Nikon D3100 Second hand or Brand new?

Avathar77 · 16 Jul 2012 at 14:36

Going to get my first DSLR!
Found some good deals online(brand new), but have been offered a second hand camera with a shutter count less than 2K (about 5 months old) for about £100 less than the brand new one!

Is it better to go for the secondhand one and get a better lens like a 35mm?

I have read that not much can go wrong in a second hand D3100 camera and the repair cost is fairly cheap even if some thing goes boom

Would appreciate your thoughts!

Thank you

An Exception · 16 Jul 2012 at 15:26

Good deal as long as there is nothing wrong with it when you get it. Things to check are if AF doesn't have any front or back focus. Trouble is you need a fast lens like the 35 to be able to tell. To get the camera calibrated without warranty will cost around £75.

If you know the guy, and if he could help with warranty, I would go for it.
If you don't, I would get a new one with 2 years warranty, and shoot the leg's off it.

Avathar77 · 16 Jul 2012 at 15:31

oops! didn't know I have to get the camera calibrated!
I don't really know the guy. He is from another forum.

So if a buy it new, does it have to be calibrated as well?(Sorry I am a noob when it comes to this!)

An Exception · 16 Jul 2012 at 15:35

^^^
Sorry, no it might not have to be calibrated at all, and it likely won't need it. It's just it's not that uncommon of an issue.
Just wanted to let you know what it would cost if you had to, so you could way up the pro's & cons.
Ask the question to the guy, and if he has good feedback, then I would be inclined to go for it, although for not much more, you could get a new one, with 2 years warranty for total piece of mind.

Higher end bodies allow you to do it yourself, so it's not such an issue.

D.P. · 16 Jul 2012 at 16:49

I wouldn't buy a second hand camera or lens without fully testing it. A lot of my lenses are second hand, I always went to this little camera shop that purchase and sold 2nd hand gear, prices were a little higher than going private but you could easily test different lenses and had 6 months warranty with the shop.