The article will discuss how to check the camera upon purchase so that it lasts for many years, and does not fail immediately on the second day. And to prevent this from happening, it is first of all important to know the three most important things about the camera.
Instructions for checking
The buyer is sure, having come to the store, that he will definitely buy new equipment, but it turns out that this is not always the case. For example, a product returned under warranty may be taken to a service center and put up for sale again. Of course, most often this will be indicated on the price tag. But there are even worse cases, for example, if the goods get wet during transportation. Yes, it happens.
How to check the camera when buying? As noted above, there are only three steps to take, and the first step is to find out if he got wet.
Contact with water
In order to determine whether the camera was wetted or not, it is first of all important to look at all its metal components. First you need to inspect the hot shoe - this is the place where it is insertedflash.
Typically, when a photographer attaches a light, small micro-scratches appear on the adapter. Even if the hot shoe skids are painted, there will still be damage. And if there is some kind of rust on the metal, then you should refuse to buy.
Of course, there are much fewer claims to quality and appearance if the question is about buying a used camera. What to look for in this case, everyone decides for himself. Traces of use will be clearly visible on a new or used device. Micro-scratches are rarely seen on shop equipment. Other specifications should be checked when purchasing a new machine.
It is necessary to unscrew the lens and inspect all connections. First of all, you should pay attention to whether there is any rust on the ring. And also view all connections and contacts. And if a small oxide is found on them, then you should refuse to buy. Contacts made of non-ferrous metals do not rust, but they tend to oxidize. And if the device was in conditions of high humidity or it was bathed somewhere during transportation, then plaque appears in these places.
The next step is to open the battery compartment and be sure to remove the battery. Here you need to inspect the contacts that are inside. If in other places it is possible to remove rust or oxide with the help of special chemistry, then, as a rule, the battery compartment is not processed, since this is very difficult to do. Therefore, it is this place that will demonstrate whether there has been contact with water.
You can also viewslot for a memory card. There are also contacts and a lot of iron metal elements. If there is no foreign contamination, rust or oxide, then this point has been passed. You can proceed to the next part of the answer to the question of how to check the camera when buying.
Was the equipment under repair
As a rule, if the camera has some kind of factory defect and it was returned under warranty, then there is a chance that it was well repaired. And it is quite possible that the technique will continue to work perfectly. But it should be borne in mind that if there was some kind of small marriage, then after some time the situation may repeat itself. For example, if the flash stops working after 3-4 shots and you have to carry it to the workshop, then in 80% this will happen with enviable constancy. That is, if the assembly was of poor quality, the problem may resurface or there will be another, more global reason to bring the camera in for repair.
How to understand if the camera was taken apart or not? The first thing to do is to inspect all the bolts. If there are any burrs or micro-scratches on their caps, this means that the camera was opened with a screwdriver. Even worse could be the situation when everything was repaired by a handicraft method, that is, there will be clear traces of interference on the screws.
Most often there is a good discount for such equipment, so everyone must decide for himself whether to take risks or not. The second stage of how to check the camera when buying is completed, and you can move on.
Number of shots taken
Most oftenwhen checking in the store, the mileage will be zero. But if the camera was returned under warranty or you chose a used option for purchase, then you should not skip this step. This will be the third stage of testing equipment.
Before determining how many shutter releases a given vehicle has had, it is worth knowing a few things. The cheaper the camera, the less the warranty life of the shutter. As a rule, non-professional equipment may not even live up to this number of frames.
And the more expensive, the better the camera will be and, accordingly, it will be able to take more shots. Given practice, we can say that the final numbers are multiplied by 2-3 times. And sometimes the number of shots taken is 10 times more than the guaranteed resource. For example, the Canon-600D is a semi-professional camera, in which the manufacturer claims the ability to take 50,000 shots. However, reviews say that the shutter holds 500 thousand and even more.
If we talk about a more professional camera, we can highlight the Canon-6D. For many, it also works for many years without replacing the shutter and, as they say, goes through fire, water and copper pipes.
To briefly summarize the number of shutter releases, we can say this:
- Canon 1000, 1100, 1200 or Nikon 3000, 5000 are those brands that are not classified as semi-professional. Accordingly, the shutter will work, most likely no more than it is written in the warranty.
- But the smaller the number in Canon, that is, 600D, 550D, 6D, the more the camera will take frames before replacingshutter.
To find out how many frames the camera took, you need to download a special program. After that, the camera is connected using a USB cable to a laptop or computer. The application immediately displays how many shutters were made with it.
Of course, this step can be done only after purchasing the equipment, but how to check the camera before buying? If we are talking about used cameras, then you can ask to take a picture on this camera. When the seller sends a photo, you need to upload it to a special program and see the number of hits.
So that the seller does not deceive, you can ask to take a picture with the lid closed, with a shutter speed of 10 seconds, in order to look at the broken pixels, whether they are or not.
Technique selection
Above we talked about how to check the camera before buying. But it is also important to know how to choose it and what parameters to pay attention to.
In today's world, in the age of the Internet and the development of retail chains, buying a camera in principle is not a problem. Since you can buy equipment both in online stores and offline.
Photographic equipment usually has a wider selection, so you can always find something suitable for all indicators. But still, any technique needs to be checked. If it is not possible to inspect at least the basic parameters of the camera before purchasing, then it is better to refuse such a lottery. But still, it’s very easy to check the camera when buying it by hand, as in the store, of course, ifthe seller allows you to inspect the camera.
In any supermarket there are consultants who can help with the choice. In addition, the purchase in the store is better because the sellers always give a guarantee on their goods. Of course, many buyers claim that the employees are not always competent, and their goal is just to sell more, not to demonstrate the equipment. But still, you can check the camera when buying in a store, both with the help of a consultant and without it. In any case, the employee can familiarize with the functional side of the technique and explain each value of the characteristic.
Shop selection
Before talking about how to check a new camera when buying, you should choose the right salon. If the buyer wants to purchase used equipment, then it is better to look for it on sites such as Avito and Yula. And when choosing a camera in a distribution network, you need to try to get into a specialized photo store. The consultants of such an institution are savvy people, and they will be able to answer all questions more or less tolerably, tell something useful. In chain stores, employees usually read stickers on the goods they sell on the go.
How to check a mirrorless camera when buying
In fact, there is practically no difference between the techniques. Both mirror options and ordinary soap dishes must first be checked for mechanical damage.
First of all, it is worth examining the packaging and the camera itself. The case itself should not be shabby or dusty, onThe lens must be free of fingerprints. It is also worth checking the entire package, making sure that all wires and laces are present. Instructions must be separately packaged and unopened.
Tip
Among other things, you can see if the camera has already taken pictures. Of course, if there are photos from the trading floor, then there is nothing to worry about. But there are times when the purchased cameras had entire photo shoots of unknown people.
Additional parameters
In order to check the new camera when buying as good as possible, you need to take a test shot in one of the automatic modes. After working with the settings, you need to make sure that the autofocus is clearly and quickly aimed at the target. After taking a few more photos with flash, at full zoom, and so on, you need to review the captured frames for image defects.
All parts of the camera must be clearly matched, without gaps. And the lens is better to work silently, without unnecessary sounds.
When making purchase documents, you must carefully read the warranty card. And having learned about the conditions of return and repair, you should always carefully and carefully handle the purchase.
If the buyer wants the camera to be more in-depth, then you should ask for help. The camera is best tested by a photographer or enthusiastic amateur. Only a professional will be able to check the technique on site for things like running and frontal focus, as well as hot anddead pixels.
When purchasing a second camera, there will no longer be a question of how to check a digital camera when buying.
Operating instructions
Certain skills and manipulations with the camera must be learned in advance, as even a novice photographer cannot do without them.
What to look for when buying a camera? This question is quite common. But it is worth remembering that all cameras undergo quality control upon release. The most important thing is not to overlook the obvious marriage that arose during transportation or storage in the distribution network. For the owners of the camera, there are a few more mandatory rules:
- After the camera is purchased, you should remember that amateur cameras are afraid of water and sunlight.
- With careless handling, even the best equipment will not last long. It is necessary to take care of the camera periodically, occasionally wiping the lenses with a special felt-tip pen for optical elements and in no case with handkerchiefs or clothing.
- Do not leave equipment in the sun. Keep it away from dust and moisture, and do not change lenses when it rains or in dusty places.
- Clean the camera sensor once a year. You should not do this yourself, since the equipment itself is very high-tech. It is very important to understand what is going on and why. It is best to take it to a service center for cleaning.
A well-maintained camera will repay any user with reliable performance and high image quality.
Optional accessory
In addition to the camera itself, you need to purchase a bag or backpack for carrying. Today in any store there is a choice of different types, sizes and colors. It all depends on personal preferences and plans for further development.
The requirements for a bag or backpack for carrying a camera look very simple - it is reliability and safety:
- Carrying must be with thick walls and a solid bottom. If a person uses an ordinary bag or backpack, then the safety of an expensive camera will be a big question.
- The larger and heavier the camera itself, the more reliable the bag should be. And the larger the carrier, the more accessories will fit into it.
- In any case, the bag or backpack should be comfortable. Another great quality will be the speed and ease of folding equipment into carrying.
- At the same time, the bag itself should not cause discomfort. The belt should be wide and comfortable, allowing you to change the length if necessary.
After a person starts taking pictures, he himself will understand what else he needs from the equipment.
Brand difference
Very often you can hear the question of how to check a Canon camera when buying. In fact, there will be no branded difference when purchasing equipment. Of course, Canon and Nikon have different models and different specifications. But if we talk directly about the acquisition itself, then here is the answer to the question of how to checka Nikon camera when buying will be exactly the same as for purchasing goods from other companies.
