I bought used canon 5d3 and tamron 24-70 2.8 g1 and 70-200 g1 stabilized, all together for 2000 plus I bought X2 Teleconverter for 50 , and canon 135 f2 for 500 more, and sigma ex DG 85 1.4 for 400 so all together is still cheaper than brand new canon 70-200 2.8 lense
I just recently got into photography. I decided used older gear was the best for me (Canon T6 and a couple lenses). To me this is the best route for anyone wanting to dip there toes into a hobby.
I had the T6 for a long time. I really can't understate how bad this camera really is nowadays. With any of the rebel series whether it be the T3 or the T7, always go with the i, like the t6i. Especially used, the price difference will be marginal
I,ve bought used gear from B&H, KEH, and MPB and I have never had a problem with any of it. In fact most of it has been almost new! I purchased a Nikon D500 last year that had 1,274 shutter actuations (or about 1 full week or less of shooting) for anout half the price of new!
Be careful on Ebay I bought a telescope mount that was listed as having a tripod and head from a seller that had lots of reviews. Well only the head arrived even though it said clearly in the post that the tripod was included. After a back and forth the seller assured me the tripod was on the way so I could close the case with Ebay. I closed the case and when the tripod didn't arrive I tried to reopen the case but Ebay wouldn't let me. At that point I didn't trust the seller would refund so I kept the head and took the loss. Lesson learned don't ever close a case on Ebay till all is settled.
I'm on the Sony Mirrorless ASP-C space. I have 2 cameras and 5 lenses. The A5100 was bought new with the kit lens as at the time my budget would not stretch to the A6000. Once my income increased I was in the position to buy the A6000 plus 3 zoom lenses and a macro lens. All of these were purchased on Ebay with no issues at all over description, packaging or delivery. On Ebay what I do is note down the selling prices of the last ten examples of an item and then calculate the average and take the minimum and maximum price from that list. Ideally I'm looking to buy around the average price with some variation for item condition and importantly the manufacturer packaging, manuals etc. This really has stepped up by game as its the first time I've owned 2 cameras, have a macro lens and have a wide angle lens.
Great information. A little flashlight to check things like the battery compartment and the camera interior is helpful. Salt water damage or corroded battery box means major surgery or funeral for that camera. Open the lens to the largest aperture and shine the flashlight through in both directions. Sometimes it is much easier to see the fungus in one direction or the other. For me, fungus is not a deal killer unless it's bad because you can clean it with hydrogen peroxide and Robson lighter fluid (it does not aways work because sometimes the fungus has etched the coatings). Balsam separation is a deal killer. That lens is a paperweight now. Tripods tend to have something missing like the quick release plate or some crucial screw. For me, there are things I like to buy used, and things I prefer to get new. I buy the top of the line cameras new. That way, I not only have a warranty, but I know the equipment is in pristine shape and not fished from the bottom of some river. I get lesser cameras used. If something goes wrong, just get another one. I have the equipment and patience to fix many things myself, so my buying choices would be different than other people.
Wow! All very valid points. I like the way you explore the pros & cons of purchasing new and used gear. I know I love a deal on new gear but also a bargain on used gear. I’m glad you bring up the idea of gray market gear because I’ve experienced this in and it’s not a fun place to be. Now with all that being said, buying used is cool if you’re starting out but something Chelsea said, buy from a reputable seller, and used the gear immediately as intended because the warranty is short and you don’t want to get caught out in the cold without a warranty on your lenses and or camera body you just bought especially if you’re just getting into this. It will sour your taste definitely on photography & gear.
I purchased my new, Gray Market Z50 w/ kit lens for about $650 IIRC, and it was retailing for more than $1000. With that heavy discount built in I was not worried. Only think I have not considered is resale value. I am actually looking to sell it as I rarely use it since I have my Z6.
I bought a sony 100-400 GM lens here in the UK for around 45% less the new price. The lens was in like-new condition, and it allows me not to lose money when I decide to resell it. Another tip when you buy used gear online is to pay with a credit card/PayPal, so in case you have issues with the purchase, you can raise a dispute with your credit card to recoup your money.
I got a Canon 6D Mark ii last week from the bay for $699, an older 28-80 f/2.8 L with a chipped filter ring (a Hoya filter screwed on just fine) for $201, and an 80-200 f/2.8 L "Magic Drainpipe" missing it's AF/MF switch for $242.50. I already have a 50mm 1.4 USM to I got a few months back for around $110 to complete a really nice "prosumer" package. About $1,250 total spent, but I've also sold about $850 worth of my old gear so far and still have a working 750D with a couple of basic lenses to unload which will make it almost an even trade up for older pro gear. No complaints, the pics are OUTSTANDING!!
My tip: check the integrity of all the doors. I have a Canon 7D Mark II whose SD compartment door broke off from a fall. I fixed it with Krazy Glue 5 years ago. The camera works fine, but the door came off once two years after I fixed it. I just glued it back. I've upgraded my gear since and I don't use the 7DM2 anymore. I'd never stick someone with it because of the broken SD compartment door, even though you'd never see it. But some people would. If you do want my camera, since it does still work, you've been warned. 😉
Definitely saved some money with my "recent" cameras. Wanted an update on my Olympus E-M10 II and got a used E-M5 II from Ebay with a couple first party batteries. Cost me less than a New E-M10 IV body. This was luck with a good Ebay seller. But I also wanted to get my feet wet in the Fuji X system. I also picked up a used X-T2 on Ebay, but I purchased this from a reputable seller from Japan. I have been beyond happy with both purchases as I just take photos, do not need Full Frame, and am doing this on a budget. Used gear can be fantastic, but very important to be diligent about being swindled.
Amen. I've got seven Canon DSLR's and only bought one of them new. Most I've bought off eBay but have bought only from sellers who have very high positive feedback and will warranty the cameras or lenses for at least a couple of months. Also have a lot of lenses, six L lenses, again, almost all of them were bought used off eBay and I've had no problems with any of them.
In the UK we are fortunate for Nikon users I know of ( there may be others for other brands ) to have dealers that offer 2nd hand gear with a 12 month warranty, having already graded it, so you have a good idea of what you're getting into. Sure its not as cheap as you might hope, but it can well be a good way to get some money off with limited risk and avoiding grey market. Thanks for a very useful video.
On third party batteries: brands like Duracell make pretty good, long lasting camera batteries. I have three batteries from them for Canon cameras and all are as good or better than the originals.
I have a total of 5 EN-EL15 batteries shared among three Nikon Cameras. One of the 5 is original Nikon, and the rest of 4 is third party. I would recommend among the batch of batteries you have, having one OEM battery is useful at least for troubleshooting purpose.
Agreed, I have several Duracell branded camera batteries ( Nikon ENEL15's and ENEL18's plus Lumix G9 ) and they all perform well. The only 3rd party batteries I'll buy is Duracell and Hahnel.
I use 3 Hahnel HLX-E6N and one Canon LP-E6N on my old Canon 80D, they all work great, never had a problem so far. The Hahnel last longer only because they are 2000 mAh compared to the 1865 mAh of the Canon stock battery.
Just traded for a used A7r iii last week. Used is the way to go especially when you are wanting to upgrade or make a change right away. Camera bodies depreciate so fast, spend it on lenses and get a descent used body. Good video :)
I appreciate the grey market observation. I just bought a new Tamron 24-70 g2 from one of the few 'Tamron Authorized' camera stores within a 3 hour drive in Texas, but I did want the 6 year warranty that I may not have gotten if bought from Amazon or Best Buy.
Thanks for the good advice! Last year I went on a shopping spree getting me a Samsung NX1, NX500, NX30, NX300 and NX Mini, all for the price of what the NX1 did cost anew back when it first came out. Of course lenses are not included in this math but these I got them dirt cheap in comparison to what they were new if not being kit lenses anyway. And another good thing is that folks sell all their extras they bought when they got the cameras new, like extra batteries and chargers and bags and memory cards... There are not many reasons why anyone should buy new camera gear when there's so much good used stuff in mostly mint condition out there. Especially with cameras because usually these are well taken care of. Or they where bought in a hype and after playing around they spent much of their lifes on somebody's shelf.
I've bought and sold on Facebook Marketplace a lot for camera gear, but deaing with the people can be a pain and you DEFINITELY need to know what to check before buying
I actually bought the Nikon Z85mm f1.2 and the Nikon Z135mm f1.8 Plena and NEVER EVER used it because I was super busy building something in my house. Then I saw a very very expensive lens that I wanted and traded in the two brand new lenses still in the boxes that were never opened for the expensive lens that I wanted. Both lenses that I traded in were rated as a 10 and were sold out in the Used Dept. the very next day! Some photographer got lucky off me!
I tried KEH; because I am in Mexico and we have problems shipping, I sent a polite, detailed and concise email to KEH; they didn't even bother to respond.
I remember selling my A9 a few months ago and the guy was in love with it but wanted to offer me $500 less because the shutter count was at 110,000. I explained to him that I used almost exclusively the electronic shutter and used a mechanical shutter for less than 1500 photos (only when I used a flash) so the shutter count was irrelevant. With my 5D Mark 3, a 7R3 it was the same issue shutter counts of 30,000 and 40,000 respectively and people were having palpitations in spite these cameras being rated for over 300,000 actuations!!!!! I am at the point that I can just walk away if I hear shutter count!!
Great video. I had slowly come to the realisation that I had grown too old to carry around all my heavy camera kit and decided to downsize. I am a stills photographer, never been able to get my head around video. My odd attempt ended up with a still picture with some movement in it. So settled on getting the original Olympus OM-D E-M1. Which stills wise holds it own with the latest version. Buying from reputable UK dealers I got an as new body (shutter count 3786) and 3 primes (30mm macro 45mm f1.8 and a sigma 60mm f2.8 not pro lenses) for £417. All warrantied for at least six months one of the lenses for two years. I don't know if this is a UK thing but I didn't pay much more than items are going for on eBay. I don't know if people check 2nd-hand prices with camera stores before bidding?
back in 2012 I bought a used Logitech keyboard and it worked well until I realized that my hotkey button for the calculator did not work at all. Yes there are hidden problem that can be found on used equipment. So I am worried about buying a used website now. Someone probably bandaged it. Put a temporary code that will break soon. But I want to add one more important benefit to buying new. Updated. This applies more for phones but can also affect cameras especially for the future. Mobile phones new come with support for security and updated OS that new apps are build on. Cameras don't have these features yet besides firmware updates. However Used phones may be in great or excellent condition but still not function because the OS is out of date and there is no more support for it. The apps may not be supported on it anymore or are out of date which can cause you to loose some functionality. Hopefully cameras are not grounded to online functionality as strong as phones are these days. So, when I buy phones I buy the latest phones or new phones only mostly just for that reason. Once cameras have online support such as this this might be a reason to consider buying new as well.
I stick to manufacturer refurbished. Canon, for instance, has an excellent warranty on refurbs and, usually, refurbs have gone through more checks than a new item.
I just sent my RP and kit lens to KEH. As long as they follow through with the online quote, I'm trading up for an R6. The price they quoted was very fair, better than other online quotes. The R6 is barely cheaper than new, but i should get a discount code, I won't pay full sales tax and they are upgrading their normal 6 month warranty to 1 year. I've had good success buying used camera gear, but this should bring peace of mind...
Speaking of used gear, Keh had a Zeiss Milvus and Otus lens I was interested in and in less than a month they sold out. Glad they're doing well (although I missed out).
I am happy to buy my lenses used either from a trusted friend or from a trusted camera store but I like to buy my cameras new. Saying that, my A7iii was an "open box" special as that was the only way I could get one at the time it came out as none were in stock! I have had good luck with used lenses and I do feel smug saving a little money!
I do everything you said when I consider buying used gear.. Used gear that come with the original box is typically considered safer than the ones that don’t.. guess that’s one additional thing to check for
I tend to buy new cameras and used lenses. I've bought and sold a lot of gear on FB Marketplace, I guess I've lucked out that it's all been good experiences.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I don’t know about professionals what they think however, for nature-lover hobbyists like me; used gear is the way to go at present. I bought new gears till Canon EOS 70D. Then, as I observed there’s no room for further development; I focused on old gears. Accordingly I bought, 5D Classic, 5DII, 7D and 1DIV. As I already own few quality lenses; they produce great results as per my taste. All these bodies do one thing right - create eye-soothing images when used correctly. MILCs?! May be few years later provided sensible/affordable models are released. If R3 price comes down to acceptable level, why not!
I just bought a Z5 $600, a Z 24-70 f4 S lens $450 Both c/w boxes, us warranty, almost brand new from Offerup. Make sure its local pickup and seller has a good history of selling and/or buying
I sold a bunch of gear and made a profit on the sale. These influencer are pushing up the price of used gear. Just don’t buy a Contax T2. It will break and it can’t be fixed. Now it’s a $1k paper weight.
Good video. You guys gave a pretty balanced view for both sides. I have bought a number of photography items from eBay and have been pretty lucky. Both of my Nikon F2 film cameras and also my Pentax 6x7 medium format camera and several lenses were all bought on eBay. I'm gearing up for my next big purchase -- most likely a Nikon D700. Why do I do this? Because photography is ONE of my expensive hobbies and I want to get the most bang for my buck. I'm not a professional photographer, so not being on the latest and greatest is perfectly fine.
Chelsea is absolutely right! Buy kit from a reputable seller who offers a warranty - in the UK that's MPB. You need to trust the description and pay the honest price. Build a relationship. I buy my stuff at about a year old and ove every item. No regrets, but great and reliable kit.
Sometimes you get lucky though, I got a Canon 90D on ebay, seller said they used it for like 6 months(body was good, but not perfect) and there was a scratch on the 18-55mm lens, actually, when it came in, it came with the 18-135mm lens, which was an extra $200 more new than the other lens. It had a scratch like they said but most things were in good condition. Of course, you can't expect that kind of thing, but it'll happen sometimes apparently
I bought a lens for my Pentax K7 from KEH and when I got it the lens fit but it didn’t move. Sadly, it was broken. I am happy to say that KEH was awesome about it and I was thankfully able to return it and get my money back. After that experience, I am afraid to purchase from anyone that isn’t a reputable dealer.
I have had a generally good experience with KEH but they don't ever tell you the shutter count. On something like a DSLR it think it is important and can make the difference between buying one over the other, all things being equal. I recently bought a D610 body from them. It looked like new and was fully functional but I checked as soon as I opened it and it had over 66,000 shutter actuations. I asked them about this when I bought it but they won't tell you . If you send it back they deduct the original shipping cost to send it to you and you have to bear the cost of shipping it back. Don't like that about KEH. Otherwise they are really a reputable place to buy used.
Bought a used Nikon 1 for 80 USD. Turned out the iris on the lens that came with it was stuck closed in all but one Zoom level. Got my money back. Really easy and great return policy from a local physical shop. Then I found a Sony NEX-F3 for 80 dollars. No lens caps and battery life seemed iffy at first. Otherwise, I'm satisfied. Got myself a new third-party battery and some macro filters.
I've bought virtually all of my camera equipment used. But I only buy genuine Canon and have never had an issue. If bought online, it's all about the seller, the description, the pics and warranty if any. Most has been from eBay. Everything I've bought had been in mint condition as has been the stuff I sell. I look after my gear. Batteries are always tricky. Genuine is best but most expensive. Aftermarket is sometimes the only option and it's a bit hit and miss. I haven't bought anything in person since before the internet. Yeah.... That was a long time ago! If I did, you need to know what you're looking at. If unsure, bring an experienced friend. There are many tell tale signs to look at.
Be careful about buying gear on Amazon. I bought the Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens through Amazon only to find out after I bought it that the vendor was not licensed to sell Tamron gear and that my Tamron warranty would not be honored. I trued to return the lens but stopped when I learned the vendor would return my money -- minus a 20 percent re-stocking fee. I did complain to Amazon. Never got my money back, so my lens has no warranty. But Amazon apparently stopped the vendor in question from selling Tamron gear through Amazon.
Definitely with Chelsea on that one. All my gear is second hand. A very capable Nikon D7000 coupled with professional lenses for a fraction of the cost of a new body.
As for nikon, There is a very simple way to check a Nikon DSLR is what it says it is. All you have to do is display a saved image in playback mode and select the 'overview' mode - the model name will be displayed in the top right corner. The camera body can be modified, but the firmware can't lie.
I love buying last years model. A few years ago I got the fuji xh1 for $500 brand new. The xt3 had come out. It was on sale at b&h for $900 and came with free stuff, sold the free stuff and got it for $500.
I can say I had a good experience in selling a Canon lens on FB Market Place. But I think I got lucky and going forward its going to be KEH, MPB, B&H, Adorama or Canon.
The original battery also swollen if not treated properly. Like keep it full charge for long time, not drain and charge periodically. Or let it inside the camera when not in use for long time. And "BIOS" battery inside the camera that keep clock also damage by age.
I didn't need a new camera, but after seeing a Fujifilm X-T2 with the Fujinon XF23mm F1.4 R lens for $800 on Facebook marketplace, I couldn't pass it up. Love it and it was just too good a deal.
Buying used is a great way to save money byt check if there is a warranty! Some if not almost all private sales offer no warranty, some places offer about a 3 or 6 month warranty. Qiute a few offer 12 months but some offer a 24 month warranty so it is well worth checking. I have recently bought two used fuji XF lenses used both very close to the 300 price and new they where both well over 600 new first the 18-135 was excellent condition the latest the 10-24 had some scuffs on the body and no lens hood optics are excellent on both and both have a 24 month warranty, repair/exchange etc. You do have to be carefuk my next lens was going to be the XF 70-300 byt that is almsot the same price as new which is cra y I can get the XF 100-400 an XF red label for pretty much the same price used and new that was around 1500. So do your research in advance you should be paying about 60% new price for most used lenses, 10-15 % less fro a poor condition and about 10 maybe at a push 15% more for an absolutely mint condition example. Will add also just purchase the Fuji X-T30 ii brand new at present probably the best value Fuji X series body new.
It makes sense going the used way in the USA where you have KEH. Sadly that's not an option for many people (including me) who are not based in the USA/EUROPE.
Great video. So me personally, I buy new or manufacturer refurbished cameras, or the like new ones with virtually no use. There are too many buttons and features on a camera to take the chance of purchasing a heavily used camera. For camera gear, the bulk of your outlay is going to be in lenses. There are many less features and parts to a lens than a camera, and I don't mind a little wear. There are plenty of deals to be had however. The Nikon 24-70 f/4 came as a kit lens to many cameras. The market has been flooded with these and I got my like-new lens for about $350, and it sells for about $1k.
I buy used equipment from my favorite camera store locally. I have gotten great prices and never bad equipment. My last awesome find was a Nikon 200-400 f4 in pristine condition. It was priced way lower than a new one and it looked like it had never been on a camera. I’m still waiting on my Z9 too Tony. @Chelsea “polycamerous” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The puppy needs a feature! You can't keep the cuteness under the table for too long! Wait! Did you just say "You'd be shocked..." when talking about the wet battery - and not notice the pun? Awe "Shoot!"
There's a few points you missed. 1. How much is your time worth? Buying new is basically instant, click online and it's done. If you buy used... how much time do you spend looking for a camera? Visiting sellers? Testing them out? Gas driving everywhere because the seller isn't nearby? Compare the value of your time with how much you save buying used. 2. What is the risk of scam? If you save 20% on the price of a camera but have a 30% chance of getting scammed then in the long run, you will come out behind because eventually you lose on a sale. It's a bit like buying jewelry... if you aren't an expert, your risks of being scammed are much higher when buying used.
Tony didn't get Z9 not because of the shipping delay, but because he was trashing it without even having it in his hands xD Most other reviewers already tested it.
Matt Grainger is very big on straps and bags. I go for Manfrotto & PeakDesign Bags and straps from PeakDesign again a very good match for Sony A5000/A6000 system. In terms of batteries I've gone for the Nitecore charger and Sony/Hahnel batteries new. Tripod Manfrotto new and SD card SanDisk new. Finally David Busch books.
Good points abiut used kit. I got once an mgb roadster. After A week it would not start flat batteries. The alternator did not charge. So had to charge 2 6volt batteries and replace the alternator.
i got my t100 last year when the pandemic started the first new lens i got was a nifty 50 from canon, the first used lens i got earlier this year was a 55 x 200 from canon i got it through audorama I'm happy with my gear
Being a Canon user; I haven't bought a new gear for quite a while other than a darling premium telephoto lens. Purchased four used cameras three of which are giving great service. The other one was not supposed to be the same. Recently have bought another superstar pro body from B&H that I expect to arrive soon. Will contemplate an R3 three years later.
I have looked at a LOT of used camera gear. The one thing I notice is that there is much attention spent to look at camera bodies and less spent on looking as carefully at a lens. If I am going to buy new, it is usually the body, I then try to save where I can on used lenses. My big discount on my new body purchase comes from both buying an older model and also the money I get from selling bodies on Ebay! (Now mind you, I am shooting crop sensored, now it is a Nikon D7500, therefore even if I get screwed over on the Ebay sale, I am not out of really any amount of money. You full frame guys are in a whole different ballgame!) My point is that a lens can be a paperweight quite easily just by dropping it one time! The buy and lens might check out like it is like new but be junk because it was mishandled. I met one guy who wanted to sell most all his gear, he really did not use it very much at all! The stuff was pristine, however upon further investigation I discovered a lot of mold and some stiffness in the response of the lens. Upon further investigation he told me, "It has to be still like new, I have had it stored in the attic for at least two years! Because of his location, this informed me his equipement went through some serious temperature changes (anywhere from 10 to 95 degrees)! I had another guy who had told me his lens was new, the only issue he had was once dropping it in the sand!!! Ocean sand is a disaster if you have ever been on the east coast. No deal on that guy either. So rule of thumb, be careful and check everything out. I have a bunch of used scratched and worn lenses that I am perfectly fine with!!! They work and I saved 70% in some cases or more! One last point, the photo post software today has gotten so great, it is really hard to tell a lot of differences. Why shoot full frame?? I use a combination of Adobe, Luminar and Topez Labs so there really is not much I can not do. I am not getting into no shooting match with a Toney or Chelsia but against a Tom or Mary Beth, I usually take top prize!!! Thanks Moonpie
Well, this is a sense you get with most modern equipment, not limited to cameras. For instance, buying an old Samsung Note 10+ makes so much more sense than buying something like OnePlus because it costs lesser than a brand new premium smartphone. While price points are one argument that helps, the main point is when you buy something that is branded as premium, even if it belongs to an older generation, it still gives you refined quality and build quality that still lasts you a while. This mad rush to buy the best and the latest does not always make sense to me. So, sure, go for something that is reasonably priced (and as for warranty, like they said, when was the last time you got true warranty?) and which is appropriate for your use. This craze for more megapixels or nifty new things, does not always mean anything. The first rule is, it is a tool and you are the one who uses it.. a sharpshooter with a modern sniper rifle or an age-old lee-enfield would only be as good as his/her skill. In the end, it is a camera, and it is your skill which matters. Just my $0.02... sorry for barging in..
One thing I like about buying used lenses is that if you want to sell it later, you often only lose the commission charged by the selling platform. Camera bodies seem to lose more value as newer bodies come out. But, this seems to happen less often with lenses.
I have had great luck buying used gear from online brick & mortar complainers like B&H as well as Adorama. I have not tried K&H but sine you mentioned them from time to time I am looking at them as well for a used D610 Or who knows.. maybe a new/used mirrorless…. Like Nikon Z5? Z6 or Z6II? I doubt I would think about Z7 used? Though video is improving in Nikon to level of others, I’m using video cameras like Blackmagic Design in BRAW or JVC LS300 or other video gear.. they just work better for video and cinema.. though I will not turn my nose up at a DSLR or better for video Mirrorless that while I’m out and about taking pics and think, “Hey I would love 3 minutes of footage right here with this lens!” Flip the switch and shoot some video.. but even with a mirrorless I don’t see myself thinking “Hey I need to shoot some cinema work, I’ll bring my Nikon Z6.”
Great arguments on both sides! I just purchased a Nikon Z7ii from Amazon marketplace (it was advertised" Like New" with only packaging damage). When I go the camera, the sensor was all scratched up sadly. I'm staying away from used gear. You pay more for new gear, but there's warranty and peace of mind.
I bought a used Sony a380 earlier this year. As it was my first DSLR I didn't want to buy an expensive current model. As I had a few months Minolta SLR lenses I stuck with Sony. It was only £40 as the inbuilt steadyshot was not functioning. Doesn't bother me as I will primarily be using it on an old Velbon VGB-3C tripod to take photos of the night sky and maybe in the future buy a telescope to use with it.
Picked up a used Sony A7R4 from Fred Miranda great price great camera. Got a Pentax 645n medium format film camera ❤️ from KEH, very hard to find in U.S.
I just bought the throwback Sony a7r and a prime APSC lens (for my a6000) from KEH Camera, and everything came in beautiful shape, plus I think I saved $65 with Tony & Chelsea's promocode. I feel like I'm advertising right now, so I'm going to stop. Either way, I agree! Don't be afraid to buy some badass gear that's been used by fellow badass photographers.
Not only used but also look up auctions for "distressed packaging" gear. I grabbed myself a Sigma 17-300mm DC OS EF mount that regulars for $800(can), for $300(can). Brand new product, still sealed, only issue is no warrantee and the box was messed up.
I am a Fuji Xt30 user and contemplating on buying my 1st full frame camera. Struck on Sony A7RIII, a used one is 500 usd cheaper. do you recommend buying a used A7RIII or should get a new one?
I waited a year, for black Friday to buy the eos 90d on sale, it stayed the same price EVERYWHERE i saw canon's mirrorless lineup on sale but not the camera i wanted
I like photography - as a hobby, not a professional. have always enjoyed watching your videos. For someone with a $1,700 cap for a mirrorless camera, a wide-angle-telephoto zoom lens (I'll get a used prime 35 mm or 50 mm separate from these funds) what do you recommend. Would like some basic weather sealing. I can always use a cover..It seems you push Canon and Sony but what about Panasonic or Olympus. Yes, I'm like to consider doing some video. I was using my son's Nikon 7200 for that.
MY advice always buy exactly the lens which you wanted dont waste time money buying something what you managed to buy and than you will be unhappy and still wanted other lens and maybe will end up swapping , however you can buy and exchange if you understood its not what you wanted in this way this is much cheaper than to rent it
These days it’s the sellers who face the most risk. I tried to sell a starter drone after getting my mini and air 2 and I got hundreds of scam “offers” (full price, usually different country, tries to pay a non safe way)
I never buy used, just don't trust it. But I also never buy the latest new gear either, because if it has just been released you just don't know if it will have any problems. Most new stuff do have some small niggles that usually get ironed out after a year or so. So I always buy brand new, but gear that has been out a year or so. It is cheaper than the absolute latest, maybe not quite as cheap as second hand, but you know what you are getting. All my gear has 5 year warranties on it. Here in Japan when you buy new gear from a shop you can extend the warranty buy 3 or 5 years for not that much money at all. If it breaks after the 1 year manufacturer's warranty then you can still get it repaired or replaced free. Don't know about other countries but in Japan the prices quoted in the shops are usually always more than on their websites. So I always look on their website first, screen shot the page then phone them up and tell them the price. They always accept the net price.
So here’s a question: what if the item you are about to buy is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE if you buy it brand new BUT also EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE in the Used Dept but rated as a 10 and the difference in price is $2000. What if the sales rep says to you “for THAT KIND OF MONEY you should NOT buy it from the Used Dept. you should buy it brand new” Then the sales rep in the Used Dept says to you “Why did you buy it brand new? We have it here rated as a 10. A 10 IS A 1O no matter what. Plus you would save $2000” My question is this: who is right? If the item is such an expensive item that costs over TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS BRAND NEW you should ONLY BUY IT BRAND NEW? Or should you save $2000 and buy it from the Used Department for EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS because it’s a condition 10?
Go to squarespace.com/Chelsea & save 10% off your first website or domain with code “Chelsea”
I bought used canon 5d3 and tamron 24-70 2.8 g1 and 70-200 g1 stabilized, all together for 2000 plus I bought X2 Teleconverter for 50 , and canon 135 f2 for 500 more, and sigma ex DG 85 1.4 for 400 so all together is still cheaper than brand new canon 70-200 2.8 lense
As vintage lens buff, I think you should ALWAYS buy new gear. That way you're not making the price of the stuff I'm buying go up!
😀
lol
🤣😂👍
Smart 😂
Yeah!
What arcanics1971 said!
I never would have been able to get into photography at new prices, i'm so thankful for the used market.
I just recently got into photography. I decided used older gear was the best for me (Canon T6 and a couple lenses). To me this is the best route for anyone wanting to dip there toes into a hobby.
Me using 14+ year old gear:
I had the T6 for a long time. I really can't understate how bad this camera really is nowadays. With any of the rebel series whether it be the T3 or the T7, always go with the i, like the t6i. Especially used, the price difference will be marginal
Well since you're new to photography, you're definitely the guy to listen to then
@@Master-Baiter Unless you find it at a tag sale with 18-55 kit lens for $20, as I did.😄
I,ve bought used gear from B&H, KEH, and MPB and I have never had a problem with any of it. In fact most of it has been almost new! I purchased a Nikon D500 last year that had 1,274 shutter actuations (or about 1 full week or less of shooting) for anout half the price of new!
Be careful on Ebay I bought a telescope mount that was listed as having a tripod and head from a seller that had lots of reviews. Well only the head arrived even though it said clearly in the post that the tripod was included. After a back and forth the seller assured me the tripod was on the way so I could close the case with Ebay. I closed the case and when the tripod didn't arrive I tried to reopen the case but Ebay wouldn't let me. At that point I didn't trust the seller would refund so I kept the head and took the loss. Lesson learned don't ever close a case on Ebay till all is settled.
Same happened here, eBay can be a minefield
Never close the case. Until you get it all
I'm on the Sony Mirrorless ASP-C space. I have 2 cameras and 5 lenses. The A5100 was bought new with the kit lens as at the time my budget would not stretch to the A6000. Once my income increased I was in the position to buy the A6000 plus 3 zoom lenses and a macro lens. All of these were purchased on Ebay with no issues at all over description, packaging or delivery. On Ebay what I do is note down the selling prices of the last ten examples of an item and then calculate the average and take the minimum and maximum price from that list. Ideally I'm looking to buy around the average price with some variation for item condition and importantly the manufacturer packaging, manuals etc. This really has stepped up by game as its the first time I've owned 2 cameras, have a macro lens and have a wide angle lens.
Great information. A little flashlight to check things like the battery compartment and the camera interior is helpful. Salt water damage or corroded battery box means major surgery or funeral for that camera. Open the lens to the largest aperture and shine the flashlight through in both directions. Sometimes it is much easier to see the fungus in one direction or the other. For me, fungus is not a deal killer unless it's bad because you can clean it with hydrogen peroxide and Robson lighter fluid (it does not aways work because sometimes the fungus has etched the coatings). Balsam separation is a deal killer. That lens is a paperweight now. Tripods tend to have something missing like the quick release plate or some crucial screw. For me, there are things I like to buy used, and things I prefer to get new. I buy the top of the line cameras new. That way, I not only have a warranty, but I know the equipment is in pristine shape and not fished from the bottom of some river. I get lesser cameras used. If something goes wrong, just get another one. I have the equipment and patience to fix many things myself, so my buying choices would be different than other people.
Wow! All very valid points. I like the way you explore the pros & cons of purchasing new and used gear. I know I love a deal on new gear but also a bargain on used gear. I’m glad you bring up the idea of gray market gear because I’ve experienced this in and it’s not a fun place to be. Now with all that being said, buying used is cool if you’re starting out but something Chelsea said, buy from a reputable seller, and used the gear immediately as intended because the warranty is short and you don’t want to get caught out in the cold without a warranty on your lenses and or camera body you just bought especially if you’re just getting into this. It will sour your taste definitely on photography & gear.
I purchased my new, Gray Market Z50 w/ kit lens for about $650 IIRC, and it was retailing for more than $1000. With that heavy discount built in I was not worried. Only think I have not considered is resale value. I am actually looking to sell it as I rarely use it since I have my Z6.
I bought a sony 100-400 GM lens here in the UK for around 45% less the new price. The lens was in like-new condition, and it allows me not to lose money when I decide to resell it. Another tip when you buy used gear online is to pay with a credit card/PayPal, so in case you have issues with the purchase, you can raise a dispute with your credit card to recoup your money.
I got a Canon 6D Mark ii last week from the bay for $699, an older 28-80 f/2.8 L with a chipped filter ring (a Hoya filter screwed on just fine) for $201, and an 80-200 f/2.8 L "Magic Drainpipe" missing it's AF/MF switch for $242.50. I already have a 50mm 1.4 USM to I got a few months back for around $110 to complete a really nice "prosumer" package. About $1,250 total spent, but I've also sold about $850 worth of my old gear so far and still have a working 750D with a couple of basic lenses to unload which will make it almost an even trade up for older pro gear. No complaints, the pics are OUTSTANDING!!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
I hope these tips help you find the perfect used camera for you $$$ 📷
Happy Holidays! Have a great day!
Happy Thanksgiving!
My tip: check the integrity of all the doors. I have a Canon 7D Mark II whose SD compartment door broke off from a fall. I fixed it with Krazy Glue 5 years ago. The camera works fine, but the door came off once two years after I fixed it. I just glued it back.
I've upgraded my gear since and I don't use the 7DM2 anymore. I'd never stick someone with it because of the broken SD compartment door, even though you'd never see it. But some people would. If you do want my camera, since it does still work, you've been warned. 😉
Definitely saved some money with my "recent" cameras. Wanted an update on my Olympus E-M10 II and got a used E-M5 II from Ebay with a couple first party batteries. Cost me less than a New E-M10 IV body. This was luck with a good Ebay seller.
But I also wanted to get my feet wet in the Fuji X system. I also picked up a used X-T2 on Ebay, but I purchased this from a reputable seller from Japan. I have been beyond happy with both purchases as I just take photos, do not need Full Frame, and am doing this on a budget.
Used gear can be fantastic, but very important to be diligent about being swindled.
Amen. I've got seven Canon DSLR's and only bought one of them new. Most I've bought off eBay but have bought only from sellers who have very high positive feedback and will warranty the cameras or lenses for at least a couple of months. Also have a lot of lenses, six L lenses, again, almost all of them were bought used off eBay and I've had no problems with any of them.
In the UK we are fortunate for Nikon users I know of ( there may be others for other brands ) to have dealers that offer 2nd hand gear with a 12 month warranty, having already graded it, so you have a good idea of what you're getting into. Sure its not as cheap as you might hope, but it can well be a good way to get some money off with limited risk and avoiding grey market. Thanks for a very useful video.
On third party batteries: brands like Duracell make pretty good, long lasting camera batteries. I have three batteries from them for Canon cameras and all are as good or better than the originals.
I have a total of 5 EN-EL15 batteries shared among three Nikon Cameras. One of the 5 is original Nikon, and the rest of 4 is third party. I would recommend among the batch of batteries you have, having one OEM battery is useful at least for troubleshooting purpose.
Do they make batteries for old nikon dslrs?i have d5200 and the battery life is fine at its best
What kind of Canon cameras do you use those batteries with
Agreed, I have several Duracell branded camera batteries ( Nikon ENEL15's and ENEL18's plus Lumix G9 ) and they all perform well. The only 3rd party batteries I'll buy is Duracell and Hahnel.
I use 3 Hahnel HLX-E6N and one Canon LP-E6N on my old Canon 80D, they all work great, never had a problem so far. The Hahnel last longer only because they are 2000 mAh compared to the 1865 mAh of the Canon stock battery.
Just traded for a used A7r iii last week. Used is the way to go especially when you are wanting to upgrade or make a change right away. Camera bodies depreciate so fast, spend it on lenses and get a descent used body. Good video :)
I appreciate the grey market observation. I just bought a new Tamron 24-70 g2 from one of the few 'Tamron Authorized' camera stores within a 3 hour drive in Texas, but I did want the 6 year warranty that I may not have gotten if bought from Amazon or Best Buy.
Got that lens yesterday as well and it has the 6 years warranty!!
Yeah! The old intro tune is back, I love that track : )
Thanks for the good advice! Last year I went on a shopping spree getting me a Samsung NX1, NX500, NX30, NX300 and NX Mini, all for the price of what the NX1 did cost anew back when it first came out. Of course lenses are not included in this math but these I got them dirt cheap in comparison to what they were new if not being kit lenses anyway. And another good thing is that folks sell all their extras they bought when they got the cameras new, like extra batteries and chargers and bags and memory cards...
There are not many reasons why anyone should buy new camera gear when there's so much good used stuff in mostly mint condition out there. Especially with cameras because usually these are well taken care of. Or they where bought in a hype and after playing around they spent much of their lifes on somebody's shelf.
I've bought and sold on Facebook Marketplace a lot for camera gear, but deaing with the people can be a pain and you DEFINITELY need to know what to check before buying
I actually bought the Nikon Z85mm f1.2 and the Nikon Z135mm f1.8 Plena and NEVER EVER used it because I was super busy building something in my house. Then I saw a very very expensive lens that I wanted and traded in the two brand new lenses still in the boxes that were never opened for the expensive lens that I wanted. Both lenses that I traded in were rated as a 10 and were sold out in the Used Dept. the very next day! Some photographer got lucky off me!
I tried KEH; because I am in Mexico and we have problems shipping, I sent a polite, detailed and concise email to KEH; they didn't even bother to respond.
I remember selling my A9 a few months ago and the guy was in love with it but wanted to offer me $500 less because the shutter count was at 110,000. I explained to him that I used almost exclusively the electronic shutter and used a mechanical shutter for less than 1500 photos (only when I used a flash) so the shutter count was irrelevant. With my 5D Mark 3, a 7R3 it was the same issue shutter counts of 30,000 and 40,000 respectively and people were having palpitations in spite these cameras being rated for over 300,000 actuations!!!!! I am at the point that I can just walk away if I hear shutter count!!
Great video. I had slowly come to the realisation that I had grown too old to carry around all my heavy camera kit and decided to downsize. I am a stills photographer, never been able to get my head around video. My odd attempt ended up with a still picture with some movement in it. So settled on getting the original Olympus OM-D E-M1. Which stills wise holds it own with the latest version. Buying from reputable UK dealers I got an as new body (shutter count 3786) and 3 primes (30mm macro 45mm f1.8 and a sigma 60mm f2.8 not pro lenses) for £417. All warrantied for at least six months one of the lenses for two years. I don't know if this is a UK thing but I didn't pay much more than items are going for on eBay. I don't know if people check 2nd-hand prices with camera stores before bidding?
well you know you could take only 1 or 2 max lenses on your trip you dont need to downsize it :) and it will boost your creativity
back in 2012 I bought a used Logitech keyboard and it worked well until I realized that my hotkey button for the calculator did not work at all. Yes there are hidden problem that can be found on used equipment. So I am worried about buying a used website now. Someone probably bandaged it. Put a temporary code that will break soon.
But I want to add one more important benefit to buying new. Updated. This applies more for phones but can also affect cameras especially for the future. Mobile phones new come with support for security and updated OS that new apps are build on. Cameras don't have these features yet besides firmware updates. However Used phones may be in great or excellent condition but still not function because the OS is out of date and there is no more support for it. The apps may not be supported on it anymore or are out of date which can cause you to loose some functionality. Hopefully cameras are not grounded to online functionality as strong as phones are these days. So, when I buy phones I buy the latest phones or new phones only mostly just for that reason. Once cameras have online support such as this this might be a reason to consider buying new as well.
I stick to manufacturer refurbished. Canon, for instance, has an excellent warranty on refurbs and, usually, refurbs have gone through more checks than a new item.
Just bought a used Pentax K3 (with the 18-135mm WR) for $300 CAD!! Perfect winter camera, only 1700 on the shutter.
I just sent my RP and kit lens to KEH. As long as they follow through with the online quote, I'm trading up for an R6. The price they quoted was very fair, better than other online quotes. The R6 is barely cheaper than new, but i should get a discount code, I won't pay full sales tax and they are upgrading their normal 6 month warranty to 1 year. I've had good success buying used camera gear, but this should bring peace of mind...
Tonys such a goof ball at times and thats why I like him - real stuff :)
Speaking of used gear, Keh had a Zeiss Milvus and Otus lens I was interested in and in less than a month they sold out. Glad they're doing well (although I missed out).
I am happy to buy my lenses used either from a trusted friend or from a trusted camera store but I like to buy my cameras new. Saying that, my A7iii was an "open box" special as that was the only way I could get one at the time it came out as none were in stock! I have had good luck with used lenses and I do feel smug saving a little money!
I do everything you said when I consider buying used gear.. Used gear that come with the original box is typically considered safer than the ones that don’t.. guess that’s one additional thing to check for
I tend to buy new cameras and used lenses. I've bought and sold a lot of gear on FB Marketplace, I guess I've lucked out that it's all been good experiences.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I don’t know about professionals what they think however, for nature-lover hobbyists like me; used gear is the way to go at present. I bought new gears till Canon EOS 70D. Then, as I observed there’s no room for further development; I focused on old gears. Accordingly I bought, 5D Classic, 5DII, 7D and 1DIV. As I already own few quality lenses; they produce great results as per my taste. All these bodies do one thing right - create eye-soothing images when used correctly.
MILCs?! May be few years later provided sensible/affordable models are released. If R3 price comes down to acceptable level, why not!
I bought my Pentax H1a used, 1975 from an oral surgeon, only used in the clinic complete with close up lens's. Still have it.
I just bought a Z5 $600,
a Z 24-70 f4 S lens $450
Both c/w boxes, us warranty, almost brand new from Offerup.
Make sure its local pickup and seller has a good history of selling and/or buying
I sold a bunch of gear and made a profit on the sale. These influencer are pushing up the price of used gear. Just don’t buy a Contax T2. It will break and it can’t be fixed. Now it’s a $1k paper weight.
Good video. You guys gave a pretty balanced view for both sides. I have bought a number of photography items from eBay and have been pretty lucky. Both of my Nikon F2 film cameras and also my Pentax 6x7 medium format camera and several lenses were all bought on eBay. I'm gearing up for my next big purchase -- most likely a Nikon D700. Why do I do this? Because photography is ONE of my expensive hobbies and I want to get the most bang for my buck. I'm not a professional photographer, so not being on the latest and greatest is perfectly fine.
Chelsea is absolutely right! Buy kit from a reputable seller who offers a warranty - in the UK that's MPB. You need to trust the description and pay the honest price. Build a relationship. I buy my stuff at about a year old and ove every item. No regrets, but great and reliable kit.
Sometimes you get lucky though, I got a Canon 90D on ebay, seller said they used it for like 6 months(body was good, but not perfect) and there was a scratch on the 18-55mm lens, actually, when it came in, it came with the 18-135mm lens, which was an extra $200 more new than the other lens. It had a scratch like they said but most things were in good condition. Of course, you can't expect that kind of thing, but it'll happen sometimes apparently
I agree with buying used gear. Bought a nikon D810 this week with 2 years of warranty, it has 603k shutter count. Im super happy with the camera :D
I bought a lens for my Pentax K7 from KEH and when I got it the lens fit but it didn’t move. Sadly, it was broken. I am happy to say that KEH was awesome about it and I was thankfully able to return it and get my money back. After that experience, I am afraid to purchase from anyone that isn’t a reputable dealer.
I have had a generally good experience with KEH but they don't ever tell you the shutter count. On something like a DSLR it think it is important and can make the difference between buying one over the other, all things being equal. I recently bought a D610 body from them. It looked like new and was fully functional but I checked as soon as I opened it and it had over 66,000 shutter actuations. I asked them about this when I bought it but they won't tell you . If you send it back they deduct the original shipping cost to send it to you and you have to bear the cost of shipping it back. Don't like that about KEH. Otherwise they are really a reputable place to buy used.
Thank you so much for the informative videos I've learned so much from you guys.
Bought a used Nikon 1 for 80 USD. Turned out the iris on the lens that came with it was stuck closed in all but one Zoom level. Got my money back. Really easy and great return policy from a local physical shop.
Then I found a Sony NEX-F3 for 80 dollars. No lens caps and battery life seemed iffy at first. Otherwise, I'm satisfied. Got myself a new third-party battery and some macro filters.
I've bought virtually all of my camera equipment used. But I only buy genuine Canon and have never had an issue. If bought online, it's all about the seller, the description, the pics and warranty if any. Most has been from eBay. Everything I've bought had been in mint condition as has been the stuff I sell. I look after my gear. Batteries are always tricky. Genuine is best but most expensive. Aftermarket is sometimes the only option and it's a bit hit and miss. I haven't bought anything in person since before the internet. Yeah.... That was a long time ago! If I did, you need to know what you're looking at. If unsure, bring an experienced friend. There are many tell tale signs to look at.
I bought my favorite ef lens on Facebook for $20. Deal of the century
Recently purchased used from KEH. Used your discount code for purchase. Looking forward to receiving.
I have used the new gear warranty on my R5. It had a write error to the card issue. Took 2 returns to hopefully repair it.
This, is one of your best presentations ever. Thank you so much :)
Be careful about buying gear on Amazon. I bought the Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens through Amazon only to find out after I bought it that the vendor was not licensed to sell Tamron gear and that my Tamron warranty would not be honored. I trued to return the lens but stopped when I learned the vendor would return my money -- minus a 20 percent re-stocking fee.
I did complain to Amazon. Never got my money back, so my lens has no warranty. But Amazon apparently stopped the vendor in question from selling Tamron gear through Amazon.
Here in the UK a buyer has a 14 day period to return any item purchased online for a full refund.
Definitely with Chelsea on that one. All my gear is second hand. A very capable Nikon D7000 coupled with professional lenses for a fraction of the cost of a new body.
As for nikon, There is a very simple way to check a Nikon DSLR is what it says it is. All you have to do is display a saved image in playback mode and select the 'overview' mode - the model name will be displayed in the top right corner. The camera body can be modified, but the firmware can't lie.
I love buying last years model. A few years ago I got the fuji xh1 for $500 brand new. The xt3 had come out. It was on sale at b&h for $900 and came with free stuff, sold the free stuff and got it for $500.
I can say I had a good experience in selling a Canon lens on FB Market Place. But I think I got lucky and going forward its going to be KEH, MPB, B&H, Adorama or Canon.
My problem with third party batteries has been that over time they expand and become difficult to remove from the battery compartment.
The original battery also swollen if not treated properly.
Like keep it full charge for long time, not drain and charge periodically.
Or let it inside the camera when not in use for long time.
And "BIOS" battery inside the camera that keep clock also damage by age.
I didn't need a new camera, but after seeing a Fujifilm X-T2 with the Fujinon XF23mm F1.4 R lens for $800 on Facebook marketplace, I couldn't pass it up. Love it and it was just too good a deal.
Buying used is a great way to save money byt check if there is a warranty!
Some if not almost all private sales offer no warranty, some places offer about a 3 or 6 month warranty. Qiute a few offer 12 months but some offer a 24 month warranty so it is well worth checking.
I have recently bought two used fuji XF lenses used both very close to the 300 price and new they where both well over 600 new first the 18-135 was excellent condition the latest the 10-24 had some scuffs on the body and no lens hood optics are excellent on both and both have a 24 month warranty, repair/exchange etc.
You do have to be carefuk my next lens was going to be the XF 70-300 byt that is almsot the same price as new which is cra y I can get the XF 100-400 an XF red label for pretty much the same price used and new that was around 1500. So do your research in advance you should be paying about 60% new price for most used lenses, 10-15 % less fro a poor condition and about 10 maybe at a push 15% more for an absolutely mint condition example.
Will add also just purchase the Fuji X-T30 ii brand new at present probably the best value Fuji X series body new.
It makes sense going the used way in the USA where you have KEH.
Sadly that's not an option for many people (including me) who are not based in the USA/EUROPE.
Great video. So me personally, I buy new or manufacturer refurbished cameras, or the like new ones with virtually no use. There are too many buttons and features on a camera to take the chance of purchasing a heavily used camera. For camera gear, the bulk of your outlay is going to be in lenses. There are many less features and parts to a lens than a camera, and I don't mind a little wear. There are plenty of deals to be had however. The Nikon 24-70 f/4 came as a kit lens to many cameras. The market has been flooded with these and I got my like-new lens for about $350, and it sells for about $1k.
I buy used equipment from my favorite camera store locally. I have gotten great prices and never bad equipment. My last awesome find was a Nikon 200-400 f4 in pristine condition. It was priced way lower than a new one and it looked like it had never been on a camera.
I’m still waiting on my Z9 too Tony.
@Chelsea “polycamerous” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The puppy needs a feature!
You can't keep the cuteness under the table for too long!
Wait! Did you just say "You'd be shocked..." when talking about the wet battery - and not notice the pun? Awe "Shoot!"
I went back 10 years. I just bought a canon 70d from 10 years ago since i'm just getting back into it.
There's a few points you missed.
1. How much is your time worth? Buying new is basically instant, click online and it's done. If you buy used... how much time do you spend looking for a camera? Visiting sellers? Testing them out? Gas driving everywhere because the seller isn't nearby? Compare the value of your time with how much you save buying used.
2. What is the risk of scam? If you save 20% on the price of a camera but have a 30% chance of getting scammed then in the long run, you will come out behind because eventually you lose on a sale.
It's a bit like buying jewelry... if you aren't an expert, your risks of being scammed are much higher when buying used.
Happy Thanksgiving Tony & Chelsea! You have to do your research and use an authorized dealer especially use gear. Great video… 💯
Great video guys! Looking forward to seeing your how-to checking lens, etc before buying.
Tony didn't get Z9 not because of the shipping delay, but because he was trashing it without even having it in his hands xD Most other reviewers already tested it.
Matt Grainger is very big on straps and bags. I go for Manfrotto & PeakDesign Bags and straps from PeakDesign again a very good match for Sony A5000/A6000 system. In terms of batteries I've gone for the Nitecore charger and Sony/Hahnel batteries new. Tripod Manfrotto new and SD card SanDisk new. Finally David Busch books.
Good points abiut used kit. I got once an mgb roadster. After A week it would not start flat batteries. The alternator did not charge. So had to charge 2 6volt batteries and replace the alternator.
Keh rocks thay are local to me and now thay have a store front i like it even more and thay have really cool antique cameras to look at .
i got my t100 last year when the pandemic started the first new lens i got was a nifty 50 from canon, the first used lens i got earlier this year was a 55 x 200 from canon i got it through audorama I'm happy with my gear
Being a Canon user; I haven't bought a new gear for quite a while other than a darling premium telephoto lens. Purchased four used cameras three of which are giving great service. The other one was not supposed to be the same. Recently have bought another superstar pro body from B&H that I expect to arrive soon. Will contemplate an R3 three years later.
I have looked at a LOT of used camera gear. The one thing I notice is that there is much attention spent to look at camera bodies and less spent on looking as carefully at a lens. If I am going to buy new, it is usually the body, I then try to save where I can on used lenses. My big discount on my new body purchase comes from both buying an older model and also the money I get from selling bodies on Ebay! (Now mind you, I am shooting crop sensored, now it is a Nikon D7500, therefore even if I get screwed over on the Ebay sale, I am not out of really any amount of money. You full frame guys are in a whole different ballgame!)
My point is that a lens can be a paperweight quite easily just by dropping it one time! The buy and lens might check out like it is like new but be junk because it was mishandled. I met one guy who wanted to sell most all his gear, he really did not use it very much at all! The stuff was pristine, however upon further investigation I discovered a lot of mold and some stiffness in the response of the lens. Upon further investigation he told me, "It has to be still like new, I have had it stored in the attic for at least two years! Because of his location, this informed me his equipement went through some serious temperature changes (anywhere from 10 to 95 degrees)! I had another guy who had told me his lens was new, the only issue he had was once dropping it in the sand!!! Ocean sand is a disaster if you have ever been on the east coast. No deal on that guy either. So rule of thumb, be careful and check everything out. I have a bunch of used scratched and worn lenses that I am perfectly fine with!!! They work and I saved 70% in some cases or more! One last point, the photo post software today has gotten so great, it is really hard to tell a lot of differences. Why shoot full frame?? I use a combination of Adobe, Luminar and Topez Labs so there really is not much I can not do. I am not getting into no shooting match with a Toney or Chelsia but against a Tom or Mary Beth, I usually take top prize!!!
Thanks
Moonpie
I buy all my gear used. I e yet to have an issue... KEH, Roberts Camera and MPB are your friend. Ebay is ok too but be careful.
Tony & Chelsea,
How can a reputable dealer figure out if a lens was intended for USA 🇺🇸... as opposed to an international version?
Well, this is a sense you get with most modern equipment, not limited to cameras. For instance, buying an old Samsung Note 10+ makes so much more sense than buying something like OnePlus because it costs lesser than a brand new premium smartphone. While price points are one argument that helps, the main point is when you buy something that is branded as premium, even if it belongs to an older generation, it still gives you refined quality and build quality that still lasts you a while. This mad rush to buy the best and the latest does not always make sense to me. So, sure, go for something that is reasonably priced (and as for warranty, like they said, when was the last time you got true warranty?) and which is appropriate for your use. This craze for more megapixels or nifty new things, does not always mean anything. The first rule is, it is a tool and you are the one who uses it.. a sharpshooter with a modern sniper rifle or an age-old lee-enfield would only be as good as his/her skill. In the end, it is a camera, and it is your skill which matters. Just my $0.02... sorry for barging in..
Thanks to this video, I decided to buy a used camera for the first time. Now I own the Sony A7III and I'm just waiting for the lens to arrive... :-)
One thing I like about buying used lenses is that if you want to sell it later, you often only lose the commission charged by the selling platform. Camera bodies seem to lose more value as newer bodies come out. But, this seems to happen less often with lenses.
I live in The Netherlands and only buy used gear. I get a 1 year warranty on it and within 14 days i can send it back with out a reason.
What if you have a reason? No go?
@@tomd4748 With a reason you can also send it back within 14 days, but you dont have to give a reason.
KEH and MPB provide 6 months of warranty coverage on cameras and lenses. If something is going to go wrong, it'll probably happen within that window.
I have had great luck buying used gear from online brick & mortar complainers like B&H as well as Adorama. I have not tried K&H but sine you mentioned them from time to time I am looking at them as well for a used D610 Or who knows.. maybe a new/used mirrorless…. Like Nikon Z5? Z6 or Z6II? I doubt I would think about Z7 used? Though video is improving in Nikon to level of others, I’m using video cameras like Blackmagic Design in BRAW or JVC LS300 or other video gear.. they just work better for video and cinema.. though I will not turn my nose up at a DSLR or better for video Mirrorless that while I’m out and about taking pics and think, “Hey I would love 3 minutes of footage right here with this lens!” Flip the switch and shoot some video.. but even with a mirrorless I don’t see myself thinking “Hey I need to shoot some cinema work, I’ll bring my Nikon Z6.”
Ty for post. Looking forward to the next one related to this...
Great arguments on both sides! I just purchased a Nikon Z7ii from Amazon marketplace (it was advertised" Like New" with only packaging damage). When I go the camera, the sensor was all scratched up sadly. I'm staying away from used gear. You pay more for new gear, but there's warranty and peace of mind.
Generally Amazon Warehouse is very good for open box and only the occasional hiccup.
The lighting on your set looks great (maybe better?)
I bought a used Sony a380 earlier this year.
As it was my first DSLR I didn't want to buy an expensive current model. As I had a few months Minolta SLR lenses I stuck with Sony.
It was only £40 as the inbuilt steadyshot was not functioning. Doesn't bother me as I will primarily be using it on an old Velbon VGB-3C tripod to take photos of the night sky and maybe in the future buy a telescope to use with it.
Picked up a used Sony A7R4 from Fred Miranda great price great camera. Got a Pentax 645n medium format film camera ❤️ from KEH, very hard to find in U.S.
I just bought the throwback Sony a7r and a prime APSC lens (for my a6000) from KEH Camera, and everything came in beautiful shape, plus I think I saved $65 with Tony & Chelsea's promocode. I feel like I'm advertising right now, so I'm going to stop. Either way, I agree! Don't be afraid to buy some badass gear that's been used by fellow badass photographers.
Not only used but also look up auctions for "distressed packaging" gear. I grabbed myself a Sigma 17-300mm DC OS EF mount that regulars for $800(can), for $300(can). Brand new product, still sealed, only issue is no warrantee and the box was messed up.
I am a Fuji Xt30 user and contemplating on buying my 1st full frame camera. Struck on Sony A7RIII, a used one is 500 usd cheaper. do you recommend buying a used A7RIII or should get a new one?
I waited a year, for black Friday to buy the eos 90d on sale, it stayed the same price EVERYWHERE i saw canon's mirrorless lineup on sale but not the camera i wanted
I like photography - as a hobby, not a professional. have always enjoyed watching your videos. For someone with a $1,700 cap for a mirrorless camera, a wide-angle-telephoto zoom lens (I'll get a used prime 35 mm or 50 mm separate from these funds) what do you recommend. Would like some basic weather sealing. I can always use a cover..It seems you push Canon and Sony but what about Panasonic or Olympus. Yes, I'm like to consider doing some video. I was using my son's Nikon 7200 for that.
Good chat - ty for sharing.
Is it safe to buy a "renewed" camera or lens from Amazon, when you are actually buying from a third party?
Somehow I like the tips better from Chelsea than from Tony. Happy Thanksgiving anyway for both of you!
MY advice always buy exactly the lens which you wanted dont waste time money buying something what you managed to buy and than you will be unhappy and still wanted other lens and maybe will end up swapping , however you can buy and exchange if you understood its not what you wanted in this way this is much cheaper than to rent it
"the buttons will be worn out" i reached the shutter count within 10 months and the camera looks new 😂😂
These days it’s the sellers who face the most risk. I tried to sell a starter drone after getting my mini and air 2 and I got hundreds of scam “offers” (full price, usually different country, tries to pay a non safe way)
I never buy used, just don't trust it. But I also never buy the latest new gear either, because if it has just been released you just don't know if it will have any problems. Most new stuff do have some small niggles that usually get ironed out after a year or so. So I always buy brand new, but gear that has been out a year or so. It is cheaper than the absolute latest, maybe not quite as cheap as second hand, but you know what you are getting. All my gear has 5 year warranties on it. Here in Japan when you buy new gear from a shop you can extend the warranty buy 3 or 5 years for not that much money at all. If it breaks after the 1 year manufacturer's warranty then you can still get it repaired or replaced free. Don't know about other countries but in Japan the prices quoted in the shops are usually always more than on their websites. So I always look on their website first, screen shot the page then phone them up and tell them the price. They always accept the net price.
So here’s a question: what if the item you are about to buy is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE if you buy it brand new BUT also EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE in the Used Dept but rated as a 10 and the difference in price is $2000. What if the sales rep says to you “for THAT KIND OF MONEY you should NOT buy it from the Used Dept. you should buy it brand new” Then the sales rep in the Used Dept says to you “Why did you buy it brand new? We have it here rated as a 10. A 10 IS A 1O no matter what. Plus you would save $2000” My question is this: who is right? If the item is such an expensive item that costs over TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS BRAND NEW you should ONLY BUY IT BRAND NEW? Or should you save $2000 and buy it from the Used Department for EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS because it’s a condition 10?