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03/31/2011 01:28:21 AM · #1 |
Ok, so I was gunna get the sigma 10-20 from B&H, but it backordered, so I started looking at the canon 70-200. If i got that + a 16gb card, it would come out to $859 shipped. Now, I found this on craigslist:
"Canon Rebel XSI DSLR body, along with standard 18-55 lens, battery, strap and cables. Camera and lens are in good condition. Missing the original cap for lens. Also comes with good condition high quality 4gb memory card. $375. Also a Canon EF 70-200 f4L lens in good condition, comes with hood too. $550. Buy both camera and lens and ill throw in a free Lowpro camera pack. Also both len's come with UV portectors, and two polaraziers, costs about 50.00 each but if you take everything ill just charge 800.00 This is a perfect starter kit for someone who wants to get into photography. Must deal with cash and meet in person. :)"
So $800 $700 for:
Canon 70-200
Canon XSI (a step up from my 350D)
Lowpro bag
& filters
EDIT: just found a newer ad by the same guy, now asking $700
This sounds like a great deal for me, but Ive never bought used camera gear, so Im not sure what to look for. What should I check to make sure the lens and camera are all im good working order.
Message edited by author 2011-03-31 01:30:41. |
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03/31/2011 02:23:48 AM · #2 |
There was a post about this same sort of a scenario not very long ago... but I can't find it and it's driving me crazy! If anybody remembers the thread, somebody was asking about the price of an item on craigslist or similar and meeting in person to check it out...there were tons of tips for evaluating gear / general buying used suggestions.
Anyway... some things I've always done- I always ask why the person is getting rid of it and see what their response is. Ask if there is ANY wear, scuffs damage etc.
Check the function of the camera body and lens, look for cosmetic wear, outside damages etc. If possible, I'd say you should have a laptop handy so you can look at the images from the camera/lens. Evaluate autofocus accuracy/speed on your own body first (I would recommend trying to get the lens to AF on something too close to it and watch to make sure it searches smoothly through the whole range from minimum focus distance to infinity, as well). Check front and rear elements, along with the coupling ring. Make sure the zoom and focus rings move smoothly and freely. For test shots, make sure the lens correctly stops down from wide open to closed. You can bring a newspaper and lay it at a 45 degree angle to the ground and take shots of it to evaluate focus. Or use the chart here. There is also a good description of how to do this on there, as well. You should also get a shot of the same page wide open, totally perpendicular from the camera and check for any focus oddities (which will occur if the coupling is bent... you'll get areas in focus and areas that aren't in focus). For the body, look anywhere a connector goes in, check the coupling area for wear.
I don't recall if there's a way to check shutter actuations readily for a Canon... a Canon person will have to chime in on that. If possible, it would be nice to check that.
That's a starter list of things...
Message edited by author 2011-03-31 02:33:04. |
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03/31/2011 02:26:44 AM · #3 |
Gotta wonder if the person selling the gear ever used it. The picture sucks. Poor composition, tangled mess there in the middle detracts, lighting is bad, not enough detail to clearly evaluate the gear....
Obviously they weren't a member of DPC. :-) |
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03/31/2011 07:06:04 AM · #4 |
| If it's that good of a price for good gear, why would he have to drop the price 100? I was stupid and undersold my Canon 20d, because I didn't understand ebay completely. It sold in less than a day... |
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03/31/2011 11:06:16 AM · #5 |
| Ya, it making me a little leary that its been on craigslist for so long... I may pass on this on. |
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03/31/2011 02:03:50 PM · #6 |
Photo dnmc
Originally posted by Melethia:
Gotta wonder if the person selling the gear ever used it. The picture sucks. Poor composition, tangled mess there in the middle detracts, lighting is bad, not enough detail to clearly evaluate the gear....
Obviously they weren't a member of DPC. :-) |
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