Buying Photographic Equipment On-line

We should all know the basic rules about purchasing on-line from sites such as ebay - you know, "buyer beware", "check the feedback rating" etc etc.But here I want to share with you some of the knowledge and lessons I have picked up over the last few years with regard specifically to camera equipment.

1. CAMERAS.
* If you have never heard of the camera brand before, there's probably a good reason...and that reason is usually that the brand is total crap. As a rule of thumb, if you haven't seen the brand being sold IN REAL RETAIL STORES then avoid like the plague.

* Beware of claims such as "25 mp" or "100 x zoom". With some crappy, usually chinese cameras, the megapixel is usually only at certain settings and the quality is very VERY poor. Large zoom claims usually, if not always, include the digital zoom. Digital zoom is a waste and you will never use it if you want good pics. So if you get a claim of something like 100 x zoom, chances are that there is a 5 x optical zoom (good zoom) and 20 x digital zoom. 20 x 5 = 100.* Do a google check read reviews.

* Check warranties - many are invalid outside the country of origin (even if the do say "world-wide").

2. AFTER MARKET LENS CONVERTERS

* We have all seen these remarkably cheap 3 x zoom converters. Experience suggests that you might as well put aunt Ethel's bifocals on the lens and you'd get a sharper pic. If the actual brand of the camera does not make a 3 x converter for the camera, then there is a bloody good reason - mainly that anything bigger than 1.4 x or 1.7 x tele conversion will cause low quality pics. Stick with the actual brand of the camera when purchasing these converters. It's better to pay $200 for an authentic piece than waste $50 (+ postage) for something you will never use.

3. AFTER MARKET FILTERS

* As above. Beware of outlandish claims. Look for brands that you know and have seen in stores, ie, Hoya etc. Even then, look at what you'd expect to pay and where the filter is coming from. There are a lot of frauds out there. If it looks too cheap, then chances are that you will be wasting your money. Do a google check read reviews.

4. CHECK POSTAGE

* I see so often a $5 item that will fit in an average size envelope carry a $20 or more postage "and handling" charge. Many unscrupulous eBay "stores" usually put the price of postage as what they actually want for the item.

5. DO RESEARCH

* If you're serious about purchasing some stuff on-line, then do searches on the site to see what identical or similar items are being sold for. And also see what the sellers seem to get on average. It's amazing how a seller that sells, say, 100 of the same item always seems to get the same amount give or take $1 for it - dummy bidding happening here??????? Steer clear.

6. SLR IS NOT ALWAYS SLR

* Many eBay sellers, through ignorance or outright lies, may claim a camera is a DSLR. get it home and you will see that you cannot change the lens. Again, do a google search and research the item.

7. "PROFESSIONAL QUALITY / PROFESSIONAL STANDARD"

* Again, if you have never heard of the brand before, and a google search doesn't educate you much further, then it 1. AINT PROFESSIONAL; and 2. IT AINT QUALITY.

8. ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS

* This is self explanatory, but if you are not comfortable with their answers, or more importantly they seem uncomfortable with your questions, steer clear. Many times you will get an answer like "I picked these up from a relative's deceased estate. He was into cameras but I don't know much about the stuff. They look to be alright though". Abort mission and DO NOT BID. This happened to me...luckily I wasn't dudded too much money but I did end up with a whole bunch of stuff that is totally usueless, damaged and otherwise of so poor a quality I couldn't even pass it on for parts.