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Ok. Time for my next noob question.

Am tossing up between a used body maybe a D200 and a new D80.

If I buy used should I budget in the cost of a 'service' by Nikon - get the sensor cleaned amd makr sure everything is ship shape. If so what sort of money would I expect to pay.

Or should I just start shooting and only take it in if its broke.

Very good question. And the answer is, it depends.

If you know the history of the second-hand camera (eg, you bought it from someone on this forum whom you know looked after it), I wouldn't bother. I'd keep the money for some more glass.

If you take your camera to a service centre, you are going to be without it for a couple of weeks. D you want to do that right after you bought it?

Even if you weren't sure of the camera's condition, I would still be inclined to use it immediately, and look for any photographic evidence of a dirty sensor or something more serious. Actually, most people can easily clean a sensor, so once again, I wouldn't pay for a service just for that.

I'd want to see something like a focus issue or camera malfunction before I went ahead with a service. And then, I'd ask for a quote first, even if there is a fee for the quote.

Hope that is helpful in your deliberations.

Hi cricketfan, definately helpful.

From what you have said I dont think I'll bother with a service.

Definately dont want to be the camera for a few weeks. Would plan to be using it every spare minute I have.

Cheers mate

deadgoose wrote:Or should I just start shooting and only take it in if its broke.

Exactly.

Trevor's answer is spot on. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

deadgoose
Nikon digital SLR cameras record the number of times the shutter has been activated in their software. Before buying a secondhand camera ask the owner to take a pic of yesterdays front page of a newspaper and send the file to you. Download APANDA powerexif (it's free) and determone how many times the shutter has been fired. Anything under 20,000 is normally a good buy. certainly better than one that has 80,000 shots on the meter. A service is not required unless there is a problem with the camera.

Matt, thanks for that tip

That's OK...That's OK...That's OK...

Matt. K wrote: Download APANDA powerexif (it's free) and determone how many times the shutter has been fired. Anything under 20,000 is normally a good buy. certainly better than one that has 80,000 shots on the meter. A service is not required unless there is a problem with the camera.

Actually OPANDA.
If the seller will do a newspaper shot for you, you could also ask the seller to do a sky shot, or white paper shot, to check out how clean the sensor is...if it's dirty Matt might clean it for you...

shakey wrote:
Actually OPANDA.
If the seller will do a newspaper shot for you, you could also ask the seller to do a sky shot, or white paper shot, to check out how clean the sensor is...if it's dirty Matt might clean it for you...

Thanks shakey was hoping to learn how to clean the sensor at one of the meets. May even have a go by myself if required

shakey wrote:
Actually OPANDA.
If the seller will do a newspaper shot for you, you could also ask the seller to do a sky shot, or white paper shot, to check out how clean the sensor is...if it's dirty Matt might clean it for you...

Thanks shakey was hoping to learn how to clean the sensor at one of the meets. May even have a go by myself if required