Used Photography Gears?

 

As we all know that photography profession is one of the expensive profession. One must face this truth. In the beginning, every beginner photographer suffers through this nightmare that how to buy good and less expensive gear to start with. How to continue this expensive hobby and career for the future. You are not experienced enough to invest in the right photography gears in the beginning and little knowledge always stopped you to buy. What to do in this critical beginning of photography career. Here I can suggest a few better option that can help you to buy better-used photography gears. 

This article is based on buying used gears with proper precaution and guidance. Let us discuss this issue and hopefully, this may help beginner photographers.  

Buy from the authorised - There are few shops, stores available online and offline both and they sell only used photography and refurbished equipment or gears with 2-3 month warranty, Also, they share all the advantages and disadvantages of used gears. Always prefer this kind of selling outlets,  only you need to find out the reliable people to buy from. 

What is refurbished? - When the camera manufacturer sells their new gears and found some technical error, scratched or dent on the new camera body/lenses then they repair & refix the gear to resell to the customer under the refurbished category which is quite cheap sometimes. Refurbished is not used gears. Investing in refurbished gears may be a better deal. Search for this option. 

Explore photographer community -  There are so many groups of the photographer who shoot together, who travel together to shoot wildlife, Photowalk, night photography etc. If possible please become a part of those group because photographers always upgrade their photography gears and sell their used gears in the circle only.  Buying from those photographers is actually a good idea because those photographers take the best care of their photography gears. Sometimes they sell it at cheap prices because they do not have to earn out of their gears. Remember. 

Manufacturer companies - Sometimes big and branded manufacturer companies organise classes (basic to advance) for the photography lovers while giving those classes, companies display their gears, uses their gears to promote the sales. Sometimes they also sales used and outdated gears. Buying from this source may be a good idea in the beginning. 

Few Important Precautions before buying used gears.

• Always buy with the warranty
• Ask the seller for free service of the used gear at the time of buying
• Buy the gears after the good negotiations
• Don't buy too much outdated used gears, because Its kill your photography skill. 
• Always check sensor/photo count when buying a camera body
• Check lens carefully sometimes its carries fungus and hardly seen easily. 
• Must check other accessories if buying with a good deal. 
• Must check the return policy if the seller has any. 
• Must ask for the original bill of the used gears to know how old are the used gears. 
• Never buy a broken screen, body, lens glass etc because they will always create a problem while shooting and can kill your confidence too. 
• If possible take that used gear on rent for a day to check the performance of the used gears. Its really works. 

Conclusion - Buying used gears may be a good option to begin your career but you must not cultivate this habit in you to buy always used gears. Remember. Never ever buy the used gear when you are not convinced at all, sometimes for the sake of photography you buy extreme outdated and useless gears, which will definitely spoil your photography skills. Its better wait for the better deal to come or save money to buy a new one. Patience always supports you

Keep experimenting and Have wonderful & happy photography life to you all.

Photographer and Blogger Prasenjeet Gautam (www.prasenjeetgautam.com). Image courtesy- Google