online photo tutorials

So after reading this guide to choosing your first film camera and doing a little research, you may decided on the camera of your dreams - only to find that it hasn’t been made for twenty years. Or maybe you’re looking to get a DSLR but don’t quite have enough for a new model. Buying used cameras on the Internet is an obvious solution, but without a little guidance it can be quite daunting, and even risky.

The obvious first stop for Internet shopping is eBay. Like with anything else sold online, prices tend to be pretty low there, and you can often pick up insane bargains. For more popular models, search by “time remaining” to see bargains that may have slipped by the public’s eye. There’s also a massive selection of gear available, from 18th century brass barrel lenses to DSLR models so new they’re not even out in your country. At the same time, you have to contend with people who have no idea whether their wares work or not, outright scammers, and the fact that you may not be able to make any sense out of the blurry pictures that are the norm there. For your first purchase, it’s better to wait until you pick up some more experience before venturing into eBay - it’s too easy to get scammed, or get sent a dud by a well-meaning but uninformed seller. Often times, eBay is best for sellers, not buyers [note: I bought a somewhat rare PC-Nikkor from www.ffordes.net for $200 USD. I put it on eBay for $150, and it sold for over $350. People get caught up on bidding frenzies in eBay, it's best not to follow that mentality - Charles]. Make sure you check the prices of used equipment at other online stores before bidding.

It’s probably a better idea to save up a little more money and pay the extra for shopping at a reputable used camera dealer online. Some general photo stores, like B&H [arguably the best for new items, too], Adorama, and Ffordes have extensive preowned gear sections, and then there are stores specializing in secondhand stuff like KEH and Pacific Rim. These stores tend to be much harsher rating their gear than the average “EX++++ MINTY” eBayer (KEH in particular is known for spotless “bargain” lenses) [note: I have recieved three BGN lenses from KEH, none had any optical problems like scratches or dust. The BGN camera i bought metered perfectly, and was in good shape], and in case you don’t like what you get they tend to have good return policies too.

If your main concern is money, dealing with individuals over forums or Craigslist generally yields the lowest prices. With Craigslist or your local camera enthusiast forum, you should be able to check the gear locally - a huge advantage over eBay. And people on closer knit forums like photo.net, Fred Miranda, and Rangefinderforum tend to have reputations to protect, and prefer selling to other members as opposed to putting things on eBay.

A "BGN" quality Pentax Original

So all this time, I’ve had you worrying about the working condition of the gear you’re shopping for. What exactly should you be looking for before buying? With camera bodies, check that the shutter fires at all speeds - with older ones, you may want to time the 1 and 1/2 second settings, and that it fires upside down (Sometimes they don’t. Really!), and that the self timer works. Ensure that viewing surfaces like mirrors, screens, and finders are clear, and show no evidence of element separation. If you’re looking at a rangefinder, decide whether the patch is contrasty enough for your use, and make sure it’s in alignment. Also check the film transport (if any) to see whether it works too - hopefully you can load a roll. On digital cameras, check for dead pixels on the screen, and take a few test shots to see if the sensor’s okay.

With lenses, you want to be checking for fungus, which shows up as spiderweb-like marks. These don’t affect picture quality by themselves, but they secrete acid which burns scratches into the glass. Check for haze and element separation as well, but don’t complain if there’s a little internal dust when you shine a flashlight in - even new lenses have some. Then make sure the mechanics are okay, that the aperture opens cleanly at each stop, and that the stop down mechanism works correctly (you may have to mount newer lenses on a body and use DoF preview depending on your system). Of course, take test shots if you can.

A word of warning: once you start buying used gear, you may find it hard to stop! The truth is, even the newest, hottest models are available for cheap secondhand within weeks of release. Until you’re talking custom made cameras, every item of gear is invariably available somewhere in great usable condition for a massive bargain. Unless you’re really set on getting a warranty, most of the time I don’t see much of a reason not to buy used at all - and now you know how.

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