Buying a used dslr

[gasoline]

What are your thoughts on buying used digital slr´s . I want to buy a canon 600d (t3i) and cant decide on buying a used one year old one or a new one for 100€ more . Please help . Any suggestions ?

 

[Samdb]

It honestly depends on the condition and how much it has been used.

[gasoline]

two guys are selling the cam ... one says its one year old and nothing else the other one is imported from the USA and was mainly used for videos . Obviously they wont tell if they were dropped or anything 

[Sgt]

The important factor when you buy a used DSLR is the Shutter Count.

Ask them if they can give you the shutter count, you'll have a few options after that :

 

1°) these guys doesn't know what shutter count is = Buy a new one

2°) one of these guys tell you that : "The 600D have 60k+ Shutter Count" = Buy a new one

3°) <5000 shutter count : go for it.

 

You can still ask for more pictures and if you're really in doubt in the fact that they could have dropped the camera, just don't buy it.

Rule 1 of Ebay or stuff like that : Be careful with beast-awesome-nomnomnom deal.

[Hyydrah]

What prices are these being sold at? I know an Ebay retailer that sells new cameras for excellent prices, have had only positive experiences with them.

[Puppet]

I'm pretty sure that you cannot read the shutter actuations of a 600d, at least not out of the EXIF anyway.

 

Edit: Apparently you can, still not through the EXIF, but Magic Lantern will show a shutter count, I had a t2i very briefly and I wasn't aware of this back then. I still wouldn't use this as a buying decision, even though they are rated for 100,00+, it could still fail at 20,000.

 

Canon and Nikon's warranty only lasts a year anyway, which is usually pretty useless, you can extend it with someone like Mack though. The best bet is to insure your equipment, normally fairly inexpensive from a dedicated insurer.

 

To be honest modern DSLRs hold their value very well, there normally isn't a huge difference between new and second hand. I would say new, but I would also say spend more on glass than you do on the body so if you really need to go second hand you may not have the budget yet to really enjoy it.

[Mo5]

If possible, go and check it in person. The last thing you want is them saying it's in perfect condition and when it arrives it's broken. If you will use it a lot tho, I'd recommend getting a new one, just to be 100% sure.

[Lil Chillbil]

I luckily have a small camera store next to me where I can buy all my film equiptment 

 

even bought my Xl1 from them

[gasoline]

Well thanks guy very much ... been thinking a lot and decided to buy a new one the two guys dont respond anymore anyway ... for the warranty in my country we have a two year warranty on EVERYTHING from the law and we often get an extra year from the retailer and for the glass ... i have two primes for my old Practika film camera a 50mm f.1.8 and a 135mm f2.8 i wont bother with new lenses these are very nice i took a couple shots with them on that practica and they are really nice so i buy an m42 to canon adaptor for 12€ ... that 600d is already in the mail the only thing i need to figure out is how to set up focus confirmation mode on it . Again thank you very much helped me a lot if you want to i can include some pics of the camera and some sample shots once i get it and have a little time with it (sorry for mistakes my first languages are Slovak and Hungarian)

[Lil Chillbil]

Glad you got it figured out

[TheProfosist]

I have a T3i/600D (btw why does the us need special names?) that I got last christmas as a refurb direct from cannon which was nearly the same price as used.

[nathanhd123]

I imported a Kiss X5 (the Chinese equivalent of the T3i) from these guys on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-Kiss-X5-600D-Kit-18-55mm-/160690634012?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item2569e87d1c

 

When I ordered it I wasn't to sure of the quality but after it arrived I have to say it was a great deal.

[TheProfosist]

I imported a Kiss X5 (the Chinese equivalent of the T3i) from these guys on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-Kiss-X5-600D-Kit-18-55mm-/160690634012?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item2569e87d1c

 

When I ordered it I wasn't to sure of the quality but after it arrived I have to say it was a great deal.

 

the kiss I believe is the one for the Japan market

 

 

Edit: yes im correct at least according to wikipedia http://goo.gl/RXsBo8

[nathanhd123]

the kiss I believe is the one for the Japan market

 

 

Edit: yes im correct at least according to wikipedia http://goo.gl/RXsBo8

Sorry, just assumed as I bought it from China that is where it was from

[TheProfosist]

Sorry, just assumed as I bought it from China that is where it was from

 

could it be a knock off possibly? I mean ive never hear of a decent knock off of a DSLR but who knows. By decent I mean anything that looks, works, or feels like the actual one.

[nathanhd123]

could it be a knock off possibly? I mean ive never hear of a decent knock off of a DSLR but who knows. By decent I mean anything that looks, works, or feels like the actual one.

If it's a knock off then it is a very good one, as it works perfectly.

 

Just looked on the bottom of the camera and it does have a serial number and says made in Japan so I am fairly certain it isn't a knock off.

[TheProfosist]

If it's a knock off then it is a very good one, as it works perfectly.

 

Just looked on the bottom of the camera and it does have a serial number and says made in Japan so I am fairly certain it isn't a knock off.

 

i just asked because it seemed weird a Japanese camer shipping from china sold on UK store.

[Puppet]

i just asked because it seemed weird a Japanese camer shipping from china sold on UK store.

 

It's a grey import.

[TheProfosist]

It's a grey import.

 

i would imagine so.

[Puppet]

i would imagine so.

 

There's nothing wrong with purchasing things this way, I purchased a couple of L lenses this way recently, not sure I would trust someone on eBay to cover any import duties. Personally I use DigitalRev and am very happy with their service, would definitely recommend.

 

You do forfeit your warranty though, companies like DigitalRev offer their own 1 year warranty which on paper works out better than Canons. Lenses used to have an international warranty not sure if that has changed, there was talk of it recently, either way I just rely on insurance.

[TheProfosist]

There's nothing wrong with purchasing things this way, I purchased a couple of L lenses this way recently, not sure I would trust someone on eBay to cover any import duties. Personally I use DigitalRev and am very happy with their service, would definitely recommend.

 

You do forfeit your warranty though, companies like DigitalRev offer their own 1 year warranty which on paper works out better than Canons. Lenses used to have an international warranty not sure if that has changed, there was talk of it recently, either way I just rely on insurance.

 

I never said there was anything wrong really. It just seemed odd to me and I have not seen it common where I am, though im not like crazy into cameras. I pick up mine to get some better shots and just get better at it because ive always been interested.

[Puppet]

I never said there was anything wrong really. It just seemed odd to me and I have not seen it common where I am, though im not like crazy into cameras. I pick up mine to get some better shots and just get better at it because ive always been interested.

Just wanted to reassure @nathanhd123, yeah the need for grey imports is much greater in Europe! The US already gets pretty great prices on Canon stuff :P

[TheProfosist]

Just wanted to reassure @nathanhd123, yeah the need for grey imports is much greater in Europe! The US already gets pretty great prices on Canon stuff :P

 

I just noticed your avatar lol.

 

Yea I got my t3i factory refurbished direct from cannon.

[Lil Chillbil]

I would buy it new, I bought mine new and its great knowing its a virgin camera and that some polish guy never shot a porno with it...

[Kyle2278]

What are your thoughts on buying used digital slr´s . I want to buy a canon 600d (t3i) and cant decide on buying a used one year old one or a new one for 100€ more . Please help . Any suggestions ?

I bought a 7D second hand and was very hesitant as I wanted a new one but it was the best decision not a thing wrong with the camera and I saved money. Highly recommend it