Used Canon 40D - questions to ask

[phadam]

Im looking into buying a used Canon 40D off a mutual friend. It would be my first camera purchase in a long while. Looking for some advice. What are some good questions to ask or things to look out for before I make a purchase on this??

Thanks

[Brett1000]

Im looking into buying a used Canon 40D off a mutual friend. It would be my first camera purchase in a long while. Looking for some advice. What are some good questions to ask or things to look out for before I make a purchase on this??

Thanks


run this shutter count program -
http://astrojargon.net/EOSInfo.aspx?

takie a few pics check focusing and quality on a laptop

[ziggy53]

Also ask to see prior sample images taken with the camera and check out the camera with "your" lenses.

Test the camera in as many modes as you would normally use, potentially all modes.

Ask for the reason why the owner is selling.

Ask if the owner had any problems.

Be suspicious of any hesitations and trust your instincts about truthfulness in answers.

[borrowlenses.com]

When checking the shutter count, the "lifetime" of that shutter mechanism is 100K actuations, so keep that in mind. Other than that just look at the camera -- how well has it been taken care of? Are there any scratches? Do you like the size of the LCD, the controls, etc? Then take some test images at different focal lengths and Fstops...ask a lot of questions and like ziggy said go with your gut.

[phadam]

great! thanks. exactly what I was looking for. I'm going to check it out this weekend and maybe even come home with a new camera :D

[Pupator]

great! thanks. exactly what I was looking for. I'm going to check it out this weekend and maybe even come home with a new camera :D

Also, don't over pay. On photography forums (these, POTN) there are a zillion 40Ds for sale right now because everyone has upgraded. If Terrance's is still available he had a great deal offered, I thought:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=147140