Buying a Used Camera or Lens: What to Inspect, What to Ask and What to Walk Away From

Before you meet: ask the seller

• Send these questions in a message. How a seller answers is itself information.
• Brand, model and the year it was bought. Is the original bill available?
• How many photographs (shutter actuations) has the body taken? Many cameras can show this through free tools or menus, and a seller may be able to give you the number.
• Has the camera or lens ever been repaired, dropped, exposed to water or opened?
• What is included: battery, charger, strap, memory card, caps, hood, box?
• Why are you selling?
• Is it still under warranty, and is the warranty transferable?
• If the seller avoids simple questions, treat it as a warning.

Inspecting the camera body

• Outside - Look for dents on corners and the lens mount, which can mean a drop. - Check the screen for scratches or dead pixels, and the viewfinder for dust or fungus. - Check every button, dial and flash shoe, and the memory card door and port covers. - Confirm the lens mount is firm and not wobbly.
• Power and function - Insert a charged battery and check the battery health if the camera shows it. Ask how long a battery lasts now. - Take photos in different modes. Check autofocus on a close and a far subject. - Record a short video and listen to the audio. - Test the flash, hot shoe, microphone input and any ports you will use.
• The sensor - Fit a lens, set a small aperture and a plain bright background such as a sheet of white paper or the sky, and take a photo. - Zoom in on the photo to find dark spots, which are dust. A few may be cleaned; heavy dirt, scratches or stuck pixels are a bigger concern.

Inspecting the lens

• Hold the lens up to a bright light and look through it from both sides.
• Dust inside — What you are looking for: Small specks; Concern level: Low if few
• Haze — What you are looking for: Milky, cloudy look; Concern level: Medium to high
• Fungus — What you are looking for: Spidery, branching patterns; Concern level: High; it can spread
• Scratches — What you are looking for: Marks on the front or rear glass; Concern level: Depends on size and position
• Separated elements — What you are looking for: Rainbow edges or bubbles; Concern level: High
• Zoom and focus rings — What you are looking for: Smooth, no grinding, no wobble; Concern level: Medium
• Autofocus — What you are looking for: Smooth, fast, quiet; no hunting; Concern level: Medium to high
• Aperture blades — What you are looking for: Open and close cleanly, no oil; Concern level: High if oily
• Test the lens on the camera. Take photos at several focal lengths and apertures, and compare the centre and the edges for sharpness.

Confirm it is genuine and not stolen

• Match the serial number on the body and lens with the box and bill, if available.
• Note the serial number in your records. Later, you can use it for warranty and service enquiries.
• Be wary of a very low price, a seller who will not meet in person or one who cannot answer basic questions.
• Avoid paying advance money. If anything feels wrong, leave.
• Meet in a public place with a power socket and good light. Take a friend who knows cameras if you can.

Worked example: a price conversation

• Suppose a seller lists a body with kit lens. You find the shutter count is high for the model, the battery lasts a short time and there is a dent on the mount. Instead of saying "too costly", list these three findings and ask for a lower price that reflects the cost of a new battery and the risk with the mount. If the seller refuses to explain, thank them and leave.

Accessories and what they are worth

• Original charger, extra batteries, box, strap and memory cards add convenience, but are not worth overpaying for. A broken or third-party charger deserves a check. If the seller says the camera is "tested" but provides no sample photos, ask for a test on the spot.

Paperwork and handover

• Take a short handwritten or digital receipt with date, item, serial numbers, amount, and both parties' names and phone numbers.
• Pay by a method you can trace, and do not hand over money before inspection is complete.
• Format the memory card, if the seller keeps it, or ask them to remove their photos in front of you.
• Ask for the bill and warranty documents, if any.

• Explore cities and categories
• Post your item free

Safety tips

• Meet in a public, well-lit place and, where possible, take someone with you.
• Inspect the item before you pay and check it matches the listing.
• Never pay in advance, share OTPs, or move payment outside the agreed meeting.
• Keep contact through the listing page — contact details are privacy-gated in the app.
• Report suspicious sellers instead of continuing the conversation.

Frequently asked questions

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