SCORING WITH SECOND-HAND

MPB

● www.mpb.com ● 0330 808 3271

What kind of used gear is really in demand at the moment?

Canon remains top of the pile but we’re seeing an increase in Sony and Fujifilm users over the last 12 months. Recently with many people restricted over the lockdown, we have seen a spike in macro equipment, but the bestselling camera and lens combination remains the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and 24-105mm f/4 L lens – a classic combo to suit a range of scenarios.

What are the biggest issues and problems you see that reduce the potential value of sent-in kit?

Some repeat reasons we see for potential adjustments are high shutter counts not taken into account, dead batteries, scratches to glass on lenses and misquoted models – for example customers misquoting their Canon 50mm f/1.8 II as the Mark I.

Are there any real deal-breakers, e.g. fungus inside the camera body or lens? How would a seller go about checking for this before trying to sell their gear to MPB?

If you’ve got fungus, unfortunately there isn’t much that can be done if it is serious. The best advice is to be careful with storage, don’t leave your gear in a damp corner of your house. Also if it’s sitting on a shelf and you’re not using it just move it on as it will generally depreciate or attract the dreaded fungus.

Will having the original boxes/ packaging and body caps or lens caps help push up the price you offer for used gear?

A lack of caps and boxes won’t typically affect the price we offer, unless they are very specific telephoto/fisheye/cine lenses. We do value the important accessories such as tripod collars, carry cases, lens hoods, and these are reflected in the prices on our site, and quotes.

How much of a problem are scratches and the occasional minor dent on camera bodies or lens bodies?

Scratches to paintwork won’t meet our ‘Like New’ rating, but can still fall within our Excellent/Good condition grades, and it’s the same with minor dents. Larger dents can indicate a significant impact and so are more likely to be downgraded. Do make sure to look after your lens as significant marks will be unattractive to other buyers – a cheap filter is a good way to protect your lens. It is