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The used camera & lens checklist
Second-hand is the skint way into proper photography. These are the checks Lewis, a working wedding and events photographer, runs before buying used kit. Tick them off on your phone or hit print.
🖨 Print this checklist
Ask for it before anything else. It's the camera's mileage. A seller who won't say is a red flag.
Take a photo of a white wall or sky at f/16. Dark spots that stay put are dust or damage.
Press every button, turn every dial, open every door. Check the screen for dead pixels and scratches.
Make sure both are included and the battery holds a charge. Budget for a spare anyway.
Put a card in, format it, shoot and play back. Check the mic, HDMI and USB ports if you shoot video.
Shine a phone torch through the lens. Look for haze, fungus (spidery threads) and scratches. A little dust is normal.
Autofocus on something close and something far. Manual lenses: the focus ring should turn smoothly with no grinding.
On older lenses, flick the aperture lever and watch the blades snap shut. Oily or sticky blades are a no.
Check the lens fits your camera, or that an adapter exists. Look for wear or cracks on the metal mount.
Take a few photos and look at them full size on your phone or laptop before you pay.
Use a dealer or a seller with solid feedback. Avoid bank transfers to strangers; use a payment method with buyer protection.
Dealers usually give a warranty and a return window. That's worth paying a bit more for on a body or an expensive lens.
Rather skip the risk?
A dealer does most of these checks for you and adds a warranty.
Used DSLR + lens kits (6-month warranty, Clifton Cameras) →ADUsed lenses with 6-month warranty (Clifton Cameras) →ADUsed sale: extra discounts on pre-owned kit (Clifton Cameras) →AD