Buying Secondhand 350D

[antdg]

Hi

I have a few questions about buying secondhand DSLR.

1. Would you buy a secondhand DSLR, from somebody you did not know but lived quite local (350D)?
2. what do I need to look for if I do go and have a look at this camera. Im quite new to photography.
3.Are there any question that you would ask while look at secondhand equipment.

Thanks

Tony

[nightshade]

Look for ownership papers reciepts with their name and address that tie in with where they are selling from and that lense and body numbers tally
Take someone with you who knows the 350d,failing that;
Get the hand book and run through the functions take pictures (of the seller?)
Why do they want rid?is it immaculate does it have drop rash?
Check out 2nd hand prices before you go have a price in your mind do not exceed it,there will be others
There will be other comments so wait till everyone has had a say I may have missed
something

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Look for ownership papers reciepts with their name and address that tie in with where they are selling from and that lense and body numbers tally
Take someone with you who knows the 350d,failing that;
Get the hand book and run through the functions take pictures (of the seller?)
Why do they want rid?is it immaculate does it have drop rash?
Check out 2nd hand prices before you go have a price in your mind do not exceed it,there will be others
There will be other comments so wait till everyone has had a say I may have missed
something

point it at a plain white surface , rack the fstops write up to f22 or higher and take a shot , examine it on the lcd - this will show what sort of nick the sensor is in - a few dust spots is okay all sensors collect grot , but if it has lines or a lot of spots dont touch it with a barge pole as these may be scratches on the antialiasing filter.

Take a picture with the lens cap on and look at that on the lcd , it should be black but if it has red or blue spots these are "hot" pixels - one or two are okay but if there are a lot dont buy it as it would indicate the sensor on the way out.

check that the shutter functions smoothly at all appertures and that the AF works inall modes

check that all the leads etc are present - at the very least you should have a battery charger and a download lead.

price wise i wouldnt pay more than 300 notes body only or 350 with the kit lens and a memory card thrown in as you can get second user ones in the shops with waranties for under 400 notes - a few new ones are still arround on the net for circa 400 too

oh yeah and if you are paying cash, dont go on your own and finally if you have any doubts at all , walk away.

[dav56]

Originally Posted by antdg

Hi

I have a few questions about buying secondhand DSLR.

1. Would you buy a secondhand DSLR, from somebody you did not know but lived quite local (350D)?
2. what do I need to look for if I do go and have a look at this camera. Im quite new to photography.
3.Are there any question that you would ask while look at secondhand equipment.

Thanks

Tony

Have you seen the following
Komplett.co.uk - Canon EOS 350D Digital SLR Body, incl. free bag..!!!

As posted by nightshade