Every item we sell has passed through our hands at least four times before being photographed. We do not buy uninspected lots and resell them as they arrive: what doesn't pass our checks doesn't go on display, it ends up in spare parts or isn't purchased at all.
The seven steps
- Purchase and OriginWe buy from private individuals, from photographers changing systems, and from studios upgrading their equipment. Every purchase is recorded as required by law for used goods: we know the origin of every camera body and lens we handle.
- IdentificationSerial number, exact model, year of production. This is when we discard items of doubtful origin and those found to be stolen or blocked.
- Electronic DiagnosticsFor digital bodies, we read the shutter count from the shutter data. We publish it on the product sheet: it's the mileage of a camera and there's no point in hiding it. We check cold start-up, all buttons, dials, selectors, memory slots, USB port, and battery compartment.
- Optical TestShutter at all speeds, light meter compared with a reference, autofocus at all points, stabilizer. For lenses: aperture at all settings, focus throughout the range, zoom without sticking, and backlight inspection for fungus, haze, and lens separation.
- Sensor and ViewfinderShot on a uniform background at f/16 to reveal dust and spots. If it's dust, the sensor is cleaned. If it's a scratch or a dead pixel, it remains and is photographed in the defects section.
- CleaningBody, grips, electrical contacts, threads, optical surfaces. No cosmetic retouching: we do not touch up paint or erase engravings. A camera that looks new but isn't tells a lie at first glance.
- Photos, Product Sheet, and Final CheckWe photograph the exact item you will receive, including defects, and write the product sheet with the condition grade, shutter count, and package contents. Before closing the box, we double-check that the item matches the description.
We sell unique items: each listing has an item code that identifies that single object. What you see in the photos is what you receive, with the same marks in the same places.
What "refurbished" means to us
The term is used very freely. For us, it means this precise thing: a used device, inspected piece by piece, cleaned, fully functional, and guaranteed for twelve months. It does not mean factory reconditioned, it does not mean that wear and tear components have been replaced with new spare parts, and it does not mean that the item is aesthetically new.
When an aesthetic defect exists, we photograph it and describe it. The condition grade summarizes the state in a single word, but a photograph of the scratch is worth more than the word: read how the condition scale works.
What we don't sell
This is the shortest and most important section. If an item falls into one of these categories, it doesn't make it to our display.
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Sensors with permanent defects
Scratches on the filter, lines of dead pixels, spots that remain after cleaning. These are defects you'll find in every single shot.
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Optics with fungus or separation
Fungus won't stop and infects other lenses. Adhesive separation is not repairable at a reasonable cost.
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Devices with liquid damage
Contact corrosion works for months after the event: an item that works today could fail in six months.
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Unverifiable origin
Without a regular purchase history, we do not buy, no matter how attractive the price.
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Unprofessional repairs
Missing screws, adhesive tape inside, signs of unprofessional opening: the camera has already been opened by someone who didn't know how to close it properly.
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Defects that would appear later
Drifting light meter, intermittent contact dial, shutter slow at only one speed. They work on the day of the test and then leave you stranded during your trip.
Some of these items we do still sell, but declared as For parts or repair, with the defect written in the title and product description, at a price that accurately reflects what they are. They never end up among the functional devices.
What you'll find in the box
The contents are listed item by item on each product page, because they vary from one individual item to another. In general: the body or lens, corresponding caps, battery and charger when they were included in the original purchase, and any original accessories. We do not add generic accessories to increase volume and we never claim the original box if it's not present.
The battery of a used device is a used component: we test it and declare it functional, but its remaining autonomy is not that of a new battery and is not covered as a conformity defect.
If something goes wrong
All functional devices have a 12-month Eureka warranty and a 30-day free return policy, with no need to give reasons and return shipping at our expense. The full terms are in Warranty and Returns.