Buying Second-Hand Photo Equipment

Let’s face it. Photography equipment has never been cheap. And, with the onslaught of smartphones almost wiping out the compact camera market, manufacturers had no choice but to pass on the burden of loss to the mainstream gear – camera bodies and lenses.

One way to counter this issue is to rent or buy second-hand gear. In this write-up, I shall endeavour to explain the nitty-gritty of buying second-hand gear so that you are better informed.

The best way to check out secondhand photo equipment is to take several pictures with it in different lighting conditions. This way you can be assured that what you are about to buy is in good working condition. The problem is, not many owners will let you take the equipment out for a test since they are not sure about your ability to use the item without causing any damage to it. Hence it is necessary to investigate further.

It would be nice to know who the second-hand equipment belongs to. That way you have a fair idea of how carefully (or not) the equipment could have been handled. It would not be unfair to assume that the equipment must have gone through rough handling if it belonged to a professional, as for the professional photographer, his first commitment is to get the photos no matter how difficult the shooting conditions are. A non-professional may back out, worrying about his life and limb (and his equipment), but professionals are made of different stuff. They don’t worry about scratches and dents as long as they get the photos they set out to get.

Of course, not every time would such information be revealed to you. There will be times, when you – the purchaser – will have to inspect the equipment yourself before deciding. So, let’s see what one should check before making the commitment.

Check the general condition of the item you wish to buy. Are there scratches, dents, paint peel-off, dust in every nook and corner? If yes, the owner was not careful.