Where To Buy Used Photography Equipment

Ever since I became a photographer, virtually of the cameras and lenses I have purchased have been used. Most cameras and lenses only come up with one-yr warranties (though at that place are exceptions), and since some used gear sellers offer six-month warranties, that extra half-year is oft non worth the difference (to me). And, of course, some items — like vintage or discontinued cameras and lenses — are only available used.

Also, if I desire to attempt a camera out to see how it works for me, I await for an open-box detail — I am not a fan of returning brand new cameras considering of purely personal preference.

I have had feel with all the beneath-mentioned companies, some much more than than the others.

And then, without farther delay, hither is our list of the top six (in alphabetical order) places to look at when seeking out your next piece of gear. Apparently, all these places offering gear well beyond just cameras and lenses too!

At a Glance

Adorama

Adorama is my absolute favorite supplier of photo and video products. After hundreds (if not thousands) of items purchased and tens of thousands of dollars spent with them, I can safely say I have quite a lot of feel — including returns and dealing with its amazing customer service team.

As far as digital cameras and lenses, its used department is my favorite of anyone on this list. Adorama has tons of used gear available at any given time, with new gear being added every day. All-time of all, it has very, very expert prices with some unbeatable deals popping up at present and then.

Items are rated from X (for parts only) to F (fair, which means it has certain malfunctions) to Due east+ (Splendid Plus). I have had nothing but cracking experiences with items from Chiliad (Good, just above Fair) to E+, with the alone exception of a xiii-year-old Sigma DP1. Since returns to Adorama are so utterly seamless, it was not fifty-fifty a carp.

Ane of the best features of Adorama — not just its used section just the site as a whole — is its VIP360 program. It costs $49.99 per year, only if you order a decent amount of photography or video equipment, information technology is well worth it. The master benefits are: free 2-twenty-four hour period shipping on thousands of new items, 60 day return period instead of the normal 30, one-twelvemonth "drops and spills" protection (applies to new items only, with some exclusions), dedicated customer service, and early-bird admission to discounts and sales. Oh, and shipping for returns is free with VIP360 likewise — and then even if yous simply change your mind only the product is not defective, yous still pay nothing for render aircraft.

All of Adorama's used photograph products come with a 6-calendar month warranty for Chiliad grade or higher and a 30-day return window. Used video and lighting gear carries a 90-solar day warranty with a 30 24-hour interval return period.

B&H Photograph Video

We likely all know B&H Photo Video. It is nearly certainly the largest photograph and video retailer in the Us, if not the world. While most of its seemingly endless options of products and brands are new stock, it does have a decent used department.

Based out of New York City, B&H sits less than two miles from its nearest competitor (both literally and figuratively) — Adorama. The retailer has a massive superstore that thousands of people visit every twenty-four hours. Should you be lucky enough to practise so, you can scan its used equipment in person. You can also drib off returns and pick up online orders at its physical shop, often same-day.

Unlike Adorama, the used department is not nearly as robust, nor are its prices as competitive. B&H's inventory does not rotate over as much, and its rating system is more opaque. It does oftentimes include a notation alongside the numbered rating (which ranges from 7 to x), eastward.yard. "Moderate Clothing," "Well Used," or "Petty to No Signs of Clothing."

Similar purchasing new items from B&H, used gear volition yet come up with the aforementioned quality customer service and free expedited delivery over $49. Used equipment may be returned for any reason within 30 days and carries a three-month parts and labor warranty.

eBay

I am certain everyone is familiar with eBay, so not a lot needs to be said about how it works. It is probably the most controversial selection on this list — some hate it and will never utilize it and others (like me) find it to be a bully source for a variety of different situations.

eBay is where y'all stand to become the all-time possible price and have the largest diverseness of options at whatever given time for whatsoever given item. For some items, namely vintage lenses, cameras, and accessories equally well as rare or niche items, eBay may be the only place where yous stand up a gamble to find what you are looking for.

A lot of the apprehension regarding eBay is the potential for scams or dubious sellers. This is a completely valid business concern; however, it is far, far less something to worry well-nigh every bit a heir-apparent. eBay has an incredibly robust protection organisation in place for buyers — to the point that I feel the site is riskier for sellers and not the other fashion around. The retailer will side with the buyer in nigh every state of affairs.

If there are any issues with your item, y'all can but file a claim and eBay will refund your money whether the seller accepts the return or ignores your claim. You should, however, thoroughly read whatsoever clarification and look at all bachelor photos before purchasing. From my extensive experience of over fifteen years on the site as both a heir-apparent and seller, I have zero reservations every bit a purchaser.

Unlike every other company on this listing, eBay items, in general, have no warranty — notwithstanding, some sellers on the site (including several on this list who also sell on eBay) practise offer warranties on items sold via eBay. Again, y'all should thoroughly read the listing and/or contact the seller if you lot are unsure well-nigh the terms. eBay itself has a thirty-mean solar day window to file a claim should your purchase be non as described, not get in, etc.

It is worth noting that eBay, along with the below-mentioned MPB, is the just company on this listing that is NOT an authorized dealer for Nikon, Catechism, Sony, etc. This tin exist important if you lot are, for case, an NPS (Nikon Professional Services) member — it as well may bear upon the power to go repairs from the manufacturer, since any camera or lens non purchased from an authorized retailer is considered gray market.

KEH Camera

KEH Camera — the largest pre-owned camera shop in the United States — is based just outside of Atlanta and is 1 of the most pop and highly regarded sites for used photography (and some video) gear. With keen prices, fantastic customer service, warranties, and a huge catalog of used equipment, it is one of my go-to sites when I am looking for my next piece of gear. From 35mm to big format cameras and lenses, DSLRs, mirrorless, and tons of accessory gear, there is not much it doesn't have.

The site is easy to navigate and browse, with everything cleaved down into articulate and specific categories, plus enough of search filters along the left-hand side of the page. Its ratings range from "Like New" to "Ugly" — in that location is also an "Every bit Is" rating, which substantially means "for parts only." And its rating organization is one of the strictest out in that location — "bargain" course, which is merely above "ugly" is often equivalent to what many eBay sellers would list equally "First-class++" or "Most Mint." I accept even bought dozens of "ugly" lenses — most of which just had cosmetic bug only were optically good or excellent.

Unfortunately, KEH's site does not have photos of each detail, so you tin can only judge its items based on the rating system.

KEH offers a 180-solar day warranty and 21-day render window on deal form or college items and costless shipping for orders over $49.

LensRentals

Our original option hither was LensAuthority, a subsidiary of LensRentals, however as Petapixel reported in November of last twelvemonth, Lensrentals chose to integrate the two into ane site. This is certainly a good movement considering information technology was somewhat difficult to detect LensAuthority unless you were straight familiar with it, fifty-fifty if you knew well-nigh LensRentals.

Every piece of equipment at LensRentals goes through a rigorous X indicate inspection, cleaning, and provision plan subsequently each loan, which allows them to achieve what is purported to be the everyman failure rate in the rental concern. Equipment naturally goes through the aforementioned proprietary inspection process earlier being put up for auction.

Y'all can scan the LensRentals site every bit you unremarkably would if you want to rent something, and if you lot're interested in buying or seeing what's available to buy, each production page has a "Buy" button in the top right. Clicking that volition have you to a page that lists all of the available bodies/lenses for sale.

Each item volition have an overall rating like "fantabulous" or "expert," along with sub-ratings for Cosmetics, Operation, and Shutter Count (for cameras). Lenses volition, in place of Shutter Count, accept a "Glass" rating.

LensRentals does provide some other very squeamish options that you lot don't see elsewhere. Master among them is its incredibly affordable extended warranty options. For example, you tin can get a 1-year extended warranty on any photographic camera priced from $1,000 to $3,000 for an additional $25! A 2-year extended warranty on a lens from $500 to $1,500 is $14. I don't know any other company that offers extended warranties anywhere shut to those prices if they're fifty-fifty offered at all.

I exercise wish the site was easier to navigate for potential buyers who are not interested in renting — similar to how LensAuthority worked, or every other site on this list. As it stands, you have to find the detail you're interested in, click "Buy" and so encounter what'southward available (if annihilation is). A somewhat divide section of the site with navigation for all products currently for auction, forth with filters and the ability to organize lists (e.g. from Low to High toll) would be incredibly nice. Just once again, the transition away from LensAuthority is very recent, so it'south highly possible updates to the site are in the works or planned.

Lastly, if you lot rent an item from LensRentals, you tin opt to buy it after your rental and LensRentals will credit 100% of the rental fees for upwardly to 7 days toward the purchase as part of its "Keeper Test Bulldoze" program.

MPB

MPB is probably the least well-known on this list, but information technology has grown quite a lot during the COVID-19 era and are absolutely worth a look. Not unlike the others on this listing (except eBay), MPB purchases and resells used photographic camera gear after thoroughly inspecting and testing the equipment. With two offices in the UK and one in Brooklyn, New York, MPB serves even more markets than several others on this listing, and in Apr of this yr, it caused Series D funding of $69 million to expand to other markets.

The two best things about MPB are its massive itemize of available products and its very good prices. For example, at the fourth dimension of writing in that location are twenty Nikon Z6 (starting at $1059), thirty-four Catechism 5D Mark IV (starting at $1959), and twenty-seven Sony a7R Mark III (starting at $1889) cameras available to buy. I practise not know of anywhere else, except eBay, with that kind of inventory.

The company offers a 7-day render window with a half dozen-calendar month warranty on all the retailer's products.

As mentioned higher up for eBay, MPB is non an authorized dealer for Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc.

Robert'due south Camera (Used Photo Pro)

Robert'southward Camera (hereafter referred to as Used Photo Pro), based out of Indianapolis is i of the largest suppliers of both new and used gear in the United States. Its used department, which exists on a carve up website and with its own customer service line, is one of the best in the country.

Over the years, I have purchased thousands of items from Robert's, visited its store dozens of times, and it has been aught but the kindest, most helpful visitor I have ever dealt with. Customer service resolves problems with lightning speed and without hassle.

Used Photograph Pro sells everything from modern digital cameras and lenses to vintage 35mm, medium format, and large format cameras and lenses — as well as the expected accessories like tripods, camera bags, etc.

While its inventory is not equally extensive as KEH, the prices are just as competitive and, unlike KEH, each item on the site has photos of the actual product.

Grades range from Inoperable to Mint. The description of what each grade means is listed on every item's page and, as mentioned, photos are available for you lot to inspect. The retailer is as transparent as it gets as far equally what you are ownership — in fact, out of the thousands of items I purchased from them, only i had an outcome and the return was seamless.

Used Photo Pro offers a half dozen-month warranty on all items, except for those graded "poor" or "inoperable." Free shipping is offered on all items except those graded Inoperable, Poor, or Off-white.

If there is one niggle with Used Photograph Pro, it is that ever since its redesign, the website is achingly slow to load each page — it is borderline unacceptably deadening. But, have patience because information technology is a wonderful resource. I practice hope the retailer fixes that issue, though — it would brand information technology a lot more pleasant for me, as I check it several times a day.

Total disclosure: Adorama has been a long-time PetaPixel sponsor, but the camera store was not involved in the creation of this article.

Image credits: Header photo licensed from Depositphotos