Find our articles on Mondial Relay scams between individuals and on Colissimo scams.
Buy your used camera with Obvy:
If you wish to purchase your camera on peer-to-peer resale platforms such as Leboncoin or Vinted, we advise you to go through Obvy to secure your transaction.
With Obvy as a secure means of payment between individuals, you easily avoid scams thanks to the funds escrow system which allows the money from the transaction to be secured in a safe while the transaction is finalized. In fact, you have 72 hours once the package is received to certify the authenticity of your second-hand bag. If necessary, you will be reimbursed without difficulty.
