buying 2nd hand kit a bad idea?

dirtybeatfreak · 30 Apr 2007 at 22:05

as the title says, is buying a 2nd hand kit a bad idea??? i really wanna give photography a good go but i dont think my sony cyber-shot (dsc-p43) is up to the task, it doesnt have much zoom or that cool macro thingy

Raymond Lin · 30 Apr 2007 at 22:27

Its a great idea, provided you get a good condition one. You can get some decent kit at 40% off, and when you sell it later on, you lose even less money if at all (lenses wise anyway)!

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 30 Apr 2007 at 22:29

Lenses hold their value very well. Its more the camera you wanna be fishy about. Don't know how heavy its been used but yes generally its a great idea.

The higher percentage will look after their gear and treat it with respect.

SilverPenguin · 30 Apr 2007 at 22:51

I got both my 28-70 and D2x second hand, as long as you get well looked after examples I think second hand is a very good idea.

DizMatt · 30 Apr 2007 at 22:57

slr's have a shutter life
there are two types, hugely keen people upgrading to better kit, so they're snap happy
and then people who have bought it, done nothing with the kit beyond a few dozen snaps so want to recoup some money
aim for the latter and you can't miss

dirtybeatfreak · 30 Apr 2007 at 22:58

SilverPenguin said:
I got both my 28-70 and D2x second hand, as long as you get well looked after examples I think second hand is a very good idea.

where did u get them from mate?? i have a shop in town but i have never been in there, maybe they do 2nd hand ones?? im not sure i want to buy off the net, u cant see what your buying

SilverPenguin · 1 May 2007 at 00:23

alangelluk said:
where did u get them from mate?? i have a jessops in town but i have never been in there, maybe they do 2nd hand ones?? im not sure i want to buy off the net, u cant see what your buying

Not sure I'm allowed to put links to anywhere that sells camera's as OCUK sell them too?! So won't put the name of the place I got my lens, its a Nikon only dealer in London - around the Westmister area though (a specialist thats been around for years, should be easy enough to find doing a google). They have a brilliant range of second hand kit and everything is gauranteed.

The D2x was a private sale from another forum, the guy was moving to Canon and was selling his whole Nikon kit. He had two D2x's and I brought the one he used as a backup, so it only had 1100 images on it and was basically brand new - so a bargain at £1550 with second Nikon battery!

danza · 1 May 2007 at 00:38

I got my 20D off someone for £400 all in. At the time the current value was more like £500.

Low milage (2.5k shutter actuations), and mint condition. It was the guys spare spare body.

I also bought a cheap Nikon D100 from a pro photographer a while back (my first dslr). It was in pretty good condition, but the paint had been rubbed in a few small areas, and it was full of dust.

You have to buy carefully, and ask plenty of questions. That way, you should be fine

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 1 May 2007 at 00:47

alangelluk

You may want to edit out the name of that supplier. It is agaisnt forum rules to post that. Easily done though.

dirtybeatfreak · 1 May 2007 at 00:57

Fstop11 said:
alangelluk

You may want to edit out the name of that supplier. It is agaisnt forum rules to post that. Easily done though.

done, thx for the heads up

Bolerus · 1 May 2007 at 10:40

that westminster shop had a big advertisement in digital photograpy this month, seemed to have a fair amount of second hand stuff in, did think about getting a lens from there. I take it you are happy with the quality / condition of their gear?

SilverPenguin · 1 May 2007 at 10:44

Bolerus said:
that westminster shop had a big advertisement in digital photograpy this month, seemed to have a fair amount of second hand stuff in, did think about getting a lens from there. I take it you are happy with the quality / condition of their gear?

Looked like new, can't say fairer than that!