Buying Used Camera Gear Checklist

Used gear stretches a budget a long way. Most problems are easy to spot with a few minutes and a checklist.

Camera bodies

1. Shutter count — check it with a fresh, unedited file in our shutter count checker. Read what shutter count means.
2. Body condition — heavy wear on the grip, bottom plate and strap lugs means heavy use. Dents suggest drops.
3. Lens mount — look for scratches, bent or loose mount screws, and dirty electrical contacts.
4. Sensor — shoot a plain sky or white wall at f/16 and look for dust spots, scratches or marks. Dust is easy to clean; scratches are not.
5. Hot/stuck pixels — take a long exposure with the cap on and inspect at 100%.
6. Buttons and dials — press every one; test the card door and battery door.
7. Screen and viewfinder — look for dead pixels, scratches and delamination.
8. Ports and card slots — check for bent pins.

Lenses

1. Glass — shine a flashlight through the lens from both ends. Look for fungus (web-like threads), haze, separation and scratches. A few dust specks are normal and harmless.
2. Aperture blades — should snap cleanly and show no oil.
3. Focus and zoom rings — smooth, no grinding or wobble.
4. Autofocus — focus near and far; listen for strange noises.
5. Stabilization — test at slow shutter speeds.
6. Sharpness — shoot a detailed flat target and inspect corners. The focus checker helps compare frames.

Test shots

Bring your own memory card and a laptop or phone. Check images at 100%, not just on the camera screen.

Paying safely

• Buy from reputable used dealers with a return window or warranty when you can.
• On marketplaces, meet in safe public places and inspect before paying.
• Use payment methods with buyer protection; avoid wire transfers to strangers.
• Ask for the serial number and the original receipt where possible.

Prices

Compare with recent completed sales, not asking prices. Check specs and release dates in the camera database and lens database.