Buying a Used Camcorder
If you are considering buying a used camcorder there are several things that you should be looking for. The first thing that you need to do is determine just how old the camera is. If the camcorder is 6 years or older there it may have a leaky capacitor. There is an easy way to check if the capacitor is leaking: smell inside the camera to determine if there is a fishy smell that lingers. You can also contact the camera manufacturer by looking online at their website for tech support. Tech support should be able to tell you just which years that certain camera model was made as well as which replacement parts are no longer available to you. This way, if you buy the camera, you know exactly what you are getting into.
Take a good look at the exterior of the camera. A good way to tell if the camera has been carelessly used is if there a lot of dings and scratches. Make sure that all of the camera case screws are in place and that there are none missing. Keep in mind that if the lettering on the camera is worn and faded it might just be an indicator that the camera has been used a great deal rather than that it has been mishandled.
Check the camera lens. If there is a clear filter that has been installed it is a good indication that the previous owner has been diligent in keeping the lens in good shape. Gently breathe on the lens so that it fogs up. Take note whether or not the fog is dispersed evenly and if there are any fingerprints or dust particles in evidence. You want even dispersal of the fog and no fingerprints to be evident.
Use a magnifier and a flashlight to look inside the cameras tape compartment. You want to see if there is any dust, lint, dirt, or discoloration evident on the metal components of the tape path. You particularly want to check to see if the capstan, which is a shiny metal post that can be found next to the driver wheel, has any dirt or lint on it. Also make sure that there is no dirt on the tape drum itself. What you want to see is compartment parts that are clean and shiny.
Before you buy the camcorder make sure that you record some tape both outdoors and indoors. As the camcorder is playing, recording, and rewinding listen to it carefully. What you want to listen for is any sounds that the camera parts are gritty or are rubbing together.
Put the camera into manual focus and zoom in on a subject, taking the time to focus carefully. Then zoom in and back out again. Repeat this several times. The object should always stay in focus. Some camera models will have a difficult time keeping focus on a subject during the zoom range. Put the camcorder into auto focus to determine if it needs to hunt for the focus excessively. Make sure that you test this in both low and high light.
Make sure that the camcorder has all the features and manual overrides that you are looking for. Some features that are very handy to have include: manual focus, white balance controls, external mike, earphones, and exposure.
When you have finished your test recording play back the tape while the camera is connected to a color TV or monitor. You will also want to play the tape back in another camera and in a deck. Ensure that the sound and the picture are good. The playback should be stable and there should be no noise bars or other signs that the tape is not tracking correctly.
Keep in mind that when you buy a used camcorder you will have to replace the rechargeable batteries at some time, if not right from the start. A replacement battery will cost you anywhere from to . You will probably also have to replace the cameras lithium watch battery as well. These costs are costs that you will have to factor in to the price of buying a used camcorder.
If possible, find out the repair history of the camera. Just because a camera has been serviced doesnt mean that it is a lemon. It just means that at some point in time the camera needed to have some minor repairs. At the same time, if the camera has been serviced a few times for what turns out to be the same problem, you probably want to look at another used camera. Ask to see copies of the repair receipts. You will also want to wonder why a camera has never been serviced at all. Most camcorders need at least one minor tweak at some point in their lifetime. If the camera has never been serviced before you should plan to spend a couple of hundred dollars for its alignment and cleaning before you can use it with confidence.
Check to see if the camcorder has any dead pixels. You can see these dead pixels in low light when you have the gain set at the maximum. The dead pixels will be small colored, or white, non-moving rectangles. You wont be able to remove the dead pixels by simply cleaning the viewfinder or the camera lens. If you cant see any dead pixels in low light try finding them on a separate monitor. A few dead pixels close to the edges of the picture will be okay for you to live with but if they are located in the center of the picture it will get very annoying. The cure for dead pixels is to replace the CCD imaging chip, another expense that you will have to consider when buying a used camcorder.
Other expenses that you should consider include:
Multiple lens filters.
A tripod for balancing and leveling the camcorder.
A camcorder case so that you can safely transport the camera.
At least one set of spare batteries.
A mike for audio recordings to increase the quality of your recordings.
Try to find a used camcorder deal that includes at least some of the above features or you will end up having to spend more money to acquire them yourself.
The last thing to look for when buying a used camcorder is an extended service warranty that is transferable. A service warranty will help cut down your expenses when you need to take the camera in for repairs or minor tweaks.
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