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Buying a used camera can be a terrifying concept, especially if it’s an expensive camera. But if you’re on the hunt for a specific vintage film camera, you don’t really have a choice but to find one online. Sure, you can hunt through thrift stores or wait around for one on facebook marketplace, but that can be time-consuming. Over the years, I’ve learned the best websites to find used gear without overpaying or ending up with a camera that just doesn’t work. Here are my favorite choices for buying used or vintage gear and a few reasons for why I like each one!
KEH CAMERA
The first site I’ll always recommend is KEH Camera. They have a rigorous grading system so you can decide how much you’re willing to pay versus the condition of the camera/lens. If you want gear that is in “excellent”, “excellent+”, or “like new” condition, you’re obviously going to pay more than one that’s in “good” or “fair” condition. They test their cameras before selling them and they have a great return policy. Any time I’ve had an issue with a camera, they’re always willing to work with me to figure out what’s going on. And if you’re going to get into the business of buying vintage cameras, it’s part of the game that sometimes you’ll run into weird, intermittent problems. They are super knowledgeable at KEH though and they have a huge collection of gear. If the specific camera you’re looking for isn’t in stock when you first take a look, I recommend waiting a week or two and checking back. They are always adding more listings and updating their inventory. Plus, they sell both film and digital cameras so even if you’re looking for an expensive digital Canon, Nikon, or Sony camera, you can save quite a lot of money by buying a gently used one. I hardly ever buy my gear new, so I’m used to taking the risk!
You can also sell or trade your own used gear to KEH camera! They make it super easy and they have a fool-proof process since they do it every single day. Can you tell I love KEH Camera? :)
Amazon isn’t a website that you’d think would be a great option for vintage cameras, but it’s actually surprising how often I’ll find a rare used camera on there! Amazon has a great return policy and is typically super helpful if something is wrong with the product that you’ve purchased. Usually, if you find a used camera on Amazon it’s being sold by a small retailer, so just make sure to read their reviews! It’s also so nice to buy everything you need in one place. Amazon carries pretty much any battery, lens filter, camera bag or film you’d ever need so it’s kind of amazing. I’m often on the hunt for a strange battery for a vintage camera that none of my local stores carry, and I almost always can find it on Amazon. I actually just recently created my own Amazon storefront, so you can check out all of my personal camera and film recommendations here!
EBAY
A lot of people are intimidated by eBay, especially for more expensive gear. But I’ve bought some incredible cameras and lenses off of it over the years. The prices are extremely competitive because you’re usually just bidding against what other people are willing to pay for the same gear. So typically you won’t end up overpaying, which is always nice! However, if you’re buying a camera that is super trendy at the moment, you might be better off scouring thrift stores or trying KEH Camera for more consistent prices. I actually bought my Canon 5D Mark IV on eBay a few years ago though, which is my main camera and one of my more expensive cameras that I own! It was in nearly mint condition and has been working perfectly for years! The main thing with eBay is to make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller that has made lots of sales and has high ratings. Read the reviews and make sure you really analyze the photographs and description of the item you’re buying. I like to look at the other listings that the seller has, just to see if I get any weird vibes. In many cases, I’ll even send the seller a message and see how their communication is. You can usually tell right away if someone or something is scammy. Overall, eBay is pretty great with protecting both buyers and sellers, which is why I use it so often. I don’t even hesitate to buy cheaper cameras on eBay, because oftentimes, it’s the only website I can find certain rare vintage cameras on. I also sell gear on eBay and I’ve been using it for over a decade. It’s not for the faint of heart though, because there are often a LOT of options to choose from and it can be hard to weed out the good from the bad. But if you’re looking for something incredibly rare and vintage, eBay probably has it!
Adorama is sort of a blend of KEH Camera and Amazon. It sells both new and used gear at competitive prices, but also has lots of other products such as computers, electronics, and musical instruments. I find it to be a little more limited than KEH Camera when it comes to vintage cameras, but if KEH is out of stock with a certain product, every once in a while I’ll have some luck at Adorama. They are a fairly large company, so once again, they have a decent return policy and are helpful with returns. I like how easy their website is to navigate and I feel a little better purchasing things from them than from a big box retailer.
A FEW OTHER SITES TO CONSIDER
Of course, there are a ton of other sites that you can find new and used photography gear, these are just my personal favorites! I’ve also had luck buying gear on Poshmark, Mercari, B&H, and Polaroid.com (if you’re looking for specifically Polaroid cameras).
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If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
