Buying a used camera: Shutter count

[Mark Henry]

I have a D7200, I'm happy with it, high-entry to mid level SLR,$500 for a used body is a good price, but it's the lenses that cost the money. I've slowly collected items like tripod, bag, extra batteries, flash, etc.
The big con it doesn't have a fold out screen, which is good for events like weddings, etc., for me it wasn't a deal breaker.

This D7200 tutorial is a good watch and at the end is a good review on lenses available that you need with alternatives to Nikkor lenses. It's long but has an index in the description. Used lenses are out there you want AF or AFS for auto focus but older manual focus lenses will also work. I personally wouldn't buy a used lens unless I could inspect and try it first.
https://youtu.be/_Kw3P1yRwLs

[GH85Carrera]

I have been a photographer virtually all my life and shot my first paying job when I was 15. It was a wedding on Fort DeRussy Military Reservation of a guy back from Vietnam on R&R and his girlfriend came to visit him. There were dressed in Hawaiian gear, and I shot 24 pictures and handed the film to her to get processed back home.

I carried a Hasslebad system to high school as well as my 35mm system.

We bought a used Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR to shoot the oblique aerial photos a few years ago. That is some heavy iron and takes fantastic pictures. At the same time I ended up with a Canon Rebel EOS SL1 for basicly nothing. It has just over 200,000 shutter actuations on it. I carry it to car shows, and almost never use it. I did set it up for my brother to shoot me going past the marker in Key West. I set it up in rapid fire mode, and told him to fire away. I sorted through the images to find the perfect shot.

So 200K exposures is a lot, but it still runs fine.

I have a iPhone 11 Pro, that does amazing photos. That is always with me, and what I use for most photos now.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

I personally wouldn't buy a used lens unless I could inspect and try it first.

Mark, I have bought a couple of lenses and cameras (for the lenses attached) off the shop Goodwill site. Didn't spend a lot of money, granted, but got some of my best lenses that way. My 55 2.8 was advertised as 'a really clean lens' and it was impressively clean and unused looking when I got it. I consider it one of my best lenses.

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I have been a photographer virtually all my life and shot my first paying job when I was 15.

I carried a Hasslebad system to high school as well as my 35mm system.

I did weddings, portraits and commercial as well as a young lad with my brother who had a framing and photography shop. He had a Hasselblad I often manned the 35mm at weddings. He also had a large format camera and I got to use them all.

Incredible images, I'd love to have a older hasselblad with a digital back, but the D7200 fits my needs and pocketbook.

[bleucamaro]

Not reading all the replies, but 8000 shutter count is nothing. I think of it as miles on a car.

Nikon says you'll need a rebuild at 150k.

That said, I wouldn't buy a used camera off ebay. Go to a camera shop or Best Buy and try a new one. Then hit craigslist and facebook marketplace to see one locally. try it out and see how it compares to new.

My old D90 worked great till I sold it w/ 30k clicks, and my 8yr old D4 keeps on trucking (over 40k). Only gripe I had with the D90 was the adhesive on the rubberized grip would get squishy in warm weather. The zoom ring grip on my favorite lens is doing the same.

[RWebb]

KEH is more costly than eBay but allows no hassle returns and has been a good source for me over the last few decades...

speaking of the iPhone:
it sounds like Shaun will want a lot of depth of field (DOF) - that goes up as the sensor size goes down - a good phone cam will give a lot of DOF

focus stacking can be done in post for the D7200, but many Panasonic m43 cameras will do it in body - much easier and quicker - I moved almost entirely to Panny m43 a couple of years ago but still have some Nikon and Hasselblad gear

I also suggest light pipes, LEDs for adding light into small dark corners for macro

items can be placed on a piece of glass to make them seem to float in space

I use alligator clips or small clamps in a fixture for small items - stick them in front of the computer screen with a colored background (MS Word with paragraph formatted to the color you want) for tabletop photography of small things
- or drape a piece of burlap over the screen put it back a bit to blur the texture

[Scott Douglas]

Looked at Craig's list for the Boston area and found more than a few D7200's with less than 3k shutter counts.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

What a great board! Scott sent me a few CL links, one of which is perfect. I've emailed the owner and hopefully can paypal tonight. Thank you Scott!

Macro lens




Video I found on it. This is exactly what I need.

[Scott Douglas]

Glad you were able to score that lens Shaun.
If I hadn't just spent $$$$ on a new one for my Sony I'd have been asking you to get it for me.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

And after watching the video, I wouldn't blame you at all!

[Scott Douglas]

Yeah, if you score that lens you done good. Congrats!

[RWebb]

that's an older screw-drive AF lens

it will be just fine as your pro D7200 can drive it (amateur bodies D5xxx, D3xxx cannot)

AF is slower than the newest ones and it is a bit clunky - but just fine; I still have a 105 macro like that

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by RWebb

that's an older screw-drive AF lens

Yep. Good lens no doubt...just be sure the seller isn't asking "AF-S VR" money for it because it's an f2.8.
Also it's an FX (full-frame) lens, so on a 7200 (DX) body it will be closer to 90mm (a good thing IMO).

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Met the seller today and given both the camera and his nice personality (super nice guy), I got the D7200 and macro lens.

But first, thanks to everyone chiming in and especially to Scott Douglas who helped immeasurably with PMs. Thank you Scott, you are definitely one of the best who make this board so great!

Here's the camera and lens. They are pretty much brand new. Came with original box and all documentation as well as a battery and charger.

Even thought my Canon G9x will reside permanently in the car now, I expect to get another lens for travel adventures.

[Scott Douglas]

So put that lens on and take a picture of it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

[Scott Douglas]

That is a nice looking combo if I do say so myself.

Congrats!

Now, go take some pictures with it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Yes, it's gorgeous! I'm out all of tomorrow so Wednesday I'll be shooting some pics.

[Scott Douglas]

There's always TONIGHT!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I am off to bed soon, getting up at 5AM tomorrow morning. Long day tomorrow.

Plus I want to explore the camera a little first.

But pics will come soon!