what to look out for when buying a 2ND hand camera?

[swimcraze]

Pls give advice on the areas to look out for when buying a secondhand camera. Thanks! i appreciate your precious time! :thumbsup:

 

[mylau]

which type? point and shoot or SLR or digital point and shoot or DSLR?

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

i think he meant the condition.

i guess would be looking at the lcd screen for prominent scratches & dead pixels, loose memory slots, test the memory slots for any read, write problems.

 

[swimcraze]

Thanks, i meant SLR cameras. Btw, i am not a 'he'. Can't females be a part of this photographic community too???

 

[ivor]

Relax, sis... don't need to feel offended...

Generally, we presume that the one behind the nick is a guy, unless otherwise mentioned... I guess we will take note of you the next time, at least, I will... hehehe...

Of course, female can be photographer... In fact, there are a lot of female photographers, eg. Susan Meiselas, Anne Day, Nina Berman, Yoshiko Murakami, etc... And I saw a least a third of a class are female students, trying to get to know photography and learning the skill last evening...

Originally posted by swimcraze
Thanks, i meant SLR cameras. Btw, i am not a 'he'. Can't females be a part of this photographic community too???

 

[FOOXX]

Originally posted by swimcraze
Pls give advice on the areas to look out for when buying a secondhand camera. Thanks! i appreciate your precious time! :thumbsup:

Mizz swimcraze .....

thiz r the thingz me will look at:

1) body ( for scratches ..... )
2) LCD ( for scratches ..... )
3) viewfinder ( for scratches ..... )
4) Built-in speedlite ( can work or not )
5) the diff scrollz n buttonz ( can work or not )

there may be other thingz alzo .....

if it iz a SLR ..... remember to "open" up the camera ( like when u wanna load the roll of film ) to check the inzide alzo .....

 

[Larry]

check the mirror and test-fire one roll of film to see if it works ok.

 

[serendipity]

Hi.

A friend teach me to look at the lens mount, to check for heavy user. Also the place in the film compartment which presses the film down. He told me if user always left film in side for long, can see some stain there. How true have to check.

From me, i will shake the camera abit to hear for any lost parts inside. And check all buttons and joints to see if got any free play (means unnecessary movement).

Anyway, from your nickname, do you swim alot?

Hope my idea is worth considering.

 

[Fundee]

its better to ask an experience person to tag along.....i,m sure u can find one...or fellow CSers.....

 

[isomers007]

and someone told me to smell it........

 

[swimcraze]

hahaha...this is hilarious!
actually there was a guy who wanted to sell me his F90x, his camera strap did stink of sweat! :cry:

 

[West_ray]

Eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww .......... sweat smell . .. hahah ... guess u would think of him whenever u use ur F90 bah .. hahaha

 

[swimcraze]

hey, i am not that GROSS!
I have asked my maid to wash the strap clean and SUN it!

 

[isomers007]

Originally posted by West_ray
Eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww .......... sweat smell . .. hahah ... guess u would think of him whenever u use ur F90 bah .. hahaha

:bsmilie:

 

[FOOXX]

Originally posted by swimcraze
hey, i am not that GROSS!
I have asked my maid to wash the strap clean and SUN it!

wah ........ got maid to wazh for u somemore ..... hahahaha ......

spray some perfume on it alzo ..... :bsmilie:

 

[swimcraze]

funee ah! seriously, do secondhand shops or people allow the buyers to try out a roll of film first when buying a secondhand camera????

actually why do people want to try out a roll of film on the camera? Isn't the quality of the photos determined by the lens?? :dunno:

 

[FOOXX]

Originally posted by swimcraze
funee ah! seriously, do secondhand shops or people allow the buyers to try out a roll of film first when buying a secondhand camera????

actually why do people want to try out a roll of film on the camera? Isn't the quality of the photos determined by the lens?? :dunno:

well ...... the body playz a part alzo ........

maybe they wanna try the AF system of the body ..... n the functionz of the body .....

 

[gadgetguy]

Originally posted by swimcraze
actually why do people want to try out a roll of film on the camera? Isn't the quality of the photos determined by the lens?? :dunno:

Yes, the quality of the photos are mainly determined by the lens. Although the body also plays a part in controlling the shuttle speed. If the shutter leaks light or is not precise (1/60 sec is not 1/60 sec in reality), than pic exposure is going to be affected.

You may wish to bring along another camera / light meter to test the accuracy of meter.

As for why people put in a roll of flim, that's mainly to test if the camera can actually wind the film and rewind it back. You never know if this is actually working until you try it. AND it's best to try it in front of the seller.

 

[stl]

do second-hand shop give personal warranty also har?