How to Buy Used Cameras and Lenses

Buying used gear is a great way to save money when starting photography. But how do you find the best deals? Where do you buy them? Is eBay dangerous? Find out in this video.
Camera & lens used for this video:
Sony A6600 - amzn.to/3qdDmWz
Sigma 16mm f1.4 - amzn.to/3xLrPAD
Cameras I recommend for under $1000
Canon M50 MK II - amzn.to/3vFVedK
Sony A6400 - amzn.to/35yxbmn
Fujifilm X-T30 - amzn.to/35CXnMI
Canon EOS RP - amzn.to/3gELAnG
Cameras I recommend for under $2000
Panasonic S5 - amzn.to/3wFllTJ
Sony A7 III - amzn.to/3gEkQnh
Nikon Z6 II - amzn.to/3wHmA4K
Follow me on Instagram: / ralphjeong

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

Hey don't forget about KEH, especially if you're looking for analogue gear. Spot on Ralph.

[@KoreyMacGill]

Agreed. Literally just picked up an x-t2 with 2 zoom lenses to get started for birding for 1300. Great deal IMO.

[@juchuva]

your youtube channel is everything I needed thank you so much for your work

[@theampedlife]

Story of my photographer life … buy, create, sell, repeat 🤔 All part of the fun!

[@larawalker4737]

Yeah!! Thank you!! This was awesome.

[@frankbelt633]

Really good advice. Thanks.

[@Henry_44]

You're back!

[@edc5338]

I've bought several used items from B&H in NYC. Their rating is usually right on and I have talked to their used dept. and they are very helpful. They also warranty used items for 90 days. I have bought off eBay and did ok except for one dealer.

[@joseacarrasm]

I bought a Canon 70D from Adorama that was supposed to be defective and it came perfect with only 33K shots. I paid 159

[@billyjunks]

Buy used, properly maintain it, sell it for little loss, rinse and repeat.

[@mihan2d]

Honestly I can't even tell, how can you properly maintain a camera. Well don't drop it, don't scratch it, clean the optic surfaces, but that sounds more like a bare minimum rather than maintenance, it's not like you have to get it for an oil change every 10000 shots.

[@levilynde8220]

Thank you

[@davidflores1942]

Mpb is a good place also. Bunch of used gear for a good price.

[@whiliyamz]

Whilliamz from Zambia and I am your number 1 fan

[@averageguy1261]

Professor Jeong. Class is now in session.

[@vgee3926]

Just received a "like new" lens from MPB...lens cap was covered in dust and the front glass had fingerprints/some kind of residue on it..first and last time ill be buying used camera gear.

[@oscarshen6855]

In where I live used gear has similar price to buying from grey market websites that ship from Korea/HK, brand new.

[@user-iq7en1lg3i]

Which website ships from Korea?

[@VideoGizmology]

Awesome tips! Are you going to do a video on selling gear?

[@HyunRalphJeong]

Anything you’d like to know?

[@VideoGizmology]

@@HyunRalphJeong I was wondering if you have any successful practices when you have sell your own gear, like on Craigslist vs eBay vs mbp vs Adorama vs KEH; your pricing philosophy about how you find your asking price and how low you're inevitably willing to go down; and if you always know you'll be selling gear, so you keep the boxes and gear in excellent condition knowing that you'll sell it soon.

[@AnandaGarden]

The cyber crime officer at our local police department here in the Bay Area described Craigslist as "a hotbed of crime." If they insist on using the Craigslist anonymous email - watch out! If they want to meet close to Starbucks closing time, then ask to meet "just a little bit later" when SB is closed - watch out! If you smell any kind of rat - watch out! That said, by being extremely selective you can sell on CL without paying Ebay's ridiculous 10% fee, and you can buy and get it right away.

[@melissathompson7916]

I love your videos. I was hoping you'd have one on flash, but I couldn't find one. Perhaps consider making one for us? I have a 430EX II and I have some trouble getting the right strength and I purchased an on flash small softbox on Amazon and I don't know if it's a good thing to have or not yet. It seems to help, but I'd love some input on flashes and diffusers.

[@HyunRalphJeong]

Thanks, I think I avoided the topic of flash because there are so many options and different ways of using them. I usually prefer off camera flash so I don’t have much experience with on flash reflectors/softboxes. My general rules for flash are: make them as big as possible, far from the camera, and close to the subject.

[@bfs5113]

Google Strobist.

[@angelguzman8737]

Gear focus is pretty good, I sold 2 camera bodies and two drones in a matter of two weeks

[@LouisLuzuka]

all my camera's are used, I dont think ive ever bought anything new

[@AnandaGarden]

p.s. to my comment. I'd happily buy used gear. The state of tech is such that three-generation-old (and older) gear is magnificent. I'd buy a Canon 6D very happily for its outstanding image quality. But a very old person here with 53 years as a camera guy, so I must be very naive.

[@HyunRalphJeong]

Never tried a 6D but the original 5D is still my favorite camera of all time.

[@sumitkolisetty]

man its been a while

[@camerapunk4109]

“How to sell your gear “ make a vid on that 😄

[@timhan9264]

Great vid. You remind me of an Asian Michael Shannon

[@Mark-ql5ni]

Used FILM Camera values constantly go up and up but used DIGITAL Camera values constantly go down and down, 99% of the time.

[@Massimo-sn7xd]

To be frank, if I worked, had a job, I'd probably not bother with buying used camera gear. In that case time and warranty is worth more than the money one economizes. Now when one is broke and don't work / have time to research the deals - it's a different story.

[@TheVlatko666]

How do you manage to buy a camera when you're broke? Maybe your definition of broke is different from mine?

[@Massimo-sn7xd]

@@TheVlatko666 I guess I didn't mean completely broke. Plus I am talking in general, about phones etc, not necessarily camera gear (camera gear is relatively expensive, indeed)

[@vgee3926]

Lots of people with jobs still have to budget their money,especially when it comes to spending on non-necessities..having a job doesn't mean u can just automatically blow thousands on brand new camera gear

[@Massimo-sn7xd]

@@vgee3926 True. I guess I was not thinking about thousands. Indeed.