Buyers Guide

Photography is a part of our everyday lives. Well known phrases such as 'every picture tells a story' and 'a picture says a thousand words' have stood the test of time for one very simple reason - they are absolutely true! Photos have fascinated people ever since the camera was invented. In newspapers and magazines, it is always the photos that they contain that grabs our attention first. Photography is vital to the fashion industry, it has fed all sorts of obsessions for people over the years, from the posters that teenagers hand on their bedroom walls to the importance of celebrity culture.

Photography is both an industry and a highly popular hobby. For decades, it was the family snaps that we placed in photo albums that held our most treasured memories. In recent years, as with many aspects of daily life, the digital world has transformed photography. From the advent of the first digital cameras, which made the need for having your holiday snaps developed a thing of the past, to where we are now with smartphones - meaning that virtually everybody is now walking around with a camera in their pocket!

Now we are in the age of the selfie. Social media has fuelled this explosion and social media posts that feature images have far higher interaction rates than posts with text alone. There are even social media platforms, such as Instagram and Snapchat, which are driven by images.

But while it's true that everybody now has access to a camera, and it's also true that the capabilities of smartphone cameras continues to improve - it's now perfectly possible to take surprisingly high quality photographs on a smartphone - it doesn't mean that 'old school' cameras have been made redundant.

Far from it! Camera technology has developed at a mind-blowing rate. Digital SLR cameras have made serious photography a much more accessible hobby. And many other types of camera have now become available to cater for specific markets and needs. Web cams make it easy to connect with family and friends all over the world, but they have also become vital to the world of business with video conferencing now easy to do. Webcams along with camcorders have made vlogging simple too – giving rise to the phenomenon of the YouTube celebrity.

There are also underwater cameras and cameras that are specifically aimed at capturing photos of wildlife, and cameras to place on the dashboard of your car. Cameras are everywhere!

And all of this means that the market for second hand cameras is a thriving one! Whether you want to pick up a very reasonably priced camera to try out a new hobby, or you are more experienced photographer looking to update your equipment, buying second hand cameras very good sense. You can get your hands on some of the latest photography technology for a fraction of the cost of buying a camera brand new.

This buyer's guide sets out to give you some helpful hints about what to look for when buying a used camera online.

The old adage 'knowledge is power' rings true whenever you are purchasing any item, be it new or used. This is especially true when it comes to technology goods. It is important that you are looking at the models that contain all the specifications and capabilities that you need for your personal use. There's nothing worse than shelling out for a product, only to discover that it doesn't do what you want it to! Similarly, there is little point in buying a product packed with spec (and the higher price tag that usually comes with it), if you are not going to actually use it.

So, when looking for second hand cameras, it certainly pays to know before you buy! It's always worth doing a fair bit of research before you even begin to look at used cameras for sale. You need to know the type of camera you are looking for. You need to decide which specifications you definitely need, wouldn't mind having or could do without. It's also worth looking at what the RRP of a particular camera model is and what the second hand prices for the same camera seem to be.

Of course, all new products depreciate in value (almost as soon as they are bought!) but when you are looking at buying second hand cameras, there is a lot more to think about which will affect the prices that buyers are likely to ask for the cameras they place on sales listings.

Here are some of the key considerations to think about when looking for buy used cameras.

As with most electronic gadgets, devices and equipment, you should ask: what's in the box? Most digital cameras will come with a variety of accessories in the box when purchased new. It's possible that when buying a second hand camera that some of the original accessories are not included in the price. They might have become broken or simply lost over time. If a camera is listed without any accessories then, obviously, the price that is being asked and the price you are prepared to pay should be reflected by this. You should factor in the extra cost of any additional purchases of accessories that you might need to make.

Most camera accessories are fairly easy to replace. This will usually be easier to do if the camera you are purchasing is a more recent model. However, it is worth bearing in mind that the likes of USBs, AV leads and battery chargers tend not to be universal. Sometimes they are bespoke to a particular model. Often (and more likely) these types of accessories are bespoke to the manufacturer.

Of course, there are always solutions. For example, using a card reader will mean that a lost USB cable won't be the end of the world. Specific items, such as cables to connect a camera to a TV can be difficult to replace. Probably the biggest concern should be if the camera charger is not included in the sale. Third party, universal, options are often available, but you might well find that such items aren't compatible with older camera models.

So, although it's pretty obvious when you think about it, it is worth reinforcing the importance of checking a sales listing for a second hand camera carefully. You should never just assume that the likes of a power cable or a lens cover will be included. The vast majority of sellers are totally honest and will have included all the relevant details, but it is important that you read listings very carefully. If you are not sure about something or it is not clear what is and isn't included in the price, just contact the seller for further clarification.

Often sellers will describe a camera has being in in 'very good' or 'good' condition. Of course, the problem with any such labels are that they are so subjective. Comments about the condition that a used camera is in might also be featured in the body of the listing. You should scour this for information and if that information is not forthcoming then, again, just seek further clarification from the seller.

Of course, the odd dint or scratch should not deter you from going ahead with a purchase. After all, such things are to be expected with second hand goods and in most cases are purely cosmetic. However, if there are several scratches on the camera - or if the scratches are quite deep - this might be an indicator that the item has not been handled with care. The odd scuff should not cause concern, but dents (especially deep ones) might also be evidence that the camera has not been handled with care. If the camera has been dropped frequently it is possible that the working condition of the camera has been compromised too.

And this should be your prime consideration: Do any of the cosmetic deficiencies that the second hand camera has suggest that the working performance of the item might have been affected? Also, pay close attention to scratches and marks on the camera lens.

The best way to establish the condition of a used camera is to read the listing and to examine any photographs very carefully. As ever, if you have any doubts just ask questions of the seller. Reputable sellers (the vast majority of sellers) will be happy to answer any queries you might have.

Again, this is a fairly obvious point to make - but no less important. Whether the used camera for sale is an analog or a digital camera it is always wise to ask when the item was last used and tested. This is even more important with older cameras.

The advice given so far in this guide has been fairly general. Now it's time to look at some of the specifics you should be looking at when purchasing second hand cameras:

For digital cameras, the shutter count is an important consideration. Every camera has a slightly different life expectancy. It shows how often the camera has been used. A good way of looking at shutter count is to see it as being similar to the 'miles on the clock' that a car might have. Not only should the typical life expectancy of a model be taken into account (you can research this online) but also think of it in these terms: a second hand car with 100,000 miles on the clock is likely to have more mechanical issues and a shorter shelf-life than a car with just 10,000 miles on the clock. Shutter count is much the same. Essentially, there will eventually come a time when a camera 'dies' as it has reached its shutter count threshold.

For the sake of balance, let's now look at an aspect of cameras that will only affect analog cameras. Light seals are the spongey, rubber-like material that prevents outside light from penetrating the inside of the camera and affecting the film. Over time, light seals will naturally deteriorate - so it is important to clarify with the seller what the condition of the light seals are on a second hand analog camera for sale.

Fortunately, although it is important to ascertain the condition of light seals, it needn't necessarily be a complete deal-breaker if you are told that the light seals have broken down or are showing clear signs of deterioration. A simple Google search will provide you with a long list of DIY ways (some ingenious) of fixing the problem.

An issue common to both digital and analog cameras is the state of the viewfinder. It is very important that the viewfinder is clear and easy to view. This is less of a concern with many digital cameras with electronic viewfinders, but for optical viewfinders (commonly found on SLR and DSLR cameras), the clarity of the viewfinder and mirrors should be checked.

You might just be buying the camera body, but if lenses are included in the price then you should always check the condition that they are in. If you have the opportunity to look at the items before buying then there are some easy physical checks that you can do. Often when you are buying online, this isn't feasible. If this is the case, you need to go on the evidence of the listing, the photos and the questions you ask of the seller.

If you can check a lens yourself, you should hold it up to a light (if you can look through it) or hold it in a position where light is reflecting from it. You are looking for evidence of any internal marks. If there appears to be small lines etched into the surface this is a clear sign that the lens has fungus on it. This will greatly affect the quality of photos that you will be able to take with the camera.

Chips, scuffs and scratches are generally not troublesome if they are located around the edge of a lens. However, if there are any present on the centre of the lens then it is best avoided. Such problems should be reflected in the sale price and be aware that it will affect any future re-sale value. Another thing to consider with the lens is the condition of the mount. For an interchangeable lens, it is typical over time for the mounting to become worn. This will result in a loose fitting which could potentially mean light could get into the camera.

Again, there are some manual checks that you can execute if you have the opportunity of looking at a second hand camera before buying. You can slowly rotate the manual focusing ring to check whether there are any points where it appears to either stick or get held up. If this is the case, it is a sign that there is grit and debris present in the focusing ring. This would require you to take it apart, give it a good clean and then reassemble - not a massive job to undertake by any means.

Another thing to consider regarding focusing is the reliability of the autofocus function.

Scratched panels won't necessarily affect the quality of the pictures you can take, but it will affect potential re-sale values. You should also establish that all the modes on the LCD panel are in good working order.

If you get a chance to look at the battery contacts, you should. If there are deposits evident in the battery compartment (typically white, green or brown), this is usually a sign that the batteries have leaked at some point. In such cases, there is the likelihood that further damage may have been caused in the process.

As well as establishing what the shutter count is, if possible, remembering the lower it is the better, there are a few other things to check over regarding the condition of a second hand camera's shutter. All the different shutter speed options should be tried out as this will show if there are any problems with the shutter sticking open.

Another common problem with shutters is that they develop a squeak. If the sound is high-pitched this is usually a sign that the camera needs to be serviced. This can be quite expensive.

Most cameras have an in-built threaded mount for use with tripods. Check that the thread is not stripped.

With a freshly charged battery, a camera's built-in flash shouldn't take more than 5 seconds to fire up. If it takes longer it indicates that it is coming to the end of its shelf-life.

If a second hand camera has an attachment shoe, for use with accessories such as a flash, you should check that the connections are working. Shoes that are either bent or show evidence of cracking are best avoided.

If you intend to use filters with your purchase it will be important for you to check that the mount, also known as the filter thread, is not dented and that the thread is still intact and has not stripped away. Even if you do not intend to use filters yourself this should still be checked as a stripped filter thread will reduce the re-sale value of the camera.

Similarly, even if you don't need them yourself, it's always handy to have the original manufacturer’s instructions. This will help you retain the re-sale value of the camera.

Buying second hand cameras can save you a great deal of money. This also frees up more cash for you to spend on photography accessories - many of which can also be picked up in the used market.

It's worth remembering that whether you are a hobbyist photographer, as seasoned pro or just somebody who is interested in giving photography a go, you don't necessarily need to purchase the newest models. If you are buying your first camera or thinking of upgrading your existing model, the second hand camera market is always vibrant and offers plenty of choice.

If you follow the advice given in this Buyer's Guide you will be well on the way to finding the perfect second hand camera for you. Remember to do your research beforehand and read up on reviews. This will give you a good idea of what you want, what to look for and what sort of price you can expect to pay.

The best way to start is to think carefully about how you intend to use the camera. You might want versatility or you might need specific features that are suited for a particular niche. Either way being clear about what you want the camera for is always the best place to start.

Use this Buyer’s Guide as a checklist when you considering making a purchase. Not all the points identified in the guide are relevant to all types of cameras, but most of them will be useful for all. If you refer to these closely, they will help you make the right decision.

If you want more information about the types of camera that are available, you can take a look at the guides on the other pages of the website.

We wish you all the best in your search for the perfect second hand camera for you!