[Closed] Second hand DSLR - where from?

Standard answer would be eBay if you know what you’re looking for, London Camera Exchange if you want some advise and/or would prefer a shop.

I've used mpb.com for second hand lenses. There a decent company to deal with.

I got my 60D from Wex. Reasonable price and great to deal with. They seem quite conservative with their description of condition - mine was an 8/10 apparently but when it arrived it was like new, I couldn't see a single mark on it.

I use this FB group for selling camera kit, sold a couple of bodies on there (D4 and D7000).

Ben

I haven't looked for ages but ebay was always one source. Not exactly original but ...
I don't know if current prices reflect lockdown though? (perhaps not as much as bikes but ??)

The other source I tended towards was more social. No different to bikes in most ways.
Not so easy at the moment but camera cafe's etc.

I’m erring Nikon, ideally one with a touch more sealing

To get anything usable* the sealing will come as a byproduct. Unless you want to dive with it...
I can't imagine not having a dedicated dial/button for the basic functions is "usable" for college.

Just a guess but you probably want a macro lens as well?

Also worth a look at Ffordes. https://www.ffordes.com/

More votes for mpb.

Also - when I have sold stuff to Wex they have been very picky about condition, so I'd imagine the stuff they have for sale is in good nick.

Another vote for Ffordes here, Mrs Hotstuff uses them periodically and they're excellent to deal with.
Realistic descriptions and prices on second hand stuff, knowledgable staff and good mail order.

Another vote for mpb. I've used them for years and got a secondhand canon 5d mk 3 body recently when my 7d died. Great to deal with. You'll find a range of super cheap to mega expensive kit-so easy to make a big dent in your wallet! Also, cex can have some good deals. I prefer Mpb though.

He's saved £600, so I'm hoping for something workable.

College has super posh stuff, but at the end of the day it needs to be a camera he a) takes with him, lots and b) learns his way around and learns the technical side.

mpb all the way. Unless you want a Canon 5dsr. 'Cos I'm selling one and a bunch of L series lenses.

MPB are great, Ffordes are good but pricy. Mifsuds also good, their website used to be a bit wonky but they were great if you phoned and had a chat. Never used LCE but they have a good reputation. Camera Jungle I had problems with.

Definitely pay a bit more for somewhere reputable. I bought a D7000 off ebay which turned up with a sticky power switch and focus that's *just* off enough to be useless shooting at wide apertures. Wish I'd spend a bit more 'cos by the time I'd realised it was too late and now I'm stuck with it.

Talk Photography is probably worth a look too.

This reminds me I've got a Canon 7d mk1 to sell and maybe a mk2. Plus a bunch of lenses. I'll check out that Facebook group.

I bought a s/h lens from Harrisons Cameras in Sheffield recently as they're just down the road from me. Had to get it shipped due to Corona, which is a shame because I like going in! Lens is as-new as far as I can tell and I'd trust their one year warranty.

A second shout for Wex. Last year I was working near the London store and often popped in for a lunchtime mooch around. Very knowledge staff and reasonable/sensible pricing.

Another vote for Mifsuds.

MPB have been excellent in my experience.

MBP are excellent. Bought lots there and when I had an issue with the 1DX I bought they exchanged it no bother. I’ve generally gone for high mileage stuff as that means it’s cheaper and I’m less bothered about it getting knocked whilst out, but MBP’s idea of ‘well used’ as always still been good condition.

Wex are good too, as are LCE.

£600 should sort that shopping list out easily enough.

+1 or about 12 by now for MPB - used them to buy and sell, they even upped the quality of a lot of the kit I sold through them last time as it was better than I thought. Overall good experiences all round.

If it is his first DSlR have a look on Facebook marketplace, I picked up a Nikon D5000 and Tamron 70-300 lens for £150 the shutter had only 30K . Also look around for SH lens and maybe a 35mm prime which you can pickup new for £130, you often hear people say spend your money on glass (Lens) not the body. Just make sure the lens will be suitable for older and newer bodies. If the college have Nikons it would make sense to use the same .
The college will be more interested in his composition of the image and DOF etc than if there is a a touch of distortion or a spec of dust in the lens.

Once he has pushed the limits of the cheaper/older camera he can upgrade the body and will know what he actually needs in a camera and will be able to make an educated purchase and then sell on the old one again and get back almost all of the money. Do test out the camera as much as possible and check some images from it first oh check how many actuations the shutter has done. There are plenty to pick from on FB marketplace

Do you want specific model advice for which Nikon dslr?

I got daughter a well used Nikon D80 and a kit zoom lens for her GCSE. Prob £120 all in. She got an A+ and won a cash prize from the local photographic society. Mainly because the camera was cheap, she wasn't affraid to use it. Paddling in the sea with it? Out in the rain? Sure! Post course, she's not used it in a year...... I'd not waste cash on a GCSE photography course. On reflection even the D80 was overkill.

I just picked up a Nikon D5100 with kit (18-55) and Tamron (150-300?) lens, bag, charger, cds, couple of books for £270 off eBay. At that price I'm not bothered about it getting bashed / afraid to take it out in the rain or on the beach.

@matt_outandabout PM sent

We have picked up a D7000 plus fixed 50mm and a Sigma 18-125mm from MPB for £310.

This thread reminds me I don't use my d7000 much any more. Would come with 50mm 1.8 and cheap kit 80 to 200, sigma 18 to 50, sb600 flash etc. I'll put an advert up on here later.

Enjoy !!

Yeah it's a lovely camera with the 50mm on, hope he gets great use out of it.