MontanaTrace

Canon SX50. Four purchases for friends. They love 'em. Great prices. Like new. Warranty.

MtnMan Loc: ID

So far 100% satisfaction with five cameras and a nice lens. Bought one camera and the lens from posters here on UHH.

Bought my Nikon refurb cameras from Cameta because their process to up the warranty to one year is free and a little simpler than Adorama or B&H.

dynaquest1 Loc: Austin, Texas

It is not a "crapshoot." Shooting craps is 100% luck. With a craigslist seller, I can meet with the seller, talk to him/her, visually inspect the camera and operate it before I buy. After 35 years with SLR's, I can pretty much tell how much risk there will be. If I can buy a D700 with less than 10K clicks for half what it cost new, that risk is acceptable.

So....in my opinion, it is NOT a "crapshoot" if you understand the risk and know what you are doing. My record is testimony to that. Don't like risk...spend more money!

MtnMan Loc: ID

Nikon refurbs come with a 90 day warranty and Cameta ups that to one year with their warranty for free.

That said so far never had a warranty claim on camera stuff.

runakid Loc: Shelbyville, TN

My first used purchase was a Nikon 500 f4 lens. Got it from B/H. They said it was a 9.5 and they were so right. Came in a wooden box without a scratch on it with all the paperwork that I filled out and sent to Nikon. I think someone bought it and returned after using it once or twice. We have since bought from Camerta and Nikon 3 cameras. Also got a wonderful D800 from someone on Fred Miranda. Came as described. If you buy from someone on Freddie- only buy from someone with lots of sales history. Finally, I bought some gear from guys on UHH and it was as described.

I STOP TO SHOOT Loc: By the No. CA Sea

2lou: I purchased in July a refurbished Nikon 7100 (body only) from Adorama and a good price, had only 610 snaps, and it did have dust inside, but I returned it to Nikon argued the point of the dust inside (it was under 30 days), they cleaned it and returned it to me. The camera looked new and works great and the price was great. I trust Adorama, I am sure B&H and others are very trustworthy but I am not sorry I did this. Money is tight, but the Camera is great.

radiomantom Loc: Plymouth Indiana

Bought a Sony A700 from Ebay years ago. I have shot thousands of photos with it and it still performs flawlessly.

I have since purchased a A77 refurbished from Sony. Received it and it appears as though it had never been out od the original packing. I would probably suggest looking into a refurbished however, since in most cases pricing can be very similar and with refurbished you do get the original factory warranty.

waywest Loc: las vegas

got a sx 50 refurb for $150 & it's perfect. one of my best deals ever.

RAFriedman Loc: NYC/ Philadelphia

KEH for used stuff is very good. They rate very conservatively and if you're not happy, they'll take it back with no questions. I've bought a number of things from them.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I have bought all of my gear used or refurb. Used gear from members here and from other forums. Refurb from Cameta who offers a one year warranty.
No complaints ever.

WayneL Loc: Baltimore Md

Cameta for refurbs and B&H, KEH and Adorama for used. I just got a D300 from KEH and got very lucky, it had under 600 clicks on it and looks new.

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

I will always buy refurbished when available. I have posted my reasons in the past.

My D7100 and 18-105 came from Cameta, my 75-300 and SB900 from Nikon. I have purchased used from B and H.

I personally would be less willing to buy used unless I either knew or had some basis for trust in the seller.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Over the years I've bought a number of used and refurbished items from various sources: B&H, Adorama, KEH and others... Though not from Canon online yet, because between sales tax that I have to pay with them and shipping there usually just isn't very much savings for me.

In general, for my work cameras I buy new.... though for a backup I've bought a refurb with "low mileage" and a warranty (typically a year).... because I need quick repair and turn-around if anything goes wrong (which really is pretty rare... and usually if a modern electronic item fails, it does so pretty early, within the first days or weeks of use... if it lasts for 2 months or more, it will likely be reliable for many years without problem).

With daily user lenses it's another matter.... I have little concern about buying used... and have only had trouble once or twice doing that. I'll even buy a lens from private parties without warranty, but I also know how to check out a lens pretty thoroughly before I hand over any money. There just isn't all that much to go wrong with a lens, even modern electronic type. If there is something wrong with it, it's usually pretty obvious. Plus in my daily user kit I have alternative lenses (and some other accessories) I can use if one fails for any reason.

I do prefer to buy flashes and other types of lighting gear new, because their flash tubes (or bulbs or LEDs) have a life span and will eventually fail... who knows how much a second-hand flash may have been used. There's no way to tell, in most cases.

Some people get worried about the appearance and cosmetics of their gear... I don't. My stuff gets used and I don't care if it looks "well loved", so long as the "important stuff" such as glass in lenses and all the functions of a camera or other accessory are in peak form and proper adjustment.

I buy (and sell) some used "collectible" cameras, but those aren't daily users by any means... So it isn't as essential they work reliably. In fact, some rarities are worth a lot whether they work or not... though of course working is preferred.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Have had good luck with both. If refurbished, I will always insist on "factory refurbished" not "seller refurbished".
I try to get as much information on used before pulling the trigger.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I have purchased four Canon and Nikon factory refurb cameras, several lenses and an Epson projector. All have been great. I have great confidence because they carry the manufacturer warranty and were last on a technician's bench.

I also bought a refurb Lenova that was very bad and sent it back to Tigerdirect. It had been refurbed by a 3rd party and had an inop card reader and a frayed power cord.

The difference, those three little words, "CaNik factory refurbished."

They all came with, apparently, new accessories, manuals, etc.

Buy from Adorama, B&H, Cameta, Amazon. NOT FROM 42ND ST.