Used camera and lens: plan a useful viewing
Check the camera body and lens as a pair, and leave with sample files rather than relying only on the rear screen.
Confirm the exact kit before travelling
Ask for the body and lens model names, lens mount, battery, charger and memory-card requirements. Do not assume that two products from the same brand work together. Check compatibility in the manufacturer’s documentation for those exact models. Agree whether a suitable card can be used for sample files and ask about known repairs, faults and missing caps.
Make a small set of sample photographs
With permission, take photographs at different focal lengths if the lens zooms, and try the controls and focusing modes you expect to use. Review the files at a useful size on your own screen when possible. Keep track of which lens and settings produced each image. A clean preview on the rear display alone can hide details you would notice in the saved file.
Separate observations from assumptions
Inspect the outside and accessible glass in good light without taking equipment apart. Ask the seller to explain any visible marks and demonstrate doors, buttons and charging. A shutter-count figure alone is not a condition guarantee. Record functions you could not test, and seek a camera technician’s assessment if a fault or internal condition remains uncertain.
Your viewing checklist
- Exact body, lens and included accessories confirmed.
- Sample files reviewed with their settings noted.
- Untested functions and uncertain faults recorded.
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