Buying Used Cameras & Photography: What to Check

14 guides to buying cameras & photography second hand — what to check, what a fair price looks like, and the questions to ask before you pay.

What goes wrong buying cameras & photography used

Fungus and haze inside lenses, sensor dust, and shutters near the end of their rated life. None of it shows in a normal product photograph.

Misrepresentation and fakes

Counterfeiting is rare; misdescription is not. ‘Tested, working’ often means it powered on rather than that a photograph was taken and reviewed.

How to verify before you pay

Ask for a photograph taken with the camera that day, and for a shot of the lens with a torch shone through it from behind. Ask for the shutter count on a digital body.

WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and does not hold funds. You are buying on the seller’s description and photographs, so ask directly — a seller who has the item will answer in minutes.

What you should expect to pay

Across this category, guide prices run from about £12 to £700 (approximately $16 to $932) depending on the item and its condition. Grades run New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts — what each one means.

Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026).

What each one typically costs

The most-searched items in this category, with the guide range a buyer should expect:

Item	Good condition	Full range
Mirrorless Camera	£117–£455	£180–£700 (~$240–$932)
DSLR Camera	£58–£292	£90–£450 (~$120–$599)
Camera Lens	£39–£260	£60–£400 (~$80–$533)
Vintage Camera	£20–£195	£30–£300 (~$40–$400)
Film Camera	£20–£162	£30–£250 (~$40–$333)
GoPro	£39–£162	£60–£250 (~$80–$333)
Drone	£52–£292	£80–£450 (~$107–$599)
Telescope	£26–£162	£40–£250 (~$53–$333)

Every cameras & photography buying guide

Frequently asked questions

What should I check before buying cameras & photography second hand?

Ask for a photograph taken with the camera that day, and for a shot of the lens with a torch shone through it from behind. Ask for the shutter count on a digital body.

What goes wrong most often?

Fungus and haze inside lenses, sensor dust, and shutters near the end of their rated life. None of it shows in a normal product photograph.

Does WishThrift check the item for me?

No. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and does not hold funds or offer buyer protection. Condition is described by the seller against five grades and the photographs are what you are buying on — which is why these 14 guides exist.