How heavily has it been used?
Ask about professional work, video recording, travel and shutter count. Little exterior wear does not tell the whole story.
Productcheck 03
Buying a used
camera .
A camera can still take beautiful photos while hiding dust, fungus, a worn shutter or unreliable autofocus. A few targeted test shots can reveal these problems.
01
Sensor
take a test photo
✓
Autofocus
must be accurate
Take your time
Try several settings and inspect images at full magnification
Bring along
A compatible memory card, torch and, if useful, a lens
Pay particular attention to
Sensor, shutter count, autofocus and fungus
Before you leave
Ask these questions first.
Ask for the exact model number and what is included. The body, kit lens, battery and charger can each have their own wear.
Has it been dropped or exposed to moisture?
Ask specifically about rain, condensation, sand, drops and repairs to the shutter, sensor, stabilisation or card slot.
What has been replaced?
A replacement shutter or cleaned sensor can be a good sign, but ask for a receipt and check the repair was successful.
What is included?
Agree which lens, battery, charger, strap, caps, hood, cables and packaging are included.
The heart of the camera
Sensor and shutter
must work properly.
Dust can often be cleaned, but scratches, persistent marks and an unreliable shutter may be expensive. Test with different settings.
Take a plain test photo
Photograph a bright, even background at a small aperture and inspect it enlarged. Repeated dark dots often indicate sensor dust.
Check the shutter count
Many models let you read the number of exposures. Treat this as an indication of use, not a guarantee of remaining life.
Inspect the lens mount
Contacts should be clean and the lens should lock in place without play. Damaged screws may suggest rough repairs.
Listen at different shutter speeds
Take photos at fast and slow shutter speeds. Error messages, freezing or irregular mechanical sounds are suspicious.
Inspect the whole product
Six areas to inspect every time.
Sensor & mirror box
Look for scratches, dirt and damage without touching anything. Use the manufacturer's cleaning mode if available.
Lens
Shine a torch through the glass at an angle. Look for fungus, haze, scratches and aperture blades that move slowly or appear oily.
Autofocus
Test nearby subjects, distant subjects and low light. Photograph the same detail repeatedly and check that focus is consistently accurate.
Stabilisation
Enable stabilisation and listen for unusual rattling. Compare slow-shutter photos with it switched on and off.
Buttons & screen
Test every dial, button, viewfinder, touchscreen and tilting mechanism. Watch for dead pixels and flickering information.
Ports & card slot
Insert and remove the card carefully. Test storage, USB, HDMI and microphone input if you need them.
The test photos
Take more than one shot.
Use different apertures, shutter speeds and focus points. Inspect at 100 per cent; the small camera screen hides a lot.
-
01
Start and format
Use your own empty card, check the battery and format only with permission. Then take a normal first photo.
-
02
Vary the settings
Test automatic and manual modes, fast and slow shutter speeds, low and high ISO and different apertures.
-
03
Test focusing
Use several autofocus points, single and continuous autofocus and eye or subject detection if available.
-
04
Inspect and save
Zoom fully in, inspect corners and plain areas, and check that files save and reopen without errors.
!
Do not buy if...
Four reasons to walk away.
- 01 You see fungus, deep scratches or permanent haze in the lens or viewfinder.
- 02 The camera freezes, shows error codes or saves files unreliably.
- 03 Autofocus repeatedly misses under normal conditions.
- 04 The serial number, ownership history or explanation of impact or moisture damage is unclear.
Checking mode
Tick off points during
your viewing.
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0 van 12
points checked
Your progress
Take your time with the list. One sharp photo is not a complete camera check.
This buying check helps uncover hidden problems, but offers no guarantee. If unsure about expensive equipment, ask a camera specialist to assess it.