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Modern cameras record the number of shutter activations, and as with car mileage, the lower the figure, the better. So it’s worth checking long-term ease of repair before taking the plunge.Īnother important consideration is shutter count. The Nikon D3s, for example, is a very powerful and versatile pro-spec DSLR which you can get second-hand for a very reasonable £560 – BUT it is now difficult to get spare parts for. Second, check that the camera can still be repaired after the warranty expires. First, check the product description carefully – they won’t describe a camera as ‘tatty’ but it will be called ‘well or heavily used.’ You get what you pay for. Decent used compact cameras, such as the Canon PowerShot G9, can make ideal back ups.Įven when buying from a used supplier, however, there are things you need to be aware of. This would make an ideal back-up, or a gift.
#BEST SECOND HAND CANON FULL FRAME DSLR SERIES#
The compact and flexible Olympus OM-D series is a particularly good used mirrorless buyįor real bargain hunters, meanwhile, the very capable Canon PowerShot G9 compact goes for under £80 if you shop around. Further down the mirrorless scale, the excellent Olympus OM-D E-M10 II, which takes a huge range of Micro Four Thirds lenses, can be snaffled for around £200. Examples include the Nikon D810, a powerhouse full-frame DSLR which you can now get for around £800.
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There are some particularly good deals on DSLRs at the moment, as mirrorless cameras become increasingly popular. There are no guarantees in life, but it’s not in the interests of used retailers to sell on duff gear that hasn’t been checked properly. Business is booming in these economically uncertain times and as a result, the best used retailers have a lot of used cameras for sale.Īll used items from MPB, for example, carry a six-month warranty, apart from accidental damage and misuse, and other used retailers offer a similar arrangement. They’ve invested massively in technology to give camera sellers a quick quote, collect the item by courier, check it, and make the payment. Used specialist MPB has become one of the biggest camera retailers in the UK While there is always been a market for used gear, it’s become a major money spinner for specialist companies such as MPB, Park Cameras or Wex Photo Video. So why not consider buying second hand? While buying a used camera or lens might seem risky – they contain delicate optics and technology and some people chuck their gear around – in fact, it’s a very sensible option if you buy from a trusted supplier. With camera makers facing pressures from the relentless rise of smartphones and the effects of the pandemic on global economies, they are increasingly following the ‘premium quality, premium price’ model. Why now is a great time to buy second-hand camerasĬameras are still a relatively expensive purchase, and this isn’t happening by accident.
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