Examine used camera lenses before making a purchase.
Camera gear can get expensive. At one time or another, most photographers will browse the used section of their favorite photography equipment retailer in search of a bargain. Checking over a used camera lens before finalizing a purchase requires a keen attention to detail and a quick test shoot. If the retailer won't allow a hands-on examination of the lens, forgo the sale. Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, don't get taken next time you try to save a few dollars on camera gear.
Instructions
1. Look for scratches, fungus, missing areas of the lens' protective multi-coating or chips in the front and rear glass elements of the lens.
2. Touch the lens terminal pins. Notice if they feel loose, appear broken or missing. Ask if the retailer offers repairs on poor quality pins before making the purchase.
3. Mount the lens onto your camera. Watch for connection error messages on your camera. Feel the base of the lens to make sure it has securely attached to the camera body and it has the ability to relay data with your camera.
4. Move the focus toggle switch on the barrel of the lens to auto. Press the shutter button halfway down to activate the auto focus function of the lens. Listen and watch for the lens' internal elements to move.
5. Turn on the lens' image stabilizer or vibration reduction feature, if equipped. Listen for the subtle whirring sound of the stabilizing feature activating.
6. Set the camera to aperture priority mode. Select an aperture setting one stop larger than the lenses abilities -- such as f3.5 for a lens that opens to f4.0 -- to see if the camera can read the lens, and ultimately indicate that setting as impossible. This lets you know that the camera body and lens can communicate.
7. Snap a few pictures to see how the lens responds to manual focusing and zooming, if it is a telescoping lens. Ask to see a print or digital view of the photos snapped to look at the image quality produced by the lens.
Tags: your camera, before making, before making purchase, camera body, making purchase, used camera
