C100: secand hands eos c100, wise advise shopping

T

tom1

Well-known member
Hi I am going to buy second hands c100 . which part of c100 is wear out the most ,week , any button , joystick , hand grip . Is any of you had any problem with c100 . Can you advise for what I should take special attention ?
 
I'd be interested to know too. Also what folks' opinions are on used cameras in general. Good idea? Bad idea? Many folks I know tell me "if it was my only camera and I rely on it to make a living, I'd buy new, can't chance it."
 
Josh Bass said:
I'd be interested to know too. Also what folks' opinions are on used cameras in general. Good idea? Bad idea? Many folks I know tell me "if it was my only camera and I rely on it to make a living, I'd buy new, can't chance it."
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Sometimes to move up to the next level in camera you have to buy used in order to make the jump. I have purchased many used cameras and lenses over the past few years just to try out different systems and haven't had any negative issues. In fact if you buy used and your timing is right, you can generally sell it for what you paid for it if you decide to move to something else.
 
do you guys like to buy used from b&h, forum members, colleagues you know in real life, ebay, all of the above? does anyone vet their used inventory to make sure its problem free and not ABOUT TO develop an issue?
 
Josh Bass said:
do you guys like to buy used from b&h, forum members, colleagues you know in real life, ebay, all of the above? does anyone vet their used inventory to make sure its problem free and not ABOUT TO develop an issue?
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I've bought from all of the above and got some great deals over the years. B&H and Adorama have great used selections for photo and video needs, and there is always local craigslist listings where I've found amazing deals, but be careful on craigslist because there are always knucklehead scammers. Craigslist is a great place to meet other video people as well, sold a GH1 to a guy on there 3 years ago and I've been freelancing with him ever since.
 
If it's for your business, buy new. Especially camera bodies :)

The little money that you save up front is not worth the potential headaches later on.
 
Yeah. . .that's what many folks I know say. And I can't say they're wrong. . .never bought used cam as of yet. Audio? Check. Lights? Check.
 
I've purchased several cameras from eBay and other DVXuser members over the years. I haven't been burned yet and I have gotten some great deals. But I do have a way that I go about buying used items.

For starters, I only deal with established DVX members (the best, because you can often visit their websites and get an idea of the kind of work they have been using the camera for), or low-volume eBay users with 99.5%+ positive feedback. Anything else is too much of a gamble. Then before buying, I like to ask the seller for high-res images. A lot of the time, you can tell when a camera has been well taken-care of by its appearance. I also ask specific questions regarding any known issues with the camera. A reputable seller will take the time to answer each question.

Then when the camera shows up, I always run a battery of tests -- for dead pixels, audio and extended recording issues, corrupted files, etc. I also do some research about known failure points of the camera (by the time a camera shows up on the used market, these are usually well-documented) and I check those. I am not afraid to contact the seller if there are problems. But, I haven't had to so far.

The one thing that I would caution people about is that by buying used (or even new-in-box), you are effectively voiding the warranty, so you have to ask yourself how much the warranty is worth to you. Too often, I'll see a new-in-box or "barely-used" item selling for 90% of its retail price, and when you factor in that you'd be losing the warranty, it's just not a smart buy.
 
It was for me. I bought mine for $3000.

I've noticed lately that second-hand cameras seem depreciate very rapidly over the first two or three years. When they hit just under half of the original retail price, they seem to level out for a while. And buying used or low-priced accessories for a 2-year-old camera can save a lot of money too.
 
Ok but which part of c100 is wear out the most . You have c100 so you must know , feel .
 
Both of mine have over 700 hours and are about 2.5 years old. They're both totally fine. Buying used is a great investment, especially for all this new tapeless stuff. To put it in perspective, how often does a smartphone just cease to function for no reason? Drop it in water or smash it with a hammer, sure, but stuff these days is pretty solid. If it isn't broken 10 hours out of the box, it's doubtful something is going to happen later on down the line. Some things to look for: make sure the ND filters are clean, and make sure the little 3.5mm plug that attaches the grip to the body is in good shape. Just so you know, all the top handles wiggle a little on the shoe, and the black paint on the grip attachment ring wears off a bit – normal for these cameras.
 
I bought a C100 and a Blade with 1 hour of use, from Jbregar here on this forum last November. The C100 had 42 hours on it. Despite the fact that a month later the C100 MKII came out and the price dropped a little, I'm still extremely happy with my decision....... I've had no issues with the C100 nor the Blade..... couldn't be happier! In fact I will probably buy another used C100 with the next 6 months...... or perhaps a new one if Jim Martin still has some in stock then.

I would just keep an eye out for a good deal here on this forum, or call Jim Martin and get a new one for slightly more.
 
I just picked up a new C100 mkii so will be selling my mki.

It was never rented out and I treat my gear well, so whoever buys it will be getting a great camera at a great price.
 
mcgeedigital said:
I just picked up a new C100 mkii so will be selling my mki.

It was never rented out and I treat my gear well, so whoever buys it will be getting a great camera at a great price.
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Ok, so Matt has been a forum member for years - many people here on the forum would vouch for him - exactly the kind of seller I would be looking for if I wanted a used C100. That's my tip.
 
I've had my c100 for almost 2 years. The only annoying this is the handle is slightly wobbly, but it's been like that since I purchased it and I believe that was a normal issue. Other than that no real signs of wear except for cosmetic.
 
On C100... the handle mount and its connector are definitely the fragile part... but luckily not that fragile, they come wobbly from the factory.

Regarding used cameras... working freelance for 7 years, the only camera I ever bought new was a Canon HV30. Of the others bought used (PD150, HVX200, Z1U, GH2, AF100, GH4), only one that ever gave me any problems was the Z1U (heads needed replacement 2 years after purchase). The best time to buy is after a slightly better model from another maker debuts, and all the edge-of-the-envelope guys unload their slightly used equipment at substantial discounts.

And yes, this is my only income... but I never own only one camera, so a potential dud body wouldn't sink me.
 
One other thing to consider too is purchasing factory refurbished direct from Canon. It's a great way to pick up quality glass at a good discount. I've purchased a number of lenses this way and the lenses I received were always indistinguishable from new ones. They also carry a standard warranty. Canon often has flash sales where they discount a particular refurbished item by an additional 10%-20% in order to clear out their inventory. There's sites where you can set up a price watch and have it notify you when one of those sales comes up.
 
What are people's thoughts on the C100, will it be dropping in price? I see it hanging around the 3k mark. Just wondering how new releases impact the price. Thanks.
 
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