2nd hand DSLR purchase

Luval · 2nd March 2004

Hi to all.

Like to ask what is there to look out for when purchasing a 2nd hand D0100..

is there any type of testing to be done on the cam before buying.. Not that we dun trust the previous owner

but i believee all of us like to make sure , to have a peace of mind after buying . right

gadrian · 2nd March 2004

Originally Posted by Luval

Hi to all.

Like to ask what is there to look out for when purchasing a 2nd hand D0100.. is there any type of testing to be done on the cam before buying.. Not that we dun trust the previous owner but i believee all of us like to make sure , to have a peace of mind after buying . right

One thing you cannot test.. is if the user reset the image counter. You will never know how many shutter cycles that it has gone through until you take it back to Nikon.

1. Test for dust on the CCD. Set the cam @ f22, A-mode, and you will notice spots on the images if there is dust/dirt on the CCD.

2. Test the metering - if you have another film body. Manually set the body to the same ISO and do a test, both of spot and center-weighted and matrix. Should give you the same results

3. Test fire the flash. Check the output

4. Reset the camera to original condition. And test.

5. Test the AF that each of the AF points are working and will meter accordingly when using Spot metering.

6. Open the CF-Card chamber, make sure it is clean.. not residues or stuff

7. Open the battery-chamber, make sure no leakage.

8. Remove the lens, check the lens mounting.. any damages, or scratches, check the CPU contact is the are clean.

9. Test the DOF preview

10. Test the AE-L and AF-L

11. Do some test shots.

12. Get a friend along, with another D100 and do comparisons.

Btw.. a lot of things here I say.. also applies to buying second hand film bodies.

showtime · 3rd March 2004

do a black out test... to check for white, hot pixels.
how to do this? set 1/4000 f22 with lens cap on. that will give you black. anything you see as white is trouble.

all the above mentioned checks and comparisons of the image should be done on a computer not the lcd display. so bring along a laptop.

gadrian · 3rd March 2004

Originally Posted by showtime

all the above mentioned checks and comparisons of the image should be done on a computer not the lcd display. so bring along a laptop.

If you have one.. hehe.. else go beg someone to bring one for you.. hehe..

Luval · 3rd March 2004

wow....

so much to test... ithink the guy must be very patient liao

mervlam · 3rd March 2004

Originally Posted by Luval

wow.... so much to test... ithink the guy must be very patient liao

hey, the guy is getting the $$$ from you. he has to be patient.

2nd March 2004	#1
Luval Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: East Posts: 1,383	2nd hand DSLR purchase Hi to all. Like to ask what is there to look out for when purchasing a 2nd hand D0100.. is there any type of testing to be done on the cam before buying.. Not that we dun trust the previous owner but i believee all of us like to make sure , to have a peace of mind after buying . right

3rd March 2004	#3
showtime Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 996	do a black out test... to check for white, hot pixels. how to do this? set 1/4000 f22 with lens cap on. that will give you black. anything you see as white is trouble. all the above mentioned checks and comparisons of the image should be done on a computer not the lcd display. so bring along a laptop.

3rd March 2004	#5
Luval Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: East Posts: 1,383	wow.... so much to test... ithink the guy must be very patient liao