Photography can be an immensely intimidating hobby or profession because of how insanely expensive the gear can be. Cameras and lenses ranging from a few hundred dollars well into the thousands, straps going for hundreds of dollars, support systems unimaginably unaffordable, it’s all enough to make you put your wallet away and give up on the prospect of shooting. From the time I received my first DSLR, I was just as intimidated as anyone else out there, wanting to get better lenses and not being able to afford them made me think I would never be able to expand my horizons as a photographer. But rather than allow this intimidation to paralyze and prevent myself from getting the gear I wanted, I got smart and started “thrifting.”
Now when I say “thrifting,” I don’t necessarily mean going to a physical thrift shop (though you can find some great gear for a steal there) or that you absolutely need to buy used or second-hand. When I say thrifting, I mean finding the best values that fit within your budget. This might be buying used or refurbished, it could be buying knockoffs, it could be buying brands you have never even heard of.
Buying used or refurbished scares a lot of people. Who owned this before? What condition is it really in? Is it a factory refurb? All of these are valid questions, and lead me to an important point: research. Research is fundamental and needs to be the first step before diving into your gear thrifting. I started out acquiring second-hand gear through eBay and Amazon, and over time I’ve bought some really great used film cameras including my Nikon N70 and N90s, my Minolta SRT101, as well as some great Minolta glass from the ’60s and ’70s, and two of my favorite Nikkors, the 18-70mm and 24-120mm. I can’t lie, before I placed my first bid I had plenty of apprehension about it. I saw people posting pictures of cameras but only sell boxes, there were people selling broken gear that didn’t have a notification that it didn’t work in the auction title, there was a host of little tidbits that could trick you or trip you up sprinkled throughout the site. To overcome this, I started to verse myself in some quick online shopping research strategies.
I can’t lie, before I placed my first bid I had plenty of apprehension about it. I saw people posting pictures of cameras but only sell boxes, there were people selling broken gear that didn’t have a notification that it didn’t work in the auction title, there was a host of little tidbits that could trick you or trip you up sprinkled throughout the site. To overcome this, I started to verse myself in some quick online shopping research strategies.
First, looking at sellers is one of the most important things when doing this. You want to ensure that you are buying from someone reputable, whether it is a shop or an individual, they need to be on the up and up. Star ratings and satisfaction percentages on sellers is one of the most helpful factors there is and needs to be one of the first things you check before submitting your bid or adding to your cart. Next, I would say reading is fundamental. As cliche and corny as it sounds, reading is one of the simple tricks that will prevent you from paying $100 for an empty box or a broken lens. Read descriptions of the products and you’ll learn if there are any problems with what you are buying or if the information about the product is in line with what it says when you are buying new. The third thing that I’ve learned to do is ask questions. If something ever seems fuzzy or incorrect, send the seller a message. Often times they can give you insight on the product you’re looking at, or, based on their response, prove that you should not buy from them.
Next, I would say reading is fundamental. As cliche and corny as it sounds, reading is one of the simple tricks that will prevent you from paying $100 for an empty box or a broken lens. Read descriptions of the products and you’ll learn if there are any problems with what you are buying or if the information about the product is in line with what it says when you are buying new. The third thing that I’ve learned to do is ask questions. If something ever seems fuzzy or incorrect, send the seller a message. Often times they can give you insight on the product you’re looking at, or, based on their response, prove that you should not buy from them.
The third thing that I’ve learned to do is ask questions. If something ever seems fuzzy or incorrect, send the seller a message. Often times they can give you insight on the product you’re looking at, or, based on their response, prove that you should not buy from them.
Read descriptions of the products and you’ll learn if there are any problems with what you are buying or if the information about the product is in line with what it says when you are buying new. The third thing that I’ve learned to do is ask questions. If something ever seems fuzzy or incorrect, send the seller a message. Often times they can give you insight on the product you’re looking at, or, based on their response, prove that you should not buy from them.
There are a ton of big name brands out there like Manfrotto, Black Rapid, and Cotton Carrier. Yes, they make amazing, quality products, and yes, if you can afford them, you probably should buy them, but not all of us have the funds to pay $100 for a dual camera harness. Even though we may not have the funds for the support gear, we still need it, and there are a ton of ways for us to affordably get it. I know some of you will frown at even the thought of buying knock-offs or off-brands, but it is a great way to get the gear you need and look and shoot more professionally on a budget. From light
I know some of you will frown at even the thought of buying knock-offs or off-brands, but it is a great way to get the gear you need and look and shoot more professionally on a budget. From light panels to ring-lights, to harnesses, to steady-cam systems, you can find a cheaper version of just about every piece of gear that you need. The same rule applies about shopping online, do your research. I am not going to say to buy an off-brand just because it looks like the one made by the big guys, you still need to read the reviews and understand the quality of what you are buying. Some things are cheap because they are poorly made and may not be worth buying. Look for reviews that express the quality of the product and that make comparisons to the alternatives you could be buying. When you can, test the product out before you purchase,
Look for reviews that express the quality of the product and that make comparisons to the alternatives you could be buying. When you can, test the product out before you purchase. The last thing you need is for your knock-off Black Rapid strap to be missing the proper fasteners and drop your camera. When buying on Amazon, a few of the brands that I have had success with include CowboyStudio, Opteka, and RainbowImaging.
These ways of “thrifting” for camera gear aren’t going to be for everyone, but they can definitely be helpful if you’re on a budget. The important things are that you do your research before committing to any purchases. Know what you are buying, who you are buying from, what quality it is, and how well it works. Don’t let yourself get screwed. Do it right and you can look and shoot like a pro without spending pro money.
Share your thoughts, do you only purchase big name gear? Do you buy used or refurbished?
