MPB used gear

[Dan Fromm]

UsedPhotoPro (Roberts Camera) is another good option. They sell through their site and on eBay. Roberts Camera is the U.S. distributor for Ilford.

Sometimes. I once bought a Horseman Optical Exposure Computer from Roberts. It was advertised as in perfect order. It failed acceptance testing because, although the battery test and low range worked, the high range didn't. These things can't be repaired, parts no longer available. I returned it for a full refund including shipping, with an explanation of why I was returning it. Roberts refunded, no problem. The wretched thing (same s/n) was on offer two weeks later "in perfect working condition." Give me a break.

 

[lawnerd]

I have had good experiences with MPB both buying and selling. On the selling side they upgraded the condition of a lens compared to my evaluation and paid me more than the original quote. For digital cameras they provide the shutter count, unlike KEH, which I think is essential. I wouldn’t buy a used car without knowing the mileage and I wouldn’t buy a used digital camera without knowing the shutter count.

 

[koraks]

Never spotted this thread before. The question came up on another forum, so I gave it a go and bought a cheap 2nd hand lens from MPB. It arrived within a few days and was exactly as described. Very happy with the purchase. I've not looked into it very deeply, but it seems that they offer a nice selection of 2nd hand stuff and the prices seem reasonable.

@lawnerd thanks for sharing your experience and welcome to active posting!

 

[John Wiegerink]

Koraks,
Good to know you were satisfied with your purchase. I had never heard of MPB for used equipment before reading about it here. I'm currently looking to buy a used Sony 200-600mm zoom for some wildlife photography and MPB is now set in my MacBook's notes section.

 

[Yashica]

In general, i must say (from the homepage - listed bodies) that the quality went down on MPB, simply. Because of this - last year, and years before, gear into "excellent" condition was truly like that - excellent. Nowadays, i see gear listed with that status, and you see optical scratches, etc...which isn't even "good" anymore, but like heavy used. I can speak only for the german MPB website. But it's like that, from the pictures of serveral items, seen online there. Also Nikon, Canon DSLRs, listed as "outstanding", but i wouldn't even name then as "very good", but as used, average...or heavy used, as personal condition rating.

So take this with a grain of salt, when you buy something from MPB. What was true always into my case - there was always a listed shutter count, from a specific body, CaNikon - but when i tested these bodies, i've had bought via MPB, the shutter count wasn't 1 more logically, than only the offer, but serveral (!) hundreds more, at least. I find this way misleading behaviour from MPB, into my opinion. They should be more honest - because otherwise, i can't take them seriously anymore. Nothing against them - i like the gear, which i've had bought! I just wanted to tell you guys about my MPB experience from germany.

 

[koraks]

IDK; I've been peeping at some stuff on MPB in various states of decomposition and going by the photos for that gear, nothing about the labeling struck me as overly optimistic. Then again, these were fairly recent camera models.

 

[Yashica]

IDK; I've been peeping at some stuff on MPB in various states of decomposition and going by the photos for that gear, nothing about the labeling struck me as overly optimistic. Then again, these were fairly recent camera models.

Seen that with older DSLRs, they all had 6-digits on the shutterlife counter, and that was (often) out of Canon, or Nikons granted shutter life,
i'd never buy a DSLR with usually more than >100k actuations, it can work, but it could also fail with every click, literally. That doesn't make sense, if you buy a DSLR say with granted 150k shutter life count, and it's listed with say 180k to >220k online...it's like russian roulette. I wouldn't trust that kind of gear, to shoot important things, say a once in a lifetime wedding, or specific places, you can't simply replicate...therefore, at least with DSLRs, and logically no global (electronic) shutter like a Z9 for example, always learn about the specific shutter lifespan of model xy, before consider to buy it. It's the same, when you buy a enthusiast/standard DSLR, which does have 100k shutter life granted, and it's already at 120k via MPB...for sure, it can work flawlessly, but every click can be your last, technically...so i wouldn't do this - and only into rare cases (very cheap) i've bought a DSLR with 46k actuations, and the shutter life was granted for 150k actuations...go figure. My second hand DSLRs always have had between 10k to 25k clicks, usually.

 

[runswithsizzers]

Most modern digital cameras can shoot video as well as stills. Does anyone know for sure if video frames are included in the shutter count?

Is shutter failure due to wear commonly seen by those of you doing camera repairs?

 

[Chan Tran]

Most modern digital cameras can shoot video as well as stills. Does anyone know for sure if video frames are included in the shutter count?

Is shutter failure due to wear commonly seen by those of you doing camera repairs?

First the shutter isn't used when shooting video. Second I know for sure that the frames are not counted when shooting video. Although I am not sure but I think the frame is counted when you shoot still even if you use electronic shutter mode.

 

[loccdor]

The shutters are tested by the manufacturer's QA department and then given a life rating based on the number of actuations they typically produce before failure.

In the film world a few cameras like the Fuji GW690 also had counters at which point shutter service was recommended. My Fuji's shutter failed when I kept it open for a few minutes on a long exposure. Wear can be one problem with shutters, but another problem is migration of lubricants. That seems to be less related to actuations and more to temperature, lubrication choices, and the physicality of the shutter itself. Much less of an issue with newer cameras.

 

[RezaLoghme]

I have bought a digital M Leica and was not impressed. But I do not know if it was their fault or mine; maybe it is better to buy such things in a shop.

 

[Pieter12]

In general, i must say (from the homepage - listed bodies) that the quality went down on MPB, simply. Because of this - last year, and years before, gear into "excellent" condition was truly like that - excellent. Nowadays, i see gear listed with that status, and you see optical scratches, etc...which isn't even "good" anymore, but like heavy used. I can speak only for the german MPB website. But it's like that, from the pictures of serveral items, seen online there. Also Nikon, Canon DSLRs, listed as "outstanding", but i wouldn't even name then as "very good", but as used, average...or heavy used, as personal condition rating.

So take this with a grain of salt, when you buy something from MPB. What was true always into my case - there was always a listed shutter count, from a specific body, CaNikon - but when i tested these bodies, i've had bought via MPB, the shutter count wasn't 1 more logically, than only the offer, but serveral (!) hundreds more, at least. I find this way misleading behaviour from MPB, into my opinion. They should be more honest - because otherwise, i can't take them seriously anymore. Nothing against them - i like the gear, which i've had bought! I just wanted to tell you guys about my MPB experience from germany.

I speak from actual experience, not just looking at photos and coming to conclusions. In the last few months I have purchased 3 lenses from MPB that were listed as excellent and indeed they are. It might depend on the brand and age of the equipment.

 

[runswithsizzers]

First the shutter isn't used when shooting video. Second I know for sure that the frames are not counted when shooting video. Although I am not sure but I think the frame is counted when you shoot still even if you use electronic shutter mode.

The only reason I asked was because I had seen some chatter in Fuji forums that photos taken with the electronic shutter are included in the shutter count. So I was wondering if video used electronic shutter, but apparently not. I believe Fuji mirrorless cameras, especially the early models, are somewhat non-standard in the way they implement the shutter counter. I know it can be difficult or impossible to find a shutter count for some of the early models like my X-E2.

I am a low volume shooter, and not likely to ever run up a high shutter count. So knowing an accurate shutter count is of little concern to me.

 

[Yashica]

I ran across this company a while back and bought a Nikkor 24-85mm VR that was shown as brand new condition. It certainly appears that way to me and now that I have used it on two different N80's it produces great images as well.

Anyone else using these folks? Previously, I had bought from KEH for some of my used film gear.

Nope. I am using my huge 28-70/2.8 ED from time to time, on the F100. Have the N80 also. The 24-85 VR was neither fish nor meat into the respected photozone.de review long ago (now OpticalLimits) since many years - and gained only a average rating. Besides, i do think the perfect
walk around lens for the N80 is the older 28-70/3.5-4.5 AF-D, without VR of course. It was the Nikon F-801(s) Kitlens. Later also the F100 Kitlens (1999). Nowadays, the 24-85 VR is really being overpriced, and not a constant F2.8 or F4 lens. What happened with the prices the last few weeks, months? Did i miss something? It's totally insane these days.

One thing is for sure like the Amen in the Church - the VR mechanism would die, sooner or later, someday, and later...the AF-S autofocus drive...which keeps me more safe with screwdrive AF lenses, and AF motors built into the body...because i've seen this too many times, over the past decades...either way, Canon or Nikon lenses, it doesn't matter, AF-S or USM, IS or VR...it's the same story, into the end. If you don't believe it, i own a defective (AF) Canon 28-80/2.8-4L, as well as the 28-70/2.8L USM, both with defunct AF drive (USM). And one copy of my Nikkor 28-70/2.8ED does have the same issues, for example.

 

[Yashica]

I speak from actual experience, not just looking at photos and coming to conclusions. In the last few months I have purchased 3 lenses from MPB that were listed as excellent and indeed they are. It might depend on the brand and age of the equipment.

I bought 4 or 5 bodies into 2024, so it's my actual experience also, what did you misunderstood here? For the correct reading, again -
if some Camera (body) is being advertised as superb condition - but you do see scratches, usage marks, etc...what do you call that?
At least not superb or excellent condition. But more like (heavy) used, i'd say. No hard feelings. Don't get me wrong - the bodies i have had
received, are like into the picture...albeit the claimed shutter count never matched - it was always more. I meant their current rating onto their website - it's not always, what it's meant to be - that's what i was saying only about it.

 

[Yashica]

Never spotted this thread before. The question came up on another forum, so I gave it a go and bought a cheap 2nd hand lens from MPB. It arrived within a few days and was exactly as described. Very happy with the purchase. I've not looked into it very deeply, but it seems that they offer a nice selection of 2nd hand stuff and the prices seem reasonable.

@lawnerd thanks for sharing your experience and welcome to active posting!

I've had the same experience mostly, only the described shutter count never matched via DSLRs, that i've bought. But nowadays, the prices raised on the german MPB page for the same gear, vs. 2024....last year, for my taste.

 

[Korbel]

I have bought a lumix g8 camera body, g9 camera grip, tamron 17-50 f2.8, olympus 45 f1.8 and weebil-s gimbal from them in the last couple of years, maybe more.

Happy with all of it

I never buy new gear now, it is like buying a new car, you loose 20% + the moment you take it from the store

 

[Yashica]

I never buy new gear now, it is like buying a new car, you loose 20% + the moment you take it from the store

Just right! It doesn't make sense. The good thing is via MPB - you do have warranty.

 

[RezaLoghme]

It can make sense - if said gear has been released just recently, and crazy pre-owned prices are on same level as new prices.