Buying used tests

[Dolby]

Is there any tip or trick you guys use when buying a camera or lens?

I read on another forum to bump up ISO and take a photo with the cap on.

Also - after reading Juggys post - if one buys a lens, how would you know its softer than usual?

Anything to check for?

 

[Juggy]

Is there any tip or trick you guys use when buying a camera or lens?

I read on another forum to bump up ISO and take a photo with the cap on.

Also - after reading Juggys post - if one buys a lens, how would you know its softer than usual?

Anything to check for?

I took a few pictures of a page of text at a distance and checked how out of focus the text was from the middle going outwards. If the text is blurry chances are there is an issue with the lens like it needs to be calilbrated or has been dropped or similar. Sometimes you can notice this even without doing this if the lens is really bad. I noticed is straight away that's why I did the text test. Very basic but it does work.

Also, check out DPReview's lens reviews. They do a series of tests using lines/text etc and you can get a good idea of what to look for or basic tests to perform.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Are you talking about buying secondhand or new? I only buy new, with two exceptions:

1. Primes if I get a good deal from a camera dealer. I've only done this once - EF 200mm f/2.8 L USM for £440 - it was too good to pass up.

2. Film kit.

I have not gotten any kit new that performed worse than they're supposed to. If I did, I would simply take it back and have it swapped out. That's the advantage of supporting my local camera store: the guys know me, they know I've bought from them lots and never returned anything, so if I did once, they know I'm not trying to screw them over.

 

[koffiejunkie]

Bah! I just read the subject