CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For a camera, did they reapply the plastic cover over the screens or at least place everything back into fitted plastic bags?

One thing I've noticed in buying refurb and used cameras is that a 'used' camera strap is never included. I've had to go find them online. That might be one nice-to-have that you get via the factory refurb.

BebuLamar

I don't know about Canon but I bought 4 brand new Nikon's.
1. The Nikon F2AS in 1977 did come with a narrow leather strap.
2. The Nikon F3HP in 1982 didn't come with a neck strap.
3. The Nikon F5 in 2002 didn't come with a neck strap.
4. The Nikon Df in 2013 did come with a neck strap but I didn't even take it out of the plastic bag.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

My comment was about refurb and used vs New .... If new equipment was missing an item that should have been in the box, that's a return situation. Then, a technician with a checklist can add the missing item, check off the checklist, and release the equipment into the refurb inventory. A rigorous level of inspection and service by all objective standards.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Call B+H and ask what the mean by refurbished. I bought open box from they and am happy. And I buy new from them.

BebuLamar

I meant I don't know if Canon always give you a neck strap with a new camera but Nikon didn't. So if you don't have a strap with new camera you can't sell it used with a strap.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

My point is KEH doesn't sell their used cameras with a used strap, nor even a replacement new strap. I think even when I bought a "like new" body from KEH, the strap was the one thing that wasn't included. My memory no longer remembers clearly the refurb D7100 from Cameta and whether a strap was included. I haven't bought a refurb directly from Canon, but here I'd expect a new strap. None of the used bodies from ebay have included a strap. It would be kind of disgusting, if you think about it a little.

BebuLamar

I don't buy refurbished camera so I don't know. Used camera I bought from estate sales often has neck strap which I throw away. I bought quite a number of refurbished computers and in this case they give you new keyboard and mouse.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

I have a 70D - favourite lens Canon 18-135.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Regarding question 2, a 24-70 makes a good "walking around" lens. Mine happens to be made by Tamron, but Canon makes a good one, too.

Danielmb

100-300 which I use often.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Over the years, I've bought many things from B&H Photo (also Adorama, Beach Photo, Roberts Photo, Henry's in Canada, and others... all good).

Actual "refurbished" Canon are now only sold direct by Canon USA from their website. They no longer distribute and sell them through dealers.

Also, 70D is too old a model now, to expect to find it "refurbished" anywhere. If you see it advertised that way, you should probably substitute the word "used" for refurbished. (B&H and other reputable dealers won't do this, but less reputable shysters might!)

Actual Canon refurbished cameras and lenses, sold directly by Canon USA, have the same warranty as new. In fact, they are little different from new, come with all the same accessories as new... except they come in a plain box.

Canon USA lists 80D and 90D refurbished. Currently 80D are out of stock. Who knows if they'll get them back in stock soon or at all. 90D are currently in stock and available refurbished.

If at all possible, I would recommend one of those models.

70D are very nice cameras... But both of it's successors have improved upon it.

- 70D is a 20MP camera that can shoot at up to 7 frames per second, provides a native ISO range of 100-12800, has a 19-point AF system (a slightly dumbed down version of what was used in orig. 7D model) that's NOT "f/8 capable" (see below). 70D is durability rated for 100,000 shutter actuations. It uses a single SD memory card and LP-E6 battery to get approx. 925 shots (CIPA rating). It can optionally be fitted with BG-E14 to double capacity and add a vertical grip and controls. It is capable of shooting HD video.

- 80D is a 24MP camera that also can shoot up to 7 fps, has a native ISO range of 100-16000, uses a 45-point AF system, with at least one point that's f/8 capable (more with some lenses). It's also durability rated for 100,000 clicks, uses a single SD memory card and an LP-E6N battery for approx. 960 shots. It also can optionally be fitted with the BG-E14 grip. It's capable of HD video.

- 90D is a 32.5MP camera that can shoot at up to 11 fps, has a native ISO range of 100-25600, uses a 45-point AF system (similar to 80D's, with some improvements). It's durability rated for 120,000 clicks, uses a single SD memory card and an LP-E6N battery for approx. 1300 shots. It also can optionally be fitted with the BG-E14 grip. It's capable of 4K video.

All these cameras are typically offered with Canon's most premium "kit" lens... the EF-S 18-135mm IS USM. Note, there are three versions of this lens.... this "USM" version is the newest and highest performance. The "STM" version can be a little less expensive and has the same image quality, but uses somewhat slower "stepper motor" autofocus. The "USM" or "ultrasonic" autofocus of the EF-S 18-135mm is, in fact, where Canon introduced their latest and greatest "Nano USM"... which is fast like USM, but also quiet and smooth like STM. The USM version also can optionally be fitted with a PZ "Power Zoom" module. This isn't usable on the other versions.

The EF-S 18-135mm STM and USM lenses are excellent general purpose "walk-around" lenses. They cover a very useful range of focal lengths, have decent built quality and very good image. A cheaper "kit" lens sold with many Canon APS-C DSLRs is an EF-S 18-55mm. It's not nearly as versatile or as well made, but it's fairly small and light and the "STM" version of it is a decent lens, too. There is another, cheaper "III" version that uses slower, noisier micro motor autofocus, but that's now usually only sold with the most entry-level Canon cameras. (The T7, T6, etc. Even the SL3 and T7i, T8i get better kit lenses).

Two premium "walk-around" lenses are the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM and the EF-S 15-85mm IS USM. Both of these are considerably more expensive, but the 17-55mm offers a large lens aperture, while the 15-85mm goes wider than most lenses of this type. (Yes, there's a noticeable difference between 15mm, 17mm and 18mm.)

A "sleeper" walk-around lens is the Canon EF 28-135mm IS USM. It dates back to the days of film, but was only discontinued a year or two ago and a lot of them were sold "in kit" with Canon DSLRs. It's often possible find them in lightly used condition for $150 to $200. While not the best built lens, it's a good performer, a pretty useful range of focal lengths (though not particularly wide on APS-C) and has surprisingly good image quality through the entire range, except racked out all the way to 135mm where it's slightly soft and benefits from stopping down a little. When folks were laying out a lot of money for an EF 24-105L IS USM lens, several pros I know were quietly shooting with the 24-135mm instead... 1/2 or even 1/3 the cost and just as good image quality and overall performance! As mentioned, this lens won't give you the moderate wide angle of view that an 18-55mm or 18-135mm will... but if you are planning to carry an ultrawide like the 10-18mm or 10--22mm anyway, the 28-135m can pair up with those and serve very well for quite low cost.

A lot of people complement their walk-around lens with an ultrawide and/or a telephoto zoom.

Canon ultrawides: EF-S 10-18mm IS STM (small, light, inexpensive and plasticky) and EF-S 10-22mm USM (better built, larger aperture, more expensive) are both excellent lenses... among the best of this type of zoom

Canon telephotos: EF-S 55-250mm IS STM (most affordable), EF 70-300mm IS USM (two recent versions, both good), any of the EF 70-200mm (pricier, but a range of prices and sizes, excellent), EF 100-400mm IS USM (premium quality, expensive... the latest II version has incredible image quality and works well with EF 1.4X teleconverters). AVOID: Canon EF 75-300mm lenses... two versions. The cheapest telephoto zooms Canon makes, but pretty poor image quality... especially toward the 300mm end of the range.

Some useful primes, if you prefer:

EF 20mm f/2.8 USM... as solid wide angle (moderately wide on an APS-C camera like above).
EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM
EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM "pancake" (ultra compact)
EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM
EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
EF 40mm f/2.8 STM "pancake" (ultra compact)
EF 50mm f/1.8 STM (inexpensive, short telephoto/portrait lens on APS-C)
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (an older model, but still quite good portrait lens on APS-C)
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM Macro (compact, but puts you pretty close to subjects)
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (also an older model, very good "long" portrait lens on APS-C)
EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro (latest and most expensive macro for DSLRs, excellent)
EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro (older model, also excellent)
EF 135mm f/2L USM a moderate telephoto with cult status.
EF 200mm f/2.8L USM... or just add a 1.4X to the 135mm lens.
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM.... one of the oldest still in production, very good lens.
EF 400mm f/5.6L USM... very sharp and fast focusing, but no IS.

Above I mention "f/8 capable" autofocus systems in the 80D and 90D, but not in the 70D. The latter is "f/5.6 limited". What this means is that the two newer models can use more lens/teleconverter combinations. When you add a teleconverter to a lens there's some light "loss". For example, a 400mm lens that's f/5.6 with a 1.4X added "becomes" a 560mm f/8 combination. The 80D and 90D have AF systems that will still be able to autofocus this combo, though they'll be limited to using only select AF points. The 70D cannot autofocus an f/5.6 and 1.4X combo (or an f/4 and 2X combo). If you want a 400mm that can be combined with a 1.4X on a 70D, you'll need to spend a whole lot more for an f/4 or f/2.8 lens, which also will be much bigger and heavier than a 400mm f/5.6. The same is true of using a 2X teleconverter, except now it's two full stops worth of light lost. A 300mm f/4 with a 2X will be able to autofocus on an 80D or 90D, but not on a 70D. With the latter camera, you'd need a 300mm f/2.8 with 2X, a lens that will cost you four times as much and is at least double the size and weight!

If you decide to shop used, B&H is good... so is Adorama, KEH.com, MPB.com, Robert's Camera, Henry's (Canada) and a few others.

Used gear won't have a factory warranty, but many stores offer some sort of used equipment warranty that you should investigate. I'm not talking about "extended" warranties, for which they charge you. I'm referring to the store's own coverage of the gear they sell, included in the price. Some give 30 or 60 days coverage... others may offer 90 days or more. It may vary depending upon age and condition of the gear, too.

I'm not saying 70D aren't good cameras. They're fine, in fact. It's just that you are unlikely to find any actual "refurbished" 70Ds at this point and the two newer models, which can sometimes be found refurbished, are definitely improved in various ways.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Camera refurbs from Canon Direct generally include everything you'd get if purchased new (body, strap, battery, charger, cable and cable protector if applicable),with the exception of new camera warranty card. Refurbs do have a 1 year warranty however. The invoice/receipt is the proof of purchase. Because the purchase is directly from Canon, they already have the purchase info including serial number.
You may or may not get the printed manual. Depending on the camera (body) purchased, you may get a solutions disk or info to get documentation or software from the Canon site. As mentioned previously, you won't receive an OEM box.

Emitchell8201 Loc: Middle Atlantic USA

I agree and use this on my 70D.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I believe in 2021 you'll find both Canon and Nikon no longer provide printed manuals nor CD software disks. What is lacking is that bright NEON insert giving the web address to visit and download the manual and the relevant software. We see from the regular questions here on UHH the relevance of that 'missing' neon insert.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

2021 is, indeed, a year of changes. The last refurb body I bought directly from Canon was a 70D a handful of years ago. I got the small "quick start" manual. I called Canon customer service and asked for a printed full manual and was sent one. Did the same for a G16 bought new later. Unfortunately, it's a service they no longer provide since 2019 (?), maybe earlier. Truth be told, except to flick through the pages, I never opened the paper manuals. It's almost always easier and more convenient to have the pdfs on my desktop, then search for the function.